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- Jaskier always knew he was different.
- When his peers got their soulmarks, he’d anxiously been waiting for his to appear.
- What would it be like? Would it be a flower? A bird? An animal?
- He’d never fallen in love before. He’d never even felt attraction to anyone.
- Who would his soulmate be?
- Would they be kind?
- Would they like his singing?
- They must be special – one person who loved only him
- Would they want to settle down straight away?
- Would he be stuck in one place for the rest of his days?
- But soon enough, it became obvious that something was wrong with him
- His soulmark never appeared.
- Was he broken?
- He was mercilessly teased and picked on
- They knew he was doomed to be alone forever
- Nobody would or could ever want him.
- Love was a fact of nature – every living creature felt it.
- Every one except him.
- Some days he drew a mark on with ink, just to make himself feel better.
- He’d make up stories about his soulmate and why they never appeared.
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- His family threw him out once they realised that his mark would never appear. They had no use for a son who’d never marry and follow on the family line.
- It was their loss really.
- It gave Jaskier the freedom he’d never had before to roam the Continent, playing the lute and living life on his terms.
- Besides, he didn’t need someone else to complete him. He was his own person thank you very much.
- He made a name for himself as a bard, playing in taverns and entertaining townsfolk.
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- Soon enough, he met Geralt and travelled alongside him.
- They quickly became the best of friends.
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- One day, Jaskier asked Geralt about his soulmark; was he lonely not being with his intended mate? Why didn’t he go and find them?
- Geralt looked surprised and explained that he didn’t have one.
- Most of the other wolf witchers didn’t have them either.
- Lambert being the only exception, and they were all intrigued to find out who his mate ended up being.
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- Jaskier was shocked to learn that there were others like him.
- He’d heard the snide comments and theories on why he was still single and not settled down with a family.
- People in previous towns had been scandalised before about his perceived ‘rejection’ of his intended soulmate and ‘perversions’ for being alone at his age.
- He had always been extra careful to wear clothing that would obscure that part of his skin so that nobody would notice the lack of a mark.
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- He realised that with Geralt, he could be himself and not have to worry about such things.
- Geralt would understand, and fully accept him for who he was. There were no expectations or demands for anything in return.
- He finally found belonging. It wasn’t romantic as he’d once yearned for, but this was better.