[ honestly, what goes mostly unsaid, is how much of that simple gesture means a lot to sam. that jaskier knows where to go, knows where things are in sam's place even when sam isn't there to direct him. that jaskier not only knows where to go and feels comfortable in doing it, but that this whole thing - this whole exchange - has an air of familiarity to it. something grounded in many moments before. something that sam can set his feet on and feel (distantly, maybe) at home.
there is a large, geralt-shaped elephant in the room, but jaskier manages a laugh - even if it was only part of his real ones - and sam feels himself smiling a bit more too. he waits for jaskier to get there, feels himself roll his eyes a little. ]
I would be worried about everything, but the right partner does make all the difference.
[ he looks better, yes. and feels better. and with jaskier sitting close enough that it's easy to press back, to hold the contact while jaskier begins to prattle. interjecting when he needs to, feeling good just listening when he doesn't. it does fill the air, and really, that is the most of what sam needs - the reminder, the presence, the moment that feels normal and not different and that this is all what his life has become, lately.
the conversation takes as long as it needs to, and probably doesn't end until sam notices jaskier looking fidgety, or there is a distinct difference in the angle of the sun. either way, it's probably sam who sets down the now empty cup of tea and moves to stand, saying how jaskier needs to get going, how ciri is probably going a little crazy herself, how he needs to go find what geralt got himself up to. because things will be fine, sam feels it too.
wrapping up maybe? c:
there is a large, geralt-shaped elephant in the room, but jaskier manages a laugh - even if it was only part of his real ones - and sam feels himself smiling a bit more too. he waits for jaskier to get there, feels himself roll his eyes a little. ]
I would be worried about everything, but the right partner does make all the difference.
[ he looks better, yes. and feels better. and with jaskier sitting close enough that it's easy to press back, to hold the contact while jaskier begins to prattle. interjecting when he needs to, feeling good just listening when he doesn't. it does fill the air, and really, that is the most of what sam needs - the reminder, the presence, the moment that feels normal and not different and that this is all what his life has become, lately.
the conversation takes as long as it needs to, and probably doesn't end until sam notices jaskier looking fidgety, or there is a distinct difference in the angle of the sun. either way, it's probably sam who sets down the now empty cup of tea and moves to stand, saying how jaskier needs to get going, how ciri is probably going a little crazy herself, how he needs to go find what geralt got himself up to. because things will be fine, sam feels it too.
it will be fine. ]