“You didn’t have to throw that guy through a table you know.” Jaskier says absentmindedly plucking at his lute as he walks beside Geralt down the dusty path.
“He was being an ass.” Geralt reminds him.
“Yes, well it did get us kicked out of the inn though so maybe not worth it?” Jaskier says still plucking at his lute more than likely trying to subconsciously perfect a tune that would soon make an appearance in one of his latest songs.
“He called you a cocksucking bastard.” Geralt reminds him gruffly. “I wasn’t going to let it go.”
“I mean it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever been called I could give you a whole list of insults a mile long that’s been hurled at me this year alone and never repeat the same one twice.” Jaskier laughs at his own expense.
Geralt offers an irritated grunt by way of reply.
“I mean it wasn’t even really an insult since it’s true, I mean half of it at least.” Jaskier says tuning his lute slightly.
“You were an illegitimate child?” Geralt asks surprised.
“Oh gods no. No matter how much my father would like to claim otherwise, I meant the first part. You didn’t know I was Bisexual?” Jaskier asks sounding genuinely surprised.
Geralt doesn’t answer, doesn’t say anything at all, doesn’t look away from Jaskier even as they approach an enormous tree in the road. But surely Geralt couldn’t miss it, its trunk was wider than his shoulders for heaven’s sake.
Geralt runs smack into the tree with a dull ‘Thunk’ stumbling backward.
“Good gods Geralt are you alright?!” Jaskier says jogging the few steps he had fallen behind Geralt to catch up with him and check on him. “How in the world did you miss that tree?”
“You’re into men?” Geralt asks instead of answering the question.
“Yes, I thought that was painfully obvious. Don’t tell me that’s why you ran into the tree it’s honestly not that surprising. I mean I’m kinda fruity.” Jaskier says with a laugh.
Geralt just stares at Jaskier until his smile fades.
“You’re not opposed to that sort of thing are you?” Jaskier asks suddenly a little worried that this of all the things might be what ends their friendship.
Geralt is a silent as a stone for a few minutes leaving Jaskier to wonder what exactly he would say if he ever said anything at all.
“No.” Geralt finally grunts out relieving Jaskier of his fears.
“Well that’s a relief.” Jaskier says with a nervous chuckle.
Geralt continues to stare at him until Jaskier finally asks. “What exactly is the problem then?”
Geralt finally stops looking at him only to start looking anywhere but at him. “I’m in love with you.” He mumbles.
“I’m sorry come again?” Jaskier guffaws. “Because I thought a certain sorceress occupied that stony heart of yours.”
Geralt shakes his head reverting back to his normal taciturn state.
“You’re telling me I’ve had a chance with you all this time and you’re just telling me now?” Jaskier asks voice raising an octave.
Geralt finally seems to get the message that his feelings are reciprocated because the next thing Jaskier knows he’s being pushed up against the tree and Geralt is kissing him.
„Heya Goops, I brought a guest, today!“, I waved into the room, knowing full well the critter most likely hid under the cupboard.
At least it didn’t immediately hiss and scream.
“I didn’t bring guests yet, sorry if he acts weird”, I said.
Not that Frederik would ever be scared, but… a small warning.
Actually, he snorted, and looked around, stealing a potato chip.
“You’re such a gentleman, Riks”, I huffed. And grabbed a mouse to place it on the floor.
It took about two seconds until the mouse found it’s untimely end.
“… this is a shapeshifter”, he says, staring at the few eyes that look angrily at Frederik from under it’s shell.
“Yeah? I told you?”, I nodded.
“You didn’t tell me it was a shapeshifting puddle”, he frowned still frowned at the floor.
“I’m… pretty sure I did?”, because… I was pretty sure I did!
“Then make sure I listen to you!”, he honestly said. I made a bit of a face.
And then more of one, because Goopy crunched.
And that was the moment where Frederik encased Goopy in a ball of class and let him float in front of his face, looking under him.
“It does have legs. You said it didn’t before?”
I stood up to him: “If you don’t let Goopy out of there this instant, you’ll never get a coffee again!”
He stared at me. While Goopy was not happy at all in his ball. Eyes glued at the surface, flinging itself from one side to the other.
“Spoilsport”, he huffed and made a small hole into the ball, pointing to my side.
Goopy jumped out and into my arms, hissing and curling into my pocket, hissing and glowering and flashing eyes and being generally unfriendly.
I tried to pet and calm it, apologising to Goopy for such a rude guest, I would tell him next time, that no one can imprison him.
And he slowly, but surely calmed. And rolled into my hand. Where I could pet it a little easier.
“As an apology, you freak of nature”, and Frederik let blood drip from a wide gash on his hand, onto lil’ Goops.
A mouth opened where one had been a second ago. IT took the drops and cleaned its surface, actually producing a tongue to lick itself clean.
Then stood still, I felt a sniff… and then it jumped at Frederik, all teeth showing and making noise.
“Goopy, no!”, I said, because…
Frederik slapped him to the floor, making him in a puddle once again. I knelt down next to it, holding my arms in front of him.
“Frederik!”, I yelled.
“What? It attacked me, it bared it’s teeth at me”, he frowned
“He’s an innocent angel. Well, almost. Leave him be”, he hid behind me, still hissing.
“Hrm. Well. I’ve seen him. I’ll… I’ll see what I can do. I have some ideas. But one thing you should keep in mind, Roro. This thing is far from normal”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
And he sighed: “Suit yourself”, and he left. A short visit. And I had traumatised my little gooper: “I’m sorry, Goops. We aren’t all like that!”, admittedly, some were worse, but I spend a few hours petting him then.
