“Definitely not. Tickets to our show are $10 a pop.”
Thank God the man just leaves. Midge wasn’t really in the mood to deal with him. Despite the fact that another seat has opened up, she stays in Jaskier’s lap.
“That was a very quick response,” Midge says to Ciri. She can’t help but admire that.
After a moment, she turns to Jaskier. “People probably would pay to watch us fuck.”
"They absolutely would," Jaskier agrees with a nod, his arms tightening around her. She obviously doesn't have any intentions to move, but still. "We should probably charge a little more, though. After all, we are the two hottest and most talented people in this city."
"Ugh, don't make me regret defending you," Ciri says. She stares at the empty seat and considers putting space between them, but another person takes it. The man keeps glancing at them, maybe considering buying tickets for this imaginary show.
"It was perfect, darling," Jaskier replies on their way to the house before kissing her cheek. "You're a very good guide."
"Yes! It was so much fun! Thank you, Midge." Ciri's big smile makes the encounter in the subway worth the hassle. It's been a great day.
When they enter the house, Ciri announces we're hooooome before rushing to the kitchen to put the pie in the fridge. Jaskier wants to take Midge to his room to relax a bit before dinner, but her suitcase is right by the kitchen door where Yennefer left it earlier. They follow Ciri and find Geralt smiling at her as he listens to her sharing all the cool things she did today. The fondness in his eyes is clear.
When he hears Jaskier and Midge enter the kitchen too, he nods at the counter where the brisket is waiting.
Geralt nods in agreement and takes out his best kitchen knife, which he hands to Midge before telling Ciri to set up the table. Jaskier goes upstairs to drop the gift bag and Midge's suitcase in his room. When he returns, he's gotten rid of his jacket and is telling Yennefer what happened in the subway.
She approaches Ciri and gently pets her head. "Jaskier tells me you stood your ground. Good job."
As Ciris smiles proudly, Geralt turns around with concern on his face. Jaskier recognizes the expression and answers before he can even ask, while filling the glasses with the wine Midge brought. "No fighting. Just arguing with a dimwit."
Geralt sighs. "Just ignore the public comments." The three members of his family immediately protest against the idea.
Midge cuts the meat into slices and listens with interest to the conversation the others are having.
“If he had heckled me on stage, I wouldn’t have hesitated to take him down verbally,” she says.
But, people can be crazy in real life. Geralt and his family know how to fight. Midge does not. She would be relatively defenseless if someone attacked her.
"Don't get me started on hecklers," Geralt growls as he gives Jaskier a look.
"Ooooh nononono," Jaskier replies as he shakes the wine bottle instead of his finger. "We're not having this argument again."
Geralt shakes his head and takes the casserole dish to the table, together with some bread. He sits next to Yennefer on one side, and Jaskie sits across from them. Usually, Ciri sits next to him, but today she leaves that seat for Midge and goes to the head of the table instead. It's kinda fitting, considering she's a princess. She gets a little bit of wine for the toast, but there's a jar of fresh juice for her.
Jaskier raises his glass and decides to get creative. "I wish thee health, I wish thee wealth, I wish thee gold in store, I wish thee heaven upon earth—What could I wish thee more?"
"That's just the latest one," Geralt explains. "There are twenty years of stories about hecklers."
"And over half of those were defending you as well," Jaskier tells Geralt. "You're welcome, by the way."
'To life' is actually a nice sentiment, so the family repeats it in English before finally digging in. Geralt serves Midge's plate first because he does have some manners, followed by Ciri, Yen, Jaskier, and finally himself. Always thinking of others.
Just two bites are needed for the compliments to come in. Ciri is, of course, more talkative than her parents, but a mere 'this is really good' is still very high praise coming from Geralt's introvert ways and Yennefer's high standards.
“Yes, Jaskier has told me that your profession made you something of a pariah back home,” Midge says to Geralt, then thanks him for serving her. “People weren’t happy that you did a necessary job?”
The compliments make Midge grin and feel her usual sense of pride at a job well done. “Thank you,” she tells them. “When my ex-husband was still trying to have a stand up career, I used to have to make this in order to bribe the stage manager to let him on stage.”
Assuming Midge told Jaskier this during one of their many texting days, lmk if I should change it
It's Yennefer who answers. "It isn't that much different here, now is it? They want the garbage men and the cleaning ladies to do their jobs and stay out of sight. Too dirty to share the table with." Of course, the treatment of witchers was much worse than that. But Yennefer finds Midge's observation peculiar when this world can behave similarly sometimes.
The story about Joel trying stand-up leaves everyone surprised. Jaskier told them only the basics: her ex fucked her over and it triggered her career. So hearing that Joel did stand-up first makes for a strange situation that makes them wonder exactly what was happening in that marriage.
"He must've sucked, then," Geralt answers without hesitation, and Jaskier throws his head back to laugh.
“You’re exactly right,” Midge says to Yennefer. “I was going to say exterminators, but they’re all similar jobs, the type that someone has to do, but that person is still looked down upon by society.”
She cracks up at Geralt’s blunt assessment of Joel’s comedy career. “He did. He stole jokes from Bob Hope, delivered them poorly and thought no one would notice.”
"Like whores," Jaskier adds, and for once, Ciri doesn't make a face. She's learned that the working ladies were all that Geralt had for many years, and honestly, it's just sad.
Everyone makes disapproving noises after hearing that Joel stole jokes, but the food is still leaving their plates at a very decent pace. It truly tastes great.
"Every new thing I hear about him makes him worse," Yennefer tells Midge. "Are you sure you don't want me to curse him?"
Midge sighs. “That will probably cause more problems than solve them, unless it’s a very subtle curse. Anything serious might get traced back to you, and I wouldn’t want any trouble for you.” Joel knows about Jaskier, and he might eventually put two and two together, that Jaskier knows people who know magic. “I appreciate the offer very much though. Cursing my ex-husband sounds fantastic.”
She turns her eyes to Jaskier, then leans over to kiss his cheek. “Maybe Jaskier will just tell him off one day.”
Jaskier blinks at her in surprise. "You made me promise I wouldn't bother or pick up fights with him and your family anymore!"
His family immediately snorts and makes various teasing comments, clearly not believing that Jaskier will be able to keep certain opinions to himself for long.
“Yes, I did, but I won’t be surprised if he pisses you off one day to the point where you can’t help yourself.”
And, yeah, she knows Jaskier. Eventually, he will probably get into it with her family. She’s not looking forward to it, but hopefully it won’t be over anything that causes a permanent rift.
Midge wonders if his family can tell how much he means to her just by the way she looks at him.
Don't worry, Midge, Geralt can definitely smell it.
The family doesn't hesitate to agree with Midge, because that sounds exactly like Jaskier, who is currently pouting.
"Wow. Just wow. So that's how it is?" He waves his fork at everyone. "I'm allowed to bring her over just so you have someone else on your team against me?"
Geralt just hums, Yennefer smiles behind her wine glass, and Ciri giggles.
Sorry to be a constant assault on Geralt’s senses. It’s just love. And horniness.
“Exactly,” Midge confirms, before giving his cheek another kiss. “We love to antagonize you.” She gently pats his thigh, her fingers curling around to the inner part of it.
While Ciri rushes to get her stuff, Jaskier engages in his favorite sport: babbling for a long while about his day while the others just listen. At least today he has Midge to help him tell the story.
Yennefer likes Ciri's brooch a lot and is very curious about the pretty things they saw.
"And I suppose it was very hard to bring souvenirs for everyone?"
Jaskier snorts. "Only good people who leave the house to socialize get souvenirs." He gasps as he remembers something. He reaches in his back pocket for the flyer and hands it to Geralt. "That goes for you, too."
"My brooch would be too much color for her black soul." He's teasing with his choice of words, but he waves his fork to indicate Yennefer's black clothes. She never wears anything else.
Yennefer ignores Jaskier and leans over Geralt's arm to read the flyer too. Geralt is just staring at the piece of paper, his face apparently blank - those who know him can tell he's half baffled, half confused.
"It does sound fitting for you," Yennefer says before going back to her meal.
"I guess..." Geralt still sounds hesitant.
"They want you to tell them about birds from our world," Ciri adds. "And you do want to educate people about monsters, right?"
After a pause, Geralt sighs. "It won't hurt to check them out."
Jaskier and Ciri grin and share a high-five, which makes Geralt shake his head. Ah, family.
Midge grins. That’s actually really sweet that Ciri and Jaskier found something that Geralt might actually be interested in. “Good work, team,” she tells the two of them.
“Jaskier said that you found a coven,” Midge says to Yennefer. “New York really does have everything.”
It has a lot of Otherworlders. It makes sense that they’re forming groups to support each other.
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Thank God the man just leaves. Midge wasn’t really in the mood to deal with him. Despite the fact that another seat has opened up, she stays in Jaskier’s lap.
“That was a very quick response,” Midge says to Ciri. She can’t help but admire that.
After a moment, she turns to Jaskier. “People probably would pay to watch us fuck.”
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"Ugh, don't make me regret defending you," Ciri says. She stares at the empty seat and considers putting space between them, but another person takes it. The man keeps glancing at them, maybe considering buying tickets for this imaginary show.
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The rest of the train ride home is uneventful and the three of them disembark at the station closest to the house.
“Did you guys have fun today?” Midge asks.
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"Yes! It was so much fun! Thank you, Midge." Ciri's big smile makes the encounter in the subway worth the hassle. It's been a great day.
When they enter the house, Ciri announces we're hooooome before rushing to the kitchen to put the pie in the fridge. Jaskier wants to take Midge to his room to relax a bit before dinner, but her suitcase is right by the kitchen door where Yennefer left it earlier. They follow Ciri and find Geralt smiling at her as he listens to her sharing all the cool things she did today. The fondness in his eyes is clear.
When he hears Jaskier and Midge enter the kitchen too, he nods at the counter where the brisket is waiting.
"Just took it out. I think it's ready."
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It smells wonderful in the house. Midge checks the meat and nods. “Yep. Just need to slice it.”
Sorry, Jaskier. No quickie for you.
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She approaches Ciri and gently pets her head. "Jaskier tells me you stood your ground. Good job."
As Ciris smiles proudly, Geralt turns around with concern on his face. Jaskier recognizes the expression and answers before he can even ask, while filling the glasses with the wine Midge brought. "No fighting. Just arguing with a dimwit."
Geralt sighs. "Just ignore the public comments." The three members of his family immediately protest against the idea.
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“If he had heckled me on stage, I wouldn’t have hesitated to take him down verbally,” she says.
But, people can be crazy in real life. Geralt and his family know how to fight. Midge does not. She would be relatively defenseless if someone attacked her.
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"Ooooh nononono," Jaskier replies as he shakes the wine bottle instead of his finger. "We're not having this argument again."
Geralt shakes his head and takes the casserole dish to the table, together with some bread. He sits next to Yennefer on one side, and Jaskie sits across from them. Usually, Ciri sits next to him, but today she leaves that seat for Midge and goes to the head of the table instead. It's kinda fitting, considering she's a princess. She gets a little bit of wine for the toast, but there's a jar of fresh juice for her.
Jaskier raises his glass and decides to get creative. "I wish thee health, I wish thee wealth, I wish thee gold in store, I wish thee heaven upon earth—What could I wish thee more?"
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She raises her glass for the toast and adds her own on the end of it. “ L'chaim. That’s a Jewish toast. It’s Hebrew for ‘to life’.”
Midge lets the others help themselves to food first, wanting to see their reactions when they try her brisket.
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"And over half of those were defending you as well," Jaskier tells Geralt. "You're welcome, by the way."
'To life' is actually a nice sentiment, so the family repeats it in English before finally digging in. Geralt serves Midge's plate first because he does have some manners, followed by Ciri, Yen, Jaskier, and finally himself. Always thinking of others.
Just two bites are needed for the compliments to come in. Ciri is, of course, more talkative than her parents, but a mere 'this is really good' is still very high praise coming from Geralt's introvert ways and Yennefer's high standards.
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The compliments make Midge grin and feel her usual sense of pride at a job well done. “Thank you,” she tells them. “When my ex-husband was still trying to have a stand up career, I used to have to make this in order to bribe the stage manager to let him on stage.”
Assuming Midge told Jaskier this during one of their many texting days, lmk if I should change it
The story about Joel trying stand-up leaves everyone surprised. Jaskier told them only the basics: her ex fucked her over and it triggered her career. So hearing that Joel did stand-up first makes for a strange situation that makes them wonder exactly what was happening in that marriage.
"He must've sucked, then," Geralt answers without hesitation, and Jaskier throws his head back to laugh.
works for me!
She cracks up at Geralt’s blunt assessment of Joel’s comedy career. “He did. He stole jokes from Bob Hope, delivered them poorly and thought no one would notice.”
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Everyone makes disapproving noises after hearing that Joel stole jokes, but the food is still leaving their plates at a very decent pace. It truly tastes great.
"Every new thing I hear about him makes him worse," Yennefer tells Midge. "Are you sure you don't want me to curse him?"
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She turns her eyes to Jaskier, then leans over to kiss his cheek. “Maybe Jaskier will just tell him off one day.”
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His family immediately snorts and makes various teasing comments, clearly not believing that Jaskier will be able to keep certain opinions to himself for long.
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And, yeah, she knows Jaskier. Eventually, he will probably get into it with her family. She’s not looking forward to it, but hopefully it won’t be over anything that causes a permanent rift.
Midge wonders if his family can tell how much he means to her just by the way she looks at him.
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The family doesn't hesitate to agree with Midge, because that sounds exactly like Jaskier, who is currently pouting.
"Wow. Just wow. So that's how it is?" He waves his fork at everyone. "I'm allowed to bring her over just so you have someone else on your team against me?"
Geralt just hums, Yennefer smiles behind her wine glass, and Ciri giggles.
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“Exactly,” Midge confirms, before giving his cheek another kiss. “We love to antagonize you.” She gently pats his thigh, her fingers curling around to the inner part of it.
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Geralt's nose wrinkles and he sighs. "Hands off at the table."
It's this comment that makes Ciri realize the position of Midge's arm, so she lets out a frustrated ugh as she covers her face with her hands.
"Spoilport." Jaskier sticks his tongue out at Geralt.
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“Jaskier bought us souvenirs in the gift shop at the museum,” she says, then looks at Ciri. “Did you show them what you picked out?”
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Yennefer likes Ciri's brooch a lot and is very curious about the pretty things they saw.
"And I suppose it was very hard to bring souvenirs for everyone?"
Jaskier snorts. "Only good people who leave the house to socialize get souvenirs." He gasps as he remembers something. He reaches in his back pocket for the flyer and hands it to Geralt. "That goes for you, too."
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That was kind of rude of them to not get anything for Yennefer and Geralt. Whoops.
“You can borrow Jaskier’s peacock brooch anytime,” she says before turning to Geralt. “You family thinks you might enjoy bird watching.”
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Yennefer ignores Jaskier and leans over Geralt's arm to read the flyer too. Geralt is just staring at the piece of paper, his face apparently blank - those who know him can tell he's half baffled, half confused.
"It does sound fitting for you," Yennefer says before going back to her meal.
"I guess..." Geralt still sounds hesitant.
"They want you to tell them about birds from our world," Ciri adds. "And you do want to educate people about monsters, right?"
After a pause, Geralt sighs. "It won't hurt to check them out."
Jaskier and Ciri grin and share a high-five, which makes Geralt shake his head. Ah, family.
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“Jaskier said that you found a coven,” Midge says to Yennefer. “New York really does have everything.”
It has a lot of Otherworlders. It makes sense that they’re forming groups to support each other.
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