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The BDH Flotilla

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In fandom lingo, shipping refers to wanting and advocating for a romantic relationship between two characters. Their names are typically meshed together into a portmanteau which becomes the name of the ship (think Brangelina). You will read things like “I ship these two!” and “I’m boarding that ship!” meaning the readers want to see the two characters get together. None of these have happened yet. Sometimes there are memes (le understatement).

The Book Devouring Horde has quite the naval force hehe.

“The ships! Tell them about the ships!” from Mary Poppins (1964)

The Metal Rose– the Capital Ship of the BDH. This involves Julie and Derek, and the name is based on the scene from Chapter 11 of Magic Burns, when Derek fashioned her a rose out of a metal coffee can and some nails. Julie has kept the rose all this time, but some of us have carried it in our hearts for 14 long years. Unsurprisingly, Team Metal Rose is pretty hardcore. We would actually go down with this ship. We won’t put our hands up or surrender. There will be no white flag above our doors and wow, am I dating myself.

I think probably my favourite example of how deeply invested people are in this ship was during the discussion that followed the bathtub scene in Blood Heir, back when it was a weekly serial. Speculation was rife whether he had seen the metal rose and therefore recognised Julie. And then, someone suggested that Derek would not remember even if he did see it, that it was just a toy, which he forgot 5 minutes after he made, because the scene did not have the same impact for him as it did for Julie.

“You found a way to hurt me” Hannibal says.

Reeling and bleeding from such a vicious attack, Team Metal Rose picked ourselves up and countered with the theory that Derek probably fashions a metal rose every day he thinks about Julie. Every day. Somewhere in Alaska, there’s a Monte Cristo style cave, with hundreds of metal roses in it! Melodramatic, us?!

The few dinghies floating alongside The Metal Rose are Julie/Ascanio and Julie/Yu Fong the dragon. They’re…cute for trying. The Julie/Saiman water raft sank under friendly fire (as in: Kill It With!).

Karakun– the newest and most high tech of the ships.

Commander Karat of House Krahr, favourite cousin of Arland and best friend of Maud, has chemistry with none other than Dagorkun, the Under-Khan of the Hope Crushing Horde. We first met him in Sweep in Peace as the son of the Khanum, and he’s currently visiting Gertrude Hunt as observer of the spousal selection. All they’ve done was stare each other down and agree a couple of times in conversation, but if you’re a shipper you know that means LURVE.

Miss “I’m too sane to fall in love“. Honestly, it’s like she doesn’t know the romance gods are always listening and wants to tempt them!

Anyway, so the BDH thinks the wedding will probably happen in spring, the bride will wear on-the-shoulder syn-armour, and they’ll settle on the space station near Daesyn – because it’s neutral territory in the vampires vs otrokars feud. The assumptions regarding Lord Soren’s reaction when he finds out are getting more hilarious each week. Barrels of espresso might not be enough!

Michella– Arabella ships are the bread and butter of the BDH navy.

Partly fuelled by House Andrews who said that Arabella’s books, if they happen, would feature several possible love interests until she settled on “the One”, the youngest Baylor is shipped with a lot of suitors. The main ones are Michella (Arabella/Record Keeper Michael) and Jiarabella (which evolved to Jingllebella) for either Stephen or Henry Jiang, the Aquakinetic Prime sons of House Jiang. Or maybe a Madero, or the mysterious sibling of Pancakes Montgomery or yet someone new from Ruby Fever…but I have said too much.

All we know is that we want our girl to have her adventures and take us with her!

Penhiro– The ship that must be protected at all cost. Penelope Baylor and Benjiro Heart, Rogan’s second in command, have had a warm and delicate relationship slowly blooming between them. With whispers and careful steps around it, both the Baylors and the BDH want to nurture it at all cost. This one must never feel rough seas.

Recovered at sea– Thought lost forever or shipwrecked, Sweep of the Heart also brought to port, after many years but more awesome than ever, a long awaited HEA. I cannot speak its name here, because I know not everyone reads SotH in serial form and I don’t want to spoil them before the book is published, but it’s in Chapter 9 part 2.

Gorvar and Beast– Speaking of Sweep of the Heart, you (gender neutral) guys… I don’t know about this one. Brings whole new meanings to screwing the pooch (I’m incorrigible, I know!).

 Auul Tzu puppies would be terrifyingly cute, though.

When evil things get injured, sometimes they find this ship: Not a BDH ship, this is my personal yacht, because Mod Prerogatives and all that.

This is Roman, Chernobog’s volhv. He likes his personal space.

His name isn’t even Semionovich, it’s Roman Grigorievich Tihomirov so I got that wrong for a start.

I am Mod R. I *also* like Roman’s personal space.

Apparently, I’ll have to contend with some witch. Pfft. I’ll keep hoping for the NY Times bestseller Volhvs in Moderation!

Let me know in the comments which BDH ship you sail, or forever be known as a lily-livered landlubber hehe.

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Comments

  2. First? I’m for Karakun. The diplomatic possibilities are endless! Soren will have a cow, but Maud will point put all the reasons to support it.

      • What I want for Roman is a much better relationship than his parents have. Who with, I don’t care – though he deserves somebody as nice as he is who will also call him on his occasional shit.

        I’m hoping for Luther to end up with somebody. Or at least to be introduced to who he already has, if that’s the case. He’s a hoot and every bit as charming as Roman. Much more my own taste, actually.

          • Roman’s already firmly on a ship. She’s a member of the BDH. They spend their nights charming a huge snake, talking a dark god off a ledge and doing evil things for all the right reasons. We’re…I mean…They’re happy! And Eternal! and ….there’s matching Eeyore pajamas.

        • +1 for Roman and Luther not together necessarily but both to have their HEAs Luther is a big squishmallow tho if Roman did take him on I’d be there for that too. That actually would be a fantastic ship…

    • Team Roman and Luther? I know they love the ladies…. actually have we seen Luther interested in anyone? He can see magic, right? So he can look at Roman and tell he’s not actually evi…. ummm, that he’s actually hotter than fire, and that maybe excuses a bit of Evil??

      • All we need is love, love….Love is all you need….

        I’ll be humming that for a bit. But we all need a positive Happily ever after every now and then.

    • That’ll teach me not to read all the comments in the posts. I hadn’t heard of some of these, or at least hadn’t realized a shipper name had been firmly established for some.

      I suggest Romesome for Roman and someone yet to be named. Your ship will come in, Roman!

  6. Team Metal Rose!! And Arabella with Stephen! Can’t wait for Blood Heir #2 and Arabella’s book!

  8. I am not a huge shipper. I like mayhem and a body count. Magic and adventure. If people end up together , that’s fine, but it’s not that big a deal for me.

    I do like the idea of Karakhun though, just for the complications that could ensue and the snark.

    More Arabella series would be good. More Roman. More Hugh. More Yu Fong – I liked him. Danger and adventure ahoy

    • Yu Fong came in briefly but memorably! There are still people who see him as the new Beast Lord.

      • I think they’ll end up with Desandra Kral as Beast Lady, myself. Ascanio Ferara is better suited to something else.

        I would really like to see that fucked-up childhood he went through acknowledged at some point. By Derek would be good – he had a seriously fucked-up adolescence, but his childhood was better than a lot of kids have, even with his father’s religious mania.

        I can see Yu Fong as running that school he and Julie attended as well as Unicorn Lane.

        What? I make it sound like these are real people to me? Why not? They are.

        • Honestly, I don’t think Desandra wants the position, if she did than Jim wouldn’t be having such a hard time filling it

      • Julie and Yu Fong. Magic Test made him so awesome with her. The way she recognized him and was able to really figure out how he works and just deal with him. The dynamic of the two of them in Magic Test was, to me, more compelling than Julie and Derek. She is romantically infatuated with Derek but I never got the sense of them really knowing each other the way Julie got Yu Fong.

  9. TEAM METAL ROSE!!!! My OTP!

    But I’m also excited for Arabella’s potential romantic adventures, especially after reading an arc of Ruby Fever!

      • How can you not vote for a ship named Jianglebella ???
        As for other ships: The Metal Rose (duh, of course) and Karakun most definitely. Can’t wait for HEAs (after necessary trials and tribulations)

      • I’m jealous. Can’t wait for 23 August. Not sure who would be good for Arabella, but I’m team Metal Rose. Roman deserves someone. His eeyore pjs are the best.

  10. Team Metal Rose, Team Penjiro, the HEA you mentioned, but I’ll leave Arabella’s choice wide open. She’s got plenty of time yet. =)

  11. Penhiro all the way! Penelope had so much heartbreak in her life, she deserves a second love!

    And, of course, Nycasen/Prycati (Prysen Ol + Nycati).

    Also, Mod R – “Gorvar and Baby”? Who´s the baby here – do you mean Beast?

  12. I thought team metal rose was just a given at this point. At some point I think I took one of their comments as “it’s going to happen we just have to be patient” that may just have been me being over optimistic though…

    Also totally for Michella, though I have a hard time reading that and deciding if should be pronounced as “Michelle-uh” (that’s how I would pronounce it purely based on spelling) or “Mike-Ella” since that’s how their names are pronounced…

  15. ALL OF THESE!
    Okay, all of these except Arrabella and a Modero. The Arrabero does not float for me but other than that one I have an entire fleet of ships I’m sailing with.

    • Must confess I don’t really get the Madero ship either- because they’re hotheads? Or maybe it’s a talent thing, but she’s already pretty much invincible in Beast form, I’m not sure the tough skin thing would mix/help Metamorphosis.

      Someone will chime in and set us straight 😀

      • The reason I started Arradero was two fold… One, because I think it would be HILARIOUS. Seriously, just imagine the family squabbles that could ensue from such a strange match up. The other reason is that they are the same type of magic and are, according to the books, primes in metamorphosis magic. I was thinking, what if… There was a Madero that was born smaller, thinner, and brainy? Arabella, during her research of them as enemies found this guy and discovered she actually liked him. Or some crazy happenstance put them together…. This is the reason I ship Arradero

      • Said Madero would have to be a dirty family secret type thing… Just to add a little bit of spice to the soup

    • Why ship Arabella with a House that is slowly breeding the brains out of it? That was an insult given by Rogan, I think. :: sigh:: Really need a re-read but can’t find the time.

  18. “…the bride will wear on-the-shoulder syn-armour”
    You made my day, thank you Mod R 🙂

  19. Ehm, what witch is that? It was my understanding that the witches cannot stand the awesomeness that is Roman. Or, well, they’re actually afraid to be connected permanently to his family.
    I would want to read of a Julie-Yufong reunion, with Derek watching from afar. Dragon vs. whatever kind of wolf he has become. (I still haven’t figured out the clues in the last post::sniffles)

    • We don’t know what witch that is! It may be one not from the Atlanta coven at all.

      This is all Gordon let slip as part of his “Roman has to get the girl”, if you look towards the end of the transcript/video that is linked there (click on “some witch”)

      • Oooh! Well that would explain it. I think no woman in Atlanta would want Roman’s parents for in-laws. Or his father at least. Evdokia is awesome. Real creative curses when provoked.
        Thank you Mod R!

        • To be fair, his family seems to epitomizes disfunction, but if someone came after one of them, they’d find themselves in a world of hurt. Besides, their solstice parties are probably awesome.

      • Maybe one of Elara’s people? Hmmm….

        She would need to like the Eeyore pjs though since the rest of the BDH (myself included) love them on him. 😉

    • I think atm in Sweep of the Heart, Prysen Ol and Nycati are at least seen to be getting a book café together, and Kosandion+ Gaston is a real possibility according to the BDH.

      To be fair, Gaston is skilled in diplomacy, knows the Universe, could double up as a bodyguard in a pinch, and would take great care of his children. Plus he’s a gentleman of adventure, so he could really shake things up in Kosandion’s life!

    • Yes, I second that. I’d love to see the families reacting to Roman coming out.
      Or Yu fong … ah, the possibilities…

    • +1

      Barabas/Christopher is one of my fav BDH ships and i want a sapphic vers of it, and yes i know there is one coming up in HL but barabas and christopher were characters we came to know and love over several books, getting new characters/relationship in 1 book just doesnt hit the same for me, personally 🙁

  22. I am sailing with Karat & Dagorkun for sure. ♡♡♡

    I need to read Arabella’s book(s) to be able to decide on which ship I would be boarding. 🙂

  24. Loved this post. There are so many great characters in the IA world. I can’t wait for Klaus to appear, Dina’s parents to be found and Helen to grow up. I see years of excellent stories-Arabella, Hugh, Arthur and possible new storylines. I am so glad to have found IA books.

  27. I shall firmly remain on Metal Rose. Sink or swim. But I wouldn’t mind hitching a ride on an Arabella ship once I read Ruby Fever and pick a solid candidate. Still not fully convinced of one yet. I literally dropped my phone on the Karat and Dagorkun match up!! I would ride that ship for pure comedic reasons.

  28. Sorry, when the evil star lady was summoned and couldn’t entrance Derek because his heart already belonged to another, it was all over. Boyo just needs to put on his big boy pants and get with it

    • The courting she requested. I am having so many evil delicious ideas about what he’s going to do ????

      • Well, Derek did get into Julie’s house while she was in the bath after almost being cooked like a lobster. He will have to be sneaky going back into Atlanta since he is the beta of Ice Fury (unless he lets go of that position and comes back into the fold with Kate and Curran).

        So…let the sneak fest begin!

        • I almost forgot that if Derek makes Julie mad at him too much, she can always call her uncle Hugh. We all know how much he will enjoy coming to Atlanta to smack some heads together. (cue the evil laugh) 😉

      • Oooooo care to share, Mod R? ????

        I’m curious as to what Julie and Derek’s dating history is like… I can’t really picture Julie dating but maybe she tried to move on? Did Derek see anyone? Were they just pining after each other the whole time? That’s what it seems like. Derek’s in his 30’s though. That’s a long time to be single.

    • lol – I had so much trouble with this sentence because my inner brain pronounced “entrance” with the accent on the first syllable. Took me three tries to pronounce it correctly. And THEN it made sense. 😀

  29. …..and my happy smile for the day! Thanks for such a fun post on all things shipping. ‘-)

  30. Team Metal Rose ALL THE WAY! Love me some Penjiro and I could set sail for Karakun lol!

  31. After reading a Ruby Fever snippet I have slowly started a Frida Linus ship I have yet to tell anyone about.

    I was on jinglebella, but that seems a bit up in the air. So I patiently wait on Penhiro to see which way the wind blows.

  32. I am definitely for most of these ships, but Karakun! This is a new one for me, and full of so many hysterical possibilities. I am FULLY aboard.

    I will admit, that for the unspoken one resolved in Sweep of the Heart, I was always holding out hope for a different pairing….even once I recognized it wasn’t likely. Hopefully one day we’ll get HEAs for the other members of remaining associated characters! (But also, I’m glad those two sorted themselves out.)

    Also, is it bad to admit I’m leaning towards team Michella mainly because I want to know more about Michael?? A man of few words and many secrets, paired with Arabella’s ball of energy and contained rage…it just seems like a good time.

    (My other long-held half-theory is that Augustine is his missing younger brother in disguise – and that, in fact, it’s the older brother that has vanished -therefore making him a potential love interest candidate that Real Augustine could not be.)

    • Missing younger brother? Wait, what? I knew he had a younger brother but don’t remember anything about him being missing…! Also, I seem to remember HA saying at one point that Augustine’s younger brother was way too young for Arabella… I’ve always been on an Augabella ship, although I would accept Michella…

      MetalRose – duh, Penhiro – absolutely, Karakun – from the moment they stepped out of the portal. Also, Kosandion and Lady Wexyn – or the fish.

      • Oh and if I can’t have Roman (I AM willing to share 😉 ) I’m gonna ship Romienna 😀

    • He is just so much fun, and interesting, and long suffering, and cracktastic, and he comes as a package with Cherny, which is totally badass!

      Andrea will forgive me, but she was a fool!

      • sorry, I respectfully submit that the bouda courtship was EPIC. Andrea NEEDS someone who would ttuly understand the baggage that comes with being beastkin and Raphael needs a partner, not an adoring fan.

        HA will find just the right one for Roman

  34. A grand and wonderful post! Personally, I thought that Derek and Julie was OBVIOUS, so I guess I’m Team Metal Rose all the way! As for Karakun, YES. Soren would just be grumbling over which combat style his grandchildren are being taught.

    • Actually, I find myself wondering how they would splice the genes if those two pair up (Karakun). The offspring would have to be GMO, because the Horde goes through some major modifications (depending) that the Vampires just DON’T.

      I mean, if a human can breed with a fish anything’s possible, but I imagine the discussions would be FIERCE!

      • They function- specialise in childhood 🙂

        As far as we know, otrokars, vampires and humans are all the same strain at the root and offspring compatible.

  37. Yup Team Metal Rose (going down with that ship). Magic Stars was such a sweet story for them. (Also yay Dido reference above)

    Former Team Jinglebella prior to discovery BDH, however 2 sisters in a row getting their childhood crush seems too coincidental but I totally dig that weird plot line that Stephen threw out there his family was kung fu masters guarding portal or something and thing that. (I’d have to look it up again) .

    Current team Michella- the BDH knows. After a re-read I totally get it. Hot tattoo guy for the wild sister, yup sold.

    Oddly I have really hopped on a boat for any couples in the clean sweep series. I’m still standing on the dock watching.

    Did we ever get who George married? – sorry not team Sophie (I know I know)

    And for my random curveball ship

    Team Gaston x Unessa. – isn’t Gaston part like tree? And she’s a very sexual dryad ????????. I just wanna keep Unessa #Notsorry

  38. Oh my….I have to on the Vohlv Roman ship…the Eeyore PJ bottoms captivated me. LOL!

  40. Wow. ModR just keeps the cool coming. First we get insider info, then she lets lose the BDH navy.

    AHOY MATEYS!!

    ALL THE SHIPS!! I SHIP THEM ALL!!!

    *waves hands excitedly*

    Ok. Right now “lost at sea” has a special place in my heart. In part because we got it narrated by Gaston . . . who I believe should just summarize random elements of everything HA has written. Kate Daniels as told by Gaston.(This should keep him busy for awhile.) Hidden Legacy as told by Gaston. Kinsmen as told by Gaston.

    Someone pass the rum. (We do get rum, right?)

    • If we go with the Kosandion/Gaston pairing, I could totally see him in that Scheherazade role keeping the Sovereign entertained night after night 😀

  41. May I cast a vote for Gaston and the female werewolf (does she have a name?) shipping? Where WAS he during Kosandion and Ellenda’s “date” hmmmm??? Team MetalRose all the way!! I need an Arabella date/interaction or two before I choose who I think suits her best. Would luuuurve a scene with the “love…bird????s, just ’cause!!!

  42. I’m team Metal Rose all the way! And I’m open on the other ships… I’m looking forward to seeing them set sail.

  43. Team Metal Rose all the way!
    Karakun – would be too hilarious to miss.
    And Arabella with anyone!

    I hope we get a Roman story sometime.

  44. Soren would need the ocean of coffee for the Karakun ship to sail on. 😀 Who needs espresso in a barrel when the ocean will do? Just don’t have him get drunk in Dina’s apple orchard. Arland was enough for those poor trees.

    I enjoy watching what will happen. Let the BDH navy have all the fun. *hears ship horns in the background*

  45. I’m definitely 100% of the Karakun!

    Would also like Gaston to find happiness … hmm maybe a former Galatic tyrant might find space in her cold dark heart for him …. Ponder ponder …

  48. I was hoping Gaston would find love in Sweap of the Heart. Maybe he and Karat? Karaston? Or… Maybe Gaston and Orro could open a tea shop on Baha-char? Tony could be that one customer who has his own table and never leaves. Jack also needs a ship…of course, in my head, whatever love story Jack has eventually will end up devolving into something like a John Wick movie.

  49. I would love Roman to be shipped with… me ???????? Ayyeee! He is my favorite ????

  50. Arabella + Tatyana Pierce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the way.

    Also, if The Metal Rose sinks, I am pretty sure the waves it creates would drown the world. Or it would float right back up like The Black Pearl. It is getting to its destination or it is leaving everything to burn in its wake. Just saying.

    Tony the ad-hal and Desandra Karl, for when the multiverse happens. She would be the one person that gets more reactions out of him, outside his affable daily nature. And keep up with his eating. I feel like there are layers we haven’t seen yet. While he would find her loud & obnoxious & flamazing and the best way to annoy his dad’s also cool nature on a daily basis. Plus ai feel he’d be a pretty cool step dad to the unusual creature that his would be one son is. They’d give up the pack because she’d finally have a functioning family unit of her own and have intergalactic adventures. Anything is possible right?

  51. This is the first I’m hearing about Karakun as a possibility, but I’m already a huge fan!

  52. Can I ship Victoria Tremaine with Linus? Or is that a “killing with fire” trigger? 🙂

      • Because I don’t think Victoria is all bad and I don’t think Linus is all good – so they could totally make it work in the middle 🙂
        The name for this ship would be Victus, which would be pretty apt if those two were to combine powers 😉

        • +1.

          Everyone’s got some baggage. Sure, theirs has lethal anti-theft traps and may be leaking fuming acidic liquid, but it’s just baggage.

          🙂

        • I keep thinking there is something between them, actually. They definitely go way back. If we believe our theory that Linus is the mysterious sperm donor for Victoria and a dual prime (Siren and Hephaestus), then Victoria might also be the person he referred to when he told Nevada that he once had to watch someone he loved go through something similar as Nevada did when she established her House. After the deaths of her parents, Victoria apparently was House Tremaine, so she had no one at all to rely on. Normal people would have friends, but we know her motto: Family is everything. You can trust no one who isn´t family.
          She even said that she intentionally developed her shark persona to survive. And despite Catalina´s intense fear of her, she hasn´t done anything to harm House Baylor. Even the Nevada affair with Rogan´s former buddy seems more like a psychological game to me that was intended to nudge Nevada towards stepping down as head of House Baylor because heading two Houses at once really can´t work out in the long run without merging them into one.
          So, long story short – I see both of them as redeemable villains and I totally get on the Victus ship. Sail onwards to fire and death! (Or maybe a nice vineyard somewhere in the countryside.)

    • I’m new to the BDH so I don’t know, whether there have been any big theories on that part, but I somehow assumed, that Linus was the donor, who fathered Victorias’ son. That’s why he’s so invested in the Baylors. They’re his grandchildren. For some reason, I had the impression, that the man who came to the hospital with Victoria to look at Nevadas’ baby, was Linus.
      So if that is true, Linus and Victoria already are a thing….. sort of.

  53. If the Author Lords ever give their Book Devouring Horde official merch, I nominate Team Metal Rose shirts. I will buy them and I am not alone.

  54. Lollll…I was totally shipping Karakun last week and didn’t even realize it was already a BDH topic (silly me). And of course, Julie and Derek will end up HEA! That’s not even a ship, that’s an immovable mountain!

  55. Thanks for starting my morning off with a song! I’ll be singing all day 🙂

    It’s all about Metal Rose, of course.

  56. Bwahaha! I have to pause, I am laughing so hard!

    “Jingllebella” did me in – to me it sounds like Mod R and HA Daughter #2 co-authored a Christmas novella … I see the BDH howling “take my money!!!!!” It would be so awesome!

    Ahem. Off to recover and finish.

    * big grin *

    Thanks, Mod R!

  58. I am Team Metal Rose (and Team youshutyourmouthaboutJulieshe’sawesome) from way, way back in Magic Games.
    But I had two baaad moments in this post: Julie and Saiman? I threw up a little in my mouth. Saiman does not get a ship. Saiman is forever landlocked. Who would do that to Julie?
    Same for the Maderos, can you even imagine? I mean, they can improve their bloodline – with someone who isn’t the sassiest Baylor sister. UGH. That’s worse than her and Pancakes, and that’s saying a lot (I still love Ilona’s smack down of that idea.)

    • Agreed completely!! Ilona did have a great smack down of that :p and of the Dominion sovereign ending up with his Aunt

    • Agreed about Saiman as currently written. I wouldn’t wish him on anyone other than possibly that pack princess who tried to muscle in on Curran in Europe. But I’m one who considered Hugh a garden-variety sociopath and never understood the attraction. Now I know better.

  59. Oh my goodness, definitely team metal rose!

    **SPOILER**

    It is sweet that Julie is Dereks mate 😀

  63. Derek misses nothing – how could he miss a rose when he didn’t miss how she rode her horse.

    Tony and Gaston? If we are mixing up ?

    Arabella and someone please

    • Well, when he entered her house (I suspect picking locks was part of his training to work Pack security), her rose was buried under her utterly destroyed t-shirt, or camisole, or whatever she had to cut off herself to get into the bath. He didn’t move anything, and wasn’t sitting where he could see it. She was; but if he walked around the tub, he’d have been at a much higher angle and could easily have missed it.

      He wouldn’t know she kept it because she was very careful to keep that secret from him – she knew if she went overboard in any way, he wouldn’t have anything more to do with him.

      Team Metal Rose? Me?? As individual characters, I liked Derek and Julie entirely well – as a pair, I thought they were perfect right from the start.

  64. Thank you, I really enjoyed this…. I am not part of the BDH navy. I have always preferred letting the authors create as they will. I know, how very old fashioned of me.

  65. “Arabella’s books, if they happen, would feature several possible love interests until she settled on “the One”.”

    I love this bit, because while the destination of HEA is marvellous and I’m all for it, it really can’t hurt to take the scenic route there 😉

  66. I agree we really need more gay ships. I think Roman is pansexual so could end up with anyone who has an open enough heart to get him and accept his god and the balance he keeps.

    Gaston is also a good pansexual character. He could love anyone. Kosandion is a great idea. He is made up of so many different beings. He might really go for Gaston’s silver eyes and razor teeth.

    Why couldn’t Arabella end up with a woman? And have many kids? Though a possible younger brother to Pancakes is a brilliant idea – didn’t he have a younger sister too?

    • I’ve always thought of Luther as either queer, or in the least, uninterested “that way” with any of the women he interacts with on page.

    • Arabella always came off like the “im interested in men through a screen but not in real life” type so i always envisioned her a lesbian, i was so disappointed when they announced she was hetero for sure lol

  67. I am totally and permanently Team Metal Rose!!!!! Having said that though, this is all awesome, and I would gladly set sail on most of these! Thank you, Mod R….very entertaining! ????

  69. I have begrudgingly bought a ticket for passage on Metal Rose. Once Blood Heir came out, I knew Yu Fong was officially, canonically out of the running.

    I find it interesting that canon shipping doesn’t get a lot of chatter. But that’s true in almost every fandom. I guess once the source material shows that said ship has officially sailed, there’s no need to keep pondering about it.

    No investment in any others. Gotta say, I didn’t see Karat and Dagorkun coming so that’s a thing.

    • Addendum

      Except Penhiro because DUH. This is probably the closest we get to canon shipping here so far.

      Well aside from the pair revealed in our current serial.

  70. All the above but also I need a “Pancakes Montgomery” ship (lol on the name!) and a Jack ship! I was ALL the ships!! A fleet of ships – an armada!

    • Augustine is shipped with Diana Harrison, Cornelius’ sister, by those who wish him well.

      The ones who still begrudge him for his treatment of the Baylors are evil-laughing at the possibility of him and Lenora, only because he is terrified of her 😀

      Team Dark Horse is saying Lina, his receptionist. Because Silver Shark vibes.

      All we know from House Andrews is that there is someone, and he doesn’t even know it yet.

      Draaaaaaaamaaaaaa *high note*

      • wow, I completely missed all these Augustine ships! I wanna ship him with Michael Lattimore. They both have had to deal with tough family issues.

        • I like to imagine an Augustine + Cornelius pairing. They both seem to be good with family but I think there is a lot of chance for hilarity with Augustine and pets.

          • yes! Augustine would have to up his game because so far, animals can penetrate his illusions by smell. He’d be annoyed, intrigued and challenged simultaneously. And it would be good for Cornelius and Mathilda. Could not at all be seen as a replacement for Mom.

      • I like Lina, I don’t even know why, but I think she has a great potential – regardless of her relationship with Augustine. Though… I wouldn’t be opposed to that (yeah, I loved Silver Shark…????).

  71. Definitely team Metal Rose for a long time! Also strongly favor Penhiro; that needs to happen. Karakun is fun to hope for, and why shouldn’t Gorvar and Beast have their moment in the sun? Imagine Gertrude Hunt craziness with added puppies! Her Grace and Helen would each have to have one…

  72. Mod R, you are quite simple the best! Thanks for organizing our motley navy in such an organized fashion. Although, I think the Metal Rose isn’t so much a ship as an indestructible battle cruiser that has already launched. Other than that, I am a Michella fan and have a very, very tender spot for Penhiro.

    As a librarian, my job is to find out what motivates readers and help them find books that meet their needs. For myself, I am motivated by characters and relationships. Sigh. I am always shipping some couple!

  73. Okay… I’m throwing a new ship into the water:

    Leon and Alessandro’s sister!

    Think about it. Lonely, moody yet tender hearted black sheep marksman, and Alessandro’s sister. She was her brother’s contact. Knows everything her brother went through. Refused to do it any more because she couldn’t take the risk of losing her little brother.

    And she’s probably an Antistati, too. So she could be an assassin in her own right!

    And they meet when she comes for Catalina’s and Allesandro’s wedding!

    You gotta ship these two! DO EET!

  74. I am so glad I am not the only one who loves Karat/Dagorkun. Wouldn’t that set the cats amongst the pidgeons, eh? Also, not a ship, but how about Caldenia for the post of Holy Ecclesiarch? Hehehe.

    • OMG 😀

      I have seen people who love to watch the world burn nominate Lady Wexyn for Holy Ecclesiarch, but Caldenia?!

      That’s even more chaos, I love it 😀

      • Lady Wexyn as Ecclesiarch would simply love all her flock the most. No world-burning.

        Maybe some some of the stodgier adherents would burst a few blood vessels …

  75. I am not a shipper one, because I think House Andrews does what they want and always surprises us, and two, because I feel like I’d get MY heart broken if the two people didn’t end up together. That said, for sure I can’t wait to see what happens with Julie’s story!!

    Re George and his story, can somebody please point me to where the crossover universe is explained? I’ve re-read the Sweep books in the last few months and am totally missing how Sweep crosses over with George’s universe and when they all met (other than the snippets in the serial we are reading now). Thank you!!

  76. Arabella and MICHAEL? Who are you people?! Arabella OBVIOUSLY belongs with Stephen Jiang. Call it Araphen, call it Stephabella, but it’s clearly fate.

    Also, how are we even still debating Derek and Julie? Team Metal Rose cannot be stopped.

    Karakun… Mmmm. I don’t know about Karakun. Maybe Karat and Gaston. Yeah, I’ll throw Karaston in the mix.

    (all of the above are obviously meant to be in good fun – but also, SERIOUSLY, not kidding) (mostly)

        • Michael is a bit old for Arabella as is Stephen. I think the movie star younger brother is the match to date.

            • When first met, Michael was described as “in his mid20’s” in Wildfire, when Arabella was 15. It is possible that Michael is still in his mid 20’s, but that would make things even weirder. Is there a timeline discrepancy?

              • No, it’s Nevada’s usual overestimation of ages combined with his style of clothes and demeanour which made him seem more mature. He was only 19 when we first met him ????

    • If this is a ship for the rest of the BDH likes, then please do not say Stephabella. It sounds like an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. I do not think we need a ghost ship in the BDH waters. 😀

  77. somehow i read the whole thing hearing capt jack sparrow. its eother too much rewatching pirates of the carribean or a hang over from the trials of the depp seas ????????????

  78. I think it would be tremendous fun for a Karat and Dagorkun ship, but their ways of life are so different. Who would live with whom? I somehow don’t see either one being willing to give up their world. Can you see Dagorkun wearing armor or Karat not wearing armor? Nope. I say that knowing that HA has worked other miracles. I flatly never thought I could like or respect Hugh, but I do.

    I figure Julie and Derek are a given after MUCH ANGST and many monsters and/or gods killed. Hehe. Julie and Ascanio, nope. He’s become an AH. It would be fun to see the dragon again, but he’s too minor a character at the moment. I always have to look up his name as it never sticks in mind.

    Arabella. Aaaahhhhh, I do hope there are some plans for her book(s). She has such possibilities. Maderos – nah, the Maderos are truly idiots and bullies and there’s no way Arabella would be even slightly interested. She needs someone both smart and politically capable and frankly, not from an old house. Too set in their ways for the most part. I can’t see Stephen Jiang, either, as he’s way too wrapped up in taking care of his family and company and making sure no one does anything out of the ordinary. Heh. Arabella would not fit in.

    I maybe could see record keeper Michael, but he’s kind of a blank. We’ve seen him only rarely and only running errands for the Record Keeper. I could maybe get behind Arabella and Michael Latimer, but he may be too old for her. I get the feeling he’s Rogan’s age group and for all we know, he has a wife or girl friend.

    So I vote for Arabella and someone totally new to us. And yes, Penhiro, too, altho that’s best whispered, heh.

    • I have the exact misgivings for Stephen Jiang. He is so wrapped up in his House and their reputation. I don’t want Arabella to be second fiddle in someone’s interests!

      • But that’s exactly why it would be compelling! House Jiang and Baylor agency get thrown together again with high stakes and shenanigans and Stephen and Arabella act as foils to each together. Arabella is also deeply loyal and I never got the impression that Stephen was particularly happy with playing the optics game. The pairing doesnt force either to truly sacrifice anything, just adjust. And bam! Both extremely engaging plot and HEA.

  79. Team Metal Rose forever ! How can you not be TMR?

    I’m also a little bit Team Karakun, but not super invested. A bit Michella but am in favor of her exploring all her options and intrigued by a new Ruby Fever character about which you’ve said too much.

  81. Metal Rose!!!!

    Michella!!!!!

    Karakun!!!!

    I will go down with all 3 of these ships with no white flag!

  82. Face it, Mod R. You’re in love, and always will be.

    (Oddly experiencing a resurgence on FB videos.)

  83. Cannot wait for Arabella to fall for…well, I’m not quite sure, but it will be spectacular, knowing HA. Especially considering all the grief she’s given everyone else about relationships. Ah, karma! Feel the same about Karat. It will make me smile a lot.

    And Roman…don’t care who, I just want to see him HEA. Even if his mother does spoil him (dry hems), he’s got a tough row to hoe and it doesn’t seem like it’s one he necessarily would have chosen for himself.

    Julie and Derek…. They’ll finish their dance one way or another and it will make total sense however it ends because that is how HA rolls.

    As for Gorvar, so long as I get dibs on a cub/puppy it’s all good.

    • I fully expect Derek and Aurelia to end up with a very large family. They need some fun responsibilities to balance their serious ones.

  85. I quietly feel that I may have inspired this post with a question on the meaning of shipping on the previous thread.

    Whoever recommended Chronicles of Elantra on the book Rec thread, Thankyou. I am on book 5 and shipping Kaylin and Severn.

    Also love Derek and Julie. Now that Nalini Singh has finally bought Ilium and Aodhan together, I can relax and wait for Julie/Derek’s courting.

  86. Definitely the “recovered at sea” ship … mostly because the characters are from the edge series which I personally love. Not to disparage ANY of the other books & series cuz I love those as well.

    The “Metal Rose” ship (in my mind) is at port like Kate & Curran or Nevada & Rogan or Andrea & Raphael it just needs the details shared =P (or it’s at least in the harbor). If for some reason this ship doesn’t reach port while under harbor pilot control/tug then I foresee a serious raid/uprising of the BDH with pitchforks torches & all the firepowa’z.

    The other HL ships are fun but feel like they are just starting the journey this is probably because the girls Catalina and Arabella are (were) sorta young

    I was surprised no mention of Catalina & Alejandro… Catalina hiding them because of her habit of being “low key” and not attracting attention or the Horde could be affected by her Siren Magic.

    • Catalina and Alessandro is canon already after Emerald Blaze, we’re sticking to the ones that haven’t yet gotten together on the page 🙂

  88. With all due respect to ModR, I am going to ship RomOra. Roman’s dark job needs balance. I vote for one of the Oracles (Maiden?) or perhaps one of the children of the Oracles (other than Mom) that we haven’t met yet. Roman’s family would be scandalized. The Oracles could not have predicted the match and so would be annoyed. It would be great! (Also, note that we do not yet know who/what Roman is attracted to–female, male, light, dark, powers, homebody?

  89. Hahahaha! I’m in it for the Flower of the Nile and Kates aunt along with the man courting her, as the head of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid. 🙂 Sorry can’t remember their names just the titles.

  90. Ooo. I ship all of the above that aren’t insane (like Michella….).

    I’m just now realizing a new ship I have. Yu Fong and Siena the oracle.

    Also, I have to state in as many places as possible how much I long for Arabella books. Please please, may the writing muses bring inspiration to HA regarding Arabellas POV while being funny and taking no shit. Her short stories left me rabid for more.

  91. My votes are for:

    The Metal Rose
    Karakun
    Penhiro and you’ll have to fight me for the Roman ship. I love him and can’t wait until he gets his own book.

  92. Team Metalrose all the way! And I must admit I am kind of hiding in the lifeboat of Karakun… it would just be so much fun ????

  94. DEFINATELY Team Metal Rose – Julie/Derek must end up together; although Julie mixing it up with Yu Fong will be a great segway to Julie and Derek finding their forever love. However, in the Sweep series; NO ONE can get married until we see Maud walk down the aisle, and of course Dina & Sean – maybe a double wedding.

  95. I enjoyed the “regatta”, and seeing all the ships. 🙂

    I find it startling that the BDH is doing pretty-much just traditional male/female ships … where’s your breadth and imagination? With the examples of some non-traditional relationships in side-characters (Patricia & Regina, the Nathers in White Hot), it would be cool if the authors had Arabella do some questing (or questioning) …

    Or Roman +the dragon (there is obviously affection there) … yes, I am being silly. Dut what would that ship be named … Droman? Romgon?

    Thank you for the fun post!

  96. Mod R, your posts are one of the many reasons I live being part of the BDH!
    TEAM METAL ROSE FOR LIFE!!! (this is being whisper yelled so I don’t freak out the toddler)
    Team Michelle!
    Team ship recovered!!!!!!!
    Team Penhiro (siiiigh) I love Benjiro!
    Is there a ship yet for Jazz fish?

  99. I have purchased a first class cabin (with veranda and personal steward/stewardess service) on the good ship Karakun.

    The Penhiro is a meandering canoe trip on a lazy waterway with stops on the bank for catered lunch, tea, whatever the hearts desire. I will follow closely.

    I have cabins on hold on the Michella and Jingllebella both. Time will tell which I choose.

    And lastly, the possibility of the SS Roman Grigorievich Tihomirov is quite exciting ????

  100. “There will be no white flag above our doors….. [Metal Rose]’s in love, and always will be” 😉