#merwinist

[rayshippouuchiha]

Oh are we talking about fics that leave psychic damage? Cuz I read a Hagrid/Hedwig fic where she gave him a bj with her beak. It is still up on ffn.

I imagine death so much it seems more like a memory

[unwhithered]

Ok ok so imagine this: what if jaskier refused to leave when geralt shouted at him at the top of the mountain? Sure he may have hidden behind the dragon for a moment but then he gathers his courage and is all "you are NOT allowed to talk to me that way, after all these years I've dedicated to you and kept you from going mad from loneliness and all the effort I've put into repairing your image! I am the greatest good you are ever gonna get!" and he just badgers geralt into apologizing.

“Uh. Right then. I’ll just...I’ll go and get the rest of the story from the others. See you around, Geralt.”

Jaskier turns and starts to leave, his shoulders slumped in defeat. A great gaping darkness opens itself in his chest and threatens to suck Jaskier in and never let him up as he walks away from the greatest muse, the greatest friend, the greatest love he has ever known. Gods above, it hurts. Aches so bad that Jaskier trembles as he stumbles toward what remains of the hunting party, and tears prick at his eyes.

Behind him something slams against the ground and Geralt curses, loud and long and creative in a way he wasn’t when Jaskier first began traveling with him a decade ago. 

Jaskier slows, then stops. Has it really been a decade?

A decade of his life, following this Witcher around the Continent? Singing his praises and bettering his reputation? Traveling beside him, living beside him, laughing beside him? Sometimes even coaxing a laugh out of the Witcher himself.

Anger boils up suddenly at the realization that he has spent a third of his life at Geralt’s beck and call, only to be dismissed like a begging dog or an unsatisfactory servant. Spinning on his heel, Jaskier marches right back to Geralt, who is...

Well, the way Geralt is cursing to himself as he cleans his sword in rough, uncaring swipes can only be described as throwing a fit. Jaskier doesn’t let the unexpected show of emotion throw him off.

“You know what?” Jaskier bites out, just below a shout. His fists clench at his sides as he glares at Geralt. “You know what, Geralt? Fuck you. You don’t get to chase me off like a stray dog. You don’t get to speak to me like that. Not even when that witchy bitch has broken your heart. Not ever, in fact, you ungrateful ogre of a man!”

“Jaskier--”

“Oh no. I’m not done yet, Geralt of Rivia. Butcher of Blaviken. Because that’s who you were to the world, when we met - but I never saw that. I’ve spent a decade of my life - my fucking short, miserable, human life - telling your story, making the world see the same man I see when I look at you. You don’t get to make me wrong now by acting the brute. I won’t let you waste my life’s work just because destiny fucked you over one too many times.” Jaskier is screaming by the end of it, his voice echoing off of the mountain side. He doesn’t care who hears him. Maybe Geralt will feel some fucking shame for once if the whole damn mountain hears what an ass he is.

“Jaskier, shut up,” Geralt shouts right back.

“Oh go fuck yourself, Witcher.”

“I am trying to say I’m sorry, your insufferable bag of air, but you won’t shut up long enough to hear it!”

“Oh,” Jaskier huffs, the wind going out of his sails. His shoulders slump once more. “Well...I suppose that’s alright, then.”

[ladywynne]

Necessary

Hi @merwinist​! I am your Sansan Secret Santa! : ) I hope you like the little story I came up with for your amazing prompt “Make yourself necessary to somebody.” It is set after the battle in King’s Landing in season eight, but Sandor lives! And he is heading north....

I hope you like it. The AO3 link is here if you’d rather read that way. Happy Holidays!

Sandor reined up as Winterfell came into sight. Last chance, he told himself. But he smirked ruefully, and the thought left his mind as soon as it entered it. It was decided. Had been decided the minute his brother had burned before his eyes. When the Mountain’s knees had hit the ground and his last scream died, Sandor’s head had swiveled toward the north. He had not looked back once.

                                                        -----------------

Gods, she is so beautiful.  He stood before her in Winterfell’s great hall. He knew what he must look like, not only dirty and unshaven, but scarred. Just a bristly old cur. And the North doesn’t need him. The war is over. Sansa can pay him back for every course word in King’s Landing, for all the times he just stood there and watched her misery. He deserved it.

None of this showed on his face of course. He might not be the Hound any longer, but he was still Sandor-fucking-Clegane. He stood tall, his menacing presence daring any of the gnat guards to come near him, his eyes focused somewhere to the right of Sansa’s head while he told them what he knew of the battle in King’s Landing.

Sansa listened then stood, glancing around the room. “Sandor Clegane is welcome in the North. He is a hero of the Battle of Winterfell where he saved my sister’s life, which in turn saved us all.” She paused and spoke more quietly, directly to him. “Will you join my table tonight, Se-…Clegane?” The corner of her mouth turned up slightly.

He had meant to refuse but instead heard himself grunt, “Aye.” Then he gave Lady Stark a brusque nod and strode out, not waiting to be dismissed.

                                                    ------------------

The high table was as miserable as he had imagined. He was seated far from Sansa, and the pompous lords around him insisted on speaking to him. One even went so far as slapping him on the shoulder, and Sandor bit back the urge to stab the man with his dinner knife. But the ale was plentiful, and once his companions learned to leave him be he could eat, drink, and steal glances down the table to where Sansa sat. She was not a little bird any longer, no more than he was the Hound, unless maybe a raven in her severe black dress? Buy no, the raven was her strange brother, not Sansa. She was a red she-wolf. Engaged, sure of herself, strong. He nodded to himself in approval and took another drink.

                                                   ----------------------

Sansa tried to focus on the conversation around her, something about breeding horses, but her eyes were drawn constantly down the table to where Clegane sat, a silent brooding presence working single-mindedly on his dinner. He had changed, was nothing near to soft, but maybe less…. hateful, somehow? Physically he was older, but still tall and straight, and even now she could see the way his muscles moved beneath his jerkin as he ate. She turned quickly away, hoping no one had seen her looking.

                                                    ---------------------

Sandor drained his cup and sat back. People were starting to leave the hall and he supposed he should go as well. He stood and turned to find the Lady of Winterfell.

She beckoned a servant for her cloak as she said, “Walk with me, Clegane?” Then started away without waiting for his answer. They went down halls and up winding stairs, not speaking, and emerged at last on the battlements. It was a clear, cold night, and thankfully calm. The banners hung limply above them. Sansa went and looked out over the walls. He could see her shoulders relax as she breathed the crisp air, for a moment away from all those who relied on her. He came up beside her and waited. When she finally spoke, he could see it was Sansa, not the Lady Stark. “I’m glad you’ve come.”

“Are you then? Huh. Don’t really know why I did. Nowhere else to go I reckon.”

She scoffed, but mildly. “Really? Haven’t you your own Keep in the west?”

He tensed, ready with some surly reply, but she turned to him, looking directly up at him for the first time, and her blue eyes were so compelling they cut off whatever he intended to say.

“Please Clegane, I would speak plainly with you. You always gave me that much before.”

He nodded. “Aye.” He looked away a moment and she saw his fists clench. She waited patiently until he spoke.

“If it’s the truth you want then I’ll tell you.” He looked up, brown eyes wary but determined, holding a flicker of. . .hope? in their depths. “I came because of you, Lady. You and your sister. I hoped I could find a place in your service, but I see you don’t need me here. You are the bloody Lady of Winterfell now. Bastards are falling all over themselves to be near you.”

She reached out and touched one fist gently. “Call me Sansa.” She took a deep breath, taking her hand away. “I do need you. I trust you. Everything went so horribly wrong after you left. I was so alone. I couldn’t trust anyone, especially not those cowards who claimed to want to help me. I was just a girl, but they used me, hurt me.”

What could he say? He had heard some of her story, and he wished those cunts were alive so he could kill them again.

Her eyes welled with unshed tears, but she brushed them away impatiently and clasped his arm. “You never hurt me. You had the chance, but you were honest  and . . . and gentle. Now I am alone again, my family won’t stay. I know it.” She hesitated, “Sandor. I’m a woman now, not a girl. I am safe. I am home, but still …broken.” Her voice trailed off and her face turned slightly away.

He didn’t know where the courage came from, but he reached out a finger and gently brought her chin around. He said all he could think to say. The simple truth. “You are so strong.”

They stood for a moment, blue eyes meeting brown. He dropped his hand, and she came up on her toes and kissed him. A gentle touch on the corner of his mouth.

“So are you.”

He snorted briefly. “Ha. Strong arms maybe.”

“I mean it. You kept your humanity. Through everything.” She tentatively touched the burn scars on his cheek.

He shrugged irritably. “None of that matters. I should have done more for you. But…” and his rough voice softened. “I never forgot you. If I survived, you are the reason. When your sister left me for dead my thoughts were for you. I went to find the wight and save Westeros for you. I killed my brother because you weren’t safe while he lived. Sansa, you saved me.”

She looked up at him, eyes dark and fathomless. “Then we saved each other. Sandor, I missed you. I longed for you. You are necessary to me. Will you stay? Not as a sworn sword, but to be with me?”

“Aye. I will.” He felt her tremble at the words. ”Sansa, you are necessary to me as the air I breathe, and you will never be alone again.”

He leaned down then and kissed her properly, gently. Arms coming around to hold her. When they broke apart, she sighed and laid her head against his chest. The snow began to fall slowly around them in big flakes, coating their hair. They stood still. She comforted and secure in his solid embrace. He accepted, valued, able to love his lady at last.

[fractiousrvt]

Do you have a recommended cat food brand for an "older" cat who's been outdoors in the country and only occasionally indoors, and is now transitioning to fully indoor? (Also any tips on that transition that would be low effort for you to share would be truly appreciated! And I can't use kofi or PayPal or venmo but I have cashapp if you'd like a tip before you answer? Also I'm taking kitty to vet soon, just have to get an appt, and plan to ask for the blood panel etc.)

I would recommend from the same companies that I answered that previous ask with. My own cats have been fed Hills/Science Diet their whole lives. The blood panel will also let you know if your kitty needs a medical diet. Tips for transitioning are basically... abundance. Many water bowls, many feed stations, many places to be up high, many boxes on the ground to hide in, as many litterboxes as you can manage. You want your house to be a place of safety and plenty. And also toys and attention, of course!

[bixbythemartian]

I went into your daycare fic expecting to cry because of the awful premise and then you made it joyously devastating. While I didn't end up hardcore crying til the superhero reveal because it was such a good plot twist and I felt such relief, I was definitely misty by the time pizza happened.

‘joyously devastating’ is such an amazing compliment, thank you for reaching out to me!

[childotkw]

You can get ao3 to work by reloading the tab after you get the 400 page haha

Nice!

[ofgeography]

(Public is fine) So I got my bffl to listen to the whole new album as part of our 19 hour road trip moving me to their apartment, and they've definitely converted to loving your music too!! You're just too powerful. Also I loved Yes And-- with the spanish just the same. Maybe even better, the vibes of the music were v evocative

hi is there anything better than being an a roadtrip playlist?? no SIR there is NOT, all i have ever wanted to be in this life is a dog in the backseat of somebody’s car with my head out of the window while someone blasts tunes. where are we going!!! i don’t know!!! i’m a dog!!!

[colubrina]

I have approximately 5 weeks before my library can deliver me a copy of legendborn and I am STRUGGLING not to read your fic before I read the book

WAIT!!!!!

reading mine will spoil one of the really fabulous reveals in the book

(though I am ECSTATIC I have made you want to read it!)