Ooh! Ooh! Also—sorry, I keep thinking about your Lambden question and why not Yenskier or Geraskier. I slept on it and now there’s more. Please forgive the bombardment. Also feel free to give this a pass in replying, I realize I have some unpopular opinions.
To me, I’ve often found Fandom Jaskier to be a bit childishly manipulative—he’s pouted and simpered until he’s gotten what he wants, until his strong-willed partners roll their eyes and say “oh alright.” That’s not a dynamic I enjoy and I can’t help but feel that, in those scenarios, something disingenuous is happening. That’s my own interpretation, and fully acknowledge that others may—and probably do—perceive that dynamic differently. No judgement on their enjoyment of it. But it’s not for me.
On the flip side of things, it also sometimes feels like the Bard pairings only work because he’s good at letting certain things roll off his back that he really... shouldn’t be letting roll off his back.
I’ve rarely seen Lambden operate the same way. They’re both adults, on equal footing with each other. Yeah they’re sarcastic with each other and they’re both assholes but they aren’t to each other where it counts. If one of them brushes the other off, there’s a gear shift of “hang on, what’s going on, talk to me?” or “I’m going to let that slide because I know you didn’t mean that” or “what do you need right now?” Whatever’s being worked through, they work through it together, even if that means giving space. But there is a give and take in their desire to be there for each other. Plus there’s something about them that’s... shiny. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s fizzy and shiny and very very sexy.
Margaret, yet again, you blow me away with your analysis.
I completely agree with your reflections on Jaskier’s relationships. It’s one reason that I struggle to write him anymore, because if you lean towards Netflix, then his relationship with Geralt is completely devoid of any real meaning. Yes, you can look at the mountain, and the ‘bath scene’, but snapshots do not a relationship make. Anything I build for Jaskier and Geralt from Netflix, I have to do all the heavy work myself and Netflix canon gives me camomile oil and “do what pleases you”.
Dandelion and Geralt, though? Books and games? I adore it. Absolutely. And whenever I write the two of them interacting? It’s usually with these influences in mind. Some of my favourite stories from the fandom are Dandelion and Geralt, either romantic or platonic.
Most of the Lambden I have read is definitely built around communication, the picking apart of insecurities and the forging of something healthy, if not necessarily always functional.
Note: fandom isn’t a religion (or at least I’m pretty sure I didn’t sign up for a cult), I feel that ‘unpopular’ opinions have a place and should be aired, please never apologise for them, and you know what? If I lose followers for discussing canon, fanon, personal preference and whatever (respectfully, I might add), then... fine? Off they pop. Please never apologise for sending me takes, sweet. We won’t always agree on everything, but you’re awesome and I value your input.