gynvael | abraxas:: INBOX

[ Her snapping draws him out of his ever-narrowing focus on what the fuck this all means. If there's anything he should do, preemptively. Viktor is not a threat. But even so, Geralt can't help but think: he doesn't know the man. Not like that. Not enough to trust him with something that involves Ciri. It isn't only about what Ciri may or may not be capable of doing. It's what someone might believe she's capable of.

(Fuck.)

His gaze softens. Geralt rises from his seat to crouch down beside her. ] It'll be all right. I'll make sure of that.

[ He does not know how. He just knows he will. He'll find answers, if there are any. In the meantime, nothing has changed. His aim is still to protect Ciri. This is just one more item on a growing list of things no one can ever be told.

Not even Yennefer, he realizes. Perhaps it says something there are now those he's met here he would trust with Ciri's secrets more than Yennefer. He tries not to think about it. Swallows it down. It stings. ]

Can you tell me where you and Viktor are now?

[ Ciri follows him with her gaze, shoulders slumping as she lets out a long breath. ]

How? [ She challenges, though her voice is quiet, the anger gone. The question is less because she needs an answer, and more to point out there isn't one. That she doesn't need Geralt to pretend there is. ]

We're on our way back now from Aquila.

[ Which is also very far from the crater, and that's a whole other part to the story. ]

[ He sighs. She isn't wrong. There is no solution, not in the sense she's asking. And he isn't interested in one; that's not what he means. Ciri is who she is. He wants to keep her safe. All of her. Even if what she is occasionally leads to strange creatures that spring out the ground where her blood has spilled.

It's fine. (He has a headache.) He'll take care of it. Somehow. ]

Good. [ He doesn't ask about that, either. She must've teleported again. Landed not in Cadens, but close enough. Aquila isn't the middle of the desert. They can find a wagon, hitch a ride with a merchant. At least she and Viktor have not been separated. That would be an entirely complicated issue, one he isn't letting himself dwell on because it didn't happen. ] When you're returned to Cadens, tell me. And Ciri...

[ He pauses. ] You know I won't let anything happen to you. But I also taught you how to protect yourself and others. Viktor's in safe hands with you.

[ He knows it may not feel that way to her at the moment. But the truth is, the unpredictable nature of her Chaos is, in its essence, not much different than the times when he misread a monster, missed signs he should've seen. Was sidelined by something out of fucking nowhere. There's only so much you can account for. She's kept the two of them in one piece. That's what's important. ]

[ She lets it go. Neither of them have the answers; she's not telling him because she expects him to fix it. They're going to figure it out together, somehow. That's what matters to her-- and that's all she needs, really. The reassurance, for now, is enough. Just being able to see Geralt and talk to him and knowing she is not alone, even at this distance, is enough. She never has to be alone in the silence of the vast desert without anyone to talk to ever again, not if she doesn't want to be, and for that, she is grateful. The Horizon is more than a convenience, even if its implications surrounding their connections to the Singularity are sometimes difficult to conceive of.

Ciri leans closer, head bowed, not quite touching. ]

Neither of us is badly hurt. We were able to bargain with a merchant heading toward Cadens, and Viktor can ride in the wagon. We'll be back in about a week. I'll let you know.

[ She looks up again, seeking out his gaze. ]

When will you be home?

[ It's just the easiest word to use now. And it's true, isn't it? It doesn't matter if Geralt often likes to wander anyway. They can still call it home. ]

[ He nods. If either of them need looking after when they've made it back, Ciri knows Nadine will be able to do so. And Jaskier will tell him if there's anything else. Or otherwise send him another panicked message. He hardly blames his friend, but. Not exactly the words he wanted to see scrawled across the rocky desert ground. He'd paused his journey with Sam for those hours it took to hear from Ciri again—waited to see if he needed to turn around or not.

Those had been immeasurably long hours. ]

Near the end of the month. [ Home. He catches her eyes. Yeah. It is home. A place he returns to, where he knows people will be waiting for him. ] We'll talk more then. Jaskier tells me he has your horse and pack.

[ Not the best situation, but not the worst. Ciri is unharmed. So is Viktor. She has a way home. He won't relax until she actually is in Cadens, but it's a start. That's always the contradiction, isn't it? That even when he trusts her capabilities, he still worries deep in the back of his mind. Maybe that's simply how it goes. ]

I'm glad Nixie made it home.

[ She'd have been. very sad if her horse got killed out there all alone. It's one less thing to worry about, at least. She'll be glad to see Nixie again.

But that reminds her--

Ciri sighs, scrubbing a hand through her hair again just enough to rumple it. ]

I'm going to need a new sword.

I, ah. Dropped mine in the ocean.

[ There is a hint of apology in her voice; it's the sword Geralt commissioned for her, and she's still a bit upset about it, even if she knows there was no other choice. It's just a piece of metal. ]

[ The ocean? Geralt frowns, but it isn't that she lost her sword. It's that, how did it end up in the ocean? There's nothing overlooking the water near the Singularity and Aquila is the only place in the Cities that has a shoreline—

Oh. ]

I once lost my sword down a golem's pit. [ It happens. He knows what she's feeling, though. A blade is more than a piece of steel. It's a steady companion, too. ] We'll get you another together.

[ Should be simple enough. They're not near as short on coin these days. Benefits of a world where monsters aren't dwindling, and of having a famous bard in one's household. ]

[ Ciri catches the momentary confusion in his expression; she's grown familiar with Geralt's many little frowns. Her breath escapes sharply, almost a laugh, maybe a sigh. ]

I accidentally portalled us into Andromeda Bay. Viktor can't swim.

[ She probably doesn't need to explain more. Even on her own, it'd have been hard to swim to shore carrying a sword. Trying to keep them both from drowning, it'd been impossible. ]

I know. I have the coin. I just thought... to tell you.

Edited 2022-06-18 22:47 (UTC)

[ She doesn't. Viktor's a bit more important than a sword. What happened sounds like chaos at best, but at least everything seems to be sorting itself out.

He doesn't want to think about the next time something goes wrong.

He studies her for a moment, sensing what she's saying without actually saying it. Remembers how she lit up, when he'd taken her to retrieve her blade. Not her first, but the first he'd given her. The first he could recall giving her, at the time. ]

You'd have to wait until I'm home. But I could come with you. Commission another like before.

[ Her shoulders relax subtly. Ciri nods. ]

All right. In the meantime, I've my dagger. [ Which she is very, very grateful that Viktor didn't lose in the water. It's something of a miracle, really; he strapped it really well to his belt. ]

I'll let you know when I'm in the city, and we'll speak again then.

[ Unless something else comes up. Which, hopefully, it doesn't. ]

You and Sam are all right?

Edited 2022-06-18 23:15 (UTC)

[ Geralt nods, too. The rest can wait until they can speak in person. He knows she can't spend too much time in the Horizon, either, if she has Viktor to look out for and they're riding in a stranger's wagon. ]

The most exciting thing that's invaded our camp were a few spiders.

[ Geralt's been careful to take them around any nesting grounds and dangerous territories. He's brought Sam with him so Sam can help take a look at what's inside that cave and tell him what it might mean—not to do anything else.

He rises to his feet. ] Be careful. I'll be with you soon.

[ She is kind enough to smile at Geralt's potential attempt at a joke. Ciri stands, looking visibly less worried than she had when she'd come in. Sure, nothing's actually really changed-- but seeing Geralt and having his reassurance has helped immensely anyway, in ways she probably doesn't even realize. ]

You too.

[ Ciri gives him one more hug before they part. They both still have long trips ahead. ]

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