Actually a nice quiet place sounds perfect. I'm alright, there's nothing to be worried about or anything, I've just had a lot of unexpected stuff going on.
Sometimes it would be a little fun if you made rude demands.
[He can't help but reach for a sense of levity. He already has a feeling this will not be a talk about very good, exciting things. Simply because she approaches those very differently.]
Meet me near the edge of town. We'll take the portal to Libertas. There's something there I want to show you.
[And luckily, she does not share a certain Witcher's avoidance of such things. He has been using the portal so frequently, back and forth to Libertas during the construction and those periods of rest where he was all but passed out in his own bed for a day, that it has become so second-nature to him he barely blinks at hopping in.
He simply does not think of the limbo one can fall into that Geralt has told him about. It's far easier that way.
So Jaskier does wait, because he was already rather awake and wandering out at night when Cadens is quiet, but cool, is hardly a rare occurrence. He only wears a simple, light coat -- shockingly undecorated for him, but useful when he was doing all that growing -- that does appear to have some light staining around the end of the sleeves. Tonight he left Mog soundly sleeping behind, but in his hands is a fresh butter croissant he brought from the kitchen, gently warmed before he left, wrapped in cloth. In case something sweet and light is needed.]
[Nadine doesn't bother to write back. She's just grateful she'll be able to get so much off of her chest. And maybe she should have reached out to him sooner, but they've both been busy. The project Jaskier's been working on has taken up a lot of his time and energy, and she hadn't wanted to take away from that. Beyond that, she hadn't wanted to talk about the procedure for Viktor beforehand. Stupid superstition, really, but it had made her feel better.
Now...it's over and done with and Viktor will recover. She can breathe, she can relax...only the relief and success is draining. Cry for no real reason in the bath draining.
But she's composed when she meets Jaskier, a light shawl wrapped around her simple white skirts and blouse. There's no trace of what she'd been doing, the mess of surgery scrubbed away. She looks tired, though, and worn.
Still, she manages a smile when she sees him. He always has a way of making her feel better, even without doing anything at all.]
Hey. Thanks, I'm sorry to just spring this on you, but...I've had a hell of a night.
[Jaskier meets her with a smile, though there's wrinkles around his eyes -- he's tired for similar but far less dire reasons, yet still pleased as ever to see her. He offers a kiss, leaning down and into her, and rights some of her shawl around her neck so it doesn't wrinkle.]
You really must stop apologizing. Isn't it exhausting? You're welcome to use me for more than just my sexual fortitude.
[He offers his arm in a gentlemanly fashion, even if his words don't quite reach that level of polite.] Well, you look as wonderful as ever. But I imagine what you've been up to is not a roll in a few other beds other than your own.
No, I've gotten to deal with really frustrating bureaucracy and learning that the government's going to be watching me now. Which was really great to hear right before I performed highly experimental and probably really illegal underground surgery. Which is what I was doing most of the night.
[Once it starts coming out, it all does. That tends to be how it happens for her. The floodgates open and it just spills out in a rush. She gives a nervous little laugh.]
[It never is so simple, is it? Jaskier really thinks every one should indulge more, so their exhausting is from rolling about in other beds. It's far more satisfying.
His hand lands on top of hers, holding it at the end of their joined arms as they walk. It's a well-worn, familiar path to him now; he no longer can count the amount of times he has made his way to Libertas. Exquisite form of travel after having to go there by horse. He much prefers this way.
Jaskier's brow raises quizzically.] Excuse me? [And then it turns down into something like confused concern, then back into real surprise. He stops walking abruptly.] Fuck. That is really not what I expected you to say. What... who... illegal surgery?
[For one, why would the government care if she performed surgery? His world has always seen healers as simply people who chose a profession -- and if their patients die, then it's one less mouth to feed.]
[Nadine just shakes her head at first. It's a lot. She knows it is. And she knows she does this to Jaskier more than she probably should. She hadn't meant to just spill it all at once like that, but done is done.]
Viktor. It...it was a whole thing. He and Jayce made a machine, but they still needed a doctor and I'm the closest thing we have. But...he's okay now. It worked. He's gonna be okay.
[She just thinks it's common knowledge that Viktor had been unhealthy to the point of life threatening. He'd never exactly looked like the perfect picture of health.]
But it was all done in secret, that's the...the medical thing I've been helping out with. I couldn't talk more about it, but it's done now and it worked, so...
[There's nothing to 'jinx', for lack of a better word.]
It's because of the technology used. We didn't want the government finding out and confiscating it or something and building unsanctioned inventions without a license is definitely against the law to some degree. And, um, I think some of the medication developed for this is also pretty against the law.
[There's definitely words, and they're definitely words in an order he recognizes as sentences, and Viktor and Jayce doing shady, possibly illegal things in back alleys -- so to speak -- is not necessarily out of character, but he --
Was anyone going to tell him --
Why did he need sudden, illegal surgery --
There's healers everywhere, and Nadine is still studying --
His mouth sort of gapes open as he struggles to decide on confusion, or deeply personal annoyance (with Geralt, because of course he fucking knew about this and decided to never once mention it, despite their living together), or concern.]
What the fuck? [is what he decides on, which comes out like an exhalation as he runs his fingers through his hair in disbelief.]
And no one thought to mention this to me? [Is the follow-up, with a sharp annoyance, and then taking her by the hand again and squeezing it so she knows that annoyance is not aimed at her, but surely at Geralt, who can smell a man's come from three years past.] This is possibly the most bizarre fucking thing you've unleashed upon me in the space of a few sentences, and that includes the demonic narratives, but. Yes. All right. All right. Yes. Sure. Illegal surgery, and machines, and -- and something something government. Got it. [He puts himself back together, reaching for a calm he would not attempt if anyone but Nadine was telling him this. One breath in, another out.] That is... it sounds incredible. And, to be fair, I thought he just looked like shit, not that he -- er. Was he dying? Has he been dying this whole time?
[Now he's just fucking embarrassed.]
Edited (tfw you switch from a prose tag to a log tag and muss the whole thing up) 2023-02-14 08:58 (UTC)
[About not saying more beforehand, about how bizarre it is and not leading up to it well.]
But...yeah, Jaskier, he was dying. I honestly just sort of thought people knew that, I wasn't trying to hide it or anything.
[But it wasn't her information to share anyway. She only knew because she'd found out by accident. Which had ended up working out, in the end, but it hadn't been anything she felt she had any right to talk about.]
And he was...it was getting really bad, and something needed to be done so we did it. I don't know if there's going to be any consequences, I got in trouble for not having a license and documents for my herbal remedies...but it's done and he's gonna be okay.
[That's the important thing. Even if there are repercussions, it's worth it, because Viktor is going to live.]
[Jaskier waves his hands a little frantically.] No, no, it's not your fault. This is... this is a lot to take in, that's all.
He lets her go to throw his arms in the air, then drop them. Oh, so everyone knew. But him! So that's excellent. Clearly it wasn't important he knew, anyway.] So many people on the Continent sort of look like that, I didn't think anything particular --
[To be fair, Jaskier is very much self-involved most of the time, especially with his time taken up the last few months with Libertas, and the cleaning, and the office purchase with Alucard, and being gone for a month for the park. He must have taken a turn for the worse.
He opens his arms, ready to squeeze her tightly.] I will make that go away if I must. What matters is you acted when he needed you. And you did it, my dear. You did it.
That's mostly what I'm apologizing for, just dumping so much on you at once. I promise...I'm going to try to work on that.
[She does go into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder and sighing heavily. God, she's tired. During it all she hadn't had time to panic or even think about much. There hadn't been time.
Now it can all catch up with her, the adrenaline fading and turning into exhaustion and the sort of relief that borders on hysteria.]
It's nice to know you'd bribe government officials for me, though. And I don't regret it, not even a little, I'm glad I could help. I just...Jaskier, it was so scary. It was like something out of Frankenstein, and I know that doesn't mean anything to you but the machine...I've never seen anything like it, and he was awake the whole time, even when I was operating...
[It really doesn't matter what Jaskier says to comfort her, anything will be welcome, she just needs to release this all and share it with someone. Who isn't also recovering from terrifying experimental back alley surgery.]
[He rubs a hand into her shoulder, the bumps of her spine, and only moves a little as he laughs.] It's how you communicate your crises. I understand.
[He only wishes they, perhaps, had a few less. However, the open communication is simply much preferable to, ah. Alternatives. Like being left completely in the dark about an illegal surgery -- but that one, he doesn't blame any of them for. It's not as if Jaskier could have helped much beyond the plants he already happily grows for Nadine's experiments and salves.]
I can't imagine, truly. [He holds her, tight.] If he was awake, then he trusted you even more. And you cannot say the trust was misplaced, either. Nadine, this is what you went to your studies for. Of course, I never would have wished for something so terrifying to happen, but... I think, in the end, it truly proves you have the heart for healing. Not only because you did it despite your fears, but because you cared more about helping Viktor than avoiding that which frightened you so.
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cointosser) wrote2021-04-12 08:58 pm
no subject
Actually a nice quiet place sounds perfect. I'm alright, there's nothing to be worried about or anything, I've just had a lot of unexpected stuff going on.
no subject
[He can't help but reach for a sense of levity. He already has a feeling this will not be a talk about very good, exciting things. Simply because she approaches those very differently.]
Meet me near the edge of town. We'll take the portal to Libertas. There's something there I want to show you.
[And luckily, she does not share a certain Witcher's avoidance of such things. He has been using the portal so frequently, back and forth to Libertas during the construction and those periods of rest where he was all but passed out in his own bed for a day, that it has become so second-nature to him he barely blinks at hopping in.
He simply does not think of the limbo one can fall into that Geralt has told him about. It's far easier that way.
So Jaskier does wait, because he was already rather awake and wandering out at night when Cadens is quiet, but cool, is hardly a rare occurrence. He only wears a simple, light coat -- shockingly undecorated for him, but useful when he was doing all that growing -- that does appear to have some light staining around the end of the sleeves. Tonight he left Mog soundly sleeping behind, but in his hands is a fresh butter croissant he brought from the kitchen, gently warmed before he left, wrapped in cloth. In case something sweet and light is needed.]
no subject
Now...it's over and done with and Viktor will recover. She can breathe, she can relax...only the relief and success is draining. Cry for no real reason in the bath draining.
But she's composed when she meets Jaskier, a light shawl wrapped around her simple white skirts and blouse. There's no trace of what she'd been doing, the mess of surgery scrubbed away. She looks tired, though, and worn.
Still, she manages a smile when she sees him. He always has a way of making her feel better, even without doing anything at all.]
Hey. Thanks, I'm sorry to just spring this on you, but...I've had a hell of a night.
no subject
You really must stop apologizing. Isn't it exhausting? You're welcome to use me for more than just my sexual fortitude.
[He offers his arm in a gentlemanly fashion, even if his words don't quite reach that level of polite.] Well, you look as wonderful as ever. But I imagine what you've been up to is not a roll in a few other beds other than your own.
no subject
[Nadine tucks her arm in his gratefully.]
No, I've gotten to deal with really frustrating bureaucracy and learning that the government's going to be watching me now. Which was really great to hear right before I performed highly experimental and probably really illegal underground surgery. Which is what I was doing most of the night.
[Once it starts coming out, it all does. That tends to be how it happens for her. The floodgates open and it just spills out in a rush. She gives a nervous little laugh.]
Uh, yeah, like I said. Weird month, long night.
no subject
His hand lands on top of hers, holding it at the end of their joined arms as they walk. It's a well-worn, familiar path to him now; he no longer can count the amount of times he has made his way to Libertas. Exquisite form of travel after having to go there by horse. He much prefers this way.
Jaskier's brow raises quizzically.] Excuse me? [And then it turns down into something like confused concern, then back into real surprise. He stops walking abruptly.] Fuck. That is really not what I expected you to say. What... who... illegal surgery?
[For one, why would the government care if she performed surgery? His world has always seen healers as simply people who chose a profession -- and if their patients die, then it's one less mouth to feed.]
no subject
Viktor. It...it was a whole thing. He and Jayce made a machine, but they still needed a doctor and I'm the closest thing we have. But...he's okay now. It worked. He's gonna be okay.
[She just thinks it's common knowledge that Viktor had been unhealthy to the point of life threatening. He'd never exactly looked like the perfect picture of health.]
But it was all done in secret, that's the...the medical thing I've been helping out with. I couldn't talk more about it, but it's done now and it worked, so...
[There's nothing to 'jinx', for lack of a better word.]
It's because of the technology used. We didn't want the government finding out and confiscating it or something and building unsanctioned inventions without a license is definitely against the law to some degree. And, um, I think some of the medication developed for this is also pretty against the law.
no subject
Was anyone going to tell him --
Why did he need sudden, illegal surgery --
There's healers everywhere, and Nadine is still studying --
His mouth sort of gapes open as he struggles to decide on confusion, or deeply personal annoyance (with Geralt, because of course he fucking knew about this and decided to never once mention it, despite their living together), or concern.]
What the fuck? [is what he decides on, which comes out like an exhalation as he runs his fingers through his hair in disbelief.]
And no one thought to mention this to me? [Is the follow-up, with a sharp annoyance, and then taking her by the hand again and squeezing it so she knows that annoyance is not aimed at her, but surely at Geralt, who can smell a man's come from three years past.] This is possibly the most bizarre fucking thing you've unleashed upon me in the space of a few sentences, and that includes the demonic narratives, but. Yes. All right. All right. Yes. Sure. Illegal surgery, and machines, and -- and something something government. Got it. [He puts himself back together, reaching for a calm he would not attempt if anyone but Nadine was telling him this. One breath in, another out.] That is... it sounds incredible. And, to be fair, I thought he just looked like shit, not that he -- er. Was he dying? Has he been dying this whole time?
[Now he's just fucking embarrassed.]
no subject
[About not saying more beforehand, about how bizarre it is and not leading up to it well.]
But...yeah, Jaskier, he was dying. I honestly just sort of thought people knew that, I wasn't trying to hide it or anything.
[But it wasn't her information to share anyway. She only knew because she'd found out by accident. Which had ended up working out, in the end, but it hadn't been anything she felt she had any right to talk about.]
And he was...it was getting really bad, and something needed to be done so we did it. I don't know if there's going to be any consequences, I got in trouble for not having a license and documents for my herbal remedies...but it's done and he's gonna be okay.
[That's the important thing. Even if there are repercussions, it's worth it, because Viktor is going to live.]
But it was terrifying.
no subject
He lets her go to throw his arms in the air, then drop them. Oh, so everyone knew. But him! So that's excellent. Clearly it wasn't important he knew, anyway.] So many people on the Continent sort of look like that, I didn't think anything particular --
[To be fair, Jaskier is very much self-involved most of the time, especially with his time taken up the last few months with Libertas, and the cleaning, and the office purchase with Alucard, and being gone for a month for the park. He must have taken a turn for the worse.
He opens his arms, ready to squeeze her tightly.] I will make that go away if I must. What matters is you acted when he needed you. And you did it, my dear. You did it.
no subject
[She does go into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder and sighing heavily. God, she's tired. During it all she hadn't had time to panic or even think about much. There hadn't been time.
Now it can all catch up with her, the adrenaline fading and turning into exhaustion and the sort of relief that borders on hysteria.]
It's nice to know you'd bribe government officials for me, though. And I don't regret it, not even a little, I'm glad I could help. I just...Jaskier, it was so scary. It was like something out of Frankenstein, and I know that doesn't mean anything to you but the machine...I've never seen anything like it, and he was awake the whole time, even when I was operating...
[It really doesn't matter what Jaskier says to comfort her, anything will be welcome, she just needs to release this all and share it with someone. Who isn't also recovering from terrifying experimental back alley surgery.]
no subject
[He only wishes they, perhaps, had a few less. However, the open communication is simply much preferable to, ah. Alternatives. Like being left completely in the dark about an illegal surgery -- but that one, he doesn't blame any of them for. It's not as if Jaskier could have helped much beyond the plants he already happily grows for Nadine's experiments and salves.]
I can't imagine, truly. [He holds her, tight.] If he was awake, then he trusted you even more. And you cannot say the trust was misplaced, either. Nadine, this is what you went to your studies for. Of course, I never would have wished for something so terrifying to happen, but... I think, in the end, it truly proves you have the heart for healing. Not only because you did it despite your fears, but because you cared more about helping Viktor than avoiding that which frightened you so.