The encouragement helps, though he does sway a bit under the force of that smack. A cart horse--that was nice--and for a family. Roach was a sweet girl--that sounded like a very nice sort of vacation--until death--And Geralt was right. Yes. He had known this Roach for far longer.
He makes a second strangled sound as Geralt just continues on, as he tries to be reassuring about getting rid of this Roach, and Jaskier's offense rises up to replace his daze. Roach, who did not speak common and thus had no idea what they were discussing, was snuffling around the post she'd been hobbled to and Jaskier shot her a concerned look before turning back to glower openly at the Witcher. Had he been close enough, he might've tried to cover her ears like a child who'd strayed too close to loud and drunken sailors.
"Don't you dare--" Jaskier snaps in a very quiet and very sharp whisper, as though he's trying to keep from making a scene in front of the horse. He strides through the open door and shakes his head at Geralt as he does--his shoulders set and a look of firm disapproval on his face.
Fortunately, Jaskier is able to take a moment to calm down and settle his frazzled nerves--he spends a few minutes chatting with the proprietor, discussing Oxenfurt and the University, and manages to win a bit of the man's favor. He arranges room and board, food and drinks for the both of them, and stabling for Roach. (He stubbornly decides to pay the extra coin to have a farrier see to her in the morning, if only as an apology for the grim conversation they'd had whilst they walked her in.)
By the time he returns to join Geralt, two ales in hand and food already ordered, he's not nearly so flustered. He does have a very firm set to his shoulder, though, and a determined look on his face. He hands Geralt the ale, plops down in the seat opposite the Witcher, and announces quite certainly:
"If you retire Roach while I'm not looking, I shall be mad at you forever. That lovely girl deserves some sappiness for all her years of loyal service and since you won't bawl over her, I'll just have to sob enough for the both of us."
He takes a sip of his drink, as if that's the end of that.
"I ordered pierogi and some of the beef roast they've got, as well as pies for tomorrow so we can take them with us."
no subject
He makes a second strangled sound as Geralt just continues on, as he tries to be reassuring about getting rid of this Roach, and Jaskier's offense rises up to replace his daze. Roach, who did not speak common and thus had no idea what they were discussing, was snuffling around the post she'd been hobbled to and Jaskier shot her a concerned look before turning back to glower openly at the Witcher. Had he been close enough, he might've tried to cover her ears like a child who'd strayed too close to loud and drunken sailors.
"Don't you dare--" Jaskier snaps in a very quiet and very sharp whisper, as though he's trying to keep from making a scene in front of the horse. He strides through the open door and shakes his head at Geralt as he does--his shoulders set and a look of firm disapproval on his face.
Fortunately, Jaskier is able to take a moment to calm down and settle his frazzled nerves--he spends a few minutes chatting with the proprietor, discussing Oxenfurt and the University, and manages to win a bit of the man's favor. He arranges room and board, food and drinks for the both of them, and stabling for Roach. (He stubbornly decides to pay the extra coin to have a farrier see to her in the morning, if only as an apology for the grim conversation they'd had whilst they walked her in.)
By the time he returns to join Geralt, two ales in hand and food already ordered, he's not nearly so flustered. He does have a very firm set to his shoulder, though, and a determined look on his face. He hands Geralt the ale, plops down in the seat opposite the Witcher, and announces quite certainly:
"If you retire Roach while I'm not looking, I shall be mad at you forever. That lovely girl deserves some sappiness for all her years of loyal service and since you won't bawl over her, I'll just have to sob enough for the both of us."
He takes a sip of his drink, as if that's the end of that.
"I ordered pierogi and some of the beef roast they've got, as well as pies for tomorrow so we can take them with us."