Work Text:
DandiTheBard -- 27
Online now
0 miles away
Bisexual
Looking for : Hookups - Friendship - Relationship
Relationship status : Single
What Makes Me Happy :
Music - Fashion - Singing - Writing - Travelling
What Else ?
Height : 6’
Hair color : Brown
Eye color : Blue
Tribe : Otter
Body type : Average
Tattoos : No
Piercing : Yes
Smoking : No
Alcohol : Yes
About yourself :
Hello !! I’m a musician in the process of recording his second studio album these days, which is both exciting and incredibly stressful.
I’m just here to have a good time. Grab a drink with me? 😘
Aaaand there.
Jaskier adds the little kissing emoji and, finally happy with the way his profile looks, flops onto the couch of his apartment.
He’d heard about this new dating app via Instagram, watching the story of an LGBTQ artist that he follows, and he wanted to see whether it truly deserved such appreciation. So far, he has to say that he really likes the way the app - which is targeted towards men - encourages them to share information about their personality, instead of just focusing on the size of their cocks. Don’t get him wrong : Jaskier used to be a Grindr aficionado, but nowadays he’d rather like to build something meaningful with someone, and he can't do that if he keeps getting spammed with dick pics all day. Ugh. At least here, he has an idea of what his match is like before they get down and dirty. And if nothing comes of this experience, then he supposes he’ll go back to Grindr or try some other app. It’s a competitive market out there, surely there’s no shortage of gay dating apps being developed. He could also go back to a bar or a nightclub to meet someone the old fashioned way, but these days he just can’t find the time or the energy to do that. It’s easier to chat someone up on his phone in between recording two songs. And if he gets lucky, he can meet them later in the evening for a date or something. It's simple, no nonsense business.
But he’s getting ahead of himself - first, let him see what the app has to offer. Jaskier goes back to the homepage and waits for the profiles to load. The interface is very similar to Tinder, and the first few swipes are so inconclusive that Jaskier finds himself ranting out loud.
“Oh for pete’s sake -- filters, really? What are we, fifteen-year old girls? No, no… Hmm. Okay, nice face, buddy, except you’ve only got one photo and I’m not feeling that - oh no, nope. Okay, that one’s not bad. Nice arms. Lovely background picture aaaand it’s a couple, no, no, thank you very much. Not what I’m looking for. Okay, again, nice photo buddy, except there are three people in it and I’ve literally no idea which one you are!”
It goes on. Jaskier starts chewing on his lips as he continues sorting through the profiles popping up on his screen. He swipes right a few times, for some guys that make him tick. His next swipe earns him a meme picture, and the one after that, a clearly photoshopped one. The guy's skin is so clear he looks like a lifeless porcelain doll. Jaskier sighs deeply. So far, this is no different than other dating apps : a bottomless pit of strangers’ faces that becomes tiring very, very quickly. It feels like a waste of time, and reminds Jaskier of why he hates dating apps in the first place. But he can't give up so quickly.
Ten minutes later, he puts down his phone and decides to go take a shower instead. Swiping on such an app is seriously mind-numbing, but it's not like he has anything better to do with his evening. Well, he does, but he really doesn't want to work again tonight. He combs his fingers through his wet hair, musing that the most interesting profile he’d seen so far had been another musician like himself. Some guy named Valdo, with the kind of smug grin and bland good looks that reminds Jaskier of high school show-offs. Valdo’s first pic showed him shirtless, staring straight at the camera under a beam of sunlight, highlighting his perfect smile and sparkling green eyes. The second one was the typical shirtless bathroom selfie, and the third one showed him - shirtless again - playing the guitar on his bed. By society’s standards, he was very attractive and he seemed to know it… yet Jaskier felt nothing but vague, distant interest for him. He wasn’t quite sure what he was looking for, but he knew it wasn’t this.
Jaskier stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his hips. He’d order takeaway for tonight, as he couldn’t be bothered to cook or do the dishes. He brushed his hair, put on his pajamas and left the bathroom. He picked up his phone again on the couch and started browsing through the leaflets he’d accumulated over the three years since he’d lived in this flat - there was the Japanese restaurant, Chinese, Vietnamese (a personnel favorite), three Italians, a burger place, etc. He called the Vietnamese and ordered a bo-bun, and busied himself with doing the pile of dishes in the sink until the driver rang. Once that was done, he took his phone again, leaned against the counter and started browsing through his Twitter feed. The notification It’s A Match ! appeared in cursive letters on top of the screen, and Jaskier clicked on it. It was Valdo, and another guy with blond hair who Jaskier had swiped right on. He sent a quick message to Valdo, not actually expecting the guy to answer, and started swiping again. Left, left, right, left, left… Oh, hello.
Big Nice Wolf -- 34
Online now
7 miles away
Looking for : Hookups - Dates - Relationship
Relationship status : Single
What Makes Me Happy :
Nature - Books - Goats - Swords - Working out
What Else ?
Height : 5’9”
Hair color : Black
Eye color : Light brown
Body type : Stocky
Tattoos : Yes
Piercing : No
Smoking : Occasionally
Alcohol : Yes
About Big Nice Wolf :
Hi there. I’m a goat farmer and, on the side, I forge things as a hobby like ye old blacksmith.
In town for a few days to help my brother move out. Hmu, who knows ? We could have a good time 👋😉
Jaskier let out a low, appreciative whistle.
The photo showed a handsome man with dark hair, a tan complexion and eyes that looked almost golden in the sunlight. He wore a simple red, short-sleeved t-shirt and a wolf medallion hung around his neck. His hair was long enough to be tied into a small ponytail, and he looked at the camera with a small grin, standing out against the backdrop of a green, flowery field. The deep, gnarled scar running down the right side of his face was an unusual, unsettling sight. Jaskier was fascinated, and the rest of the man’s pictures only served to stoke his interest. The second photo showed him actually wielding a sword, his arms raised in front of his chest as if to parry a blow. He wore a simple v-neck shirt with high-waisted trousers and you could see how broad-shouldered and muscular he was, biceps bunching beneath the flimsy fabric, buttons straining against his chest. Holy fuck, Jaskier thought. This guy should be on the cover of GQ, what the hell. The next photo made him smile - it showed the man holding a tiny goat in his arms, pressing a kiss against her forehead. It tugged at Jaskier’s heartstrings. And the fourth photo basically signed Jaskier’s death warrant : it was in black and white and showed the man posing against a doorframe, his hand on his hip. He was smiling, laughing at something someone else said, his hair curling over his forehead, dimples appearing on his cheeks. He was incredibly, incredibly handsome. Jaskier was in love and also this guy was his future husband.
He swiped right and prayed with every fiber of his being that he matched with the guy. If not, he feared he would die a brokenhearted man. Gods, that man was gorgeous. And he sounded so interesting ! If they matched and the guy replied to him, Jaskier was a goner. He just knew it.
For good measure, he swiped on a few more profiles - though all seemed bland in comparison to what he’d just seen - until the doorbell rang. Jaskier ate his dinner alone, on his couch, checking his phone periodically to see if he had a new match. More specifically, the new match, but alas, no such good news came.
He went to bed a little disappointed, but shrugged it off. Even if that one guy never replied to him, there were plenty of other fish in the sea and all that. He’d wait and see, and in the meantime - he had to keep focusing on work. That was a sound plan. He yawned and settled under the covers. The busy day caught up with him, and he drifted to sleep quickly.
He was asleep by the time his screen lit up, around 2 am, announcing a new match and soon after, a new message.
Hi ! The text read. I’m Eskel. Love your profile, would love to chat with you and get to know you better. :)
----
Jaskier’s alarm went off and he immediately slapped the snooze button with a groan. He grabbed his phone, turned it on, and proceeded to browse his social media and check his messages for the next fifteen minutes. He replied to his mom confirming that he’d see her at lunch on Friday, and promised Priscilla that he'd bring food and drink to band practice this afternoon, to which she replied with a bunch of heart eyes and kissy emojis, making him smile.
He lounged for another ten minutes before deciding to get up. A shower later and he was struggling to put together an acceptable outfit in front of his mirror; he finally settled on a pair of high waisted jeans, a white t-shirt and an oversized pink hoodie, paired with a golden hoop earring and his favorite watch. Feeling a bit more awake now, he made his bed and started on breakfast. He scrolled his phone as he ate some cereals, deliberately ignoring the two notifications he’d received from the dating app until he was done eating and all he had in front of him was a cup of coffee. Jaskier clicked on the first one.
Valdo 7:12 am
hi gorgeous ! I’m great, what about u? Any plans for the day?
Jaskier 9:36 am
Hi! Yeah, band practice this afternoon :) what about you?
The second message was from Eskel, and Jaskier grinned and fist-bumped the air. Fuck yeah ! He’d really, really wanted to match with him, and now it was happening! Fuck yes ! He nibbled on the string of his hoodie as he typed a reply.
Jaskier 9:45 am
Hi Eskel ! Call me Jaskier. Really happy to match with you. I love your profile as well, you sound interesting af, and I think you’re very handsome. 😘 how long are you staying in Oxenfurt?
Jaskier’s plans for the morning were simple ones - laundry, a bit of cleaning if he had the energy, meal prep and perhaps a bit of song writing. He’d had a melody trotting rent free in his head for the past couple days that he desperately wanted to jot down. He also needed to buy a few minor things like bread and moisturizing cream, but that could wait. He’d go tonight after band practice, there was a shop not far from his place that was open until 2am.
He went about his day, periodically checking his phone; he blasted a pop playlist Spotify on speakers while he attacked the bathroom with cleaning products, singing along to the lyrics of songs he liked and dancing through the house.
Eskel 10:33 am
Hello ahah, thank you very much. I think you’re really cute too.
I’m staying until Friday or Saturday, depends how fast we go with the moving out. One of our cousins was supposed to be there to help but he’s gone away on vacation for the week.
I live near Lullin, in the Temerian countryside. Not really used to a big city like Oxenfurt. Perhaps you could show me your favorite spots?
Jaskier 11:18
I’d love to !! When are you free? We could meet up on Thursday or Saturday (if you’re still around, which I’m hoping for eheh)
Right, you wrote that you were helping your brother - how many siblings do you have? large family?
Eskel 11:59 am
Thursday works for me! What time?
Yeah, I have two brothers. G.’s the one moving out, settling down with his fiancée in Vengerberg :) We’re the same age but he likes to say that I’ve adopted the big brother persona :P
Got any siblings?
How’s your day going so far?
Jaskier 1:13 pm
Going pretty well. Gonna leave soon for band practice. 😘
Jaskier sent a picture.
I made roasted veggies and chocolate chip cookies today. pretty happy with the cookies, look !!
I have a half-sister but we’re not very close.
Eskel 1:20 pm
😍😍 that looks delicious !
Eskel sent a picture.
I am drowning in boxes. Save me.
Jaskier 1:22 pm
No !! mean boxes !!! you’re not allowed to die before I meet you !!
Eskel 1:36 pm
Ahah, promise I won't. 😋
---
“Eskel.”
“Hmm.”
“Eskel, come on ! Put your phone down and help me with the bed. Give me the drill.”
Eskel held the headboard upright while Geralt used the drill to unscrew the nails and carefully placed the pieces in a small bowl at his side. They were in the process of dismantling the larger furniture while Yen and Triss busied themselves with packing the living room’s books and decorations into cardboard boxes.
“Who were you talkin’ to?”
“What?” Eskel said.
“You were smiling at your phone. Someone important?" Geralt asked, giving him a pointed look and a smirk.
“Oh. Nah.” Eskel shook his head and huffed. “Told you I’d downloaded a new dating app. I matched with a cute guy, but I’m really not expecting it to lead to anything. But we do have a date on Thursday.”
“Hey, that's awesome !”
“Yeah, yeah. Like I said, I’m really not getting my hopes up. He’s nice to talk to, so even if nothing happens, I’ll have enjoyed the conversation.”
“Got a picture?”
“Geralt…”
“What? Come on! You said he was cute. I'm curious.”
“Fine, but only ‘cause I know you won’t let it go until I do.” Eskel grabbed his phone on the floor, unlocked it and opened Jaskier’s profile. “Here.”
“Nice,” Geralt commented, swiping the photos. “Yeaaaaah no, he’s definitely your type. And an artist to boot! Perhaps you can both be nerds about poetry together.” He grinned and gave Eskel his phone back. “Hope it goes well.”
“Yeah, maybe. We’ll see.”
Triss appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray with two glasses of apple juice - Yen’s favorite drink. “Thirsty?”
“Yees, please, Triss, I love you,” Geralt groaned, and made grabby hands at her. She laughed prettily and put the tray on top of a chair.
“The bed not giving you too much trouble?”
“Nah,” Eskel said. “Think we’re almost done. Ask Yen what she wants us to do next?”
“Oh, she said she wants your opinion on the low marble table. She’s not sure whether she wants to keep it - says it could be dangerous for the baby.”
Yennefer was four months pregnant and just starting to show, something Geralt (and his brothers) still couldn’t fully wrap their heads around. Geralt was both absolutely terrified and over the moon at the idea of being a father. He suffered terrible mood swings as a result - worse, Triss had commented, than even hers when she was on her period, which was saying something.
Yennefer also doubted herself. She was the most headstrong, fiery, bold person Eskel knew, but as the reality of parenthood dawned on her she'd become prone to passing spells of melancholy. It felt odd to see her so quiet, so reserved, so... soft. Gerald and her had grown even closer. They were so gone on one another, so in love, so sickeningly sweet in their interactions that being in the couple's presence for too long threatened to give you cavities.
Eskel was happy for them. Geralt deserved this. He deserved happiness and love and a little family of his own. If you asked him, there was no doubt that Yen and him would make great parents, and that this child, whoever they were, would be incredibly loved. Honestly, Eskel was just happy to be here, to support Geralt when needed, and to watch from the sidelines as their family grew. He couldn't wait to see Vesemir - their very severe and stoic father - bawl when he cradled his grandchild for the first time. He tried not to think about any of this too hard, otherwise he'd just end up in tears himself.
“If Yen wants to keep it we can cover the sharp corners of the table with foam or something similar,” he suggested. “Didn’t she say it used to belong to her mother?”
“Yes, I remember her saying that. I don’t think she really wants to get rid of it.”
Eskel shrugged. “Tell her about the foam, then we'll see. Brb - gotta go take a leak.”
Triss stepped aside so he could leave the bedroom and go to the bathroom in the corridor. He splashed his face with water and washed his hands. It was too hot and stuffy in Yen and Geralt's apartment. Spring was coming, and the sun shone through the open windows. Eskel's hair stuck to his forehead, his shirt clung to his torso with sweat and he desperately wished he'd put on a pair of shorts like Geralt, instead of dark jeans. He made a face and passed his hand through his hair to brush it back.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Jaskier had sent him another message, a mirror selfie of him with a hoodie pulled up over his head. He was smiling, his gorgeous blue eyes highlighted by a ray of sun.
Leaving for band practice now. Hope the moving out thing is going well. 😋
Eskel 2:26 pm
Damn, you look gorgeous. Give me a heart attack why don't you.
Jaskier 2:27 pm
Thank you kind sir! 😳
Eskel bit his lip. He wanted to respond in kind, but he’d never been very good at the selfie game. All the pictures he'd put on his profile had been taken by someone else, except the one with Lil’ Bleater. He missed his little devil of a baby goat. One of his neighbors owed him a favor and had promised to look after his animals while he was away, so he knew that she'd be well taken care of, but still. He'd always had a soft spot for her.
He decided to snap a few shots in the bathroom and selected the least - in his opinion - terrible photo. He’d played with the lights until he was able to take a picture where the scars on his face weren’t very visible, but which highlighted the broadness and definition of his chest. He’d been told before that people liked how typically masculine and strong he looked, and it had not fallen on deaf ears.
He sent the photo before he could change his mind.
Eskel 2:37 pm
Eskel sent a picture.
It’s going fine, but I’m all sweaty…
Enjoy your afternoon ! Is your band on spotify or anything else? I’d love to listen to your music :)
---
“Ngk… so hot he’s sohotohmgod.”
“What are you mumbling about now?” Priscilla asked, handing him a water bottle. Jaskier looked up from his phone and took it gratefully. “Renfri texted me, she’s on the way. Traffic problems.”
Jaskier nodded. Renfri was always running late, they’d all gotten used to it. Noah and Simon were outside having a smoke. Priscilla sat next to him and brushed her long blond hair back.
“Remember that dating app I told you about?" Jaskier said. "So I ended up downloading it. I've a date with a guy on Thursday.”
“No ? Awesome ! That was fast.”
“Yeah, it is a bit. Suppose I got lucky. Anyway he just sent me a reaaaally hot picture and I’m just... going to think about it until I get home.” He sighed dramatically.
“Really ? That good?”
"Uh - uh."
“Alright, wow. I want to see it! From a purely aesthetical, very lesbianistic - lesbianic? Whatever, you get me - point of view. Show me the beefcake.” Her eyes were twinkling, but Jaskier hesitated.
“Okay - but not this picture. I’ll show you his profile. Look, he’s adorable - he’s an actual blacksmith and a goat farmer, who even has that kind of job in this day and age? This guy came straight out of the 12th century, I love it. He's so fucking cool , Priscilla.”
“Aww,” she cooed at the picture of the tiny goat. “That's adorable. The scar is a bit scary, but … he does seem like a nice guy. When did you say you were meeting him?”
“Thursday if all goes well.”
“I expect you to tell me about it after, of course.” She slapped him lightly on his knee at the same time as Renfri made her grand entrance, taking off her bike helmet and shaking her head of curls. "And don't forget to text me before and after the date so I know you're fine."
"Yes, yes, I will, mother."
"You never know. Hi Renfri!"
“Hello, my beautiful people!” Renfri cried, smiling from ear to ear.
“Hi babe.” Jaskier waved.
“Late as usual, Shrike,” Simon drawled behind her as he held the door open for Noah. “Next time, you’ll owe me a crown for every minute of lateness. Forget our dreams of making it big in the industry, this is how I shall get rich.”
“Except I’ll devise an evil plan to make sure you get there even later than me, and you’ll have no choice but to give me your money or eat your own words.”
“... Shit, you would,” Simon muttered.
Noah clapped his hands. “Alright, ladies and gents. Enough chitchat, it's time to get this fucking show on the road. Tomorrow we have to record at least five songs, so let’s make sure everything runs smoothly. If the second album does well we could even go on a small tour! Let’s do this !”
Jaskier whooped and the other bandmates cheered, ready to give this afternoon all they got.
----
Jaskier yawned widely.
He was holding two cans of beans in his hands, and he couldn’t seem to pick one. He yawned again and settled on the red beans for a change.
Band practice had, as usual, turned into grabbing a beer at Renfri’s favorite bar, which had turned into dinner at her place, and even more drinks, resulting in Jaskier coming home far later than he’d intended.
He’d just opened the door of his flat, put down his guitar case and went back down the stairs to the nearest grocery shop, swinging his backpack over one shoulder. His shopping basket was already half full of products. He stood in one of the two alleys attempting to decide which type of bread he felt like buying when the doorbell tinkled. Jaskier didn’t pay any mind to the person who’d just entered, lost in his own thoughts.
He grabbed the bread and a pack of crisps, then turned around to browse the shelves of biscuits, chocolate and cereals. There was movement to his left and he stepped aside to let the man move past him, but the words of apology died on his tongue when he met the man’s eyes. A spark of heat ran through him.
Oh shit, he thought, and then did a double take. “Oh, wait...”
“Hey, aren't you…”
“I - yes."
"From the app?"
"Yeah!"
“Jaskier?" Eskel asked, looking as surprised as he felt.
Because it was Eskel, no doubt about it. Scarred face, dark hair, tall and strong, he wore the same red shirt as in that picture he’d sent Jaskier earlier that day.
The hot picture. He blushed.
“Yes. And you’re Eskel...? Right?"
“Yeah!” Eskel was smiling warmly, and Jaskier relaxed. To be honest, this was more hilarious than it was awkward. Eskel was even more handsome in real life than he was in his pictures, although shorter than Jaskier had imagined. “I'd give you a proper handshake, but…”
He carried a pack of beers in one hand and instant noodles in the other. “Right. Keep it for later.” Jaskier replied, grinning. “I take it you’re not staying far from here?"
“Yeah, actually, my brother’s place is just two blocks away. Err, this was the only store still open at this hour in the area. Where d'you live?”
“Like a two minute' walk away." Jaskier laughed. "Of all the places in Oxenfurt, what were the chances of us meeting here, uh?"
“I know ! I'm still not convinced that I'm not caught in a dream, actually." Eskel winked. "Happy to meet you properly, Jaskier. I hope we still see each other on Thursday though? I have to admit I was looking forward to a proper date.”
Jaskier's heart was beating fast. “Oh, yeah, sure. Definitely. I mean, I’d like that. I actually planned to ask you, did you already have something in mind?”
“If the weather isn’t too bad, I was thinking you could show me around? You could show me your favorite spots in Oxenfurt - I'm not in the city often so when I come back I like discovering new things. And if the weather sucks, we could simply have dinner, or a drink, or go to the cinema, the theater… I'm open to suggestions. Is there something you’d prefer?”
“Dinner sounds good, it's been a while since I went to the restaurant. And - absolutely, if the sun is shining I'd love to show you around. Have you ever been to the floral park ? It's a bit far, but they have a huge greenhouse and the entrance is free, it's amazing."
Eskel nodded, and readjusted the pack of beer under his arm. "Never heard of it. But I love the idea, we can meet in the late afternoon, try that and then dinner?"
"Yeah." Jaskier smiled again, meeting Eskel's eyes. They really were an intriguing color. He'd never seen such a shade of hazel before. "Sounds like a plan."
"Perfect. Lookin' forward to it. Hmm, I didn't mean to interrupt your shopping. I should probably head back anyway, got everything I need."
"Beer and spicy noodles?"
"Beer and spicy noodles." Eskel chuckled. "My other brother arrived late, after we ate dinner. Given the hour we thought he'd show up tomorrow. Nothing left in the fridge. He sent me here to run his errands trumpeting that we were starving him."
"He sounds fun."
"If you like dark humor and acidic remarks, sure. I'll let you in on a secret though - it's a facade. He's a big teddy bear at heart."
"I bet. A bit like you, right? 'BigNiceWolf'?"
For the first time, Eskel looked a bit flustered. "Oh, gods. That name - yeah. Wasn't very inspired."
"No, I like it. I think it suits you."
"Does it? Well, thank you." Eskel did a little curtsy, which managed to be both the cutest and the most embarrassing thing Jaskier had ever seen. Eskel seemed to realize the same thing, because he then stammered that he was going to the checkout now. Jaskier laughed and said he'd be right behind him.
He grabbed a few more items off the shelves, basic necessities like butter, flour, toothpaste. Was he trying to hurry just so he could have a bit more time with Eskel? Why yes, absolutely.
“That’ll be 5 crown and 36 silvers," the cashier said. "You need a bag?”
“Ah, yes. Err, no, thank you.” Eskel took out his credit card and paid.
“Evening, Paul,” said Jaskier, coming up behind him.
“Evening Jask’." Paul started ringing Jaskier's products. "What’s up?”
“Same old, same old. You?"
“Yeah, it's been a quiet week. 25,10 crowns, please."
"Here… Good night, man."
“You too.” Paul took another drag of his e-cigarette and went back to watching YouTube videos on his phone.
“I wasn’t sure if I should wait for you or not,” Eskel admitted once they'd stepped outside.
“Yeah. Odd situation we're in," Jaskier said with humor. "I - guess I’ll see you on Friday then?”
“Friday?” Eskel frowned.
“Thursday! I meant Thursday. I will see you on Thursday. Sorry, my brain is a bit out of order tonight."
"I can relate. See you on Thursday then. What time?"
"Around five?"
"That works."
"Alright."
"Alright."
Neither of them made a move to leave. Jaskier bit his lip.
"So…"
“Did you like the picture?” Eskel suddenly asked.
"The pict - oh. Oh." Jaskier felt his cheeks heat. "Yeah. Yes. Fuck. I did, I'm sorry I didn't have time to reply but -" He gave Eskel a sultry smile. "I liked it a lot. You look. Hot."
“Yeah?” Eskel stepped closer.
"... Yeah," said Jaskier weakly.
"Happy to hear it." Eskel's gaze was smoldering. Fuck, the power this man exuded… "Have a good night, Jaskier. Text me."
"Yeah," Jaskier said, his mouth dry. "Night."
With that, Eskel was gone. Jaskier headed back to his own flat, still feeling flustered, and once he was finally lying in bed he had to resist the urge to scream into his pillow and kick his legs in excitement.
Oh, he had a very good feeling about this. Thursday simply couldn't come fast enough.