Things I didn't like : POC gore porn in the first five minutes, Witcher slaughter slight justification, Bury Your Gays (Luka my love you deserved better)
Things I did like: Vessimir being a traumatized little shit that has to confront his internalized(Bad) coping mechanisms after having his belief shattered, LUKA, little Geralt, ILLYANA, baby elf mutant, elf fucking not fucking around with people being assholes.
Real talk here, I understand people being unhappy with the AU take. From what I understand in the books the witchers and elves were victimized minorities that had never done anything to deserve the bigotry they were subjected to. The main theme of the books was that bigotry and hate lead to undeserved and stupid violence. It's best in these situations to just set aside adaptations of the books we love as an AU take rather than a canon rehash.
If it helps my view through the movie was this; Witchers were in decline before Vessimir was even recruited(in the movie, the pogrom in the books occured when Geralt was an adult), but they were still getting donations, law of surprise, and unwanted children that the mages mutated. As demonstrated in the movie and stated in the books, very few of the children survived this process. The Witchers that train and bring the boys in are not innocent of this process, in the books or in the movie. But as most people with trauma can tell you the cycle of violence can be very much 'I went through this and I'm fine, so they will be too'.
Looking at the timeline(not the books) with the view that the Witchers were already in decline and needed money to feed themselves, they became more and more desperate for money. This is not taking into account the untold trauma these people grew up with and had to deal with as the survivors of their mutations.
Looking at these changes I can't help but think that the people who made the Netflix movie thought this: these people have been taking in and killing children for decades, in the process to mutate them into monster killing machines. They took this and thought: well thats a little fucked up.
The movie shows that what Vessimir puts up is mostly a front: He tries to talk to Kitsu first, he lets the elf and the mutated girl go. These are situations where it would be lucrative to just go for the kill. When he's utterly insensitve to Tetra, looking back with these things in mind and the discrimination we have seen Witchers subject to, it makes sense to me that he would be flippant and hostile to Tetra's attempt to justify her hate of Witchers. At his heart Vessimir was still the kind boy who tried to comfort another boy who was scared to death. He was the boy who tried to save his fellow initiates and was taught a harsh lesson that his life could end in a milisecond. So when he survived and was able to fulfill his dream of achieving wealth he leaned into it hard. After all, what does anything else matter when he can bury himself in the pleasures of life?
The older Witcher in the movie justifies the creation of monsters as something he needed to do to protect his family, 'his boys'. Making the center of his motivations the brotherhood with his fellow Witchers. When Vessimir is upset, Luka is the one who goes out with him. It's obvious that the Witchers care for eachother where society does not.
All of these things come together and lead to a bigot baming the actions of one on the many and using the hostility that first drove the Witcher's into isolation to incite a sacking of their home and the slaughter of witchers.
In conclusion: The Nightmare of the Wolf isn't that bad actually, it just isn't like the books.
Hi Comfy, I loved your last family fic so much. I wonder if you could do something similar but with Vesemir? So. I'm thinking, Vesemir hasn't had a chance to date because hes been too busy bringing up Eskel, Geralt and Lambert. He finally meets his childhood sweetheart, Guxart, and they pick up from where they left off. Only issue is, the witchers aren't too sure about getting a step dad!!!!!
I didn’t forget this babe 😘 however I gotta get up at 3:15 am so we’re gonna hit this one with a headcanon format bc I can crank it out faster.
I HC the boys to be teens (Eskel is 18 and Geralt is probably17- ish and Lambert is 14)
Warnings: mention of the foster system, weed, general teenage shenanigans?
Ves wants the boys to meet Guxart before they make anything ‘facebook official’ - the boys groan at this. V not cool. Big boomer energy.
Geralt does the typical ‘middle child bullshit’ and makes plans that he “just can't flake on dad! they need me there or the whole thing will fall apart!” - he’s gonna go snog Jask at the drive-in but don't tell Ves.
Eskel just sighs and takes a massive bong rip right before Guxart gets there. He knows this is gonna be a shit show. He’s got the ‘oldest kid responsibility’ tho so he’s at least gonna be there. his sense of duty is a lil twisted but he's trying his best
Lambert prepares for WAR
He paces his room fuming, he doe not like new people, nor does he like the idea that his dad gets down. he can't handle it. Geralt and Eskel were the ones to give him The Talk. Thinking about Ves??? having a boyfriend????? oh my god?????
Guxart is old fashioned. He tries to talk sports, which almost works until he reveals he’s a fan of Lambert’s team’s rival.
He tries doing the whole ‘here I brought candy’ but these boys were from the foster system before Ves adopted them and that just makes them edgy.
He tries asking about their girlfriends and Lambert just snaps “You’re gay, you shouldn’t assume.” like a dickhead
Eskel is at least amiable, or so Ves thinks. He politely laughs at jokes, nods along to stories, asks interesting questions, until Lambert makes a rude joke and Eskel fucking loses it.
Cat’s out, Responsible Eldest Child TM is baked out of his mind and Ves is furious.
Guxart goes home a little earlier than planned to “give them family time” - he’s just mildly terrified of the little one.
Geralt comes home in the middle of them getting yelled at and tries to sneak Jask upstairs and that is its own lecture
In the end, they settle for a second go on neutral turf and Lambert takes a hit beforehand this time, not Eskel.
Geralt is now ready for battle because of all the exaggerated shit he’d heard from Lambert, but he’s the quiet watching kind so he doesn’t pull anything before he’s sure.
Guxart mentions he saw a really good musician at an open mic night at the coffee shop - it just so happens to be Jask and Geralt immediately likes him
“He likes Buttercup’s singing, what asshole could like the sweet things he sings about?” - Lambert smacks him upside the head for this, but mostly because he’s tired of hearing “Buttercup this- Buttercup that”
Eskel warms up a little talking nerdy shit.
Lambert is still annoyed but stays civil at least.
Ves deadass almost cries in the car on the way home because he’s just so relieved that his three little nightmares (whom he loves dearly) didn’t drive someone he thinks he really might love away.
Lambert kinda feels bad and gives him a hug later, once the other boys had locked themselves away in their room, “Sorry dad. I didn’t think it meant that much to you.”
Ves squeezes him tight and sighs, “I know. I wouldn’t bring someone home if I thought they weren’t good people.”
Lambert has that really small voice again from when Ves first brought him in as a foster when he was 8, “I just forget sometimes.”
Cue the tearful father-son bonding moment a-la 90′s family drama
Modern AU where Geralt is ex FBI and runs a true crime podcast with his overly exuberant and terribly dark humored husband Jaskier with expert guest forensic pathologist Yennefer and the occasional appearance from his brother Eskel who is 100% a believer in aliens and government cover ups.
They once recorded the conversations at Thanksgiving dinner and just posted it unedited.
Fans want to hear more from Vessimir, but only on the topic of how pretentious Geralt was as a child.
No one knew Jask and Geralt were married til season 5 when Jask says 'babe' (which is common bc he's just constantly over affectionate) and Geralt responds with 'darling' and the fans go buck wild.
They post a little 5 minute montage of wedding photos/clips in response to all the questions with the caption "no shit Sherlock?" Bc Geralt thought it was obvious.
They actually end up solving a cold case one time and Lambert is SO annoyed with the attention they're getting and the smug looks Jaskier gives him.
Meet and greets get wild. All the booze. They go WAY over time on any and all panels bc they're just so into it and Geralt wants to hear all the theories regardless of how stupid they are bc "its important in any investigation to think outside the box"
Geralt throwing Jask over his shoulder when he gets too excited (and angry) over a suspect in that one cold case he cannot stop thinking about.
Valdo runs a podcast himself that started true crime but morphed into roasting Jask and trying to prove their theories wrong. He doesn't upload for three months when they solved the cold case.
Geralt has a rant at least once every couple episodes on proper crime scene and evidence collecting procedure. He's sick of these lazy deputie's and officer's shit.
Jaskier cries often. Our boy is empathetic af and fans start sending kleenexes to the studio they record in. Pretty soon they have to tell people to stop bc there's just too many. They donate them to shelters and preschools.
They are asked for merch so they do tshirts and tank tops with images of blue latex gloves, evidence bags, and long tweezers with the text "don't be fucking lazy" and there's a couple different versions with names of shitty coroners (Fami Malik anyone?) or cops that threw entire cases by fucking up the chain of evidence.
Y’all can thank @bounce-a-coin-off-your-witcher for encouraging me to do this, I defs would have just thought about it for a couple months then forgot 😂
Pairing: None for this part
Warning: talk of violence and murder, retelling of Theseus and The Minotaur myth, talk of human sacrifice, if theres more plz let me know!
Summary/Notes: Myth background in case you didn’t go past the PJO books with your mythology obsession like I did. In ancient Greek mythology they believed in ‘joint fatherhood’ so basically the kid would have attributes from both fathers (bc philosophy was the tits back then not necessarily biology) King Aegeus (Vessimir) couldn’t produce an heir with his wife so he went to the Oracle of Delphi and she told him to ‘open his wine sack’ (helpful right?) long story short he bangs a princess and then Athena (patron goddess of Athens) tells the princess to go down to the sea with an offering where she bangs Posiden (co-patron god of Athens) hence Theseus (Geralt) is not only a demigod but a bastard prince. I think this is all the background yall are gonna need if you don’t already know the myth
__________
Geralt knew the story well. For as long as he could remember, his mother would comb his stark white hair before bed and he would ask, “Tell me about my fathers?” She would smile fondly and begin to braid his hair in a pattern much like her own.
“My little hero, your fathers are powerful, fair, righteous men. You have not only the blessing and favor of Poseidon, but the right to the throne of Athens.”
When he was younger he would squirm and protest, “I know mumma, but who were they?”
Vissena would sigh and change the subject until he was older, at which point she began letting the crumbs fall from her words. Crumbs Geralt followed to the truth of his heritage, piecing together stories his grandfather had told him about a sword and sandals pinned beneath a stone.
When he was twelve, his mother told him the truth.
“You are destined to free the city of Athens from a terrible fate. When you can lift the stone and retrieve your father’s sword you may travel to his palace and claim your place as prince…” Her voice came to a strangled end before she coughed and continued “But you mustn't think about that now. You’ve rope to braid and cattle to feed.”
When he finally told her he was ready to try, her eyes welled with tears. She merely nodded, continuing to run the comb through her baby’s hair like she always had. He understood as he grew older why she was so reluctant to let him go. What mother can willingly send her child away in only destiny’s hands, regardless of his exceptional strength?
At 16, he succeeded in his first task, retrieving his father’s things, and set off to Athens. He went by land, wanting to rely on himself, not his grandfather’s wealth and power. He fought Perophes, disarming the practiced warrior with surprising little effort, to complete his second task. Fighting Coercion sent chills down his spine, with the man’s reputation for killing every opponent he faced he was certainly formidable, but he bested him nonetheless. His third task was complete. However, his name only became synonymous with ‘hero’ after slaying the wild boar.
His first kill was at 17, still on the road to Athens. He could have let Procrustes live, could have delivered him to the nearest king for imprisonment, but his gut had twisted at the thought of the consequences of his failure. He tied Procrustes to the same small table he tied all his victims before slicing clean through the giant man’s limbs that hung off the edge. Leaving him to bleed out like he’d done to the skeletons littering the floor. It only seemed fitting, though the memory still made him queasy on nights when he couldn't sleep.
Even upon arrival at his father’s home, there was danger staring back at him in those beautiful amethyst eyes. The prophetess Yennefer would stop at nothing to keep the life of luxury and power she’d gained. She whispered false prophecies in King Vessimir’s ear, convincing him this boy who claimed to be his son was nothing but an imposter. Geralt should have expected such a welcome.
As he lifted a cup of poisoned wine to his lips, Vessimir glimpsed the sword at his side, recognizing it in time to knock the ceramic out of his hand.
The vessel had yet to shatter on the floor before Vessimir had rounded on the violet eyed woman with fury in his eyes like none Geralt had ever seen.
The whole of the dining hall was holding their breath, waiting for the explosion to come.
King Vessimir whispered but one word, “Disappear.”
The woman glared daggers at Geralt as she waved her hand, stepping through a portal into nothing. He stared after her for a long time, having never witnessed manipulated magic up close and if he were honest with himself, he was a bit dazed.
As his father explained and apologized Geralt simply tilted his head in confusion, slowly putting the pieces together in his shock.
“Your sword, it was mine. You must forgive me, I believed a lie. I beg you.”
Geralt nodded, “You have a state to protect.”
Vessimir grasped him by his shoulders, “No, I have to protect you.”
Geralt smiled, endeared by the old king’s sudden saccharine sentiments, “I’m no boy anymore, you shouldn’t worry.”
As the rest of the guests at the banquet began to resume conversation Vessimir guided Geralt to a window overlooking the beautiful city that he would now be calling home, “So I’ve heard. I would have thought your mother would raise you to be more merciful.”
Geralt eyed the ground, “Mercy for one who has killed so many and would kill again isn’t really mercy.” His voice was smaller than he would like, but after all these years of imagining his father, well he hadn’t expected a criticism of his ethics.
“Good.” Vessimir nodded, leaning against the edge of the window, “We can work on your tone, but that’s a good start.”
A tentative smile took over Geralt’s face, “Work on my tone?”
“If you’re going to rule Athens and defeat Crete, you’ll need to be more assertive. But none of that now,” Vessimir waved a hand and a servant brought two more goblets of wine, “Now, I want to get to know my son.”
-
The following months were filled with lessons, from Vessimir’s top generals in battle strategy and formal combat, from a matronly maid in etiquette and the cultural customs of the port city, and from Vessimir himself in diplomacy. Geralt was thrilled at first, ready to prove himself worthy, but the routine slowly lost its shine. Eskel and Lambert were no doubt excellent fighters and leaders, but there were only so many ways to disarm someone with every weapon in the royal arsenal, and they were running out of challenges for the boy. If that’s what you could call him anymore. With regular meals, unlike during his travels, and the way his trainers pushed him he was starting to look more worthy of his Olympian heritage and place at the throne.
He stood by his father’s side and paid careful attention to all of his meetings, every last one. Even the ones at dawn after a night of drinking with Eskel and Lambert.
He sat on a stool, a step down from the platform where his father’s throne was carved out of stone as he observed the nobles bringing their worries, reports, and complaints to the king from the outskirts of the territory. The large amphitheater was teeming with men ready to share their opinion. Geralt found that rarely did anyone bring something that really needed fixing, just listening was usually enough to soothe their egos. It was all rather mundane now, Geralt could mouth the words his father would say before they filled the air, until the last representative.
"My king, the spring is approaching, will we allow Crete to take our children yet again?”
Geralt’s brows knit together, eyes darting between the man and his father as they spoke.
Vessimir wiped a hand over his face, looking ten years older in an instant, “We don't have a navy that could even begin to challenge Crete’s. We have no choice.”
The gathered crowd erupted in shouts of outrage, only silenced when Vessimir stood, “It is the life of fourteen, or the life of the nation. Which will you surrender?”
There was more yelling, this time between a select few delegates, but Geralt ignored it and leaned to his right, lowering his voice so only Eskel could hear him.
“What does he mean ‘the life of fourteen’?”
Eskel frowned, “He hasn’t told you?”
Geralt glared at him, waiting for an explanation.
“King Minos’ son was killed at the games a good twenty or so years back, so as penance he takes fourteen virgins from us every nine years. Seven men, seven women, and feeds them to his bastard Minotaur.” Eskel glanced over Geralt’s shoulder at the king, a look of worry clear on his face.
“I thought the Minotaur was just a story, a parable of Crete’s barbaric nature.”
Eskel raised an eyebrow, not impressed by Geralt's literary analysis, “It’s no tale. It's as real as the ground under your feet, and it plays with its food.”
Geralt whipped his head back around to his father in time to catch his words, “There is no voting on war because of the brashness of your grandfather Letus, tread lightly. Until we have a reasonable plan of action all we can do is submit!"
Before he knew what his legs were doing Geralt was standing and shouting, "I'll go! Send me father! I'll kill the beast and return!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd but Geralt only cared about his father's reaction and Vessimir was still as stone. For a moment Geralt worried for his heart, then Vessimir gripped his arm and leaned in with a panicked look on his face, "You are my only son, I will not send you to your death." He growled.
Geralt felt a fire rising in his chest, "Your people are forced to send their children unwillingly yet when yours volunteers you're exempt? Does that seem fair to you?"
Vessimir’s grip tightened, nails digging into Geralt's arm, "Doesn't matter. You are the only heir. I can't risk the stability of the government."
Geralt stepped closer, making sure to stand at his full height, "Then you do not believe in me? In the power and blessings of Posiden that courses through me?"
Vessimir snarled but said nothing. Surely not used to being challenged, especially not so publicly, about his devotion to the gods.
Geralt lowered his voice, "I will go. I will free Athens as is my destiny, and I will come back to you unharmed." Geralt gripped his father's arm, and nearly pleaded, "I cannot sit idly by, you know I can't."
Vessimir's eyes softened ever so slightly as he released his grip, "I should have known your mother would raise a stubborn man."
Geralt grinned, "She said I got that from you."
The amphitheater had gone quiet, all eyes on the king and this strange new prince.
"Geralt will go." Vessimir sighed, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. The crowd cheered in earnest this time and Geralt soaked it all in, their hope and elation. Vessimir raised a hand for silence and continued, "Now tell me, scholars and strategists, how will we bring him back alive?"
