[ CLOSED ] hands like skeleton bones

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + the Queen, Yennefer, Various
When: After Nov. 12
Where: Castle Thorne, Nott, Cadens
What: Geralt goes on an Adventure and has a great time
Warnings: Blood, violence, trauma



(( placing starters in the comments below. find me at discontinued or at Noa#1979 to plot stuff! ))

THORNE: the queen + yennefer | kylo | mal | jolene
NOTT: julie | nadine | lloyd
CADENS: jaskier + sam | sam | ciri | jaskier

Comments

[gynvael]

Geralt's brows knit together. "Mm. I love riddles." No, he doesn't.

He's gathered Yennefer sent Kylo, he's gathered she has given him the medallion so Geralt knows who sent him. That Yennefer has decided Kylo can be trusted, at least for this purpose. Beyond that, he doesn't have the energy to piece together more. If Kylo wants him to do or know something specific, he will have to tell him outright.

There's a second before he shifts. He's half tempted to tell Kylo to simply fucking throw the thing between the bars and he'll pick it up later when he summons the strength to, but he's aware there are guards watching and that this would be unwise. Moving also feels unwise. Vesemir would tell him nearly everything in his life is unwise, and the old man would probably be right, but here they are.

He sighs, struggling to his knees so he can reach out and take the medallion. The metal is cool, the weight of silver in his hands. His thumb brushes over the snarling wolf head. He's never been without it for this long, remembers vividly the day he was given it. Remembers vividly the boys who were not given the same, bled out in a dark room. (He wants to believe Yennefer had not meant to force that memory at the time, but there's a part of him that isn't sure. And no matter how hard he wants to not think about it, it is all he can think about.)

He leans his head back against the wall. His focus is clearly waning, even if he seems to be trying. "I didn't take you for a messenger boy."

As blunt as he sounds, it isn't meant to be an insult; there's only curiosity behind the words. He just wants to know why Kylo's agreed to this. It can't be solely at Yennefer's behest, as charming as she can be. And it certainly isn't for him—at least, not as far as he believes. They've spoken exactly once. For Geralt, he imagines them vaguely acquainted, at best. Certainly not someone you put effort towards when they're trapped in a cell by the order of the most powerful person in the castle.

[photophobic]

Riddles, unfortunately, are something of a necessity when there's an enemy telepath in play— something Kylo knows more than a little about. He watches Geralt's painful progress impassively despite the echoes of Yennefer's carefully padded distress still singing in his synapses, though he isn't quite so practiced at controlling his expression without the aid of his fearsome helmet to hide his intent entirely. He's pleased with Geralt's response, with the indication of understanding even through the haze of what is clearly considerable pain.

"I'm not," Kylo agrees, and then, crouching to put their eyes at a level, he adds with his usual, trademark over-intensity: "We both know I wouldn't be here without purpose. But I suggest you gather your strength, Geralt. You never know when you might need it most."

Plans, Kylo attempts to impress upon him with the steadiness of his gaze, are in motion. The Queen is far from the only player on the field. All Geralt needs to do now is hold on until a way out is secured.

[gynvael]

Funny. He's occasionally given thought to what the hell Yen has been doing in Thorne. Now that he's actually here, he can't muster the desire to learn what machinations she's put in place between all these courtiers and guests. Maybe it doesn't matter in the end. He's never wanted to give a shit about any of this. (And yet.)

Either way, if he's meant to sit tight, he can. Where else is he going to go? He thinks, briefly, of at least telling Jaskier to keep Ciri put. She will look for him and if she finds out he's in Thorne, nothing will keep her from coming for him. Which defeats the entire purpose of—everything.

He turns the medallion over in his hand. His expression is considering, but he seems to take Kylo at his word. No reason not to. Geralt does not trust easily, but between Yennefer's involvement and the fact that Kylo does not strike him as the type to waste time toying around, he's willing to go along.

"Let's hope you don't visit again." He assumes if the man needs to return for a second chat, something will have gone considerably wrong.