(when she leaves the library she debates where to look for him first. he could be at the stables. or the bar. ultimately she finds herself going up the stairs, hoping he would be in his room in his suite. it would give them more privacy to talk. not that she plans on telling him everything....does he really need to know the last resort plan? he'd object to it, she's sure. but the rest he does. the part about what the spell was really doing. and the few leads they have in undoing it.
it's not much, but it's more than they had before. and he might be able to see angles in it that she and tech missed. and maybe...she just wants to talk about it with someone she feels a little more comfortable letting her guard down around. not totally comfortable...but more than she was before, at least. she knocks on the door -- even if he's in his own room she knows he'll hear it. and he'll know it's her because of her scent, like he always does.)
[It might be luck that Geralt is in his room when Yennefer arrives. It also might be the fact that he hasn't been out much, other than his worth outside or in the stable.
He hears her coming, and oh yes, he smells her. Geralt would know that scent anywhere.
He can hear her heartbeat, quick with anger and fear.
He opens the door almost before she knocks—and steps aside, inviting her in without a word.]
(of course, he hears her and is at the door before she barely had the chance to knock -- she imagines she must be very loud to him right now. tech had calmed her down enough to keep her from doing something stupid in the moment but she can still feel that invisible noose tightening around her neck. she follows geralt and doesn't bother wasting time with niceties or small talk -- neither one of them are those type of people. )
Jaskier's friend, Tech, has been helping me in the library since he still remembers how to read the demon languages here. We found the spell.
(she allows his hand, even welcomes it as he guides her to his bed. his presence is steadying. she is trying to let him help her, to remember just because she can do things alone doesn't mean she has to.
as to where to start...may as well get the worst out.)
The spell, if completed, will consume my soul. It's possible it's consumed half of it already.
[She's not exactly pulling punches on that one, is she. It hits Geralt, but it's hard to absorb. It's like the information sits on the outside of his mind, aware but not internalized, even after a long moment of silence.
Not that it's impossible, but it seems impossible for Yennefer.]
All right. [Geralt says slowly after a long moment.] Why? And how do we stop it from being completed?
(and yet to yennefer it feels all too real and possible, suffocating so. enough that she almost did something stupid. given enough time, she still might. but for now she sits on the edge of his bed. )
Why? I don't know know, the spell didn't exactly list his motives, but as it would leave us as lifeless husks who would depend on him to survive I could hazard a few guesses. (and none of them good.)
I don't know how to stop it either. But there is something I thought you could help me look into -- the spell listed ingredients from various types of monsters, if we could find them and gather similar ingredients -- maybe I could find some way to break the spell or counter it. The problem is some of them may be only found in his private collection, though I was told he brought them for some wretched carnival last year.
We could gather them for you to research, but you also might be getting the components for Mammon to finish the spell.
[Geralt's mind goes immediately to the possibility. It's not that she's wrong. Not in the least, but having all of the ingredients necessary to complete the spell raises the possibility, and he can't say he likes it.]
Yes? No? I don't know but I can't just stand around and hope a better solution presents itself.
( as it is she feels like she's not doing enough, and it's driving her insane. restlessness has never been a god look for her. with tech had tried to keep her armor up but with geralt she lets some of that very real fear bleed through )
So we just do nothing and wait for it to get worse anyways?
(her voice hitches, a mixture of anger and desperation and deep sadness because she hates how helpless she feels. she doesn't know either. if it was the magic of their world -- she'd know it like the back of her hand. but she is out of her depth and it is wearing on her more and more.)
Every minute I do nothing I can feel that collar around my neck pulling tighter and tighter. I would rather die than fall completely under his control.
I know that. An acquaintance of mine, Sara, suggested I speak to Lilith. She seemed to think she was more trustworthy. And I have helped with her spells before. (which means she knows lilith is at least familiar with the magic here. that could be useful. she does not pull away from his touch but instead leans into it)
I just that our plan seems to boil down to waiting for someone else to do something. I want to do something.
(but hey, it's progress that she's talking about this with geralt and not just acting impulsively -- it probably helps that she has memories of when they would talk things through -- those memories might be false but they felt real, they still make it a little easier.)
We're not waiting for them to do something. We're convincing them to. And maybe if they give us more information, you'll find out there's more for you to do yourself.
[Geralt runs his hands through his hair, frustrated. It seems like she thinks he likes this, that he enjoys being passive.]
It's not as though I don't wish there were more for us to do too. But you know as well as I do that sometimes the best thing to do is listen.
(it's not that she thinks he enjoys being passive, but he's also not the one everyone keeps looking at like a bomb ready to go off. she's trying her best to wait, and to listen, and ironically it's the fact that so many people do seem to expect her to do something rash that has kept her from doing so so far.
spite is powerful motivation. her hands ball up in her lap now.)
Listening has never been my strong suit. And it's not -- I don't think this is easy for you. I didn't intend to imply that.
But currying favor is something you're good at, at least for a while. Long enough to get what you want.
[She might not be good at keeping up the act. Geralt has seen Yennefer end more than one of her relationships of convenience. She can never make things last, not forever.
Not that he's one to judge. He has had the luxury of leaving when a job was over.]
(to be fair, it's always harder to keep up her relationships of convenience when he's around. it's annoying, but true.
just like it's annoying but true that gathering the ingredients could just give mammon what he needs to finish things. they need to play smart.)
It'd be so much easier if we just knew the way things worked here. The magic here...is not like the chaos I wield. There are few threats in our world we don't understand between the two of us, but here....
(yennefer turns to face him, putting her hand up to cup his face. in these moments it's easy to see how much this has taken a toll on him as much as her.)
I do trust you. (if she didn't she would have probably acted without talking to him or tried to manipulate or talk him out of his reservations.)
(she is trying to communicate, to trust him, hard as it is. there's a lot maybe she still struggles to trust him with, but she knows he'll do anything within his power to help free her. it just might not be enough. if she fully trusted him maybe she would tell him about the last resort she and tech came up with. he would definitely be against that idea and so she doesn't.
old habits die hard, especially when you feel backed into a corner.)
I suppose the more accurate thing to say is I'm trying to trust you. I'm choosing to. (she doesn't have to say for now for the words to hang in the air all the same.)
[He listens to her, not interrupting. It would not surprise him to know she's holding information back.
He expects it.
What that information might be, he's less sure of.]
That will have to be good enough. [Because it would be unfair to ask for more. At this point, she doesn't owe him any more than that.] The fact you're trying counts for something.
(she doesn't say anything in response to that but instead brushes her thumb against his cheek before leaning in to press her lips against his. they haven't kissed since the spell was broken, and maybe it's a mistake to do it now, but she just wants, even for a moment, to feel something other than sadness and desperation. maybe there's not else they can do in this exact moment then offer each other some comfort.)
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you need to go to war to find material to sing | action
(when she leaves the library she debates where to look for him first. he could be at the stables. or the bar. ultimately she finds herself going up the stairs, hoping he would be in his room in his suite. it would give them more privacy to talk. not that she plans on telling him everything....does he really need to know the last resort plan? he'd object to it, she's sure. but the rest he does. the part about what the spell was really doing. and the few leads they have in undoing it.
it's not much, but it's more than they had before. and he might be able to see angles in it that she and tech missed. and maybe...she just wants to talk about it with someone she feels a little more comfortable letting her guard down around. not totally comfortable...but more than she was before, at least. she knocks on the door -- even if he's in his own room she knows he'll hear it. and he'll know it's her because of her scent, like he always does.)
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He hears her coming, and oh yes, he smells her. Geralt would know that scent anywhere.
He can hear her heartbeat, quick with anger and fear.
He opens the door almost before she knocks—and steps aside, inviting her in without a word.]
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(of course, he hears her and is at the door before she barely had the chance to knock -- she imagines she must be very loud to him right now. tech had calmed her down enough to keep her from doing something stupid in the moment but she can still feel that invisible noose tightening around her neck. she follows geralt and doesn't bother wasting time with niceties or small talk -- neither one of them are those type of people. )
Jaskier's friend, Tech, has been helping me in the library since he still remembers how to read the demon languages here. We found the spell.
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He nudges her toward his bed, one hand resting on the small of her back, at least as long as she'll allow it.]
That sounds ominous.
[Without sarcasm.]
Where do you want to start?
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(she allows his hand, even welcomes it as he guides her to his bed. his presence is steadying. she is trying to let him help her, to remember just because she can do things alone doesn't mean she has to.
as to where to start...may as well get the worst out.)
The spell, if completed, will consume my soul. It's possible it's consumed half of it already.
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Not that it's impossible, but it seems impossible for Yennefer.]
All right. [Geralt says slowly after a long moment.] Why? And how do we stop it from being completed?
[Is that a risk?]
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(and yet to yennefer it feels all too real and possible, suffocating so. enough that she almost did something stupid. given enough time, she still might. but for now she sits on the edge of his bed. )
Why? I don't know know, the spell didn't exactly list his motives, but as it would leave us as lifeless husks who would depend on him to survive I could hazard a few guesses. (and none of them good.)
I don't know how to stop it either. But there is something I thought you could help me look into -- the spell listed ingredients from various types of monsters, if we could find them and gather similar ingredients -- maybe I could find some way to break the spell or counter it. The problem is some of them may be only found in his private collection, though I was told he brought them for some wretched carnival last year.
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[Geralt's mind goes immediately to the possibility. It's not that she's wrong. Not in the least, but having all of the ingredients necessary to complete the spell raises the possibility, and he can't say he likes it.]
Are you sure you want to risk that?
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Yes? No? I don't know but I can't just stand around and hope a better solution presents itself.
( as it is she feels like she's not doing enough, and it's driving her insane. restlessness has never been a god look for her. with tech had tried to keep her armor up but with geralt she lets some of that very real fear bleed through )
What if it doesn't?
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[And more than anything, he wishes he knew more. He's not used to not having information. Witchers know their prey.
It's as much what makes them effective as their enhanced abilities.]
But I don't want to make this worse just because it's bad already.
[Meaning he doesn't want her to make it worse.]
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So we just do nothing and wait for it to get worse anyways?
(her voice hitches, a mixture of anger and desperation and deep sadness because she hates how helpless she feels. she doesn't know either. if it was the magic of their world -- she'd know it like the back of her hand. but she is out of her depth and it is wearing on her more and more.)
Every minute I do nothing I can feel that collar around my neck pulling tighter and tighter. I would rather die than fall completely under his control.
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[His hand stills on Yennefer's back, touch light but steady, balancing the fear she'll pull away with the need to feel her still there.
It would be a mistake to think he's unaffected.]
We have a plan. We're trying to win favor with Lucifer. If the situation is as serious as you say, then we'll need more power than we have on our own.
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I know that. An acquaintance of mine, Sara, suggested I speak to Lilith. She seemed to think she was more trustworthy. And I have helped with her spells before. (which means she knows lilith is at least familiar with the magic here. that could be useful. she does not pull away from his touch but instead leans into it)
I just that our plan seems to boil down to waiting for someone else to do something. I want to do something.
(but hey, it's progress that she's talking about this with geralt and not just acting impulsively -- it probably helps that she has memories of when they would talk things through -- those memories might be false but they felt real, they still make it a little easier.)
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[Geralt runs his hands through his hair, frustrated. It seems like she thinks he likes this, that he enjoys being passive.]
It's not as though I don't wish there were more for us to do too. But you know as well as I do that sometimes the best thing to do is listen.
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(it's not that she thinks he enjoys being passive, but he's also not the one everyone keeps looking at like a bomb ready to go off. she's trying her best to wait, and to listen, and ironically it's the fact that so many people do seem to expect her to do something rash that has kept her from doing so so far.
spite is powerful motivation. her hands ball up in her lap now.)
Listening has never been my strong suit. And it's not -- I don't think this is easy for you. I didn't intend to imply that.
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[She might not be good at keeping up the act. Geralt has seen Yennefer end more than one of her relationships of convenience. She can never make things last, not forever.
Not that he's one to judge. He has had the luxury of leaving when a job was over.]
We are doing something, Yen.
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(to be fair, it's always harder to keep up her relationships of convenience when he's around. it's annoying, but true.
just like it's annoying but true that gathering the ingredients could just give mammon what he needs to finish things. they need to play smart.)
It'd be so much easier if we just knew the way things worked here. The magic here...is not like the chaos I wield. There are few threats in our world we don't understand between the two of us, but here....
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[And an important one, even if it's deeply troubling. It's the first step to discovering more.
Before they didn't have anything.]
If we can figure out what they did and how, then we can figure out how and what the rules are.
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And how to break them. Or bend them to our needs. Whatever works.
(whatever keeps her from ending up as a lifeless husk. he can probably still hear her heart beating wildly in her chest.)
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It tightens his own chest.]
We will break them in the end. If you ever trusted me, trust I will do everything in my power to that end.
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(yennefer turns to face him, putting her hand up to cup his face. in these moments it's easy to see how much this has taken a toll on him as much as her.)
I do trust you. (if she didn't she would have probably acted without talking to him or tried to manipulate or talk him out of his reservations.)
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The thing is, he wouldn't really blame her if she didn't. Not right now.]
You trust me for some things.
[But not enough to keep her from actin on her own eventually. Rashly, when it happens.]
But you'll do what you feel like you have to.
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I'm trying not to, for what that's worth.
(she is trying to communicate, to trust him, hard as it is. there's a lot maybe she still struggles to trust him with, but she knows he'll do anything within his power to help free her. it just might not be enough. if she fully trusted him maybe she would tell him about the last resort she and tech came up with. he would definitely be against that idea and so she doesn't.
old habits die hard, especially when you feel backed into a corner.)
I suppose the more accurate thing to say is I'm trying to trust you. I'm choosing to. (she doesn't have to say for now for the words to hang in the air all the same.)
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He expects it.
What that information might be, he's less sure of.]
That will have to be good enough. [Because it would be unfair to ask for more. At this point, she doesn't owe him any more than that.] The fact you're trying counts for something.
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(she doesn't say anything in response to that but instead brushes her thumb against his cheek before leaning in to press her lips against his. they haven't kissed since the spell was broken, and maybe it's a mistake to do it now, but she just wants, even for a moment, to feel something other than sadness and desperation. maybe there's not else they can do in this exact moment then offer each other some comfort.)
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