petcromancer | IC Inbox (Abraxas)

[Hector pauses against Jaskier's scarred arm.]

Are are teasing? [Gods, he hopes not. Hector will be such a devoted student if Jaskier gives him a chance. He will earn those rewards. An absolute teacher's pet.]

It looks like it's healed cleanly, but she's right. Keep treating it so it stays supple.

[He massages around the scar, not putting pressure directly on it as he assesses. Jaskier works with these arms, so it's important they stay in working order.]

[The question has him shake his head. No. Not like that. All his teasing is only potential. Promises, as he said.] Honestly, I would love to teach you anything I could, Hector. And I will happily give you the pleasure you earn afterward.

[Honestly, he doesn't even need the teaching part. But that's fun, too.]

Not terrible for not taking it to a healer, is it? [He turns his arm over, sighing again. His head falls back against Hector's shoulder, and he cannot recall a time he was more content. Not so easily. He really is coaxed as simply as a cat is with cream.] Do you have experience with this sort of thing? I imagine you know plenty about the sort of injuries that leave one dead.

I'm holding you to that. [By that, he means he'll give Jaskier sad puppy eyes if he forgets it. It's a wonder anyone was scared of Hector back on his world.]

Not as much on the living, though I know the theory of it. [He tilts his head to press his lips to Jaskier's cheek, since the bard is within range. This is one body he is glad is so full of life in his arms.] I do more patching up of bodies post-mortem, so they are ready for revival.

[He's seen plenty of mortal wounds, but that's not the kind of thing you talk about to your sweet musician boyfriend while you're cuddling in a bath together, Hector is at least 70% sure.]

It should make for an impressive scar. Think you'll put it into one of your songs?

[Honestly, Hector can hold him against whatever he'd like.

His lips turns up at the kiss, a soft hum vibrating in his throat. He listens and relaxes and imagines it. Hector's hands moving over a corpse, finding bits and bobs to fix. Somehow, as morose an image as it is, it isn't horrible. Of course, Jaskier's imagination lovingly whitewashes away blood or organs or large, gaping wounds.

He thinks it must be rather nice of him, fixing them up before bringing them back. Or is it only practical?]

I imagine they're quite thankful for it. [Look, it's not the most horrible topic. Besides, Jaskier has seen plenty of terrible wounds. Not inflicted upon himself, luckily, if one ignores that time the djinn almost killed him by swelling his throat.

He doesn't count it. Obviously.]

Oh, of course. I have to find a very thrilling explanation for it. I thought, at first, a gift I took after surviving a bandit raid, but that... [Well, it became a bit too close to the truth, after he and Ciri found the bandits in Geralt's camp. After Ciri took care of them.] Maybe a wound I picked up while learning potion-making. Mixing volatile ingredients too casually in a lesson I will never forget. It'll make for good imagery when pressing the importance in reading recipes.

They can get quite testy if they start their new lives with untreated wounds.

[Well, the animals don't mind as much, so long as it no longer hurts them, but the ones forged with human souls inside were more picky. So Hector's process quickly came to involve pre-revival treatment.

He smiles over the rapidly changing mythos of the scar. Why stick with the truth if a better profit, and a lesson as well, could be eked out of a falsehood?]

A potion made in haste to spare the life of another, perhaps? People like stories of heroics, don't they?

[And Jaskier sings so many songs about other people's exploits, why shouldn't he get some attention himself?]

Oh, gods, please. They do love tales of heroics, Hector, but you give me far too much credit.

[He laughs, and leaning in, he kisses him for it. A life-saving potion? That he should so selflessly nearly sacrifice an arm for? He bends the truth, but he's not an utmost liar. The change of this story, for one, is more to protect Ciri than anything. They already know Cadens now has an eye on her for their deaths.]

I am only a humble bard. I'm no healer, life-saving or no. Though I have been dabbling in potions. A little. By, er, reading about them, prior to attempts.

[Since his thoughts have been so chaotic as of late, it felt more suitable he doesn't... attempt. Yet. Until he can calm whatever this is in his heart. (This fear he has lived with for weeks.)] Mostly for little things, like -- oh, you know, one I read about was for vitality. It claims you needn't sleep except every third day on it. I was thinking of trying it out. Only for fun.

[If the truth is being stretched anyways, why not just lie? But if Jaskier is laughing and smiling, he's welcome to do whatever he wants. ~~Hector's not wrapped around his finger, it's fine.~~]

Oh, need to stay away for a project?

[Hector assumes that is the reason Jaskier would want to pull all-nighters. Nightmares or hyper-vigilance or something more sinister don't occur to him.]

I could help test it out. I'm used to keeping odd hours. [He'd offer to help make the potion, but he doesn't want to encroach on a man's pet project.]

For those nights when I'm most inspired. You know, when all your ideas come to you the moment you start to fall asleep?

[It's happened more than once, especially on the road. It's why, even when he's sleeping in a bed in an inn, Jaskier keeps his songbook right next to where he lays, with a full ink well and a quill. He's lost too many good lyrics by being too comfortable to get up to write them.

But. Yes. Also nightmares. They're not as terrible as they could be, however. Not now that Geralt has returned.]

Ah! Would you? Perhaps we can mix up something together. [He doesn't mind the help at all. He's no witch; there's no misguided pride to place in the potions he makes alone.] You know, I think I found a recipe for a potion for another sort of vitality.

[He wiggles his brows.]

Oh yes, falling asleep, or in the middle of a bath. Ideas love to flock whenever there's no pen and paper at hand.

[Nerd problems. They are both slightly different flavors of nerds.]

Sure. I'll need to read over the recipe first, make sure I know what I'm doing. [It would be much too embarrassing if he talks a big talk and then the potion blows up in his face.

He raises an eyebrow at Jaskier.] Oh, do you think we need one of those on hand? It's been my experience that you've never failed to rise to the occasion.

[This is why nerds unite. They sort of just get each other. He grins, giving a nod. What they really need is some sort of... quill and paper. For the bath. Immune to water damage, of course.

Normally he'd say they should just rush into it but, ah. Considering some of the things he's seen potions do, that's a good call.

Jaskier wiggles his brows in return, shifting so his legs brushes between Hector's. As if he hasn't teased him enough.] Yes, as right as you are, I think it would be great fun to have a little aid in rising to the occasion two, three times. Experimenting. For science.

[Emphasis on the science.]

[Oh, Jaskier is saying the magic word, and the magic word is 'science'. Hector knows he's being teased, and he can't even pretend to be mad about it. It really must be love indeed.

He slides his knee against Jaskier's leg more deliberately.]

Well, if it's a scientific endeavor, it is my obligation as a scholar to support your efforts....

[All that studying of what exactly perks Hector up is surely working in his favor now. Besides, he feels he must... repay him. For everything he's offered. The support. The very loving touches, and luscious kisses. Even a calm soak in a hot bath, with gentle, firm fingers moving against his arm.

Gods. It really does feel wonderful.]

The benefits of befriending such a fine, handsome scholar are already paying off. [Another tease, and he's kissing him again. Oh, yes. He'll definitely be pulling Hector into his potion plans now.] Since I know you won't hesitate to test them.

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should we wrap it up here?