un: daerienn

[chaoticbeauty]

Name: Yennefer of Vengerberg
Date: 5th of Aguril
Format: Video

[ ooc: yennefer | geralt | jaskier ]

[ It’s mid-afternoon by the time she begins this, about a day and a half after Geralt’s feral escapade. Sitting out in the garden behind her cottage, the sounds of the woods surround her with a view of open doors leading into a kitchen over her shoulder. Dark hair frames her face as violet eyes are fixed on the screen. Alright, she’s fairly certain she’s doing this correctly. ] A question, call it hypothetical and possibly very personal. [ No pleasantries, no soft introductions. Quick and to the point. ] So, if this is a conversation you’d rather have in person, I can meet with you tomorrow or the day after. [ Not today. Today she still has house guests that are hopefully getting enough of their strength back to do more than eat and sleep. ]

With the mention of bonds, I cannot help but wonder if anyone here has experience with arriving cursed or under the influence of another spell. One that possibly ties you to someone already here. [ The once empty kitchen is suddenly filled with the forms of two possibly familiar faces. Jaskier appears first with his arm thoroughly bandaged, a bit of red staining them, and dark circles under his eyes. Oh, fuck. Did the food come? Bless you, Yennefer, you are capable of some good will. A gentle clink of plates and cutlery sounds from the kitchen, and a soft, delighted moan.]

Jaskier, please take the sandwich upstairs if you intend to fuck it.

[Jaskier’s head appears in the kitchen window looking annoyed and wielding a half-eaten sandwich in his uninjured arm. I’m not going to fuck it, thank you! Though you’d be lucky to watch!

Yennefer looks like she’s going to continue when heavier footsteps sound shortly after; a head of white hair shows up, looking about as untamed as you'd expect from someone who spent most of the night running through the woods. Geralt says nothing, just limps into the kitchen and grabs the first thing he sees on the counter: a block of cheese. He’s about to take a bite when a gasp sounds. Geralt, do NOT bite into that. I swear to -- it's for the sandwiches!

There’s a very audible fuck off growled low, but Jaskier manages to rescue the cheese.

Violet eyes close for a moment before she looks over her shoulder at them, the camera getting a nice view of the sky as she adjusts. Anyone paying attention might’ve been able to catch the moment her soul left her body due to massive annoyance. ]

Do you both mind? [ A feminine sigh escapes that sounds more like a groan of frustration, wondering how she’d been so lucky to be tied to them. Oh right, the whole point of this fucking video. The camera is framed back on her face, the once easy expression a little more strained as annoyance shimmers in her eyes. Men. ]

Where was I… Ah, yes. If anyone has training or knowledge of curse or spell removal for things that do not originate from this world, I would very much like to speak with you. [ She’d ask the coven, but she’d rather start with those who’d been pulled here like her. As she tries to pick up where she’d left off, Geralt moves out of the kitchen directly behind her, his voice rough as his body completely darkens everything in frame. In hindsight, speaking to the other half of what she was referring to might’ve been a good idea. But, she wanted to get this addressed and she’d never asked a man for permission to do a damn thing in her life. No point in starting now.

Geralt’s voice rumbles in his chest, Yennefer already rolling her eyes as a hand reaches for her wrist. ]

Yen. Who the fuck are you talking to? [ A more distant voice throws in -- ] Is this about the wish?

[ And then the video cuts, Yennefer only managing to get in a ‘fuck o--’ before the video stops. ]

Comments

video; un: zewu-jun

[zewu_jun]

Ah, so you are all friends! [ How nice! ] That does explain some of the similarities.

[chaoticbeauty]

[ The response comes after a bit of a delay. ]

Friends is certainly a word. [ And she has to ask. ] What similiarities?

[zewu_jun]

Your language is very similar.

[ From his perspective, at least. Yes, he might be referring to the type of language and tone that they used with him. Shhhh. ]

And the clothing you wear is... of a unique style? I was not certain, but the way they were made does seem to carry a similar look. I'm glad you managed to come together.

[ He's already starting to draw mental lines between them. Don't mind him. ]

Do you live together as well?

[chaoticbeauty]

Hm.

[ Speaking of similar language, the sound comes out before she can stop it -- tying her closer to Geralt unintentionally. ]

We do not. Circumstances called for close quarters after the the full moons. It's-- it is not my tale to tell.

Unrelated to our connections to each other -- [ Absolutely related, Yen, stop lying. ] --you wouldn't happen to have any information about curses or breaking magical ties?

[zewu_jun]

[He knows the moons cycle, so it doesn't take too much deduction for Lan Xichen to pick up what Yennefer isn't saying about why they are all in one place. He nods, half into a bow, and hums softly.]

I see. Sometimes it is better to have familiar faces nearby when unexpected things happen. I have found it helpful myself.

[Jin Guangyao might not appreciate that little slip, but he didn't give any details at least.]

I know of techniques that have worked where I am from, but I am unsure how effective it will be here. The world operates with different spiritual power. But I suppose if it is similar enough, it might be possible?

Voice; Adrian

[cryptsleeper]

If no one can offer you a solid response, I can offer my capabilities as a researcher in aid of this particular question.

[chaoticbeauty]

[ She knows that voice, enough that a small smirk finds its way to her lips -- their paths crossing again. Even if this time it's on hopefully better circumstances. ]

It is a... very unique circumstance so I doubt anyone will have all the answers. Assistance with research would be appreciated.

[cryptsleeper]

It'll also probably be a small body of research, given that the concept of individuals coming through those mirrors is just a little over a year old.

[This isn't something Alucard is sure conforms to the concept of better circumstances. It does imply someone involved here is cursed, after all.]

Where should I deliver my research notes?

[chaoticbeauty]

I would be lying if I said I was optimistic regarding finding a solution quickly.

[ Time may be of the essence in a way, but that urgency isn't one she plans to force on anyone else. ]

I have a cottage here, otherwise, I can meet you somewhere if you happen upon anything that might be of assistance. [ She'll give her cottage number, just in case. And because she truly is grateful for the assistance-- ]

Thank you.

text; un: ajc

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Oooh! The cake-stealing bard has some friends it seems!

Anyway, Crowley likely as not has no useful input but that absolutely doesn't mean he isn't nosy as all hell. Time to investigate! ]

What sort of curse? The kind where you turn furry on a full moon? I was wondering what would happen if you had that already, then wound up here with a different sort of curse. Would you just change twice?

[ An intellectual question, from an intellectual person. ]

[chaoticbeauty]

[ Texting is harder, so give her a minute to actually respond. ]

No. Nothing like that so unfortunately, I do not have an answer to a possible double shift. [ She's... not really sure what else to say on that. So, she powers through. ]

Do you have any familiarity with Djinn or wishes?

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Uuuuuuh well... ]

In a manner of speaking.

[ He could perform miracles. Similar, right? ]

[chaoticbeauty]

[ Miracles absolutely aren't off the table if he can pull this off. He offers more in 5 words than she'd gotten from anyone else so far. A potential solution or at least a path to a solution. Possibly. Next question. ]

Do you have any familiarity with reversing or removing a wish?

UN: Lady Maria | Voice

[whomthebelltolls]

[The words arriving cursed ripple an awful clawing of dread down her spine, but the clarification helps.

To someone else? Gods, what would she even do if one of those fishmen arrived. Or, worse, one of the other hunters she actually knew? ... Eugh.

Better to focus on the question in particular.] I suppose it depends on the nature of the curse. There may be ways to suppress it, but most curses need to be destroyed at their source, if they can even be removed at all.

[Behind the Watch, she wrinkles her nose. What it translates to is a bit of a silence.] Things related to memory, and to... death, you are in for an uphill battle to learn the ways to remove.

[chaoticbeauty]

[ Suppresion would be an answer she could accept, even if it was temporary. It'd be a start, at least. Granted, she couldn't be sure it was still active, but her finding Geralt in the knick of time was more of an answer to the unknown than she'd had before. ]

A tying of fates or lives in some way so paths continue to cross. [ Or more. Neither of them have technically died yet so she can't speak to that aspect of it. ] A wish from a djinn. Anything beyond that is uncertain as I did not hear the specifics of the wish when it was made.

[ So, she doesn't have more information, unfortunately. Only conveying what she'd figured out herself. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

Hmm... [She falls into a contemplative silence.] And the company of this other individual is so undesirable you do not wish to meet up with them again?

[She tilts her head from behind the screen, though she knows it's not visible.] It would be difficult to prove that such a "curse" had been lifted, if you were to... say... continue to see them in this city. Aefenglom is many things, and a relatively large city indeed, but... it is also very isolated. You find yourself running into familiar faces a lot here, with or... without a curse tying one to them.

[chaoticbeauty]

Yes, that has already been demonstrated more than once. It's... complicated. With the tying of our fates paired with bonds here, if something were to happen to one of us it could cause unforeseen complications. [ The most logical and rational answer would just be for her and Geralt to bond, keep the wish contained. But she couldn't help but assume Jaskier would somehow get involved as he so often did. While she and the bard weren't anything near consistently friendly, she wouldn't wish that kind of pain on him if anything were to happen to her. Beyond that, if bonded, she would only worry that if something were to happen, it would carry possibly massive consequences for either herself or Geralt.

So, it was better to just... remain unbonded for now. ]

I know it is an extremely difficult request, but I felt it was worth exploring.

action; private

[gynvael]

[ When Yennefer shuts off the recording, Geralt can only stare at her. He can't say what it is that's getting to him: he knows, logically, her asking about the wish isn't unreasonable. Even Geralt can acknowledge he wants the certainty back about what he feels for her, to not have it always be called into question when it feels so damn real to him.

But the wish has been a knife's edge between them. The idea of her so casually offering to speak about it to strangers without him makes that edge sharper. If he's ever managed to parse logic from his emotions when it comes to Yennefer—he hasn't. Between his frayed nerves from his recent transformation, the deep-seated fear that he's hurt people he doesn't yet know (neither Jaskier nor Yennefer can truly tell him), it's easy for everything to boil over.

At least his voice is level when he steps in front of her. His brows are furrowed. ] What are you doing?

[chaoticbeauty]

[ No matter what happens between them, Geralt going feral had terrified her in a way she wasn't ready to admit. Mainly out of concern for herself because she knew, logically, the consequences of being unbonded were coming for her next. And her consequences would speak to certain death.

While she'd come to terms quickly with the idea of losing everything at home, this was different. Here she had time to think and see and learn. And yes, deep down it was tempting to push her limits to learn the signs of being on the brink and when it was too far to turn back. But, if her life force was truly tied to Geralt, she was worried that any experiments might drag him down with her. ]

What did it look like I was doing? I'm trying to get answers. It wasn't just someone giving me a clue that it was you running rampant in the woods. It had to have been the wish drawing me there as well.

[ She rises to her feet, meeting his gaze with an equally level tone. ]

Or would you rather wait and see what happens if one of us dies here? [ There's an unsaid implication, already operating under the assumption that they won't be bonding. Because she can't. Not until this is dealt with. Not to him or anyone else. ]

[gynvael]

[ There are several responses that he bites back. A long moment passes. Geralt glances over his shoulder, then back again. He takes that moment he needs to firmly shut the kitchen door, making it clear that this is not a conversation that involves the bard.

Might be for fuck all, if their voices are raised enough. Which seems all too possible right now. He makes a noise that suggests exactly what he thinks of that notion. Of Destiny and wishes drawing fates together. He's damn tired of it dogging his heels, seeping into every corner of his life like an unwanted shadow. ]

Is there anything you won't blame on the wish?

[ That's not the point of what she's saying, but it's easier to dig at than the crux of what's bothering him. ]

[chaoticbeauty]

[ She wants to pull the door back open because the bard was going to hear them fighting anyways. The glass on the windows wasn't that thick, her balcony door on the second floor was still open, and voices carried.

Yennefer laughs, but the sound is hollow -- her hands moving to rest on her hips. ]

Oh, is that all you think of me? Truly? That this is some grand plot to shift the blame back to the wish and therefore you? And to not find a fucking solution to a problem that shouldn't even exist?

[ She's not not yelling at the end, frustration and exhaustion ringing loud and clear. Because while they both slept, she was the one spending the time and effort to make sure they had clothes and food to wake up to. It was pathetic, she'd been pathetic. Drawn in by reminiscent memories of her own transformative horrors. Well, she wouldn't make that mistake again. Not for Geralt. ]

video; un: zack

[exsoldier]

[ While there isn't much that Zack can say when it comes to this woman's posed question, he feels a need to reply to her video message all the same. He'd given her a lot of trouble the night before, and while she'd been able to fend for herself, he still feels terrible now that she's in her right mind. It had been a matter of wrong place, wrong time, but it also could have ended much, much worse.

That, and he's curious to both see and hear Geralt and Jaskier in the background. Are all three of them connected to each other in some way? From the same place, even? It's an interesting tidbit he might not have picked up on otherwise. ]

Hey. Uhh... [ His brows pinch and then his eyebrows lift, an apologetic grimace. ] Not sure if you recognize me, but I'm the one who came by your cottage last night. [ His eyes are now a bright blue instead of gold, his fangs are gone, and he looks more or less normal from this angle except for the dark brown feathers that have grown in around his neck. ]

Wanted to apologize. I obviously wasn't really in control of myself.

[chaoticbeauty]

Ah.

[ Yes, that was a memorable visit to say the least. And it had given her enough of an indication to follow an instinct she could only attribute to the wish or destiny out into the woods to find Geralt. The fact that she'd managed to keep him at bay and remain unscathed is a plus in his favor. While she would hold no animosity towards him, injury would have taken this conversation in quite a different direction. ]

No apology is necessary, but I accept. I also apologize if you happened to experience any nausea from the teleports. It's something I'm still working on fine-tuning so it's not as gentle as it should be at times.

[ But, it was her best defensive weapon back home and she's glad the same could be said here. ]

[exsoldier]

[ Zack's quick to shake his head when she apologies. It's not necessary when he'd been the one to show up on her doorstep with horrible intentions. Now that he's himself again, it's hard to imagine what his animal hindbrain had been thinking. But that's the thing, isn't it? Not much thought had gone into what he'd done. It had all just been about hunting, about feeding. ]

Don't worry about it. A little bit of nausea never hurt anyone.

[ He may have also vomited up a meal he shouldn't have had in the first place, which is honestly kind of a blessing. The less he has to think about what's digesting in his stomach right now, the better. ]

What's your name? Is it... Daerienn?

[ Zack does his best with the pronunciation, but butchers it a little. ]

[chaoticbeauty]

It's a title of sorts.

[ There's been something strange about putting her full name in text for all to see. ] My name is Yennefer.

[ Yeah, she'd had more than enough vomit to deal with after Geralt shifted back. She's content to not be responsible for more people emptying the contents of their stomachs. ]

I hope the rest of your evening was relatively uneventful.