Chapter Text
Once upon a time, Jaskier’s kind, the Klyntar, believed that the bond between one’s host and them was sacred, beautiful, and something to be respected. It had faded throughout time, the ancient telling becoming a joke amidst the unforgiving coldness of the universe. Gone was the want for a bond that defined their existence, gifting immaterial gifts they could use and keep until the end of time.
Their fellow culture of Symbiotes gradually transformed into mindless brutes who wished to do nothing but devour and conquer and move on. In the eyes of the Kluntar mind, hosts were little more than convenient snack bags holding tasty treats to keep them alive while they raved yet another planet to the ground.
Jaskier had yearned for something solid and real and beautiful after the fourth planet’s destruction. Unlike the others, he’d grown absolutely bored and unsatisfied with the mindless pattern of feast and fight. There was simply so much to understand and know in a self-aware creature. So many memories and feelings to experience together that weren’t death, or hatred, or disgust - almost always accompanied by fear.
As Jaskier the Klyntar, a child of Knull, the Anti-life, Jaskier was mostly miserable and cold and lonely - all together on many occasions. They detested it. They wanted more - more, more, more.
They wanted companionship; art and song and culture, perhaps even love, willingly given.
They were an outcast amongst their kind for their silly ideals. Rather like another one named Venom… was it? Who shared the longing for perfect symbiosis with their respective hosts. Jaskier hadn’t shared the same squad-mind as them, and it’d be a wistful sort of regret they’d think back on once they arrived in their new world in action of finding the perfect host.
It'd be a thoughtful sort of story they’d tell their host. Ideally underneath the skies for Jaskier thought it quite beautiful when they visited earth number who-knows-what. Their host would soothe them, comfort them, and say that Jaskier would have nothing to feel regret over because they had their host to share their ideals and everything.
Indeed, Jaskier had broken off from their hive mind for the sole purpose of pursuing something that would make them happy for the first time in their long pointless life. They had a purpose, greater than great, they’d already chosen a frosted falling star to ride after decades of careful planning.
There was another planet like the Earth the Klyntar visited before. Able to grow life until it flourished into society. Jaskier was confident they’d find the host they longed for there. Although they knew they had a poor chance of getting the perfect host on the first try, Jaskier had nothing but time to explore and search along the way.
Jaskier landed on the Continent feeling weaker than they’d ever been before. For a good long while during their trip on the star, Jaskier cursed themself for not considering their hunger when they were alone. How reckless, even though they were terribly excited to rush towards happiness - the note of arrogant confidence almost killed them. Hopefully, Jaskier won’t ever have to starve like that again.
The star had landed on a coast devoid of human life. Jaskier wasn’t worried when they knew humanoid figures at least existed there - their research had confirmed so. First things first, however, Jaskier tiredly crawled over to the shoreline where a flock of seagulls gathered, fussing over a dead fish.
They stalked a particularly distracted gull with practiced ease and pounced, seamlessly integrating themself with the instinct-driven thing. Jaskier had their opinions in sharing with animals. They liked that the creatures brought up minimal fuss because the most they remembered was what not to eat, what was okay to eat, mate, move - simple things that Jaskier didn’t need a speck of intelligence to learn quickly.
It was actually much more convenient compared to hosts with a complex sense for things. The symbiosis Jaskier spared too many days of hunger in replacement of explaining things often resulted in a messy collaboration where Jaskier couldn’t enjoy anything without feeling the bitter taste of fear-chemicals. Or death, because not considering an incompatable host, the stupid hosts that were compatible simply didn’t understand that their relationship was one of mutual benefit.
Taking over the eyes of the seagull, Jaskier was immediately off into consuming the dead fish that smelled rotten, honestly, and then the rest of the flock - which smelled divine.
They ate swiftly, gorged themselves on the sweet aftertaste of blood, forgetting to chew at one point as their jaws were large enough to swallow whole, system acidic enough to digest their meal at record speed. It was a messy, bloody, and absolutely uncouth sight. Jaskier was made fun of as a delicate eater even back at their home planet - oh, but that was only because they’d not been drained of energy trying to survive getting here.
The view of the gull was excellent. Jaskier took in the beauty of the coast they’d been set ablombed in, gaze sharp and range just as wide. The sun was beginning to set below a horizon of overlapping waves, the tide rising higher. Jaskier had transitioned from being on their feet to floating idly on the rocking waters.
Yes, this was what they left Klyntar for, what they shot out of the galaxy and into one of its smaller planets with so little big lands compared to some. Jaskier wasn’t even stopped by a forcefield; they’d not seen anything metal and killingly high-pitched patrolling in the skies.
They’ll rest for now, and later continue to find a human host that could provide them with information on Jaskier’s newfound habitat. Nearby, perhaps a forty minute flight away, they could already hear the cheerfully incautious squealing of - from what Jaskier had learnt over several overtaken planets - humanoid spawn.
Desolate where they were may be, but where the sea was, life was sure to follow. Intelligent life, life Jaskier could create a bond with.
Jaskier was rarely wrong with their instinct sharp enough to hear the voice of their god. Obviously, their life was going to be more than excellent. Loneliness was the last thing on their mind when they went to restful slumber for efficient recovery of energy and anything wrong in their avian host’s body.