Writing fic for The Witcher. I multiship. I am sometimes smutty, so 18+ LOVE the Amazing Devil and Joey Batey. She/her. Queer. Chicana. English/Español. AO3 Twitter Pfp art: @tishawish
You can call me Des or Bex, either one. I write witcher fic and meta. I multiship. You can see almost any ship cross the dash if you wait long enough.
I rb any and all Witcher canons (shows/books/games/give me a post about the musical and I’ll rb that too).
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Meta Posts:
Geralt x Jaskier in the books masterpost (I Can't Believe it's Not Fanon series)
Should You Read the Witcher Books?
Social commentary in the witcher (race, class, gender, sexuality in the witcher books)
Abortion in The Witcher Books
How Witchers Subvert Blue Collar Stereotypes
my tagged posts on the witcher books
Characters profiles:
Geralt of Rivia masterpost
Yennefer of Vengerberg tag
Dandelion (Jaskier) tag
Ciri tag
Eskel
Milva
Aiden
Valdo Marx
Fics:
WORKS IN PROGRESS
I Will Bring You Ruin Masterpost (Prince!Jaskier x Gladiator/Bedwarmer Geralt AU)
Posada Remix (WIP) Explicit. (Geraskier) Book!Geralt falls through a portal in Netflix land and meets Jaskier in Posada. Spoiler alert: he loves him.
Keep Me Forever (WIP) Explicit. (Jaskier/Eskel -> poly witchers) Eskel has fallen hard for a sex worker named Dandelion. He brings his new love to Kaer Morhen for the winter. Will Dandelion be able to thaw the frosty reception he receives from Geralt and Lambert? Spoiler alert: you’d better believe he can.
COMPLETED WORKS
Refuge in Lettenhove. (Geraskier, explicit, 65,556 words) It takes losing Jaskier for Geralt to understand that he loves him, but he thinks he has little hope of making amends. He has lost track of Jaskier and is on the run, protecting Ciri from Nilfgaard. Exhausted, afraid, and wounded, they seek refuge in the court of an unknown noble/resistance leader. When this leader turns out to be Julian Alfred Pankratz, Geralt thinks that maybe there is such a thing as second chances. However, his Lordship is acting as though he’s never seen Geralt before in his life.
Roses are Red (Geraskier, Rated Teen. 1,759) Soft drunk Geralt makes first love confession. He also composes a terrible poem for a very confused Jaskier. In Vino Veritas.
Offerings (Geraskier, Rated Teen. 2683) Secondary Title: Was Anybody Going to Tell Me That Geralt was Courting Me? Or Was I Just Supposed to Find it Out From This Random Herbalist Myself? Geralt has been gifting Jaskier with random bits of herbs and twigs. He isn't going to question it. In fact, he starts hoarding them, as embarrassing as that is. Then one day, he visits an herbalists and finds out that these herbs mean a whole lot more than he realized.
Two Drops of Water (Geralt/Eskel, Explicit, 3,536) Eskel has injured himself, and Geralt must help him undress. It brings up memories of their first kiss, and they learn a few new things about each other.
Cherries (Jaskier/Eskel, Rated Teen, 4495) Modern AU with magic. The witchers own a dive diner as a front. Despite their best efforts at making it inhospitable, a young socialite named Jaskier is obsessed with the place. (Probably bc Eskel keeps sneaking him extra cherries on his waffles)
I Lied (Geraskier, Explicit. 4,854) Geralt learns that Jaskier sleeps with men. Oddly enough he gets angry. Jaskier thinks Geralt is judging him. But maybe the issue is something else entirely. Hmmm I wonder what it could be? This is just funny miscommunication, different love languages, moronsexuals, then smut.
The Song of Geralt (Geraskier, Explicit, 5,012 words) The vibe in this fic is inspired by The Song of Achilles, so it is written in the first person. I know. Just try it I promise. Geralt has taken potions to suppress his sex drive since he was a child. (In this AU, they require witchers to do this.) However, one night, he gets the wrong potion and is suddenly, desperately, painfully aroused for the first time in his life. Jaskier can help with that. This one is yearning and soft and if I did my job well, achingly tender.
Marbles (Geraskier, Explicit, 5608 words) Geralt is hexed with a curse that takes his memories. One day, he runs into someone that he suspects is very important to him.
It's Hard to Be The Bard (Eskel x Jaskier, Teen and up, 7203 words) Fame is complicated in a world with soulmate marks. Some of Jaskier's more aggressive fans have found ways to exploit his soulmate marks to get a piece of him. Eskel walks into a tavern one night, and Jaskier mistakes him for one of them.
I Know The Kindest Thing (Lambert x Jaskier x Geralt x Eskel, Mature, 8,112 words) Vampire AU. Lambert lures a human back to the mansion he shares with Geralt and Eskel. But it turns out that the human bard he brings back is too ill and scrawny to feed from. They decide to 'rescue' him instead. Sexy shenanigans and found family ensues.
Paying Attention (Geraskier, Explicit. 10,887) This is a sweet friends to lovers. Jaskier is feral and loving. He gives Geralt a tender, sexy, first experience bottoming.
It’s a Trap (Geraskier, Rated Teen, 11,092) Jaskier is a professor at Oxenfurt and enjoys a reputation as the continent’s foremost expert on witchers. Geralt believes he is being plagued by a curse, and asks for his help. When Jaskier visits the grumpy witcher's home and meets his daughter Ciri, the pieces fall together. He is instantly charmed by the devoted father, and resolves to court him.
Uncommon. (Jaskier/Eskel, Explicit, 11,185) When Eskel meets Dandelion, the gorgeous sex worker willing to service him, it seems too good to be true. Dandelion does have a secret, but it’s not what Eskel thinks. There is the inappropriate use of axii, but think of it as a trust exercise. Consent is explicit and enthusiastic.
Eskel is Magic. (Jaskier/Eskel, Explicit, 11,218) Jaskier’s assignment on his first day as a scribe is to copy the anti-witcher hate tract Monstrum. He’s never met a witcher, but the words bother him. Just before the pamphlets are to be distributed, he comes upon a witcher with a goat, who needs his help. As you might imagine, this changes everything.
The Real Me (Jaskier/Eskel, Explicit, 41,420) This work is a continuation of Uncommon. Eskel returns to the brothel to accompany Dandelion on a visit to Kaer Morhen. But it's a long road ahead, and Eskel has only seen Dandelion at his best. Dandelion worries that if Eskel sees the feral petty little shit he is inside, the witcher won't feel the same. Will their infatuation grow into love? Or will it sputter out before Dandelion can darken the door of the old keep?
You Have Until Midnight (Jaskier/Eskel, Explicit, 62,970) Cinderella- esque fairytale AU. Jaskier works in the Kaer Morhen stables and pines for Eskel. There is a masquerade approaching where Eskel will choose a spouse. Jaskier knows he cannot attend as a guest and would never be accepted as an appropriate match for the witcher. But then he is faced with an unexpected opportunity. One lovely night. One dance. That’s not too much to ask, right?
The RockRose and the Thistle (Geraskier, Explicit, 60,722) After the mountain, Geralt finds Jaskier to apologize. But an apology isn’t going to be enough. Geralt is going to have to be open and honest about what he feels.
As he’s figuring out how to do that, he takes a job to kill a bruxa. What he doesn’t know is that it’s a trap. He’s fallen into the clutches of a king who wants to kill him to harvest witcher parts. Jaskier learns of the deception and has to race against time to save the man he loves.
Hello my friends, if anyone is still out there and following me, (despite my loooong absence) I am taking a trip all the way from sunny California to England.
I have found a little break in my life to do something totally self indulgent and am going to England today for a week.
It’s basically a The Witcher, The Amazing Devil, and book geek trip. So it’s just for me.
First, I am going to the Newcastle and Manchester Joey book signings.
I got the Manchester ticket first, but then I saw that Madeleine was going to the Newcastle signing. As a TAD fan, I snapped that up too, hoping to see her too. But she cancelled, sadly. But I’m still going to both.
If anyone here (reader, mutual, etc etc) is going and wants to meet up, please dm me!
Second I’m going to Brighton for the World Fantasy Convention. Andrzej Sapkowski, the man who started the madness, and whose books I obsessively analyze, will have a panel and signing there.
So again, if anyone happens to be in the area and wants to meet up, do tell!
And I am on insta at thebookishbruja if anyone wants to connect there.
Hello dear! I miss you and I miss being on here too. I feel like when I get overwhelmed by my life I just shut down. Whoever says women are born multitaskers never met me 🙃
Also, when I’m not doing updates on my writing I feel guilty and hide.
But I’m still here, and I’m still a huge Witcher and TAD and Joey fan, so I’m not GONE gone.
Case in point, I bought tickets to England (I’m in Southern California) to go to two of Joeys book signings, (Newcastle and Manchester) do fandom meetups, and go to the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton where the man himself, Andrzej Sapkowski will be doing a panel and a signing.
So I’ve gone from zero (being gone for like a year) to just full throttle doing an entire Witcher trip.
I’ve found some time in my life for ‘me’ to do this and hopefully it’s the beginning of more of the same.
i love you joey batey jaskier i love you doug cockle geralt i love you s1 friendship dynamic i love you s1 clothes i love you repressed but kind geralt i love you essi daven i love you yapping bard i love you fic setting i love you jaskier lovehating yennefer i love you mermaids i love you hints of backstory i love you sirens of the deep i love you sapkowski and most importantly i love you anya chalotra yennefer for ever and ever
omg for the can't believe it's not fanon: sharing beds & clothes I am fucking DROOLING over this
Hey there! Thanks for your vote. :D Alright, let’s make this ask my next installment off...(drumroll please)
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fanon
Otherwise known as,
Facts that sound like Geraskier fic writers made them up, but are in fact, book canon.
Today our topic is:
Bed Sharing and Clothes Sharing
So, if there is one thing that Jaskier and Geralt will always do in a Geraskier fic, it’s share a bed in a roadside inn. Sometimes it’s due to not having enough money. Sometimes it’s a ‘just one bed’ situation. Sometimes they are Just Like That.
There is also a whole subgenre of fics where they share clothes. Usually it’s Jaskier borrowing Geralt’s clothes. But sometimes it’s the other way around.
You might wonder whether all of this is a product of the fevered imagination of Geraskier fanfic writers. In TWN we do see Jaskier bathe him in the iconic ‘and yet here we are’ scene, but don’t actually see them share a bed.
Well, never fear, I am here to put these questions to rest. (sorry I’m tired and loopy tonight, so if I sound drunk that’s why). Ok, so as I’ve said in other posts, in canon, these boys are a domestic unit. I’ve already talked about how they pool their money and manage it jointly.
So if you’ve been following this series, you won’t be surprised to learn that....
Yep, it’s canon.
This post is about two times Geralt and Dandelion are described as sleeping in the same bed, (featuring an implication that this is a common arrangement) and one time when Geralt is mad at Dandelion, so Dandelion sleeps with someone else. (gotta watch your back, Geralt, folks will swoop in on that bard fast) Oh, and the clothes sharing. I’ll do that too.
Scene One. Bed Sharing. Sword of Destiny. So, in this short story, Geralt and Dandelion are staying at a merchant’s home, because Dandelion has been hired to play at a wedding. Geralt has gone to bed first, while Dandelion comes into their shared room a bit later.
The scene begins with a snarky Geralt “feigning” surprise that Dandelion has come back to their room for the night.
“Oho,” the Witcher said, feigning surprise. “So you’re here? I thought you wouldn’t be back tonight.”
Right away, it’s pretty hilarious. Well, look who decided to show up back at home. Look what the cat dragged in. Dandelion hangs up his lute and sits to remove his boots.
“And why,” asked Dandelion, removing his boots, “did you think I wouldn’t be back tonight?”
“I thought,” the Witcher lifted himself up on an elbow, crunching bean straw, “you’d go and sing serenades beneath the window of Miss Veverka, at whom your tongue has been hanging out the whole evening like a pointer at the sight of a bitch.”
LMAO if Geralt doesn’t sound like a jealous wife here. You were drooling over that bitch all night, you dog. Dandelion is unperturbed (as usual).
“Ha, ha,” the bard laughed, “but you’re so oafishly stupid. You didn’t understand anything...move over.” Dandelion collapsed on the palliasse and pulled the blanket off Geralt.
So, to summarize, in response, Dandelion roasts Geralt. Then, he bosses him around, plops down right next to him on the bed, and steals his blanket. That sounds about right.
Next, Dandelion explains his strategy with the women, saying he was just showing Veverka attention to get the interest of someone else. Geralt does not enjoy this.
“Geralt, feeling a strange anger, turned his head towards the tiny window...”
Dandelion notices how pissy he is, so he challenges him.
“Why so huffy?” the poet asked. “Does it bother you that I make advances to girls? Since when? Perhaps you’ve become a druid and taken a vow of chastity? Perhaps...”
So at this point, this chapter sounds literally exactly like a Geraskier fanfic. Now, of course, Geralt is pissy in the narrative because he embarrassed himself with Essi. But it still shows a lot of domesticity and emotional intimacy between the two of them for their friendship, and of course it is rich territory for a shipper. You can take a lot of things from that passage. You can hold that up to the light and take a long hard look at it.
Anyway, next, Dandelion starts to wax philosophical about women. In response, Geralt implies that these arrangements are not unusual.
Geralt groaned softy, as usual, when Dandelion was assailed by nocturnal talkativeness.
So, according to this passage, Geralt is very familiar with Dandelion’s nocturnal habits, which implies they usually sleep together or at least very close to one another.
Now, I’ve established that they sleep in the same bed in this scene, which is the point of this post. However, before I move on to scene two, I’m going to keep going with this one just a little longer, because Geralt continues to sound like a jealous wife and it makes me laugh.
Dandelion continues talking about women and kissing them. He notices Geralt grinding his teeth.
“...why are you grinding your teeth, if I may ask?”
Geralt could easily just say, I’m tired. Shut up. But no. Oh, no. He goes on another rant about what a whore Dandelion is, and folks, he’s got jokes.
“You’re incredibly boring, Dandelion. Nothing but palliasses, girls, bums, tits, incomplete happiness and kisses interrupted by dogs set on you by your lovers’ parents. Why, you clearly can’t behave any differently. Clearly easy lewdness, not to say uncritical promiscuity allows you musicians to compose ballads, write poems, and sing.”
The next part is his lil joke, which makes me laugh. He goes in for the kill.
“That is clearly-write it down-the dark side of your talent.”
Look, Geralt hooks up with women nonstop, so this is just hilarious. It makes him look really bitter like he’s having a tantrum.
Anyway, that whole scene is really rich for their dynamic, and they go on to argue about Geralt’s ‘otherness’ which is one of my favorite Dandelion passages in the books. But I’ll be talking about that in future posts, so I’ll try to stay focused on the ‘sleeps in the same bed’ topic at hand.
Clothes sharing scene one.
In that same short story, Dandelion borrows Geralt’s shirt. He doesn’t ask, he simply informs Geralt of this. Geralt isn't bothered at all. Feels like a routine thing.
“I must go,” Dandelion suddenly said. “I’ve got a rendezvous with Akaretta. Geralt, I’m taking your jerkin, because mine is incredibly filthy and wet.
“Everything here is wet,” Little Eye said sneeringly, nudging the articles of clothing strewn around with the tip of her shoe in disgust....
“It’ll dry off by itself,” Dandelion pulled on Geralt’s damp jacket and examined the silver studs on the sleeve with delight.
p228
I love that Dandelion is delighted with Geralt’s clothes. Geralt cares more about clothes than people give him credit for.
Ok. This second scene is one I haven’t seen people talk about on tumblr.
Bed Sharing Scene Two
In TIme of Contempt (pg 236) Dandelion has successfully made a terrifying journey into Brokilon forest to check on Geralt after Thanned. This scene begins the first morning after his arrival.
Dandelion awoke, and realized he had probably fallen asleep during the story, dropping off in mid-sentence. He shifted and almost rolled off the pile of branches. Geralt was no longer lying alongside him to balance the make-shift bed.
So, the first scene they slept together because the merchant wouldn’t give them two rooms. But there was the implication that they sleep together often. And here in the forest, they sleep together again on a makeshift bed of branches. Presumably, Brokilon is a big enough place for them to sleep on separate makeshift branch beds.
More sharing of personal items.
So next, Dandelion is catching Geralt up on all the politics post-Thanned. Dandelion refers to the political strife as a ‘game’. Geralt becomes upset.
“Enough,” Geralt said. “Not another word. When I hear the word ‘game’ I feel like killing someone. Oh, give me that razor. I want to have that shave at last.”
His beard has been bothering him. He hates having a beard. Dandelion protests that it’s too dark to shave.
“Now? It’s too dark.”
Geralt replies.
“It’s never too dark for me. I’m a freak.”
I FUCKING LOVE that scene, for so many reasons. First, just like Dandelion grabs Geralt’s blanket and clothes whenever he wants it, Geralt just demands Dandelion’s razor.
But while we're here, I'll also say this about Geralt calling himself a ‘freak’ resentfully. As bad as I feel for Geralt with all of his self worth problems, I love that he is able to just say it out loud without feeling self conscious about it. That shows a lot of trust in Dandelion.
You see, Geralt is actually very emotionally insightful, and he’s almost a century old! He knows he sounds petulant when he gets like that. It’s just like the previous story I was discussing, where he was like ‘Dandelion you’re such a whore and I hate you’ lmao it was so absurd. Geralt knows this. But when he is with his best friend, he can let his moods just hang out. He can just be as emo and bratty as he wants. Dandelion will just lovingly tolerate him and occasionally tell him he’s being a dumbass.
Their friendship is just so comfortable and I know I keep saying domestic, but they really do act like partners. They are both so secure and safe being themselves, (though I think Dandelion couldn’t be anything else if he tried) and it warms my heart.
Ok, here's the third scene.
Geralt yells at Dandelion, who then sleeps with someone else.
This takes place in Baptism of Fire, where Geralt is upset. He is probably more miserable, both emotionally and physically than he has been the entire saga up unto that point. He’s physically wounded, he’s beside himself with worry about Ciri, he’s sleep deprived, and he’s a giant mess. Not shockingly, Dandelion is getting on his last nerve.
Geralt has asked him not to tell people his mission to find Ciri. He wants to do this by himself. But Dandelion thinks they need friends and support, and he trusts Zoltan and his crew right away. (This is a big theme that book. Geralt refuses to let people help him and they bully him into accepting help.) So, Dandelion tells Zoltan the mission against Geralt's wishes. Geralt is livid. He yells at Dandelion. It goes a whole lot like that vine: “I should have left you on that street corner where you were standing. Butcha didn’t.”
Then, they drink a lot of moonshine at Regis’s place, and Dandelion sleeps with Zoltan instead of Geralt.
Zoltan and Dandelion lay in each other’s arms on a pile of mandrake roots, snoring so powerfully that they were making the bundles of herbs hanging on the wall flutter.
p145
Watch out Geralt, Zoltan is Mr. On My Way to Steal Your Bard. He's also crotchety with a heart of gold, so, just Dandelion's type.
Ok, I hope you guys enjoyed this installment of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fanon. Let me know if you have any requests for further posts.
Past Posts:
Geralt Is Protective of Jaskier(and why he’s so devoted to him)
Jaskier Is Protective of Geralt (Geralt is his specialest boy)
Geralt rescues Jaskier from kidnappers (and slaughters them all)
Geralt doesn't know Jaskier's real name until he learns from a third party in a hilarious way
This bit in Sword of Destiny (second witcher book) is one of my very favorite Geralt/Jaskier stories.
It has everything (Stefon voice):
Dandelion and Geralt acting as a domestic unit/pooling money.
Dandelion bullying racists
Geralt enjoying it very much
Dandelion being a difficult, vain bastard
Geralt handling him deftly
Geralt's Ethics (tm)
Ok, the story starts off with the fact that they are broke and hungry.
Dandelion shook his head, took off his bonnet, and looked at the witcher with a forlorn grimace on his mouth.
“You mean we still don’t have any money?”
“So it would seem.”
I love how they call it 'our' money and 'we' don't have money. They are very much one domestic unit.
Dandelion made an even more forlorn face. “It’s all my fault,” he moaned. “I’m to blame for it all, Geralt. Are you angry at me?”
So Dandelion is forlorn, hoping Geralt isn't mad at him. I just love when this vain, egotistical, pain in the ass gets all soft for Geralt. Also, Dandelion is at fault, which frankly, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
“No.”
The witcher wasn’t angry at Dandelion. Not at all.
Thankfully, Dandelion's husband isn't mad at him, Even though he deserves it. Why? Well, read on.
There was no doubt Dandelion was to blame for what had befallen them.
The witcher did not bear Dandelion a grudge for provoking the Rangers of the forest, he was not innocent either, for he could have intervened and held the bard back.
Dandelion got in a fight. Geralt isn't mad because he could have stopped Dandelion, but he didn't. Why?
He did not, however, for he could not stand the infamous Guardians of the Forest, known as The Rangers, a volunteer force whose mission was to eradicate non humans.
It had annoyed him to hear their boasts about his elves, spriggans, and eerie wives bristling with arrows, butchered or hanged.
Basically, they are racist and Geralt fucking hates them. Geralt isn't one for confrontation, though. HOWEVER when his pain in the ass boyfriend bullies them, he sits back and enjoys it. He is the very definition of this meme...
Dandelion though, who after traveling for some time with the witcher, had become convinced of his own impunity from retaliation, had surpassed himself.
Dandelion is so smug about having a badass husband that he's become even more mouthy and confrontational. (even though Geralt is not confrontational, Dandelion knows Geralt could kick people's asses if he wanted to. Dandelion is like a little yappy chihuahua who knows his german shepherd husband could handle it if he wanted to.)
Initially, the Rangers had not reacted to his mockery, taunts, or filthy suggestions, which aroused the thunderous laughter of the watching villagers.
The Rangers tried to ignore Dandelion. Dandelion was relentless, publicly making a mockery of them.
When, however, Dandelion sang a hastily composed obscene and abusive couplet, ending with the words
If you want to be a nothing be a Ranger
An argument, and then a fierce mass punch-up broke out. The shed, serving as the dance hall, went up in smoke….
So Geralt gets pulled into this fight Dandelion starts. And he blames himself equally because he knows he was enjoying it a little too much. (It really isn't his fault, but you know Geralt. Why blame someone else when you could blame yourself.)
Anyway, law enforcement shows up. Geralt and Dandelion avoid imprisonment because of Dandelion's fame. However they have to pay for damages, hence their extreme brokeness.
They have already sold everything off that they can.
….
They had already sold Geralt’s gold signet for food, and an alexandrite brooch the troubadour had once been given as a souvenir by one of his numerous paramours.
Things were tight. But no, the witcher was not angry with Dandelion.
“No, Dandelion,” he said. “I’m not angry with you.”
Dandelion did not believe him, which was quite apparent by the fact that he kept quiet. Dandelion was seldom quiet.
Aw, Dandelion is chastened and so worried Geralt is mad at him that he's actually (gasp) quiet. He looks for more belongings to sell.
He patted his horse’s neck, and fished around in his saddlebags for the umpteenth time. Geralt knew he would not find anything there they could sell. The smell of food, borne on a breeze of a nearby tavern, was becoming unbearable.
Poor hungry boys. But wait! They are saved from their plight when a stranger approaches them.
The man says his daughter is getting married. Like the absolute smart ass, bastard, whore he is, Dandelion asks if the man is offering him jus primae noctis.
The man says that his wife has learned that Dandelion is in town and wants to hire him for the wedding.
"...we'll show everyone we aren't churls like them. That we stand for culture and art. That when we have a feast it's refined, and not an excuse to get pissed and throw up...Master Dandelion, well I never, such a celebrity, that'll be one in the eye for the neighbors..."
It seems they are saved once again by Dandelion's celebrity! However, the poor man lets slip there is another bard already hired.
"Do my ears deceived me?" Dandelion drawled . "I, I am to be the second bard? An appendix to some other musician? I have not sunk so low, my dear sir, as to accompany somebody!"
The poor man is begging him and Dandelion is being prideful, so Geralt steps in.
"Dandelion," Geralt hissed softly. "Don't put on airs. We need those few pennies."
Now, Dandelion was JUST pouting and feeling guilty for being to blame for their hunger. And yet. He doesn't react well to Geralt's plea at first.
"Don't try to teach me!" the poet yelled. "Me? Putting on airs? Me? ...What should I say about you, who rejects a lucrative proposition every other day. You won't kill hirikkas, because they're an endangered species, or mecopterans because they're harmless, or night spirits, because they're sweet, or dragons because your code forbids it. I, just imagine it, also have my self respect! I also have a code!"
Geralt is a working class freelancer, and his economic position is tenuous enough that having ethics is always fucking him up. I love that he won't kill night spirits because they're sweet. XD Though, Dandelion is being a bit of a hypocrite here. After all, he was the one who LITERALLY BEGGED Geralt not to kill the dragon during the dragon hunt because it was "pretty."
Geralt knows he has to step up his game though. He pulls out the stops:
"Dandelion, please, do it for me. A little sacrifice, friend, nothing more. I swear, I won't turn my nose up at the next job that comes along. Come on, Dandelion...
Dandelion can't refuse him when he gets all sweet like that.
The troubadour looked down at the ground and scratched his chin, which was covered in soft, fair bristles.
The man, sensing that Geralt has weakened Dandelion's resolve, tries to close the negotiation. He offers Dandelion thirty talars.
"Thirty five," Dandelion said firmly.
Geralt smiled, and hopefully breathed in the scent of food wafting from the tavern.
And there we are, their problem is solved. I just think they are a damned endearing old married couple. I like to see them managing their money and negotiating their relationship. Also I love that part of why Geralt loves Dandelion, is because he is his complete opposite. Mouthy, vain, loud, quick to start fights. It scratches an itch he can't do himself because of all of his ethics and restraint.
Currently re-reading Time of Contempt and this is such a Geralt pookie moment 🥹
As I quote:
'Oh heavens, oh heavens,' said Yennefer much later, slowly wiping a tear from her cheek. "..."
Geralt knew that, in moments like this, the enchantress's telepathic abilities were sharpened and very powerful, so he thought about beautiful matters and beautiful things. About things which would give her joy. About the exploding brightness of the sunrise. About fog suspended over a mountain lake at dawn. About crystal waterfalls, with salmon leaping up them, gleaming as though made of solid silver. About warm drops of rain hitting burdock leaves, heavy with dew.
He thought for her and Yennefer smiled, listening to his thoughts.
Geralt was abandoned by his mom when he was just a child, leaving him with deep emotional scars. In the books, there are subtle yet significant references to how this abandonment shaped him, particularly his subconscious search for maternal warmth.
SoD:
"She treats you entirely like an object [...] and what you feel is a projection of her emotions, the interest she shows in you. By all the demons of the Netherworld, Geralt, you aren't a child [...] You trail after Yenna like a child, enjoying the momentary affection she shows you." - Istredd
BoE:
"Always on his side, aren't you, Nenneke? Always worrying about him. Like the mother he never had." - Yennefer
Tlotl:
"He maintained the appearance of secretiveness and pride. But at night he was completely in my power. He told me everything. He paid homage to my femininity, which considering his age was extremely generous, I must admit. And then he fell asleep. In my arms, with his mouth on my bosom. Searching for a surrogate for the maternal love he never experienced. Completely in my power." - Fringilla
This passage vividly illustrates Geralt's deep-seated need for maternal care, seeking comfort in a way that echoes the bond between a child and a mother 🥹
SoD:
"'Do you hate that woman, Geralt?' 'My mother? No, Calanthe. A choice should be respected, for it is the holy and irrefutable right of every woman.'"
Geralt’s response shows his complex feelings toward his mother, acknowledging her choice abt wanting to have a child or not, while also - what seems to me - revealing a deep, unresolved pain.
ToC:
"Listen to what?" shouted the Witcher, before his voice suddenly faltered. "I can't leave—I can't just leave her to her fate. She's completely alone... She cannot be left alone, Dandelion. You'll never understand that. No one will ever understand that, but I know. If she remains alone, the same thing will happen to her as once happened to me... You'll never understand that..." - Geralt about Ciri
Geralt’s fierce protectiveness over Ciri stems from his own experiences of abandonment. He is determined to shield her from the pain he endured.
Geralt and red heads:
Several times it's subtly hinted that Geralt has an inexplicable inclination toward redheads, that perhaps ties back to his unresolved issues with his mother.
SoS:
"Geralt felt an anxiety, forgotten and dormant, suddenly awaking somewhere deep inside him. He had a strange and inexplicable inclination towards redheads in his nature, and several times that particular colouring had made him do stupid things. Thus he ought to be on his guard, and the Witcher made a firm resolution in that regard. His task was actually made easier. It was almost a year since he'd stopped being tempted by that kind of stupid mistake."
Note what he felt when he encountered his mother before in SoD who has red hair:
"He looked again, making the most of the light. Her hair was tied back with a snakeskin band. Her hair... A suffocating pain in his throat and sternum. Hands tightly clenched into fists. Her hair was red, flame-red, and when lit by the glow of the bonfire seemed as red as vermilion."
The vivid description of his mother's flame-red hair and the intense emotional reaction it evokes in Geralt suggest that his attraction to redheads might be more than just a superficial preference. It could be a subconscious connection to the unresolved feelings of abandonment and longing for maternal warmth, linking his "inexplicable inclination" to deeper psychological roots.
YES these are some of my favorite passages. And just to add, we see how genuinely wounded Geralt is by this abandonment right away, in one of the first short stories compiled in the first book The Last Wish, you see him react in pain to a taunt about his mother. Let me tell you as a reader, I glommed onto that, like I just grabbed it and stuffed it in my mouth lol.
It is in The Lesser Evil (Renfri story). Geralt has had his first run in with Renfri's men. They insult his 'freakishness' and say he should be burned at the stake. A half-elf on the crew is explaining to the others what a witcher is:
"...I told you, a freak of nature. an insult to human and divine laws. They ought to be burned, the likes of him."
Another one also calls him a freak and brings in his parentage, asking
"who spawns you freaks?"
They have said he is an abomination and should be killed. But Geralt isn't upset by it at all. He just calmly and dryly points out that the man is a half breed, and therefore should be a more tolerant person.
"A bit more tolerance, if you please," said Geralt calmly "as I see your mother must have wandered off through the forest alone often enough to give you good reason to wonder where you came from yourself."
That's classic Geralt. Dry, sarcastic, slow to anger, just sort of verbally batting it back to him.
But then the half-elf says something that does get Geralt to show emotion. It is this:
"Possibly," answered the half elf, the smile not leaving his face. "But at least I knew my mother. You witchers can't say that much about yourselves."
THEN we get emotion. It is a physical reaction Geralt can't control, and even though it is subtle, it's enough that these men know they have hit a nerve and they laugh at Geralt.
Geralt grew a little pale, and tightened his lips. Nohorn, noticing it, laughed out loud.
DEFINITELY, this jumped out at me. It shows you immediately that Geralt has soft squishy vulnerabilities, and yes, mother issues.
One wonders why he doesn't seem to have the same kinds of issues about his father abandoning him, maybe because he replaced him with Vesemir as a baby. He calls Vesemir his father in the first book as well, and to him, that's the end of it.
In my mind palace/alternate history to the alternate history, Robin goes home with Ramy.
He travels with him all the way to India just to meet his family, to enjoy their hospitality, and to explore Ramy's home through his eyes. It is joy, because they never imagined that this luxury would be afforded them. Freedom. Solitude together.
Escape from Oxford doesn't exactly change their relationship, but it somehow magnifies it. For all that they know about each other, there are parts they can never quite see clearly, living in a city where Ramy is always performing, and Robin is always hiding.
Mischief, stubbornness, native tongues, old songs, memories, irreverence, childhood passions they laugh to remember, it all bubbles to the surface.
It is the first time Robin understands the word home in a very long time. The lightning and thunder between them rumbles. It transforms. It explodes into fireworks that Robin can hold in his hands, for just a moment.
In a quiet moment under a banyan tree, Robin scoots close to Ramy and says softly, without looking at him, "If I ever lost you, I don't think I could go on".
Ramy says gently, fondly, "There's no need to be morose, Birdie, we are young and free, which means that we are immortal," and he slings his arm around Robin's shoulders.
Robin wiggles closer, against his warmth, and insists that he means it. He can't say what he means, but inside he knows that he has lost so much, he truly thinks that his soul is too damaged, he wouldn't be able to weather it. Ramy is the embodiment of love, the very definition. He is home. He doesn't say it, though. He sits tongue tied. Ramy was always the brave one, not him.
Ramy looks at him quizzically for a moment. Then he promises with a gallant grin that even if he ever dies, he won't leave. He will haunt Robin in his dreams. They laugh, and somehow Robin is reassured. And then after a moment of peaceful silence, Ramy leans over and kisses him.
Brave Ramy.
Beautiful Ramy.
It is Robin's first kiss. Ramy's too. It doesn't matter that it is wobbly and awkward. It is soft and warm and it is love.
Geralt isn't possessive as a rule but I do think if somebody called Dandelion their bard - even if it was a friendly joke - he'd get into a right mood and snit about it and be scowling and short-tempered and sulky for AAAAAAGES because he's gotten so used to people calling Dandy "the witcher's bard" etc so he's like. That's MY emotional support bard bestie actually who the fuck are YOU to be saying this go a-way
Hi friends! So. I did a thing. I was back on the Whiskey with Witcher podcast and I threw down with Tim over fanfic.
What is fic? Why do we write it? Why do we love it? Why don’t we just write original characters?! Why is it often so horny, we go into it all!
I gave recs for Witcher fandom writers, but I don’t remember who because I had a tipsy wave of intense anxiety over leaving anyone out 😂 which is silly because I love so many that by definition I have to leave almost everyone out, unless I sit there and read all 70 names of the writers I sub to. But I managed a few AO3 profiles.
AND I answer questions posed by my tumblr followers. (I think both of those parts will be in part 2), I’ll tag folks when that posts.
Yes there are two eps because as you all know all too well, I am a wordy biznatch.
Come over and listen. And drop any feedback for me in the asks, if you like! We can chat about it.
Part two is up! When I catch my breath (I have to run to work) I’m gonna post again and tag the folks who asked Witcher fanfic related questions that I answered.
Hi friends! So. I did a thing. I was back on the Whiskey with Witcher podcast and I threw down with Tim over fanfic.
What is fic? Why do we write it? Why do we love it? Why don’t we just write original characters?! Why is it often so horny, we go into it all!
I gave recs for Witcher fandom writers, but I don’t remember who because I had a tipsy wave of intense anxiety over leaving anyone out 😂 which is silly because I love so many that by definition I have to leave almost everyone out, unless I sit there and read all 70 names of the writers I sub to. But I managed a few AO3 profiles.
AND I answer questions posed by my tumblr followers. (I think both of those parts will be in part 2), I’ll tag folks when that posts.
Yes there are two eps because as you all know all too well, I am a wordy biznatch.
Come over and listen. And drop any feedback for me in the asks, if you like! We can chat about it.
So, I wasn't sure about posting this, because my drawing skills are truly mediocre, but I really just wanted to highlight a fanfic by @fangirleaconmigo that has me totally enthralled.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
A Witcher Geralt/Jaskier fic that is so beautiful. In it, Geralt dreams of retiring to his vineyard and relaxing with his love, and it was so wholesome, I wanted to draw it.
I wish I was better at drawing (don't look at the lute too closely please), but practice makes perfect, so I'll keep drawing and posting despite it all.
So, I wasn't sure about posting this, because my drawing skills are truly mediocre, but I really just wanted to highlight a fanfic by @fangirleaconmigo that has me totally enthralled.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
A Witcher Geralt/Jaskier fic that is so beautiful. In it, Geralt dreams of retiring to his vineyard and relaxing with his love, and it was so wholesome, I wanted to draw it.
I wish I was better at drawing (don't look at the lute too closely please), but practice makes perfect, so I'll keep drawing and posting despite it all.
Pssst friends. 🚨I am going back as a guest on the Whiskey with Witcher podcast. I’ll be talking about fanfic.
So.
If you could ask me anything about fanfic what would it be? What topics would you want us to talk about? Fandom specific? Controversies? Etiquette? Historical/cultural? Writing tips? Lay it on me.
Like anything you wanna know but been to afraid to ask or just couldn’t find the answer? Throw it in the replies or asks or whatever. On anon if you want! Do eet.
I've been so absent the last month my friends, but I'm still here. And (drumroll) today is the day. I have made a list of your questions so far, and if you haven't replied or sent a question, you have two hours to get it in (hehe) if you would like me to answer it on the podcast!
@chaosandwolves I blame you entirely for this ;) also very thankful for all the flower knowledge and which to pick for Geralt (Nerium, Daffodil and Protea) cause I don't know flowers.... Also it's my first time drawing Geralt please don't judge too hard 🫣
