"We have a plan then. Don't be too mean on the poetry, please, I know how much you like correcting inaccuracies."
A joke. Words carefully chosen to take attention away from Geralt's other statement. He's an arse for doing that, he knows, a very selfish arse. Geralt's concerns are legit. But he doesn't want to think, even less talk, about Yennefer of fucking Vengerberg. Not on his bed, not while cuddling Geralt, not when he's having this delightful experience of having Geralt at his own home. Because oh yes, he does know where that sentence is going, he can guess who exactly can teach Ciri what she needs.
Whatever you want sounds less possible during moments like this. Being back on the road with Geralt, even while laying low, had been fantastic. They were, well, them again. But the reality of Ciri and Yen is closing onto them, and Jaskier has to wonder if Geralt truly had known what he had been promising, or it was just another case of him trying to be heroic and noble and then having trouble for getting involved too much.
Better not think about that now, he reminds himself. One day at the time. Over twenty years of living his life like that, not gonna change it now for the wolf. The songbird shall not be caged.
They go their separate ways after that - Geralt to check on contracts, Jaskier to arrange his lecture schedule and start working on his presentation. They meet again for dinner, which is quite an boisterous affair to say the least. The White Wolf is here after all! Tons of people approach them, and Jaskier does his best to keep their attention on himself to save Geralt from the hassle. He's invited to various tables, which is the norm, but he turns them down - his best friend needs the company and the shield against social interaction, so they stay at the end of a small table. Jaskier can't say no to performing, however, and he happily sings together with other musicians... the songs of the White Wolf. And by Melitele, it makes him feel ALIVE again. It's not just the audience -although he definitely couldn't ask for a better public, oh how he loves sucking all this lovely attention- it's the fact he can sing about Geralt again that has his blood boiling. Nobody else can sing these with the true experience behind them, no other song can get such emotions from him. He closes with Toss a coin, which has the whole hall roaring, and thanks all the gods for having been able to avoid Her sweet kiss. He returns to Geralt smelling of the sweetest bliss and repeats what he had said that night, with a little extra this time: my muse is back, long live his influence.
Throwing winks and charming smiles are a thing he still does during the performance, but nobody actually flirts with him when they approach him for a chat, not even old flings - probably because of Geralt, if he understands the teasing and weird questions correctly. Surprisingly, he finds himself not minding at all. His heart wouldn't be into it. A one night stand to empty his balls wouldn't be a bad idea (he hasn't had an orgasm since before his captivity and sleeping in the witcher's arms doesn't help), but true flirting and not just the pretty words he throws at everyone? Nope. Only one person is getting that from him now. Oh, how have things changed.
That one special person cuddles him again that night, under the comfortable and warm blankets of the perfect bed. Jaskier doesn't want to wake up.
He does, however. To an empty bed and the smell of-- whatever that is. He's smelled tons of shit on Geralt before (including literal shit), but this one is new. At least he's already in the bath, so Jaskier doesn't have to suffer it for long. A job, Geralt says, which does't make any sense - Jaskier remembers drowner smell. But hey, this is the coast, fish makes everything ten times worse, so he doesn't think too hard about it and enjoys the lovely sigh of a naked Geralt instead.
Shopping goes great. They find most things they need, from warm clothes for Jaskier to the vodka for Geralt's brothers, from the linen rags to the trinkets for Cirilla. A second trip will be necessary to get it all, but they finish this one with their most important purchase: a beautiful white gelding he decides to call Pegasus. Geralt helps him choose him, and Jaskier hopes his good eye includes judging a potential good friend for Roach. They buy a little cart as well.
His first lecture comes after that, so Jaskier leaves Geralt with their supplies and the horses (oh look, Roach has flowers in her hair, what a surprise -not-) to get ready. He begins with some small talk, getting to know new students and checking on old ones to see how they are doing. Then the introduction he always starts with: a reminder that the outside world is nothing like the inside of Oxenfurt's walls. Little does he know that the person that taught him that is sneaking into this class as well.
A long discussion that includes a variety of topics -from rhyming to note taking- follows it, and Jaskier is in his element. Speaking for hours about a subject he loves to people that understand it? Getting the attention and admiration of a whole room on him? Yes please. He loves every second for it. And he finishes with his (and the student's) favorite exercise: choosing one of his songs to analyse and discuss.
Her sweet kiss easily wins the vote.
He shouldn't be surprised, really. Usually the White Wolf is the most popular topic, but he hasn't written anything new about him in over a year. And Her sweet kiss has been a hit since he composed it, which proves how much of his heart there is in it - it always gets tears rolling. He's hesitant at first, but also ends up surprising himself at how quickly he gives in. Even if the details of the mess that is his love life have changed around a bit, the message of the song is still relevant. Singing it would be cathartic.
So he sits at his desks, crosses his legs, picks up his lute and sings, raw emotion going into every single word that leaves his lips.
He finally notices Geralt when he's half way through it.
Thankfully he's good at hiding most of his panic from the students, who are now also aware of the visitor - eyes only widen for a second before he looks away. But Geralt... he would able to hear his heartbeat picking up speed until it's only a buzz. To smell the pang and heartache rolling off him in waves. To listen to the very subtle shift in his voice, which breaks with emotion when he sings I'm weak my love, and I am wanting.
Or maybe not so subtle. Half the classroom gasps when he reaches that part, and by the end, he has a new record of tears jerked. Many of them are glancing at Geralt too - did the witcher pay any attention, or has this been more pointless poetry to him? Before Jaskier can say anything (he needs a moment to recover from the emotional high he's now crashing down from), a crying girl raises her hand and speaks up.
"With all due respect, Master Jaskier... this 'fool' sounds like a complete imbecile."
A chorus of agreement takes Jaskier by surprise... he can only laugh.
no subject
A joke. Words carefully chosen to take attention away from Geralt's other statement. He's an arse for doing that, he knows, a very selfish arse. Geralt's concerns are legit. But he doesn't want to think, even less talk, about Yennefer of fucking Vengerberg. Not on his bed, not while cuddling Geralt, not when he's having this delightful experience of having Geralt at his own home. Because oh yes, he does know where that sentence is going, he can guess who exactly can teach Ciri what she needs.
Whatever you want sounds less possible during moments like this. Being back on the road with Geralt, even while laying low, had been fantastic. They were, well, them again. But the reality of Ciri and Yen is closing onto them, and Jaskier has to wonder if Geralt truly had known what he had been promising, or it was just another case of him trying to be heroic and noble and then having trouble for getting involved too much.
Better not think about that now, he reminds himself. One day at the time. Over twenty years of living his life like that, not gonna change it now for the wolf. The songbird shall not be caged.
They go their separate ways after that - Geralt to check on contracts, Jaskier to arrange his lecture schedule and start working on his presentation. They meet again for dinner, which is quite an boisterous affair to say the least. The White Wolf is here after all! Tons of people approach them, and Jaskier does his best to keep their attention on himself to save Geralt from the hassle. He's invited to various tables, which is the norm, but he turns them down - his best friend needs the company and the shield against social interaction, so they stay at the end of a small table. Jaskier can't say no to performing, however, and he happily sings together with other musicians... the songs of the White Wolf. And by Melitele, it makes him feel ALIVE again. It's not just the audience -although he definitely couldn't ask for a better public, oh how he loves sucking all this lovely attention- it's the fact he can sing about Geralt again that has his blood boiling. Nobody else can sing these with the true experience behind them, no other song can get such emotions from him. He closes with Toss a coin, which has the whole hall roaring, and thanks all the gods for having been able to avoid Her sweet kiss. He returns to Geralt smelling of the sweetest bliss and repeats what he had said that night, with a little extra this time: my muse is back, long live his influence.
Throwing winks and charming smiles are a thing he still does during the performance, but nobody actually flirts with him when they approach him for a chat, not even old flings - probably because of Geralt, if he understands the teasing and weird questions correctly. Surprisingly, he finds himself not minding at all. His heart wouldn't be into it. A one night stand to empty his balls wouldn't be a bad idea (he hasn't had an orgasm since before his captivity and sleeping in the witcher's arms doesn't help), but true flirting and not just the pretty words he throws at everyone? Nope. Only one person is getting that from him now. Oh, how have things changed.
That one special person cuddles him again that night, under the comfortable and warm blankets of the perfect bed. Jaskier doesn't want to wake up.
He does, however. To an empty bed and the smell of-- whatever that is. He's smelled tons of shit on Geralt before (including literal shit), but this one is new. At least he's already in the bath, so Jaskier doesn't have to suffer it for long. A job, Geralt says, which does't make any sense - Jaskier remembers drowner smell. But hey, this is the coast, fish makes everything ten times worse, so he doesn't think too hard about it and enjoys the lovely sigh of a naked Geralt instead.
Shopping goes great. They find most things they need, from warm clothes for Jaskier to the vodka for Geralt's brothers, from the linen rags to the trinkets for Cirilla. A second trip will be necessary to get it all, but they finish this one with their most important purchase: a beautiful white gelding he decides to call Pegasus. Geralt helps him choose him, and Jaskier hopes his good eye includes judging a potential good friend for Roach. They buy a little cart as well.
His first lecture comes after that, so Jaskier leaves Geralt with their supplies and the horses (oh look, Roach has flowers in her hair, what a surprise -not-) to get ready. He begins with some small talk, getting to know new students and checking on old ones to see how they are doing. Then the introduction he always starts with: a reminder that the outside world is nothing like the inside of Oxenfurt's walls. Little does he know that the person that taught him that is sneaking into this class as well.
A long discussion that includes a variety of topics -from rhyming to note taking- follows it, and Jaskier is in his element. Speaking for hours about a subject he loves to people that understand it? Getting the attention and admiration of a whole room on him? Yes please. He loves every second for it. And he finishes with his (and the student's) favorite exercise: choosing one of his songs to analyse and discuss.
Her sweet kiss easily wins the vote.
He shouldn't be surprised, really. Usually the White Wolf is the most popular topic, but he hasn't written anything new about him in over a year. And Her sweet kiss has been a hit since he composed it, which proves how much of his heart there is in it - it always gets tears rolling. He's hesitant at first, but also ends up surprising himself at how quickly he gives in. Even if the details of the mess that is his love life have changed around a bit, the message of the song is still relevant. Singing it would be cathartic.
So he sits at his desks, crosses his legs, picks up his lute and sings, raw emotion going into every single word that leaves his lips.
He finally notices Geralt when he's half way through it.
Thankfully he's good at hiding most of his panic from the students, who are now also aware of the visitor - eyes only widen for a second before he looks away. But Geralt... he would able to hear his heartbeat picking up speed until it's only a buzz. To smell the pang and heartache rolling off him in waves. To listen to the very subtle shift in his voice, which breaks with emotion when he sings I'm weak my love, and I am wanting.
Or maybe not so subtle. Half the classroom gasps when he reaches that part, and by the end, he has a new record of tears jerked. Many of them are glancing at Geralt too - did the witcher pay any attention, or has this been more pointless poetry to him? Before Jaskier can say anything (he needs a moment to recover from the emotional high he's now crashing down from), a crying girl raises her hand and speaks up.
"With all due respect, Master Jaskier... this 'fool' sounds like a complete imbecile."
A chorus of agreement takes Jaskier by surprise... he can only laugh.