warning!: I being harsh on geralt + defending triss
Sooo are we gonna talk about how Geralt set my girl up to be berated by Yennefer at the banquet in Time of Contempt? Excerpt from ToC:
They went over to Triss, who was shimmering in shades of blue and pale green. On seeing them, Triss broke off her conversation with two sorcerers, smiled radiantly and hugged Yennefer; the ritual of kissing the air near each other’s ears was repeated. Geralt took the proffered hand, but decided to act contrary to the rules of etiquette; he embraced the chestnut-haired enchantress and kissed her on her soft cheek, as downy as a peach. Triss blushed faintly.
Did you see it everyone? Geralt ignored the rules of etiquette when Triss offered her hand for him to kiss. This is right in front of Yennefer mind you. I'm gonna be petty, but who was the desperate one again? I hope that fuck you got after the banquet was worth it Getalt for making Yen jealous so she tore Triss a new one. Like straight up setting her up for humiliation man.
What an icon you were, Geralt of Rivia 🤩👏👏👏 /s
Also, tiny rant on the topic of Triss being manipulative (within the text of ToC), if she were, why didn't she take Geralt to Montecalvo instead of Brokilon? Why didn't she rationalise that he would have better medical care there? Would a manipulator let a manipulatee escape her influence? She could have kept him closer to her to ensure his safety not in faraway Brokilon, where lady Eithné showed her the door.
And later the order came from Duén Canell, from the sliver-eyed Eithné, the Lady of Brokilon. Send the sorceress away, said the ruler of the Forest of the Dryads. And tend to the Witcher.
She sent him faraway because she knew if she took him to Phil, there's no reasons to trust Phil not to trade him for information with Dijkstra. Despite being interested in him, I reasons that it wouldn't beneath her to do such thing. Triss prioritised taking Geralt to people he trusted over hers. She took him to where she, even as someone who saved him, was expected to leave without exception. Furthermore, she could have fled without him as Tissaia said:
‘Run, Triss Merigold,’ the enchantress’s words came from far away, as if from behind a wall. ‘Philippa Eilhart has already fled; she flew away on owl’s wings. You were her accomplice in this wicked conspiracy and I ought to punish you. But there has been enough blood, death and misfortune! Begone! Go to Aretuza and join your allies! Teleport away. The portal in the Tower of Gulls no longer exists. It was destroyed along with the tower. You can teleport without fear. Wherever you wish. To your King Foltest, for instance, for whom you betrayed the Brotherhood!’
But Triss was firm with her resolution
‘I will not leave Geralt . . .’ groaned Triss.
Even when she had no strength left to open a portal plus dragging Geralt around made her more vulnerable to an attack.
Oh, the selfishness and cowardice Triss must have to do all of that! Or to not do any of that if she's actually self serving.
If she's a coward, she'd have left him for death. If she's a manipulator, she wouldn't send him far from her influence.
In Time of Contempt, Triss was humiliated, whether Geralt was intending it or not, publicly at an important gathering of her guild. Despite of that, she didn't hold petty grudge against Geralt or Yennefer. She made herself vulnerable to help Geralt, begged Tissaia for help teleporting Geralt to Brokilon. It makes me ask myself what Triss gained from this to be interpreted as being self serving, manipulative and selfish.