He makes sure to clink everyone's glass before he takes a sip. The smile on his face is genuine when he sees the food she's prepared.
"So this is your famous brisket? I've been dying to try it." He'll let Midge or Abe do the cutting, as it should be. The fact that he poured the wine was already a lot, and he only did it because Midge asked - as far as courtly matters go, that's usually left for 'the man in the house'.
"I almost forgot to ask - have you heard from your former in-laws? Is the factory doing well after the incident?" He's playing innocent concern as an indirect way to remind them that hey, he brought the guy who saved dozens of lives. He hopes that will play in his favor as well, without witcher bigotry and all - yet again, who knows what will they think of a man that travels to swamps to deal with critters...
“It is,” Midge confirms as she cuts the meat. Hopefully he’ll like it, but she hasn’t received any complains in the past.
Of course Jaskier brings up the factory incident. She’s not surprised; it was a win for he and Geralt. “Yes,” Midge continues. “Moishe was angry about the loss of production, but not after I explained that the loss of life could have been much worse.”
She turns to her parents. “Jaskier came here with a man from his home who hunts monsters. He helps him.”
Of course the man had been upset about the production first, fucking hell. Jaskier opens and closes his hands as he bites back what he really wants to say about it. Luckily, Midge serves the meat and he can keep his mouth busy by eating.
"Oh, this is delicious." He takes another bite. "I should make you teach Geralt."
The smile on his face twitches for a second because of Rose's comment - expected it, but still not great to hear it. Jaskier clears his voice and looks at her with his most polite face.
"It can be, yes." No point in denying it. "But as Miriam here has cleverly pointed out, loss of life is worse. As gruesome as it may be, helping people is satisfying." He sips his wine, starting to need the alcohol if this is how the conversation will go. "Besides! Monster parts are very useful for potions. If you know anyone who needs help with the little things in life, from hair loss to pimples - we guarantee total privacy."
All Moishe heard was ‘spiders in the walls’. Midge had to elaborate a bit on what exactly that entailed in this case. Then he understood much better.
She grins at Jaskier’s reaction to her brisket. “Just invite me over to make it for you,” she tells him.
Abe and Rose glance at each other. They’re not buying the ‘friends’ story, but they won’t press for now. It’s obvious to them that Midge and Jaskier’s relationship is heading for something more than friendship. They know their daughter well enough.
“What sort of monsters do you usually hunt?” Abe asks. For what it’s worth, neither of her parents looks disturbed, though Rose makes a face at the words monster parts.
"I'll make the arrangements," he promises. He does want her to come, because he wants her to get along with his family but also because Yennefer needs friends.
"I'm afraid we aren't doing creams yet, just potions - however, we do offer things for the ladies too. Our potions for period cramps and menopause pain are much more effective than those pills they sell here. And our birth control potion doesn't mess with a woman's hormones."
Jaskier takes another bite of his meat to make sure he doesn't look at Midge when he says that, but he can't help grinning a little. He then turns to Abe.
"All kinds of monsters! If they exist, we may take care of them! Giant spiders, werewolves, ghouls, wyverns, there's nothing Geralt can't stop. We found a kraken in that big lake in the north, that one was quite a mess to clean. The locals insisted they wanted to cook the tentacles as if it was octopus." He wrinkles his nose.
Both of her parents nearly choke on their meat when Jaskier mentions birth control so openly. Midge averts her eyes. She’s not sure if she’s looking forward to the conversation that will happen after Jaskier leaves.
“All of those things are here?” Abe asks. “I’ve never seen any of them. Have you ever heard of a dybbuk?”
Those reactions make this entire night worth it. And to think he held back on mentioning the potion that helps a man get his dick working again, that was a mistake. Jaskier glances at Midge when he's wiping his mouth with his napkin, secretly smirking at her.
"I believe they've been arriving with otherworlders, so it makes sense that locals may not have seen them before." He tilts his head at Abe with genuine curiosity. "I have not, but my ears will always be itching for a good story. Care to share?"
Her glance back is less smirky, more concerned. So far, her parents seem fine with Jaskier, but her parents are very polite.
“It’s a demon from Jewish folklore,” Abe explains. “I had an aunt possessed by a dybbuk.”
Rose groans and Midge rolls her eyes. “Papa, not the Aunt Bina story again.”
“Miriam, you know that I am not a man who subscribes to most folklore,” Abe continues, “but that woman hated everyone.”
“She did used to scare me as a kid,” Midge admits.
“Until the day she died - may her memory be a blessing - I came this close to asking the rabbi to perform an exorcism on her. Even if she wasn’t possessed maybe it would have at least improved her attitude.”
"That much hate can keep a soul from moving on," Jaskier agrees. Sorry, Midge.
Before Jaskier can stop himself, he reaches inside his jacket to get his notebook, because of course he carries that everywhere. You never know when you may get an interesting story, and this proves him right.
"Dybbuk, you said? How do you spell that?" He writes down every detail. "I'll look into it; Geralt may be interested as well. Many a myth from this world do match my world, others not so much. It's been fascinating to learn the differences." He puts his notebook back before returning to his meal. "That said, if you ever change your mind, we offer exorcisms as well." An awkward pause. "Magic exorcisms." As opposed to religious, he means. But he's not about to bring up the r-word, that will only end in disaster. "But effective all the same."
“Aunt Bina’s long dead,” Midge says, “which means that she might now be a dybbuk herself, off possessing someone else.”
Abe nods in agreement and even Rose can’t argue with that. While Abe spells the word for Jaskier, Midge brainstorms about other conversation topics, things that her parents and Jaskier might have in common. There isn’t much. She’ll settle on singing his praises for now.
“Anyway, he and Geralt came right away after I texted him about what was going on at the factory. Geralt does most of the actual fighting, but Jaskier was pretty brave too.” Midge smiles at him. He didn’t hesitate to run in when Geralt got hurt. “Oh, that reminds me! Moishe gave me some dresses for Ciri.”
He laughs at that. "I'll keep an eye out for her grouchy soul, then."
Her compliment makes him genuinely smile, and he can feel his heart getting giddy over it. Jaskier isn't always the bravest, to be fair, Geralt getting hurt just activates the stupidity button. But he's always happy to make a good impression.
The mention of a gift takes him by surprise. "He did? That's-- incredibly kind of him." Does that mean Joel didn't speak ill of Jaskier, or his father didn't take him seriously? Both possible explanations intrigue him. "I'll take them with me tonight, then. Send him my gratitude."
He takes a sip of his wine while wondering how the subject of Ciri came up at all. Midge promised before that she'd talk to the man about it, but he just worries about the Joel context. "That reminds me, I need to go shopping for the wedding. Between gigs, rehearsals, composing, hunts, and the typing classes--" And fucking multiple people, including Midge. "--my days have been busier than usual." An indirect way to show that he's more than a wandering musician. "Have you ladies picked your dresses yet?" he asks Rose and Midge before turning to Abe. "I'm guessing you're sticking to a black suit."
“I will.” Midge interceded on Jaskier’s behalf. Even though he and Geralt got paid, she felt he deserved a little extra. Thankfully, Moishe acquiesced.
Abe looks back at him blankly. “What other color would I wear?”
“Miriam, the next day you’re free we need to go dress shopping,” Rose says.
“Neither of you already have a dress that would be appropriate for this wedding?” Abe asks.
“No.” Both mother and daughter answer in unison.
“I’m still trying to decide which color I should wear, since it’s a summer wedding,” Midge says. “Maybe lilac?”
"Any color you want, sir." The blank stare is better than judgment, so Jaskier will take a chance with it. He remembers a phrase he heard recently. "As they say, it's a free country, after all."
He can't help but snort around his next bite of meat at both Abe's question and the women's answer. Honestly, this man should know better by now.
"How about teal?" He leans back in his chair, swirling the wine in his cup. "To match the waves of the coast - soothing yet strong."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
because it is, she can ride the viscount
"So this is your famous brisket? I've been dying to try it." He'll let Midge or Abe do the cutting, as it should be. The fact that he poured the wine was already a lot, and he only did it because Midge asked - as far as courtly matters go, that's usually left for 'the man in the house'.
"I almost forgot to ask - have you heard from your former in-laws? Is the factory doing well after the incident?" He's playing innocent concern as an indirect way to remind them that hey, he brought the guy who saved dozens of lives. He hopes that will play in his favor as well, without witcher bigotry and all - yet again, who knows what will they think of a man that travels to swamps to deal with critters...
and she will
Of course Jaskier brings up the factory incident. She’s not surprised; it was a win for he and Geralt. “Yes,” Midge continues. “Moishe was angry about the loss of production, but not after I explained that the loss of life could have been much worse.”
She turns to her parents. “Jaskier came here with a man from his home who hunts monsters. He helps him.”
“Really?” Asks Rose. “That sounds gruesome.”
no subject
"Oh, this is delicious." He takes another bite. "I should make you teach Geralt."
The smile on his face twitches for a second because of Rose's comment - expected it, but still not great to hear it. Jaskier clears his voice and looks at her with his most polite face.
"It can be, yes." No point in denying it. "But as Miriam here has cleverly pointed out, loss of life is worse. As gruesome as it may be, helping people is satisfying." He sips his wine, starting to need the alcohol if this is how the conversation will go. "Besides! Monster parts are very useful for potions. If you know anyone who needs help with the little things in life, from hair loss to pimples - we guarantee total privacy."
no subject
She grins at Jaskier’s reaction to her brisket. “Just invite me over to make it for you,” she tells him.
Abe and Rose glance at each other. They’re not buying the ‘friends’ story, but they won’t press for now. It’s obvious to them that Midge and Jaskier’s relationship is heading for something more than friendship. They know their daughter well enough.
“What sort of monsters do you usually hunt?” Abe asks. For what it’s worth, neither of her parents looks disturbed, though Rose makes a face at the words monster parts.
“Wrinkle cream?” Rose asks.
no subject
"I'm afraid we aren't doing creams yet, just potions - however, we do offer things for the ladies too. Our potions for period cramps and menopause pain are much more effective than those pills they sell here. And our birth control potion doesn't mess with a woman's hormones."
Jaskier takes another bite of his meat to make sure he doesn't look at Midge when he says that, but he can't help grinning a little. He then turns to Abe.
"All kinds of monsters! If they exist, we may take care of them! Giant spiders, werewolves, ghouls, wyverns, there's nothing Geralt can't stop. We found a kraken in that big lake in the north, that one was quite a mess to clean. The locals insisted they wanted to cook the tentacles as if it was octopus." He wrinkles his nose.
no subject
“All of those things are here?” Abe asks. “I’ve never seen any of them. Have you ever heard of a dybbuk?”
no subject
"I believe they've been arriving with otherworlders, so it makes sense that locals may not have seen them before." He tilts his head at Abe with genuine curiosity. "I have not, but my ears will always be itching for a good story. Care to share?"
no subject
“It’s a demon from Jewish folklore,” Abe explains. “I had an aunt possessed by a dybbuk.”
Rose groans and Midge rolls her eyes. “Papa, not the Aunt Bina story again.”
“Miriam, you know that I am not a man who subscribes to most folklore,” Abe continues, “but that woman hated everyone.”
“She did used to scare me as a kid,” Midge admits.
“Until the day she died - may her memory be a blessing - I came this close to asking the rabbi to perform an exorcism on her. Even if she wasn’t possessed maybe it would have at least improved her attitude.”
no subject
Before Jaskier can stop himself, he reaches inside his jacket to get his notebook, because of course he carries that everywhere. You never know when you may get an interesting story, and this proves him right.
"Dybbuk, you said? How do you spell that?" He writes down every detail. "I'll look into it; Geralt may be interested as well. Many a myth from this world do match my world, others not so much. It's been fascinating to learn the differences." He puts his notebook back before returning to his meal. "That said, if you ever change your mind, we offer exorcisms as well." An awkward pause. "Magic exorcisms." As opposed to religious, he means. But he's not about to bring up the r-word, that will only end in disaster. "But effective all the same."
no subject
Abe nods in agreement and even Rose can’t argue with that. While Abe spells the word for Jaskier, Midge brainstorms about other conversation topics, things that her parents and Jaskier might have in common. There isn’t much. She’ll settle on singing his praises for now.
“Anyway, he and Geralt came right away after I texted him about what was going on at the factory. Geralt does most of the actual fighting, but Jaskier was pretty brave too.” Midge smiles at him. He didn’t hesitate to run in when Geralt got hurt. “Oh, that reminds me! Moishe gave me some dresses for Ciri.”
no subject
Her compliment makes him genuinely smile, and he can feel his heart getting giddy over it. Jaskier isn't always the bravest, to be fair, Geralt getting hurt just activates the stupidity button. But he's always happy to make a good impression.
The mention of a gift takes him by surprise. "He did? That's-- incredibly kind of him." Does that mean Joel didn't speak ill of Jaskier, or his father didn't take him seriously? Both possible explanations intrigue him. "I'll take them with me tonight, then. Send him my gratitude."
He takes a sip of his wine while wondering how the subject of Ciri came up at all. Midge promised before that she'd talk to the man about it, but he just worries about the Joel context. "That reminds me, I need to go shopping for the wedding. Between gigs, rehearsals, composing, hunts, and the typing classes--" And fucking multiple people, including Midge. "--my days have been busier than usual." An indirect way to show that he's more than a wandering musician. "Have you ladies picked your dresses yet?" he asks Rose and Midge before turning to Abe. "I'm guessing you're sticking to a black suit."
As boring as math.
no subject
Abe looks back at him blankly. “What other color would I wear?”
“Miriam, the next day you’re free we need to go dress shopping,” Rose says.
“Neither of you already have a dress that would be appropriate for this wedding?” Abe asks.
“No.” Both mother and daughter answer in unison.
“I’m still trying to decide which color I should wear, since it’s a summer wedding,” Midge says. “Maybe lilac?”
“No, dear,” Rose replies. “It washes you out.”
no subject
He can't help but snort around his next bite of meat at both Abe's question and the women's answer. Honestly, this man should know better by now.
"How about teal?" He leans back in his chair, swirling the wine in his cup. "To match the waves of the coast - soothing yet strong."