Text | Evening of August 2nd

[rollstoseduce]

[It's finally time for the fantasy trio to leave for Kanto and start a new badge journey, and like last time, they're taking a night train to sleep through it. Or that's the idea anyway - because also like last time, Jaskier wants to take the chance to chat a bit with the network. And after a little misunderstanding from the steward regarding Kiri, there's a topic that won't leave his mind.]

Many a similarity I've found among the realms us otherworlders hail from, yet there's one thing from mine (besides witchers!) I haven't found anywhere else: the Law of Surprise.

It's a custom as old as humanity itself, the granting of a seemingly impossible wish, the price a man who saves another can demand:

"Give me that which you already have but do not know yet".

It is a request for something which neither the savior nor the saved knows the nature of, until the saved man returns home. It could be a cute little pup or a mere crop, mayhap a new pair of shoes... or even a baby. So many heroic stories from my world were starred by a Child Surprise, often known as the Children of Destiny.

So imagine yourselves, if you will, in front of a powerful king or queen that asks you what reward you'd like for your service. What is your answer?

Do you ask for gold? A lady's hand in marriage?

Or do you dare to ask for the Law of Surprise to see what Destiny has in store in for you?



((As always, Jaskier needs to be super extra with his font. Lmk if you need me to drop it!))

Comments

[angewiesen]

There really isn't anything I wish for here that I can't just work hard and make happen myself. Back home, stuff like wishing that Titans never existed-- it's impossible even for the most powerful man in the world.

[rollstoseduce]

Oh, I see. That does make sense. Many a person I've heard say they would make the world better if they had wishes, but I've always wondered how they'd achieve that without fucking up humanity's autonomy. I suppose for you, having one undeniable enemy like the titans makes it much easier to solve. If Arceus have you the chance to stay here or to return to your realm without the Titans, which one would you choose? I have a point to make, I promise.

[angewiesen]

It's more like the idea of Titans that I don't like. It'd be easy enough to kill every Eldian on Earth, and that'd get rid of them too. I want to make it like Ymir never gained the power in the first place. I think that's where everything got fucked up originally.

I'd go home. I'd go home even if the Titans were still there. I've got unfinished business, and it drives me nuts.

[rollstoseduce]

Oh, so you want to rewrite history! Now that's one daring wish. I've read about this very interesting concept they have here called "Butterfree effect", and I cannot help but wonder how deleting the existence of Titans from history would affect your life story and personality.

[Any point he was about to make is forgotten when Jean makes his choice. Jaskier was expecting him to choose between this realm and a Titan-less version of his own. But Jean mentions a third option that shocks the hell out of him.]

You wish to go back to your world as it is? That unfinished business is truly so important that you'd give up the chance of living a peaceful, happy, successful, SAFE life here and risk your life again?

[angewiesen]

I know what you're saying, but there's just too much hanging in the balance. The fate of everyone on Paradis, and all the Eldians in Marley... That's all on my shoulders now. I can't just live the rest of my life here never knowing. It'd eat away at me.

Yeah, it'd suck. Trust me, I know "sucks." That shit is my entire existence now. But, when I signed up for the Corps, I knew I was putting the final touch on my own obituary. I was ready years ago, you know? I'm only alive right now because I'm lucky.

[rollstoseduce]

That's incredibly brave of you, Jean. And very noble. Hearing you explain it makes me think you weren't merely lucky. If you've been ready for years, then you've been working hard for it. This determination is what has kept you alive!

I must point out, however, that I've heard our realms aren't aware of our absence. So don't let it eat away at you.

[angewiesen]

Not really. I'm not some noble guy who always wanted to be in the Corps. I was in it for an easy life in the Police at first. People close to me had to die before I did any changing.

And it's luck. At the Battle of Shiganshina, we lost the entire Corps. Only my squad survived, because we worked with Eren, and he shielded us from the blast. That's just luck.