Press Conference
After dealing with the first monster in the modern world, Jaskier believes it best to hold a press conference as a way to introduce the witchers. Goes about as well as you'd expect.
The crowd is a flurry with movement and noise. Reporters talking into their microphones, preparing for the conference, others scribbling on their notepad, and others from the public pointing their phones to the podium.
Jaskier rests a reassuring hand on Geralt’s knee, giving a light squeeze, then does the same for Eskel on his other side.
“It’ll be fine, my wolves.” Jaskier whispers. “I know this all seems rather terrifying but I promise everything will work out.”
“As long as you’re by our side, Catmint.” Eskel lifts his hand to press a kiss to his palm. “Wolf an’ I would gladly walk into Hell itself.” Jaskier leans over to kiss his darling wolf, then the other, allowing just a few more moments to bask in the comfort of the two.
One of the aids clears her throat, “We’re just about ready for you, sirs.” Jaskier nods and thanks the young woman, standing and giving one last squeeze to each rough hand before walking ahead, Geralt and Eskel a step behind.
Jaskier only hears the last part of Captain Richard’s report, how northern England is safe from the threat and is heartbroken by the innocent lives lost.
“However you do not have me nor my men to thank for bringing down the threat.” Captain Richard speaks into the many microphones, more cameras click. “It turns out... Well it turns out this world is a whole lot bigger than we originally thought. And so here is someone who can hopefully explain a whole lot better than I could.” He steps aside and gestures out with his arm, welcoming Jaskier.
Gasps and murmurs quickly ring out as Jaskier steps onto the stage with his witchers beside him, the flashing of cameras seemingly never ending, he can hear Geralt grunt in frustration from the assault of flashes.
“Settle down now,” Jaskier placates the crowd, he’s in his element, he’s always been good at public speaking. “I promise you this is not some prank or extremely odd and distasteful album announcement.” There’s a few laughs, the jitters settling. “What Captain Richard said is correct. We are not alone in this world. Far from it, in fact. All those monster stories that we’re all familiar with: werewolves, vampires, mermaids and sirens, even dragons. Long, long time ago they were a real thing.” Questions erupt, Jaskier lifts a hand to quiet them. “Humanity was being overrun with these terrible creatures, and so we invented our own creature to combat this.” At this he gestures to his wolves. “Witchers are humans who were mutated by mages, yes mages are a real thing, to fight these monsters. They have inhuman strength and speed, a resistance to poisons and venom that would be deadly to a puny human like myself. And they were the ones who killed this creature.”
Esra of the bears steps out with the head of the ulfhedinn, more gasps from the crowd. “This is an ulfhedinn, which is basically an even stronger and more pissed off werewolf.”
“You see, the original monsters came about from an event known as the conjecture. Where our sphere - our world - collided with another, causing them to basically crash land here. Now the second conjecture has happened, and so I have awoken these witchers from their slumber in order to protect humanity from the growing threats once again.”
More hands shoot up, people shouting Jaskier’s name, and so he points to one near the front row who stands up. “How is it that you know of these witchers yet none of us do not?”
“Ah,” Jaskier shifts, the first sign of his nerves. “Well you see, I am in fact from an era where the world was still overrun with monsters from the first conjecture. To make an incredibly long but honestly beautiful story short,” Eskel gives a huff of a laugh. “This witcher here,” Jaskier brings Geralt forward. “Is known as the White Wolf, the Warlord and leader of the witchers and their schools. Used to be: witchers were separated by schools, wolf, cat, viper, bear, crane, manticore, and griffin. However, due to events that again, far too much to get into now, Geralt brought the school together under one banner. He projected humanity both from monsters and greedy kings who thought they could do whatever they liked. And... and I am his consort, his husband.” Another onslaught of camera flashes and shouts and questions, Geralt squeezes his hand. “Please, please!” Jaskier has to shout to get above the noise and gives his wolf an apologetic squeeze. “Witchers are very sensitive to lights and sounds, please refrain from shouting and capturing hundreds of photos at once.” He waits until the crowd has settled again before continuing. “As I was saying. Yes this makes me incredibly old, for one year our sorceresses discovered that an unfortunate curse had been placed upon the witchers. By whom we do not know, but they doomed the witchers to an eternal sleep by the end of that year.”
“Our sorceresses worked day and night to try and break this curse, but alas it was too powerful, and time was running out. Monsters were few and far between these days, which was a good thing, but we all knew there would come a day they would return. Our sorceresses thus came up with the idea of having one of us stay behind so to speak. To wait until the second conjecture does happen, so they can hopefully awaken our witchers again. They created a spell, enough for only one person, who will become immortal and immune to the curse. I volunteered as this person, despite my darlings grouching.” He side-eyes Geralt, there’s quiet laughter. “It ended up being me who received this spell and thus, immortality. The other sorceress then figured out that if we put all those in the keep in a slumber on our own, we would essentially avoid the curse, and allow me to wake them when needed. So that is what happened.” Jaskier can still remember that final day: Yennefer checking all of her ward again and again to ensure the keep stayed hidden and untouched. Witchers and servants alike saying their goodbyes, trying not to make it sound like a forever, but the tears in their eyes saying otherwise.
Ciri, brave darling Ciri, holding it together until her dear papa hugs her goodbye, and she breaks down, sobbing into his chest. Milena and Lambert did not separate that entire day, hand in hand, arm in arm, giving reassurance to everyone and each other that everything will be okay.
And Geralt and Eskel before the fireplace and the medallion tree, basking in the presence of their lark one last time, telling him how much they love him, how proud they are. Jaskier remembers Geralt slipping off his medallion, handing it to him, before disappearing with Eskel out the door.
Jaskier will never forget the silver growing unnaturally cold in his hands, the fires dying out like they were all doused with water, and the eerie silence that befell the keep.
“So are you saying there will be more attacks like this around the world?” A reporter speaks up, breaking Jaskier from his thoughts. He nods.
“Unfortunately yes, but there are many witchers, and humans have advanced quite a ways since the era of swords and arrows. We plan to speak with the UN and beyond, to allow Witchers free access to the countries that need their assistance.”
“Will this be a mercenary deal with payment or a militarization?”
“What if the leaders refuse the entry of the witchers?”
“How can you be sure these witchers can deal with all of the threats around the world?”
More and more questions were shouted at them, questions Jaskier wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. Then Geralt gives him a gentle kiss to his head and steps around him and in front of the podium, and silence quickly falls as they prepare to hear a witcher speak for the first time.
Geralt clears his throat once, twice, and speaks just loud enough for the microphones connected to the speakers to pick up. “While we cannot force the leaders of these countries to accept witchers in their lands, it would be foolish of them to refuse us.” Jaskier can tell others are struggling to adjust to his strange accent. “Like my... husband said, we only wish to protect humanity. We may face creatures we had never faced before, this is true, but I have no doubt me and my men will be able to bring down whatever threat we are faced with.”
“Sir!” A young reporter raises her hand and stands, Jaskier will need to figure out the best way to address Geralt and the other witchers... “Jaskier said you were a Warlord. Does this mean you intended to threaten the world leaders who refuse you and your men just now?”Jaskier is quick to step forward, turning the microphone towards him. “Geralt has no desire to take control of any countries or threaten any leaders.” Jaskier levels her with a hard look, “Please remember that he and the others have just woken up from a very long nap and are thus needing to adjust and learn about the world they have just woken up to.” He can tell another onslaught of questions are about to be shouted at them, so he takes the time to smile politely. “Thank you all for your time.” He grabs Geralt’s arm and leads him away as people try to get their attention, Eskel and Ivo following.
