#literally the way he looks at Jaskier

[thelostgirl21]

I'm late to the party like you wouldn't believe, but I've got to say something, because I'm so upset!

Okay, unpopular opinion, I actually loved Jaskier's Season 3 hair!

Was it always perfectly styled? No. There were a few scenes where I personally thought it could have used a bit more volume, or a bit more volume in some places while a bit less in others; but, most or the time, I was more than fine with it, and thought it suited Jaskier well!

At times, I literally adored it!

Ex:

To me, those are moments where I thought Jaskier looked his best in the series! Loved the hair!

Then again, personally, I tend to prefer Joey's looks with his forehead cleared and his hair longer.

Like, this is I think one of the most gorgeous non-feral hairstyles I've ever seen on him:

(X)

This is an absolutely gorgeous man, and I personally prefer his hair styled like this than short.

(Note: I'm not saying he's not beautiful with short hair, too, simply stating personal preferences. Certain aesthetic choices are based on comfort, too, and he can 100% afford to sacrifice the "long haired look" for something that makes him feel more comfortable. He can rock plenty of different looks!)

Then, of course, there's the feral look that is just in its own category...

So why am I upset?

I've just found out that he didn't wear a wig in Season 3!

That Jaskier's Season 3 hair were simply Joey's own hair that he had decided to grow out.

And look, I'm fine with everyone having preferences!

That's not my issue. Having your own tastes and not being a fan of Joey's Season 3 hairstyle is not the issue at all!

There were posts simply mentioning that they hated that it looked so flat, when we could have been graced with something a bit more like this:

And I do get preferences when it comes to styling.

It's just that I recall how - since people assumed it was "an ugly wig" that had been forced on his head by the wig department, rather than what they considered "a bad hairstyle" - the comments on "Jaskier's hair" were at times downright nasty!

And I just gotta get out of my system that those of you that have been literally making fun of his "sudden 4-inches receeding hairline" (first I'll have you know I find receeding hairline pretty hot!), when it's kinda remained the same for 3 seasons (it's called BANGS people. Joey tends to wear those with his shorter haircuts! Look it up!), for example, really suck!

His hairline has always gone pretty far up on each side, even in some of his earlier work... Ex: Gopher in "Mount Pleasant" (2016):

Like he's got very thick hair that form a "V" shape at the top (my mom had that, but I didn't inherit it... And we've got tons of hair... Like, a lot! * ) and a pretty large forehead.

*

(That's me at 18, and then at 28 - before I brought them back to a lower back length - but my mom is the same in terms of thickness, she just has that V in the front I lack, and it never receeded any further in her life.)

And there would be no shame in having thin hair, or any form of baldness anyway!

So yeah! I remember sort of heavily ignoring all those "ugly wig" comments because I, too, had assumed it was a wig (turns out Joey's hair seem to be a bit like mine, and grow pretty fast), and at some point you choose your battles.

Did I think a bunch of you were immature assholes for needing to hate on that "ugly wig" so much? Yes. But you find those in any fandom!

Personally, I thought "the wig" was awesome!

But now, I kinda regret not having taken the time to be more supportive of Jaskier's Season's 3 hair given I actually like it...

Because that's just a (very sweet) human being's hair, that was styled in a way that a number of people didn't like.

Again, zero problem for those that thought it was badly styled, and that the look didn't suit Jaskier!

Critiquing what you find a "bad hairstyle" is no cause for shame!

But, for those of you that took it to the next level with all those "ugly wig" comments, you fucking suck, I sure hope you've since found out that you'd been openly ridiculing a fellow human being's real hair, that it makes you feel like complete pieces of shit, and that feeling like complete pieces of shit is going to help you learn from your mistakes, before you start attacking other people's personal physical features in the future!

"Well, I didn't know!"

Here's today's lesson:

When you don't know, please kindly shut up and assume the hair you see is the real thing!

Or critique the wig like you would a real hairstyle, asking yourself "Hmm... Is describing someone's real hair the way I do going to make me sound like a bully?"

Like I said, I'm aware I'm pretty late to the party, but the the kid in me that got heavily bullied in school over her own hair really needed to get it out of her system!

#Joey Batey #Jaskier #'s hair in Season 3 #I remember Joey mentioning in an interview that people just kept “asking about the hair” this season #And most of the time it wasn't really a question... #No wonder he went “People ask me all the time: Wow! Joey! You're so good at baking!” I his video #If people tend to ask him questions that are non questions... #But yeah I'm kinda sad about it... #Hope the fact that the “hair comments” left him confused was because he didn't read the online ones... #Just had interviewers go “Season 3 hair...” implying there was something odd about it and somehow waiting for Joey to elaborate. #I actually saw one of those interviews where the interviewer was kind of implying there was something wrong with it #without explaining what was wrong with it... #Like everyone assumes Joey didn't like his Season 3 hairstyle and gets why they are all getting stuck on the hair... #So anyway he just explained the intent behind the look. #But yeah it kinda sucks the way there was like this massive negative reaction to his hairstyle when I literally can't find anything wrong #with it... #It's not even that far from his usual look (just a bit more ironed)... #The fuck happened with the hair... #My Post #My Thoughts

[sacred-algae]

I don’t think Jaskier is fully aware of the fact that Geralt is It for him.

I know we aren’t getting Geraskier, (they’re still canon to me) so at this point I just want my blorbo to be able to move on and be happy instead of fucking miserable but the more I think about it, the more I realize that even if he does get chance to be with Radovid… I don't think he would ever be truly happy.

Yes, he could love him, and be happy that he's being treated well, and worshiped and valued, and everything a good relationship should be. Yes, he'd learn to move on as much as he can… but that’s only as much as he can. Geralt will always be with him. Geralt will be a filter for which he perceives affection and how it's given out and received. Everything will relate back to him.

Geralt is love for Jaskier.

It would be doomed. As much as he could learn to love somebody new, it would take far too long to be fair, and even if Radovid fully understood and stuck around because he knew Jask was trying and didn’t mind, even if Jaskier does love him—It’s doomed.

He couldn’t do it. Because everything they do reminds him of Geralt even though they weren’t even together… but he can’t escape it. It could even be years down the road with zero contact with Geralt (because that’s the only way he could truly even begin to move on) and he would be miserable.

So he’d leave Radovid. Because it’s not fair. And he’d decide he’s better off having one night stands and casual affairs that last no longer than a month for the rest of his life.

And maybe he’d go back to Geralt. Because he sure as hell can’t live without him if the past however long it’s been has taught him anything.

Geralt would be so mad at him for leaving but it’s not like they haven’t gone a long time without seeing each other/not contacting each other before. It’s just been a while since then… And Geralt needs him too, how could he say no? He missed him horribly.

And I think at that point, Jaskier would tell him why he left. Geralt deserves to know. Because at this point, if Geralt will take him back, what’s unrequited love? It doesn’t matter. He should have known it wouldn’t matter. And really, he should have done this a lot sooner, maybe he could have gotten some fucking peace—

“You should have.”

“I should have what?”

“You should have done this sooner.”

“Yeah, that’s literally what I just said. Why are you— Geralt? What are you— Gods, that’s unfair, don’t look at me like you’re about to—”

Kiss me.

He should have done this much, much sooner.

#geraskier #meta #the witcher #the witcher meta #geraskier meta #geralt x jaskier #geralt of rivia #jaskier #dandelion #the witcher season 3 #radovid #prince radovid #radovid x jaskier

[fangirleaconmigo]

It's been awhile, Geralt x Jaskier enthusiasts, but here is your newest installment of...

Otherwise known as...

Things that sound like Geraskier fic writers made them up, but that are, in fact, book canon.

This time with commentary on the original Polish wording from @cherrypoison1889! Thanks, Cherry!

Today we're talking about dopplers, otherwise known as shape shifters, also called vexlings in the world of The Witcher. Dopplers are often used to expose the fact that Dandelion is a vulnerability for Geralt, that he loves him.

There are quite a few Geraskier fics that play with this trope. (I will give you a rec or two at the end of the post.)

It makes sense! Plus, the show used a doppler, (more on that later) so the concept is right there!

But does the concept of using a doppler to reveal Geralt's true feelings for Jaskier just exist in the fevered imagination of Geraskier fic writers?? Is this pure fanon? Or canon?

Well, you may have guessed (since I didn't write all this out for my health!)...

It is canon.

In The Witcher book, Sword of Destiny, we meet a doppler called Dudu, who turns into Dandelion (Jaskier) to protect himself from Geralt. He even has a few choice words to say about what he sees in Geralt's thoughts.

Want the details? Of course you do, you've read this far, why not?

When Geralt meets Dudu in this story, the doppler is in the form of a halfling called Dainty Biberveldt. Dudu has bonked Dainty on the head, stolen his shit, taken his form, and is running around Novigrad making business deals with his ill gotten gains.

Dainty wants his shit back from the doppler, but does not want to turn Dudu over to the city guards because Dainty is a decent person who knows that they will murder the doppler in an absolutely horrific way that I will not describe to you. Novigrad is rife with violent bigotry towards non humans, and dopplers in particular have been slaughtered to near extinction. They've been subject to genocide, basically, just because they creep people out. (I could write a thesis just on the way this short story handles themes of racism)

But anywho. That's how we get Geralt's involvement. Geralt is pitching in to get Dudu under control so they don't have to involve bigoted law enforcement. (We stan Dainty ACAB Biberveldt in this house)

This particular scene opens when Geralt has pursued the doppler into a crowded marketplace and has finally cornered him in a tent. Dandelion is elsewhere in the market, being a slut, so he is nowhere to be seen. When Geralt corners Dudu, they are alone, and the doppler panics. He can't get away. So, he decides to be crafty.

First, he turns into Geralt as a way to protect himself. The book describes Dudu changing into Geralt, down to the last detail. Now there are two identical witchers in the tent. Then Dudu speaks.

"Don't come any closer," the second witcher said huskily and smiled. "Don't come any nearer, Geralt. I won't let you lay your hands on me."

So now he looks just like Geralt and has his husky voice. Perhaps he is hoping Geralt will not be able to harm someone who looks like himself. Perhaps he just wants to be equal to him physically.

Either way, Geralt's self esteem is too low for the first one to work. Here is how Geralt responds to an exact copy of himself.

"What a hideous smile I have," thought Geralt, reaching for his sword. "What a hideous face I have. And how hideously I squint? So is that what I look like? Damn."

So, Geralt reaches for his sword immediately, and the only reaction he has for himself is disgust.

Here is where I asked Cherry for her thoughts. Is Geralt as mean to himself in the original Polish? Hideous is pretty strong a word! Here is what she said:

Cherrypoison1889: Geralt is indeed very harsh on himself, when he sees the doppler transform into him. In Polish, he uses the word "paskudne" to describe himself, which is literally hideous. However, he also calls his face "gęba" which is a more vulgar word for face, which in Polish is "Twarz". So he's even harsher on himself, I'd say.

Oh noooo. But just when you think Geralt's low self esteem is going to be a strategic advantage, it betrays him. Why? Because when Dudu says, you can't defeat me, because I am you and I know everything you know...

"I am you," the doppler repeated. "you will not gain an advantage over me. You cannot defeat me, because I am you!"

That is where Geralt starts to lose ground. Why? Because Geralt of Rivia says, no, you can't really copy me! Because you are a good person, and I'm a bad bad bad man. I kill people. I'm a killer. You cannot relate. You cannot even begin to understand the mind of a bad evil killer man like me.

"No," the witcher countered, "you are not. And do you know why? Because you're a poor, little, good-natured doppler. A doppler who, after all, could have killed Biberveldt and buried his body in the undergrowth, by so doing gaining total safety and utter certainty that he would not be unmasked, ever, by anybody....But you didn't kill him...Because you're a poor, little, good-natured doppler, whose close friends call him Dudu...you only know how to copy what is good in us, because you don't understand the bad in us."

Geralt isn't saying this to be strategic. He truly believes it! He knows Dudu has seen his thoughts! Listen to what he says next...

"you aren't capable of defying me, because I am what you are unable of copying (sic). You are absolutely aware of this, Dudu. Because you took over my thoughts for a moment."

So, Geralt is like, you saw what a mess it was in there. You know what a killer I am. You may as well give up now.

I thought 'took over my thoughts' was a little bit of an awkward phrasing, it almost implies thought control, when I feel like the context is thought reading, so I asked Cherry about that. She said:

Cherrypoison1889: As for the "taking thoughts over" bit, it is the same in Polish, I am afraid. the word Sapko uses is "przejąć" which means exactly that, although I assume that the "take over" in English was meant to be understood as "acquiring" although I can't be sure of that. It sure does sound a touch awkward.

But back to the story, Tellico (Dudu) has now been inside Geralt's head. So he knows that's absolute bullshit, even if Geralt doesn't. He has seen what is in Geralt's heart, which prompts him to take another shape.

Tellico straightened up abruptly. His face's features, still those of the Witcher, blurred and spread out, and his white hair curled and began to darken.

"You're right, Geralt," he said indistinctly, because his lips had begun to change shape. "I took over your thoughts. Only briefly, but it was sufficient. Do you know what I'm going to do now?"

Do you? Do you dear reader, know what he's going to do now? I'm going to let you make a guess.

The leather witcher jacket took on a glossy, cornflower blue colour. The doppler smiled, straightened his plum bonnet with its egret's feather, and tightened the strap of the lute slung over his shoulder, the lute which had been a sword a moment ago.

Well, if you've read the books up to this point, we all know who's form he has taken. Cornflower blue, egret's feather, lute....smart doppler.

"I'll tell you what I"m going to do, Witcher," he said, with the rippling laughter characteristic of Dandelion. "I'll go on my way, squeeze my way into the crowd and change quietly into any old body, even a beggar. Because I prefer being a beggar in Novigrad to being a doppler in the wilds."

He then has a powerful monologue about being subject to extermination and genocide. About hunger and fear and freezing to death. He makes a very touching plea to Geralt, asking the Witcher why he is denied the right of survival, granted to everyone else, just because he is a doppler. It is about a page and half long and I HIGHLY recommend people read Sword of Destiny, because this is good shit. He says he will stay in Novigrad.

"As a resident of Novigrad, I'll trade, weave wicker baskets, beg or steal; as one of you I'll do what one of you usually does...."

The Witcher said nothing.

Now, Dudu, in Dandelion's shape, having seen Geralt's thoughts, takes his gamble. And boy does he have guts. He tells Geralt about himself, about his supposed bad bad heart.

"Yes, as I said," Tellico continued calmly. "I'm going. And you, Geralt, will not even try to stop me. Because I, Geralt, knew your thoughts for a moment. Including the ones you don't want to admit to, the ones you even hide from yourself. Because to stop me you'd have to kill me. And the thought of killing me in cold blood fills you with disgust doesn't it?

The Witcher said nothing.

Tellico adjusted the strap of his lute again, turned away and walked towards the exit. He walked confidently, but Geralt saw him hunch his neck and shoulders in expectation of the whistle of a sword blade. He put his sword in his scabbard. The doppler stopped in mid-step and looked around.

"Farewell", Geralt, he said. "Thank you."

"Farewell, Dudu," the Witcher replied. "Good luck."

Dudu wins that one, quite handily.

The doppler turned away and headed towards the crowded bazaar, with Dandelion's sprightly, cheerful, swinging gait. Like Dandelion, he swung his left arm vigorously, and just like Dandelion he grinned at the wenches as he passed them.

As he walks away, Dudu even plays the lute and sings "exactly like Dandelion". Then he shouts back advice for Geralt to pass on to the bard.

"Pass that on to Dandelion, if you remember," he called. "And tell him that Winter is a lousy title. The ballad should be called The Eternal Fire. Farewell, Witcher."

Dudu has seen Geralt's thoughts EVEN THE ONES HE WILL NOT ADMIT TO EVEN THE ONES HE HIDES FROM HIMSELF, and his next choice was to turn into Dandelion.

Now, do I think that the author meant to imply that Geralt is trying to hide his love of Dandelion? No. Slim chance of that. However, it isn't like it's a secret that Geralt hates killing creatures who do no harm or who cannot fight back. So there is still something a bit fuzzy to me about the thoughts that Geralt hides from himself.

It is ripe territory for a Geralt x Dandelion enjoyer to exploit, cultivate, and use for their fics and headcanons.

I asked Cherry for her thoughts about this, about what Geralt's hidden thoughts are having read the original Polish, and she said this:

Cherrypoison1889:

I feel like Dudu used Geralt's self-loathing against him, in a way. As in, if Geralt were to kill Dudu-as-Dandy, he would admit to himself that he is a ruthless, horrible person, who kills "intelligent" beings, despite what he claims, which would also make him a hypocrite. And we know Geralt is a big softie, so he wouldn't do it anyway. I think changing into Dandy was an additional precaution, just an extra measure in case Dudu turned out to be wrong.

I really liked this story, I don't remember reading it back when I read the books (it was ages ago, so I might be wrong anyway). It's really funny, and Geralt is babbie. Darling boy, he just bought himself a new jacket and it got ruined in the frenzy...

Babbie Geralt, that's our darling.

It is sad that Geralt has so much self loathing that it didn't help Dudu to look like him, but it is very sweet that Dandelion is such a point of vulnerability for Geralt, and that Dudu had his number.

Dudu wins this round soundly. The story isn't over. I won't spoil it in case you guys want to read it. But it has a great ending. It is definitely one of my favorites.

I will just never get over how easily he gets the upper hand on Geralt here. Geralt of Rivia, legendary monster hunter, defeated by little Dudu because of his low self worth, his mushy heart, his solidarity with non humans, and his love of a slutty bard.

Now, recommendations.

The Doppler Effect, by @a-kind-of-merry-war This is the first doppler fic I read in the fandom and it has alll the delicious emotional drama, pining, and sexiness that you want from a fic like this. It is excellent.

Images of You, by @pherryt This one is a delightful 'continuation' of what happens in Sword of Destiny. After Dudu learns about Geralt's feelings, he essentially matchmakes Geralt and Dandelion eventually receiving a sexy thank-you of his own.

Them, by @gilligangoodfellow I feel like dopplers and Dudu in particular is so ripe for exploration in fic. So it is wonderful to see a fic like this. It's a short character study of Dudu as gender fluid, with the doppler coming out to Zoltan. Seriously, try it.

Alright, thanks for reading, folks!

For more Geralt and Dandelion "I can't believe it's not fanon..."stay tuned. I am organizing a master post with all of the posts I've done. So keep your eyes out. (in the mean time, most of them seem to show up in the tag, just not all of them)

And lastly, THANK YOU CHERRY! I love having a partner to do these posts with!!

#the witcher #geralt of rivia #jaskier #dandelion #geraskier #gerlion #the witcher books #i can't believe it's not fanon #canon or fanon

[shy-urban-hobbit]

Jaskier retreated from the main hall. Leaving the remaining Wolves to see to their injured and dead and readying himself for another night tucked away in his wreck of a room, determined to stay out of the way after already having been largely ignored since his arrival and then shoved away by Lambert twice. He found himself wondering if he should count the first time, considering that he probably saved Jaskier’s life in the process? Probably not. The second time though was just plain spiteful. But then, he and Geralt had been travelling together for years and the white haired Witcher tolerated his casual affection at best – why else would it always be down to Jaskier to initiate when he'd seen the Witcher freely hug and give causal touches to Ciri and Yen multiple times?

He swallowed down his self pity as he realised he’d taken a wrong turn somewhere – he definitely didn’t recognise that particular crack in the wall.

“Fuck.” He sighed as he slumped against the wall. Part of him wondered if he should maybe be feeling a little more panicked about this turn of events, considering he’d been warned that some parts of the Keep were unsafe (whilst neglecting to tell him which parts. So that was incredibly fucking useful). Then again, it wasn’t exactly like he’d be missed, even if the Wolves weren’t currently preoccupied with the aftermath of a possessed princess unleashing almost literal Hell. He closed his eyes and rest his head against the freezing stone. Sod it, this was just as out of the way as anywhere else. He’d try and get his bearings in an hour or two.

“Jaskier. Jaskier!”

Jaskier jerked awake at the shout of his name, squinting at the sun through the window, surprised by how little time had actually passed.

Geralt barrelled around the corner just as he was trying to shake some of the stiffness out of his shoulders, the Witcher looking panic-stricken as he practically ran to the Bard, “Jaskier.”

“Geralt, what’s wrong? Has something else happened with Ciri? Has Yen’s chaos - oh!” He was cut off as Geralt pulled him to his chest, wrapping his arms around him tightly and effectively trapping the Bard’s own between their torsos as he hid his face in Jaskier’s shoulder, “Fuck. Geralt, talk to me. What’s happened?”

“I couldn’t find you.”

Jaskier gave an eloquent “Huh?” at that, “Geralt, did you hit your head and not say anything again? You did find me. You broke me out of prison, remember?”

He felt Geralt shake his head, “No. Just now. You weren’t in the hall, or where Yen showed me you’d been sleeping or anywhere else I checked. I thought something had happened to you and none of us had noticed. I hadn’t noticed.” He pulled his face away, allowing Jaskier to fully look at him, “You scared me.”

Jaskier lowered his eyes, ‘Congratulations Julian. Yet another fuck up.’

“I’m sorry. I thought it’d be better for everyone if I stayed out the way.”

“No, Jaskier.” Large fingers tilted his chin up until sky blue met molten yellow, “I’m sorry. For pushing you away on the mountain, for keeping you at arms length here, for how the others have treated you.”

“I don’t think you have much control over the last one to be fair.”

“Yes, I do. Ciri made me realise I should have set them right as soon as I arrived back. She gave Lambert an earful for shoving you like he did after his injuries had been checked over.”

Jaskier gave a brief smile at that before the mood turned serious again, “Can I ask why though?”

“Hmm?”

“I thought we were ok after you trusted me to escort Ciri and then you just acted as if I were invisible. what did I do wrong?” He couldn’t stop the tears blurring his vision, “I know I can be too much. I was too much when we were together, I see that now and I want to try and fix things. Stop being so, well, me. But I can’t when I don’t even know what I did between the prison and here to make you angry at me again.”

Geralt looked at him like Jaskier had just been the one to sucker punch him, “You did nothing Jaskier, you never did. I acted as I did because, well, you terrified me. Still do.”

Jaskier gave a wet laugh, “I seem to be making a habit of that today.”

“I mean it.” Geralt continued, “You shoehorned yourself alongside me and you were – are – so full of life and joy and light. I wanted to keep you for myself. Something I’ve never felt so strongly before, not for Yen, not for Renfri. I wanted to know you completely and be known in return and that realisation scared me more than any monster I’ve faced. I didn’t know how to let you in like that, so I pushed you away.”

In a moment of bravery (or perhaps madness), he brushed his lips against Jaskier’s forehead, hearing the Bard’s breath catch, “You’re not the one who needs to change, Jaskier. You never were. I just don’t know how to start, but I’ll try. For you and Ciri and Yen.”

“My darling Witcher, you already have changed.” Jaskier, squirmed until he was able to loop his arms around Geralt’s waist, finally returning the embrace, “You and Yen are able to be in the same room and act like actual adults, you finally took responsibility for Ciri, and as for me-“ Jaskier gave Geralt’s waist a squeeze, “You do realise this is the first time you’ve hugged me first?”

Geralt brushed his lips against Jaskier’s brow again, firmer this time, “First of many. If you’ll allow it.”

“Always.”

#the witcher #the witcher fanfiction #geralt/jaskier #geralt x jaskier #geraskier #jaskier/geralt #jaskier x geralt #witcher geralt #geralt #geralt of rivia #witcher jaskier #jaskier

[thebibliosphere]

Did you have any thoughts on the prophecy in the last few minutes of blood origin? The editing seemed to imply that Jaskier had something to do with it which has caused some grumbling from people who want more book accuracy.

The people who want more book accuracy have been grumbling about things deviating from the books since the games came out :p

Honestly, everyone would be a lot happier if they just realized we're traversing down parallel timelines that look similar but have their own stories to tell. We're essentially watching Wither fanfic with a Netflix budget. Would that more fandoms have such coinage.

Anyway, yeah, I do have some thoughts about it.

Spoilers under the cut!

So just to recap the last few lines of the prophecy, "the Lark's seed shall carry forth the first note of a song that ends all times, and one of her blood shall sing the last."

You get the general gist that Lark/Eile's bloodline is being referenced, and Jaskier gets to break the fourth wall a bit by quite obliviously going, "wait, what, who?"

The elven woman then commands him to "sing the song of the seven, Sandpiper, so the oppressed may find hope and strength and make ready for the great change to come," ensuring that Jaskier's voice is tied to how things end no matter what.

But let's jump back a bit and break things down some more.

Focusing on "the first note that ends all times," I believe that's meant to be a reference to Ciri's power. We've seen what happens when she screams; imagine what some training and time with Yennefer will achieve. Girl is going to end the universe as we know it. Again.

But wait, who is the "and one of her blood shall sing the last?"

Why, it's our dear bard, of course!

This implies that Jaskier is related to Ciri in some way, which I don't find all that implausible, no matter how much some people are grumbling about it. He's a Viscount, after all. And royal and noble bloodlines are so thickly interwoven in this universe that all their family trees look like wreaths if you squint. Sometimes you don't even need to squint. (and that is book accurate.) It's entirely plausible that Jaskier and Ciri are thirteenth cousins twice removed on their divorced great aunt's side. Or somebody had an affair. That's just as likely.

If anyone is still skeptical about this theory, Jaskier's nickname, Sandpiper, is also a type of bird, tying him back to Lark again. Lark is the bird that sang at the start of the world as we know it; the Sandpiper will sing as it ends.

It's quite heavy-handed, and I'll be surprised if the show doesn't run full tilt with it. It'd also let them handwave away why they forgot to age up Jaskier in season one. Surprise, elf blood!

Now, I know why people are mad about it because the person in the book who is telling the end of the story is meant to be Ciri.

But this is not the book series. This is the Witcher Netflix series, and they're giving the narrative burden to Jaskier, which IMO makes more sense given his tendency to break the fourth wall and that it's his voice we hear at the end of every season finale, singing through the end credits.

He is quite literally going to be the last song we hear as the series ends. It makes narrative sense to pass the burden of retelling the story on to him.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my Witcher TedTalk.

I'm going to be so mad if the showrunners don't do any of this and pull some complete batshit fuckery out of their arses as a twist.

#the witcher netflix #witcher blood origin spoilers #ciri #jaskier #fan theory

[artistsfuneral]

part 18

"What really happened to me?" Geralt asks, his voice so deliberately neutral it makes Jaskier sick. Black dots dance across his field of vision. It's getting harder to breathe.

"You asked me to do it. And I didn't want to, of course I didn't want to,” he gasps, “but you told me you'd be fine- You promised- Geralt, you promi-” Jaskier's head falls to the side and hits the ground.

You see, the bard muses, the funny thing about time traveling is that it is very similar to passing out. Jumping through time is as easy as falling unconscious – you don't really have to think about it to do so and the more often it happens the better you get at not hitting your head. The catch though – because even if you're not literally caught there's always a catch, isn't it – is that no matter how many times it happens to you, waking up is always incredibly disorienting. So Jaskier can't really be blamed when he wakes up with his head in Geralt's lap and for a moment thinks that everything is alright again, that they're on the Path, camping somewhere out in the woods waiting for Ciri to join them.

Reality has never been that forgiving, so when the familiar wooziness leaves him it takes Jaskier's wishes and dreams with it. He gratefully accepts the waterskin that Geralt hands him after helping him sit up again and drains it in one go, before solemnly apologizing for passing out on the witcher mid conversation. Geralt doesn't say much at first, but Jaskier can see that there's a lot on the witcher's mind.

The silence between them is uncomfortably heavy and Jaskier can't stand it. Just as he's about to open his mouth Geralt finds his voice again. “It was blood magic.”

Their eyes meet. Geralt's golden orbs dark, almost angry and Jaskier's blue full of surprise. He remembered more. “It was a trap,” Jaskier fills the space in Geralt's thoughts. “The sorcerer was already dead, but Ciri wanted us to look for an artifact she needed. We- We thought it was safe. Good riddance, the place was already dusted over!”

“It made us careless,” Geralt adds, looking lost in his thoughts.

“It was my fault,” Jaskier says, full of anger. “I activated the curse, because I wasn't paying attention, but you-” His eyes met Geralt's again and he shook of anger and despair. “You told me not to worry! You told me you knew what you were doing, that I just had to trust you! And I did, I bloody fucking did because the walls were caving in around us and I was so fucking scared we wouldn't make it this time and I thought I would be fine with it, I thought if I died by your side it would be alright, but I just couldn't stop thinking about Ciri, about Yennefer, about your brothers, our family waiting for us to come home just to be frightened more and more every day we didn't show and I-” He gasps, ringing for breath as his body continues to shake uncontrollably.

“I stabbed you, Geralt. I put a knife through your chest, because you promised me it'd be fine. And I believed you, because you are the love of my life and I trust you to keep us safe.”

remember to like and reblog if you voted :)

Only two more parts 👀

Sooooo for the next story I was thinking you will have to navigate Jaskier through the wilderness to find Kaer Morhen? Eat the berries, Jaskier, it will be fiiiine, Jaskier. (possibly with someone in tow? Ciri, or Aiden? Or maybe a witcher turned into a child? 🤔🤔)

tell me if you (don't) want to be tagged :)

(x) @fingons-rad-harp @sinfulpetgirlrd @wren-of-the-woods @basilikum7 @eveljerome @this-is-not-a-slow-burn @araglas1989 @alaskawho @cinary @swan--writes @mirrorthoughts @chaoticfandomthot @sonatabee @gregre369 @awitcheress @yaskefer @hannibard @myfeelisfunny @kore888 @filledepluie @pathsofpassion @joyfulcherryblossombasement @ryuuhana91 @toapoet @nerdymuffinbonkcloud @ineffably-a-fangirl-99 @starlghtstarbrite @siriusly-the-best-bi @cowboybuttconnoisseur @logastellus21 @chasinggeese @whump-der-it-is @inanoldhousewrites @reluctantbroodingdads @professorjaskier @ourbooksuniverse @life-as-a-gamergirl

#the witcher #artistsfuneral about the witcher #witcher #geraskier #jaskier #geralt #geralt of rivia #jaskier the bard

[handholdinglion]

okay witcher thoughts

I’m watching this program abt rewilding the Lake District and there’s a sheep farmer who is against it as it destroys his livelihood & the farming communities way of life + it’s future !

so what I’m saying is…

- sheep farmer / wild horse caretaker eskel who’s family have farmed on the fells for generations. it’s not an easy life and it doesn’t really make any profit, but it makes him happy. Waking up each morning to check on the sheep (they roam pretty freely but he still likes to make sure nothing has happened over night), to feed the few chickens and hens and to groom any foals he’s currently raising

- baker / brewer lambert who continues in his foster families foot steps of producing the best bread + baked goods in the whole of the lakes (well that’s what the locals say) and has started his own brewery on the side (as it’s just the same as baking just with greater rewards)

- conservationist/ environmentalist geralt who was brought up in an old industrial town and found freedom from his mums family in a hidden patch of greenery amongst derelict red-bricked buildings. After passing his apprenticeship and spending years advocating for more green / wildlife spaces in towns and cities, he’s looking forward to an ‘easy project’. Cause how hard will it be to convince farmers about the benefits of nature

- journalist / blogger jaskier who’s hoping this placement year project writing and documenting for the National Trust will finally show his family why doing a joint honours in journalism was a good thing and far more important than (idk law ? politics ? business management ?)

they’re literally in my head 24/7 I’m sorry, everything comes back to them especially nature tv shows (or anything based in the north of the UK)

#the witcher #geralt of rivia #jaskier #witcher eskel #witcher lambert #modern au #farming au #? #aiden is 100% the pub owner #I just want him and lambert to flirt okay #the witcher is always on my mind #i love them so much #tw3 #Lake District au #gerskel #idk what all the wolves tag name is #help #geraskier #my own #my words #it’s my words

[tschulijulesjulie]

I do have two upcoming exams in two and three days respectively so naturally i spend all my time thinking about Radskier (as you do). Those circumstances let me to a thought which will not leave my mind, and i'd love to here more opinions on it. (sorry, long post incoming)

Before i start, a little disclaimer: I haven't read the books nor played the game, so what im about to say is only and purely based on and referring to the show.

So, I'm not sure how everyone else feels about Radovid, but it actually took me some time for him to grow on me. And this is partially because i had envisioned him differently, especially after seeing Hugh Skinner being cast.

So my first thought seeing him on screen was literally "what's this wet cat looking man?"

Those didn’t quite fit, but i couldn't put a finger on what's my actual association was. So I ignored it. The man and the ship grew on me, and so I've spent quite some time watching fan-edits of Radskier on YT these past days (side note: i need MORE, there aren't enough out there!)

One of those videos feature The Calling from TAD's lates album ruin and when Madeleine sang about that fox, it hit me. THAT was my initial association!!!

I mean, just LOOK at him, he's so fox-coded?! the hair(-colour), his red coat, the FURR!!! And thats only the visual resemblance. I can't help but also notice parallels in his characterisation and with what personality traits foxes are usually associated.

all of those traits we have also already seen in - or can assume for - Radovid.

He's intelligent (and tries to hide it), as Jaskier so perfectly points out for us. He's sly, and deceptive. Cunning, and determined - and charming. We might also assume that he has at least some cruel tendencies from the way he's portrayed in the games...

But now, whats REALLY interesting is looking from this perspective at the Geralt/Radovid comparison, which Jaskier so cleverly opened with his hammer-spoon-metaphor.

Because more than Radovid, Geralt even is canonly referred to as "White Wolf" (which a friend of mine so cleverly pointed out might have been Jaskiers invention!)

This is not only because he is from the school of wolf witchers and has white-ish hair. He's tall, muscular, grumpy looking, fast, a hunter and so on.

But he's also characterised that way!

He might be the lone wolf, but he cares for nothing more than his pack and will protect them at all cost.

Both animals are canines, but theyre characterised as differently as possible. Both are predators but but their way of hunting couldn't be more different.

Now, coming back to the witcher and those two characters, it's easy to assume this character design of Radovid wasn't a coincidence.

In a way they're parallels when it comes to Jaskier, both fighting for his heart loyalty.

Geralt is a hammer, a wolf, secure in his ways, stubborn, but not always right.

Radovid is a spoon, a knife, a fox, with tricks up his sleeve and a mind like a maze.

#this isn't me trying to bash Radovid btw #he's an amazing character and i cannot wait to discover more of his depths #AND him and Jaskier are so an interesting ship?!?! #the tension #the looming doom!! #delicious! #this is merely a observation i made that i found quite interesting #and wanted to share #radovid #radskier #geralt of rivia #geraskier #jaskier #the witcher #the witcher s03

[fandom-junk-drawer]

The Witcher Headcanon (Modern Au) - Error 404 Brain Not Found: Bonus Scene - Part 12

Jaskier puased, swallowed, then darted across the door way. He yelped and gibbered as Nerf darts started flying.

Geralt laughed as Jaskier danced around in the door way briefly, trying to dodge the barrage of Nerf darts he was shooting at him. The bard yapped as a few of the darts found their mark.

The guns were custom made. Geralt had f***ed with the mechanisms and now getting shot with one would definitely leave a bruise. And it didn't help that they were both bucka** naked.

They were playing Naked Nerf Gun War because Regular Nerf Gun War was boring, and Yennefer was out with the girls, so why not have a little Swinging D*ck Time ?

Jaskier retaliated. He stuck the Nerf gun out the doorway and blindly fired.

Geralt groaned loudly as one of Jaskier's haphazard shots nailed him in the ribs, adding another bruise to his collection. He ducked down behind the safety of the recliner and heard Jaskier bolt for the stairs. Geralt rolled out from behind his hiding spot...

Jaskier reached the stairs and laid down some last minute cover fire. One of his darts hit Geralt right in the dangly bits. Jaskier froze at the top of the stairs when he heard the strangled noise Geralt made.

"Geralt?" He saw him hunched over, holding his groin. Ooooh...f**k!

"Er, Geralt, are you, uh, alright?" Geralt straightened up, and Jaskier caught a glimpse of the murderous look in his eyes.

Jaskier ran for his life.

"I said no d*ck shots!" Geralt snarled, starting after him.

"I didn't aim for it, I swear-!" Jaskier screamed as Geralt didn't even bother to use the stairs. The Witcher just leaped and hauled himself over the railing.

Jaskier turned and sprayed more cover fire, hoping to slow Geralt down. He heard him grunt as some of the darts hit.

Geralt chased him down the hallway, getting him in the back twice, and almost turned an ankle as Jaskier suddenly changed direction and darted around him.

A Nerf dart hit him in the nads.

Everything stopped. Jaskier and Geralt stared at each other in mute disbelief.

"You little f**ker!"

"I DiDn'T mEAn tOo!" Jaskier screamed as he made a run for it while Geralt was still doubled over. He ran, blindly firing behind himself. There was another pained growl in a very familiar octave.

"Godsd*mmit!"

"Am sOrRy!"

"You're doing it on purpose!"

"AM nOt, I sWeAr!"

Jaskier whipped around the corner and slipped on a t-shirt on the floor. He went down with a surprised shout, landing with a series of thumps.

Geralt came skidding around the corner seconds later and saw Jaskier getting to his hands and knees. He was literally a** up, and Gerlat could not stop himself. He raised his Nerf gun and, with a maniacal crow of triumph, fired.

He got Jaskier right in his a**.

Jaskier was just getting up, knowing Geralt was only seconds behind him, when he heard the pop of the Nerf gun, and felt a very uncomfortable, very abrupt sensation in his nether region.

He's going from horizontal to vertical in a split second, screaming in shock and gripping his a** with both hands.

Geralt is just about laughing himself sick at the way Jaskier has snapped bolt upright to his knees, while holding his backside. But then he sees the look on Jaskier's face. It 's a mix of pain and shock, with a dash of slowly increasing fear.

Geralt *confused*: What?

Jaskier *eyes huge*: My a**...

Geralt: Yeah, I shot you in the a** because you shot me in the d*ck twice, and once in the balls. What about it?"

Jaskier *anxious pained whisper*: The Nerf dart...i-it's in my a**!"

Geralt: F**k...

Yennefer was having coffee with Madeleine and Vespula, enjoying a No Boys Allowed Day, when her phone rang. She heaved an irritated sigh when she saw Jaskier's Caller ID image.

She said a brief prayer to any god that was listening and feeling inclined to be merciful to her today, then answered the phone.

"Y-yEn..?"

A Voice Crack. F**k

"What is it?" Yennefer asked, cautiously. Jaskier's voice sounded very small and anxious. And there was a hint of pain.

"Yen, I...can you -- I know you're out with the girls-- but...can you...cOmE HoMe?"

"What happened, love? Are you alright? Where's Geralt?" Yennefer exchanged worried glances with Madeleine and Vespula. Something was wrong.

Madeleine and Vespula could hear Jaskier hesitantly begin to explain over the phone. They saw Yennefer's expressions go through several emotions. Worry gave way to annoyance, then disbelief, then came mild disgust, which finally turned to amusement.

Yennefer's mouth twisted with the effort of trying not to smile as she asked in disbelief, "You had a what?"

Madeleine and Vespula crowded around Yennefer to better hear the drama.

Yennefer gasped, then slapped a hand over her mouth to cut off the begining of a cackle that was trying to slip out. Her voice shook with the effort of holding in the cackle as she asked, "It wEnT WhErE?!"

A brief pause while Jaskier repeated what he'd said.

Yennefer was fighting for her life when she responded. Jaskier could hear her trying not to burst into outright laughter.

"I'm sorry, my love, but you're on your own for this one."

"But can't you just come and, and...magic it out?"

"I'm going to have to pass..."

"Yennefer, please?"

"Sorry, Jaskier-!"

"But...it's...it's uncomfortable. No-! I know I told you all those stories and about that one time! That was different! How?! What do you mean 'how'? Well for one, it wasn't violently and suddenly shot up my a**!"

"That's what you get for playing with toys that don't have a flared base, Jask!" Vespula interjected.

"Ves!"

"I'm sure it's not the weirdest thing you've put up there," Madeleine added.

Jaskier: *offended bard noises*

"You'll be fine, Starling, " Yennefer assured him, "It's just a foam dart. From a toy gun. Just give it a yank and it'll come right out--!"

"I, um, can't get it..."

"Why not?"

"Geralt, er, Geralt modified the Nerf guns. They shoot really hard now, and it's uh, way up there... and it uh, kind of...hurts..."

Jaskier heard Yennefer gasp.

"Are you f***ing serious, Geralt?! For f**k's sake--! Since you put it up there, you're going to f***ing get it out! Do you hear me?"

"Hmmmmm."

"Don't argue with me! Three times? Well that's what you get for playing games naked! Don't you blame him! You're the one who shot a f****ing Nerf dart up HIS a**!"

"Hm..."

"Don't roll your eyes at me either--! Yes you did, I could HEAR you! You better fix my bard before I get home or you're going to find some of your horse figurines mysteriously gone!"

"Hm!"

Jaskier sighed as Yennefer ended the call. So much for doing things the easy way. He turned to Geralt, a resigned look on his face.

Geralt sighed. "I'll go get a glove."

#the witcher #the witcher netflix #twn #the witcher headcanon #the witcher modern au #geralt #geralt of rivia #jaskier #julian alfred pankratz #yennefer #yennefer of vengerberg #geraskier #geraskifer #geraskefer #yenskier #yennskier #yennaskier #yenneskier #yenralt #error 404 brain not found headcanon #error 404 headcanon #brain not found headcanon

[mothpiercings]

i wrote this while on vacation then forgot about it for a week anyway

jaskier travels to future modern day where geralt is like 800 years old

after the dragon hunt geralt and jaskier part ways

geralt didn’t mean anything he said ofc, he was just angry and frustrated and he took it out on the one person he could always count on

but his stupid pride won’t let him apologize

even though he feels sorry as soon as the words leave his mouth

he watches jaskier walk away, and knows that he has to give his the bard some time

three years is a lot of time to give but geralt can’t find him

he has literally looked everywhere

oxenfurt, lettenhove, pasoda, hell even cintra (which he vowed to never go back to, but he needs to find jaskier)

the bard is nowhere

five more years pass

geralt still looks for him everywhere

every time there’s a bard with bushy brown hair or blue eyes or a lute with flowers on it, he’s reminded of jaskier and is filled with hope for one quick second

but it’s never jaskier

he hears it in a pub

it’s a no name pub he’s never been to, one he just stopped in after a hunt

and he hears it

the bard in the corner, talking to some patrons, acting as if it’s just casual conversation

“yes, yes, the great bard Jaskier, meletele bless his soul, wrote many ballads in his day, and had he not fallen to horrid fate, we might have more. but alas, we make do.” and he finished with a laugh.

a laugh

geralt storms out of the pub, probably scaring the few townspeople sober enough to notice

he takes on contracts that he knows are too dangerous for him

he goes to kaer morehn every winter and drinks himself near death

the others are worried for him, but bringing it up leads to geralt locking himself in his room for weeks

they don’t talk about it

he isn’t sober for more than a few hours at time for a decade

eventually geralt finds his child surprise

and he knows that he can’t keep this up AND be a decent father figure

he and yennifer sort things out and she helps him sober up

blah blah blah season two happens mainly as it did in netflix cannon except without jaskier

a few hundred years pass

everyone’s alive (all the witchers, yennifer, ciri, magic is the answer to everything)

it feels like forever

geralt never stops thinking about jaskier

everytime music changes or a new instrument is invented, all geralt can think about is how jaskier would respond

he cries the day he found out ab recording

all he can think about is how he would never get to hear jaskier immortalized like this

jaskier would never be remembered

that thought makes him cry harder

it takes yennifer and ciri a week to pull him out of his drunken depressive episode

geralt has settled in pretty well though

he’s generally good at adapting to change (even though the fact that his dog is named roach says otherwise)

he has a job that he mostly enjoys (he’s a park ranger. it’s the most fun he’s ever had and he loves it so much. if anyone ever found out he would kill them and then himself)

he and his family try to get together at least once a month

they got closer after they stopped having to kill to survive

when they finally got to a point where they could just be

they almost always go over to vesemirs (because despite what they say, he’s their dad)

it’s at one of these dinners, as everyone’s saying their goodbyes, a loud crack and swear is heard from the backyard

it’s a swear they haven’t heard in a long time

centuries maybe

then more swearing

geralt pauses and listens to the voice that he knows is dead

this is a nasty trick

the other witcher’s know that something’s wrong as soon as they see geralt’s expression change

they got rid of their swords a long time ago (it was the 70s after someone lambert tried to take them to a festival and almost killed someone. now they stay in the attic)

but they all carry daggers ofc

they grab their weapons and slowly stalk towards the yard

where the voice is still ranting and cursing

still in a language long dead

they open the door

geralt doesn’t belive it

“where the fuck am i, geralt” the bards voice is just like it was that day on the mountain

chapter/story two

none of them move for a beat

they can hear the man’s (jaskiers?) heart beating so fast it could come out of his chest

he doesn’t seem like a fake (dopplers went extinct a few centuries ago anyway)

if this was an imposter, they were too good at it

“jaskier” has the same scent he always has (wild flowers and a field after rain)

jaskier looks at the witchers, all big and scary and totally pointing their daggers at him

he can assume the other men are geralts brothers

though they don’t have a madellian, they each have a large ring with a wolf engraved

don’t ask jaskier how he noticed this

he doesn’t know

geralt stalks closer to the man (the man who was dead for almost 1000 years, the man who shouldn’t be here right now)

he hears a light growl from behind him and eskel lightly gripping his arm

but he has to do this, so he shakes the hand off and continues forward

with each step that geralt takes, jaskier smells… calmer

this confuses geralt, because even though they had been… friends for a long time, they parted ways on awful terms

in a language he hasn’t heard in such a long time, jaskier begins to speak

“geralt…” he repeats, “where the fuck am i?”

it takes a moment for geralt to process, and not just because he barely remembers the language

but the man’s voice sounds so much like jaskiers

and jaskier looks not a hair out of place

he looks. like he was simply plucked out of thin air in 12xx and deposited in 2022

#geraskier #the witcher #the witcher fanfiction #geralt of rivia #jaskier #yennefer of vengerberg #geraskier fanfiction #kaer morons #kaer morhen #i’m gonna write this eventually #maybe #hopefully #also #if u couldn’t tell #idk how to use tumblr #it’s difficult #so the formatting probably isn’t great #or good #but #we’ll survive

[thelostgirl21]

Help him...

#Jaskier #The Witcher #I was totally fine until THAT specific moment in the trailer... #Joey Batey #has a way of portraying fear and/or anxiety on screen that literally makes you physically feel it! #Those apprehensive eyes with that tiny step back and the way he shakes #How emotionally drained is he when he comes out of these scenes? #Can someone please wrap Jaskier in a warm soft heavy blanket and hold him? #Or Radovid's ridiculously soft and fluffy looking fur cape... #Oh. #Now I know why they gave Jaskier's love interest that large soft fluffy fur cape... #And those soft hair... #And called him #The Spoon Guy #Seriously someone bring him The Spoon Guy! #Like right fucking now! #It's an emergency! #Where the fuck is Prince Spoon Guy the 5th of Redania when you need him an his stupidly soft hair and ridiculously fluffy fur cape??! #My Posts #My Stuff #My fucking feels!

[imgoingtofreakoutnow]

Radovid and Jaskier - "Extraordinary Things" scene analysis

I literally cannot stop thinking about all the Jaskier and Radovid's scene, but especially their second scene in 3x02 (so SPOILERS for everyone who hasn't seen it yet)

First of all the song... oh, THE SONG! I've seen many interpretations of the song, but I do think that it's not about Geralt and it is more directed to Radovid than what we might think at first.

Keep your words on ice Your gaze lights the fire

After the looks that they've exchanged so far, especially when it comes to Radovid, looking at Jaskier so intensely, I can't help but think Jask's at least a bit talking about him in that second verse.

The first verse on the other hand has an obvious connection to the following ones:

Why waste our words when lips were made for extraordinary things?

Once again, I do believe this is another verse directed to Radovid. Jaskier is very perceptive when it comes to people and I do believe he has noticed Radovid fascination with him, so I feel there's a small, small chance this was also a way to tease Radovid. Plus, when he sings this Jaskier looks directly at Radovid.

They say keep on playing nice But I have no desire [...] It's not a want, it's a need It is paying no heed To what others say to sing

These verses are, in my humble opinion, once again talking directly to Radovid, especially the first two, during which the camera focuses on the prince himself.

The following ones can also work for Radovid, if we consider the "singing" as a metaphor for what people tell him to do, but maybe I am reading too much into this... but media exists to be analyzed, right? So, moving on.

The greatest songs are made up Of unspoken words of love Of them, I’ve had enough

Obviously, this part does reference Geralt and the songs Jaskier wrote for him in the past, confirming that Jaskier has loved him, but that has now moved on.

Also, when he sings the first two verses, the camera actually focuses on Radovid’s reaction (who’s having either a gay panic attack or realizing that the bard was definitely in love with the witcher).

With you, I have enough

This verse is actually nothing special BUT when he says that, at the very end of the scene, you can barely see it but Jaskier, who was looking down while singing the previous verse, raises his gaze to meet (guess what?) Radovid’s eyes!

And I LOVE Radovid’s reaction to the following verse!

With you, I am enough

I feel like this could be either read as Jaskier saying that to Radovid but also as Radovid saying that to Jaskier, especially if you look closely at the prince’s reaction, who first looks away, then gulps down, and then meets again Jaskier’s gaze.

To conclude it all, we get that beautifully haunted and shaky I am enough, which I do think is entirely Jaskier just saying that to himself.

We all know he was treated like fucking shit in the past, especially last season, and it’s already a delight seeing the other characters treating him with the kindness he deserves; but I also think he’s still trying to come to terms to the fact that he’s just a human in the found family he’s found himself in. He has no magic, no super-abilities he could use to defend those he loves, and he wasn’t always treated nicely, as already mentioned. It’s obvious to think that deep down, he doesn’t feel enough. 

And by singing it in the way that he does, while looking at Radovid the way that he looks at him, Jaskier reveals a part of himself to him and him alone. And the small smile he has at the end seems like it’s almost saying: “Well, this is me” and I JUST LOVE IT ALL!

Plus, the way his bard facade immediately jumps back in when he ‘remembers’ about the other people in the room? Dammit, I adore Joey Batey’s acting choices!!!

(I won't talk about the rest of the song but that's also so heavily Radovid coded! Like: "Drop the sweet disguise"????)

Then he walks away (also, it’s pretty funny how the people in the room all try to touch him, as he’s some kind of Jesus) and, even though he glances at everyone in the room, you can tell that the way he looks at Radovid is different. He lingers on him as he walks by and even while the camera pans away from Jaskier to the prince.

We don’t see Radovid immediately after that, it takes a couple seconds before his face is revealed to us and OH BOI! That guy is SHOOK! He can’t even find the words to speak, even though I think part of it can be blamed on Jaskier, who (in the smuggest and sluttiest way possible) sits down and puts his shoes on the table. And I totally understand Radovid because yeah… Jaskier is HOT, no denying that.

But it’s also interesting to look at Jaskier because there isn’t just smugness in his eyes. There’s still attentiveness in them as he studies Radovid and I think that’s what I love most about the interactions of episode 1 and 2. They’re never just talking, they’re always dissecting everything the other does or says, especially Jaskier but this can also be seen in Radovid at times (like in the carriage at the end of episode 1).

Now we come to the scene that pushed me to do this long and useless analysis (and thanks to @i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky for the gifs):

So, just before this scene, Radovid has stood up with no problems and walked over to Jaskier without faltering. But suddenly, now that he’s speechless, his stance falters. And it’s obviously to confirm the fact that he is drunk. However, Jaskier sees right through it.

The look on Radovid’s face when Jaskier says: “I would, except you’re not drunk”? The way he meets Jaskier’s gaze, his complete attention on him, while also still keeping a stance that could still be considered a drunken one (not entirely upright and slightly slumped)? *chef’s kiss*

Jaskier’s smile is not as smug as one would expect. It's almost soft while he's explaining to Radovid how he could tell he was not actually drunk. Jaskier is entertained; he's having fun revealing Radovid's lie. He's enjoying putting him on the spot because, even though he's the prince, Jaskier has the upper hand in their conversation right now (which he will also reveal to the other in a few moments).

And Radovid's not pissed. He lowers his head, as if he had been caught red-handed, with a smile. He doesn’t think much of it because he thinks Jaskier’s playing the same game he is, he thinks Jaskier’s flirting, so what if he understood that Radovid fancies him?

However, as soon as Jaskier starts talking about ‘seedy taverns’ and ‘great lessons’, his smile disappears. At first he is obviously just confused as to what those things have to do with – what he still thinks is – their flirtation.

That's also when Jaskier's smile disappears. His soft expression changes and becomes cold, in a way business-like. He was playing a moment before with a prince yet inexperienced (or that seems to be so) in the art of lying, but now he's actually showing the upper hand that experience gives him. He’s showing Radovid that he can actually read him and that he cannot lie to him. The happy facade is gone and now he's more determined than ever to have what he came for.

Again, Radovid’s reaction to that is perfect. When Jaskier stands up and walks towards him, talking about the ‘viper’s den’ he’s in, Radovid’s facade also changes pretty drastically. You can tell that’s not what he was thinking would happen. He now stands upright, raising his chin up, and he looks pretty pissed off (especially when he meets Jaskier’s gaze again).

Jaskier seems unfazed by this, keeping his head also high and asking for confirmation regarding the Rience’s ordeal he went there in the first place. And did his eyes fall to Radovid’s lips? Who knows!

Back to Radovid, the anger has left him. I mean, you can tell he’s still not entirely joyous but it’s not either about to kill the bard. He actually seems more fascinated than ever, especially when he speaks again (avoiding the Rience subject a second time).

After “Now I understand”, Jaskier smiles. It’s more a condescending smile than anything else though. He’s indulging Radovid, hoping to in the end get what he wants. However there’s still a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

And then Radovid answers (and again, love that before actually answering he hesitates), and as he does, as he says “[...] not who they pretend to be”, he looks Jaskier up and down, possibly subtly hinting at the fact that he sees who he pretends to be.

Following that, when his eyes go back to Jaskier’s, his expression is quite… sincere. Not weak but defenseless, as if he’s trying to show the bard that he means what he’s saying.

And Jaskier gets that, because you can see the little smile he tries to push down while lowering Radovid’s gaze since he stood up, which is just. so. ADORABLE!

When Jaskier asks: “And the rest?”, he’s not indulging Radovid anymore. He just wants to know, perhaps wanting to see what else this prince can actually see of him. And even though Radovid can’t tell yet what the rest actually is, the fact that he’s “determined to figure it out” means so much. It means he wants to stick around, something that it’s not a normal part of Jaskier’s life. He tends to be the one who sticks around, even when people don’t exactly want him around (ie. Geralt in S1), or the one people go to and only when they need help (ie. Geralt in S2). The other way around it’s new to him, but as we see, he can’t help but smile at the idea, a smile that once again tries to stop, because he still hasn’t entirely figured out who the prince is and wants.

Then Radovid finally gives him what he came for, bowing slightly his head as he assures him he will do what he can to find Rience, and the soft thank you that leaves Jaskier’s lips, followed by another one of those half-smiles. He really seems unable to stop smiling around Radovid, uh?

AND THEN, AS THE CHERRY ON TOP, RADOVID ASKS HIM (after obviously hesitating) ASKS HIM “DOES THE WITCHER KNOW HOW LUCKY HE IS TO HAVE YOU”??? SIR??? YOUR GRACE??? WHATEVER YOUR TITLE IS??? DO YOU WANT TO KILL THE BARD???

I love, love, love how this actually shows that Radovid was listening to the song (which was obviously talking about Geralt, as I said before) but not only that! He’s also saying that is not only enough, but he’s someone that a FUCKING witcher should be LUCKY to have around! And he means it, every word!

AND THAT’S WHEN JASKIER FINALLY SMILES??? SOMEBODY SEDATE ME!!!!

So anyway, that's pretty much it! Hope you enjoyed this unhinged analysis (which might have a second part? perhaps?)

#jaskier #radovid #jaskier x radovid #radskier #julian alfred pankratz #prince radovid #the witcher s3 #the witcher #the witcher 3 #the witcher spoilers

[valdomarx]

forget me not

Jaskier has been fading for some time now.

It began with grey hairs around his temples, and the way the colours would leach out of his clothes to leave them dull and flat within a few days. His music too, is flattened somehow. His lute won't stay in tune, and the songs which used to have whole taverns clapping along now fall with a thud.

People look through him too. He was accustomed to being the center of attention in any room, and now he passes through a crowd like he's not even there.

He walks the countryside, the horrors of the war raging through the Continent impossible to avoid. He arrives at the fields of battle too late to be of help to anyone, when acrid smoke lies heavy over the carrion and the churned mud muffles the voices of the dead.

At night, the moonlight paints him insubstantial as smoke, and he watches his skin slide into translucence. He stares at a dirty inn wall through his hand and while he should feel a roil of panic, all he can summon is a dull acceptance.

He's still numb when Geralt bursts into his dank prison cell, all shining eyes and firm decisiveness. "I need your help," Geralt says, and Jaskier wonders how Geralt sees him. Whether Geralt sees him.

But he is weak, has always been weak, so Geralt leads and he follows. He needn't have worried. Geralt pays him not the least heed, too busy with his child and his destiny and his pain.

It's weeks after they arrive at Kaer Morhen that Geralt seeks him out. He's perched in a window bay looking out over the snow. It's quiet here, and the world is blanketed and very far away. He'd found a single flower blooming in the courtyard and he rolls it in his hand, the only thing about him that's substantial. His hand is ghostly around the stalk.

"Jaskier." Geralt is staring at him like he's never seen him before. The irony.

Jaskier is astonished to see tears welling in Geralt's eyes. "What's wrong? How do I help you?"

He would laugh if he could. Even now, Geralt wants to play the saviour. "It's rather late for that," he says without rancor. He is slipping away into otherness, he can feel the tug of it like a riptide pulling him under. It's silent there, and still.

Geralt grasps him by the shoulders, and he can almost feel the touch. Almost.

"Tell me what to do." His voice is hoarse, his expression stricken.

"I need to be seen, Geralt. To be known. To be in another person's mind, to have then believe in me." Geralt is staring at him blankly. He sighs. "Each of us exists only in the minds of others. In my case, it's just a bit more literal."

"I don't know how to..." Geralt braces himself, squares his shoulders. "I'll find a way. I'm not going to lose you, Jaskier."

Jaskier looks down. Perhaps Geralt can save even him, even now. Perhaps not. "Do one thing for me, Geralt." He turns the flower over in his hand and smiles softly. "Forget me not."

#geraskier #the witcher #for the anniversary of love run #the amazing devil has given us so much 😭

[inkformyblood]

some monster hunter you are (The Witcher, Eskel x Lambert x Geralt; Geralt x Jaskier)

Eskel, Lambert, and Geralt go to a bar after a hunt and they meet Jaskier. [Modern AU, Modern Witchers, AroAce Eskel, Established Relationship] Eskel checks the soles of his boots, dragging the edge of his nail along something that could’ve been mud or blood or any combination of the two, and swings his legs up onto the table. Lambert, without looking, still barely even breathing since they first slumped into the narrow booth, swipes at the tailing end of his lace, twisting the narrow cord around his fingers. It’s as effective as a leash and Eskel huffs back a snort that still tastes like ichor no matter how many drinks they have worked their way through. He draws his boot back, tipping his foot to avoid the bottle balanced on top of the pile of empty cans and a handful of discarded glasses, and shoves his foot onto Lambert’s lap instead. The other man is solid, barely shifting with a grunt at the impact. 

He begins to untie Eskel’s lace, drawing the cord tight before redoing it. “What?”

The air itself is sticky to say nothing of the floor beneath their booth, a cloying sweet scent that invades every pore and would keep them humming at an uneven keel for the next few days until the rest of the potions bleed out of their systems. Eskel braces himself against the low slouch of the booth seating, decades of barely-wiped down grime clinging to his palms. He’ll scrub them raw in the bathroom later, trying to scour down to his clean bones without too much damage. He doesn’t need much height to peer over the teeming crowd, they’re already built tall and broad and that natural inclination had only been enhanced over the years, and he could see Geralt in the pitch black after his eyes had been plucked out. Eskel isn’t attracted to people, not in that way, not really, but he knows that Geralt is beautiful the same way he knows the sunset is compelling and sometimes all he needs is to sleep for a day and fuck someone until the knot in his belly is gone. It isn’t a relationship, not in the conventional sense, they’re far too close for that simple word to apply. They just are . 

“Someone’s chatting to Geralt.”

Lambert snorts, tugging the knot on Eskel’s laces tight. His movements are mechanical, the same actions a thousand times over executed the same way every single time, and he finishes with a tap to the middle of Eskel’s calf. “And? People do talk to Geralt for some reason.”

It is his silver hair, Eskel thinks. Somehow natural through the same potions that lengthened their teeth and burned their irises gold from the inside out and Geralt walks away with silver hair that draws every desperate soul in a two thousand yard radius to fling themselves at his feet. Sometimes literally. The man at the bar seems much the same as any other drowning idiot who looks at Geralt and sees a human life preserver instead of the rocks the lighthouse warns them away from. He’s different in that he looks like he could take a punch, possibly already has from the broken capillaries just starting to darken over the curve of his cheek that gleam in the low light, and he leans towards Geralt to try and immolate himself on the Witcher’s presence. His hair is dark, brushed back away from his face by some kind of product that smells nice. Like apples. Eskel breathes in deeply, filters out the tang of sweat and fear and far too much alcohol and bad decisions, and finds this man beneath it all. There’s plenty of mistakes lined up along his shoulders, a healing cut on his hand and another on his lip, but he’s interested, sharp and hot and focused on Geralt. 

“This one is different,” Eskel murmurs, digging his heel into the meat of Lambert’s thigh. It’s a silent request, barely needing to be preceded by an action but they’re close, not quite family, not quite lovers, and what would he be if he didn’t take the opportunity to irritate Lambert? Lambert scoffs at him, swiping at the carefully balanced bottle and tips the remnants into his mouth from an arm-span away. The liquid is, somehow, pink. Lambert pushes himself onto one foot, the muscle in his thigh tensing as he does so. His hand falls, bottle still clutched between two fingers, to keep Eskel’s boot wedged in the seam of his thigh.

“That little thing?”

“Not little is he?”

“Solid.” Lambert kisses the back of his teeth, the beginning vibrating along Eskel’s jaw before it lowers into a normal register of sound. Geralt glances over at them. “Fuck, is he blushing?”

Fuck. Shit. Is he? Eskel pushes himself upright once more. Geralt’s gaze meets his, pointed like the pretty slip of a dagger Geralt carries in his boot, a matched set for the one that Eskel carries at his thigh and Lambert has tied around his neck like an oversized pendant. His eyes are still dark with the remnants of the potion, but the main colour is robbed by the expanse of his pupils, blown wide with interest. The colour on his cheeks wouldn’t be noticeable by anyone human, it is too subtle for that, but to Eskel’s eyes, the pink hue bleeds over Geralt’s cheeks, stretching from his hairline to jaw and dripping over his shoulders. He’d bet his pay from this job that the pink extends further, stopping somewhere over the planes of Geralt’s chest.

This night just got fun . 

“Isn’t he off the posters?”

Eskel slants his gaze back at Lambert, tracking Geralt’s reluctant twist back to the man out of the corner of his eye. No. Not reluctant. Protective. His hackles are already up in defence of this man, this stranger, and the barrage of teasing Eskel and Lambert will unleash over him the moment he slinks back to their booth, company pulled along in his undertow or not. Lambert tips his head towards the far wall, his grin tight and starving. Eskel follows his indication, blinking once, twice, to clear the flickering spots from his vision as his eyes focus on the twisting dust motes before he can adjust and make out the posters. It is the same man although somehow more muted in print and ink than he is in person, a certain sparkling essence about him that doesn’t translate to a still image. “The amazing and astounding Jaskier on his debut tour,” Eskel reads, carefully sounding out the blocky print. 

“Amazing and astounding seems like a stretch.”

“You called a milkshake amazing the other day.”

Lambert closes his eyes, the tip of his tongue poking out as he grins in bliss. There is something strangely canine about his expression, a dog lounging in the sun, it’s tongue hanging free from jaws stuffed with too many teeth, and Eskel bites back a laugh. He shoves his boot into the line of Lambert’s hip instead and the other man shifts with a groan, his eyes snapping open and away to the bar.

“That man is touching Geralt.”

No. No, he couldn’t be so ignorant of every instinct flattened into his brain and braided into muscle and bone. Humans were taught to ignore the itch of discomfort at the back of their thoughts, the sinking hollow in their stomach that something wasn’t right whenever they encountered something like the monsters the Witchers had been made to kill, but they listened when those same instincts screamed about the Witchers themselves. They were necessary, but not wanted. Something for humans to flirt with the concept of and retreat at the first opportunity, entranced and repulsed in equal measures. 

Eskel pushes himself up again. Lambert is right. The man, Jaskier if the posters are to be believed, has curled himself into the barely-there space in front of Geralt, one hand playing with the delicate cocktail umbrella from his other drink and the other laid on Geralt’s forearm. Eskel blinks. Jaskier’s hand hasn’t moved. 

“He is.”

“He isn’t pulling away.”

“No, he isn’t.”

“Neither is Geralt.”

“No.”

Eskel settles back into the booth, shoving his knuckle into his mouth and setting his teeth against the shattered topography of his knuckle. He breathes out through his nose in a slow hiss that doesn’t settle the snarl building in his chest, a brief burst of steam to keep a pressure gauge from tipping into the red. “Well, think we should go and introduce ourselves?”

“Yeah.” Lambert tips his head back, cracking his neck and Eskel winces, grinding his boot hell against Lambert’s thigh again, just because. “Let’s go say hello.”

#the witcher #geralt of rivia #jaskier x geralt #geraskier #jaskier #eskel #lambert witcher #eskel witcher #eskel x geralt x lambert #eskel x geralt #geralt x lambert #eskel x lambert #my writing #fanfic

[shy-urban-hobbit]

Geralt fought the urge to roll his eyes as Lambert stormed out of the hall with a final, "Fuck you!" Thrown at Vesemir, the older Wolf growling in response to his cubs final show of disrespect before making his way in the opposite direction towards the kitchen.

He honestly couldn't say what had started this one but they all knew the routine well enough by now. Lambert and Vesemir would fight about something, one or both would storm off, leave Vesemir alone completely unless they wanted to be dragged into more chores (he and Eskel had learned that one the hard way when they were younger) , give Lambert just long enough to ensure they wouldn't get a punch to the nose if they tried to speak to him and let him vent a little before they try and convince him to make peace with their father figure.

In a way it had been so much easier when Lambert was small. Vesemir would simply scruff him and drag him to do some mundane task or to his room for the remainder of the day and without supper as punishment. Now that Lambert was old enough and big enough to bite back effectively, it genuinely was like being caught between two literal snarling wolves at times. Neither of them wanting to back down or accept they were in the wrong.

Figuring enough time had probably passed, Geralt left the hall, planning on following the most recent trail of his little brother's scent to try and talk some sense into him.

He wasn't surprised when the trail seemed to bypass Lambert's room completely and head towards one of the abandoned parts of the Keep. Ever since he was a child, he'd made use of any and all hidey holes he could find when he wanted to sulk. Nor was he surprised when Aiden's scent popped up alongside - he'd probably grabbed his lover as a captive audience while he bitched about what had just happened. What did surprise him was the position he found them both in.

He rounded a corner and spotted the two of them a little further down. Aiden perched on the edge of a waist high pile of rubble, one hand running through Lambert's hair whilst his legs were wrapped around Lambert's waist loosely. Not in a lewd or suggestive way, just holding him close while Lambert...

The lines of his body suggested defeat as he appeared to be using Aiden to keep himself upright, slumped against the Cat as gracelessly as he was. His shoulders were drawn up almost to his ears and from what little Geralt could see of his face that wasn't tucked into the others neck, all the anger seemed to have drained out of him and aged him about ten years. He looked exhausted. Aiden's lips moved against the top of his head as he muttered something too low for Geralt to hear, whatever it was causing Lambert to tighten his grip on the other.

Geralt fought down the flare of jealousy at seeing Lambert this vulnerable with another. Aiden having apparently destroyed the walls it took Eskel and Geralt at least a decade to even crack in just a handful of years. He knew for a fact he'd told Jaskier shit neither of his brothers knew and Eskel would vent at his goats whenever he needed a confidante or two outside of family. Who were they to begrudge Lambert the same when he finally found it?

Green locked with amber as Aiden met his eye from the top of Lambert's head, eyebrow raised in silent question. Lambert still oblivious to Geralt's presence as he filled his senses with the sounds and smells of the one comforting him. Geralt shook his head minutely and held a finger to his lips, waiting long enough for Aiden to give a small smile of understanding in response before he silently made his way back down the stone stairs to ask Vesemir if he needed help. He could live with doing Lambert's share of the chores for a few hours.

#the witcher #the witcher fanfiction #aiden/lambert #aiden x lambert #lambden #lambert/aiden #lambert x aiden #witcher aiden #witcher lambert #lambert #lambert has feelings #slight lambert whump #witcher geralt #Geralt #Lambert always having to be the one to apologise

[doberbutts]

Speaking of unreliable narrators who either lie or don't know what's going on, the Witcher books are full of them and I think that's what makes the story so interesting to me.

Most of these characters shamelessly lie to get out of situations or to get their way, and it's not until several books later that these lies are revealed to, well, not be true. Geralt says he was a child of surprise but he's not, he says he's "of Rivia" but that's just to make himself look fancy he's not actually from Rivia, he frequently tells people that his swords possess immense magical power and will hurt ordinary humans but then when Dandelion/Jaskier hears him and goes "hey buddy you should probably have told me that before since I touch your swords all the time" he immediately replies "I was lying, there's no magic".

Geralt insists multiple times there is no such thing as dopplers until one is standing in front of him, at which point he goes "okay. Well. I guess I was wrong. Also did you have to shapeshift into me??? I'm so ugly wtf???"

And some of it is just bullheadedness. Mr God Is Fake And Prophecies Are Bullshit who has met approximately two gods in the flesh and literally every single prophecy said in his vicinity has come true.

Which is what amuses me about "well this guy in this book on this page said this about the history of Witchers so anything besides that isn't canon" when it's like. Bruh. Sorcerors lie to Geralt to get him to do what they want all the time. They're literally in the middle of lying to him when they say that. How do you know that's true? Geralt doesn't refute it but it's possible he doesn't know either. And he lies too, and he sometimes chooses to go along with a lie he's caught from someone else because he's interested to see the conclusion.