#one of these days i will post before midninght

[dapandapod]

Lollipop

Smol fluffy Jaskel because why not

On Ao3 here

"Can I have a lollipop?"

"No. You just brushed your teeth."

"But I get a lollipops after the doctor!"

"Yes, but this was the dentist, and teeth don't like lollipops."

"Mine does!"

"No, that is your tongue."

"And my tummy!"

"Exactly. Uncle Lambert likes lollipops, doesn't he?"

Jaskier watches the exchange while leaning against the doorframe to the hall, where a huge, muscular man is helping a five year old Ciri get out of her overalls. 

Ciri frowns hard when Lambert is mentioned, steadying herself with a hand on the man's shoulder as he struggles to get her boot off of her very adult-safe  overall leg.

"He does," she agrees after a moment.

"Do you remember when we went trick or treating, and how all your lollipops were gone?"

This makes Ciri pout. Jaskier can recall this happening; in fact, it had been the topic of the week when she had returned and exclaimed how a wicked fairy had poofed them away.

A dangerous topic to breach, but Jaskier has a feeling he knows where this is going, and he can't stop a slow smirk from spreading.

"They were poofed away," Ciri confirms again, wobbling as she switches to her other foot to balance on. Her hands are so small against that muscular shoulder.

"Do you remember how Uncle Lambert had a tummy ache that night?"

"He said he had to fart!" Ciri giggles in the way that delighted way all five year olds do whenever a fart is mentioned.

"Well, uncle Lambert's tongue also liked lollipops. But his tummy did not."

Ciri ponders this revelation for a moment, and then she makes a betrayed gasp.

"Uncle Lamby was dressed as a fairy!! He took my lollipops!!"

Oh, the beast has awakened. She leans forward with all the seriousness of a queen, and grabs the man's face to angle it towards her.

"Uncle Lamby must pay."

The man nods solemnly, and pokes her nose.

"Yes, but what did we learn from uncle Lamby eating too many lollipops?"

"That it makes you fart, and your tummy hurt!"

"Exactly!" The man helps Ciri step out of the overalls and hands them to her to put away.

He stands up, and even if Jaskier saw them come in, he was not prepared for what that meant.

Yes, there is an old, kind of scary scar across the man's face, but his eyes are warm and kind, and his build, well. Other words come to mind too, but they are not words Jaskier will use while around kids, let’s just keep it at that.

Their eyes meet, and Jaskier feels his cheeks heat up when the man smiles and stretches out a hand.

"Sorry, hello. I'm Eskel, Ciri's uncle. I took Ciri to the dentist today."

"Jaskier, her classroom teacher." Eskel's hand is warm and callused, shaking Jaskier's hands firmly before they let go.

It is hard to look away, hard to instead look down at Ciri, who has now stepped in front of her uncle expectantly.

"I put it away."

"The boots too?" Eskel asks, and she nods a little too fast. A quick look tells them that no, she did not put away the boots.

"Try again, cub. It seems they are trying to flee."

Ciri harrumphs and stomps her foot, her bangs falling into her eyes, but she does indeed return to pick up her escaping boots.

"Boots are a tricky kind." Jaskier remarks as they watch her shove her boots in irritably before returning. "Will you be picking her up too?"

Be cool, Jaskier, don't look to eager.

"I will. We got a lollipop revenge to plan, after all." The glint of mischief in Eskel's eyes makes something flutter in Jaskier's chest.

"What did uncle Lamby do to deserve such ire?"

For a moment, Eskel studies him, as if weighing him up. Ciri zooms past them both and into the next room, and she can hear her excitedly tell Dara about the dentist and lollipop thieves.

"I could tell you over a cup of coffee, maybe this Friday?." Eskel says, and oh, oh oh oh help, Jaskier is in trouble.

"That would be nice."

"BYE UNCLE ESKY!" Ciri yells from inside the room, and Eskel waves back.

"I'll see you both this afternoon, then." Eskel smirks, and oh no, his poor heart. Without another word, Eskel turns and leaves.

Jaskier decides yes, he needs a breather right fucking now, because did he just get asked out by the hottest fucking man this side of Cintra?

Hiding among the jackets and overalls gives him about two minutes to collect himself, and also spying out the window after uncle Esky. 

Only to see that said man is stood a few paces away, probably what he thought was out of sight, face buried in his hands, and looking adorably embarrassed.

Jaskier needs to marry this man.

#jaskel #jaskier x eskel #the witcher #modern au #kindergartenteacher!jaskier #teacher!jaskier #cirilla of cintra #ciri is a feral child #lambert is in trouble #short #fluff #silly #idk go brush your teeth #dapanda writes #one of these days i will post before midninght #today is not this day