Inkpot Gods ↠ The Witcher

IV. Dress

"I'm starting to think this is worse than death," Thalia remarked, boots crunching against the snow.

"What gave you that idea?" Geralt asked, sarcasm palpable.

There was truly no need for both of them to be covered in selkiemore guts but neither of them knew the other one was even in the village. Call it destiny or coincidence—it was all the same to Thalia. The female Witcher had gotten the shock of her life when she was deep in the digestive system of a creature yet still wasn't alone, barely even recognising Geralt at first from the gore that coated him, but the same could be said vice versa.

Sometimes she'd purposefully take on a contract with Geralt and at other times they'd simply happen to be in the same place which was unusual in general but seemed to be happening a lot more often in recent days. It made her suspicious though she wasn't sure of what.

Finally, they reached the tavern that sat upon the snowy hill, warmth enveloping the almost freezing woman. She was too busy flinging a piece of intestine to even notice that everyone had turned to see them, some covering their noses from the awful stench that emanated from them. When her eyes returned to the front the first thing she saw was the bard, Jaskier, sitting at a table.

"I see he found you again," she muttered, immediately regretting the decision when some blood slipped into her mouth.

Jaskier had an uncanny ability to find both of the Witchers and recklessly follow them into danger, occasionally meeting only one of them and feeling very lucky when he got both of them. Today was a very lucky day for him.

"What's that stench?" The man who had ordered the contract asked in disbelief they were even alive.

"Selkiemore guts," Geralt bluntly replied. "Had to get it from the inside. I'll take what I'm owed."

"We. We will take what we're owed," Thalia corrected.

There was no way she wasn't going to get anything for her efforts and Geralt didn't seem to disagree with her correction in the slightest, albeit both were a little miffed at having to share their earnings once more. Jaskier began to sing again and, gradually, Thalia had begun to feel less and less annoyed with his random musical outbursts, instead opting to take a random drink resting on the table and taking a large swig of the ale to rinse out the foul taste that resided in her mouth.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Jaskier greeted Thalia while the rest of the tavern patrons cheered in merriment.

"They're not even dangerous. They eat plankton. I ate guts for something that isn't dangerous," she stated, eyes narrowed at Jaskier.

"You ate—why did you do that?"

"Was feeling a little peckish."

At her sarcastic answer Jaskier decided it was probably best to pester the other Witcher for the meantime and glided over to Geralt, but Thalia couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation while she drank the rest of the stranger's drink. The bard was trying to convince Geralt to attend some sort of event but he was explaining it in that fancy way he always did, easily losing his interest and causing Geralt to simply walk away. Thus Thalia stepped forwards and leaned against the bar behind Jaskier.

"He just left. Say it in simpler terms."

"Food, women and wine, Geralt!"

─────────

Jaskier had just finished tending to Geralt in the bath and thought that it would only be fitting to meet with Thalia as well, always one to balance out the attention he gave to them despite having a secret favourite. What he didn't take into consideration however was that Thalia actually took longer to bathe due to actually wanting to relax.