Writing For Promptapalooza Is Literally Like "Yes, This Will Be Another Short One" And Then 2000 Characters

Writing for promptapalooza is literally like "Yes, this will be another short one" and then 2000 characters later I'm still not done with the prompt

Yennefer, Geralt’s friend and coworker, was acting… weird. She kept smiling over nothing. And her temper wasn’t as volatile. And she brought pastries to their last meeting.

They weren’t the kind of people to talk about their personal lives, but Geralt was getting worried. What if she had a head injury or a tumor?

When Geralt asked if anything out of the ordinary happened recently, Yennefer admitted that she met someone. They weren’t dating, but she was pretty sure there was mutual attraction. They worked at the bakery Yennefer bought the pastries from. Apparently, they were “bubbly”.

Geralt couldn’t imagine Yennefer with anyone bubbly, but what did he know? He had never personally experienced the whole “opposites attract” thing, but it was a thing for a reason.

The following week, Geralt was sent (he got the short straw) to get pastries for the office from that same bakery. He wasn’t too displeased to go. He was curious about whoever caught Yennefer’s attention. Yennefer hadn’t described them in detail, but they were bubbly and named after a flower.

Geralt’s eyes were drawn to Jaskier the moment he stepped into the bakery. Not just because the man greeted him when he entered but also because he was VERY pretty. And friendly. He seemed unfazed by Geralt’s huge frame and resting scowl.

Maybe Geralt could see why Yennefer was drawn to this pretty, friendly man. He was still a bit surprised that Yennefer doesn’t mind the chatter. Geralt was surprised that he himself wasn’t annoyed by the chatter.

Well, Jaskier did have a nice voice.

Geralt then buys the pastries and leaves. It’s only when he was returning to the office that he noticed a number on written on the back of his receipt.

Fuck.

Yennefer’s crush gave him his number! Surely, the moral thing to do would be to throw away the receipt and tell Yennefer. But Geralt couldn’t bring himself to do either. He didn’t text the number, but he was tempted. He kept thinking about Jaskier.

It wasn’t too long before Yennefer told Geralt that she had a date with Triss Marigold.

Who?

Apparently, Triss Marigold was a bubbly woman who worked at the bakery. And she was the person Yennefer was interested in.

Huh.

That evening, Geralt sent a text to Jaskier.

I love love love love love love love this!!! What a gift you've given me, my darling!

Everyone say thank you women with deep low pitched voices

When Jaskier's angry or upset, it's always "Don't touch me!" "Get away!" "Hands off!" And then the bard will be gone for hours or days until he calms down.

Now, Geralt understands this kind of reaction. He himself doesn't want to talk to/be around others when he's angry. Much less let anyone touch him. The thing is...Jaskier acting that way never fails to make Geralt feel like shit. Jaskier is usually so affectionate that the sudden cut off is jarring. The first few times it happened, Geralt had been sure that Jaskier was fed up with him and leaving for good.

However, Jaskier always returns. They make amends, and the bard resumes his touchy, affectionate ways.

One day though, they have their worst argument yet. And although he had always come back before, Geralt is certain that this is the time Jaskier will leave forever. If Jaskier walks out that door, Geralt is sure he will never see him again.

So, unthinkingly, Geralt catches the bard's wrist.

Jaskier's eyes widen, panic replaces anger. "Geralt! Let me go! Let me go right now!"

Geralt loosens his grip reflexively in response to Jaskier's panic. Did the bard think the witcher would force him to stay?

He opens his mouth to try to explain.

Only, the world is...spinning? And Geralt's tongue is heavy. And everything is warm. Oh, he feels like he’s going to hurl.

Then, he passes out.

An unknown amount of time later, Geralt wakes. He feels kind of hungover but is otherwise fine. To his relief, Jaskier is sitting at his bedside.

When the bard notices Geralt is awake, he inquires after his health. At Geralt's reassurance that he is fine, Jaskier launched into a tirade about the number of times he had told Geralt "NOT TO TOUCH ME WHEN I’M MAD! AND THAT INCLUDES RIGHT NOW, YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH, YOU BASTARD!!!"

Geralt is a bit confused about how Jaskier being mad and his fainting spell are connected.

Two things are revealed:

1) Jaskier is part fae.

2) Some fae become toxic to touch when they are angry or upset. It is a magical trait, so it fades when the anger does. However, it can still be deadly.

This puts some things into perspective. Like how Jaskier, who seems to feel entitled to his emotions/reactions no matter how inappropriate they may be, is very skilled at cooling his temper. Or how, when he does become angry, he chooses verbal slander over physical violence. Or how when there IS a physical fight Jaskier wraps his hands in cloth and tries to use blunt instruments.

Bonus: Geralt tells all of the witchers not to touch Jaskier when he's mad, and Lambert takes that as a challenge.

I LOVE THIS!!!!!! OH MY GOODDDDDD!!! You take the things we spoke about and add onto it like putting glitter on a macaroni art craft, it's beautiful, It's so beautiful, oh my god! Poor Geralt thought his bard was leaving and poor Jaskier has to watch his stupid idiot Witcher touch him, gAH I love it! I want to read a 5k oneshot about it

Julian, the reluctant heir of Lettenhove, completes his duties well. His people are safe, fed, and educated. He and his counsel have also been working to rewrite the prejudiced laws regarding non-humans.

While Julian was satisfied with the results of his efforts, he wouldn’t say he enjoyed politics. No, he got his daily dose of enjoyment from indulging in hobbies: music, writing, and collecting art.

Most recently, he acquired an incredible marble statue. The subject was a humongous, long-haired man wielding a long sword. The detail was incredible, and the eyes were painted black with veins sprawling over the rest of the face.

It was titled: “The Witcher”

Julian was immediately captivated by the statue. He’d bought it and placed it in his atrium the same day. The statue reignited the whispers about Julian’s eccentricities, but he didn’t care. Hours were spent staring at the statue, writing poems about it, and talking to it. Yes, he knew the statue wasn’t technically a person; however, it helped Julian organize his thoughts to speak them aloud.

One night, an assassin slipped into Julian’s castle. They killed his personal guard and eventually cornered him in his atrium. When Julian closed his eyes, bracing himself for the killing blow, there was a noise like a landslide.

Upon opening his eyes, Julian stared at the back of a figure clothed in black armor with hair as white as marble.

YES YES YES YES YES!!! I actually just recently wrote something vaguely similar for promptapalooza, I LOVE the idea of things coming to life because of how much you love them! ESPECIALLY when it's Geralt being released unto the world as Jaskier's guardian You're beautiful, Anon!

soon...