#Miss Lava

[widogast-ta]

It was so funny to see Ludinus visibly frustrated and having a bad day this episode. Almost every other time we’ve seen him he’s been so smug and in control, so hearing him complain about dealing with the fey, and his allies is JUICY. His “Are you kidding me?” at the animating statue was so satisfying

[dlartistanon]

LavaNian strong

[r0semultiverse]

well, this all looks rather familiar...

[fruitsofhell]

Yall, its time to ramble about visual/environmental storytelling cause this is silly article is driving me insane.

I won't argue for if the game should have had more constant and involved cutscenes like Robobot or Star Allies, but what I will say is that this game is VERY rich in story through the world design. The Forgotten Land as opposed to say the Land of the Sky in TD or the entire galaxy of Star Allies is like, DROWNING in writing and narrative. It builds so much mystery and intrigue through the theming of every world and even individual levels, with exploring both how the people of the land originally lived and how it's being reclaimed by nature and the animals.

I think the closest things maybe is Robobot and Halcandra in RTDL, the former having great little designs that key you into WHAT Haltmann is doing and what makes it so toxic. Halcandra though is the ultimate grand-daddy, the contrast between it and the Lor, and Egg Engines and Dangerous Dinner is full of theming and clues about the nature and history of the planet. AND THAT IS STORY, THAT IS WRITING! Especially when compared to say Star Allies, where most of the levels of the levels are just ye average Kirby themed fluff with little to say about the Jamba or the state they've left the galaxy in. But when you play through the casino levels of Robobot, as well as delightful theming and level design, you see that Haltmann is erecting literally the most predatory entertainment centers imaginable. When you step off the sleek futuristic Lor into the scrapyards and wastes of Halcandra, you get fun intimidating final worlds, and a good grasp on *why* the people who made the Lor aren't around anymore, and may even start questioning why Magolor made such a great fuss of dragging you to this horrible place. Music is also deeply important to this storytelling. Each of the factories/towers erected in ever world of Robobot's theme is a remix usually of themes related to older mechanical levels, subtly clueing you into where Haltmann go their technology from. Outside the Lor rather than the comfortable motif of Green Greens is this almost comically suspicious and disoriented theme once you're stuck on Halcandra and returning to Magolor with more doubts about his words. The final level inside of the volcano house a theme that is teasing the twist to come, and the theme for fighting Landia before the big reveal is less triumphant, and more majestic and pensive. Possibly trying to evoke more hesitance than confidence, even if most people wouldn't catch on to that on a first run.

But the cooler thing, is that while Robobot has this cool theming at key levels, and RtDL does at the end, this type of shit is pervasive ALL throughout Forgotten Land. Every world and nearly every level is a unique, well thought-out set piece! You get to see abandoned towns, cities, malls, stores, factories, resorts, and an amusement park, each which serves as more than just a fun location, but a clear picture of the world and the state its in. This intent is made clearer through the music and tone that goes out of its way to not highlight the destruction of these areas but their beauty, wonder, and mystery through the eyes of an clueless animals and our favorite pink alien. The abandoned Alivel Malls theme is a track as upbeat and peppy as what must've played over it's speakers in it's hayday, because the hustle and bustle breathed back into it by the animals and Kirby just exploring this mysterious complex is just as lively. The theme of the Everbay Coast is peaceful and sunny despite the Holine ruins because it's as part of the scenery to the animals and Kirby as the picturesque palms and sands. And Wondaria!!!!!!!!! OMG WONDARIA WHERE TO EVEN BEGIN WITH EVERY FUCKING LEVEL AND THEME IN WONDARIA!!! THIS IS WHY I CAN'T TAKE THAT CLAIM SERIOUSLY - y'know when I cried at Forgotten Land? In world 3. Not because of a cutscene or a line of dialogue, but just from the sheer emotion the setting evoked in me. The sweet, laid-back, starry-eyed wonder that it expressed from Kirby mixed with my own sense of nostalgia being aware of what that place was, and how beautiful it was to see it rediscovered and adored by Kirby and the animals of the Forgotten Land. It evokes such a strong feeling of bittersweetness, of existential dread comforted by the knowledge that the simple joys and memories we create places like amusement parks to share will continue on as long as there is life in the world. And unlike some of my musings about past games, this was explicitly intentional. What truly brought the tears to my eyes was remembering an interview where the devs were explaining how they were trying to keep the tone light and Kumazaki said specifically they wanted to evoke peace and beauty rather than loss.

LIKE THIS IS WRITING! This is storytelling, this is intention. It's just subtle, but not at all unimportant, and it ties into the more overarching plot. It raises the question constantly of where the people went that is answered by Forgo, and expresses the dichotomy between the simple innocence of the animals compared to the ambitions of the people who abandoned them and that is now possessing their leader. It creates stakes for Elfilis and Forgo's intentions to destroy everything so beautiful and pure about the current world, but as it absolves the current world of guilt, it puts into perspective JUST HOW LONG Forgo must have been locked away that things changed so much. And as softly as the exploits of the original people are portrayed by the game, knowing their treatment of Eliflis and Forgo as a thing of entertainment and tool for innovation is sickening placed in contrast with it. Like back to Wondaria, the way it shows how much space travel must have pervaded the imagination and escapism of the people either before or after Forgo's arrival is insanely smart. And it gives me chills in the best way seeing Kirby run around images of cartoon aliens from a civilization who would never meet him. Of Kirby, Elfilin, and Bandana sticking their head into a cardboard cutout of an astronaut meeting an alien, with the text "wish you were here" above in a script they don't even understand. A SCRIPT THE WRITERS MADE FOR THIS GAME SO THAT THEY COULD ADD MESSAGES LIKE THAT INTO THE WORLD FOR KEEN PLAYERS TO NOTICE AND MAKE CONNECTIONS. Like it's insane. The dedication the Hal Labs has to stuff like this is maddening! It's so sweet and heartfelt and crafty, I'm so pissed off how little respect it gets because people don't understand visual storytelling!!!!! Saying Forgotten Land is light on story is preposterous, it might just be one of the most finely crafted stories the series has had to date, and is just a really solid piece of science fantasy writing in general honestly. It is packed with environmental storytelling that drives me Up The Fucking Wall, Man.

[olliewritesometimes]

fixating on nothing probably but I wanna dump it<3

⚠️⚠️SPOILERS FOR EPISODE #5 OF TOTAL MONSTER KILL!!!!!⚠️⚠️

Moon beast lore/notes:

In this episode we learned more about Lucia’s sister who was part mute/beast and it was revealed she was the big bad of the series ( shocker to no one ) and since the beasts are controlled by the moon she wants to be able to control it.. I think you can see where I’m going with this..

BUT!! she’s going to use the other beasts, combine everyone together and become the moon beast. And Bebo said something interesting during that reveal

he said “is this the moon beast origin story”

and grizzly replied saying yes.

so i was like the other campaigns must know of this “world” since its like the moon beast origin getting me to think, since all of the worlds are connected through the moon beast

they must be in somewhat of the same universe or something and I’m just trying to connect all of the campaigns together..

the thing I’m lost about it that, it’s cannon that Peter made up the moon beast during his fight with Exandroth (I think???) And Chip had to be involved with that history somehow since he summoned it and cause the other characters had no idea who the moon beast was..

Weither it be from hearing a myth or like a legend from Finn or Arlin— idk but I feel like he knew it before the others for a reason.

that's why the others don't know, because the Moon Beast is a land/sky beast, not a sea beast so gillion wouldn't know and Jay wouldn't know because she had military school to deal with, they didn't have time for myths and fantasy!!

last thing:

I think if the worlds are connected all I know is Prime defenders is last since they have powers and canonically they live on a planet that’s not earth. I was thinking after riptide??? like to escape from The Navy or something????

Idfk

this was just for fun so :3

[cerbreus]

not enough adult party games where the gist is hunting each other for sport lets bring back hunting each other for sport as a party game. what’s more exhilarating than going into survival mode with 5-15 people all scrambling to be the last person standing by cunning, or throwing ur friends under the bus,

[lesbianvamp1reeee]

I DID IT! RAAAAAA

[hyrules-warrior]

Mario and Luigi are nightmare free until the third night

When the battle is finished, the excitement calmed and a tiny Bowser taken back to the mushroom kingdom by Peach and the others, the brothers stumble home with the rest of their family. They do little more then clean themselves up, eat some food and then curl up together to sleep.

They sleep and sleep and sleep. Awakening late the next day to do little more then eat again and reassure their family before sleep claims them again for the rest of the evening and night.

It’s that third night, after finally feeling rested and more or less physically recovered that the nightmares start.

And it’s Mario, surprisingly enough that has the first one.

And the severity of it scares the shit out of Luigi, who had kinda expected himself to be the one with the nightmares.

[nyaskitten]

I'm ngl Lava isn't a fave ship of mine... It's not that I hate it, it's just all the jokes using the screenshots from "Safe Haven" FEELS wrong like that's a semi-unconcious man being dragged around the city bro it feels wrong seeing screenshots edits of them kissing in those clips with the knowledge that one of them is again, semi-unconcious...

[completeoveranalysis]

[11]

Oh now THIS is gorgeous

Kurogane alone in darkness, framed in trappings of his own room in the world he fought so hard to return too, moon shining brightly overhead, and all he can do is sit awake and think about Sakura in Acid Tokyo specifically. Just incredible all around.

OOOH IT GETS BETTER

The memories split into shards of glass, like they’ve done quite a few times throughout the series. Kurogane remembers a lot of her earlier moments, like Piffle, and Outo, and Jade. But then the lower the page gets the more we transition into Fai doing the same thing, but standing alone above the water, looking down at it in silence. We can see the moon reflected back at him, and we can also see his own reflection looking back. And GOD what a gut punch that could be on its own - a mirror of himself, just like the twin he’s finally put to rest, just like the Sakura he fought so hard to save but failed. And we can see the memories he recalls too - but he’s thinking of times further into their journey, specifically Acid Tokyo and Infinity, and the moments he shared with her where they were their closest. Sakura’s determination, Fai swearing his loyalty to her, and Sakura’s final words of comfort to him as she died the first time due to his curse.

Eventually he DOES look up at the sky - perhaps done dwelling on the moments that hurt him the most, or perhaps galvanised in his own determination to save her even more than before. 

Meanwhile the shards of memory all turn to ones between Sakura and Syaoran, which makes me think Lava Lamp must be on the next page - even though, like, these moments weren’t specifically with HIM in them, I suppose he did second hand live them all the same. Outo and Hanshin and Piffle - oh and Infinity! That one WAS him. 

Lava Lamp’s head must be a mess after all this. 

OOP YEAH THERE HE IS, ALONE ON THE ROOF. WITH HIS BACK TO THE MOON ENTIRELY. And this page is entirely memories of moments between Sakura and Syaoran (Outo, Koryo, Hanshin, Jade, Shara, etc) - specifically not Lava Lamp, though he definitely appears to have felt the moments in the same way. Even though THIS Sakura has turned him down, and left him for the other Sakura. The other Sakura who, specifically, lived through NONE of these moments, and won’t remember any of them at all, and he knows this now, so he must be thinking uniquely of Clone Sakura in this moment. 

Clone Sakura who quite deliberately is not Real Sakura, but based on these memories I’d LOVE to untangle Lava Lamp’s thoughts about who he has feelings for, and how much of them are based on something they didn’t do and moments neither of them shared.

See also: Evil Wolverine is now also claiming that Real Sakura was accidentally incinerated in chapter 1 and doesn't even exist anymore BUT SURELY NOT, RIGHT??? SURELY SOMEONE WOULD HAVE HAD A VISION OF THAT????????

I'm conflicted so I'm pretending he didn't say anything

OOP AND THEN WE CIRCLE ALL THE WAY BACK TO CLOW, AND THE BEGINNING OF THEIR STORY - OR

SPECIFICALLY

REAL SAKURA’S MOMENTS WITH CLONE SYAORAN, WHILE REAL SYAORAN WATCHED, WHICH CLONE SAKURA DOESN’T REMEMBER, AND MAY NEVER REMEMBER, AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE SOUL DEAD, AND REAL SAKURA MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOUBLE DEAD, BUT....?

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: COMPLICATED

[gnc-valentine]

I know I never post on here, but due to the fact I’ve recently gotten hyperfixated on ninjago (and it being pride month) I may as well post my ninjago queer and trans hcs !!!!

Enjoy my silliness!!

[cocolacola]

do not even talk to me about any "my fav is doomed by the narrative" shit unless u witnessed the Sylvanas Incident of 2018-2022 because that was my final straw

[sprucebark]

The district has been placed under quarantine for the time being. Officials suggest all locals avoid any silverfish or silverfish-like creatures, as there are multiple missing person reports coming in at this time.

[moonrevolutions]

also im so glad to be back on dash!!!!! virote provides a cunty serve that cant be found anywhere else!!!

[disorentedfae]

I get the impression you just got back LOL

Yes I did😂

[wackus-bonkus-maximus]

Omggg I just finished binge reading ondlb and I am IN LOVE!! Its so good am amazed at your writing!! Literally the best enemies fic in the fandom and one of my all time favs!!

ahh thank you! 🥺🙏🏼💗 sometimes i shake my head at myself for going so hard on a fanfic, but honestly i'm really proud of how it's turning out! i'm so so glad you're enjoying it 💕

if you like odnlb, i have more enemies au recs for you by some very talented authors who are truly skilled and whose abilities give me this exact feeling!

citrus and lavender by @heartfulselkie - this is like one of THE fics that inspired odnlb! the way selkie writes is just delicious, and the story is incredibly and lovingly crafted. they are exceptionally good at grabbing you by the heartstrings and making you feel the characters' emotions in your own body. c&l is one of my favorites and has a really special place in my heart <3

as time goes by by @redundant-lava - based on casablanca - 1942. it's amazingly written, clever, and emotionally gutting. this was MADE to be an mlb enemies au and lava did such a good job with it. i will never stop rec-ing it!

once more, with feeling by @zimtlein - this one is rated e, just a heads up. it's so so good! the way the relationship develops between marinette and adrien had me reeling from the first chapter. it's kind of dark but sooo romantic. if it's your speed, it's a good one to binge!

et donc, ils dansent by dame_de_la_chance - amazing, awe-inspiring! the feelings i felt while reading this! the way the enemies dynamic is portrayed is just so juicy, and there's so much pining. i go back and read it every so often to soak in the masterfulness.

heroes don't love villains by vrdant - gosh this one is so good. i have read it so many dozens of times and it's still not enough. this author is such a good writer and captures feelings so well. this one will be burned into your soul for sure.

marionette strings by @rosekasa (maketea on ao3) - absolutely stunning. omg. i reread it again while writing these recs and it shook me to my soul. alizeh is a master of the craft and a master of enemies ladynoir. this fic changed me and it will change you too.

(can i rec my own fic as well? matter of luck is just a fun romp. i haven't abandoned it, just had all my time sucked in by odnlb :) but as soon as that's done, back i go to matter of luck!)

all of these fics have inspired and influenced me in some way. i cannot rec each one enough, especially because enemies ladynoir is currently my favorite flavor of fic >:))