[ CLOSED ] death is no man, death is no wraith

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Various
When: October, pre-event
Where: Cadens
What: October catch-all
Warnings: Standard Witcher canon


(( starters below. plot with me discontinued. ))

Comments

[gynvael]

No. [ No, not forced. Not like that. ] We needed to study our Signs.

[ Vesemir was right to send them off. Kaer Morhen could not give them everything they needed. He understood that afterwards. At the time, he was simply...young. Afraid of too many things he didn't want to admit to.

He sits on the edge of the desk. Nero speaks of his family little. He knows when Nero says brother, he means something more important than blood. A mentor and brother all rolled into one. A complicated relationship, as far as he's learned. Aren't they all?

He has no desire to replace what Nero has lost. That is an impossible ask and not one he wants. He'll always miss his brothers, too. What he's made here—though it isn't the same, it isn't lesser, either. ]

Time grants us clarity. [ Not only for the pieces of his youth. He once thought he learned all there was to learn at fifty, eighty. And yet, the world surprises him. ] I know you left people behind. But you have them here, too.

[ Pain makes it easy to forget this. He knows that well. ]

[ofthesword]

[Good. That's good. If Geralt had to have bullshit in his life, it... well, maybe it's just shit on top of shit, so it wouldn't have mattered. But it's not something he'd wish on anyone, losing their home. Cast out of it, even.

He sighs.]

Guess so.

[He gets it now. He gets it because he'd do anything to have a memento of Credo's that wasn't paperwork from the Order and the reminder that he'd still let himself turn into a demon just because that asshole Sanctus told him to. Just went to show you don't really know anyone, no matter how long you live with them. Even if you're raised with them.

But a guy can't live his life being paranoid of everyone forever.

Nero turns back towards Geralt, looking at him a second. It's not really his thing, but in the moment... maybe he just wants it. Maybe he needs it. He embraces the Witcher with a squeeze, a hand on his back. It's not a redundant reminder. Kyrie's voice in his ears, he still needs it.

It's not just Geralt. It's Wanda, it's Himeka, it's Rocket. Even that stupid pair of giant birds. The dumbass goat. It's Steve.

He's gotta go home. Whenever he figures out how to. But he doesn't hate being here.] So everyone keeps remindin' me.

wrapping!

[gynvael]

[ The embrace takes him aback. It's not unwelcome. Just unexpected from Nero, who rarely makes physical contact beyond punching him in the shoulder.

Geralt lifts his hand and returns the gesture. His grip is firm, and not for the first time, it strikes him Nero has somehow slipped into the crevices of his life. A part of him nearly tells Nero that he would have a home in Cadens should he ever find Solvunn untenable, but he won't say it until the situation takes a turn for the worse.

They might. Nero is wary about the gods, the Council, and Geralt feels similarly. Though the Free Cities isn't better. A different threat, that's all. He doesn't know what he'd rather face: monstrous gods or an army and an endless cycle of politics?

After a moment, he releases Nero. Fondness touches the curl of his lips. ] Fuck off before they miss you out there.