[Of course, he completely agrees! It's a fair guess, he thinks, from what he's learned about being around Ciri and from the man who trained her, that she's far more like to tend towards liquor than tea. (Not that it's stopped him from making far too many pots of tea at home, sometimes for all of them, when a nightmare's awakon him and he needs something to do.)
He grins.]
I haven't the faintest! It's utterly bizarre. I promised I'd sneak him some regardless.
[Roxas could hold his liquor, he bet. Probably.]
Oh, yes. Well, he says he can, and honestly, I do want to believe him. Roxas is his name. Lovely boy. [Far younger, he thinks, than any world-traveler should be. And yet already he sounded far beyond his years, with the courage to boot.] He says he fought monsters across worlds. The... er... Heartful. No. Heartless? I think it was literal. I'm not sure.
Roxas. [ she repeats, committing the name to memory. ] I should like to meet him. A traveler of worlds and monster hunter, at that. He sounds quite impressive.
[ And they might have a bit in common. She's definitely very curious. ]
Introduce me someday, Jaskier.
[ But, for now, they have other things on the docket. ]
Say, this tea tavern we're headed to... You said you used to work there? I hope you left amicably, and that I'm not about to get a cupful of tea in the face from some lady or other for walking in arm in arm with you.
Well of course, my dear! I promise, I have plenty of friends to introduce you to.
[Oh, that makes him sound a bit like a braggart. Too late now! Besides, it was not an untruth. His staying in one place so long certainly gave him the opportunity and, well, he knows what it feels like to be thrust into a new world without many acquaintances to rely on.
Though Ciri had it easier with the Witcher, the Sorceress, and he. But he was glad for that.
And they had many fun plans for the future. It would be very nice to have company who wasn't so... stiff. Or frightening. No offense, Bonded.
As they walk, he expects a question. It's innocent enough, but it makes his fingers curl tight enough for his nails to bit into his palm.] Yes, of course. I'm no bard who burns bridges. [It's a fair thing to think about him, of course, but he'd loved the work there. (And the only one likely to do so was maybe Lightning.)] Something... came up, and I needed a recess. From that sort of work. [But it's Jaskier, and he can't let his reactions taint the levity.] Ciri, I'm beginning to wonder if you think the worst of me. I haven't even had a chance to disappoint you yet!
[ As they walk so close together, Ciri can feel the sudden tension in his body, belied by his smile. She glances over to catch Jaskier's eyes.
She hadn't meant to insult, and certainly not actually to hurt him. It's just the sort of banter that he usually brushes off, as is his nature to fall in love quickly and often.
Ciri lifts her opposite hand to pet his arm above where they've linked elbows. ]
I never said that! Just want to make sure we're not giving any of your paramours the wrong idea.
[ He didn't mention why he needed a... recess. Something about it is bothering Ciri, the way she sees him tense or act frightened at nothing, even sometimes the way Geralt interacts with Jaskier, but she feels as though she shouldn't ask. Maybe it's a past she isn't meant to know about. She hates not knowing, feeling like a friend or family one moment and a stranger the next, but she's resigned herself to getting used to it for now. Especially with Yennefer still gone... Her absence stings, and Ciri doesn't want to accidentally chase away either Geralt or Jaskier by pushing too hard. ]
[He doesn't hold her gaze for long, his eyes flitting away. He's not trying to lie so much as dance around the truth. He's not sure what telling her will mean. It certainly changes nothing, but he knows, simply by the look she gives him, that she must be wondering.
It's almost surprising she simply doesn't ask. It would, actually, be simpler if she did.
And yet, would he say it? He's had a long time to trust Geralt. Yennefer, less so, but she was... there. To save him. And though he trusts the princess already, it's --
Fuck. It's a burden that there's no point in sharing.]
Hmm, is that so? [He smiles, flicking his gaze back at her.] I never realized you such a champion for the broken-hearted. Is that what Geralt taught you all that time, or did you pick it up somewhere else? If you're not careful, you'll be having ballads written about you soon enough.
More like a champion for my own peace of mind. Don't overthink it.
I don't need any ballads.
[ Now she feels like she's made things awkward, somehow. Ciri fights the urge to pull her arm away. Not even sure what's happened, Ciri decides to steer the conversation away from Geralt and the potential for more discomfort and to something hopefully easier and more familiar to them both. ]
So tell me, what is your favorite drink at this place you're taking me to? What do you recommend?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cointosser) wrote2020-06-29 09:16 pm
no subject
He grins.]
I haven't the faintest! It's utterly bizarre. I promised I'd sneak him some regardless.
[Roxas could hold his liquor, he bet. Probably.]
Oh, yes. Well, he says he can, and honestly, I do want to believe him. Roxas is his name. Lovely boy. [Far younger, he thinks, than any world-traveler should be. And yet already he sounded far beyond his years, with the courage to boot.] He says he fought monsters across worlds. The... er... Heartful. No. Heartless? I think it was literal. I'm not sure.
no subject
[ And they might have a bit in common. She's definitely very curious. ]
Introduce me someday, Jaskier.
[ But, for now, they have other things on the docket. ]
Say, this tea tavern we're headed to... You said you used to work there? I hope you left amicably, and that I'm not about to get a cupful of tea in the face from some lady or other for walking in arm in arm with you.
no subject
[Oh, that makes him sound a bit like a braggart. Too late now! Besides, it was not an untruth. His staying in one place so long certainly gave him the opportunity and, well, he knows what it feels like to be thrust into a new world without many acquaintances to rely on.
Though Ciri had it easier with the Witcher, the Sorceress, and he. But he was glad for that.
And they had many fun plans for the future. It would be very nice to have company who wasn't so... stiff. Or frightening. No offense, Bonded.
As they walk, he expects a question. It's innocent enough, but it makes his fingers curl tight enough for his nails to bit into his palm.] Yes, of course. I'm no bard who burns bridges. [It's a fair thing to think about him, of course, but he'd loved the work there. (And the only one likely to do so was maybe Lightning.)] Something... came up, and I needed a recess. From that sort of work. [But it's Jaskier, and he can't let his reactions taint the levity.] Ciri, I'm beginning to wonder if you think the worst of me. I haven't even had a chance to disappoint you yet!
no subject
She hadn't meant to insult, and certainly not actually to hurt him. It's just the sort of banter that he usually brushes off, as is his nature to fall in love quickly and often.
Ciri lifts her opposite hand to pet his arm above where they've linked elbows. ]
I never said that! Just want to make sure we're not giving any of your paramours the wrong idea.
[ He didn't mention why he needed a... recess. Something about it is bothering Ciri, the way she sees him tense or act frightened at nothing, even sometimes the way Geralt interacts with Jaskier, but she feels as though she shouldn't ask. Maybe it's a past she isn't meant to know about. She hates not knowing, feeling like a friend or family one moment and a stranger the next, but she's resigned herself to getting used to it for now. Especially with Yennefer still gone... Her absence stings, and Ciri doesn't want to accidentally chase away either Geralt or Jaskier by pushing too hard. ]
no subject
It's almost surprising she simply doesn't ask. It would, actually, be simpler if she did.
And yet, would he say it? He's had a long time to trust Geralt. Yennefer, less so, but she was... there. To save him. And though he trusts the princess already, it's --
Fuck. It's a burden that there's no point in sharing.]
Hmm, is that so? [He smiles, flicking his gaze back at her.] I never realized you such a champion for the broken-hearted. Is that what Geralt taught you all that time, or did you pick it up somewhere else? If you're not careful, you'll be having ballads written about you soon enough.
no subject
More like a champion for my own peace of mind. Don't overthink it.
I don't need any ballads.
[ Now she feels like she's made things awkward, somehow. Ciri fights the urge to pull her arm away. Not even sure what's happened, Ciri decides to steer the conversation away from Geralt and the potential for more discomfort and to something hopefully easier and more familiar to them both. ]
So tell me, what is your favorite drink at this place you're taking me to? What do you recommend?