He chuckles, so it works well enough. His boots are good enough for the beach, but he takes them off anyway. He wants to feel the sand on his toes - it works. The beach is always a balm for his soul.
The apology is unexpected and it throws Jaskier for a second. Fuck, how can she always be so sweet? He takes a deep breath.
"Never apologize for loving," he replies as he asks his heart to calm down. "I'm sorry I made you cry." There's a pause before he bursts out, "You told Geralt I wanted you for sex."
She nods, because there’s no point in denying it. They need to be honest with each other right now.
“I was angry and feeling bitter,” she replies. “He pointed out all of the time we spent together not having sex, the things that we shared with each other. I know it wasn’t just sex, and I’m sorry that I said that.”
"Thank you," he responds, followed by a snort. "You know we've stepped into hell when we're getting relationship counceling from him of all people."
He hasn't forgotten that he had to put up with his and Yennefer's bullshit for years.
Silence follows them for a moment. Jaskier looks at the sea - not because he refuses to look at her (how could he?) but because he knows that if he does, he'll surrender to her sad eyes.
Also, he may be scared.
Just a little.
Okay, a lot.
"I missed you. Terribly," he finally says with a broken voice. "This week apart made me realize how much I need you in my life."
He takes another deep breath.
"I'm willing to try. A relationship, I mean. Exclusivity. But it wouldn't be what you know. It wouldn't be traditional. I am not a husband. So there's a lot to discuss. To reach... compromise."
Midge is completely floored by what she hears. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn’t this.
She’s dumbfounded for a moment, the sound of waves crashing and seagulls calling taking over. “You… really? You don’t have to marry me, Jaskier. I wasn’t expecting a proposal.”
Midge moves closer to him, standing in the surf as the cold water rushes over her feet. She lets out a little yelp, then a laugh at the temperature of it. “That’s cold! Sorry. Momentary distraction. Tell me what you want.”
There goes the p-word again. Jaskier sighs - this is precisely why they need to talk. Before he can say anything, though, Midge is yelping. And what else can he do but laugh?
It is a good distraction, at least. It gets rid of some of the tension.
Jaskier loathes the cold, but being a beach boy and having camped outside during chilly Autumns mean his tolerance has grown since he was a brat napping by the hearth. He offers his arm to Midge, because he can't take it anymore. "You are not being smooth, you know. You just had to ask." He's teasing to cover his need.
For the next few steps, he just enjoys having her close again.
Welp. Here goes nothing.
"You said the same thing in the club. Marriage, proposal. That's what worried me - you're missing the point. It's not about the ring and the paperwork. It's about the man's role. It's about being the provider and changing diapers." He kicks a shell in the sand. "Actually, that's a good place to start. I don't want kids. That one is not negotiable."
He isn't sure if this relationship will even make it that far, but better put it all out now.
Midge grips his arm gratefully. “I didn’t know if you wanted me to…” she says by way of explanation. She would have been heartbroken if she’d asked to take his arm and he had rebuffed her.
No kids is an easy agreement for her. “I have enough kids,” Midge agrees, “and they have a father.” Meaning that she doesn’t expect him to be one to them. “In time though, I’d hope that you would like to meet them. Maybe you can be an adult figure for them like you are for Ciri. Slowly. If you want to.” She’s not going to push him regarding her kids right now.
"Meeting them is fine. I'll help you throw birthday parties, hold your hand if one of them has a fever. Just... small doses." Ha pauses as he thinks about it. "I can't promise I'll be an adult figure, but-- it may happen. Being an uncle is something I can grow into."
Another pause. There's so much to say, and everything connects to everything, it's hard to just name them as if it was a shopping list. And to think he's supposed to have a way with words. He doesn't want to overwhelm her.
"I told you my career and my family are my priorities. That will continue to be true. It doesn't mean you don't mean the world to me." He still thinks this may not work. But he'd rather try and find out, that's how he's always lived. "I want it to be your priorities too. I want you on stage. I want you to watch your kids grow - I can have you on your free days. Let Joel be the babysitter of our sex." Just kidding. Maybe. "If you get a good gig, you better fucking cancel our date if necessary."
His next request is more surprising. Not that he intends to place emphasis on his career, but that he expects her to emphasize her own as well. It’s so much the opposite of what most people in her life would say.
As for his family, she hopes that one day he might consider her a part of his family too.
“Alright,” she replies, smiling when Jaskier calls Joel the babysitter of their sex. “You have a deal with that.”
Well, she's smiling at least. Jaskier is a little worried she may say yes to everything just to get through this faster. But okay, she was wordy about her kids. Maybe it was just this one thing that needed a mere 'alright'. Gotta give her a chance.
"I understand what Joel has put you through. But if there's one quality in me that you can trust, it's loyalty. You can ask Geralt if it'll make you feel better, gods know he fucked up many a time." A little huff. Fucking bastard, he swears. "That said, I am... naturally flirty. It doesn't mean anything; it's just for fun. It won't go all the way. But that is how I speak, how I charm people. It's not something I can change."
So she'll have to learn to put up with it, he's saying. This is probably the big one, the one that will decide how the rest of the conversation will go.
"And I'm perfectly fine with you doing the same, if it pleases you. I'm not a jealous person. You can keep eye-fucking Lenny if you want," the tone in that last one is teasing. "This is what I meant by not traditional, not a husband. If we go to a party, I don't expect you to stay seated and wait to dance with me. We will dance, because I love dancing with you and showing you off, because I'll be the lucky bastard with the prettiest girl in the room. I want you to mingle and dance and laugh with friends. Dance with Perdita. Dance with Molly, she thinks you're cute. Dance with both twins at the same time. Dance with Dick-- no, actually, don't dance with Dick, he's an awful dancer."
The more emotional the talk gets, the more he needs affection to support him through it. Before he can stop himself, he takes the hand on his arm to his face to kiss her hand.
"I'm not a husband, and I'm not looking for a wife. I like my freedom, and I want you to be free too. We shall be independent together, as ironic as it sounds."
Midge smiles as he goes on, though she rolls her eyes when Jaskier mentions eye-fucking Lenny. The smile turns to a grin when he kisses her hand.
“I don’t mind flirting or dancing. That’s who you are, and I wouldn’t want to change that.” Her smile fades a little bit. “The only thing I ask is that you don’t sleep with anyone else… and I know that’s a big ask, but with what happened with Joel…”
Jaskier cheating on her would be a huge blow, one that she probably wouldn’t be able to forgive him for.
“If you want to be with someone else, I would rather that you break up with me.”
Gosh, she truly is a dream. He hopes all these easy yes won't come back to kick them in the butt later.
Knowing that this one is a big deal and how his reputation makes him look, Jaskier stops walking and takes her hand to squeeze it as he looks at her lovely eyes.
"Miriam, I promise on my lute that I won't sleep with anybody else." A nod. "It's funny you say that, because that's another thing I had in mind--" He chuckles. "If this ever stops working for you, break up with me. Don't become the resentful woman stuck in a relationship. Again: I'm not looking for a wife. Just love." A wink. "And your amazing tits, I guess."
He doesn't know how long they'll last, but as long as they're together, he wants it to be good.
"There's something I wanted to mention--" He puts both his hands up, very defensive, which means now his boots are hanging between you. "I know it's a no already. This is not an ask. Just... a reminder. Some couples have a relationship, but agree to have some fun on the side. They call it 'to be open'. It's not for you, I know. But if you ever change your mind, because you're young and you'll see the world someday, if it's just a tiny curiosity... then please know you can come to me. With that, or anything else. If you want to explore something, there's a high chance I want to explore it too. I've seen things. I promise you, you'll never get weirder than myself."
Alright, time for another deep breath. The other big one.
"Which takes us to..." He rubs his forehead. "I'm still a queer man. You haven't fixed me." He sounds irritated by that idea. It's not her fault; it's not his intention to accuse her of anything. Just issues in the community that can get on his nerves. "If I'm not sleeping with men anymore, that means you'll have to take care of all my needs." He waggles his eyebrows. Making a joke about tits is a little thing, but he isn't about to get detailed about gay sex. "It doesn't have to be today, or next week. But it'll have to happen."
“I’m pretty sure that all I want is you,” Midge says, “but, we don’t know what the future holds. I’ll keep it in mind.” Depending on how long they’re together, there’s always a chance that Midge might change her mind somewhere down the line.
His last request makes her blush. God, he’s still able to make her blush with stuff like that. “You mean… like we did a few weeks ago? I liked watching you, and I think we can work up to me doing that to you. I want to satisfy you in bed.” He’s not asking her to do anything that she’s necessarily uncomfortable with. Just unfamiliar with. Midge kisses his cheek. “There’s nothing about you to fix. You aren’t broken.” Jaskier is a unique man. Most people wouldn’t understand her attraction to him, but they don’t have to understand it.
She supposes it’s her turn. She has one last request for him. “I need you to please respect my family and my religion. We can try again with my family, and at some point we need to discuss why you think they treat me badly. You may not ever see eye to eye with them, but they love me and they want the best for me.” Midge takes his hand. “Yes, they’re irritating. Wait until you meet Joel’s family. That’s another thing. Joel is part of my life, whether we like it or not. I expect all of them to respect you as well. You’re my choice, and it’s unfortunate if it makes them unhappy. They can deal with it or they can lose me — and my kids.”
She stops to take a few breaths before continuing. “I do not expect you to convert to Judaism or to participate in that part of my life. It seems as though religion was used to make you feel ashamed. As a practicing Jew, I can’t stand here and say that Judaism never makes you feel ashamed, but it’s never about who you are as a person, the sort of things that you can’t change. Maybe one day you’ll let me share some of the basic beliefs with you, again, with no expectation of conversion. I just ask that you respect it. That’s all.”
"Yes, like that. You're still so cute when you blush." He sounds amused. "With your hand, or a toy, or something we can share." Ok, he thought he didn't want to give details, but she asked, so it's only fair. His whole body shivers when she kisses his cheek, and his skin burns for more. But it's a good thing that she kept it chaste; it's obvious they still have things to discuss. And knowing them? Anything would distract them. A little smile-- "Thank you, darling."
He allows himself to call her that after the kiss. Things are going well, after all. Her hand goes back to his arm and they can start walking again. There's something left and--
Yep. There we go. Jaskier closes his eyes, pays attention to her every word but also lets the sound of the waves take over him. He'll need the patience.
"Thanks for bringing the subject up. Because I wanted to touch it, too, yet I kept thinking that every way to approach it made me sound like a jerk. Your family and Joel..." A little sigh. "Small doses." Like he said with the kids. "I promise I won't start fights. I won't taunt Joel. But if they say something first, I won't stay silent, Midge. I refuse to be subdued in my private life. I'm sorry, but arguments are going to happen."
The fact that she says they can lose her if they don't respect him, though - that's huge. It makes Jaskier's chest warm and his heart skip a beat. Damn, girl. He's dying to kiss her now.
"As for religion..." Oh, dear. "I won't make fun of you. I won't stop you from practicing. If there's an event, like a wedding or some holiday dinner, then you can count on me to share your special moment. But I won't pray, and I won't go to the temple with the family on the weekends. That's not negotiable either." Never about who they are as a person? He doubts that - he doesn't trust an institution that doesn't let women be rabbis, too. But he keeps that to himself. "I'm going to pass on the beliefs for now. But I'll keep it in mind." He mirrors the answer she gave him about open relationships. Can't hurt to be a little accommodating.
She nods, knowing that it will be rocky between Jaskier and her family. All she can hope for is that with time, they will all come to be able to at least tolerate each other.
“That’s fair. That’s all I ask for. You can make fun of religion a little. I make fun of it. No religion is perfect. Jews will be the first people to tell you that.”
They stop in the sand, Midge looking up into his eyes with a bright sparkle in hers and a tiny smile on her lips.
“Is that all of our terms? I mean, other than the fact that I expect you to lavish me with gifts, but that’s just a given.” She’s teasing. Or is she? “How should we seal this pact, my darling bard?”
Is that all of their terms? Jaskier stops to think about that for a second while laughing about the gift comment.
"I do like taking care of you, to be fair." He drops the boots so he can gently grab her hand in both of his.
"I just... want you to review everything we just discussed one last time in your mind. Because I was already terrified to do this, and you saying yes to everything so easily has me on the fucking edge." His tone isn't aggressive, more like nervous. "I live my life day by day. I don't plan much. I can't promise marriage at all, and living together may be possible yet far in the future. Like I said, we have careers to figure out. I will be there for you at 3 am when Joel is being an arshole, but I also may wake up tomorrow and leave for a week with Geralt. Or mayhaps I didn't hear your text because I'm sleeping at noon after drinking late with the band. I like fucking off when I feel like it, so I may miss something."
They haven't discussed Geralt, he realizes now. And hey, after the shit the Countess gave him for it, Jaskier isn't complaining. It's just strange how this world has a different perception of many things.
"Independence and freedom. That's what I'm about, and I expect you to have those things too. So..." He smiles more widely now. "Review the list. And if you truly don't mind at all, then-- you've earned yourself a boyfriend, my witty lady."
“All I ask is that if you fuck off, you tell me so I don’t worry about you. Communication is important in relationships. I want you to talk to me about anything.”
She thinks she can live with those terms. Maybe it will be too much ‘freedom’ for her to be comfortable, but only time will tell. Midge is willing to give this a try, because she’s miserable without him in her life.
“I don’t mind your terms, because I love you, Jaskier.” It feels so good to be able to say it to him out loud and not worry that he’ll freak out and run away. To seal their deal, Midge presses her lips to his, kissing him deeply.
Now presenting Miriam, the Viscountess de Lettenhove!
"That's fair. I'll let you know when I leave. But please keep in mind what I said about muting the device during hunts."
He gasps when she says she loves him - even if he technically knew, he wasn't expecting it so soon. Before he can answer, Midge is kissing him. Well then, don't mind if he does! He wraps his arms around her and kisses her back hungrily, pressing her body against his.
Where she belongs.
His whole body is on fire, and he only breaks it when a passerby yells at them. Jaskier gives him the finger - a gesture he's learned here. He still prefers to use his words, but he can't deny how useful the gesture can be for moments like this, where he only has eyes and words for the woman in his arms.
"I love you too," he finally confesses while rubbing his nose against hers. "Fuck, I missed you so much. Last week has been hell. I hope I didn't get you in too much trouble with your family. Or Leah." Another little gasp. "Pleae tell me we can get one room at the wedding without your father getting a heart attack."
She laughs when he gives that person the finger. Somehow, that seems like the perfect start to this relationship. Midge feels giddy, not wanting to ever let Jaskier go again. Hearing him tell her that he loves her makes her feel like she’s going to fly off into the clouds.
“I missed you too. I always want you in my life,” she says. “My parents knew we had a fight, though I didn’t tell Leah.” She and her cousin aren’t close. “We will have a room together at the wedding because we’re going together as a couple. Are you ready to cause a sensation?”
Midge knows they will, but she doesn’t care. If they’re going to do this, they’re diving in head first.
It is indeed the perfect way to start their relationship because Midge's laughing, and Jaskier loves making her happy like this. Her laughter is the sweetest music.
"You have me, dear." He won't say always. He won't make promises he isn't sure he can keep. But he plans to make her happy for as long as possible.
'A fight' is vague enough, he hopes, for her parents not to give him too much crap or feel too smug. It's not unusual for two people to have a fight; it happens.
"Oh, sweetheart, you know I'm always ready to scandalize a bunch of geezers," Jaskier replies with a grin so wide it could split his face. "I'm going to throw you in the sea and kiss the salt off your tongue while your cousins watch. Hopefully, they get some inspiration for their marriages."
She giggles. Midge is actually looking forward to the wedding now.
“The only place I want you to throw me right now is a bed,” she says before kissing him again. “Do you think you can behave yourself until we get to the apartment?”
It’s a long ride back, but they’ll be assured complete privacy there. Surely Jaskier is as horny for her as she is for him.
"You can't ask me to behave when you keep kissing me like that," he teases her. Indeed, he's pretty fucking horny right now. He kisses her again as he picks her up by her waist, doing a whirl while laughing against her lovely mouth.
When he puts her down, he's in a different spot from where he started, and he has a perfect view of the fair. His eyes widen as he gets an idea.
"Before we leave..." He points at the Ferris Wheel. "What do you think? Just one ride. To start this with a mini-date - I need to make up for my lousy first confession with some romance."
"Aww, where is the fun in that?" He's pouting, but he changes it to a big smile when she laces their fingers together. He raises their hands to kiss her knuckles before dropping them again so they can start making their way back.
A nod. "Shortly after we arrived, we were really curious about all the machines, so the family did a little trip. It was scary as fuck but also lots of fun. Ciri and I managed to get a gondola of our own so Geralt and Yennefer could be alone. It was very sweet. And the view! I've been on the coast all my life, Midge, but I never got to see it like that. It was amazing." A chuckle. "Geralt won prizes for everyone, too. The game masters weren't very happy with him."
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The apology is unexpected and it throws Jaskier for a second. Fuck, how can she always be so sweet? He takes a deep breath.
"Never apologize for loving," he replies as he asks his heart to calm down. "I'm sorry I made you cry." There's a pause before he bursts out, "You told Geralt I wanted you for sex."
Well. He did warn her he was a bitch.
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“I was angry and feeling bitter,” she replies. “He pointed out all of the time we spent together not having sex, the things that we shared with each other. I know it wasn’t just sex, and I’m sorry that I said that.”
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He hasn't forgotten that he had to put up with his and Yennefer's bullshit for years.
Silence follows them for a moment. Jaskier looks at the sea - not because he refuses to look at her (how could he?) but because he knows that if he does, he'll surrender to her sad eyes.
Also, he may be scared.
Just a little.
Okay, a lot.
"I missed you. Terribly," he finally says with a broken voice. "This week apart made me realize how much I need you in my life."
He takes another deep breath.
"I'm willing to try. A relationship, I mean. Exclusivity. But it wouldn't be what you know. It wouldn't be traditional. I am not a husband. So there's a lot to discuss. To reach... compromise."
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She’s dumbfounded for a moment, the sound of waves crashing and seagulls calling taking over. “You… really? You don’t have to marry me, Jaskier. I wasn’t expecting a proposal.”
Midge moves closer to him, standing in the surf as the cold water rushes over her feet. She lets out a little yelp, then a laugh at the temperature of it. “That’s cold! Sorry. Momentary distraction. Tell me what you want.”
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It is a good distraction, at least. It gets rid of some of the tension.
Jaskier loathes the cold, but being a beach boy and having camped outside during chilly Autumns mean his tolerance has grown since he was a brat napping by the hearth. He offers his arm to Midge, because he can't take it anymore. "You are not being smooth, you know. You just had to ask." He's teasing to cover his need.
For the next few steps, he just enjoys having her close again.
Welp. Here goes nothing.
"You said the same thing in the club. Marriage, proposal. That's what worried me - you're missing the point. It's not about the ring and the paperwork. It's about the man's role. It's about being the provider and changing diapers." He kicks a shell in the sand. "Actually, that's a good place to start. I don't want kids. That one is not negotiable."
He isn't sure if this relationship will even make it that far, but better put it all out now.
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No kids is an easy agreement for her. “I have enough kids,” Midge agrees, “and they have a father.” Meaning that she doesn’t expect him to be one to them. “In time though, I’d hope that you would like to meet them. Maybe you can be an adult figure for them like you are for Ciri. Slowly. If you want to.” She’s not going to push him regarding her kids right now.
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Another pause. There's so much to say, and everything connects to everything, it's hard to just name them as if it was a shopping list. And to think he's supposed to have a way with words. He doesn't want to overwhelm her.
"I told you my career and my family are my priorities. That will continue to be true. It doesn't mean you don't mean the world to me." He still thinks this may not work. But he'd rather try and find out, that's how he's always lived. "I want it to be your priorities too. I want you on stage. I want you to watch your kids grow - I can have you on your free days. Let Joel be the babysitter of our sex." Just kidding. Maybe. "If you get a good gig, you better fucking cancel our date if necessary."
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His next request is more surprising. Not that he intends to place emphasis on his career, but that he expects her to emphasize her own as well. It’s so much the opposite of what most people in her life would say.
As for his family, she hopes that one day he might consider her a part of his family too.
“Alright,” she replies, smiling when Jaskier calls Joel the babysitter of their sex. “You have a deal with that.”
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"I understand what Joel has put you through. But if there's one quality in me that you can trust, it's loyalty. You can ask Geralt if it'll make you feel better, gods know he fucked up many a time." A little huff. Fucking bastard, he swears. "That said, I am... naturally flirty. It doesn't mean anything; it's just for fun. It won't go all the way. But that is how I speak, how I charm people. It's not something I can change."
So she'll have to learn to put up with it, he's saying. This is probably the big one, the one that will decide how the rest of the conversation will go.
"And I'm perfectly fine with you doing the same, if it pleases you. I'm not a jealous person. You can keep eye-fucking Lenny if you want," the tone in that last one is teasing. "This is what I meant by not traditional, not a husband. If we go to a party, I don't expect you to stay seated and wait to dance with me. We will dance, because I love dancing with you and showing you off, because I'll be the lucky bastard with the prettiest girl in the room. I want you to mingle and dance and laugh with friends. Dance with Perdita. Dance with Molly, she thinks you're cute. Dance with both twins at the same time. Dance with Dick-- no, actually, don't dance with Dick, he's an awful dancer."
The more emotional the talk gets, the more he needs affection to support him through it. Before he can stop himself, he takes the hand on his arm to his face to kiss her hand.
"I'm not a husband, and I'm not looking for a wife. I like my freedom, and I want you to be free too. We shall be independent together, as ironic as it sounds."
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“I don’t mind flirting or dancing. That’s who you are, and I wouldn’t want to change that.” Her smile fades a little bit. “The only thing I ask is that you don’t sleep with anyone else… and I know that’s a big ask, but with what happened with Joel…”
Jaskier cheating on her would be a huge blow, one that she probably wouldn’t be able to forgive him for.
“If you want to be with someone else, I would rather that you break up with me.”
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Knowing that this one is a big deal and how his reputation makes him look, Jaskier stops walking and takes her hand to squeeze it as he looks at her lovely eyes.
"Miriam, I promise on my lute that I won't sleep with anybody else." A nod. "It's funny you say that, because that's another thing I had in mind--" He chuckles. "If this ever stops working for you, break up with me. Don't become the resentful woman stuck in a relationship. Again: I'm not looking for a wife. Just love." A wink. "And your amazing tits, I guess."
He doesn't know how long they'll last, but as long as they're together, he wants it to be good.
"There's something I wanted to mention--" He puts both his hands up, very defensive, which means now his boots are hanging between you. "I know it's a no already. This is not an ask. Just... a reminder. Some couples have a relationship, but agree to have some fun on the side. They call it 'to be open'. It's not for you, I know. But if you ever change your mind, because you're young and you'll see the world someday, if it's just a tiny curiosity... then please know you can come to me. With that, or anything else. If you want to explore something, there's a high chance I want to explore it too. I've seen things. I promise you, you'll never get weirder than myself."
Alright, time for another deep breath. The other big one.
"Which takes us to..." He rubs his forehead. "I'm still a queer man. You haven't fixed me." He sounds irritated by that idea. It's not her fault; it's not his intention to accuse her of anything. Just issues in the community that can get on his nerves. "If I'm not sleeping with men anymore, that means you'll have to take care of all my needs." He waggles his eyebrows. Making a joke about tits is a little thing, but he isn't about to get detailed about gay sex. "It doesn't have to be today, or next week. But it'll have to happen."
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His last request makes her blush. God, he’s still able to make her blush with stuff like that. “You mean… like we did a few weeks ago? I liked watching you, and I think we can work up to me doing that to you. I want to satisfy you in bed.” He’s not asking her to do anything that she’s necessarily uncomfortable with. Just unfamiliar with. Midge kisses his cheek. “There’s nothing about you to fix. You aren’t broken.” Jaskier is a unique man. Most people wouldn’t understand her attraction to him, but they don’t have to understand it.
She supposes it’s her turn. She has one last request for him. “I need you to please respect my family and my religion. We can try again with my family, and at some point we need to discuss why you think they treat me badly. You may not ever see eye to eye with them, but they love me and they want the best for me.” Midge takes his hand. “Yes, they’re irritating. Wait until you meet Joel’s family. That’s another thing. Joel is part of my life, whether we like it or not. I expect all of them to respect you as well. You’re my choice, and it’s unfortunate if it makes them unhappy. They can deal with it or they can lose me — and my kids.”
She stops to take a few breaths before continuing. “I do not expect you to convert to Judaism or to participate in that part of my life. It seems as though religion was used to make you feel ashamed. As a practicing Jew, I can’t stand here and say that Judaism never makes you feel ashamed, but it’s never about who you are as a person, the sort of things that you can’t change. Maybe one day you’ll let me share some of the basic beliefs with you, again, with no expectation of conversion. I just ask that you respect it. That’s all.”
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He allows himself to call her that after the kiss. Things are going well, after all. Her hand goes back to his arm and they can start walking again. There's something left and--
Yep. There we go. Jaskier closes his eyes, pays attention to her every word but also lets the sound of the waves take over him. He'll need the patience.
"Thanks for bringing the subject up. Because I wanted to touch it, too, yet I kept thinking that every way to approach it made me sound like a jerk. Your family and Joel..." A little sigh. "Small doses." Like he said with the kids. "I promise I won't start fights. I won't taunt Joel. But if they say something first, I won't stay silent, Midge. I refuse to be subdued in my private life. I'm sorry, but arguments are going to happen."
The fact that she says they can lose her if they don't respect him, though - that's huge. It makes Jaskier's chest warm and his heart skip a beat. Damn, girl. He's dying to kiss her now.
"As for religion..." Oh, dear. "I won't make fun of you. I won't stop you from practicing. If there's an event, like a wedding or some holiday dinner, then you can count on me to share your special moment. But I won't pray, and I won't go to the temple with the family on the weekends. That's not negotiable either." Never about who they are as a person? He doubts that - he doesn't trust an institution that doesn't let women be rabbis, too. But he keeps that to himself. "I'm going to pass on the beliefs for now. But I'll keep it in mind." He mirrors the answer she gave him about open relationships. Can't hurt to be a little accommodating.
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“That’s fair. That’s all I ask for. You can make fun of religion a little. I make fun of it. No religion is perfect. Jews will be the first people to tell you that.”
They stop in the sand, Midge looking up into his eyes with a bright sparkle in hers and a tiny smile on her lips.
“Is that all of our terms? I mean, other than the fact that I expect you to lavish me with gifts, but that’s just a given.” She’s teasing. Or is she? “How should we seal this pact, my darling bard?”
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"I do like taking care of you, to be fair." He drops the boots so he can gently grab her hand in both of his.
"I just... want you to review everything we just discussed one last time in your mind. Because I was already terrified to do this, and you saying yes to everything so easily has me on the fucking edge." His tone isn't aggressive, more like nervous. "I live my life day by day. I don't plan much. I can't promise marriage at all, and living together may be possible yet far in the future. Like I said, we have careers to figure out. I will be there for you at 3 am when Joel is being an arshole, but I also may wake up tomorrow and leave for a week with Geralt. Or mayhaps I didn't hear your text because I'm sleeping at noon after drinking late with the band. I like fucking off when I feel like it, so I may miss something."
They haven't discussed Geralt, he realizes now. And hey, after the shit the Countess gave him for it, Jaskier isn't complaining. It's just strange how this world has a different perception of many things.
"Independence and freedom. That's what I'm about, and I expect you to have those things too. So..." He smiles more widely now. "Review the list. And if you truly don't mind at all, then-- you've earned yourself a boyfriend, my witty lady."
She's got the Viscount!no subject
She thinks she can live with those terms. Maybe it will be too much ‘freedom’ for her to be comfortable, but only time will tell. Midge is willing to give this a try, because she’s miserable without him in her life.
“I don’t mind your terms, because I love you, Jaskier.” It feels so good to be able to say it to him out loud and not worry that he’ll freak out and run away. To seal their deal, Midge presses her lips to his, kissing him deeply.
Now presenting Miriam, the Viscountess de Lettenhove!no subject
He gasps when she says she loves him - even if he technically knew, he wasn't expecting it so soon. Before he can answer, Midge is kissing him. Well then, don't mind if he does! He wraps his arms around her and kisses her back hungrily, pressing her body against his.
Where she belongs.
His whole body is on fire, and he only breaks it when a passerby yells at them. Jaskier gives him the finger - a gesture he's learned here. He still prefers to use his words, but he can't deny how useful the gesture can be for moments like this, where he only has eyes and words for the woman in his arms.
"I love you too," he finally confesses while rubbing his nose against hers. "Fuck, I missed you so much. Last week has been hell. I hope I didn't get you in too much trouble with your family. Or Leah." Another little gasp. "Pleae tell me we can get one room at the wedding without your father getting a heart attack."
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“I missed you too. I always want you in my life,” she says. “My parents knew we had a fight, though I didn’t tell Leah.” She and her cousin aren’t close. “We will have a room together at the wedding because we’re going together as a couple. Are you ready to cause a sensation?”
Midge knows they will, but she doesn’t care. If they’re going to do this, they’re diving in head first.
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"You have me, dear." He won't say always. He won't make promises he isn't sure he can keep. But he plans to make her happy for as long as possible.
'A fight' is vague enough, he hopes, for her parents not to give him too much crap or feel too smug. It's not unusual for two people to have a fight; it happens.
"Oh, sweetheart, you know I'm always ready to scandalize a bunch of geezers," Jaskier replies with a grin so wide it could split his face. "I'm going to throw you in the sea and kiss the salt off your tongue while your cousins watch. Hopefully, they get some inspiration for their marriages."
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“The only place I want you to throw me right now is a bed,” she says before kissing him again. “Do you think you can behave yourself until we get to the apartment?”
It’s a long ride back, but they’ll be assured complete privacy there. Surely Jaskier is as horny for her as she is for him.
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When he puts her down, he's in a different spot from where he started, and he has a perfect view of the fair. His eyes widen as he gets an idea.
"Before we leave..." He points at the Ferris Wheel. "What do you think? Just one ride. To start this with a mini-date - I need to make up for my lousy first confession with some romance."
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“Alright,” she says, “but you’re going to have to be a gentleman on the ride and keep your hands to yourself.”
Midge slips her hand in his, lacing their fingers together as they walk back up the sand to the boardwalk.
“Ever been on a ride like this?” she asks.
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A nod. "Shortly after we arrived, we were really curious about all the machines, so the family did a little trip. It was scary as fuck but also lots of fun. Ciri and I managed to get a gondola of our own so Geralt and Yennefer could be alone. It was very sweet. And the view! I've been on the coast all my life, Midge, but I never got to see it like that. It was amazing." A chuckle. "Geralt won prizes for everyone, too. The game masters weren't very happy with him."