PSL Catchall with Conjurechaos

[whatupbuttercup]

Various catchalls and PSL threads spawned from this glorious interaction over at the rumors meme.

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[whatupbuttercup]

"I did," he declares and reaches to tangle his fingers with hers. He hardly needs to lead her, it is barely half the room away, but he finds he has reclaimed some of the day's energy, some of the wonder and delight of sharing this place with outsiders. Geralt had hated Oxenfurt but even he might've been swayed by the wide inset tub and the carefully crafted faucets.

The copper faucet had been made to look like a swan, why Jaskier hadn't the faintest, but he practically skipped and set Yennefer before it before releasing her hand. He had to stretch to put the stopper into place in the center of the tub, but that was hardly a chore.

"Go ahead, try it, left is hot and right is cold," Jaskier said, delighted.

[conjurechaos]

Hand in hand once more. She hasn't indulged so much since she was a girl. It happens so simply, so suddenly and so normally. Yennefer is happily lead to the very modern arrangement of pipes and knobs. They are still shiny.

"Do you think that they had specifically crafted it to accommodate more than one bather?" Her eyebrow lifts in mischief before she reaches for the tub.

"Draw a cold bath?" She sputters at the thought at goes for the left knob. It gives easily and the pipes gurgle and. "Oh it really is hot." So hot that steam is already rising as it begins to fill the tub. Yennefer laughs at her glib comment and reaches for the cold water. "I see now. That's brilliant."

To think that people would have to wait for so water to be boiled. Magic is the fastest method but this is so wonderfully accessible. "That's all? Easy as that?"

[whatupbuttercup]

He always delights in watching people as they experience firsts. This was a minor thing and, gods' knew, Yennefer had known more impressive firsts than a bit of mechanical water pumping, but it was still a first. He watches her face as she balks at the idea of a cold bath, then her surprise as the near boiling water pours out of the swan's open mouth. (Why that design, he was truly flummoxed about, but apparently there were worse ones. The horse head faucets were supposedly very alarming.)

Her laugh brightens his smile and he leans to drag his fingertips in the excruciating heat of the pooled water as she twists the cold tap open as well. She looks at the pair and then back at him.

"That is all," Jaskier confirms. "I heard one mason chatting about building something faster, yesterday. He said something about a stall, but I can't imagine why someone would want to rush a bath."

The sound of the water filling the tub is a calming, monotonous, droning sound and Jaskier sighs delightedly. It was the sound of his not having to fill buckets. Glorious.

"Thank you, by the way," he says and has the decency to look a bit chagrined. "For coming to this. For helping with Valdo and, well, everything. I don't tell anyone that I appreciate them enough and you deserve it more than most."

[conjurechaos]

Any time she has a new experience, hope kindles in her heart that not everything in the word is sorted. Years are long, people have proven to be the same tired lot. There are still marvels and discoveries. Simple and still amazing. The swan spewing the water is a curious decor choice. Perhaps no man could properly sculpt a fish. And what fish would have such a long, curved neck? The real treasure is the convenience.

"A child could do it." Which is usually not typical of new inventions. "I'd much prefer a bath to a stall. It's a luxury after all." Chances are when word gets around so many other wealthy cities and townships will want to have their own copper pipes and contraptions. Her own fingers reach to swirl the water. Now it is much more bearable. The water is still rising. The bath will be ready before they are.

The words are so simple from him. He has a gift with words, it's true. Plainly speaking reaches her the most. Yennefer smiles softly, looking to his face. "I would do it again happily. Thank you for trusting me. I can't imagine stomaching his behavior alone. You're spirited and clever, I know you could." But he chose to invite her. She was wanted.

"I could wash your hair this time if you like." The full array of soaps, salts and oils all in one place. It's truly ingenious. The masons are going to be very busy and rich.