Lambert headcanons you can rip from my cold, dead claws:
-of the wolf school trio, he's the least able to regulate his emotions something for which he compensates with excessive training and a sharp tongue; this means he's probably the most agile and deadly, but he also tends to make brash decisions that cost him
-he is very self-assured, but his confidence can shatter like thin glass when another person knows what to say (like when Geralt tells him the Swallow he brewed for a job they shared had too little drowner brain in it; it's an offhand comment, really, but Lambert never does well getting scolded by his elders)
-he's brash and off-putting, downright rude, passionate in his ire; he's slow to love, but one of the most loyal people there are
-Vesemir used to call him puppy (very early on, Lambert used to call Vesemir dad and Vesemir almost always teared up over it; Lambert was very young when he came to Kaer Morhen, couldn't remember his parents; he was scrawny and sickly and Vesemir was reasonably sure the boy wouldn't make it through the trials; when he did, Vesemir got drunk on red wine and swore that if he ever trained another Witcher again, he wouldn't let himself get attached, but he loves his boys so much and Lambert will always be his little puppy dog (that is, until Ciri comes along))
-Lambert hates being called puppy because at some point, his brothers adopted the term to tease him with it; to Lambert it reflects half a life-time of trying to play catch up with Geralt and Eskel
-Triss learned this while rummaging in his mind for something that would annoy him as much as she is annoyed by Lambert persisting in calling her 'Merigold'; she seizes every opportunity to use the nickname
-Aiden learned this when they got drunk on Redanian lager one night after a job on an infestation of mutated spiders and he uses it sparingly in moments of great affection (or intoxication) and only ever when Lambert calls him kitten beforehand (Lambert doesn't mind so much, but it still has a bitter aftertaste)
-Jaskier is the most annoying little shit Lambert ever had the displeasure of meeting and when he turns up at Kaer Morhen one winter, having followed Geralt up here against the Witcher's express wishes, Lambert's about to kick the bard all the way down the mountain pass (even though he's rather impressed by Jaskier's persistence); to his delight, no one lets slip the nickname and Lambert goes full-out on the anti-Jaskier campaign, just because he can (and because he is petty and wants a friend that sings him songs and doesn't think Geralt really appreciates this goofball of a bard, but he would never admit that out loud). Lambert calls Jaskier names, ignores him, trips him up, sets little traps for him. One morning, Jaskier opens the door of his bedroom and is showered with a bucketload of mashed ghoul brains Vesemir stocks (used to stock). The bard blinks. Laughs. "Aww, did this puppy get up on the wrong side of the bed," Jaskier hugs Lambert. He says it with such conviction, such earnest affection that Lambert shock-freezes. He hugs Jaskier back. "Will you write me a song," he whispers. "Sure, darling. But next time, just ask, I'm afraid you ruined my best shirt with this muck."
-after that, Lambert doesn't open up exactly, though he has moments where his heart beats lop-sided and his eyes prickle and a feeling of deep love hits him like his anger sometimes does
-its winter's zenith when he finds Vesemir alone in the library, drowsy by the fire with a book dangling from his gnarled fingers. "Lambert," the old Witcher mutters in his sleep, and Lambert gently tugs the book out of his grasp and retrieves a blanket from an old chest in the corner which he lays around Vesemir's shoulders. "Sleep, dad."
-its almost spring when he watches Geralt and Eskel spar in the courtyard, both shirtless and sweaty and so very scarred. Lambert amuses himself by calling them names, calling out their mistakes, calling them old. "Had enough of this?" Geralt grunts at some point and Eskel nods. They're on him with dull claws and howling laughter and Lambert does wrestle them both off
-its full-on summer when Lambert and Aiden come across an open-air festivale in the fields before Oxenfurt; the acclaimed Jaskier is to play and Lambert considers getting drunk and being an arsehole about it, but Jaskier still owes him a song so he convinces Aiden to stay; Aiden is confused, but he obliges; the song is about the adventures of Lambert, the Lone Wolf, young and lusting for blood and it's ridiculously embellished, but Lambert loves it; Aiden can't stop laughing and is adamant about finding out why Jaskier thinks himself knowledgable enough to make allusions to the size of Lambert's cock
-when Geralt turns up with Ciri in tow one day, Lambert falls instantly in love with her (in his own way). Coen is nice, but he is no wolf and anyway, he doesn't show the same spirit that Ciri does. Lambert finally gets to pass on his stupid nickname, he finally gets to be an older brother to someone (in his own way)
