jaskier leaving lettenhove as a young teenager, eager to experience the world
jaskier graduating oxenfurt but feeling like something is missing
jaskier experiencing the horrible sacking of bleobheris firsthand, being covered in the blood of his friends and fellow bards
jaskier enlisting as a soldier, feeling like it's the only way he can do some good in the world
jaskier fighting his way to the top through sheer force of will, loyalty, and dedication to the cause, eventually becoming a knight, and formally shirking his former name and title
jaskier earning a new title---the sandpiper---for the sound of his whistling call before his troops rush into battle
sugar baby geralt is a twenty-something college drop-out single dad trying to figure out how to get ciri to eat her vegetables and keep the lights on. he's got his trusty piece of shit car (affectionately named roach) that desperately needs a new set of tires and volunteers part-time at his dad's dog rescue, the wolf pack.
he's got a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of money and he is just. so tired.
jaskier is a well-to-do thirty-something self-made indie musician/part-time influencer with money to spare. he's been his own man since his early twenties when he finally told his parents to fuck off after college. he's got a business degree (forced upon him but used out of spite) and a chip on his shoulder and is determined to do Whatever The Fuck He Wants at this stage in his life.
they're both trying to escape their problems.
he and geralt meet by chance. geralt's old flame-turned-friend yennefer dragged him out for a night of fun. ("all you do is work, geralt, and ciri will be fine with triss for a night.") jaskier is out essi and priss. the club is loud and hot and too much but when they see each other across the dance floor, everything else fades away.
it's like gravity (or destiny or fate, if you believed in that kind of thing) draws them together. they share a dance, then a kiss, then suddenly they're making out in an uber on the way to jaskier's place. they spend the night together--and what a night it is.
but when geralt wakes up in the morning, he notices... jaskier's place is nice. like rich person nice. and he feels self conscious as he looks around at the lofty ceilings and nice furniture and expensive looking instruments placed everywhere. there's a recording studio. who the fuck is this guy.
so he's getting dressed and is about to make his exit posthaste when jaskier catches him.
"leaving so soon?"
and geralt is still embarrassed but he likes jaskier. he's attracted to him. and he figures he can let himself play into the fantasy just a little bit longer after he checks his phone and sees that yen and triss and ciri are alright.
so they eat scrambled eggs and toast and talk. it's... nice. and geralt finds himself telling jaskier about his daughter, about his life. he doesn't explicitly say anything about money, but jaskier can read between the lines.
jaskier makes a suggestion.
"we could keep meeting, you know. i enjoy your company, geralt, even if the sex never happens again. and in exchange... why don't you bring your car next time? a friend of mine is a mechanic, and owes me a favor."
and geralt's pissed at the implication, because who the fuck does jaskier think he is. he's not a charity case, he's not going to take his money just because jaskier had him on his back last night.
and he tells him so, but jaskier repeats the offer, with nothing but sincerity in his eyes.
"geralt. i want to help you. and you don't have to do anything to deserve it--i think knowing you will be payment all on its own."
and geralt knows he could use the help. jaskier seems nice enough and he doesn't have any other options coming his way right now, really. the universe has never been kind to him.
so he agrees. "alright."
they keep meeting up, with jaskier doing little favors for him here and there--fixing his car, buying groceries. he never accepts jaskier's money straight out.
and eventually, they truly are friends. geralt lets jaskier meet ciri. and the presents start to overtly include her too--paying for them to go to the amusement park, just to see ciri shriek with glee. paying for the karate and piano lessons ciri has always wanted but geralt has never been able to afford.
and things inevitably get messy when geralt starts to feel something more.
