Latest Posts by elissjayd - Page 5

u cant tell me they wouldnt be overly loud in various public restaurants, you simply cant 

(click for quality and all that)

Commissioned by the talented artist nymre 

She does amazing art and was the one who created this modern Zuko and Katara for me. 

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST THIS ART

Jeez, feels like I am this Anon, have just the same thoughts.

Katara had no romantic feelings for him, but “Aang saves the world, Aang gets a girl”

I started watching atla for the first time and I hated Kataang right off the bat. It feels off. Imagine my disappointment when I found out what was canon.

oh man anon i’m so sorry.

they really pull a whole damn bait-and-switch and shove katara in aang’s arms at the last second and if you go in blind it absolutely comes out of the blue, i can only imagine how disappointing it must have been to the original audience when it first aired.

i already had a hard enough time dealing when i went in knowing zutara wasn’t canon when i watched years later.

Benders enjoying their elements and Zuko... well Zuko is happy away from his

UPDATE

Now the Gaang is all here

how long does it take zuko to convince his staff that he isn’t gonna slap, punch, beat, banish, or otherwise assault them?

that they aren’t about to lose their job (or life) over a spilled cup or broken vase?

that he’s not trying to trick them when he says they can relax the ornate and complex flattery each time they leave the room?

that he means it when he bans corporal punishment in the palace (and out of it) and that they really can come to him if someone forgets that rule?

that they haven’t upset him or wronged him when he asks to take his meal without the full serving staff of twenty watching him?

zuko is sensitive, even when he tries not to be, and watching these people be so afraid of him would break his heart. but that also means we gets to see it when they begin to open up to him.

firelord zuko who’s feeding the turtleduks when a toddler comes running over. she almost topples into the water but zuko sweeps her up before she’s in any danger. he holds her in his lap and shows her how to feed them gently. when the mother comes careening out screaming for her child she stops short at the sight of zuko and collapses into a bow, head to the floor. she begs forgiveness but zuko shakes his head, and offers his hand for her to stand. he hands over her daughter, asks the girl’s name. his guard calls him back into meetings so he leaves with a smile and a bow to both of them. it’s the first time a child hasn’t been afraid of zuko here in the fire nation, and he smiles all week

firelord zuko who spends months trying to win over the kitchen staff enough the let him make his own tea. they refuse at first (as much as one is allowed to) and stand on principle. but zuko is patient, so patient, so he begins to visit the kitchens once a week. he tells the head chef he’s going to come, it’s not a surprise. and he just thanks the staff, asks their names, maybe mentions an earth nation dish he had that’s native to a region who’s dignitaries are coming. once he’s been a few times he asks about their lives. simple things, never much more than yes or no answers; he doesn’t want to force them into speaking more than they’re comfortable just because he is their firelord. but 10 months in, and he finally convinces the guards, tasters, and head chef he can make his own tea. the head chef still insists on checking the tea as it comes in (special shipment from the jasmine dragon of course) because he’s been working in the palace for a long time and he’s seen many leaders but zuko is the first firelord he’s actually wanted to serve. and he’s seen this 18 year old kid trying so damn hard to help the palace and nation heal, tying so hard to win favor with his dishwashers, that he wants to keep safe. he may not prepare the tea, but not a leaf gets to the firelord that isn’t personally checked by him.

and in a couple years, the permeating sense of fear and dread begins to leech out of the palace. maybe the maids start humming in the corridors, maybe the washer women laugh and talk as they go about their business, maybe the royal dressers don’t flinch at the scars all across their young leaders skin anymore

maybe the country is being run by a smart, kind, genuine young man who works tirelessly to restore their honor as people of the fire nation. zuko brings music, art, poetry, dancing and life back to the fire nation. he teaches the wisdom he learned from the sun warriors and old masters: fire isn’t just hate and death. it can be life, light, a sun blazing inside you and he fosters that light in his people. so they can shed the last 100 years of hatred together and foster a new nation of peace

jet, bursting into the tea shop and pulling a weapon on zuko and iroh: these two are FIREBENDERS they’re here to DESTROY THE CITY FROM THE INSIDE we have to STOP THEM

zuko, putting down his teapot to draw his swords, not even going to argue with jet: finally, a reason to beat up a customer

Japanese legend: you have the face of who you loved most in a past life

Zutara Week 2020 Day 4 “Celestial”

She often laughs at him whenever Zuko tells her, thinking that it was just one of his awkward attempts at flattery. But whenever moonlight kisses her face and she basks under the gentle rays, she is nothing short of heavenly.

@zutaraweek

“Hakoda, really now. You’re going to have give him an answer at some point. Making him wait like this is just cruel.” Gran-Gran’s voice lacked the edge that normally signaled true annoyance, but it was close enough for Sokka to keep his mouth shut. “She’s my little girl, I have the right to take all the time I need before I decide. If he’s serious about wanting my blessing, he’ll wait,” Hakoda said, crossing his arms and glaring into the hut’s fire pit, much like he’d been doing all day. Sokka rolled his eyes and went back to keeping watch out the door flap. Earlier that morning Zuko had pulled both him and his dad aside and expressed his intention to ask for Katara’s hand in marriage. He even produced a hand-made betrothal necklace carved from a shell he’d kept since their time on Ember Island all those years ago. Sokka hadn’t been too surprised about the intended proposal, but the bastard had the audacity to be a pretty decent craftsman and that just didn’t seem fair. He himself was on his third attempt at a betrothal necklace for Suki. “He’s a king. I’m beginning to think your standards are too high.” “He’s the Fire Lord, Gran! She’ll be the Fire Lady. My little girl could turn Fire Nation.” “Nonsense,” she snapped. “Katara is the epitome of Water Tribe and proud of it. Besides, she already spends most of her time there with the boy. Marrying him won’t change much.” His dad grumbled something and Sokka rolled his eyes again. The sun was setting and just when he began to wonder where two love birds were to be out so late, they appeared from over a rise. Strolling arm in arm, they paused to look up as the snow flurries turned to thick, fluffy flakes. Zuko said something and suddenly Katara was laughing. She looked happy. The kind of happy Sokka always knew she deserved to be. After their mom died, after their dad left to fight in the war, even during their escapades with Aang and after– he had this quiet idea that someday, somehow, he’d make sure his sister found happiness. Because if anyone deserved to be happy, it was her. So if being with Zuko was what she wanted, then he’d damned well be sure to protect them. Sokka stood and stretched casually as he walked toward his brooding father. “Dad, give it a rest. You know just as well as I do that she’s going to marry him with or without your blessing. You might as well be happy with them.” Hakoda looked up from the fire, sad and rueful. “I know, son. There was never really a question.”

——————— I made this for @muguathepapaya for the @ZutaraExchange! Two of their listed prompts were Water Tribe and Fluff and it took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do, but once I worked that out it was a lot of fun to draw. The short ficlet formulated in my head while drawing, so I decided to add that, too.

Muguathepapaya, I hope you like it, !

@zutaraweek 2020

(Part 1/?)

Day One: Reunion

As soon as they had gotten the news that Appa landed in the courtyard, both Katara and Zuko had rushed outside to meet them. It had been over half a year since Katara separated from the group to be the representative for the Southern Water Tribe in the Fire Nation and she was eager to see her friends again.

That didn’t really explain why they both were hiding behind a pillar, watching the gang dismount and stretch instead of rushing in for hugs, but she had her reasons. Mostly, she had gotten one good look at how happy and excited Aang appeared and she had suddenly lost her nerve.

“It’ll be fine,” she whispered, turning to Zuko, who had stopped when she had and allowed himself to be pushed into the shadows before they’d been spotted. “They’ll be happy for us. Sokka and Toph will tease us for a while and Aang…” She took a deep, slow breath. “Aang will understand.” Katara did her best to smile up at him. Zuko turned to her from watching their friends and lifted a wry brow.

“Which one of us here are you trying to convince?”

Katara gave up trying to smile and let her head fall onto Zuko’s firm chest. “I just don’t want to hurt him, Zuko. Maybe I should have told him in a letter after all. It would have given him some time to work through it.”

She and Zuko had started dating some three months ago. Considering the somewhat turbulent political atmosphere still present even a year after the war ended, they decided to keep their relationship private and to take things slow. The only one who officially knew was Uncle Iroh. Katara had debated over and over again with herself about telling Aang.

Her romantic relationship with him had been short lived, but not for lack of effort. She had tried to feel for him what he obviously felt for her, but just felt awkward and guilty instead. They’d ended it on good terms in the guise of ‘taking a break.’ When she left for the Fire Nation, she had told Aang not to wait for her. That she didn’t think her feelings for him would change.

That didn’t stop him from adding (what he probably thought were) subtle romantic overtures in his letters, which she resolutely ignored. Many times she had tried to write him the news that she had fallen for and was now dating Zuko. But each time the words came out sounding impersonal and insensitive. Cruel. She had thought that if she were able to tell him in person then it would be more respectful of their friendship. But now she was regretting her cowardice.

“Hey,” Zuko said softly, cupping her cheek and lifting her head so she could see his eyes. “He knows you’d never intentionally hurt him. He may be disappointed, but he’ll be okay. And, if you recall, it’s not your responsibility to keep him happy.”

She actually smiled at that because, yes, she did recall. She had boldly made that statement last night when she became fed up with fretting about the reunion and for a while it had calmed both their nerves. They had taken advantage of the quiet night and gone for a walk in the vast palace gardens, talking about nothing and laughing at stupid jokes while holding hands and sharing playful touches. It was all quite innocent, but she still marveled at the intensity of her feelings for Zuko. It was all still new and exciting and… markedly different from how she felt with Aang. If this was how he felt about her...

Not your responsibility. Stop it.

She took a moment to breath again, Zuko waiting patiently, looking down at her fondly as she built up her determination again.

“Right. Okay. The sooner we do this, the better,” she said and took his hand to lead the way to their friends.

——

Happy Zutara Week!!

I’m going to try to use some of the prompts to form a connected sort of story. Because that’s just how my mind works, apparently. I’ve been working my through an Art Swamp of Despair for a little while now (the kind where I question if I even know how to draw, like at all) so it’s going to be slow going. But hopefully I can rely on the magic of Zutara to help me out. Seeing all the beautiful works posted throughout the week should help, too!

@zutaraweek

Zutara Week 2020 Day 3: Fuse

(Part 2/?)

Zuko had never been known for his calm and even temper. Even before his exile it wasn’t uncommon for him to blow up at someone when provoked. That it was a trait shared by most of his immediate family didn’t help him feel any better about it, especially when he knew half the palace staff was scared to even pass him in the halls when word got out he was angry. It was something he was working on and he usually accepted it as a process that took time.

Katara was not known for her temper. The other diplomats knew her as someone who was fiercely just, bold, confident, and passionate about her job. The palace staff treated her with proper respect while somehow still talking to her like she was one of their own. All smiles and gossip.

Obviously none of them had ever been on the receiving end of Katara’s fury when she was angry, but Zuko experienced enough to understand what she was really like.

The first time they had fought after they started dating he’d been scared he had ruined everything. That two people with short fuses could never make a happy relationship together and it was his fault for not having better control. The fight had been about something small and stupid, something that he would have tried to ignore but would definitely still eat away at him the longer it went not talked about. She had been the one to bring it up. The arguing started and then the yelling and then— to his amazement— the talking, a compromise and then before he knew it, laughing. The day had continued normally, only without the festering thing in the back of his mind from before, which had been replaced with another layer of appreciation for Katara.

They’d had a few small arguments since then, but they were easily worked through since their basic understanding was that they both really liked each other and wanted to stay together. Knowing that usually helped them not jump to any harsh conclusions.

But all this is to say that Zuko learned exactly what Katara was like when she was upset. Which was why, when she stormed into his office that morning all red faced glares and stomping feet (which probably would have looked adorable any other time), his first instinct was to rack his mind for anything he could have done to piss her off. His second instinct was to take stock of any liquids he had nearby as she had a tendency to waterbend without really thinking when her emotions got the better of her.

He couldn’t think of anything he did to get this reaction, so opted to stay quiet as he eyed her, slowly pushing his tea tray farther away from the papers on his desk.

She caught the action and stopped her pacing long enough to raise an eyebrow at him. He shrugged. She rolled her eyes and resumed pacing. Feeling like that was enough to confirm her ire wasn’t directed at him, he ventured to ask, “Katara. What’s wrong?”

“Aang. Aang is what’s wrong!” Oh. It had been three days since the Avatar and the others had arrived. Three days since Zuko and Katara told them how they were dating. And three days of Aang keeping his distance from them both. To be fair, he was still doing his part as Avatar and helping to moderate some important discussions about reparations with the Earth Kingdom, which was the original excuse for his visit. Aside from a few cool looks directed Zuko’s way, he was able to remain surprisingly professional and fair.

Though to be honest, Zuko had been less worried about Aang than he had been about Sokka. Aang may be the Avatar and Katara’s closest friend, but Sokka was still her brother and Zuko knew he still looked out for his little sister. It turned out there was no need to worry, though. When Zuko had approached him about it in private Sokka simply shrugged and said matter of factly, “I’m gonna be honest with ya, buddy. After the year and a half I just had, my little sister dating the new ruler of the Fire Nation is not the strangest thing to happen.”

So there was that.

“Didn’t he agree to practice waterbending or something this afternoon?” Zuko asked now. Katara stopped pacing again and the look in her eyes could freeze steam, no waterbending required.

“He cancelled. Said he had “important Avatar business” to do. As if I wouldn’t know anything about Avatar business!” She threw up her arms in frustration and Zuko’s tea pot rattled ominously. He casually shuffled some documents to the other side of his cluttered desk before standing and walking to her.

“I thought we were going to give him space to work through… things.”

She sighed and walked away to his open balcony. “It’s been days! And I’m no good at giving space. I just want us to be able to talk through it. We should be able to do that. We’re still best friends.” She hesitated. Hugged herself and sort of shrunk inward. Zuko was there, wrapping his arms around her before he even realized he stepped outside. “At least I still consider him my best friend. Zuko, what if he never forgives me?” She whispered.

He hugged her tighter and felt her lean into him. “We’re talking about the same kid who lectured us both on the saving power of forgiveness during a hundred-year war. I think you might be overthinking this, just a bit.”

She huffed out a laugh and actually smiled up at him, though ruefully. And he took a moment to feel the thrill of knowing he could make her smile, help her relax the tension building in her shoulders and brow. Especially now, when she was so upset and needed cheering. All he’d known for so long had been anger, so he never used to think he could do cheering. But for her he wants to become an expert.

“Fine, maybe you’re right,” she said reluctantly. “But if he doesn’t talk to me soon I’m going to sick Toph on him. And we all know how scary she can get.”

——

The length of this one kinda got away from me, sorry! My goal is to keep the ficlets somewhat short, but I kinda build the story up in my head while drawing and it sometimes becomes more than I originally intended. I tried to hide the text under a cut, but I only have my ipad and I can’t find the option to do that with the app. :/

Anyway, I’m loving all the beautiful works people have been posting! I love this fandom!

@zutaraweek

Day 5: Hesitancy

(Part 3/4)

In the end no one needed to summon Toph, but only because Sokka took it upon himself to intervene first. He may deny it, but Katara knew he can’t stand to see her sad, especially when he can do something about it. It’s a trait he had even before their mother was killed and was only amplified after. She tries not to use it against him. Too much.

She didn’t know what he said to Aang, but that night the Avatar found her and they talked for a long time. Apparently before he had arrived at the Fire Nation he had planned to do his best to woo her one last time and if she still wasn’t interested, he would try to move on. He had hoped seeing him again would reignite their original spark and they could work something out. She didn’t think it necessary to tell him that spark had always just been wishful thinking on her part. He didn’t ask when she and Zuko first started liking each other. Actually, he seemed reluctant to talk about Zuko at all. So Katara talked with him about other things.

Aang was glad she was happy, but also still needed some time to work through his feelings. The meetings with the Earth Kingdom had only one more day left, so he was planning on leaving right after. He hadn’t yet asked Toph or Sokka if they wanted to cut their visit short to go with him.

Katara was sad to see him, and possibly Sokka and Toph, go so soon. But while it wasn’t the response she had been hoping for, it definitely was not the worst. In an attempt to cheer her up, Zuko wound up quoting everything he could remember Uncle Iroh saying about time being the best healer. And then for good measure he started making up his own quotes, which made sense only half the time, but succeeded in making her laugh.

And Aang stopped running from her. He attended meals with her and Zuko and the others and it almost felt normal, like old times. Only now she was very conscious of how much attention she gave Zuko when around Aang. She was used to not showing any special interest in her boyfriend when other people were around. Their relationship was kept private for now, though she doubted anything was actually a secret in the palace. Still, they didn’t want the Fire Nation nobles or the other diplomats to assume she was getting any special treatment just because they were dating. She knew at some point she’d have to give up her position as Water Tribe Ambassador, but she wasn’t ready to do that yet. She still had so much she wanted to do to help her tribe as well and the Fire Nation.

So acting impartial to her boyfriend was nothing new, but that was something she had to do in front of palace staff and old politicians. She shouldn’t have to do it in front of her friends. Aside from the fact that she wasn’t actually doing anything wrong by dating Zuko, there was also the fact that they were both still healthy teenagers and it was often very difficult and annoying to keep their hands to themselves. It wasn’t like she wanted to make out with him in front of their friends— like, at all — but casual touches would be wonderful. She liked leaning against him so he’d wrap his arms around her. Maybe idly play with her hair while they talked or read or whatever. She loved holding his hand because he’d give little squeezes in response to things she said or did or just when he wanted to. Because he could.

She knew showing any public displays of affection would just be cruel to Aang right now, but she wondered if there would ever be a time when she and Zuko wouldn’t have to hesitate to show their love. They both understood what they were getting into when they agreed to date and she was determined not to let anyone dictate what kind of relationship they were allowed, but sometimes the waiting felt like too much and she had to stop herself from kissing him in front of the Council of Elders just for their reaction.

Maybe Zuko could share some of Uncle Iroh’s advice on patience. Not that he ever used it.

@zutaraweek

Day 7: Rebirth

(Part 4/4)

There was, of course, pushback when Zuko and Katara announced to the rest of the world that they were dating, though perhaps not as much as they were anticipating. By then, Council had introduced so many single people to Zuko that they were most likely just relieved he was dating someone. (Part of why he was so keen on the announcement was because he just wanted the awkwardness of all that to end. Katara didn’t even get jealous so much as she liked to watch him squirm when the women flirted with him.)

There were Fire Nation nationalists who hated the idea of their ruler being with someone so very not Fire Nation, but they were overshadowed by the rest of the world who saw it as a step in the right direction in proving the Fire Nation was serious about maintaining their peace treaties. Surprisingly, they were often pointed to as proof that it was no longer taboo to marry outside your own kingdom or tribe.

Years later, when they announced they were getting married, barely anyone blinked an eye. The ceremony and reception was a mix of both their traditions, but it was kept relatively simple. Aang happily offered to conduct the ceremony as a means to satisfy both nations and Katara was completely thrilled. It had taken some time, but her relationship with Aang renewed in strength, even if the dynamic was somewhat changed.

Zuko would admit he had been unsure of their decision to go to his family’s house on Ember Island for their honeymoon. It offered exactly what they wanted— mainly complete privacy— and was the easiest option, so it made sense. But the house still carried a lot of confusing emotions for him. Sure, his time there training the Avatar and subsequent visits had added to the happy memories he associated with the house, but that couldn’t quite replace a whole childhood of emotions. He already had to live under his father’s shadow just by living and working in the palace. Did he really want his first memories with Katara as his wife to be in a place that represented to him a failed family?

He kept his doubt to himself, but Uncle Iroh still had the uncanny ability to sense his unease and pulled him aside during the wedding reception. “It makes me very pleased to see someone so deserving find such love and happiness, Zuko,” he said proudly. “You’ve come so far from a life filled with anger and fear and I am certain, with Lady Katara at your side, that you both will continue to create a life worth remembering.”

Later, when he was sitting on the beach watching his wife waterbend the incoming tide, he thought back to Uncle’s words. What really was a life worth remembering? Obviously there was no one answer, so what was a life he wanted to remember? As painful as his childhood was, he didn’t want to forget all of it. But he also didn’t want to memorialize it, which is what he had been doing with this beach house, in a way.

No, a life worth remembering was one where he stayed true to himself and one where he lived happily with Katara. That was all he needed to look back fondly without regrets. So perhaps he could rededicate this old home to his new happy life, chase away the ghosts of his past and replace them with the new spirited memories yet to be created, yet already filled with love. A rebirth of sorts to begin this new chapter in their lives. And someday he could bring his own children here and give them nothing but happy memories of their own.

He smiled fondly up at Katara as she walked back from the surf, bending the water from her hair and smiling back at him. “You finally look relaxed, Zuko. What have you been doing while I was practicing?” She sat next to him and he pulled her close, kissed her tenderly until they needed air.

“Watching you,” he said. “And thinking. I was suddenly reminded how much I have to look forward to.”

——-

Phew! That’s it for me this year! Considering how much trouble I’ve been having drawing lately, I’m pretty happy with meeting my goal of four drawings in one week. Leave it to Zutara to supply to right kind of inspiration. <3

Thank you to the mods for working so diligently to reblog all the pretty Zutara things for us all! Happy Zutara Week! :)

re: Zutara: So, it’s a sorta headcanon I see float around, but not enough of. So, I’m incorporating it into own thing.

After Zuko proposes to Katara with a betrothal necklace (because it’s an amazing tradition, even to him), Katara gives him her most valuable possession to keep at all times. It represents everything she lost, but also, in a way, everything she’s gained (and it’s significant in their relationship anyway).

Her mother’s necklace.

And Zuko wears it on his left wrist, always.

so like when zuko becomes fire lord do u think his portrait is put up everywhere like his dad’s was

like zuko definitely didn’t WANT it to happen, but the fire nation is just so used to being a faccist regime that they just go ahead and start putting their new leader’s face everywhere and zuko is so “ugh” about it but he also has way more important things to focus on so he develops a very choose-your-battles kinda attitude towards it

but do you think the gaang finds it hilarious? do you think they put up tiny portraits of zuko in their own homes for the hilarity of it? do u think Sokka and Suki have a portrait of zuko in every room in their house? do you think they say good morning to it every day? do you think they kiss it goodnight? do you-

The story arcs of Avatar: The Last Airbender pt I Original Art by Devin Elle Kurtz (me) Twitter | Instagram

@thirtydaysofzutara | Zutara Month 2018 | Day 1: Vigilantes (Part 1/3)

Clark, I’m sorry to bother you.

ХОЧУ БОЖЕ МОЙ Я ХОЧУ ЭТО

I regret none of my life decisions 🙃

I prefer to use Redgrave as their surname, because their hometown is Redgrave City and Dante used “Tony Redgrave” nickname, so it’s kinda similar to your idea (I like it, btw). Also in Russia we call them “Spardovich” sometimes. It’s a patronymic, but still could be used like a surname.

Unpopular opinion: I’ve never liked saying that the twins’ surname is Sparda. I understand where that comes from, but I’ve never been able to get behind the usage of their father’s name as a surname just like that.

But hear me out.

In Spanish, we have a couple of ‘fun’ usages of the prepositional particle de (of) when it comes to surnames (I am aware that a bunch of other languages also use this or something similar, but I’ll stick with what I know best for the sake of it).  

So, for example, if a woman wants to stress her relationship with her husband, she can say she’s [Name] [Surname] de [Husband’s Surname]. In some cases, de was also used as a nobiliary particle.

Let’s say that the twins want to stress the fact that they are, well, the Sons of Sparda. So, they could, technically, say their names are Dante of Sparda and Vergil of Sparda. 

And, if we have fun with it, we can kinda treat that ‘of’ as a nobiliary particle due to the weight that Sparda’s name holds in the underworld. He wasn’t a ruler there, but everyone knows who he was so 🤷

Also, he was Fortuna’s feudal lord for a while, so I guess we could say he was Sparda da Fortuna if we follow the Italian conventions? But let’s not go there. That’s not important right now, lol.

Yes, I’m reaching. A lot. And also ignoring a bunch of conventions. But I kinda like how it sounds? 

going back to option 5

Jaskier: hey Geralt do you dare me to drink this random potion I found in this ruined castle

Geralt: no.

Jaskier, uncorking the bottle: haha this is so fucked up I can’t believe you’re daring me to do this

Geralt: do not drink that

Jaskier: *chugging it*

Geralt: do you have a death wish

Jaskier: *finishes the potion* …

Geralt: …

Jaskier: eh, didn’t do anything. I guess it’s expired.

*like 50 years later*

Yennefer: how the fuck are you still alive and also still thirty

Jaskier: what

news broke on the gamestop twitter and my hand slipped. (reads better if you click through it, since this one ran kinda long so i had to double stack it) it’s hard to say goodbye to friends

This is the type of continuity I live for.

I read amazing Witcher Jaskier AU story by @theaceace and was so inspired by it, that i just had to draw Witcher Jas once more, now from the school of Viper

continuing my exploration of older prof Jaskier and Geralt romance, now with smooches in the remote corners of Oxenfurt academy~ more of older Jaskier art - one, two, three, four

“don’t worry, kid, he’ll be back before you even have time to miss him.” - thought this sketch deserved more than just grey matte.

Have y'all ever thought about the impact that Jaskiers song/s about a Witcher, on other witchers? Because i unfortunately have...

Eskel goes back to the tavern to get his coin for killing the monster that terrorized the village for months. The owner had been hostile about accepting a witcher into his tavern, but the man who had given him the job requested they meet here after he was done (if he survived). It had taken him a whole day to find, kill and finally bring back the monsters head.

When he enters the tavern, he expects deafening silence and hostile glares, instead he finds the whole room singing jovially and out of tune. A middle aged man plays the song on his lute as everyone yells the lyrics and laughs. Some turn to look at him and- ah now they'll stop and glare, it was about time- they grin, see the monsters head in his hand and then cheer. Eskel is absolutely lost. The tavern is cheering his deed?! Since when? The most he ever got was a grateful but wary Thank you and if they were feeling generous, some free ale, but this!?

The patrons kept singing to the catchy tune as Eskel tried to make sense of the situation. It took a few more seconds for the words of the song to register in his brain

Toss a coin to your Witcher!

Oh Valley of Plenty! Oooh!!

Toss a coin to your Witcher

A friend of humanity!

A song that paints Witcher in a positive light?! That made no fucking sense, no one wrote positive songs about witchers, let alone ones that encourage people to pay them! He's just about to sneak to the corner of the bar and quietly wait for his employer to pay him, then mount his horse and leave before the villagers sobered up, when someone, the tavern owner he recognizes, catches his arm and although a bit reluctantly, offers him a free dinner and a room for the night. Needless to say Eskel is shocked, even if his face doesn't show it, but accepts the offer anyway. The song is played at least 3 more times for the rest of the night and he falls asleep with the tune engraved in his mind, and the lyrics dancing in his ears as he dreams.

. . .

Lambert has just entered the small town when a bunch of kids, playing with long sticks and fake swords, see and approach him. He glares down at them to scare them off so they leave before their mothers see and curse him for daring to look at their children. Unfortunately the kids don't seem to have an ounce of self preservation in them since they barely budge. One looks at him straight in the eye and says "Are you a Witcher?" to which he replies "Yes, and unless your parents want me to kill a monster for them then you should move along and not bother me." He expects them to run away now, after the hostility and the glare to go with it, but the kids only look at each other and grin up at him "Cool! Here!" They put their hands inside their trousers and skirts and pull out... A coin? Bronze coins and silver ones, three of them aren't even coins he's pretty sure they're just wooden disks of the same shape of a coin, they hold them up to him and look at him expectantly. But Lambert is so confused that they might as well be asking him to figure out the meaning of life. Finally the kids get tired of waiting for him to make a move and one suggests "Maybe we need to *toss* them at him! Like the song says!" Absolutely genius! All the kids agree and Lambert finds himself being thrown coins at by a bunch of children and that's what it takes for him to snap out of his confusion. "Hey cut that out! God damn it, what do you think you're doing?!" He yells and that finally attracts the attention of a few adults who recognize his attire and swords. Finally, they'd come and take their children away, maybe curse and glare at him a bit, but at least no more weird brats. What happens though, is not expected at all. A round, friendly looking man comes closer to see if everything is ok, he tells the kids to go back to playing then turns to Lambert and Smiles? at him. "Kids take things a bit too seriously he heh. Are you looking for a job?" No outright fear, only caution of meeting a stranger, no hostility, no cursing at him for talking to the kids. Lambert is starting to think he's going insane or this is the friendliest town in the continent. The man takes him to a bar where a bard is singing. The tune is annoyingly catchy, the lyrics though... What the fuck?! That's why the kids threw coins at him?! A friend of humanity?? Was that the reason no one glared at him when he entered the bar? Just how popular was this song?! Who wrote it? Who would write such a song for witchers?!

When he asked the barman he said a bard named "Jaskier" who travelled with a witcher and wrote ballads inspired by his adventures. The song got changed a lot from bard to bard but the Witcher was always called Gerald of Rivia, The White Wolf. Lambert was sooo going to bring that up to Vesemir when he went back home. But for now he needed a job... On his way home he couldn't stop humming the stupid tune...

When Gerald brings Ciri and Jaskier to Kaer Morhen he expects his brothers to either ignore the bard and act like he doesn't exist, or tease and make fun of him until he leaves on his own. He's hoping for the first option even if it's not ideal.

What actually happens though is beyond his imagination... Eskel and Lambert look at him and then at each other. Then their eyes travel to the bard and the princess at his sides. He prepares himself for the jabs that would soon come from Lambert and the mild teasing from Eskel. Nothing comes, they're looking at him, each with a raised eyebrow "welcome back *White Wolf*" they say and he sighs. "Where's Vesemir?" He asks and the two get up. Ignoring his question Eskel asks one of his own "Soo... Is this the famous Jaskier?" And Gerald can physically feel the thin string of hesitance inside Jaskier snap and he steps up to his brothers. "The one and only! It's a pleasure to finally meet Geralds family! You two are way more handsome in person than what Gerald described you, but again, he is hopeless with details!" The two witchers look at Gerald pointedly and he shrugs, did they expect he'd wax poetry about their ugly faces?

He gives up on trying to understand what the hell is going on with his brothers, and heads to find Vesemir. Ciri stays behind with Jaskier and they seem to be doing just fine, hopefully they won't eat him alive.

It takes Gerald a few days to realize that Eskel and Lambert have no intention on eating alive his bard, actually, they seemed to want to get to know him, befriend him. They looked at him as if he was some mysterious puzzle they couldn't seem to understand.

It takes him a bit more to realize his brothers are fans of his bard!? He would laugh if it wasn't the weirdest shit he'd ever had to see. Two grown ass witchers, following a bard around like puppies, because they liked his songs?! Ciri thinks it's cute and Vesemir finds it hilarious. Gerald finds he's loosing his mind. And Jaskier? The little asshole is enjoying this whole thing too much, he seems more than eager to give them attention and sing songs about their adventures, which they describe in detail "You should learn something Gerald!".

Gerald just wants to catch a break...

one more part in my Modern AU - this time with motorcycle named Roach and some road trip to find monsters to hunt~ part one - part two - part three

Witchers can be such jerks some times.

Day 5 - Realizations - for @geraskierweek

Scene based on @geralt-jaskier ’s new Time Loop fanfic for this same prompt “Do it Again”

Post 1x06 sort of fix it fic! It’s probably now one of my favorites, and I’m so glad I was able to participate with her in this story. Go read it you guys!