Jaskier didn't want to marry just any noblewoman--no matter how comely she may be--he wanted adventure and many loves, but most importantly his biggest, greatest love of all. He is not expecting that love to be in the form of a brooding stranger sitting at the back of a tavern. In one instant his breath catches in his throat at the beauty of the man before him and in the next, there's a burning sensation on the bottom of his heel as his mark makes itself known. It's pain and pleasure knotted together, roses surrounded by thorns. (Cover art commissioned from https://wannastayugly.tumblr.com/)

Imagining for one moment that the world wasn't always ending and Geralt had never met Yennifer, had never found his 'destiny' and was just a Witcher, day to day, killing for a pay check. What would happen if he met Jaskier under these circumstances? Well, i guess you'll have to read to find out.

The inn stopped when a mountain of a man clad in black armor with two swords strapped to his back strode in the door. The minstrels screeched to a halt and everyone cut their chatter to stare. Jaskier went into full emergency mode, giving the musicians the stink eye as he said, "Continue, everyone! It is Belleteyn, after all! Don't miss the dance reels behind the inn, great fun!" He motioned to the servers and yelled, "Drinks on the house!" A raucous cheer went up as the inn slowly bustled back to life, but the stares followed the Witcher anyways. A Witcher. At his inn. Jaskier couldn't believe his luck. Most business owners didn't enjoy having Witchers around, but that always seemed like superstitious balderdash to him. Witchers were strong and brave and capable of putting down creatures that haunted the caves and swamps and killed innocents. It never made any sense to him to denigrate such courage. AU where Jaskier runs an inn, Geralt rents a room, and the two can't keep their hands off each other, but parting is damn difficult.