I want an aroace Eskel. I want him to have conflicting emotions about people not wanting to have sex with him. On one hand he's relieved bc sex just really isn't for him. But on the other hand he knows how much his brothers feel hurt and frustrated that they can't find a partner
And then there's romance. 'witchers don't feel love' people say and Eskel feels so guilty about it because for him it's true (when it comes to romantic love). He feels like he's letting his family down by not falling in love because in a way he's proving the bigoted people right
I want an aroace Eskel who wonders if maybe the trials really did make him inhuman and broke him
And I want an aroace Eskel who comes back to Kaer Morhen each winter and feels overwhelmed with how much he loves his brothers
I want an aroace Eskel who is so kind to his horse and his baby goat and every animal he meets because he loves those adorable animals so much
I want an aroace Eskel who talks gently with children after he saves them and who mourns the loss of everyone he can't save because he loves people in a general sense
I want an aroace Eskel who gives the best hugs and who cuddles with his family and who is there for them to lean on whenever they need him
I want an aroace Eskel who learns that he loves so much and that he is loved by others and it doesn't matter whether it's romantically or not and that he can give and receive loving touches other than sex
*vibrates in Ace* I have so many prompt ideas but I don’t want to bother you. Can I have Ace/Aro Eskel with supportive family learning from Jaskier that it’s okay to not feel those things? (No, I’m not projecting, wdym)
You’re projecting, I’m projecting, we’re all projecting! Featuring Aro Jask and Demi-romantic Lambert.
_______
The first time Jaskier came to Kaer Morhen the witchers were confused yet curious. They had heard about Geralt’s on and off bard friend a lot over the years and were, overall, delighted to meet him. Geralt had spoken of him highly with such open affection and fondness that Eskel had assumed the pair of them were in a relationship. Lambert had Aiden, after all, and Geralt had his bard.
Eskel had… well he had his goats. He’d tried relationships in the past. There was a part of him that longed for the company. Whenever someone was kind to him and didn’t immediately run for the hills, there was bubble of hope in his chest, that maybe this person would be the one that made him feel those warm overwhelming emotions that all the best poet’s sung about.
Every time he was disappointed. Even when his partners had said that they loved him, or kissed him in the early morning light. There was nothing. Objectively he could see they were attractive. He could see it in their smiles and in the way their eyes twinkled when they laughed. He could see it in the thick dark curls of their hair, or the way the sunlight bounced off golden waves that fell to their waist.
But he wasn’t attracted to them not in the way he longed for, not in the way they wanted of him. Kisses were alright once in a while but he didn’t like it when it developed past that. He felt so indifferent in comparison to his lover’s passion that he just…
He felt lost.
So when Jaskier had thrown his head back and laughed after Lambert had called him Geralt’s boyfriend, Eskel had just stared at the bard.
“Oh ho ho! No.” Jaskier gasped out between laughs. “I’m not. We’re not… we’re just friends.”
Geralt rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest, ruffling Jaskier’s hair. “Don’t sound so horrified by the idea of it, Jaskier.”
“Oh shush.” Jaskier swatted him away. “I love you, you bastard, stop fishing for compliments.”
“You just said?” Lambert ran a hand through his hair and furrowed his brow. “Fuck.”
Jaskier sighed and put both hands on his hips. “He’s my best friend. Do you not love your friends, witcher? Fuck, no wonder Geralt took years to bloody admit it. I love him. I’m not in love with him. I don’t go in for romance.”
Aiden cackled and swung his arm around Lambert’s shoulders, pressing a sloppy kiss to the redhead’s cheek. “Aww, he’s like you, wolf!”
“Shut up, kitten. Just takes me time. Not all of us fall in love in first sight. It’s gross fairytale shit.” Lambert grumbled but his cheeks lit up in a blush. Eskel frowned. He’d never heard Lambert talk about that before. As far as they’d been aware his relationship with Aiden had been romantic from the start. “What?” Lambert snapped.
“Nothing. Just didn’t know you felt like that.” Eskel grumbled as he scuffed his feet on the floor.
“The vast and beautiful spectrum of love!” Jaskier sang happily and leapt at Geralt. Geralt grunted but caught the bard in his arms. “Melitele knows it is a bard’s bread and butter.”
“Even if you don’t feel it at all?” Eskel muttered quietly.
Jaskier pouted and cupped Geralt’s cheek before jumping back onto the floor. He strolled over to Eskel with a tilt of his head. “Do you love your fellow witchers?”
Eskel frowned and nodded. “They’re family.”
“And the goats?” Jaskier smirked.
Eskel laughed. “Course I do. I’m their dad.”
“What about me? I know you don’t know me that well yet but I like to think we’re friends?” Jaskier looked up at him with wide eyes.
Eskel sighed at the bard’s dramatics. “Fine, yes. You’re not bad bard.”
“Not bad?! Geralt! Tell him.” Jaskier poked Eskel in the chest. “I’m a fucking delight, witcher!”
“Hmm.” Eskel rolled his eyes and swatted Jaskier’s hands away.
“The point is!” Jaskier announced with a flourish. “Love, sex, romance, it can be whatever the fuck you want it to be. Even if you realise that it’s not for you. You glorious witcher, you.”
Eskel offered Jaskier a broad smile and clapped him over the back. “Thank you, bard. That. That means a lot.”
Jaskier beamed up at him and patted him on the shoulder. “Anytime, my dear Eskel, anytime.”
Panda panda panda Triss and Eskel, but as best friends. Doing the thing where you both sit in a meadow and pile grass on the other, or something else stupid
Ella-la my darling, I love this idea very much! And thus I give to you a much longer thing than I expected, but I hope you like it! <3
On Ao3 here, because I can’t resist it.
Thank you lovely @kuripon, my rock when grammar and words are my enemy! You are the best!
Here be swearing, pining and friends being there for each other when they try to accept things about oneself. Enjoy <3
As unlikely as it might seem, Eskel has a best friend. No, it’s not a goat. And no, it’s not Geralt, as surprising as that is.
It is a small sorceress with brown, unruly locks and a wicked sense of humor. Triss and Eskel met thanks to Ciri, and Yennefer, and Geralt, and somehow even that bard that pops up everywhere. Again and again they ran into each other until they didn’t have a choice but to like each other.
Triss and Eskel are rather alike, actually. Most take them for even tempered, kind and stoic. Nobody suspects them if Roach ends up getting a dick shaved onto her butt. Nobody would suspect them to sneak a bit of dried fish inside Jaskier's lute. Nobody would suspect them of being behind the fishing with dynamite accident. Nobody but Lambert, because he was the one who got the blame.
Sometimes they seek each other out, to share herbs with each other or just a really good cup of tea. Eskel really likes her company and she listens quietly when he tells her about his scars. He too is quiet when she talks about hers, the hidden ones that run far deeper than they have any right to.
When Triss fell for Yennefer, it was Eskel by her side. Feelings always appear at the worst possible moment. Or at least, are realized. Sodden Hill was a terrible fight, and Yennefer had disappeared for many months. He held her hand on a pebbled beach far away from the world, watching the stars move across the night sky.
When Eskel realized he doesn’t fall in love, that he won't, she was there for him. He isn't sad per se. It is not a loss when it is something you never had. But it was yet another thing that made him different from others. She listened to his thoughts and worries, and assured him there were other more meaningful bonds to be had than romantic ones.
This is one of those times, when they have found each other. Triss found herself lodging in Vizima and he came to visit her. They don’t need horses, preferring to make the long walk out of town and into nature. They find a glade between crooked birch trees, the grass high and perfect to sit down and make grass people in. Better that than a straight up butt print, Triss tells him as she rolls around and waves her arms.
“Who is babysitting Lil Bleater?” Triss asks.
“She can babysit herself perfectly fine. It's Big Bleater I’m worried about.” Eskel replies, carefully choosing strands of grass into a bouquet.
“Dare I ask?” Triss smiles, closing her eyes and enjoying the sun.
“I found a baby monster. Decided to raise it.”
“.....So you named it Big Bleater.” Triss deadpans.
“It’s a good name.” Eskel shrugs and picks another straw. “Lay still.”
He starts placing them in a shape on her stomach. Piling some into a big circle and then carefully placing out straw after straw.
“Am I getting pretty now?”
“Nothing can help you, I’m afraid. Lost cause.”
“I will shave Bleater too, don’t think I will!” Triss threatens, dislodging some grass and Eskel sends her a warning glare.
“Which one of them?” Eskel says, picking up the fallen straw and patiently placing them back to where they were. It is starting to get a shape. If you squint.
“Both.” Triss promises.
“Best of luck, ugly one,” Eskel says, grinning. Triss sits up, grass falling everywhere and smacks his arms hard.
“Ouch! My goat!” Eskel rubs at the arm and looks dejected at the grass strewn all over Triss’ dress.
“If you are lucky, I might just turn you into a goat.”
“Kinky.” Eskel smirks, and Triss slaps his arm again. “Will you stop that?!”
“No. You deserved it.”
“What did I do?!”
“What didn’t you do?!”
“True! But in my defence, it was free,” Eskel counters, and tosses a fistful of grass in her face.
“You know what? I think I actually would like you better as a goat,” Triss says, looking at him appraisingly. The grass is stuck in her curls, and will probably stay there for the rest of the day. That’s a thought.
“Doubt it. I’m not as well behaved as the Bleaters,” Eskel says, throwing more grass in her hair.
“Fine. Then I’ll turn all your clothes pink.”
“If you do, I’m telling Yen you like her.”
Triss gasps. “You’ll do no such thing!!”
The war continues on, and Eskel finds that he is smiling more than he has all year. They walk back together arm in arm, pausing to let Triss collect a weird snail they find by the trail. There is still grass in her hair, and as they walk through the streets of Vizima they get funny looks.
Eskel wishes he could stay, but there is a contract in a hamlet a day's ride from here that is waiting for him. He follows her to her door, and when she smiles and tilts her head at him, he can’t believe how lucky he is. Grass is still sticking out of her curls, and he has no intention of telling her.
“I’ve missed you,” He says, and she puts a hand up and cups his scarred cheek.
“And I you, my dear friend. I’m glad you came by.”
She wraps her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. He hugs her back, and actually picks her up. She laughs, unguarded and free, as he spins them around and squeezes.
“Silly witcher,” she chides, but allows it all the same. “Next time I see you, I want to hear nothing about succubi, please,” she teases.
“And next time I see you, I want you to have kissed Yennefer.”
“Gods, I wish,” she mutters, and Eskel grins again. He had noticed Yennefer open the door behind Triss while they were speaking, but Triss had yet to notice.
“See you, little witch.” Eskel says, and hurries down the steps. He gives a small wave. “And nice seeing you, Yennefer!”
Triss twists around with a gasp, turning bright red. Yennefer looks equally stunned and they stare at each other for a second.
“ESKEL!” Triss shrieks, and Eskel hurries away. He knows there will be revenge, but he hopes Triss will manage to kiss that witch of hers before then.
Written for Aro Week. I am not aro myself, but I wanted to try and get more representation out there. Hopefully this sits well with people. Also, the rugby is based on my own college experiences, so probably very Americanized. Sorry!
Geralt treats each one of Ciri’s rugby matches like it's the playoffs. He sits on the edge of his seat the whole time, hands clasped together and leaning towards the pitch with his elbows balanced on his knees. Thankfully Ciri chose a local school, so they rarely miss seeing her play. She’s faster than her father - has to be as a winger - but she has the same powerful grace he displays in his own beer league matches.
Jaskier can barely catch the ball without dropping it, so he leaves the sports to his family. He is a hell of a cheerleader, though. He shouts as Ciri holds the ball close to her body and pushes through the last few feet to score. The crowd of parents and tipsy college students goes wild, but Geralt’s deep bellow is the loudest of all. He high fives everyone around them before grabbing Jaskier by the shoulders and shaking him in joy.
Ciri’s team ends up winning, and they make their way over to the player’s bench. Geralt makes a beeline for the coach, always eager to talk to the poor man after each game. Jaskier spots Ciri towards the edge of the players, frowning at another girl while she gestures wildly. It looks heated, but not like it’s going to come to blows, so he stays back but keeps an eye on them. As soon as the other girl throws up her hands and walks off, Jaskier hurries to Ciri’s side.
“You ok, little cub?” he asks, smiling when she rolls her eyes at the old nickname.
“Not so little anymore,” she mumbles, but she leans into his one-armed hug and lets him lead her over towards the bleachers. She slumps down on the bench and practically melts against him, so Jaskier holds her close.
“Sorry kid, but you’ll always be five and rambunctious in my mind. I can’t help it!” he says, glad when she giggles and slaps at him weakly. If she’s laughing, it can’t be the end of the world, so he adds a tentative, “Want to talk about it?”
“Lizzy’s just made I don’t want to date her,” Ciri says softly.
“Last I knew, you’re free to date whoever you want. That means you’re also free to not date someone. Why is she getting pushy about it?”
“I uh...I might have fooled around with her a couple of times,” Ciri mumbles, hiding her face in Jaskier’s shoulder.
“Well that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to date someone,” Jaskier offers, not sure where the conversion is heading but glad he’s here and not Geralt. He loves his husband, but he can’t handle things like this.
“I don’t. Like...I don’t date? I don’t want to?” Ciri tells him, still clinging to him.
“Now or ever?” he asks gently.
“I’m Aro. I don’t feel like that? Like I’m never going to fall in love and get married. I just want to have fun when I feel like it but not have a romantic relationship with anyone,” she explains.
“Just like your uncle Eskel,” Jaskier says, belatedly thinking he should have let Eskel tell her on his own terms, but she needed the comfort now. The burly man won’t be upset anyway, he’d do anything for his niece.
“Really?” Ciri squeals, finally sitting up and beaming at Jaskier. “I thought it was something new and weird!”
“Nope. I doubt he’d appreciate being called old, but he’s been like that since I’ve known him,” Jaskier admits. “He makes sure to explain to everyone he hooks up with before anything happens, though. Might want to do the same so expectations are the same all around?”
“I totally do! That’s why Lizzy is pissing me off so much! It’s a well known fact that I’ll try anyone once, twice if you’re good, but never three times,” Ciri says, laughing when Jaskier shoots her a horrified look.
“You’re telling me Two Tries isn’t the innocent rugby nickname I’d assumed it was?” he asks, snorting as she doubles over, laughing so hard her eyes water. She wipes at her face and smiles - really smiles at him - and he thinks things will work out just fine.
“I didn’t know you’d heard the team calling me that,” Ciri says, still cackling. “Please don’t tell dad? It’d kill him.”
“You should tell him about your orientation on your own time, but your secret is safe with me. Now let’s go save your coach and grab your dad. Do you need to be with the team, or can we take you to an early dinner?” Jaskier asks as they stand up.
“Always down for free food. And I’ll tell him. Just...thank you for understanding. I love you, Pa,” Ciri says with another grin.
“Love you too, little cub,” Jaskier tells her before he’s yanked into a sprint as they race towards Geralt and the coach. He’s glad he doesn’t have to be the one to inform Geralt that he’ll never have a first dance at Ciri’s wedding, but as he watches her leap into his arms and nearly topple him over, he realizes it doesn’t matter. His little family loves each other, and that’s all they really need.
No matter what I do I cannot see the rest of this reply, and I can only see 45 of the 101 notes on the post (yes I counted, yes I tried everything I can think of to make it show me the rest, no I cannot entice it into doing so in any way whatsoever), so I am not allowed to know what this said, alas, but.
[image description: a snippet of my Tumblr notifications page with a mention by @elvashayam on a post with my handle and “i know your eskel fic is done but i...” and nothing I can do will show me the rest of the message.]
The Aro Eskel fic is not done, I concepted it, put it on hiatus, and now just finished the setup process so I can write it for the F&S exchange. i’m 2600 words into the draft and about to hit the plot bit of it. So I’ll be ready to ask for aro input pretty soon, and would be delighted to hear some thoughts, as I’m quite worried I’ll get it wrong!
And so our fun fact takeaway here is that, in the current state of Tumblr’s code, if you mention someone in a reply to a post, they cannot see that reply no matter what they do, they can only see the ping, so if you want to communicate, that’s not a good method for it, LOL.
You’ve mentioned that you might make Eskel aro, so here’s how I think it will play out in the story: Geralt/Yenn/Jaskier & Lambert/Kiera/Aiden: Gee Eskle, why aren’t you dating two hot people? Eskel: I saw the drama and thought “it’s easier to just kiss my succubus friend and have no further commitments” Obvs it may not play out like this & I’m excited to see how it goes for real
HA there IS a succubus! and it’s... somewhat more complicated, but not super far off! Though I just got plotweaseled (THANKS @akilah12902 you are so mean to me) with another great idea so I have to rewrite the whole thing, but I was already going to have to rewrite it based on uhhh bringing Aiden back which i hadn’t initially planned to do either so. It’s all rewrites all the way down and I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to go. It’s kind of a ways out, at this point, but it’s in the works.
Here’s a preview of the beginning of the story, before I’ve done any rewriting, which does show you that you’re roughly on the right track, here. I think I’ve posted part of this before, sorry, but the rest is not terribly polished and anyway it’s all getting redone:
But it had looked like Lambert’s poor bruised little heart was settling down with that sorceress. And generally Eskel disapproved of sorceresses, but-- well, he and Triss had been fine, and it had been fun for a while, but Eskel wasn’t the kind to give a woman what she needed over any kind of long haul, and Triss had figured that out well enough. She wanted what Geralt was for Yennefer, and that just wasn’t Eskel. He was too sensible for it but he also suspected his heart just didn’t work that way.
But it had ended well, really; no throwing of things, not really any bitterness. She’d hit him up a time or two since, just for a good time, and he’d been very clear about it and there hadn’t really been drama.
He didn’t do drama. This wasn’t a principled stance; he just couldn’t actually manage it. Which he’d always figured was good, since his-- well, whatever Geralt was; his Geralt was the best way of describing him-- was all drama. There wouldn’t be room for any, if Eskel produced any. Maybe that was it, maybe he’d just developed like this out of sheer self-defense.
Whatever.
He was fucking lonely, was the upshot, and it was a bad upshot. He hadn’t managed to line up anywhere to go for the winter despite his best efforts, which honestly hadn’t been very good, and he really wasn’t sure what he was going to do about it.
and then Plot Ensues-- but you are, by and large, correct. [Spoiler: there is going to be an Accidental Child Acquisition and some Found Family-ing, but Eskel is not going to be called upon to fulfill anybody’s romantic needs, no sir. Family, yes; sex yes, romance no.]
[I am not saying aromantic people should be paired exclusively with monsters, btw, I am saying aros belong in families and loving relationships and also Eskel is the most canonical monsterfucker among the Witchers in W3 so it’s cromulent to have him continue to do that. Also I too like women with horns.]
I think I shared some of that above snippet before so here’s another bit, which I know I didn’t, to make up for it; this whole bit might get tossed but I liked this tiny description.
At some point when he was drunk he must’ve told his brothers about that one succubus hunt. He’d told himself not to do that, but obviously it had come out at some point. He blamed alcohol. But in his defense, succubi were the kind of “monsters” that were people, and if you knew what you were getting into, were just as dangerous or not as anyone. He’d been perfectly within the bounds of rational behavior to have sex with one. He felt like that was the sort of thing any monster hunter should try at least once, and on the whole it had been among his more successful interactions. Maybe it was because succubi didn’t expect things of you that your heart maybe wasn’t built for. Maybe that was it.
