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[gynvael]

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Geralt is always reachable by the network. Unless it's an emergency, expect not to hear back for a few hours, if not a few days.

To talk to him in person, you'll need to be in Cadens or go to his domain, a snowy mountain fortress. Yard is open; doors are locked. If he isn't around, leave a delivery with the white wolf.

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[gynvael]

[ He knows exactly what Jaskier is fishing for, and no, he will not apologize for being jailed at an inconvenient time. ]

Tell the others not to worry.
I'll be home in a few days.

Unless your trees are important enough
for you to cough up some gold.

1/??

[cointosser]

Let it be known you live up to the fucking name of shite wolf.

I'm coming, you faithless, corpulent fopdoodle.

2/???

[cointosser]

You're welcome.

3/???

[cointosser]

I'm still very, very cross with you. This is what you decided to do? On all possible days? Your murder couldn't have waited for tomorrow? It was that important?

[cointosser]

[The writing style of his words changes, as if there is a mocking voice to go with it.]

OH, DON'T WORRY, JASKIER. I THINK THE DAYS YOU SPENT MUSTERING UP THAT COIN, THROUGH HARD WORK AND YOUR ENORMOUS CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND FANTASTIC COCK, ARE NOT EVEN WORTH AN HOUR OF MY TIME. BECAUSE I'M SO BIG AND SCARY AND IMPORTANT.

annnd done.

[cointosser]

Let's just say you're fucking lucky this jail is not at the bottom of a mountain, you fucking ass.

no I lied one more

[cointosser]

I SPENT THREE WEEKS GROWING THOSE FUCKING TREES.

now I'm really, truly done

[cointosser]

I'm soooooo sorry that seeing another plane of existence and almost getting killed by every stupid creature on this sphere is SO FANTASTICALLY IMPRESSIVE that your best friend GROWING TREES FROM LITERALLY NOTHING through the power of MAGIC that he HONED HIMSELF is not THAT INTERESTING.

[cointosser]

And now that I think about it, it's not about the fucking trees! It was a memorial, you dullard! Excuse me for my assumption you may have any concern for the work I do on aiding the people of this sphere!

I'm absolutely done

[cointosser]

[Sometime later, when Jaskier is closer.]

I made sure to size an apron for you for the flower stand. In which I expect you to work. To repay me. Because this bribe is not bloody cheap.

[gynvael]

I will not wear an apron.
Leave me in here.

[ He's choosing jail over an apron. ]

[cointosser]

Geralt, please. Now you're just being petty.

[cointosser]

[When Jaskier finally shows up behind a guard, opening up the cell containing his would-be friend (Jaskier is estimating whether this friendship is really worth his time in the most annoyed manner possible), his hair is puffed up and frazzled, as if his hand has run several times through it on his way here.

(It has. With anger, then annoyance, then the smallest amount of worry, back to anger, and back to annoyance, ending only slightly flattened on top with acceptance.) He has a coat on, but it's been hastily pulled over a wrinkled undershirt still stained with dirt. Of course he'd been putting some final touches on the park while he'd been waiting, because he simply could not just stand there and do nothing, even while waiting.

Jaskier gives the guard a stunning smile, slipping a coin into her hand.] I do appreciate the help. You've been a dream to work with. And very easy on the eyes, by the way --

[She walks away with a glare. Jaskier rolls his eyes behind her back, turning to Geralt in the cell. A shockingly familiar sight, except he was on the other end of it.

Surrounded by friends. He is not surprised Geralt has made absolutely zero friends whilst here.]

How the tables do turn, hmm? I'm sure you're aware I'm the only sod on this godsforsaken plane that is stupid enough to release you from imprisonment without even a single thanks in return.

[gynvael]

[ Does it surprise him he's found himself behind bars? Not nearly. Only a matter of time. Frankly, a handful of days is but a blink. Slight annoyance. His company's unpleasant, though no one locked in with him is inclined to give him shit. He figures if anyone's looking for him, they'll send him a message and then he'll, mm. Tell them what happened. Otherwise—he was simply going to wait the sentence out.

It's fine. Could be worse.

Surprises him none, either, that Jaskier is the one to set him loose. He'd not forgotten the meeting. He just. Other things on his mind. And sure—he owes Jaskier one for paying the gold. But only because he knows better than to tell the bard to save his damn coin and leave him here. He's been shouted at enough.

Geralt is, to no one's shock, meditating when Jaskier arrives. A burly man in the corner glares at him, which Geralt firmly ignores. He cracks open an eye, then the other. One brow lifts. His expression turns wry. ]

Thank you.

[ He can be nice. ]

[cointosser]

[For a moment, Jaskier looks annoyed by the thanks, but it eventually turns into a smile. He huffs a breath, standing to the side of the cell door while he waits for the Witcher to finally come out.

As if he would ever leave him in there. Despite Geralt's protests. Despite how good it may feel. For a bit.]

You're welcome. [Even if he knows Geralt's only done it for the sake of being petty -- of doing what isn't expected of him. Very childish, by the way. Jaskier nudges his head towards the exit so the guard may return to her post before she gets pissy with them. Even the coin he'd put in her hand hadn't led to even a hint of a smile.]

Don't get too gracious. I'm still upset with you. What did you do?

[gynvael]

[ Geralt steps over a slumbering woman sprawled across the exit. There's dust in his hair, flecks of blood. A healing cut up the side of his palm from a hungry basilisk. The guards had cornered him as soon as he arrived at the house. Barely had a chance to stable Roach. Lost his boot knife to them.

Food wasn't near as nice as Thorne's dungeons, either. ]

Mm. [ He walks. Waits until they're out of earshot off the guards. Or, the one guard, in particular. Geralt failed to endear her towards him. ] Killed a few brigands.

[ Nothing special—circumstances aside. But no one would know that except he and Nadine. Awhile ago, wasn't it? He can't say why they came for him now when they had a clear description this whole fucking time. He isn't difficult to find. Perhaps there's something they're searching for. He isn't the only one who's been taken aside as of late.

Speaking of. ]

Tell Nadine to be careful. They asked who I was with.

[cointosser]

[Jaskier glances behind them, then back to Geralt. There's nothing but a sort of distant annoyance on his expression now.] That's it?

[Even with how long he's been living here, he cannot believe Cadens has so much extra judicial time to waste on arresting people for killing bandits. And this is the second time he's heard of it. With the people he associates with involved. Jaskier may be sensing a trend, but --

Hm. It's interesting. That's all.

But knowing Geralt, actually --]

You left a mess behind, didn't you? [Ah. That would do it. With he and Ciri, there had been nothing left behind, really. And it'd been in the desert. If this was closer -- and god knows Geralt would've just sat there instead of tell anyway, the complete buffoon --]

Nadine? [Now his gaze laser-focuses in on Geralt, stepping in front of him as they walk to be directly in front of him, walking backwards.] Are you joking with me? Do say you're joking.

[gynvael]

[ Geralt's expression takes on an edge of irritation. He doesn't like his time wasted. This little diversion has been precisely that. If Cadens truly cared about the dead, he'd have incurred more than a slap on the wrist. ]

Might've. [ Yes. But only because they were too close to the city gates for any to feast on the bodies. Which is typically what he relies on. He'd been distracted at the time. With the entire—

Influence. From Nadine.

He sighs. ] She'll be all right. Doubt they give a fuck once they found someone to blame.

[ He'd said nothing; he imagines it a waste of effort to pursue the matter further. Besides, he's the only one with blood on his sword one way or another. Makes no difference if Nadine was stood next to him. ]

[cointosser]

For fuck's sake --

[It's not directed at Geralt, exactly, simply a curse that slips out as he shakes his head, a hand ruffling already ruffled hair. He'd been so pissed at Geralt that he already feels rather empty without it. He can be pissed that Geralt did his Geralt thing and had someone goad themselves into fighting him, but if Nadine was there --

Then Jaskier knows what he was doing. And keeping her safe is worth more than bribe money. (Even if it was expensive.)]

She didn't mention. [The words are an exhalation. If he can trust anything, he can trust that Geralt will keep her safe. Not even for him; but for her. Because she is important.] Was this in the city? I haven't heard of anything happening in Cadens. If Marlo is letting such things happen under her nose and punishing the one who took care of the issue, then she is certainly barking up the wrong tree --

[gynvael]

[ Geralt hums. ] Wasn't worth mentioning.

[ Aside from how it happened, at the time, it'd been little more than yet more robbers who chose their end. And though Geralt can acknowledge that Nadine had...pushed him, he also doesn't regret their deaths. He'd done it to protect her. That's all there is to it. ]

Not far outside. [ His gaze slides towards Jaskier. Mm. A beat passes. He understands what Jaskier is driving at. ] Leave it. It's over.

[ Between restless city guards to the Free Cities sending a message, the reasons could be anything as to why he's been targeted now. Doesn't think it's worth poking at. For all that Geralt would prefer otherwise, he's aware he's drawn his share of attention; he isn't interested in attracting more. ]

How much did they demand of you?

[cointosser]

[Jaskier smacks his chest for that.] It is to me! The both of you, I swear.

[He takes his place back to Geralt's side again, noting that he does, of course, look like shit, and smells like it as well. Er. Not specifically like shit, but certainly a general aroma of a cell and all its inhabitants. At this point, Jaskier misses the scent of horse instead.

Jaskier meets his gaze, staring back. It pings him.]

You're hiding something from me. And not because you're being lazy with details, as usual. [The huff he gives is sharp. It's not that he is not willing to push Geralt's buttons to find out what, exactly, happened, but the reason Nadine has not said it, either...

He's not sure what it means. And the scenarios he comes up with are all manner of confusing and unrealistic.

Jaskier knows Geralt is simply trying to move away from the subject. He sighs.] Enough that I do mean it when I say you'll be working the stand to repay me. And yes, there is a pretty apron with your name on it. I will hear no complaints.

[gynvael]

[ His eyes linger on Jaskier. Then he looks back ahead. Places one foot in front of the other, stepping around a smashed crate no one's cleaned up.

He isn't hiding it. He's simply not saying. ]

It is not for me to tell.

[ Nadine may, if she decides to. If Jaskier asks. He knows she feels worse about it than he does, and in a sense, he understands. Were their positions reversed, he'd be the same.

A soft huff. ] You know I've my own coin.

[ He does earn his share, thank you. Though he gathers this is not the point. Jaskier is not seeking repayment for the gold. He's seeking repayment for the act of coming to Cadens and Geralt missing the apparently vital tour of the park.

Which. Yeah. He'll come visit. Once he's fucking washed up. Even for him, the dried blood and grime is beginning to bother.

That's where he veers towards—home and a waiting bath. ]

[cointosser]

[It's an annoying answer because it's the only one he'll respect. If this situation is more about Nadine than Geralt, than -- well, let's say he respects Nadine's need for secrecy far more than he does the Witcher's.

Jaskier hits him again.]

It's not about your coin! It's about humiliating you. This apron is very special, and expensive, and it has custom embroidery. And the least thing you can do to apologize is wear it, so I can languish in the sight for the rest of my days. It will be adequate recompense for missing our meeting -- and yes, I do expect you to eventually come look at my fucking trees, too. But not until you've washed the blood off.

[gynvael]

[ —Wait. Embroidery. He'd presumed Jaskier did not mean it literally when he said the apron had his name on it. In retrospect, Geralt should've known better than such naïvety.

What. Jaskier's had it made? This whole time?

His brows lift. The look he casts Jaskier is layered with several shades of exasperation. ]

I'm starting to think you orchestrated my arrest, [ he pushes open the door to their home, ] to coerce me into a fucking apron.

[ He isn't serious. Wouldn't put it past the bard to scheme similar, though—but frankly, Jaskier knows Geralt well, and would've just handed it to Rinwell or Ciri to make him put it on. ]

[cointosser]

Oh, don't give me that look. [Jaskier hasn't even glanced over to see it, because he already knows every one of those layers. Intimately. They will not stop him from this reign of terror.]

You know, that's a rather good idea. I wish I had thought of the idea of hiring brigands to come attempt to kill my beloved because the only way I've ever gotten off in my life is the thought of finally being able to make you look like a complete arsehole, as if you haven't done that yourself, for years, without the aid of anyone!

[Jaskier slams the door behind them as punctuation. The very nerve of that sort of joke in the first place.] But I will admit, it's a rather amusing consolation prize at the end of it. And Nadine will enjoy it, too.