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[softlybutwithfeeling]

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[bottle]

(yennefer allows herself to burrow inside of his arms, relishing the safety she feels there while she still can. while they both have had their dalliances outside of their marriage, it was always consensual and something the other was okay with. this -- this is entirely different. )

No. I shouldn't have to. But I do and I will. For the sake of all of us.

(and hopefully barbas will put an end to it, one way or another. it's clear the idea of bigamy doesn't sit well with him.)

[softlybutwithfeeling]

[There's a helpless feeling to all of this that Geralt isn't used to and doesn't sit well with him. It's not exactly that he's had more control before—they all have their roles and they play them as God and the Lords of Hell decree—but he's rarely wanted otherwise.

Not that he can remember.

Now, he wishes it were different and he realizes he's not even sure where to begin to change their situation himself.]

Do what you have to for yourself, first and foremost.

[bottle]

(yennefer has never felt this helpless either, and she hates it with every fiber of her being. sure they all had their roles to play but she had been good at it, at keeping the lords happy and her family safe. it had been enough, more than enough for her.

and now they want to take that away from her, hand her away like she doesn't already have a husband. lord barbas may not be happy about it but he isn't stopping mammon either.)

I always do. (or she did, once upon a time. her family is a part of herself though, and she won't do anything that will endanger them.)

And no matter what happens, in my heart, you are the only husband I have. They cannot change that.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

[He drops a kiss on her forehead, smoothing the hair down the back of her neck.]

That's the only place it matters.

[And it reassures him more than perhaps it should. This isn't supposed to be about him.]

I will find you again. We will both find each other again. I promise you that.

[Of course he has no idea how he intends to follow through on that promise, but he makes it none the less.]

[bottle]

(she wasn't just saying it for him, but for herself too. they can force her to play along, but they cannot change her truth or her heart. she loves hhim, and knowing that they can't take that away is comforting. he is the husband she chose, that's what matters.)

I know. I don't know how, but we will figure it out.

(even if she has to make a questionable deal with barbas to make it happen, she would not be above it.)

Don't be stupid about it though.

(she knows her husband, and how devoted he is is great, but she doesn't want him getting unnecessarily harmed for her sake.)

[softlybutwithfeeling]

I'd say I'm never stupid, but that would be a lie. You make me stupid.

[He means it as a compliment, in a strange way. Normally it would be a joke, but he can't quite muster the humor now.]

Make sure the same goes for you. You know better.

[As he says that, Geralt knows he should let her go. There's no way to say how long Yen has to gather her things and return. Lords of Hell are not known for their patience.

Still he struggles to let her go.]

[bottle]

(she doesn't want to let go either, letting go means starting the preparations to leave him. she wants to savor whatever little time they have left.)

I do.

(she tilts her head up now to press a fairly chaste kiss against his lips. she wanted to do that at least one more time.)

I love you.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

I love you too. This doesn't change that.

[Even if it changes everything else.

Geralt gives her a squeeze, his arms tightening around her gently.]

Nothing can take you away from me. Not entirely.

[bottle]

No. No matter where I am physically, I will always be with you. (she brings her hand up to cover his heart. it beats slower than most, but she's never given it much thought to why that is.)

In here.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

[It does beat just a little faster now. Most wouldn't notice the difference, but to Yennefer the difference would be clear.]

And when I see our daughters.

[He raised her hand, kissing her knuckles again before she can leave him, not knowing when he'll have the chance again.]

[bottle]

I know you promised to protect them, but make sure to let them take care of you too.

(she needs to know they'll all take care of one another in her absence.)

[softlybutwithfeeling]

You think I could tell them no if they tried?

[He manages a joke.]

They take after their mother too much.

[bottle]

(there's a weak smile at that, but a smile all the same.)

Then I've done them well.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

That much was never in question. You've never done anything halfway.

[And he loves her for it.]

I shouldn't keep you. You have things to pack...

[He still struggles to let her go, not knowing the when he'll be able to hold her again.]

[bottle]

Just...a little bit longer?

(she knows she can't dwell too long, it would be wrong to keep a hell lord waiting but she wants to hold on a little longer, before she has to pull her head up and be strong.)

[softlybutwithfeeling]

Your call.

[He whispers, quietly relieved. It feels unfair, letting her shoulder so much of this responsibility, but he doesn't want to let go yet either.]

[bottle]

I don't know when we'll get to do this again.

(she says it softly as she buries her head into his chest. none of this is fair, and she hates all of it, but there's little they can do right now but find solace in one another.)

[softlybutwithfeeling]

[She echoes his own thoughts, and the words go straight to his heart, stirring a pain that's somehow familiar despite the fact he's never had cause to feel it before.

He has no answer for her. He can only hold her, stroking her dark hair smooth.]

[bottle]

(there is a familiar aching in her own chest that she can't really place. there's no reason for it to be familiar. he's always been with her before this. his fingers are soothing as they run through her long hair and she lets her eyes flutter shut, selfishly lingering in the safety of his touch.)

I have to believe we'll find our way back to one another. (believing anything else feels too bleak to consider.)

That we will do this again even if we don't know when.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

We will. I promise you that. All you have to do is still want me when the chance comes.

[Because it will, and at least here and now, he has no question that he'll want her.

He'll always want Yennefer.]

[bottle]

(she lifts her head to offer him a soft, albeit bittersweet sort of smile.)

I am always going to want you, Geralt. Nothing is going to change that.

[softlybutwithfeeling]

[Geralt lets his forehead rest against Yennefer's, his eyes sliding closed as he inhales slowly—scenting her, feeling her heat.

Committing it all to memory.]

Then we'll pull through in time.

[bottle]

(she lingers there in his arms for a while longer before reluctantly pulling away. it already stings to be apart from him, something she knows will only get worse over time. which is why she selfishly asks:)

Stay with me while I pack?

[softlybutwithfeeling]

Of course. As long as you'll have me.

[He lets his arms fall to the side, briefly, before crossing them over his broad chest.]

I'll resist the urge to get underfoot.

[bottle]

I wouldn't blame you if you did.

(she might even welcome it. any closeness they can steal before she has to go. she whispers a spell under her breath, magicking up a bag but she doesn't really move after that. what do you even pack to go live with a demon lord? it's not like anything is going to make this better.)