Chapter Text
When Yennefer opened her door, Jaskier was expecting to be ostracized. Or at the very least cussed out. What he absolutely did not expect was a muttered “Good fucking gods,” and a silent invitation to come inside.
The place was nice, really. It smelled of herbs and- strangely enough, freshly baked bread. Potions and other magical properties laid askew across every surface he could see, excluding near the candles. What was most unexpected, however, was the coziness of it all. Blankets and pillows and, dear god- was that a cup of tea and a book on the table?
Jaskier was jolted out of his thoughts by a rough jab in the ribs from Ciri. She looked at him with wide eyes, and then around the home.
“Where the- Who is that?” She gestured vaguely at Yennefer who was cleaning out a chair piled with papers.
“Yennefer of Vengerberg, girl. You may call me Yennefer,” she turned around to face Jaskier and Ciri, “and you are?”
Ciri looked at Jaskier for any semblance of instruction. He shrugged.
“I’m, er, um-“
“Oh, whatever, I already know who you are. Not exactly hard to tell with the whole,” Yennefer gave her hair and robe a long and hard look, “get-up.”
She handed Jaskier a stack of parchment.
“Put that on the table over there, would you?”
Jaskier did as he was told.
“Delightful. Tea?”
“Uh, no, I think we’re good?”
Yennefer set out three mugs, disregarding Jaskier’s answer.
“That’s not poison, is it? I enjoy the whole kindness act you’re putting on but if you’re going to kill me I’d rather you do it soon.”
She snorted as she set the kettle over flames and dusted her hands on her dress. Was this actually Yennefer? Had she been possessed by some sort of monster? Was Jaskier really going to die in five minutes?
“It’s not poison, bard, it’s green tea. Unless you’d prefer something else? I have hibiscus. Perhaps you’d like chamomile.”
Jaskier thought of two ways the night would go. One, he visits Yennefer and has a warm mug of tea. Two, he gets stabbed in the jugular.
The former sounded more enjoyable, even if it was slightly delusional.
“Bard.”
He blinked for a moment.
“Hibiscus?”