[ CLOSED ] let these bones be the giver

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Various
When: Mid-January
Where: Cadens, Horizon
What: Dealing with a sudden onslaught of new memories
Warnings: Spoilers for The Witcher S2, trauma, discussion of torture, etc. NSFW marked.



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

since geralt has been officially canon updated to the end of s2, just let me know directly if you want to have a zero spoiler interaction and i can set the threads pre-canon update for these cases.

Comments

[sorser]

[Weaponized monsters. Great. Another potential tool in any one nation’s arsenal, and that doesn’t include the inherent dangers for the average citizens walking a country road. Another headache in Stephen’s growing collection of them.

Though maybe focusing less on the what ifs, and more on what each territory believes the Singularity is capable of, would shorten this list — just as Geralt says. Stephen looks skeptical, but not necessary at the suggestion itself.

But instead, at how’d they even go about learning that.]

What would you suggest? Speaking to the ones in charge would be the most straightforward way to pry out answers, but that’s assuming they don’t want to keep tight-lipped on the subject.

[Or—] Worst case scenario, we’d be giving them ideas.

[“Hi, have you considered the Singularity could act as an open gateway potentially ushering in an army of trainable monsters?” Not ideal.]

[gynvael]

[ Geralt cants his head to the side, acknowledging Stephen raises a perfectly fine point. ]

Besides wait and watch? I don't know. I was hoping that might be your domain. I just kill the monsters.

[ That's not entirely true; there's obviously more to it than that, considering he's here, asking about any of this in the first place. But it is true that matters of subterfuge is not his strong suit. He either watches quietly until he finds what he's looking for, or he asks outright for what he wants to know—there's little in between for him.

He doesn't disagree that granting them ideas is the least favourable option, though. No one needs that. Normally, he'd suggest Stephen speak to Yennefer. Work with her. She knows her way around the court, who can be manipulated or not. She's been there months. But she is no longer someone he wants to be involved where the Singularity—where Ciri—is concerned.

Eventually, he releases a breath. ] If you decide to speak to anyone, Ambrose may be the easiest to get to. [ Whatever his opinion on the man, he knows the High Mage genuinely believes what he's doing, what he's told them. Jon compelling the truth out of the mage leaves little left to doubt, in that regard. ] Avoid the queen.

[ Take it from him. Personal experience. ]

[sorser]

[Stephen makes a low noise at the back of his throat. “Wait and watch” is not usually his go-to method of procedure, but neither is dipping his toes into the delicate orbit of politicking. This treads dangerously close to that, but equally isn’t surprising to him — it was just a matter of time.

He wonders if Geralt’s sole focus is that obvious; he kills the monsters, sure, he has no reason to believe otherwise. But something must’ve sparked this concern, something more layered than that, or else he wouldn’t be having this conversation. It’s a thought Stephen shuffled to the back of his mind for now.]

I can get in touch with Ambrose. [He’d reported in, once, regarding his read on the Singularity. Framing a second meeting as a follow-up of burgeoning concerns wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

Stephen’s brow wrinkles at the addendum, though.]

The queen’s not an option because she’s a dead end, or because she’s one that’ll get too many ideas?

[gynvael]

[ He leans his weight on one hand. Some doubt lingers in his eyes—not at Stephen, but the situation altogether. He doesn't know if talking to Ambrose—bringing this to attention to anyone in Thorne's court—is the right path. Feels like it has as much chance to backfire as not. But he isn't in Thorne, he hasn't any better ideas, and his awareness of what's happening in the castle is limited. So trusting Stephen to make that call is about all he can do.

The queen, though— ]

I was brought in for a...private talk once. Came away with a nasty scar. [ Good times. Very pleasant. ] As far as I know, she operates outside her council's knowledge and her reach is far. She has a pet mage. Goes by Grigory. He'd cut off his cock if she commanded it.

[ If he hasn't already. Either way—she isn't an option. Not for this. His main concern is whether Ambrose will go straight to the queen. He pauses. Tries to think of who else. ]

There's another mage. Red hair, green eyes. I don't know her name, but I do know whatever she learns, she's unlikely to go to the queen. The question is if she knows anything at all.

[ He has no idea who she is, what title she holds. It must be of some rank, for her to have walked into the dungeons without being stopped, but there's a difference between going into the cells unhindered and having access to the kingdom's highest secrets. He'd never asked much that night when she set him free. Other things on hold mind. But those are Stephen's options: Ambrose or the unnamed mage. Jolene, if Stephen were to identify her through another. ]

their matching Tired icons are so funny

[sorser]

[Private talk. Squint and read between the lines enough, and he’s pretty sure that’s just a nice way of saying “violent interrogation.” Duly noted in his mind and underlined twice — the Queen is not one in which trepidatious ideas should be given. But the sword is a double-edged one: the Queen probably wants to know of all theories, rumors, and prodding questions being tossed about the castle, and will very enthusiastically dig them up if needed.

Problematic. Risk assessment is crucial here, caught between pursuing a route that could be a dead-end, versus one more fruitful, but also the easiest way of garnering the wrong kind of attention. Stephen wonders what kind of attention Geralt had cast on himself to warrant a “private talk”, and he even thinks to ask about it. But chances are he’d be told it’s none of his business, and if it was relevant, it would have been brought up well before now.

The thought dies on the vine. Instead—]

I think I want to take my chances with the High Mage first. I feel that any big revelations about the Singularity will make their way up the executive ladder with time. I’d like to just get the head start if possible.

[Time. Time is always the deciding factor in matters such as these. How ironic that he no longer feels there’s ever enough of it.]

And if I start to hear whispers about Thorne wanting to usher inter-dimensional monsters in through a shiny, newly opened gateway… Well. [Pointed look.] If that’s your expertise, then you’d be the first to know.

they've been working overtime for 20 years

[gynvael]

[ The incident contains a multitude of layers and details that Geralt isn't ever going to get into. The reality is, not even Yennefer or Jaskier know the full story, even though the former was present. There. (Because she's always there.) He leaves aside the matter of their mind reading, of him dragging his bleeding arse through the wooded mountains for a week. All Stephen needs to know is that unless he's extraordinarily sure of his pieces on the board, he should not be fucking with the Queen.

He tips his head, acknowledging that assessment. Fair point. Either path carries its risks. But they can't sit on this information without doing anything.

He gets off the table. Yeah. He'd like to hope it'll not come to that, but they both know better. Something lies ahead. Thorne is only a part of it. What Solvunn and the Free Cities know or believe remains to be seen. He intends to find out there, too.

Telling Stephen to be careful seems redundant. So he doesn't. ] You know how to find me.