Jaskier is furious; he can smell it on him, hear it in the harsh edge to his breathing. There's a tremble to his hands like he's got too much energy pent up in him, and if this had been a bar in Velen with a bunch of drunk peasants yelling for the past ten minutes about how witchers are monsters who should all be strung up like dogs, Geralt would think that he'd have to stop him from throwing a punch or smashing a bottle over someone's skull.
His voice is oddly gentle when he turns to Geralt again. His heart tells a different story, betrays that his emotions are still running high, but his tone, the way he walks towards Geralt like he might be startled away if he doesn't-- it's an unusual gentleness. He's a witcher and a grown man, he's not going to be scared off by an argument like a sensitive child. Hell, that wasn't even Vesemir being frightening-- get the old man to raise his voice, that's something that Geralt doesn't want to have to stare down. He'd rather fight griffins than an angry Vesemir.
Jaskier takes his hand and Geralt allows it.
"Hm."
It's a noncommittal way to respond, and he's not entirely unaware of that. But Vesemir's warning-- remember what you are. How could he forget? He's not a mortal man, who can have love and happiness like mortal men do. It would be easier if Vesemir was entirely right, and Jaskier is only at his side for coin and fame and maybe some sex on the side. That would be simple, easy to navigate. Worse, maybe Jaskier does love him, but in that fleeting way that he loved all of his other loves, and he'll have had his fill in a few months and move on to the next.
Worst of all-- he does love him, real and true, and just doesn't realize that he's handing his heart to a creature that has none. Unaware of the fact that Geralt cannot return his love in any way that matters, like how empty things give back only echoes.
"Let me take you to the library."
Then Jaskier would be able to enjoy himself, do something productive, while Geralt joins his brothers at the western wall for repairs.
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His voice is oddly gentle when he turns to Geralt again. His heart tells a different story, betrays that his emotions are still running high, but his tone, the way he walks towards Geralt like he might be startled away if he doesn't-- it's an unusual gentleness. He's a witcher and a grown man, he's not going to be scared off by an argument like a sensitive child. Hell, that wasn't even Vesemir being frightening-- get the old man to raise his voice, that's something that Geralt doesn't want to have to stare down. He'd rather fight griffins than an angry Vesemir.
Jaskier takes his hand and Geralt allows it.
"Hm."
It's a noncommittal way to respond, and he's not entirely unaware of that. But Vesemir's warning-- remember what you are. How could he forget? He's not a mortal man, who can have love and happiness like mortal men do. It would be easier if Vesemir was entirely right, and Jaskier is only at his side for coin and fame and maybe some sex on the side. That would be simple, easy to navigate. Worse, maybe Jaskier does love him, but in that fleeting way that he loved all of his other loves, and he'll have had his fill in a few months and move on to the next.
Worst of all-- he does love him, real and true, and just doesn't realize that he's handing his heart to a creature that has none. Unaware of the fact that Geralt cannot return his love in any way that matters, like how empty things give back only echoes.
"Let me take you to the library."
Then Jaskier would be able to enjoy himself, do something productive, while Geralt joins his brothers at the western wall for repairs.