Jaskier´s always preferred the warmer seasons. There were more people out, there was less rain and maybe more importantly the nights camping weren't so cold.
But there was still one downside to the changing seasons, a runny nose which of course came with sneezing, and very itchy eyes.
Most of the time Jaskier was fine. He'd splash some water in his face and he was able to get on with his day. Even when he would be on the road for days on end after meeting Geralt.
Geralt knew Jaskier reacted bad to the springtime. He didn't know what caused it, but neither did anyone else. All he knew was that it was just annoying. Jaskier was out of breath sooner, and he would fucking snore.
The amount of times the witcher had to move his bedroll away from Jaskier so he wouldn't just hear an annoying and particularly loud snore.
Geralt never said anything about it. There was no need to, Jaskier was fine, just a little more annoying than normal. Only this year it seemed worse than all the other years combined.
´Oh and Geralt did i tell you about this time I- wait there´s something in my eye give me two seconds´
´hm´ was the best response geralt could think of before stopping roach and letting Jaskier catch up again.
´Looks like the time has come again for me to annoy you, witcher´ Jaskier said after he caught up again. ´so where was I?´
***
It did not get better as time passed. Jaskier sneezed so much and Geralt has never heard anyone snore so loud.
Jaskier was just strumming his lute when it got really bad.
´Toss a coin *sniff* to your *sniff*´ He tried to sing ´Well this *achoo* isn´t working´ ´So it looks like *sniff* you're in luck Geralt, I'll finally keep *sniff* my mouth shut for once´ He manages to say, before he had to sneeze again.
And again
And again
And again.
´fuck´
That was the first time Geralt ever said anything about it.
***
Geralt managed to find a hand chief and give it to Jaskier. And Jaskier was the most annoying he's ever been. He´d never really minded the talking when they were on the road, it was only when the bard endangered himself with his silver tongue that he really was annoying. That stupid bard made him worry, just like he did now.
´achoo!´
´You know Geralt *sniff* you could at least pretend to care *sniff* by saying bless you´ He said, Jaskier looked like a mess. He had a red nose, chapped skin right underneath it. His eyes were swollen red and full of tears, and yet he still managed to look pretty, in a weird way.
´How can you even still see?´’Geralt asked, as he dismounted roach and started walking over to Jaskier.
´Well that's very *sniff* kind of you´ Jaskier said, kinda happy with the fact that Geralt decided to care for once. ´To be fair it's a real struggle to keep them open, but well at least… nope there's absolutely nothing positive about *sniff* this, this really *sniff* sucks´
´hm´ Geralt said as he got closer. Somehow he found himself cupping the other man's face. He didn't exactly know why he did that. To take a look at the mess that was Jaskier? To show him that he did care? ´close them´ he finally said
´What?´ Jaskier managed to say before sneezing and giving in on this request
Geralt had returned to Roach to check if there truly was nothing that would help the very red mess with tears running down his face.
´There's a stream nearby´ the witcher sighed.
´Oh so my eyes are red ONCE and you directly make a plan to drown me?´ the bard said sarcastically, still keeping his eyes closed.
Something close to a smile formed on the witcher´s face. ´yes-, and I´m leading you there and you´re not opening your eyes´ ´ And don't act like you've never annoyed me like this before´ He said with a hint of sarcasm in his words.
´Well there's nothing I can do blindy so Geralt! Lead me to the stream!´ he said triumphantly when he felt a sturdy arm behind his back telling him where to go next.
***
The stream was really close, Jaskier felt that they directly left the road and walked in a field. It would be kinda romantic if he didn't sneeze every three second and if he was able to open his eyes, thought Jaskier.
The stream itself wasn't very spectacular, but it was enough for Jaskier to wash his face and make the itching a bit more bearable. He didn't hear Geralt leave, but he did hear him come back with roach.
´Ah, hello Roach, you also here for this *achoo* water?´ he said ´you know it´s great as long as you avoid the *sniff* snot and tears I put in there´
´Jaskier, watch roach for a minute and start making camp´ the other man said ´I´ll go and find some dinner´
´Wait isnt it *sniff* a bit early to *sniff* make camp?´
´Yes but-´
´Achoo!´
´-you're gonna be a pain in the ass when you're sneezing like this on the road´
´Don't spoil Roach too much´ Geralt said as he left
´Definitely can't promise that´ the sneezing man whispered just soft enough so that Geralt couldn't hear him.
***
The rest of the day went a bit better. Jaskier was still a sniffing mess with swollen eyes but at least he was able to wash his eyes and continue setting up camp. Roach was kinda happy with this whole camping early development due to the amount of sugar cubes she got while Geralt was gone.
Night already started to fall when geralt returned with a rabbit. Jaskier already got a fire going and Geralt prepared the rabbit. When dinner was finished, Jaskier´s eyes weren´t swollen anymore. He still was a sneezing mess, but at least he could see without without the struggle of that annoying itch.
´I, eh, made you tea´ heard jaskier wilst he was strumming his lute and he thankfully was able to sing again. He put his lute away and took the warm mug in his hands.
´You know I should sneeze a lot more if *sniff* it means I get tea from the famous white wolf´ Jaskier said with a chuckle, almost certain that Geralt had a smile on his face.
***
Jaskier was the first to fall asleep. Most of the time they played a round of Gwent before the both went to sleep. If Jaskier wouldn't snore they would even cuddle because ´that was a lot warmer´. They both knew that that wasn't the only reason they would cuddle, but they would both never admit it.
Jaskier was snoring al little bit, but the urge to lie next to him was bigger than the urge for a night where he wouldn't wake up because someone had to breath through his mouth during the night.
He saw Jaskier shift when he lifted the blacket to move over. He laid down and put his arms behind his back and pulled Jaskier closer. And somehow Jaskier, whilst very much asleep, did the same.
´Hmm´ Geralt heard Jaskier say while he pulled him closer. It wasn't long after that that Geralt fell asleep too. Hoping that the other man wouldn't ruin his mood by snoring very loudly in his face.
This is a sickfic I wrote for @sneezedarling with the prompts being Jaskier, Allergies, plant
I hope you like it! (writing for Jaskier is haaaaard)
"Geralt! There you are, old boy!". Chirped a vibrant and cheerful Jaskier.
He had been traveling down along this road for the better part of the morning, it had started out as a dreary and damp spring but it had dawned bright and warm and Jaskier had began the trek to some of the smaller villages along the western realm of Velen.
He couldn't remember ever coming this way at this time of year before, usually choosing to stay in the larger cities where warm fires and crowds could chase away the gloom of mud and the smell of the decaying leaves along some of the less maintained roads.
But here he was delighted to come upon the stopped Witcher near a stream refilling his water bags.
The answering groan made the edges of his smile widen, " Ah there he is, knew it was that overwhelming charm I missed. What you up to, huh? On your way to another Adventure? Things to kill?"
Geralt recapped the final water bag and straightened, looking the bard over and trying to remember how many years had passed this time in blissful silence. Still, he supposed there were worse times to have run into the chatty and opinionated Jaskier.
He knew he'd regret it as he often did, Jaskier just never seemed to assess the danger in a situation with any skill and Geralt was left with far more objectives in a fight than necessary. He was hesitant to send the bard away though, something that had remained a touchy subject but mostly left unsaid between them since..
. . .
In truth, it really didn't take long. The regret that is.
After a couple hours of travel and Jaskier's incessant ramblings of this banquet and that woman, and various other tedious things the pair fell into a sort of rhythm with Jaskier singing various lines to himself and making adjustments to a ballad he was composing and Geralt riding atop Roach at a pace that allowed the Witcher to go over some details in his mind on a contract he was hoping to pick up in Crow's perch. Each of them lost in their own task.
Huh..
Geralt snapped out of his thoughts instantly, for a moment scanning the countryside- wondering what had broken his concentration when Jaskier suddenly twisted to the side and aimed a trio of sneezes at the ground.
Hisssh! Issshuu! Huh' ih'Shiew!
"ah, Bless me. Hitting the ol' dusty road a little too hard perhaps", He joked as he dug through his pockets in search of a handkerchief.
He always seemed to have one or two on him, though he'd start out the night without one. Odd little mementos of a love affair, he had once quipped after a party had gone particularly well and somehow he had arrived back at their inn with three tucked into his lute case.
He supposed adding the tears in while he played "Her sweet kiss" had been a bit much, but he had been well rewarded for the efforts. Thrice.
Geralt hummed and tried to regain his momentum with planning when Jaskier slowed in pace and tilted his head back, searching with half-closed eyes to see if he could catch a sun ray and help the pending sneezing along.
"Huh... Hih' ... Ahhk'SSSHU! Eh'Hisshiew! 'Tsuu! whew tha-that’s not normal?", he turned away from the path and blew his nose, huffing indignantly when he found it did nothing to quell the itch deep in his sinuses.
Geralt sighed heavily and leaned foward slightly, swinging his leg over Roach as he dismounted. Jaskier cast him a fleeting look before he was burying his nose in the handkerchief again, his shoulders shaking with each hitch.
Huh..Hih.. Hae'esshiew! Hishhah!.. Hngkxxt!
"I.. Hih'.. I was kiddig about the dusty ro-ahh- road", Jaskier tried to explain, realizing that this sudden sneezing really could only be explained by some sort of allergy. Fuck .
“I’m nod sure wud is seddig me off”, he rasped stuffily, trying to scrub at his leaking eyes with a sleeve.
It didn't take a Witcher's senses to see just how miserable the bard was. The area around his nose and eyes was beginning to take on an irritated pink hue that stood out starkly against his natural complexion.
After each volley of sneezes Jaskier would be left panting as he tried to catch his breath, a wheeze was beginning to be audible as he scraped in each breath before he was off again sneezing helplessly into his handkerchief.
The Witcher plucked one of the vibrant red blooms from one of the towering shrubs along the path and unceremoniously shoved it up under Jaskier's nose. The bard only managed to tilt his head quizzically and look up at him with those watery blue eyes before realization and the dawning need to sneeze hit him.
Despite the growing nagging feeling that he should be more sympathetic, Geralt had to roll his eyes, of course the Bard would be allergic to the hardiest and most abundant plant this side of Midscope.
"Honeysuckle", Geralt said then, answering the bard's cut off question. He tossed the picked flower and turned to gather Roach's reins to keep the horse from wandering off grazing.
Jaskier had distanced himself from the offending shrubbery and it’s blooms and was mopping futilely at his face as his body tried to rid itself of the invading threat, great allergic tears running down his cheeks and soaking into the collar of his doublet where an angry red rash could be seen cropping up along the jawline.
Heh.. Oh for fu- uH'Hisshiew!
Jaskier at this point thought death might be preferable.
Leave it to him to cause such a scene so soon after convincing Geralt to allow him to accompany him, it had taken ages, but here he was being a mess in front of a Witcher.
That Witcher, in particular.
He'll tell me to leave again, he thought glumly, blowing his nose as thoroughly as he could now that the sneezing was dying down and being replaced by a dry itchy feeling beneath the surface of his face and a thick oppressive stuffiness that left him needing to breathe out of his mouth exclusively. Lovely.
The next thing he knew though he was being hoisted to his feet effortlessly by the larger man and hauled over to the horse. Geralt managed to extricate the soiled handkerchief from the bard and toss it into an unused saddlebag with a concerning wet squelch.
"Do you need an invitation?", Geralt snarked when Jaskier stared at him uncomprehendingly. His watery gaze ping-ponging between the Witcher and Roach.
Geralt prickled with what he assumed was Jaskier being a little shit and clarified, " Unless you'd rather stay here", he gestured to further down the path where another Honeysuckle shrub grew.
The Witcher had planned their route down by Pyke Isle where he had heard talk of a few contracts, but as the season was just beginning it's shift towards warmer weather, they'd be better off heading north until the last quarter... He narrowed his eyes at the bard and gestured toward Roach.
Jaskier cleared his throat and seemed to remember himself and clamored to raise himself into the saddle. As if to remind him of what exactly had led to this sudden shift in plans Jaskier felt that demanding tickle buzz to life along the sensitive walls of his sinuses and he raised an arm to bury his face in the crook of an elbow, the handkerchief having reached it's helpful limits ages ago.
Hih' Ih... Snf Hih' Isshiew!
Geralt decided that was enough, he pulled a simple square of fabric out of one of the other saddlebags and handed it up to Jaskier before stepping back and tugging Roach's reins gently to begin the trek back to the crossroads so they could travel north.
"You owe me", Geralt said for good measure, couldn't have the bard thinkin' he had grown soft in his old age.
