Try, Please Try For Me

Love To Transcend A Lifetime

"A party?"

"A masked ball, Geralt! It'll be fun!"

Geralt stares down the piece of parchment that Jaskier is holding up, eyes scanning over the page. It's written in some sort of golden ink with big loopy letters that read:

By order of the Queen,

You are cordially invited to a masked ball in celebration of his Royal Highness, Prince Jaskier's return. The event will take place on tomorrow's eve from dusk until dawn in her majesty's palace.

Please present this invitation at the door for admittance.

The letter is finished off with a wax seal that depicts the sun rising over a mountain, the same symbol on the door to the throne room. It had been delivered just moments prior by the queen's messenger, despite the fact that they are both currently inside the palace and the walk from her room to theirs is less than a few minutes.

Geralt sighs. "Must we?"

Considering what happened last time Jaskier went to a faerie party, he's hesitant. Not to mention the last party Geralt went to was their wedding, and that was just awful. He's still trying to recover from that one-- and a single party a year is more than enough for him.

"I'm the guest of honor, Geralt. I kind of have to be there. And everyone will surely want to meet you, my grandmother especially-- whom you've been avoiding I might add."

"I haven't been avoiding her, I'm just..."

Jaskier raises an eyebrow that seems to say "really?"

Okay, maybe he is avoiding her, just a little. Or maybe a lot. But in Geralt's defense, Jaskier is just getting to know his family and he doesn't want to intrude on that. He just feels a little awkward around it all-- especially since Jaskier's newfound royal status has changed the way the other faeries behave. Before they looked at Geralt like a troublesome insect. Now they eye him like a gourmet dinner. It's...unsettling.

Geralt grumbles under his breath and Jaskier pouts, giving him wide puppy dog eyes and waving the invitation around a little.

"Alright, fine," he sighs, "if you want to go, we'll go."

The bard squeals in excitement and throws his arms around Geralt's neck, kissing him. "Oh thank you, darling! We'll have fun, I promise."

Geralt hums, then snakes his arms around the bard's waist and kisses him again. A party won't be too bad. Not if he has Jaskier by his side. And he has to admit, the way Jaskier is kissing him is very convincing.

"We don't have to stay for the whole thing," Jaskier assures him when they pull away, rolling up the invitation and tucking it into his bag. "You can go for a couple of hours and if it's really not for you, we can retire to our room and spend the night another way." He waggles his eyebrows at Geralt and the witcher can't help but roll his eyes.

Though he probably will end up staying the whole night because Jaskier wants to. He doesn't want Jaskier to miss out because of him after all. And he's definitely not leaving him alone in a room of unknown fae.

"Do I have to dress up?" He asks, somewhat begrudgingly.

"You can wear whatever you want, darling. I want you to be comfortable so you can enjoy yourself. Though I would like it if you at least wear a mask since it is a masked ball, but it's up to you."

"I'll...think about it."

Jaskier smiles, bright and sunny. "That's all I ask."

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