gorysortofstory | Yennefer Open Post

It had been a little easier with the bard around. Almost effortlessly, Jaskier was able to flit about between the three of them. One moment he would be squawking his protests at gentle accusations from Geralt about being underfoot while the latter tried to make camp, and the next he'd be at Yennefer's side, passing her whatever ingredients she sometimes didn't even have an opportunity to ask for whenever she set about making a small handful of potions or salves to sell at the next village or farmstead they came across. When not, of course, singing whatever silly tunes he could think of whenever he managed to catch Ciri in a bit more of a sullen mood than she necessarily intended to be.

Ciri couldn't say whether it's because the bard simply knew what exactly they each needed in a given moment or if was adept at being a distraction, but it hardly seemed to matter. Jaskier's presence seemed to keep a bit of peace between the three of them, and whatever lingering hurts and resentments seemed quelled for a time. But Oxenfurt was eventually in a different direction than where they needed to go. Almost childishly, Ciri wanted to tell him not to leave and stay with them because she understood better now why Geralt had kept Jaskier around for so long with how much more peaceful it'd been with the four of them together. But Jaskier couldn't stay. He had other obligations. Other people to help. And Geralt likely wouldn't have allowed it either. There was no telling how long they'd be allowed to travel unaccosted, and he ultimately wasn't willing to risk the safety of anyone else unless strictly necessary.

So, Ciri did as Geralt and Yennefer, and said her goodbyes with a mixture of stoicism and fondness, and off they went.

Since then, it hasn't been quite as easy. Days on the road are met with significantly more silence. Conversation doesn't ebb and flow as easily it seems when there isn't someone willing to say whatever comes to mind without hardly any thought to how it might be received. Yennefer and Geralt both seem preoccupied with their thoughts while Ciri dose her best to stay out of it. But it's not just that... While Ciri's always been aware of Geralt's presence nearby during lessons with Yennefer, it felt different with another person around. With two people nearby, it felt more mere coincidence that both tasks happened to occupy a nearby space to one another. Now it was far more pointed that Geralt's mistrust of Yennefer hadn't healed enough that he felt comfortable enough to let them out of his sight. Not that Ciri doesn't have her misgivings about Yennefer herself to work through, but gods... She doesn't think it's made lessons any easier for her or Yennefer to have Geralt just lurking about. Hovering worse than a mother hen.

Ciri's tried the less direct approach of addressing it. She tries to offer as full and extensive of a report as she possibly can whether Geralt asks for it or not. Her thought is perhaps if she provides enough of a detailed report, he will trust that Ciri wouldn't hide anything that might be amiss. But when that didn't prove to make him budge, she opted for the more direct approach.

It, unfortunately, produced similar albeit more frustrating results.

Which is precisely why Ciri finds herself outside sulking, retreating to the horses since there's so very little room for Ciri to go and be on her own since she's not allowed into town and certainly not anywhere near Yennefer. (Perhaps rules she'd consider breaking if the conversation that sparked the desire for time on her own hadn't been what it was since she's at least rational enough to recognize that won't exactly inspire change from Geralt.) She understands Geralt's worry. She doesn't want him to just disappear for hours at a time and leave her completely on her own with Yennefer. Not yet. But she wants something to happen. She wants some of this tension that's been on the rise since Jaskier left to break.

Ciri raises her head, looking at Roach only to stop herself short with a frown. No, no. She is not going to become that sort of person who rants to her horse. Still...

"I'm starting to understand why he talks to you so much," she mumbles to herself. At least she tells herself it's to herself.

[Every magic user worth their salt knows about Yennefer of Vengerberg, not her real name. Especially the hedges.

Fully trained, she walked away from the trappings of corporate magic and set up her own hedge coven, quickly becoming one of the most powerful hedges in North America. Somehow she managed to avoid attempts to raise hedges to the ground and protect her people. She even managed to say off the Library's radar. Kady, honestly, does not want to bother her with her tiny little end of the world problems, because she's ...

Well, she's a little intimidated. But it's the end of the fucking world, and she's the High Hedge of New York or whatever. They're peers (sort of). She can do this. So she sends a text.

Do not ask how she got Yennefer's number, she probably burned every favor she had.]

My name is Kady Orloff-Diaz. I need your help.

i'mma try this shit again

magicians au maybe?