ladynearthelake

[ladynearthelake]

Whatever C4 ends up being and whenever it is, I really hope we see a return of the consistent "I go over to *insert character*" that was lacking this campaign. It's something so simple but so foundational to why I love CR. It used to be so consistent and made even the most mundane things like setting up camp, night guard duty and travel something to look forward to.

I can't tell you how many of these moments with characters just simply talking to each other about anything and everything became some of my favorite moments in all of CR. I remember so many episodes where I looked forward to these breaks more than even combat or some story elements because it immersed me so much in every aspect of the campaign.

To me this is when CR is at its best, it is the foundation that separates it from other AP's and is what pulls you in and hooks you so you're equally as invested to the story or action or honestly anything just like the characters and the cast.

[ladynearthelake]

I wanted this to be softer, but the vibe turned around. this feels like it's after something (I don't know what).

[ladynearthelake]

Joey Batey: is trained in fencing, kick boxing, medieval sword fighting, and stage combat...

Joey Batey: has kept asking if Jaskier can be given a weapon on the show, only to be answered "no" (they did make him a very nice giant dildo war hammer, though)...

Meanwhile, Sirens of the Deep:

[ladynearthelake]

Bells Hells Doodles for the road

[ladynearthelake]

oh we are never getting out of the learned helplessness cycle are we gang

[ladynearthelake]

Sooo... Let me get this queer...

*Spoilers alert for "Sirens of the Deep".*

Agloval really went "Screw being the very last of my bloodline and rightful heir of my kingdom. Imma go leave everything behind to marry a mermaid for love, because the sex and the cuddles are that awesome!"

Does he not realise the kind of precedent this set for Jaskier, and the types of expectations that bard now feels completely entitled to?!

Plus, they don't need words to communicate! Seriously! They've got that whole body language thing down, and words aren't a barrier to any relationship!

To Jaskier, princes are slightly waffling hopeless romantics struggling to fit in with their own families, waiting for love to finally give them the opportunity to escape the senseless cruelty and violence of their own world!

Everyone would be like "Radovid can't marry you. He's the last of his bloodline and needs to find a princess to make babies with her to make sure it doesn't end with him", and he'd be like "Pffft! I'm from Bremervoord! If the last of our royal bloodline swam off with a mermaid, and the kingdom didn't suddenly collapse or implode just because we needed to start a new bloodline, Redania will be fine!"

Oddly enough, I wouldn't be opposed to Jaskier being the one to ultimately "make a little sacrifice" for Radovid this time around, though.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I remember Hugh Skinner mentioning that one of the reasons that drew him to the role of Radovid was that he's always enjoyed playing an outcast.

And since, in the world of "The Witcher", you see queer characters mentioning their wives or girlfriends without anyone seemingly being shocked about it, I've sort of been wondering if what makes Radovid a bit of an "outcast" or "outsider" doesn't go much beyond his sexual orientation.

Sure, in his case being gay is seen as "seed wasting", but that's because his sexual orientation is perceived as "strategically inconvenient" by Dijkstra and Philippa, rather than "socially unacceptable", I think.

Vizimir's wife is "as barren as the Korath", and Radovid favors men. I could see their frustration.

But still, if queerness is generally well socially accepted on the Continent, then that alone wouldn't technically make Radovid that much or "an outcast" in his own world.

So, my brain always goes back to him immediately blurting out to Jaskier that "Song of the Seven" is his favorite.

And Jaskier - assuming he's just another rich human noble benefitting from the current system - sort of dismissing the statement as being "slightly ironic".

But then, when Radovid asks his brother to let him go, he makes it very clear to Vizimir (and to the audience) that he simply doesn't fit within the current system.

He's not a spymaster, he's not even a good prince, the way monarchy works, right now, doesn't suit him. He needs to be free to love and help those he loves.

To have Jaskier recognize how skilled Radovid is at seeing the big picture and taking into consideration everyone's needs - instinctively striving to go for the "least bad options" for everyone involved, seeking to collaborate, and reaching for "carrots" rather than "sticks", etc.

So, a part of me can't help but hope that Jaskier might actually be the one to convince Radovid to be strong enough to fight back against those seeking to control him, and grow into his role as a king, because he actually is someone that could help Redania and the North become less oppressive of the common folks and of other races, among other things.

I really wouldn't mind Jaskier realising that Radovid truly has the potential to become a great king, perhaps especially because he's never wanted to wield that sort of power over anyone in the first place.

If it had been up to him, he'd have made the choice to leave it all behind to be by Jaskier's side and offer him love and support in the most desperate of times.

Agloval could afford to leave his world behind while his father still sat on the throne. He could afford to let him deal with the whole issue of needing someone else to succeed him.

And they are going to continue to need him. Because Radovid is someone that knows how to listen, make people feel valued and loved, and help them heal.

Radovid had a bloodied crown put on top of his head at a time where Redania was at war and his people needed him!

And after the war, the world is likely going to be in desperate need of more love and healing!

Those are qualities I'd easily imagine Jaskier would be able to see in Radovid. And I could also imagine Jaskier choosing to face that future with Radovid, rather than abandoning him to his own fate.

He's the Sandpiper, after all.

I could imagine Jaskier choosing to love Radovid's people alongside him, and to share those responsibilities with him as best he can, too.

Loving people, being sensitive to their plight, and trying to bring some light into their lives in times of darkness is also what he does.

And, as much as "A Little Sacrifice" was perhaps meant to foreshadow the upcoming "Sirens of the Deep" movie, it also paralleled Jaskier and Radovid's own story arc in Season 3.

Jaskier sang the lines "For if your goal be paradise, a life with your true love, ponder all your wants in life, and make a little sacrifice," to Ciri to help her fall asleep right before his own prince, Radovid, came knocking on his door, leading to their first kiss (and off-screen sexy times).

And then, the ending of the song doesn't really fit the ending of Sh'eenaz and Agloval's own love story in the movie at all!

I mean...

"For if your goal be paradise,

Just give your love a firm nudge,

If he sinks to darkest night,

Embrace his little sacrifice!"

Agloval didn't sink to any dark depths in the night when he chose to trade feet for fins!

He soared high with his mermaid, and was readily embraced by her world!

It was a happy ending for them both, that lacked all the dark, ominous, dramatic tone of the ending of the full song (as Freya Allan sang it).

Jaskier's "firm nudge", however, made Radovid see that his place wasn't at his brother's court, and that he belonged with Jaskier and his family/people.

And, on his very first attempt to swim away to join him, here's what happened to him that night:

Radovid is the prince that "sank to darkest night" once he realized his place wasn't amongst his own kind, not Agloval.

I was initially disappointed that Jaskier didn't sing the whole song on the "Sirens of the Deep" soundtrack; but, after having watched it, I think that's because it slowly starts to transition towards a "poetic retelling" of Jaskier's own love story with Radovid around this point:

The tide is low, now they both know

"But where they lay, they cannot stay

A swap for turf

A trade for surf

For if your goal be paradise

Who'd turn and let go

A life with your true love

Ponder all your wants in life

And make a little sacrifice

His choice was made aside the sea

A twilit red horizon

His place among the sirens

For she had finally made him see

He knew what it's worth

A trade for surf

To trade foot for fin

Just give your love a firm nudge

For if your goal be paradise

If he sinks to darkest night

Embrace his little sacrifice!"

In the end, Radovid genuinely tried to "make a little sacrifice" for Jaskier by prioritizing Jaskier's needs and happiness with his family regardless of the risks involved for himself out there.

I like to interpret "embrace his little sacrifice" as meaning that Jaskier will be able to recognize that Radovid's effort to "trade foot for fin" and come "join him at sea" was genuine.

And therefore, that he'll refuse to let him sink alone, but choose to face that "darkest night" with him instead.

[ladynearthelake]

Just finished some Valentines sketches for my Patrons and I really liked how this one came out ♥️

What did yall think of the new animated movie?

[ladynearthelake]

I'm literally posting like it's 2021 again 😭

[ladynearthelake]

>> some more sketches

Even more on my Telegram

[ladynearthelake]

YENNEFER OF VENGERBERG & GERALT OF RIVIA The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (2025)

[ladynearthelake]

I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall… nor our people fail! Our people? Our people.

[ladynearthelake]

Look, I'm just saying, your moral code is getting in the way of my eating.

[ladynearthelake]

As someone who loves animated tv and movies I can say with certainty that the way arcane uses micro expression is so special.

The animation of expressions is simplified in most media for obvious reasons but when arcane animates expression they seem to actually take advantage of the ability to animate each frame to really detail these micro expressions.

They add so much depth to the characters and the story in my opinion. Allowing for the audience to see the conflicting and underlying thoughts and emotions behind a characters actions.

Movement in the ears, eyebrows, lips, jaw, flickering of the eyes or eyelids. Even the way a movement can be faster or slower, halting or assured. All of it tells the story of what the character is going through or thinking better than words can.

This is why I don’t really think much about the arguments that revolve around “they never explicitly talked about this, or apologized, or gave forgiveness etc” cause it’s the little things arcane shows visually like these micro expressions which paint a much more complex picture that doesn’t need words to communicate.

[ladynearthelake]

Playing some modded witcher 3 lately and felt like doing some fanart of it

[ladynearthelake]

no matter what your most embarrassing moment in life is, at least it’s not having fucking chat gpt write fanfic for you bc you’re too lazy to do it yourself

[ladynearthelake]

Just a tiny little sketch, because! bards!!

[ladynearthelake]

'ao3 needs a like and dislike button'

what you need, my algorithm-rotten minded friend, is a grip