[ In the midst of Sam's rising tension, Geralt ignores it while he works. He hasn't got space to do both—so he keeps his focus on tracking down this man who apparently is nowhere to be found. By now, the stars have lit up the sky for hours. Not until he's stopped, until he's looking Sam in the eyes does he let himself acknowledge the heavy shadow he can see there.
It's familiar, that look. That sinking feeling he can read on Sam's face. Like you've lost something you didn't realize was missing until it was too late.
He exhales. Shit. ] No. [ He hasn't made a habit of lying or honeying his words. He isn't about to disrespect Sam by starting now. His friend isn't here. It doesn't matter how good a man is at disappearing. If he were present, Geralt would've found him. A trace of him, at the very least. ] The gates will tell us if he ever came through at all.
[ If there's no sign of Bucky in Cadens—they both know where this is going. If Sam wants him to confirm, though, he will. They can make that trek to the portal site. Take one last look. An hour is a long time and no time at all. He doesn't know, either, how long Sam stayed himself. If the portals collapsed early, if the magic wore off, if Thorne was able to snatch the few who were too slow. Geralt had walked out as soon as he could, as soon as Yennefer was...for exactly that reason, he hadn't wanted to push it.
Though there is one thing he won't bring up, unless Sam ever tells him that Bucky has vanished even from the Horizon—and it's that there's a third possiblity: that Bucky went through the portal in Thorne but never came out the other side. ]
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It's familiar, that look. That sinking feeling he can read on Sam's face. Like you've lost something you didn't realize was missing until it was too late.
He exhales. Shit. ] No. [ He hasn't made a habit of lying or honeying his words. He isn't about to disrespect Sam by starting now. His friend isn't here. It doesn't matter how good a man is at disappearing. If he were present, Geralt would've found him. A trace of him, at the very least. ] The gates will tell us if he ever came through at all.
[ If there's no sign of Bucky in Cadens—they both know where this is going. If Sam wants him to confirm, though, he will. They can make that trek to the portal site. Take one last look. An hour is a long time and no time at all. He doesn't know, either, how long Sam stayed himself. If the portals collapsed early, if the magic wore off, if Thorne was able to snatch the few who were too slow. Geralt had walked out as soon as he could, as soon as Yennefer was...for exactly that reason, he hadn't wanted to push it.
Though there is one thing he won't bring up, unless Sam ever tells him that Bucky has vanished even from the Horizon—and it's that there's a third possiblity: that Bucky went through the portal in Thorne but never came out the other side. ]