I think the reason you might not like Geralt and Yennefer together is because, like most people, you prefer imbalance. I’m not sure if this concept has ever been discussed before because, despite understanding the fundamentals of storytelling, I’ve never studied it as a subject and don’t know all teachings on storytelling. However, in my time whilst writing, I realised that all universes that are successful are due to balance; good is balanced by evil, light is balanced by dark. (1)
Let’s take an example everyone would understand - Batman vs Joker. Batman prefers good, order, helping people. Joker prefers bad, chaos, not caring for people. In storytelling, the best way to create a protagonist and antagonist is to have them as polar opposites as each other. That’s why, for example, Rey’s opposite is Kylo Ren (and also how Star Wars screwed us with bringing Palpatine back - he’s irrelevant to this trilogy and hasn’t been established as a worthy villain). (2)
The universe prefers balance. If there was one person in the entire universe, you wouldn’t be able to determine if they were good or bad because there’s no context. Who is this person being compared to? Whereas if there are two people, you can name characteristics and compare them - if one person is kind and the other is unkind, and for you kindness is good, now you have a way to gage their behaviours. Think of Abel and Cain - neither of good/evil without a comparison (3).
I say this because in the universe, somebody has to be bad so somebody else can be good. Somebody has to suffer so that somebody else isn’t suffering. In the case of Geralt, he has to do what he does as a Witcher because that’s him providing balance. He is the one who has to suffer so that others don’t suffer. However, with characters as complex as his, who he is compatible with can’t be the exact opposite of him. (4)
In the show he mentions that he can’t have children as they would be his weakness. He can’t be around people who can be used against him, who he can lose, as they would take away from who he is as a character. He’s alone, and that loneliness drives him to do what his purpose is. Having a family or someone normal in his life would take away from his purpose and his internal balance - he would have to fight between being a Witcher and settling in a normal loving relationship (5).
With Yennefer, that’s not the case. She’s not his exact opposite, but rather the same. That’s why the relationship works. We often assume that the best way to heal someone broken is by placing them with someone not broken so they balance out, but in this case, you place two broken people together and if they get better, they get better together. Now it’s two broken people getting better, not one broken person getting better and one non-broken person getting worse (6)
At the end of the day, the only real way anyone can understand Geralt and what he’s been through is to have been through the same and to be in the same position. Any normal person would detract from his purpose as a Witcher and bringing them along would place them in danger, something he can’t have. Deep down, even he knows and has accepted who he is and what his purpose is, which is what makes him and Yennefer compatible. (7? Lost count)
In The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman’s villains are the opposite of him, with the Joker being the exact opposite in every way, which makes them (and the Joker especially) work so well. However, his love interest isn’t Rachel, who’s normal and different from him, but rather Selena Kyle, who understands him and what he does and the choices he makes, and why he makes them. (The end).
Actually, that wasn’t the end. The best way to think of it is to take a blank piece of paper. On the top you’d write ‘protagonist’. That’s the main character. Now consider where you’d write ‘antagonist’. It’s at the bottom, exactly opposite the protagonist. Now consider where you write ‘love interest’. A true love interest would go next to the protagonist - aka they’re equals, in both power, personality, judgement, choices, thoughts, experiences, etc. (Now the end)
First of all, I'd like to say thank you, you throughly and clearly were able to show me exactly what it is you were trying to describe and you did so wonderfully.
Now I understand the reasoning behind why Yennefer and Geralt work so well, I understand that he needs to continue his work as a Witcher as someone more normal would jeopardize that. And honestly that is my biggest hiccup in my headcannon, is because unless they were able to reach some kind of balance in their relationship then his s/o would be more unhappy because of his work. For whatever reason, he's always away, he's always in danger etc.
In real life you see all sorts of examples of people who are in what the outside world sees as an almost truly abusive relationship. Constant screaming even real fighting, and despite how traditionally unhealthy the relationship is they would still choose to be together every time. Their relationship is just like that, and they truly love each other despite what would be deal breakers for other people. Because their particular brands of crazy mesh together to make what they want of the relationship.
I completely understand the reasoning behind why Geralt and Yenn work beautifully both for each other, and for what they need to be when apart. They are incredibly balanced in a way that is show through beautiful nuance between their interactions and their particular characters. I understand why people adore the relationship so much, and support so much. Like I said, I don't know why, I don't have one specific reason to be against it. It's just more of feeling, I just personally dont like it. Maybe because it's not a type of relationship I would choose for myself. Maybe because I see how much pain Geralt has endured and I know he needs his pain to fuel what he must do for the ungrateful world he is in. And I would just love to see him strike up that rare balance with someone, (and they dont have to be an average milk maid, I didn't describe what I was trying to say as clearly as you did, which was my mistake) who brings a bit more stability to their relationship and to him. Maybe it's just because I would like him to flourish in a healthy and wholesome relationship that doesn't hurt him at times, and I'd like to see him have his happily ever after.
I don't have any specific reasons against their pairing, and i understand the reasoning against a more normal partner for him. I just would prefer the latter, and so that's how i headcanon it.