#the bonneville game

[ghoulpepperv]

Whenever I have time to play BG3, I've been playing as my characters from @thebonnevillegame and I 100% have favorite ships now lol.

I'm obsessed with Minty/Wyll, but I'm torn on Laura/Karlach or Laura/Lae'zel. (I'm loving the L&L idea though haha.) I also love Ingrid/Halsin and Bex/Astarion/Halsin.

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

ONLY 35 HOURS LEFT TO DONATE!

If you can donate to get us 700 before the fundraiser ends, we'd really appreciate it!

Minty Lam and Laura Bates head to Bonneville, Pennsylvania to attend the Bonneville Podcasters' Retreat. They, along with their absent friend, Ingrid, host The Night Owls of Philly, a podcast that focuses on investigating all things paranormal. They have plans to play the Bonneville Game, a ritual game that can only be performed in Bonneville, for their audience.

The legend says, if you visit the Bonneville Forest at midnight, you can call upon O’Malley the Smiling Demon to predict your future. After they play the game, they realize that it may have worked, and they’ve put everyone’s lives in danger.

Here is episode 1! Which will also be re-sound designed by our new sound designer very soon!

[thetavolution]

More Minty! Although that info is from her original incarnation for @thebonnevillegame but a lot of it still carries over! She's my little weirdo and I love her. She just doesn't have a supernatural podcast in BG3 like she does in The Bonneville Game.

What would podcasts in the BG3 universe even be like? Minty would still do one with Ingrid and Laura, but it'd probably be about their adventures and telling people their findings. As for what everyone else would listen to....

Gale would be an NPR guy.

Karlach would be love audio dramas and My Brother, My Brother, and Me. She'd struggle to pay attention though. MBMBAM kind of matches her attention span for them best.

Lae'zel would have no interest in them.

Wyll would love comedians with podcasts, like Conan O'Brien or Marc Maron. He'd also listen to news and political podcasts to keep up with current events. He'd listen to podcasts that cover "the other side of the argument" but then just be angry about it all day when someone said something hateful.

Shadowheart would listen to stuff like Normal Gossip and Why Won't You Date Me? with Nicole Byer.

Astarion would listen to true crime, legal podcasts, and he would also like Normal Gossip. Then he'd talk about it with Shadowheart and then probably submit a story of his own about his companions.

Halsin would probably listen to some of them, but only the ones people recommended to him. He'd like the ones about nature/the environment and he'd keep up with news. Outside of that, he'd stick to the "feel good" ones. He would struggle to understand the appeal of true crime.

Jaheira does not have time for them. She'll turn one on after someone recommends it and be pulled away immediately.

Minsc would be too distracted to listen to any of them. If you turned one on around him, he wouldn't retain any of it.

Minthara spits on your stupid podcasts. Stop recommending them to her.

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

We hate to say a lot of our shipping couples aren't going to really appear until season 2! Which is why you should support seasons 1 and 2 to help get some fanfic shipping fodder.

But we do eventually get a glimpse of Laura's ex-girlfriend in season 1. That would get the fanfic crowd riled.

Audio dramas - if your show had a sizable fan following, what ship do you think would have the most fics on AO3?

[turtletaubwrites]

Numbers Game ~ Chapter 36

Maybe I Have Gone Mad

Pairings: Cross Guild Polycule x Shanks x Fem!Reader x ???

Numbers Game Masterlist

Word Count: 7.3k+

Ao3 Link

Ongoing Series Playlist: Youtube Music Link | Youtube Link

Chapter Tunes: Arrow Pierce My Heart ~ The Bonnevilles | Rabbit Hole ~ Why Mona

Summary: Your first date with the first born prince leads you to a hint of hope, yet it's hard not to focus on the first man that stole your heart. The Cross Guild tries not to fall through a hole in the world while the Emperor tries to be a villain. All they can do is hope that they're not too late to chase their little rabbit.

Ch. 35 Recap: Detailed recap is directly below the cut!

Author's Note: Hi! I miss y'all so much, I hope I can come back more regularly soon. I'm okay! Thank you for all the love and interactions even when I'm in hardcore hermit mode, I adore you so much! 🥰🙏

Dark Content Warning: I haven't marked any untagged dark content for this chapter. Hopefully I didn't miss anything big for you, but I will say that Iceburg is showing up more, so be prepared for reader's conflicting feelings for her first crush/hunter.

Also, I hope everyone remembers the tag/warning: Cross Guild Boys are VILLAINS. It’s been there since day one, so 🤷‍♀️

Alternate POV Symbols:

🌲 ~ Reader | 🐊 ~ Crocodile | 🗡 ~ Mihawk | 🤡 ~ Buggy | 🔴 ~ Shanks | ⏰ ~ Flashbacks for listed POV | ⚫ ~ Scenes depicting Dark Content as listed in Author's Notes

!!! SPOILER WARNING !!! Fic currently contains spoilers for up to chapter 1064 or episode 1093. As we get further into Egghead Arc where our lovely boys are showing up more, there will be more spoilers as time goes on. Sorry y'all, I'm trying to keep most spoilers small details, but Cross Guild is endgame, lol.

Rating/Warnings: Author May Choose to Exclude some Warnings to Avoid Spoilers for Certain Chapters, Explicit Sexual Content, 18+ ONLY, MDNI, AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Use of Y/N, Dark Content, Blood & Violence, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Mental Illness, Grief, Hospitals, Doctors, Mental Health Treatment, Toxic Family, Childhood Trauma, Swearing, Alcohol, Cigars, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Guilt, Drama, Jealousy, Manipulation, Pet Names, Power Imbalance, Cross Guild boys are VILLAINS, Possessive Behavior, Teasing, Threats, Relationship Drama, Inappropriate Use of Akuma no Mi | Devil Fruit Powers, Shameless Shameless Smut, Uncle Cedrick Has Become His Own Warning, Death of an Unnamed Character, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |

Chapter 35 ~ Recap:

Buggy dealt with guilt and fear over keeping your lie a secret. He watched Crocodile and Mihawk falling apart without their Numbers Girl, and decided not to tell them what you said to your sister: that you "never wanted to see those murderers, those monsters again."

Crocodile kept watching his sweet girl's worst memories while his old agents sailed closer. He saw a memory of you practicing speaking with a transponder snail in the asylum, but crumbling when your uncle called, taunting you by saying that your sister was sailing during storm season. Crocodile held onto his little clown while all of his lovers fell to pieces, and realized that he didn't care if they lied. He just wanted them back.

Mihawk fought to stay hopeful while he hunted for answers, but he kept finding reasons to be a monster while he followed the trail of underground casinos, and people that were using your pain for their pleasure and their pockets.

Shanks struggled, every move he made seeming to push you further away. He couldn't speak openly on this snail-covered island, but he wouldn't stop fighting for you.

You were trying to be numb, trying not to feel anything, but Uncle Cedrick kept tearing you down. You drank through your date with Giberson, then broke his arrow at Cedrick's command. You decided to enjoy your time as much as you could, but couldn't help thinking about the upcoming date with your first crush, Mr. Iceburg.

But that was tomorrow. Today, you were flown into a tower of roses with the first born Vinsmoke prince. Your old trauma snuck out when his brother almost hurt a surveillance snail, but now your date with Ichiji was about to begin.

You told yourself "that nothing mattered, so you might as well enjoy this."

Chapter 36 ~ Maybe I Have Gone Mad

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

“Oh my, it seems you’ve drained my pockets dry,” The Concealer chuckled, pushing the last of his chips toward Shanks’ pile. “And before our lucky lady has even emerged from her tower.”

The Emperor of the Sea gritted his teeth at the reminder of the distant image on the projector screen. Y/N had been flown into a tower of pretty thorns while the leeches around him placed bets on which of the three brothers she’d choose to keep, if her ugly dress would still be intact when they freed her from the roses, or if she’d be crying for mercy from that inhuman prince’s inhuman cock.

Y/N’s mask had shattered for just a moment, but the terror in her scream meant nothing to her guests. His wealthy companions had only praised or laughed at her for her concern for the cam-snail, most of them just lamenting that she hadn’t kept it with her in that cage of thorns.

“Mind accompanying an old man to his quarters,” Giberson interrupted his inner rage with a cheerful wink. “I need to restock my funds so I can keep filling your pockets.”

Shanks wanted to carry the old man to get out of that room before he snapped and nearly spat at the staff that stopped him from leaving the mound of chips he’d won.

“I’ll watch your winnings, chief,” Benn grinned, nudging him toward the ex-suitor that was hobbling out. “So long as you don’t mind buying me, and my new friend a drink?”

“Better be some left when I come back,” he forced a laugh, sparing just a glance toward the young woman his first mate had charmed into sitting on his lap. Benn had always been skilled at enjoying himself while he gathered information.

At least someone was having a good time here.

~~~🔴~~~

“Come on in, my boy,” Giberson welcomed, ushering Shanks into his opulent suite. “Care for a drink before you rob me of all my berry?”

“How could I refuse?”

Shanks’ body was burning with tension, his prey within his sights.

The old man set his tall hat onto the coffee table after pouring them each a glass, leaving Shanks to wait with the liquor in his hand. The great pirate was shaking.

Pull it together, shithead.

The tiny smile his thought had given him dropped in confusion when Giberson pulled out a small, horned snail from the inside of that large hat.

“Why­– “

The Emperor of the Underworld tapped a bony finger over his lips, gesturing toward the snail until its eyes turned red.

The silent humming of surveillance that had become a constant itch faded away while the red-eyed creature swayed.

“A jamming snail,” Shanks breathed, tapping glasses with the smirking, old man.

“Congratulations, my boy. I really thought it would be Katakuri or Iceburg, but I was so hoping it would be you.”

Shanks couldn’t read his intentions, so he just sipped his drink.

“The mighty Red Haired Shanks is still cautious, eh,” Giberson laughed, clapping him on the shoulder as though he had no sense of caution himself. “That’s probably how you got to be so mighty. Don’t worry, I’ll answer any questions you have, and my little friend will keep our words quiet. Although, with all the surveillance here, my pet might not be able to hold up for too long. Best get started.”

“But why,” Shanks trailed off, fighting to wake himself up and get to work. It can’t be this easy…

“That lovely heiress would never pick an old ghost like me,” Giberson chuckled. He topped them both off before leaning back, eyeing Shanks with a satisfied grin. “I came to play the game, and I knew that whichever hunter found me first would be the one most determined to win. I may not have luck with cards, but I always bet on the winning horse. You really want to win that little bunny, don’t you, Shanks?”

The snail blinked slowly, and the Emperor of the Sea remembered that he had to breathe, had to fix this.

“Tell me about the Vinsmokes— wait,” he sputtered after he swallowed his liquor too fast, the rye whiskey burning his lips while he wasted more precious time. “Why did you think it would be Katakuri or Iceburg?”

Giberson’s patronizing laughter took too fucking long, but he cut Shanks off before he could hurry him up.

“You haven’t been paying attention, have you,” the Concealer chided. Topping off their drinks was the only thing that kept violence from tearing through the room. “Just wait. I’m sure our little doe is having fun with the young buck tonight, but you should be more worried about the older competition. Especially the one that she’s admired for so long.”

“Aren’t we on borrowed time, Gibby?” Shanks’ smile seemed to chafe his own lips. “Don’t you wanna give your chosen horse a fighting chance?”

“Too right you are,” he laughed, wiggling a finger in the air to scold himself. “The older you get, the more you like to hear yourself talk, I’m afraid, but let’s get on with it. You may be an emperor, but you’re going to need all the help you can get if you want to compete with that gentle giant, and the lady’s first crush.”

Shanks needed all the help he could get.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

The handsome prince sat close enough to you to still watch your face, your breath, while trailing his hand along your back. Your heavy gown added to the building warmth in the dimly lit tower of roses he’d trapped you in.

Ichiji had eaten from the same serving plates, so you had filled your own, fighting off sleepiness while you sipped the cool champagne.

“So, it’s true that you worked at a bank, huh,” he purred. You fought to focus on his handsome face, and not the same old small talk you always hated.

“Mhm,” you nodded, nearly blowing out the pretty candle on the table, tired of its dancing light. “I know it was a unique hobby— “

“Vinsmokes aren’t useless royals, you know.” He pulled you toward his gaze with gentle fingers on your chin, pausing to stare at your parted lips before continuing. “If you enjoy being useful, I’m sure we can find responsibilities for you in our kingdom. It takes a lot of math to craft our tech.”

You couldn’t risk these feelings, couldn’t humor the slivers of hope for a decent life that you kept stumbling upon. All you could do was try to enjoy the ride and land in the softest place.

Kat wanted to see their tech… Maybe—

 “But I wouldn’t mind pampering you if that’s what you’d prefer,” Ichiji teased along your cheek.

You’d gone still too long while you hoped for a less shitty existence, but it didn’t matter.

“My princess,” he seemed to beg, kissing down your neck before pulling away. That word had always pissed you off. It wasn’t true, whether it was said with love or disdain.

He pulled his glasses off, shoving red hair from his face to stare down at you. “Just tell me what you want, gorgeous. Anything… Do you wanna stop?”

“Why pick just one,” you breathed, watching confusion move those strangely cute eyebrows of his. Blowing out the candle instead of answering his questioning sound, you let yourself enjoy everything the moment had to give. “What if I’d like to be useful and pampered?”

You were glad for the other lights in the dim tower, because the hungry flare in his eyes when you kissed the inside of his wrist was delicious. The red-haired prince was shaking, nearly panting, and his need might have been frightening if you still gave a fuck about anything besides going numb.

“Can I please pamper you, princess,” Ichiji begged, his fingers gripping into your thick skirts. A puppy struggling to obey while it waited to snatch up its treat.

That word might be growing on you.

“Yes, please—Oh, Ichiji!”

The prince shoved the table away, dishes crashing to the ground along with that luckily blown out candle. He knelt at your feet, and you almost regretted your choice as the need in his eyes seemed violent. The tightening of your body only reminded you of how fucked up you were.

“You’re gonna look so pretty on a throne,” Ichiji threatened. His hands felt too strong when they lifted your dress, yanking your panties down your legs. He tucked them into his pocket, and you smirked, about to tease the desperate prince.

You couldn’t smirk, or tease, or do anything but moan and let your eyes roll back when his fingers found you dripping. He teased over you, circling your clit before shoving one, then two fingers in, curling, taking.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” the prince panted while he made you twitch. “I didn’t think you’d be so… You fucking want this, don’t you?”

You reached for his hair, wanting to be sure you were seeing him right. The prince looked more wrecked than you were.

“Ichiji,” you whined, coming when he brought his other hand to tease your clit, coming while he moaned along with you. His body thrust toward yours from where he knelt on the floor, but he managed to keep pampering you with his fingers while his eyes rolled back.

“Mm, Ichiji, that felt so good.”

The air that had been too hot went cold as the prince pulled away. His jaw was clenched, a tension in his body that made you still, until you remembered.

“That was so fucking hot,” you purred, trailing your hands along your thighs, and his eyes couldn’t seem to resist the pull.

“Yeah, princess,” he asked as he cleared his throat, still holding himself away.

“Yes,” you bit your lip. You hoped you were reading this prince well. “I love that you came just from touching me. You really liked making me feel good?”

A hint of a snarl touched his lips.

Fuck. Don’t be mad. Don’t—

“Does my princess want more,” Ichiji growled, and your body went loose with relief and delicious want.

Your breathy, ‘yes,’ left you squealing when that hungry prince launched himself at you. His red hair disappeared beneath that stupid dress, and you cursed the bells that rang closer and closer while he left sloppy, then focused kisses and licks along your core. You felt him whine around your clit before he pulled away, and the sight of him licking his fucking lips had you beaming at him.

“We’re gonna finish this later, right, gorgeous,” he teased, pointlessly smoothing your skirts into place.

“What would a princess say?”

“My princess can say whatever she wants,” Ichiji promised, his sticky clothes covered by his raid suit again, and soon you were carried through the circle of thorns toward his waiting brothers. They flanked him again, but you didn’t hear their light bickering now.

The wind teased your flushed skin, and he let you touch the top of another tree before you were brought back down. Down to reality, where you still had to think, instead of letting a handsome prince, or the lovely wind whisk you away. Daydreams of flying free brought a soft smile to your face while they kissed your hands, until you were stuffed into another fluffy robe and dragged back to your less-pretty cage.

~~~🌲~~~

Kat was waiting, letting out a soft sigh after she barked at the servants to leave you with her. The worry returned, but your sister started humming softly while she helped you out of that ugly gown, and you couldn’t believe what you were seeing.

“Are you… happy?”

“Shut the fuck up,” she ordered, but there was something in her narrowed eyes that woke you up. “I am capable of happiness, you know.”

Snorting earned you a scowl, but you’d seen it. All you needed.

“But I won’t be happy again until you are,” Kat declared, the words stated as a fact, like she was merely reciting the time.

Her voice said it so clearly, but her eyes held just a hint. Only a sister could have seen the light there.

The hope.

“So, how was your date?”

She frowned at your reaching hand, but didn’t stop you from snagging the lovely clue from her sweater.

“How was yours,” you teased, holding it up to the light. She made so many faces so quickly that you laughed, until she snatched it from you.

A strand of pretty, pink hair.

“It wasn’t a date, it’s not like that,” Kat lied, but you let her.

Your sister had never talked to you about that before, but you had come out to her ages ago. If she wasn’t ready, then you wouldn’t push her. You’d try really hard not to push her.

“Gods, you’re still annoying,” she sighed at the grin you couldn’t wipe off your face. “There’s not a lot for sisters of the stars to do, so we’ve been hanging out. We might be sister-in-law’s soon anyway.”

“Hanging out pretty close, huh,” you smirked, flicking your eyes toward the pink hair on her lap. She wiped it away to drift toward the plush carpet.

“Reiju didn’t have a spare set, alright,” Kat explained, anger barely covering the like quirk to her lips. “I told her I wanted to hover, so she flew me around for a bit. It was— “

“Fucking awesome, right,” you laughed, reaching for her hands now.

“I told you,” Kat gave in, matching your true smile now. “Unless someone else has hover boots, the Vinsmokes are my number one choice. Unless you really like someone else, I guess.”

“Well, I have three to choose from, so they’ve got a forty two point— “

“You fucking nerd!”

This wasn’t numb.

You hadn’t felt this feeling in years, and it was more than you deserved.

This moment felt like connection, like you were being a real sister to her.

It was fucking stupid. Naïve.

You couldn’t risk feeling happy or hopeful for either of you, just fight for the least shitty option. Weigh the pros and cons.

But if you could keep Kat safe, and give her a chance to be genuinely happy, then you’d slaughter every fucking person on this island to do it.

“Go take a shower, nerd,” she ordered, breathless from tackling you. “Your hair looks fucking stupid.”

~~~🌲~~~

No fucking favorites.

Mr. Iceburg…

You had shoved him out of your mind as much as you could, but waking up to the prospect of his undivided attention this evening reminded you of how sweet and soft obsession could feel. You had always wanted him.

Nothing matters anyway. If he is a monster, I can kill him too.

After.

~~~🌲~~~

You’d never been happier to be scowled at.

Kat sat across from you at breakfast, neither of you paying attention to the drivel that Uncle Cedrick and Vinsmoke Judge kept spoon-feeding each other. The other brothers were competition, so they weren’t invited. This left you with the eldest brother purring along your neck all morning, his constant praise and promises nearly becoming background noise.

Ichiji’s affection just couldn’t compete with the sisterly delight you felt watching Kat squirm beside the beautiful Vinsmoke princess.

The grace that Reiju held herself with was dreamy, somehow weightless, even without her hover boots. She’d shrugged off her red cape, but her pink hair seemed to sway in its place each time she moved, dancing along the high collar of her white dress. It seemed mimic the frilled shirts her brothers wore but hugged her body all the way down to her thighs. You couldn’t see them below the table now, but Reiju’s lovely thighs each held a large tattoo of the number six.

Reiju flaunted those numbers that sent fear through their enemies.

Germa 66. The conquering kingdom. This stunning woman came from a family that was said to be superhuman, vicious, evil.

Your sister had hardly touched her plate, too busy watching the possibly evil princess’ every move.

Bad guys aren’t always so bad…

“So, Y/N,” Reiju hummed, her fingers playing along the side of her empty glass, “you were a pirate, weren’t you? That seems like a lot more fun than— “

“Kidnapped by pirates,” your uncle corrected, not seeming to care if she believed him while he went back to glowing at his new “friend.”

“That could still be fun,” she winked at you before turning her gorgeous, violet eyes toward your sister. “What do you think, Kat? Would you rather have a pirate or a prince?”

Your sister glanced toward Uncle Cedrick, but he was too busy laughing at his own joke.

“Are those my only options,” Kat asked. Her voice was quiet but held enough of a flirtatious lilt that you had to look away to keep from cheering her on.

“Let’s hope not,” Reiju chuckled, and you let Ichiji distract you now, giving as much space as you could.

~~~🌲~~~

Another hunt was about to begin, and the locket didn’t fit the theme. You managed to shove it into the tight, striped dress before endless hands pulled and prodded at your skin, your hair, and your fucking sanity.

Regretting the question before it left your lips, you reminded yourself that these people were just trying to survive. They weren’t leeches, just tools and toys for the rich to control so they could keep living their pampered lives.

That was hard to remember while the servants dressed you up like a lamb to slaughter, but everything went back to him. Uncle Cedrick would never let you go. You would never be free from his games.

“Why are you painting stripes...”

Fuck. That fucking asshole.

“It’s part of today’s game,” your mother cooed. You were surprised that her perfect smile hadn’t shattered the mirror.

“Today’s hunt,” your corrected, daring her to falter, to let that mask fall just a bit.

That smile of hers grew sharper and a small part of you wondered what words she had swallowed down. The rest of you was fighting not to scream and claw at the servants that were painting lines across your chest to match that red and white dress. Those stripes were curved around a center point, a lovely, red heart painted over where your real heart was pounding with rage.

Don’t show it. Don’t let it in.

Sick laughter almost escaped, but you swallowed it down to return your mother’s sharp smile.

~~~🌲~~~

Vultures gasped in delight when you stepped into the courtyard. There were always so many eyes on you, but today felt like it was about to be a rough fucking day, and the wave of their laughter almost crushed you. Your body thrummed with the desire to pierce every single one of their greedy hearts until the white on your dress was stained red.

Uncle Cedrick had made you a target and painted you to match your fate, and his twisted pleasure was met with applause.

You had never wanted to be a monster. All these years you had tried to run, tried to hide from the words you’d been branded with.

Broken.

Sick.

Damaged.

Crazy.

Psycho.

Unwell.

Uncle Cedrick dragged you to the little stage, fingers pressing into your back until you smiled.

The strength it took not to snatch the arrow from his grasp and try to end as many leeches as you could before you disappeared was physically painful.

You had really thought that you were holding it together. You thought that you were strong enough to pretend.

But today was a rough day, and just standing there in that debasing dress was almost enough to make you tear at your hair, struggling against the disgusting, abhorrent feeling of living your fucking life.

Buggy.

It was just a name, a small, painful sound in your mind, yet it shifted the weight of your soul for a moment.

Your uncle’s words were white noise while you swallowed the lump in your throat. Kat’s concerned gaze caught yours from her spot at the Vinsmoke’s table, and you couldn’t let him win. If he broke you that deep, if you gave in to that rage, then the consequences would hurt more than just those you wished to end.

A twinge of resentment touched your selfish mind, but you forced yourself to breathe it out.

Just shut it off. Disappear inside.

Pretend.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

Once again, Shanks fell in line beside his enemies. The Concealer had filled his mind with so many words, so many secrets and weaknesses, but not a single plan.

How could he plan when Cedrick Sylvad had his hands on her?

“Another hunter has failed the hunt,” Cedrick chided, and Shanks couldn’t keep his fingers from twitching when Sylvad pressed the point of an arrow to her heart.

Her lovely heart that this monster had painted a fucking bullseye on and encouraged his greedy friends to aim their weapons at.

“However, our little doe is so sweet that she wants to give each hunter one last chance,” he lied. Shanks had heard the leeches complaining while they lounged and bet on this game. Some wanted more drama, more romance, more tension.

Cedrick was giving his “friends” every twisted thing they wanted, and they adored him for it.

“One of you will still be going home, but she may change her mind on who depending on your next few words,” he teased as he stepped down from that moving platform. “Tell her why she should be yours.”

That fallen star was frozen, a perfect smile breaking his heart while she was lifted, gliding through the air until she reached the end of the line.

Vinsmokes.

All three of those cocky princes promised her a pampered life, and Shanks would have laughed at their weak attempts if he didn’t have three of them to deal with.

He held himself taut, needing to hear the next hunter’s every word, but Iceburg’s promises were hard to catch over the laughter beside him.

“Did you hear them, brother,” Cracker asked loudly, craning his neck to catch Katakuri’s gaze. “Didn’t we make their daddy cry his eyes out a month ago? How do they expect to protect our little bride when they can’t even—“

“Enough,” came that deep voice from above, but Katakuri was too late.

“Alright boys,” Cedrick scolded with a laugh while the Vinsmokes glared from behind their colored glasses. “That’s enough tension for today. My dear niece deserves a little romance before you sink your arrows into her.”

Glancing back at Y/N turned Shanks’ rage into icy fear.

Y/N’s smile looked just a little more real, and she hadn’t seemed to have heard her uncle’s words while she gazed up at the blue haired shipwright.

Iceburg kissed her hand after taking a mouse from her palm, tucking it into his pocket.

“I hope you don’t send me home before our date tonight, girlie,” Iceburg whined, “I don’t wanna leave before I show you your gift. It took so much work.”

She laughed.

Fuck.

The Emperor of the Sea watched helplessly while that star shined just a bit. She shined for someone else.

And she kept shining when the platform lifted her into the air.

“No matter what you choose, you are already mine,” the merman prince promised.

His voice sounded hushed, but it was too large to hide from the air. Fukaboshi kept softness in what could almost be a threat.

“I will do everything in my power to help you lead the joyful life that your kind heart deserves.”

If Y/N gave a reply, it was lost while the platform pulled her down, but she was still high enough for the Sweet Commander of the Big Mom pirates to gaze at her with those crimson eyes.

“I am meant to tell you why you should be mine,” Katakuri purred, tracing the side of her face with his large fingers, blocking the piece of her that Shanks could see from this angle. “But I want to be yours, Y/N. I want to be your family, and I hope that you’ll give me another chance to show you how much family means to me.”

“Thank you, Katakuri,” Y/N said, giving a small yelp when the platform pulled her away from another enemy Shanks would have to defeat.

“Cracker?”

Y/N waited for the other Charlotte to look her way, the man tilting his head up toward his elder brother before snapping back to her.

“You should keep me here so I can protect you from those spoiled princes down the line. They don’t care about family, and that makes them weak. If you choose—“

“You’ve got a lot to say for someone who—“

“Don’t worry hunters, you’ll have plenty more opportunities to test yourselves against one another. For now, I believe that our Emperor of the Sea still needs to say his piece,” Cedrick gestured to him before Y/N was set down before him.

She was so close.

Right there.

Lightyears and lightyears away.

There were so many things he ached to say, but Shanks wasn’t done playing the villain.

He pulled her off the platform, catching her against his chest when she stumbled. The crowd gasped in surprised titillation while Shanks held her chin to keep her gaze trapped on his.

The red-haired pirate was silent during his turn. Instead of imploring her to keep him, Shanks just stared down into those swirling depths.

There were noises and voices around them, but Shanks was drowning in her, drowning in his desperate need for her to wake up. He tried to look the villain, to convince her with his eyes, or to read anything from her, but all he could do was drink in that emptiness.

The nothingness she gave him nearly broke him. No one could carry all of this with such a lovely smile.

Unless she was already gone.

Finally, those cursed bells, and Cedrick’s entitled fingers, tore the shell of that shining star from his grasp.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

I knew those soft, brown eyes were a lie…

You couldn’t recall ever feeling grateful for Uncle Cedrick’s controlling touch, but anything was better than the cage that your enemy had cornered you in.

Disappearing was the only way you could withstand the force of that powerful pirate’s gaze.

Those eyes had held more than flirtation, desire, or anger. Shanks had let that mask fall away, letting the world watch the predator claim what was his. He was a greedy monster, and the chaos in his silent demand felt like walls closing in. You felt a sudden fear for your other buyers as the heat of his grip still seemed to burn into your skin.

Shanks isn’t just playing.

The Emperor of the Sea wanted to own you, and he was the kind of man that got everything he wanted, no matter what he had to do to get it. It was no wonder why Uncle Cedrick seemed to like him so much.

“Well, dear niece,” he called you back to the world, making you gasp when he broke the arrow beside you, pressing it into your palm. “Time to say goodbye. I wonder if these lovely promises were enough to change your vote…”

It seemed that the crowd of vultures was growing louder every day, but the heaviness in your next words was enough to drown them out.

“Prince Fukaboshi,” you called out with that practiced calm, your voice carrying through the courtyard until they shut the fuck up. The platform tore you from the ground, until you tried not to shake before this terrifying man that you could have been safe with.

This man that appeared to be the most monstrous of them all yet might be the only hero in this line of hunters.

His soft smile with those sharp teeth forced you to breathe. You couldn’t show favorites, not even at the end.

“I am sorry, Prince Fukaboshi,” you told the truth, dropping the splintered wood of the arrow into his massive palm. “I’m afraid that your arrow failed to pierce my heart.”

“It has been an honor to try,” he started, his brows furrowing when the platform began to lower before he finished his sentence. His deep voice rolled down over you until Uncle Cedrick guided you away from a life that might have been.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

Doerena was a lovely, little kingdom.

Its smuggling ring was particularly delightful, although Mihawk didn’t care about the weapons, the drugs, or the power.

The swordsman only cared about the snails and the little rabbit that he was always too late to catch.

Mihawk had woken up too late. Changed too late.

The rage that gripped him every time he caught someone using Y/N for their own pleasure was a force of nature, cruel and mindless. It cracked open the ground beneath him, sucking everything into his destruction while he fell through a hole in the earth.

The swordsman cleaned his blade, ignoring the rest of his mess while he watched his love on the big screen.

His darling was smiling with a hideous target painted over her beautiful heart, but he swore that he had caught a hint of fight in those gorgeous eyes when her uncle brandished an arrow at her.

“We’ll paint it red, darling,” Mihawk promised while he watched his red-haired lover chase his little rabbit.

Mihawk promised endless red in that room that he’d already painted for her, his sword the only clean thing in sight. Promises were all he could give her while he waited for his chance.

I won’t be late.

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

Only three hunters had yet to have a private date, but that still left too many more days before Shanks could claim another for himself.

Another chance.

“All hunters are welcome to play,” Cedrick announced, charming the crowd, “but today’s prize will be claimed by a Vinsmoke or a Charlotte. Which one of you will pierce her heart?”

The Emperor of the Sea twirled an arrow in his fingers, ignoring the bow beside him while the other hunters prepped their shots.

“Pathetic, little boys can’t do shit without their fancy suits, huh?”

“Cracker,” his brother warned. Katakuri had sat this hunt out, offering his shadow to Y/N while she watched her hunters try to sink their arrows into her beautifully carved doppelgangers.

Those wooden dolls were painted with that matching bullseye over their hearts, but their perfect smiles had to be more real than the one on her lips.

“I wouldn’t need my suit to end a freak like you,” Niji sneered, leaning around his younger brother.

Cheers interrupted their tension and Shanks frowned up at the replay of one of those perfect dolls being perfectly shot through the heart.

Iceburg was annoyingly skilled with a bow.

“All these years of friendship and I never knew we shared a hobby,” Cedrick chuckled while the old shipwright pulled his shirt back on, disappointed sounds floating up from the audience at the act. “If you pierce my niece’s heart like that, we may have some family hunting trips to plan soon.”

“Ooh, but look at the prince,” one of the leeches called out until Yonji’s image filled the screen. The green-haired Vinsmoke lifted his chin, too proud of winning with his second place shot.

“At least the green shit has some energy. That prissy, blue boy is fucking worthless. Our cute, little bride already forgot about them, huh,” Cracker taunted too loudly, his overconfidence boiling over while he drew all eyes to his. “I bet she can’t even feel them after she’s had a Charllotte. Not unless they use their fancy toys.”

Cracker’s grin spread wide, thick and vicious across the screen until he got what he wanted. Niji had shoved past his younger brother, his crackling energy shattering a few graham cracker soldiers before the remaining brothers stopped the fight, and Cracker didn’t stop laughing until Katakuri loomed over him.

Shanks had taken the moment to show off, appearing between his little bunny and the would-be battle between failed hunters. Niji and Cracker were reigned in almost instantly, but the disappointment from the crowd reminded Shanks of what a show they were all trapped in.

“I am surprised we made it this far,” Cedrick chuckled as he took center stage again. “I wonder if anyone made a killing on these two being the first to fight…”

A smattering of groans left the crowd, with one voice lamenting the fact that they hadn’t put more berry down.

“Excuse me, Emperor,” he purred, grabbing Y/N’s wrist to guide her before the fighters. He snapped his fingers in the air, and a servant brought him two arrows in an instant, the tyrant beaming while he broke them over his knee. “I’m afraid you two have broken the rules, and it wouldn’t be fair to let you stay. Do you have anything you’d like to say to my dear niece now that you have failed to pierce her heart?”

Shanks fought not to let hope creep into his stupid, selfish heart while he watched two of his enemies disappear so easily.

Those two had never been a real threat.

“You like my brother, don’t you,” Cracker taunted, although his manic grin seemed more earnest than before. Y/N didn’t answer soon enough to stop the man’s next few words from spilling out. “Big brother likes you too. Don’t make me kill all these fuckers to make you my sister. I’ll make them suffer first, and—“

“Brotherly love,” Cedrick laughed while Katakuri dragged his cackling brother away, “and what about you, Prince Niji?”

The blue-haired prince stared at her for a long moment, too much satisfaction in his gaze.

“It’s alright. This little princess is coming home with us, aren’t you?”

“She’s coming home with me,” Yonji declared, kneeling to kiss Y/N’s hand. He was now the last hunter left without his first, private date.

Y/N gave the green-haired prince a lovely smile, and Shanks fought not to celebrate.

The day after tomorrow. Shanks could win another chance the day after tomorrow.

I just need one more chance.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~⏰🌲🌲🌲⏰~~~

Dad’s fingers tapping on his desk might have distracted you if a certain someone hadn’t answered his call.

“How’s my favorite shipwright?”

“Mm, well, I’ll be better once the season passes,” Iceburg complained, and you chewed on your pencil while you fought off your grin at his deep voice. That silly whine of his came through your dad’s snail so clearly, and you knew you wouldn’t be able to focus on your homework now.

You were good at pretending though, so you scribbled random numbers onto your notebook while your dad chatted with your favorite shipwright.

“Really,” your dad chuckled, “I thought storm season was good building time for you. You’ve already got another East Blue boat for us to look at, don’t you? Plus, that extra project?”

“Of course,” Mr. Iceburg assured while you imagined his lovely hands making lovely things. “You and our little numbers girl can swing on by after the season ends. Kokoro’s throwing Tom another execution extension party. Last year’s was—”

“I think the worst is past, don’t you,” your dad grinned, winking before you buried your face in your work again. “I might swing by for that little project soon, but we’ll be back for the party once Y/N’s out for spring break. If she gets good grades, of course.”

Sticking your tongue out at the tease saved you, because you would have swallowed it at Mr. Iceburg’s next words.

“I know she will. Y/N’s smarter than both of us, Arbo.”

“Don’t I know it,” Dad beamed, embarrassment heating your cheeks while you tried not to groan. “Thanks, Ice. I’ll see you soon.”

“Not too soon, friend,” Mr. Iceburg scolded. “The season’s almost over.”

~~~⏰🌲🌲🌲⏰~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

It didn’t matter that his enemy seemed to be a good man. From everything Shanks had already known about the CEO of Galley La, and all he’d heard from the Concealer, Iceburg appeared to be a genuinely decent person. He was well-loved by his people, adored, and admired.

The only potential flaw he could find was that Iceburg was here.

“This is quite the boat, Mr. Iceberg. It hasn’t even been two weeks since the hunt started,” Shanks whistled, finally catching his enemy alone. “How’d you make this for our girl so fast? Or was it meant for another sweetheart?”

Staff were still milling about the edge of the lake, setting up tables so the leeches could dine while they watched this man steal her away.

The man in question stepped off the gorgeous, little sailboat, a slight crease to his brow before he answered the red-haired pirate.

“It wasn’t,” Iceburg noted with a smile when he looked back at his work. “I made this for Y/N a long time ago, with a little help from a friend.”

“Would that friend of yours be pleased about your date tonight,” Shanks taunted, leaning close to knock on the boat. “Last time I drank with Arbo, he wasn’t keen on the idea of his little girl with an older man.”

Iceburg hardly moved, but the shift was impressive, his eyes going as cold as his namesake while he assessed the man before him.

“I suppose we’re both bad friends then,” the shipwright drawled. He moved to walk around Shanks off the dock, glaring when the emperor stood in his path.

“A man in your position has a lot to lose here,” Shanks breathed, frustration and fury rising at the lack of fear showing in that icy gaze. “Everyone expects pirates to be the bad guys, but mayors? I don’t think your constituents will be too pleased about what you’re up to.”

Nothing. This man could hold himself quiet, and Shanks couldn’t risk using Haki to make him kneel.

“If you’re not going to attack me, please get out of my way.” Iceburg finally clenched his jaw, eyes flicking over Shanks’ shoulder toward the growing sounds of vultures. “I don’t want to keep my date waiting.”

“She’s leaving here with me,” the desperate pirate vowed, hissing while he let his enemy walk away.

“I don’t think she likes you very much, Emperor,” Iceburg arched a brow. Applause met the shipwright when he walked toward the show, both of their forms displayed across the projector screen while the snails captured the small boat, and the symbol of a tree framed by the sun painted on its sail.

Shanks stared at himself on the distant screen, his stupid hair too bright to try to sneak onto the ship with so many eyes on him now.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐊🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“No, I…”

Fuck. The scarred man had been too frightening again.

His pretty clown left his bite of a too-syrupy pancake dangling over his plate when Crocodile interrupted him, shaking his head at all the breakfast’s for dinner he'd been having.

At least he's eating.

“You’re not ‘fine,” Crocodile attempted to soothe while he scolded, “you’ve hardly slept in days. I’ll watch over you if you like. Wake you up if you say anything interesting.”

Crocodile could hardly sleep himself. Not when he had more recordings of his sweet girl's torture to watch. Watching over Buggy pushed some of that useless rage aside, at least for a moment.

“Thanks… daddy.”

The guilt that was rotting through the clown’s bones had twisted today. He had already decided. It wasn’t even a question.

Buggy would do anything to save his star, even lie.

“I don’t like it if you don’t mean it,” Crocodile teased, finally breathing when his final, little lover cracked a smile for him.

“Sorry,” Buggy huffed a laugh, stretching so taut that his joints slipped apart.  

Buggy would do anything to save her.

But what if she really…

“What do you—uh,” the clown cleared his throat, almost losing his voice before these words could meet the air. “If I told you she was happy, would you believe me? Would you leave her alone?”

The ice in Crocodile’s veins kept the rage from moving too fast.

 “She’s with Iceburg, isn’t she?”

~~~🐊🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

“Help me,” you begged, your voice high and desperate while you tried to calm your racing heart.

“You look amazing, sis,” Kat shook her head while you held up another dress against the midnight blue one you kept gravitating toward. This was the one time you wished that your outfit would be chosen for you, but Iceburg wanted you to "be yourself," so you were digging through piles of expensive fabric on your own.

Nothing felt right.

“You’re really excited about tonight,” she asked softly, and you flicked your eyes toward the staff in the corner, but they were far too professional to look like they were listening while they waited for you.

“I’m not sure,” you gave up, dropping heavy garments onto the back of the couch before sitting close. “He’s a hunter, and I haven’t seen him in years. I don’t…”

“If you want Mr. Iceburg, then I will cheer you on,” your sister whispered in your ear as she stood to give her seat to the makeup artist. “But if you don’t want him here, then I’ll go shove that mouse up his—”

You laughed so hard you choked, and Kat gave you her water to sip while she tilted her head, waiting for your answer.

“Leave the mouse alone, sis,” you beamed at her, letting yourself be dolled up for your favorite shipwright.

~~~🌲~~~

Mr. Iceburg was here. He was using you. He was a leech. A monster.

Repeating those truths like a mantra didn’t kill your stupid hope, your naive ache for that gorgeous, silly man to be anything but a vulture, here to pick the flesh from the carcass of his dead friend’s family.

No favorites. No least favorites.

You couldn’t school your features, couldn’t fix your fucking face when you saw it. You wished that you could hate him for tearing down your mask like this, but it was too beautiful, too perfect.

Drawn toward the docks, it felt like the world had disappeared. You were entranced, shrinking down and down until you touched that perfect ship in a bottle, one of the small works of art that your dad had spent so many hours on.

He’d spent so many hours telling you stories about sailing on those tiny boats, hours working out the travel time between your favorite places on a ship the size of a shoe.

Daddy had asked how you wanted this ship to look and had painted it just for you. This was the little boat that he promised you would sail to the top of the Sunlight Tree Eve someday, if you could just figure out the math. If you found the top of the Eve tree, you knew you could find an Adam tree too.

At least, you had believed that when you were playing, when dad was sharing his stories, his perfect toys.

You’d smashed that particular toy boat so long ago, stomping on that sail with the Sunlight Eve Tree. There had been no more sunlight to be found after your dad disappeared.

But here it was.

“There’s my numbers girl,” Mr. Iceburg hummed, leaning down to brush a dangerous tear from your cheek. “Wanna take a tour of your boat with me? Eve's been waiting a long time for you.”

Gentle fingers, rough from decades of his craft, reached for your hand. He offered you a chance to step into a dream, and the air around you felt timeless and soft.

Laughing to yourself, you followed your dream and his little mouse onto this ship in a bottle.

Maybe I have gone mad.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Likes, comments, and reblogs bring me much ✨dopamine✨ thank you!!

Author's Note: My "all or nothing thinking" tells me that I shouldn't interact with y'all if I'm not posting chapters regularly. Brains are dumb. I won't promise that I can get back to my old schedule soon, but I really flippin want to. This entire story is constantly on my mind, as well as all the others I have planned that have to wait until the end. All of your support makes me so happy. Hopefully I'll see you very soon, either by answering old ass comments that I adore, or posting Chapter 37. I hope your dreams are lovely tonight 💜 ~ Lynna ✨

Tag List: @shewrites02 | @caniseethefourthsword | @hey-august | @chaoticqueen33 | @destinationmars | @novakitten0901 | @h0n3y-l3m0n05 | @dorky-birdie | @szired | @pinejayy | @laws-wife-things | @jadeddangel | @gingernut1314 | @urlocaltwink | @blue-rae18 | @bontensbabygirl | @bbnbhm | @0-sparkling-lace-0 | @ihearthazuki | @mikisspeak | @djloveyou3000 | @mercymccann | @horse-and-writer97 | @napagent

Chapter 37

Operation Olive Branch has compiled a working spreadsheet of ways to help families fleeing from the genocide in Palestine. If you enjoyed this fic, and are able, please click the link to find a list of GoFundMe's, as well as other ways to help.

| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |

[fxreflyes]

Thank you so much for the tag @kaaaaaaarf!! <3333333 (a spotify tag game I am in LOVE ty ty)

Put your on repeat playlist on shuffle & the first 12 songs represent your 2024

January: I’m in Love With You - The 1975 (ok we r off to a happy start! Life is lookin' up)

February: Seventeen - Sharon van Etten (im not sure this is a good omen - the lyrics "I used to feel free / was it just a dream?" aren't really giving me "oh its going to go swimmingly" vibes uk)

March: Dangerous - Roxette (okay march kinda fucks)

April: Me & my dog - Boygenius (oh… alright april is Not Good babes)

May: And Then There’s You - Bill Ryder-Jones (KARFY FUCK. everyone may is a no go)

June: Hey, Hey What Can I Do - Led Zeppelin (great song (clearly i think this, this is my on repeat...), not sure what it means June will be like)

July: Ballroom Blitz - Sweet (we are HAPPY in July!!)

August: Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits (ok this is somewhat upbeat, good news 4 for my least fav month)

September: Don’t Be Scared, I Love You - Bill Ryder-Jones (karfy pls pray for me for September, i am in fact Scared)

October: Hey Violet - Josiah and the Bonneviles (thank you for this whole album rec @greppelheks!!! <33)

November: No Ones Trying to Kill You - Bill Ryder-Jones (k... i'm... no one talk to me in nov i guess.. this song is trying to kill me)

December: A Sky Full of Song - Florence and the machine (THANK YOU BEL... y'all bel's genius naming of a "skye for full song" still has me in a chokehold, i mean it's my song now... guess i'm ending the year w a bang, tho the lyrics "I thought I was flying / But maybe I'm dying tonight" are giving icarus and the bang he ended with was... perhaps one i would like to avoid so... fuck)

no pressure tagging: @cosmmicdancer @polaroidcats @greppelheks @dieonysian @sunattacksthemoon @sugarsnappeases @magneto-manifesto @appreciatedmoron @shipsnsails and open tag as always <3 (also if u dont want to post, i would still love to hear any song recs yall have / anything you've been listening to recently!! :))

[novemberhush]

Hey! Numbers 3, 5, 11 and/or 14 for the ask game please?

Hey! Thanks for your ask!❤️

3) A song you’d choose to introduce someone to your favourite genre

I’m sorry it took me a while to answer your ask, but it was because of this question! What’s my favourite genre of music? Hard to answer. Rock, indie, country? I love them all, and more besides. In the end I just went with what my last Spotify Wrapped said was my most listened to genre last year, and that was ‘New Americana’ apparently. Anyway, it gave me an excuse to post one of my favourite songs by one of my favourite artists.

5) A song you think most of your followers won’t have heard before

Apologies to Miss McGrath if it turns out she’s better known than I think! She’s a singer/songwriter from right here in Northern Ireland whose music I discovered about 5 years ago. A few of my followers might actually have heard this song before if they’ve read my Barisi fic, Waiting for the Inevitable, which you can read here (a little shameless self-promotion there!) as it was the inspiration for said fic and I linked it in my author’s notes.

11) A song that makes you dance

Sorry, it’s not very original, I know, but this song always makes me want to get down with my bad self!

14) A song you love to sing along to

I love this cover of the Justin Bieber song (not that I hate Bieber or his version) and can’t help singing along with it, even if it is a sad one.

Thanks again for your ask.😘

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

We're new to the game, but we'd love to see The Bonneville Game fans jump in on this!

Here are just some of the lovely ladies of our show!

Minty Lam - She's our bubbly goth princess who loves all things supernatural. She has a podcast with her best friends, Laura and Ingrid, where they talk about all things spooky. She's the one that comes to the podcaster retreat with the plan to play a demon summoning game. She has a good heart, but acts before she thinks.

Laura Bates - She has a dark past she doesn't talk about. She's sarcastic, but not cynical. (Think of a Jenny Nicholson type.) She's new to studying the supernatural and witchy life, but she's excited to keep learning more. She's also new to horror and wants to eat up everything she can. She's less excitable than Minty and she's often the voice of reason among her friends.

Ingrid Sullenberger - She's the nervous friend of the group. She knows how to have fun with her close friends, but she's generally more reserved and timid. She's fascinated by the supernatural, but also the first to get scared. She's just doing her best out here.

Bex McQuoid - She's the cook at the podcast retreat. She's got secrets of her own and she's a little surly. Her closest companions are her dog, Serotonin "Sera," and her cat, Face. She does not care about podcasting and has no idea who everyone at the retreat is. She's there just to make food. She's also a local who knows everyone, including the unhinged handyman, Goose.

Save the date!

We made it to 2024! And unlike the first time, we're going to keep Podcast Girls Week going for two consecutive years in a row. This is a week long prompt-based event where fans are encouraged to create works celebrating their favorite podcast women. This year, the event will take place on July 8-14.

But I need your help! I've reused the same daily prompts for the last two versions of the event, but are people ready for a change? If you have ideas for different prompts, let me know. The official prompt list will go up closer to the event.

Need more information? Check out the FAQ.

Wondering what people have already created? Browse the #podcastgirlsweek tag on tumblr or explore the 2020 AO3 collection and 2023 AO3 collection.

Finally, you are always welcome to tag or @ this blog if you're posting content about podcast ladies, and I will happily reblog it!

[in-flagrante]

Downton Abbey ‘makes shock return’ as secret revival series ‘begins filming’

Report claims that the hit period drama is returning for a seventh series, nine years after coming to a close

Louis Chilton

1 hour ago

Hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey is reportedly filming a new series, nearly a decade after coming to an end.

The series, which originally aired on ITV from 2010 to 2015, followed the lives of an aristocratic Yorkshire family in the years between 1912 and 1926.

A new report in the Daily Mail claims that a revival series began filming a few weeks ago, and is expected to arrive on screens “by the end of the year”.

The outlet quotes a source close to the production as saying: “Filming has been going on for a few weeks now, it is all very, very secret. There are people working on it who have never seen secrecy like it.

“Those working on the set have been made to sign non-disclosure agreements so that they don’t give the game away but there is a lot of excitement at the return of Downton.”

The Independent understands that the series has not been commissioned for ITV.

The original series featured an ensemble cast that included Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Joanne Froggatt, Dan Stevens and Maggie Smith.

It was reportedly Smith’s reluctance to continue that prompted Downton to come to an end after six series in 2015, though the thespian returned for two feature film sequels, 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.

Rumours of a series comeback started surfacing back in May 2023.

In December, series creator Julian Fellowes didn’t brush off the possibility of a comeback, telling Radio Times: “I have said goodbye to Downton so many times, and I have written the last scene about six or seven times. Now I’ve got out of the habit of making permanent statements about whether it’s gone.

“It just gives me a lot of pleasure that so many people enjoyed it, so to feel that you created a show that cheers people up and they had a good time with it, I love that.”

The Independent has contacted production company Carnival Films and Fellowes for comment.

During its peak, Downton was one of the most popular series on UK TV, with its third series pulling in an average weekly audience of 11.5 million people.

In a two-star review of the latest film adaptation, The Independent’s critic Clarisse Loughrey wrote: “Downton Abbey: A New Era is whatever the opposite of a French Exit might look like. Rather than a party guest slipping out quietly, it’s the bumptious visitor making their final, sluggish turn around the room. Their pottering seems to extend for another hour or two – or another cocktail.

“The first film, released in 2019, was designed to pay a final farewell to Downton’s 47 TV episodes and five Christmas specials – an opportunity to tie up a few loose ends and resolve things with a hearty slap on its own back. A New Era manages to uncover even more threads, and makes neat little bows in the most languid way possible. It’s as much of a film as an encore to the encore can be.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/downton-abbey-new-series-return-itv-b2495921.html

[ghoulpepperv]

Audiodramas!

If you're looking for some new audiodramas, I am here to shamelessly plug all of mine!

Georgie Romero Is Done For: Georgie has risen from the grave, driven to solve the mystery of her former human life with help from an inept witch and a cynical ghost. COMPLETED! Spotify

The Soft-Boiled Detective: In 2420, HBD, a soft-hearted detective, teams up with Tiffany, a sardonic crematory operator who is targeted by the Triad, to take on an organized crime dynasty to solve the murder of his childhood friend. Season 2 is in production. Carrd

The Bonneville Game: A horror comedy about three hapless podcasters who play a demon summoning game they found on the Internet. The pilot is out and we're prepping to fundraise for season 1! Carrd

We're Going to Kill the Queen: In a DnD inspired world, two escaped criminals accidentally join a group of rebels fighting the oppressive monarchy. Three episodes will be released soon! I'm stretching my sound editing legs here. If it does well, I might be able to continue it beyond three episodes! Acast

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

SEASON ONE FUNDRAISER

IT'S TIME! Our Indiegogo is LIVE!

You can learn more about the show over on Indiegogo and help us fund season 1! Our pilot episode is available on Acast and Spotify.

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

We're not in space, but we have queer characters! If you like horror comedy, don't hesitate to check us out. We only have one episode out and hope to change that very, very soon!

I HATE WHEN I START LISTENING TO A PODCAST AND IM LIKE "oh I wanna draw fanart" SO I LOOK UP FANART BUT THEN BOOM MASSIVE SPOILER LIKE BDNRNFJKWKWHGGRRRRRRRRR

(also I'll gladly take recommendations for podcasts (I really like the ones with gay people in space))

[thetavolution]

Because I'm obsessed, I thought about what would happen if a BG3 and The Bonneville Game crossover ever happened. I know what my Bonneville characters would be doing in BG3, but what would the companions be doing in The Bonneville Game?

The Bonneville Game takes place in the fictional small, isolated town of Bonneville, Pennsylvania. It's a horror comedy about three hapless podcasters who play a demon summoning game they found on the Internet. Afterward, all hell breaks loose.

Bonneville is important because it's where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest.

Wyllyam "Wyll" Ravengard He's originally from Salisbury, England. He's fresh out of school and ready to see the world. He got his degree in International Relations from Durham University. His father is Mayor Ulder Ravengard of London and Ulder wants his son to follow in his footsteps. Wyll is a lot less confident in what his future should be.

Wyll arrives in Bonneville as part of his traveling the world. He just wants to figure out his life for himself. He ends up getting a job as a 911 dispatcher, which is how he finds out there's something rotten in the state of Pennsylvania. Over time, he'd eventually find himself working as a Nonprofit Program Coordinator for something like Human Rights Watch. Odds are, even if he settles down in Bonneville, he'd continue to travel in hopes of saving the world.

Due to his heroic nature, he decides to stay to help when he discovers demons are running wild. If he were in the Bonneville world, Minty would 100% fall in love with him. Do you know how ridiculously cute this ship would be?

Gale Dekarios He's originally from London, England and he's well educated. He'd end up teaching at the Community College of Bonneville as a favor to an old friend, but he'd fall in love with the town. He'd want the students to have a good education, especially since he'd see a lot of bright kids trapped in poverty. He'd be an Associate Professor in the English department and an accomplished author in his own right.

He'd have a lot of papers and articles published. He'd have a book or two under his name. He studied at Cambridge and, in the past, he taught at Oxford and Glasgow University. After he meets Minty, Laura, and Ingrid, he becomes a valuable researcher to the team. Any time they don't know the history or lore of something, he's there to assist.

He did have an affair with a professor when he was a university student. (This is in lieu of him having a goddess as a lover.) It did mess him up for a while. If he existed in this universe, I'd bring in Tessa as his wife. He'd already be married by the time he's introduced to the story. He married an American which is why he was in the States to begin with.

Karlach Cliffgate She'd be connected to Bex's past, but I can't say how just yet. She'd come to Bonneville when Bex helps get her a job. She's from Chilham, Kent, a small village, which is about 18 minutes from Canterbury. She was an only child to Phillip "Pluck" and Caerlack Cliffgate, who have passed. She'd be down to help out the leads when shit hits the fan.

She'd eventually go back to school to get an Associate Degree in Cyber Security with Gale's help. He's the one that helps her get her paperwork in order and guides her in her coursework.

In this universe, instead of a mechanical heart, she has PoTS (Postural tachycardia syndrome). Karlach becomes a huge fan of both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Flyers. She also loves the England woman's national football team, the Lionesses, and the England women's national rugby union team, the Red Roses.

Lae'zel Klier Lae'zel grew up in Southport, England, but her parents are German immigrants. Lae'zel is an only child and her parents have high expectations for her. It's difficult for her to live up to them and she constantly pushes herself past her limits. She also was never taught how to properly process emotions. I would definitely love a universe where she and Laura fall in love. (It'd be either Lae'zel and Laura or Karlach and Laura.)

Due to pressure from her parents, she joined the Royal Air Force and she would eventually be stationed at the Edwards Air Force Base in Lancaster, California. She was a RAF Regiment Officer and she very much believed in everything she was doing.

She planned on staying for her entire career in the RAF, but things would change after coming to Bonneville. She'd be invited while on leave by a fellow officer and end up in the thick of things. (Meaning, a demon was released in the town by the time she got there.) She'd come back after her service ended to stay and figure out a new life there. She'd also have her beliefs challenged and realize she doesn't want the future her parents picked for her. It may seem out of left field, but she'd eventually open her own plant nursery, Crèche Klier.

I didn't know how to approach a surname for her, so I found a name that was kind of like K'lirr. I'm very proud of that ridiculous plant nursery name.

Shadowheart Sharman (Real Name: Jenevelle Hallowleaf) Shadowheart grew up in London. What she doesn't know is that she was kidnapped from her home and raised by her kidnappers. This girl is Lifetime movie material.

When she was 15, her "parents" moved the family to Bonneville to avoid detection. They were nervous Shadowheart's real parents would find them if they stayed in the UK. They felt safer in Bonneville because it's a small, relatively unknown town.

You'd think kidnappers trying to keep a low profile would name her anything but Shadowheart and yet.... She was teased for it growing up, but she's become fond of it over time. Her "parents" were incredibly abusive to her, but they would do it in the name of religion.

Her world is turned upside down when she discovers her "parents" actually kidnapped her. She deconstructs everything she's ever learned over time and she also comes out as bi. She would eventually become a veterinary technician and settle down with a partner. (If your Tav would be a perfect fit for her in this world, I'd love to know!)

Her kidnappers' surname is a play on Shar's name.

Astarion Ancunín He's originally from a well-to-do family in London. He was sheltered growing up and by 17, he planned to attend law school. He wanted to focus on practicing criminal law. He was in his first year of university when he met an older man named Cazador. Astarion would become entangled in an abusive relationship with him. His parents would try to pull him out of it, but it only seemed to push Astarion closer to Cazador.

Astarion dropped out of school and cut off contact from his family and friends. He was abused for years by Cazador and felt helpless to do anything about it. Cazador has some secrets he holds over Astarion's head to "keep him in line."

Cazador would be the reason they come to Bonneville. He would hope he could take advantage of the fact the veil between the living and dead is at its thinnest in Bonneville. This would lead to Astarion finally finding himself and breaking free of Cazador's control. They would still have to kill Cazador, especially since he'd become a big bad.

Once he was on his own, Astarion would get back into law as a legal receptionist before studying to be a paralegal. He's not totally confident he wants to be a lawyer anymore, but he may get back into it one day. He just wants to focus on getting better first.

Bex would fall for this guy.

Halsin Silverbough He's from Shaftesbury, UK. He's a Pediatrician in this universe and very happy with his job. Bonneville has always had just one pediatrician in town. When the previous one was about to retire, he reached out to Halsin to take his place. Halsin agreed to be a temporary stand-in until they found someone else. I think we all know how the whole "temporary" thing went. Halsin now lives in Bonneville permanently.

Everyone knows and loves him. He still whittles and reads in his off-time. He's known for his love of honey and ducks. He's also the guy everyone approaches if they need an extra set of hands on a project or help on the farm. He's down to earth and well-adjusted.

He refuses to drive. He bikes or takes public transport everywhere. No one knows how he does it. He lives right next door to his office which helps immensely. Naturally, he'd want to help our heroes once he finds out a demon has been released in Bonneville. He might even feel responsible for one of the local legends terrorizing the town later on down the line.

Romance wise, I was torn between Ingrid or having be poly with Bex and Astarion. Or maybe it's a poly situation with all four of them.

Jaheira Harper Jaheira is from Warsaw, Poland. She's a widow and her late husband was Khalid Harper. She's traveled all over the world as a foreign aid worker. She only comes to Bonneville when her adopted daughter, Rion, moves there with her partner. When Jaheira finds out something sinister is happening in Bonneville, she can't bring herself to leave. At least, not until everything is dealt with.

Minsc Kamenev and Boo He's originally from Sviyazhsk, Russia. He once competed in the Olympics for archery and he now is an archery instructor in Bonneville. No one knows how he got to Bonneville or why he even came, but everyone loves him. He also has a little pet hamster named Boo who seems to be unusually smart for a rodent. Boo may even have some kind of tie to the veil.

If my research is correct, his surname alludes to "stone." I picked it as a nod to the fact Minsc is known as "the Stone Lord."

Minthara Baenre Minthara is a Major in the British Armed Forces and hails from Manchester, England. She grew up in a wealthy military family. They were dysfunctional as Hell. Minthara dislikes her parents and her siblings. She visits home every holiday season, but only to terrorize her family. She'd be trying to figure out what is going on in Bonneville and how to use it to her advantage.

Enver Gortash I don't have much for him yet. (I also have to be mindful of spoilers, too.) He'd arrive in Bonneville after hearing about the veil. I do like the idea of him being a low level politician from Liverpool who is slowly climbing up the ranks. He hopes Bonneville will be the key to getting the power he craves.

Tessa Chastain Dekarios I'd bring over my Tav, Tessa as Gale's wife. She might get an original story of her own someday, but right now she only exists as a BG3 Tav. She'd be an author with a troubled past. Her father is a known criminal and Tessa was a troubled teen. She turned things around in her 20s and would go on to publish a book at 25.

Gale would be a fan of her work. They would meet at a book signing and the rest would be history. He wouldn't go in with the intent to "woo" her. In fact, Tessa would make the first move. Things would just fall into place for them. Tessa would be an American who hails from Philadelphia.

[walkawaytall]

Audiobooks for which I think the narration vastly improves the book consumption experience:

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, narrated by John Green - this is John’s first non-fiction book and his narration of the book imbues the text with the right balance of emotion. I cry every time I listen to it, especially the chapter “Googling Strangers” (a version of which you can hear on the podcast that the book kind of spun off from for free if you want). I think John was the perfect narrator for this book and I can’t imagine anyone else reading it. In case you’re wondering, my favorite chapter is “Bonneville Salt Flats”.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Tatiana Maslany — Tatiana is an actress (I mainly know her from an arc on Heartland and a couple of episodes of Parks and Rec, but she was apparently the main character in Orphan Black and has done a bunch of other stuff) and this really comes through in her narration — in a good way. She’s a fantastic voice for Katniss’ inner monologue and I don’t find her read of other character’s voices distracting or confusing in any way. Granted, I knew the stories before listening to the audiobooks, but I enjoyed these so much that, not only did I buy them so I would stop using up Hoopla borrows on them, I also have suggested them to like ten people this year and looked to see if Tatiana had narrated anything else that I might find interesting (she hasn’t done any other audiobooks from what I can tell, which is a real shame).

The Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson, narrated by Kate Rudd - I also went looking for anything else narrated by Kate Rudd and was not disappointed — she’s narrated over 500 books, including some of John Green’s novels. But the Truly Devious series is just really fun. It’s a YA murder mystery series. The first three center around the same mystery while the next two (and I assume any subsequent additions) are standalones with the same central cast of characters. Kate does an excellent job of reading the engaging source material and I think I have enjoyed every book I’ve heard her read; I just also happen to really like this series.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, narrated by Jennette McCurdy — I think for a memoir as heavy as this one, it only makes sense for Jennette to read her own words. The book is great, her narration is great, but it’s probably not for everyone. Jennette’s story of becoming a well-known child actress at the behest of her mother only to realize once her mom died of cancer that their relationship was abusive is somewhat harrowing, but there is hope woven in as well.

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott, narrated by January LaVoy — this book is really good but it also gutted me (I won’t spoil anything, but do maybe look up content warnings prior to consuming) and January LaVoy did a really good job. If her name sounds familiar to my Star Wars peeps, it probably is: she read the audiobook for Bloodline, some of the stories in the From A Certain Point of View series, and the new recording of The Courtship of Princess Leia (lol) among others, but she has also narrated loads of non-Star Wars material. Loved this book, loved her narration of it.

Special mention:

The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, narrated by Jennifer Ikeda — this is a special mention because I do not actually suggest these books at all. The first one starts out fairly promising with a seemingly interesting and strong main character who suddenly loses all of her personality and agency the moment she meets a hot vampire, and it’s not because she’s being compelled or anything interesting like that. By the end, the only “character” I really liked was the house that Diana’s aunts owned? (Well, I also spent a chunk of the first book hoping that the weird number of times Matthew warned Diana that his stallion bites would turn out to be foreshadowing that the horses were all vampires, but that unfortunately never panned out.) Anyway, these books are not good but I am convinced I kept listening to them even after swearing off the series after the first book because of Jennifer’s narration. And then they switched narrators for the weird little follow-up fourth book about Phoebe becoming a vampire (Time’s Convert) and I wasn’t able to finish it. (And that is not me saying that the narrator of Time’s Convert isn’t good. She narrated Leia, Princess of Alderaan and also did the Leia chapters in The Princess and the Scoundrel, which means I have told multiple people that I wish she would have read the whole book rather than switching off with whoever did Han’s chapters. She’s a fine narrator. What I’m saying is that Jennifer Ikeda was good enough to keep me listening even when I hated what was being read to me while another perfectly fine narrator couldn’t do that, and that’s saying something.)

[panelshowsource]

new additions to the masterpost :)

hey all ~

along with the few panelist collections i soft-launched yesterday (🥹 thanks for enjoying them), there is some new content on the masterpost + secondary masterpost!

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panel shows

bring the noise — complete series sky 1 series hosted by ricky wilson with nicole scherzinger, tinie tempah, joel dommett, katherine ryan

the guessing game — complete series bbc radio scotland radio panel show where guests are asked a series of bizarre questions; hosted by clive anderson and guests include alex horne, susan calman, hal cruttenden, matthew crosby, cariad lloyd, etc.

it's your round — complete series radio panel show where each guests invents the round to be won. hosted by angus deayton and guests include miles jupp, sara pascoe, rebecca front, josie long, bridget christie, tim key, etc.

richard hammond's brain reaction — complete series science-based panel show hosted by richard hammond alongside victoria coren mitchell, johnny vegas and ria lina

misc. tv

archiveologists — complete series two episodes of mash aka diane morgan & joe wilkinson re-voice archive footage to give us a twisted comedy spin on british social history and institutions in short 'information' films

beauty & the beast: a pantomime for comic relief (2021) pandemic era virtual panto starring lily james, oliver chris, sian gibson, kiell smith-bynoe, miranda hart, michael sheen, lee mack, etc.

imagine... jo brand: no holds barred (2019) documentary about the legend herself, featuring interviews with peter capaldi, alan davies, victoria coren mitchell, etc.

show & tell — complete series e4 series celebrating comic storytelling. each episode sees three comedians bring something to 'show' to viewers. hosted by chris addison and guests include roisin conaty, elis james, joe wilkinson, joe lycett, diane morgan, james acaster, etc.

staged — complete series david tennant and michael sheen didn't win a bafta for this but they should have

the complete stand up to cancer celebrity episodes of the great british bake off (i will work on the sport relief episodes!)

twenty twelve — complete series bbc mockumentary series accompanying the 2012 olympics, starring hugh bonneville and jessica hynes

who do you think you are? — david tennant

misc. radio

alex horne presents the horne section — complete series 2011–2014 bbc radio 4 series

party's over — complete series bbc radio 4 sitcom starring miles jupp as a prime minister coping with life after leaving office

women talking about cars — complete series victoria coren mitchell hosts an exploration of what cars symbolise to women today, including freedom, power, refuge, novelty and familiarity; guests include olivia colman, claudia winkleman, jennifer saunders, etc.

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ps. icymi these are the masterpost additions from last week which are well worth checking out!

WATCH LINKS MASTERPOST / FAQ / TAGS / ASK

[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

We had to give this one a go....

Minty: Ghosts are definitely NOT real.

Laura: I don't really care who took Buzzy* or what they did with him.

Ingrid: I bought a bunch of bitter gourd to cook a nice dinner with!

Bex: Just signed up for an improv class.

*This is in reference to Epcot's stolen animatronic, Buzzy.

Oh, there was a time on the bird site where this question was trending for "you," but I rephrased it as a question for fictional little guys for one of my friend servers:

What would your oc / blorbo say in a phone call or text or tweet or whatever to tip off their friends / loved one(s) that they're in trouble and need help?