Years ago? Probably not. By the time she had met Geralt her heart had become quite hardened. Fighting for others seemed pointless, you rarely succeeded in the end. People in the courts didn't want someone who spoke out for what was right, they wanted someone knowledgeable and pretty. And after she could not save the Queen and Princess of Aedrin she left the courts, dedicating herself only to herself.
Though some would argue that's always been her true dedication. To some extent, it's true. But things have changed. She has changed, not just here, but back home as well. And she is not the only one. She almost laughs when he comments that he's impressed Jaskier could keep such a secret -- maybe once he would have struggled to do so, but the Jaskier who lived a double life as the Sandpiper kept many secrets.
"He did it to protect me, because I told him I did not want to know anything about my future, other than if I survived Sodden."
Maybe Jaskier wouldn't have said it anyways, but she imagines her explicit request made a difference.
"He did seem relieved not to have to anymore, though."
"I don't doubt it." This time there isn't judgment. Geralt is sure that Jaskier felt more than a little lonely being the only one to remember their future. It's always lonely being the only one who knows where you've been and what you've been through.
Geralt didn't have to endure it long in Hell, but he's lived through it before enough times to know.
They all have.
"I'm glad you have each other in that. As terrifying as it is to see the two of you getting along."
"I thought you always wanted us to get along, make life a little easier for you?"
She's almost teasing now -- almost. There's still tension in the air, the lack of relief or release that might have come from a full blown fight but it's easing slowly as they do something that's fairly rare for them.
There's no way to go back to how things were before. Until Geralt remembers what happened or some other catalyst finally brought them a head. Until then... Geralt supposes they'll have to sit on these feelings, deal with them.
This won't be awkward at all.
Like a rock in your shoe.
But he tries to ignore the discomfort. He doesn't intend to stop interacting with Yennefer. "When I thought that I hadn't considered what a terror you could become if you started working together."
Feelings, something they are both famously good at dealing with. Still, it's some sort of progress that they're trying? That they're not just calling it quits? It can't be what it was, and she's not sure what it is now and it may change again whenever he does remember or some other catalyst changes things but they're trying.
Even if it feels a bit like her gown being weighted down by water after going over a puddle.
"Well, you'll just have to get used to it." Because even before she had gotten her memories back, Jaskier had made himself important to her here.
Another moment, and her expression sobers a little. She had spent so much time working up the nerves to talk to him she didn't think too much of what to do after, and she doesn't want to admit she feels a little out of sorts, but she does.
Geralt makes a dissatisfied sound at that, but it's mostly bluff while he tries to settle into whatever their normal ought to be. He turns his attention back to the horses, wishing not for the first time they were actual horses rather than these monstrous approximations.
He'd prefer Roach, but even a good, solid farm horse would have been welcome.
Something that didn't crave meat, and provided a better conversation partner. Not that it keeps him from talking to these beasts, but real horses... real horses are simple, and often stupid, but they're good at people. At least they've always been good at Geralt.
"I've gotten used to worse," he says, which isn't exactly admitting he'll get used to this too but he can.
"At least you won't have to split your time up between us anymore?"
It feels weird. Should she leave? Give him some space? Does he want that? She doesn't like this, feeling uncertain about herself. She's Yennefer of fucking Vengerberg, she doesn't overthink things.
But she knows how badly she fucked up back home, and the note they left off there. And this one is not as sour but unpleasant in a different way altogether. Like a holding pattern, almost.
It would have been so much easier if they had just fought and fucked it out like usual.
"I should go" She finally says definitively, like she's made a decision. "I've put a lot on you to digest at once."
She's ready to go but deep down she's hoping he'll ask her to stay.
Geralt grunts, acknowledging her statement without agreeing with her or contradicting. It's only a delay. He knows he'll have to offer more, something to signal where they're supposed to go from here.
But damned if he knows where he wants to go. It would be now that Yennefer learned to take someone else's lead.
"Where will you go?" he asks,giving himself just a moment more to weigh his thoughts.
Yennefer would gladly take lead -- but she isn't even sure how to in this case. Sure she could push things, try to seduce him like she has so many times before but would it really give them any insight on how to move forward?
She doesn't know. She hates not knowing.
"The library, at least for now." Not that she's researching anything in particular right now, but it'll give her something to focus on. Maybe later she'd go to the club or bar and lose herself in drink -- she'd say she's earned it.
The fact her plan seems unpointed isn't lost on him. She doesn't have the kind of purpose she's had in the past, for example when she was plotting to escape Mammon's control.
This feels more like a product of having to be somewhere.
"I would invite you to stay, but I'm not sure you have an interest in visiting the stable while I take care of a hell horse." It's not quite asking her to stay. It doesn't seem fair somehow, with what seems to be between them. Like she might feel pressured to stay, or awkward if she didn't wish to stay herself. "You wouldn't be unwelcome though."
It comes out awkwardly, but it still seems important to say.
She misses having a purpose, some sort of mission to work on. As horrible as being tied to Mammon had been, it had given her direction. She has little of that right now.
"You're right, I don't have much interest in the stable or hell horses." Her words are careful and calculated. She sees the window he's given her, and for once doesn't read poorly between the lines, taking offense where there isn't any to find.
"But I'll stay anyways." Because of him, because she wants to try, even if it is all doomed to fall apart again. She'll stay, and try to make the most of whatever time they have.
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no subject
Years ago? Probably not. By the time she had met Geralt her heart had become quite hardened. Fighting for others seemed pointless, you rarely succeeded in the end. People in the courts didn't want someone who spoke out for what was right, they wanted someone knowledgeable and pretty. And after she could not save the Queen and Princess of Aedrin she left the courts, dedicating herself only to herself.
Though some would argue that's always been her true dedication. To some extent, it's true. But things have changed. She has changed, not just here, but back home as well. And she is not the only one. She almost laughs when he comments that he's impressed Jaskier could keep such a secret -- maybe once he would have struggled to do so, but the Jaskier who lived a double life as the Sandpiper kept many secrets.
"He did it to protect me, because I told him I did not want to know anything about my future, other than if I survived Sodden."
Maybe Jaskier wouldn't have said it anyways, but she imagines her explicit request made a difference.
"He did seem relieved not to have to anymore, though."
no subject
Geralt didn't have to endure it long in Hell, but he's lived through it before enough times to know.
They all have.
"I'm glad you have each other in that. As terrifying as it is to see the two of you getting along."
no subject
"I thought you always wanted us to get along, make life a little easier for you?"
She's almost teasing now -- almost. There's still tension in the air, the lack of relief or release that might have come from a full blown fight but it's easing slowly as they do something that's fairly rare for them.
They just talk to one another.
no subject
This won't be awkward at all.
Like a rock in your shoe.
But he tries to ignore the discomfort. He doesn't intend to stop interacting with Yennefer. "When I thought that I hadn't considered what a terror you could become if you started working together."
no subject
Feelings, something they are both famously good at dealing with. Still, it's some sort of progress that they're trying? That they're not just calling it quits? It can't be what it was, and she's not sure what it is now and it may change again whenever he does remember or some other catalyst changes things but they're trying.
Even if it feels a bit like her gown being weighted down by water after going over a puddle.
"Well, you'll just have to get used to it." Because even before she had gotten her memories back, Jaskier had made himself important to her here.
Another moment, and her expression sobers a little. She had spent so much time working up the nerves to talk to him she didn't think too much of what to do after, and she doesn't want to admit she feels a little out of sorts, but she does.
no subject
He'd prefer Roach, but even a good, solid farm horse would have been welcome.
Something that didn't crave meat, and provided a better conversation partner. Not that it keeps him from talking to these beasts, but real horses... real horses are simple, and often stupid, but they're good at people. At least they've always been good at Geralt.
"I've gotten used to worse," he says, which isn't exactly admitting he'll get used to this too but he can.
no subject
"At least you won't have to split your time up between us anymore?"
It feels weird. Should she leave? Give him some space? Does he want that? She doesn't like this, feeling uncertain about herself. She's Yennefer of fucking Vengerberg, she doesn't overthink things.
But she knows how badly she fucked up back home, and the note they left off there. And this one is not as sour but unpleasant in a different way altogether. Like a holding pattern, almost.
It would have been so much easier if they had just fought and fucked it out like usual.
"I should go" She finally says definitively, like she's made a decision. "I've put a lot on you to digest at once."
She's ready to go but deep down she's hoping he'll ask her to stay.
OH MY GOD I thought I'd replied to this!
But damned if he knows where he wants to go. It would be now that Yennefer learned to take someone else's lead.
"Where will you go?" he asks,giving himself just a moment more to weigh his thoughts.
no worries, notifs were so wonky, it happens
Yennefer would gladly take lead -- but she isn't even sure how to in this case. Sure she could push things, try to seduce him like she has so many times before but would it really give them any insight on how to move forward?
She doesn't know. She hates not knowing.
"The library, at least for now." Not that she's researching anything in particular right now, but it'll give her something to focus on. Maybe later she'd go to the club or bar and lose herself in drink -- she'd say she's earned it.
no subject
This feels more like a product of having to be somewhere.
"I would invite you to stay, but I'm not sure you have an interest in visiting the stable while I take care of a hell horse." It's not quite asking her to stay. It doesn't seem fair somehow, with what seems to be between them. Like she might feel pressured to stay, or awkward if she didn't wish to stay herself. "You wouldn't be unwelcome though."
It comes out awkwardly, but it still seems important to say.
She's not unwelcome where he is. Wherever he is.
end?
She misses having a purpose, some sort of mission to work on. As horrible as being tied to Mammon had been, it had given her direction. She has little of that right now.
"You're right, I don't have much interest in the stable or hell horses." Her words are careful and calculated. She sees the window he's given her, and for once doesn't read poorly between the lines, taking offense where there isn't any to find.
"But I'll stay anyways." Because of him, because she wants to try, even if it is all doomed to fall apart again. She'll stay, and try to make the most of whatever time they have.