LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 11: Kissing Bullets

Summary

Podcast Summary: LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 11: Kissing Bullets

Hosts: Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski
Release Date: January 1, 2025
Podcast Network: The Last Podcast Network

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1. Introduction & Light Banter

The episode kicks off with Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski engaging in playful banter about a "Mr. Big" candy bar in their studio hallway. Natalie laments her constant sighting of the candy bar, humorously tying it to the Sex in the City reference and inadvertently spoiling a character's fate from the novel.

• Natalie Jean [00:19]: "I'm so upset because I keep seeing the goddamn candy bar... Mr. Big on it."
• Jackie Zabrowski [00:58]: "I just immediately think of Sex in the City."

This segment sets a casual and relatable tone, showcasing the hosts' camaraderie and sense of humor.

2. Transition to Chapter Discussion

After their initial exchange, the hosts smoothly transition into discussing the latest chapters of Sarah J. Maas' "Crescent City" series. They delve into Chapter 37, titled "Kissing Bullets," exploring the intricate dynamics between main characters Bryce and Hunt.

3. Plot Recap: Bryce and Hunt at Moonwood Shooting Range

Bryce and Hunt find themselves at Moonwood, a high-profile shooting range near the river in a somewhat seedy neighborhood of Crescent City. Their mission involves reviewing surveillance footage related to a recent theft of a horn, requiring Hunt to tap into his exceptional computer skills.

• Jackie Zabrowski [09:37]: "When we last left off, Hunt and Bryce were back at Bryce's apartment..."

The shooting range serves as a pivotal setting where their professional collaboration begins to reveal deeper emotional undercurrents.

4. Character Dynamics and Emotional Tensions

Bryce and Hunt's Relationship:

The hosts analyze the evolving relationship between Bryce, a strong and capable female protagonist, and Hunt, a seemingly stoic and reserved male character. Their interactions at the shooting range highlight mutual respect and underlying attraction.

• Natalie Jean [02:30]: "Respectfully, you look very hot as Ruhn."
• Jackie Zabrowski [14:05]: "Yeah, urang to go to bat for you."

The discussion touches upon societal expectations of masculinity and femininity, emphasizing how Bryce's strength challenges traditional gender roles.

Supporting Characters:

Bryce collaborates with the Fae trio, Declan and Flynn, who are portrayed as both competent agents and playful party-goers. Their camaraderie adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.

5. Themes Explored

Empowerment and Vulnerability:

A significant theme in this episode is the balance between Bryce's empowerment and her inner vulnerabilities. The hosts commend Bryce's ability to wield power confidently while still grappling with personal traumas and insecurities.

• Jackie Zabrowski [27:35]: "And that's how masculine they are."

Trust and Support:

Hunt's efforts to support Bryce during tense moments reflect themes of trust and emotional support within partnerships.

• Natalie Jean [44:44]: "What can I change to support her?"

6. Notable Plot Developments

Sabine Fender’s Introduction:

The episode reveals Sabine Fender as a formidable antagonist. Her confrontation with Bryce adds tension and propels the plot forward, hinting at deeper conflicts within Crescent City.

• Natalie Jean [61:57]: "She confronts Bryce, asking her where the Danika's sword is..."

Declan’s Revelation:

Declan uncovers a critical piece of evidence indicating that Sabine tampered with surveillance footage, linking her directly to the night the horn was stolen. This revelation heightens the stakes and sets the stage for future confrontations.

• Jackie Zabrowski [66:43]: "Declan analyzed the footage... Sabine Fender."

7. Hosts’ Personal Insights and Humor

Throughout the episode, Natalie and Jackie intersperse their analysis with personal anecdotes and humor, making the discussion engaging and relatable. They share their own experiences with past relationships, societal norms, and personal growth, drawing parallels to the characters' journeys in the book.

• Jackie Zabrowski [31:19]: "He was like, forever in my... Etched into my heart..."
• Natalie Jean [37:05]: "And I love that you wrote that."

Their candid conversations offer listeners a deeper connection to the hosts, enhancing the overall listening experience.

8. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Natalie Jean [02:30]: "Respectfully, you look very hot as Ruhn."
• Jackie Zabrowski [14:05]: "Yeah, we would... all going after the Hamb burglar."
• Natalie Jean [21:04]: "Look me in the eyes, Natalie. What does it mean, Natalie?"
• Jackie Zabrowski [27:35]: "You just know when the tantrums a person throws. That's when you know. Yeah. That's how masculine they are."
• Natalie Jean [44:44]: "What can I change to support her?"
• Jackie Zabrowski [51:53]: "Don't worry. We're not with you the whole time, but we did meet him with you."

These quotes encapsulate key moments of humor, insight, and thematic depth discussed by the hosts.

9. Conclusion & Teasers for Next Episode

As the episode wraps up, the hosts tease upcoming content, hinting at continued developments in the storyline and deeper explorations of character relationships. They encourage listeners to prepare for the next episode by reading up to Chapter 42, ensuring continuity and sustained engagement.

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Final Thoughts:

Episode 11 of "LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City" offers a comprehensive analysis of "Crescent City" by Sarah J. Maas, blending plot recap, character analysis, thematic exploration, and the hosts' personal insights. Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski's engaging discussions provide both new listeners and longtime fans with a nuanced understanding of the novel's intricate narrative and emotional landscapes.

For more detailed discussions and upcoming episodes, subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to enjoy ad-free content.

Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

Welcome to Crescent City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski. I'm so upset because I keep seeing the goddamn candy bar that is in the hallway, and it says Mr. Big on it. And every time I see it, I think, I'm the one who wants to be with you. The name of the band is Mr. Big. It is, Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just immediately think of Sex in the City.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. I mean, that. Yeah, there's also that, too, but he's dead.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And that guy.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. Spoiler. And just like that, you get a spoiler.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just like that, he is dead, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

About Mr. Big, the candy bar, I don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hey, I don't even know what that is.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. I think it's. I think it's an international candy bar that now lives in the hallway of our studio. I've seen it there for months. Did I pick it up? Did I move it onto a shelf? Or maybe someone would pick it up and maybe eat it? No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I didn't know that band was called Mr. Big.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, weirdly enough, Jeff and I were getting mani pedis the other day, and there were music videos playing, and Mr. Big's I'm the one who wants to be with you started playing, and Jeff is like, never heard the song before. I was like, get out from under your rock. Were you ever 11? What are you talking about?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I never heard that song.

[Natalie Jean]

Every, like, bar and bat mitzvah I'd go to, you'd, like, hear mitzvah. It was always a bar. I was like, this song. Like, this song is always in my head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just feel like it was everywhere. I didn't know you had the option to not know that song.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And Jeff was like, it's a bad song. And I was like, you're a bad song. And that was my actual comeback, guys. So, you know, I'm not always at my best. I'm not always at my wittiest, but I am always at my techiest. Oh, I'm a tech bro right now, and I. Again, man, you never realize how little your head is until you've got a little wig on. Natalie, you look hot as Ruhn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thanks.

[Natalie Jean]

Respectfully, you look very hot as Ruhn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I've been. Thank you. I've been trying to find a guy character that I feel comfortable in, and I feel like Ruhn. I feel pretty good inside of.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, we were talking about this earlier, and I think it really is because Ruhn is, even though, like, very, you know, control. Like, he's like, can do a lot But I do feel that he is a beautiful person as opposed to, you know, some of the other males in this world that are just, like, bros that are hot as shit. Like, I don't think I would call Hunt. Well, I guess Hunt is beautiful, isn't he?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think maybe what you're saying is, like, he maybe. I don't know. I kind of get what you're saying. You can pull. I don't want you to think that's because you're not beautiful.

[Natalie Jean]

Because. No, I think it's just because I got a little head. And maybe men have littler heads than we remember.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is gonna drive me crazy, but I. To be in the character of ruin, I feel like I need to constantly whip my hair out of my eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What's up? What's up, girl?

[Natalie Jean]

And the sleeves are really good. Is it attached to the shirt?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So I'm wearing a padded undershirt with muscles. And then over the shirt. Shirt with sleeves attached to the shirt.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell, yeah. You look good. You look thick. You look scary. You look strong.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thanks.

[Natalie Jean]

And it does look like we could be getting a little drunk in a house together.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. No, we're roommates for sure.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, we are roommates. What's up, bro? Seth. That. See, you're.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're breaking gay stereotypes because your character is gay, but you can still talk like that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, bro. I mean, he is like, Declan is a frat boy through and through. If you look at the fan art of Declan, it is just like, he's just a bro, but he happens at failures.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm genuinely shocked. You're pulling off this shirt hair combo and, like, looking really cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. Thank you so much.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's a hard. A blue polo shirt. That's a hard thing to pull off.

[Natalie Jean]

It is weird, though, because this is literally what my hair looked like for me, many, many years.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's cute.

[Natalie Jean]

And it's weird to see it back like this because really, just like this. Especially when I look off to the side, my hair looked just like this for many years.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I can kind of see it, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You know me, short hair, Jackie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A little bit. But I know the pictures enough.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I can see it all the pictures.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I'm also wearing a fake lip ring, and I probably are going to take it out because you can't even see it, and it's very painful.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, if it's painful, take it off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can you see it?

[Natalie Jean]

No, you can't. You, sir. I mean, I can see it from here. Yeah, but you can't see it in the video. Really? So take it off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay. It's here. See it?

[Natalie Jean]

Everyone except acknowledge, we say, thank you, Lip Ring. You look beautiful, Lip Ring. We have a whole show to do, Lip Ring. And you're gonna have to just take a sidebar.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Girl.

[Natalie Jean]

We love you, Lip Ring. Oh, my God. You better not right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ow.

[Natalie Jean]

You are giving Danzig, and I am here for it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I hate Danzig.

[Natalie Jean]

Uh. Oh. We were just talking about this because one of our, like, the Eric who runs our streams keeps telling me I need to dress as Danzig because I would make a great Danzig. And I was like, I think that hurts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, maybe it just means because Danzig's short.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And I think it's the hair, too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. Cause your hair.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, probably. I think it's more that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Because you do not look like Danzig. I will. I will. I will go to bat for you.

[Natalie Jean]

I thank you. I really appreciate it. That. No, I definitely look more. Oh, I gotta get my. I gotta. I should have starched the collar. Collar up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If you wanted to do full 2000s, you guys should put a second.

[Natalie Jean]

A second underneath. Oh, my God. Did you ever. Did you ever. No, no, no, I. I did. I did a couple times.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was just. I. I pretended like I was a mask.

[Natalie Jean]

Little queer. All right. I was trying shit out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I love it. It's great. I. I just. You know, I had, like, three outfits for six years.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they were disgusting.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell, yeah. I bet they were all, like, holy, though. And, like, cool holy, not, like, scary holy, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't think anybody would have called them cool holy in my high school.

[Natalie Jean]

But, no, they're all whispering it in the shadows. I've seen pictures of you in high school. You were definitely. I know you. I would be so intimidated by you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. I got called the Diesel.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. I mean, who didn't? It was the late 90s, early 2000s.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Again. You think I get wearing my popped collar polos? Because I did.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now laughing now it's your job, everybody.

[Natalie Jean]

Now who's a little laughing?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now who's laughing?

[Natalie Jean]

I just feel like I don't know now that I don't have riddles to give you anymore. It's like, what am I? I'm just a tech pro, like Nedly. Did you see the software I got? I don't even know. I don't. Improv tech.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You gotta learn some other words.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you have a cord tree?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A cord? Come on. A chip.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mainframe.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Matrix butts. You know, it's low tech. But say. But say butts here. Butts. And I do know there's one thing that Declan and I probably identify with. It is butts. Maybe. Oh, I feel like Declan appreciates a good butt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, of course Declan appreciates a good body. Kidding.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. And it's just like. Oh, you know, that there must have been a night. Don't look at me while I say it. Natalie. Don't look at me while I say it. You know, there was a night where all. Maybe we had a little too much mirth root. Oh. Maybe we just were like. I mean, I could check with Declan. Like, Declan's safe. I can be vulnerable with Declan, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Of course they did. I think Rune wouldn't be embarrassed about.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think he would be either. I think he would be completely down. Like, of course we all banged. That just makes me slip for him even more.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I. This isn't really a spoiler, but they do mention they all had sex in the same room together.

[Natalie Jean]

But we all know that that doesn't mean that they had sex with each other. But it does mean you can't stop me from thinking about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Doesn't mean they didn't.

[Natalie Jean]

Doesn't mean they didn't. When in fuck room, guys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know that old phrase sometimes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Things start happening.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, as.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you fuck? As the fuckers do, man. Give me a butt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Any old butt will do.

[Natalie Jean]

Give me a butt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. I just used oil makeup remover and I wasn't thinking. And now I've got oil all over my laptop.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Your new laptop.

[Natalie Jean]

My new laptop.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now it's officially yours.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you, laptop. You like my grease?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It doesn't have a choice.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it doesn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is it a woman? So let's go back to this other planet.

[Natalie Jean]

Please let us live there. Can we live there, Natalie?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wish. Let's find the rift.

[Natalie Jean]

Have I been calling my weed my mirthroot? Maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is my mic in a decent spot?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay. When we last left off, Hunt and Bryce were back at Bryce's apartment and they were having a non moment that they definitely weren't having.

[Natalie Jean]

Definitely weren't, like, holding hands for too long. Definitely. We're not doing that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're not pressing their legs together because that's insane. They can't touch each other. They're not supposed to. So why would they ever do that? It's not allowed. It's forbidden. Which is the grossest thing.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. No way. They like each other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they were at her place. And as they were kind of going over everything that they had talked about Briggs with, and they were going over their notes. Hunt realized, I need to go check this surveillance footage over again from the night the horn was stolen. We didn't look it over enough. We need some backup.

[Natalie Jean]

Hmm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If only we knew somebody that had amazing computer skills and, like, a really good hair.

[Natalie Jean]

Who? Me. I imagine he types with such a fury. Comes up, day is, the day is long.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he also, we find out in this scene, can shoot a gun, which is pretty odd.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this next chapter, Bryce and Hunt are arriving at a shooting range in the area called Moonwood.

[Natalie Jean]

Uh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. It's time for the map. It's map time. Time for the map. Get ready. It's time for the map. I'll hold it for you, Natalie. Okay, everyone, tell us, Natalie, what happens on the map?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Bryce's apartment is right here. Pretty close to Moonwood Avenue, but all the way down near the river.

[Natalie Jean]

Down by the river.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, see, I would have gone with Chris Farley, but you can do that too.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Shooting range down here by the Isros and not too far from Bryce's old house. Bryce's apartment. A little nicer neighborhood. This is a little bit seedy, but that's where you get the warehouses where you need the space to make a shooting range. Thank you. They're down by the river. Oh, that was good.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. So almost like I had an older brother that was forced to be Chris Farley all the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, lucky him. I used to try to do the impersonation, and it didn't. It wasn't.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, do you not? Are you not? It's because you're very beautiful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, thank you so.

[Natalie Jean]

But also, you are beautiful enough that I feel like people will be like, that was great. Wow. No good, Christopher. Wow, babe, so good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, it was definitely not that situation. So Bryce and Hunt have gone down to this big shooting range to call upon the boys of Autumn.

[Natalie Jean]

Come and throw.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Where we need a Flynn with us? I don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I don't. Yeah, I don't. Flynn will be here in the future.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm sure Flynn's with us in spirit currently. Bryce and Hunt have tracked them down the night following after Hunt's realization in the apartment. So the next day, after their big, long day at work, they go down to the shooting range, and they've tracked them there. It's like sort of a fancy, higher up facility kind of shooting range with, like, a big, long sniper range. Like, all this Stuff that you can like. It sounds like military.

[Natalie Jean]

Ish. Hell yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So that's like sort of where government officials and stuff seem to go. So Hunt is familiar with it and trains there regularly. When they find the Fae trio, they're also training, albeit kind of in a disorderly manner. So you have to remember these three are part of the Ox and they do actually do the job. They just also party. So they're actually doing ch.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, we do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Obviously we party.

[Natalie Jean]

What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they're. They're doing stuff and, and practicing, but they're also doing it in like a wacky way where they're like shooting at testicles on the paper.

[Natalie Jean]

And they're not supposed to be doing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're betting on it, like who can hit his nuts better.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God, I would want to hang out with them so desperately.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And there's no way we would ever be cool enough to hang out with them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe we might get invited to one of their parties. You imagine the two of us rolled it up being like, hey, oh, hey, hey, we're supposed to be here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm. I. I'm kind of like a Fae, even though I'm a person.

[Natalie Jean]

Like I'm human. I know, like we're lesser than or whatever, but like we're. I think.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Kill me, daddy.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we get kicked out of the party, but we would really try not to get kicked out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We would. Hans observes the trio laughing and doing this. They. They walk upon them making bets and trying to like, paper target in the nuts. And Hun has this little like, pang of. He almost admits it to himself that he has a sense of envy watching their camaraderie. Right. Because he's very lonely. Probably.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course he is. But like, he also probably feels like he has to be lonely because of what he does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right. I mean, I. How do you commiserate with someone? If only there was like a really hot chick who also like suffered.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. Maybe he could talk to her about what's going on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he. He looks over at Bryce and gets a sense that she's also feeling this longing. Perhaps imagining her old group of friends who got exploded, you know, like, that probably is also kind of hard for her.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess she's had a trauma or two.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they're, you know, they have the easy laughter of like, you know, besties. And the two of them feel probably a little bit like just out of time and space.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, well, especially they're in the middle of a bunch right now, just so to see Three people just acting normally and, like, palling around also's gotta, like, gotta be a bit of a brain fuck.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think so. So the Fae boys are surprised to see Brunt. That doesn't work.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that their couple name?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's the only thing I can come up with.

[Natalie Jean]

I like Brunt. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they quickly.

[Natalie Jean]

Better than Heists. Heists.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They quickly. They quickly explain why they've descended upon the training session. Because the Fables are like, what are you doing here? And so the. The boys aren't like, mad, they're just like, what's up? And Hunt feels this weird twinge of anger when Flynn comes up and starts teasing Bryce. Okay. Bryce explains that they need a secret favorite to have their resident computer nerds help.

[Natalie Jean]

Give me your battery. Wow. Mouse. Ooh, Motherboard.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

There you go.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I remembered a word.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mouse. Joystick. So floppy disk. So price they. And so they're pretty quick to agree. They're not against the idea of helping Bryson and Hunt. And the history between runes, BFFs and Bryce is evident.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry. Her backdrop, like, keeps, like, threatening Natalie to fall down. And Natalie, like, does everything in her power to keep it up and man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Hunt can kind of see, like, the. The history between Ruhn and Ruhn's best friends and Bryce. It's pretty evident. Like, they have this sort of antagonistic affinity for each other. It's sort of familial.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Almost like cousinly. Definitely not brotherly. Sisterly. No, no, no, no. Definitely co.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even the friends have this sort of companionship with her. Right. Although not totally familial with Flynn. Flynn and Bryce's relationship definitely has a twinge of flirtation to it.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, man, I'm so sorry for. You only had younger brothers that you weren't, like, thirsting after their friends in the way I used to thirst after when I was, like, in high school, thirsting after my older brother's friends and. Oh, my God. Devastating. Devastating.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I had none of that.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God, it hurts so bad. And then you would, like, kind of like every once in a while, like, kind of like audibly flirt, but, like, you're not supposed to. No, but that just makes it so much more fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, this is what Bryce was going through, what you did, apparently. Because we'll find out what Bryce thinks. But me. But Hunt is watching Flynn and Bryce sort of, like, tease each other in a way that's almost the way that she teases hun, which is. Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt, however, seems to be getting a thrill from watching Bryce continually shutting Flynn down as he hits on her.

[Natalie Jean]

I wonder why.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce asks them to not report this task to the Autumn King. And Ruhn seems a little hesitant. He's not obviously not loyal to the Autumn King, but to ask to keep a secret from him, like this is a big ask. And so he's kind of like, he.

[Natalie Jean]

Could get in trouble for this shit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, big trouble. Big time trouble. So we know, of course, though, he's going to do Bryce's bidding. So he challenges her to a gun off. He's like, all right, you want to come in here asking us all this hard stuff?

[Natalie Jean]

Bang, bang, little girl. Ew.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ew.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry. Imagine if someone said bang, bang, little girl. I'd be like, ew, I never want to see you ever again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's really hard to not to make gun range things not sound phallic every time, you know?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Ruhn is just like, come on, I dare ya to come shoot. And Bryce excites Hunt by being unbothered by Ruhn's brotherly taunts. And so she's not going like, stop. I don't, I don't want to. They're fucking with her because they know she can shoot, not to humiliate her.

[Natalie Jean]

And also because she is an equal to them. And I think that that is also important. And I imagine, I would assume that Hunt also sees that, that there is a quite a level of respect between the two, like between all of them, which is wonderful and beautiful. It's not condescending in the way that, like, they're teasing her and stuff like that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Because they're not trying to humiliate her.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They know that she can shoot. So he, as she's talking about the big gun she's going to shoot, Haunt is getting excited. We'll just say that he's feeling a thrill go through him as she is.

[Natalie Jean]

Talking about Natalie, what does it mean? Look me in the eyes, Natalie. What does it mean, Natalie?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Especially as you have this little boy, Natalie, this little boy wig on. No, thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm a thick. I'm a big thicc man. The more tantrums a person throws. That's when you know. Yeah. That's how masculine they are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Flynn joins in and challenges her to a bet of whether they can better shoot shots than her. It's clear through their dialogue that it's because they know she's a formidable opponent, not because they're trying to humiliate her, which I just said. So they challenge her to like a. A financial bet, she says only Rich pieces of shit have 20 gold marks to blow on Contests, Bryce said, amber.

[Natalie Jean]

Eyes dancing with amusement as she winked at Hunt. His blood thrummed, his body tensing as surely as if she'd gripped his cock, but her gaze already drifted to the distant target. There's also. Thrumming is a. Is a big thing in the SJM world as well. Sexual thrumming.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sexual thrumming.

[Natalie Jean]

Or maybe I'm thinking about ice planet barbarians. Oh, my God, am I getting my smuts mixed up?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, she's definitely used thrum before.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like maybe thrum is just big in the world of erotica. And I just took me until I just read a bunch of erotica to figure these things out. Oh, no, your ears are falling off. Call a doctor.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Her ears are falling off.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm sorry. His ears are falling off. I. I don't think that that is how Declan would react. I feel like I'd probably try to staple gun them back onto your head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Probably. Anyway, he's thrumming. Thrummy. That makes me think of Mary Perry.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, that's scrummy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, Betty.

[Natalie Jean]

Got her mouth as she would slow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hey, let an old woman enjoy a pastry.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's good. They would just always do close ups on her mouth and it was always weird.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I hope when I'm old, they'll close up on my mouth.

[Natalie Jean]

A lot of lip on that woman.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt. Observing her prepare the gun to aim. As though essentially. He seems like he's watching a porno.

[Natalie Jean]

I get it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He is. He is.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I've shot a gun in my.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Day and he's watching.

[Natalie Jean]

There's something about, like, you just feel so powerful when you're in. You know, you. When you're learning about, like, gun safety and all that stuff of, like, when you can, like, properly use it. God, it's so hot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, absolutely. I'm very much. I mean, I've. I've been training firearms. Gun culture kind of ruins the sexiness.

[Natalie Jean]

That is the problem. It is the rest of it. It is like. No, that it's like when someone. Like, it is a. It is a passion, something that someone knows a lot about. Someone takes, again, a lot of safety with. It takes it very seriously. Like, that I find very attractive.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Absolutely. Especially responsible gun welding and in media can be very, very sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also, I mean, I. I think if you were going to do stuff with firearms, be very heavily trained, be very responsible, understand what you're wielding, and I think it can, you know, that's just my personal opinion that it. I'm not, you know, we have guns. We have guns. They exist.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So. So, yeah, essentially hunt watching Bryce, who is versed in guns, be very confident.

[Natalie Jean]

With the weapon because Randall's a good stepdaddy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. He is not unhappy about watching.

[Natalie Jean]

No. And also interesting too, because guns aren't usually, or at least in the worlds of SJM that we've already discussed, there haven't been guns. So it's like we've seen this before and like, you know, with like Nesta and Cassian with like the training rings and stuff like that. So it's fun to see that this also lives in this world as well. Even though they have guns and not. I mean, there are swords, but they mostly use guns.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So, yes, this is very sexy. Kind of the way I still think cigarette smoking a movie is sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

I know, I know. And I don't. And I haven't touched them in years, but every once in a while, like what? I'm like, I still think I was sexy smoking a cigarette. I know. And I don't. I haven't touched them in years.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, you. You look gross with them.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they look cool.

[Natalie Jean]

I was stinky. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. But yeah, I mean, if you think about the guns and the cigarette smoking that, you know, from our pop history pass that Romeo plus Juliet basically gave me my sexuality. So both. Both of those things exist a lot in that movie.

[Natalie Jean]

And good boots.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Good boots.

[Natalie Jean]

I was thinking about that scene when John Leguizamo gets out of the car. Good lord.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Goosh.

[Natalie Jean]

Yikes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, anyway, now back to here. So, yeah, so she sight. She basically puts this, you know, like pulls everything in place. She bumps to the thing, she kicks the gun stuff. She lines the shots up.

[Natalie Jean]

Three shots cracked over the music, one after another. Her body absorbing the kickback of the gun like a champ. Hunt's mouth dried out entirely. Yeah, I get it. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At first the. The boys laugh and kind of tease her because they see just one shot has made it onto the target paper. But Hunt and his nethers know better. There's only one hole on the paper because she has shot the second two bullets first through the first hole.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Damn.

[Natalie Jean]

She's good with a gun. Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Pretty hot.

[Natalie Jean]

It is. She turned and her eyes met Hunt's again. A new sort of vulnerability shining beneath the self satisfied, narrowing, a challenge thrown down. Waiting to see how he'd react.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think this is like very relatable to a lot of ladies. Like being afraid to show that you're good at something because it's been Conditioned into us to want to portray inferiority. Because there is this contingency. Not all men, not even close to all men. But there's this, like, idea, especially in, like, bigger media, that men do not want a talented, strong, capable woman. They want somebody who's like, I don't.

[Natalie Jean]

Weak. Take care of me. Me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This kind of guy who likes that sort of thing is I found in my own life deeply insecure and not very fun to be around.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And there's a desire.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think we are around that type of. No, I mean, like, at all.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, more when I was younger.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's been a really long time since I've had to. I feel like if someone treated me like that now I'd be like, you know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

So that's something you learn as you get older.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is sort of a thing that young women tend to go through because they are more naive, which is why they're targets. But so, yeah. That the kind of guy usually is not very pleasant. And they. I feel like they need to feel like they're. They're incredible, even if they're kind of not incredible. So they need to have. They feel like they want to be around women who know less and kind of. Or at least act like they know less.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So they can. Exactly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And then you'd be like, wow, you're amazing.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. Tell me more.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How do you do that?

[Natalie Jean]

How you turn the TV on. Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This. So many buttons. I don't even know.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I am falling back into my. Greta.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You are. Greta would never, though.

[Natalie Jean]

No, she definitely wouldn't. I think she has a different. Some other problems.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So. And it's definitely. It's not because men suck. It's a societal issue. But those two. Those types of guys are so deeply unattractive to me as an adult woman. But I think I was drawn to that as a kid, even younger friendship.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, even, like, I don't. I wouldn't interact with anyone that treats me like that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Especially when you're young, I think you get addicted to, like, being talked down to by idiots because you're just like, oh, I think this is what makes guys like me.

[Natalie Jean]

Between that and. Or you're so used to being ignored that you'd rather at least be acknowledged, even if it's in a negative way. And I think that's something that we have to grow out of in.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. Although I'd love society in general to grow out of it.

[Natalie Jean]

God, it would Be great. Really would be great, everybody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Henry has never, ever, ever been like that with me. Like, he's always been not only supportive, but, like, not intimidated. If I can accomplish something, which is the best thing, like, he's the best.

[Natalie Jean]

That, like, oh, my God, you love my brother. Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You didn't know.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. I'm gonna tell him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I hope he knows.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's cute. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I had this, like. Just like, this one and, like, tangent side tangent I just made. Thinking about her reaction just had me, like, draw down into all of my worst experiences with, like, people in my younger years. And I just had this, like, strong memory of this one gentleman that I dated who was like, 13 years gentleman.

[Natalie Jean]

The wor.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He was a man. He wasn't called a boyfriend or a man friend. I was very young. He was 13 years older. But I just have this, like, strong memory of him so incapable of being able to compliment me on something that I'd, like, been in this big dance production that I had helped produce, and, like, it was our ballet company, and, like, he had seen the show, and he just, like, berated me about how it was for, like, half an hour while we were in a car driving on the highway, about how your work was bullshit, how the show was bullshit. He basically was going, I don't know why you waste your time with this bullshit. Like, doing all this to the point where I was crying, which he made me do all the time. And after I started crying for a while, he was like, I'm just saying that because I think you're talented. You should be doing other things.

[Natalie Jean]

I want to ground him down into dust.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But it's like that. That guy, don't worry. He's done it to himself. But thank you for saying that.

[Natalie Jean]

Good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he. It's like saying it's that he felt so insecure about giving me a compliment that he needed to beat me down for 30 minutes to just be able to say, I think you're talented. He had to, like, make me feel bad about myself in order for him to allow the concept of a compliment so that he could feel like a big man, of course.

[Natalie Jean]

And not to, you know, puff you up too much.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

Because Lord help us if that happened. And how much longer did you date him after that?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Probably another year.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. See? We grow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I literally. I had to leave the state to get away from that man. I had to move out of state. And he. He did some really fucked up stuff.

[Natalie Jean]

He doesn't want to lose his plaything. He doesn't want to lose his dolly that he gets to abuse.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, and it's funny we call them. Yeah. Because that's definitely one side of it. But the other side is the reason they act like that is they're so insecure you're gonna leave.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because they feel like shit about themselves.

[Natalie Jean]

Right. So they have to make you feel lesser so you don't have the confidence to leave.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And so those. Sometimes you hear those things that are said in, like, media, like, they're not gonna want you when you're older. And it's like, actually, a lot of times they're desperately trying to hang on to you.

[Natalie Jean]

Why do you think I'm not dying my hair? Jeff is so into. Not that I do everything for him, but he's so into, like, my grays coming. He's like, I just love. He's like, I just. I love her. And I'm like, all right, yeah, I. Oh, save me a bunch of money. And I don't get. Like, it would be one thing if I wanted to do it, but I don't really care, so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Totally.

[Natalie Jean]

Then it's great, man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Remember that all. If you're a younger lady out there, you never, ever need. If somebody's talking to you like that.

[Natalie Jean]

You cry all the time. Trash.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get away.

[Natalie Jean]

Trash person.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do whatever you can to get out of that situation, because they are absolutely not worth it. And you are absolutely better than them. I already can tell.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So anyway, tangent done.

[Natalie Jean]

No one deserves to make you cry all the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. In this moment, as she is showing him this strength that she has, this powerful thing that she can do that maybe has made other, you know, men intimidated by her. Now she's looking at Hunt, sort of waiting to see if he's gonna, like, look at her with this disgust or, like, lose interest because he's, like. He wants, like, a simple woman.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If only she knew his dirty little.

[Natalie Jean]

Thoughts, how hard he was while she's holding a gun, which just kind of gets me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he kind of. He actually feels anger at the other guys for, like, laughing, even though they're not really being cruel. Like, he's annoyed at them.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. They're just being piss hands.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Instead of dismissing her.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry, I said piss, Hans. And then I was like, piss Hansen. Piss Hansen. Look at those brothers pissing all over their instruments.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was thinking of Chris Hansen.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, pisses. Yeah, that makes more sense. I thought you're just adding piss into the band. Hanson.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sure, that would be a fun. Okay. That's a great Hanson. Cover band that was like, doing it like metal style.

[Natalie Jean]

We just went to go see Max Sabbath.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And it's just, man, so much fun. Which is, for those that don't know, it is a McDonald's themed Black Sabbath cover band. And does the lead singer dress like a metal version of Ronald McDonald? Yes. And is there a Hamburglar? Yes. And is there a Grimace on the bass guitar? Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What's the girl one?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, Patty nobody cares about. Nobody gives a not. Oh, you ain't got a hamburger for a head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get. So. So he's not feeling intimidated by her. He's feeling quite differently upon her. So in this, instead of Birdie, the.

[Natalie Jean]

Early Bird is her name, by the way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Literally nobody knows the early bird.

[Natalie Jean]

I had no idea she was a bird. I. Now that I'm looking at the picture, I'm like, oh, that makes sense. She's a bird. I've literally never heard the name Birdie the Early bird.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow, feminism has lost again, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, man, put her underneath. Grimace is just fucking sitting on top for Hamburg, shoving his face into her mouth. God, there's a sexy Ronald McDonald costume. I gotta get out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, come on, you know it's there.

[Natalie Jean]

I gotta get out of here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You've gotta. There has to be so many McDonald's based porns. There has to be.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, sure. But honestly, if I'm gonna choose one of them, I'm gonna fuck the Hamb burglar. Right. Choose fast. Which one? Natalie? Ronald. Wow. Going after the clown himself. All right, well, sorry, I think this is good to know about each other. And I feel like this, this we.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don'T ever like, we don't go for the same guys usually. So.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it really. Thank God. It would be weird if we did.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, yeah. Especially yes. In real life. So he, instead of dismissing her in this moment, he instead does an incredibly sexy thing. He stares at her as he puts on earmuffs and he sets up a gun for himself and stands in front of the target.

[Natalie Jean]

Hunt pulled his gaze from hers and fired one round with his eagle sharp vision. He didn't need the scope to see the bullet pass through the hole she'd made. I can neute. I can neute. I canute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're bullets.

[Natalie Jean]

They're bullets. Sorry. It's the popped collar. I really feel. I'm feeling, man, you know, I understand.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It just comes out so hot. I'm sorry. That is such a hot scene.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, dude.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Where he is just like. I. I'm not, I'm. I don't feel Repulsed by you.

[Natalie Jean]

No. And I'm not taken aback by you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So very spicy. He looks back over at Bryce and she's flushed, almost like some colors crept to and her blood's been moving around.

[Natalie Jean]

Her body or something.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Seems like she liked it.

[Natalie Jean]

I see you, Quinlan. He silently conveyed to her. And I like all of it. Right back at you. Her half smile seemed to say woo. It just makes me think, and maybe this is tmi. I just remember on our first date that yes, Henry and Natalie did go on with me and my now husband. We weren't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, to be fair, we weren't with you the whole time, but we did meet him with you. And then we were at the same event.

[Natalie Jean]

I was scared I was going to get attacked because I didn't know him. So Henry, Natalie is with me and I. I'll never forget because he asked me before he kissed me the first time and I turned bright red and he was like, did I just make Jackie Zabrowski blush? And I was like, like, I never ever in my life been asked if I could be kissed before and I died.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, he obviously, he got the. He scored the bag.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just throwing this out there. It is a line for anybody to use. Use it on somebody. It will make that. Maybe it won't make the bell, but man. Woo. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I've never been asked that before, right? No.

[Natalie Jean]

And I, like, I. It. It did make me blush. Of all the things, like, it takes a lot to make me blush and that made me blush. Like, the vulnerability, you know, it was like a beautiful moment, but it. It was very like, God, oh my God. And.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also that this, like, guy really wanted to kiss you very much.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Like, and respected me and, like, wanted to make sure I wanted to kiss him back. And I appreciated that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's cool. Cool. Bryce equally feels happy and approving of his actions in this shooting range.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, but there's no kiss. They're just looking at each other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hopefully their first kiss would not be because at least on when we were there, you. We didn't watch you kiss him.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no. We were very far away from you guys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thankfully, she didn't kiss him in front of her brother.

[Natalie Jean]

Come on, Come on, give me kiss. That's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's more of the relationships I've had with first kisses in my. My youngest.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're having a moment, but we have to focus on official.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, what are we in the middle of doing something?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Everyone get it together. They're still staring at each other. When Hunt gets a Phone call. And unfortunately it's bad news. There's been another murder.

[Natalie Jean]

Come on. We're like in the middle of. I fucking in front of my brother. Please don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At chapter 37, all five of them are preparing to leave the shooting range with this new news that Hun has gotten from Isaiah, the. The guy. The Fae boys are all packing their stuff up because they obviously as the ox, have to go check this out too. But Hunt is noticing Bryce's calm demeanor and reflects on how last time this happened when there was the. The murder scene. He believed her shtick of being unbothered and had been kind of of cold and didn't realize what was going to happen. And he wasn't connecting that her despair is so like deeply connected to this still. Almost like, you know, like we were just saying, he's reconnecting to his kindness and empathy as well in these moments.

[Natalie Jean]

And I love that you wrote that. Not connecting that her despair is still very much alive. I love that you wrote that. Like you're right. Because it is. It is current. It is not something. It is not a grief that has that time has healed. It is very present. She is very aware and is still in it. And because really it's never stopped. So I just think that's a really beautiful way of saying that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, thank you. He now knows that she's likely panicking and perhaps afraid to have maybe a meltdown in front of others. She's very insecure about that, understandably. He tells the Fae to make their way over to the Asphodel Meadows, the area where the murders occurred. Uh oh. Time for map.

[Natalie Jean]

Get your arms ready, Jackie. This is my workout for the day.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they're all the way down here at the shooting range, as you'll see. And they have to go zip Zop, zip Zop, zip Zop. They're right up here somewhere in one of these alleyways, very close to the Mortal Gate. So like probably like right there is where the body's been discovered, which we'll find out about. But yes. So now we're at the northeast side of Crescent City. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

So map duty is done. For now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

For now. And so this area is where the Mortal Gate is and that's where the murder has occurred. So Hunt essentially tells the FA boys that to go, then they'll meet them over there. So the boys leave alone with Bryce. His reaction to her is quite different this time around. Before they head over to the scene again, perhaps Hunt is connecting a bit more to his angelity. Whatever you want to call it?

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because of Bryce. He speaks quietly with her, offering to go to the scene alone, but she tells him she needs to go. She needs to see it for herself. She's still rattled, however. She's still kind of shaking, even though she's insisting upon going. So he. He decides to just go for it and takes her hands. He guides her through some breathing exercises, and she gets herself. When she gets herself a little more calm, she tells him she's ready to go. And. And he can't seem to help himself by reaching towards her. He brushes her hair from her forehead and behind her ear. You know how business associates do to each other, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

Ew. I can't even pretend.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Also, Ruhn's hair is supposed to be in his eyes. Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you're right. I can't brush it out for you. And you can't do it for me because I've got the cutest little haircut.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You don't have it in your face, but I know you're always doing that for Holden, your other.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, my work husband. Yeah. I'm always like, holden, let me brush this away after our legs touch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry, Holden.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm not sorry. I would say it right in front of his face.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he gets her to calm herself enough just because she wants to go. So this time around, instead of, like, being all, like, brash and mean and just being like, all business, he's like, okay, you want to go? That's cool. I'm not going to stop you. How are we going to get. Let's take some breathing exercises. I've got you. And then he fucking brushes her hair out of her face.

[Natalie Jean]

But it says also so much about Hunt. About. It took one interaction. Like, it also shows how much he pays attention.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, he's watching her a little bit.

[Natalie Jean]

He is watching her, but also accepting that, like, okay, my actions last time were not what she needed. What can I change to support her? Which is really what we should be doing in all of our partnerships of, like, okay, you know, she doesn't need an answer to be fixed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She doesn't want answer.

[Natalie Jean]

She doesn't want to fix right now. Then how do I support them to get through it? Like, what do they need?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Absolutely. And that's for any gender to any job.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. That's what I mean. No matter what.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. After she kind of gets her breathing steady, Hunt flies them over to the scene, which is in an alleyway. This area of Crescent City, Asphodel Meadows, is. Is a little dingy. It's not a thriving neighborhood, let's call it. There's a lot of trash strewn streets and things like that. We're with Bryce's POV here. And she's thinking about how exposed she just was to hunt. That she never allows anyone to see her that rattled. Even in the middle of the crime scene, she's still thinking about the way he looked at her after she fired the gun.

[Natalie Jean]

I bet he's still digging that girl.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just love that there's like a bloody corpse and she's just like, like, oh my God.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God. That's when you know you felt it through your whole body.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. When you're there with a body afterwards, a corpse, and you're still thinking about it. I know what that feels like.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh yeah. Cuz we're always at crime scenes, people usually call us up and like fabes and we're like, fay here. Yeah. And then we go, and we go like, ew.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, we go, that person's dead. They're super dead.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow. Dead person, huh? So helpful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's also thinking about the warmth of his hands on hers. In fact, in this moment now, his hand is on her back, on her lower back. He offers to look at the body for both of them since she is still a little unsteady.

[Natalie Jean]

Us, like they were a unit against this fucking mess of a world.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's sort of shook by him saying, I can do this for us. Like one, I don't know, one unit. Interesting. So she doesn't want to do that. She. She wants to like be in the scene. She needs to do this and deal with it. They gather from after they're all coming back together because the fae boys are there now. Isaiah's there now. They're gathering together. They're getting their information. And it appears that the victim is a guard from Luna's temple. It is another person who was there the night the horn was stolen.

[Natalie Jean]

Bum, bum, bum.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you recall the other crime scene was an acolyte and who that was also there the same the night that the horn was stolen. And of course, Danika. Seems like a pattern. Gentlemen.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce pulls up the map on her phone and points to where each of the bodies were located, including Maximus and Maximus Tertians. And she realizes it's along the ley lines that comprise the main streets of Crescent City. The archways mark them. So everywhere that there's an arc, an arch, there is the main streets, and they all go across these ley lines. And it's basically how first light travels the way that, like, electricity moves through power lines, but it's through the. I guess, the Earth, the way that it works. So she hypothesizes that perhaps the demon is getting through via the gates and the burst of first light energy. Hunt walks off to relay this theory to Isaiah, and Declan and Flynn corner her when. You know, again, when they. They. She hasn't said anything, but when two people are interested in each other, usually people can pick up on it, whether or not they think they're hiding it from others. And so Declan and Flynn.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, we know, babe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They can tell that she is having some kind of feelings. Right?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You're having something happening down there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ew. That's not what he said.

[Natalie Jean]

That's what he said. He's like, well, pretty slippery, huh?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You sound like Holden.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I mean, now. And now I'm thinking about how his leg brushes against mine underneath the microphones of page seven. It doesn't happen. Surprise.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So.

[Natalie Jean]

But, yeah, they could smell it. Like, that's the thing. As. As humans, we can see it, but as they. They can smell it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's so intense.

[Natalie Jean]

Yikes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That is a lot.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I really don't like that. It really. I. I think it's, like, the one reason why I'm not Faye. Like, I just, like, don't want to smell that, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I don't want to be smelled.

[Natalie Jean]

No. Certainly not. I don't want anyone know how, like, how horny I am.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, that's a.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, like, what if you're with someone and you just, like, have a flash of horn for someone that's not your partner, and then your partner knows? Because I've never been attracted to anyone except my husband.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know that.

[Natalie Jean]

Everyone. Right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Never. I never even saw you look at a man before.

[Natalie Jean]

I never have. Never have. Never will.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So. So Deccan Flynn basically can sense this on her, and they kind of corner her when Hunt is over talking with Isaiah, and they tell her to stay away from Hunt, say that he's bad news.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, Oracle, step off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. Seriously, everybody's trying to get them to not have sex with each other, but.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, spoiler alert, guys. They're totally gonna have.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe they won't. We don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm sorry. Yeah. Not spoiler.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they think that he's doing even more nefarious shit than she knows. Like, outside of the Ox, outside of the 33rd. They. They're challenging her, saying, you don't know this guy. We don't know him either. Like, there's so many things about this guy you don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, think about it. Think about what they do know about him. And it is very scary, very intimidating, very mysterious, but also like, they have no idea really who he is. Think about how often and how many times, even just like other, like, dudes, you don't feel that good about how many times you've gone to a friend just being like, I don't know, maybe you shouldn't. Maybe don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And that friend is always extremely responsive and goes, you're cr. You're right.

[Natalie Jean]

I won't do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm only going to date him for three or four more years and then I'll.

[Natalie Jean]

And then. And then when he really treats me bad, I might think about leaving.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm also saying that about myself, so. But Declan shook his head.

[Natalie Jean]

The angels don't give a shit about anyone, B. His goals are not your goals. Athelar's goals might not even be the same as Micah's. Be careful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. It was beautiful.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. You know, I really felt it. Like, oh my God. Like, I can feel the computering. Computering feet go through my fingers.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I can tell.

[Natalie Jean]

I could not. I was like, say one technology word you haven't said yet. I could come up with nothing. Computering.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So I don't know. Is that foreshadowing? Who's to say?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe we don't know everything about Hun yet. Hun returns and Bryce lets the Faeboys know that they're leaving. That is to say, Bryce and Hunt even waves goodbye to her brother, which is. Is it's growth. The two of them leave the scene on foot and they're not but a block away before Hunt starts asking Bryce about Flynn.

[Natalie Jean]

He mentioned, of course, just immediately, he.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mentions that he flirts with Bryce constantly. But he does it in this way, just being like, so you guys, like, I don't. I don't know, like something. Like, I don't, like, kiss each other.

[Natalie Jean]

Like I care. Like if you did or like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So.

[Natalie Jean]

Which even Hunt Athelar gets like that, which makes me melt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's so true. And so she is amused by this questioning, but doesn't give over the info that easily. She says, well, why don't you tell me about all of your hookups then? First, Hunt balks and he says, you know, there's nothing worth talking about. None of these people are worth it. Plus. Plus, Shahar ruined everyone else for me, which is like, jesus, Hunt, seriously, what are you doing? You were such a himbo. Don't why would you say that?

[Natalie Jean]

Don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What is wrong with you?

[Natalie Jean]

Don't say that. You don't. And also, it's just like, ugh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. My ex is just like, forever in my. Etched into my heart, and I just can't ever imagine anybody else but her.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, like, Bryce has seen her twin sister, so she knows what she looked like. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So obviously it's ridiculous because he's super into Bryce and he just throws this gauntlet down. Like, why are you challenging this? But, you know, maybe he's a little bit jealous too. Maybe there's a lot of jelly. Cuz she's. He sees her flirting with Flynn and. Yeah, so maybe he's doing it on purpose. I don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, well, I was also in love. Love, so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she died. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's sad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bigger and better. But in this weird way, though, him talking about Shahar is Hunt becoming more intimate with Bryce. This is like a very private thing for him.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he tells her at this point a little bit about his past with Shahar, how she favored him, even though his bloodline was not special. He wasn't fancy boy. And that matters in the angel line. His story is reminiscent. It reminds me of Cassian for our AK heads. Is what I wrote a heads. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Sounds like people that, like Mars attacks or Kathy. Or Kathy. Yeah. Akheads could be one of the three. So choose your lane.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You can only choose one, however. So, you know, he has this, like, immense power. He's very strong, but he didn't have the. The pedigree. And so he was looked down upon. But Shahar didn't see him that way. So Shahar's Hunt's upbringing didn't stop Shahar from noticing his talent and then some other talents.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, she noticed a couple things about him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this is a very private part of Hunt, but maybe not the part Bryce was hoping for today. You know, he asks her again if she had hooked up with Flynn, because again, he's a little bit off. She reveals that while, no, they didn't hook up, she had a massive schoolgirl crush on him and wrote Lady Bryce Flynn all over her school notebooks. He's flummoxed by this.

[Natalie Jean]

So cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She thinks back on the time that Danika went home with Flynn, when the two of them had ran into Flynn and Declan at a bar. Bryce didn't want to affect Flynn's relationship with Ruhn at the time, even though they weren't speaking then. She didn't. Didn't want to, like, destroy his life. Or like his life up by having sex with his best friend, so. But I do like that the only option then was that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Danica's got. If I'm not gonna him, somebody's gotta him tonight. I mean, I said I'm not gonna do it, so you pass the buck.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm gonna take one for the.

[Natalie Jean]

For the team, Honestly. She did it for the team. Yeah. And thank you, Danika, for your sacrifice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, that was really hard for her. This thought makes her really sad, obviously, thinking about her best friend. And so she distracts herself by bringing up her worst aid experience to hunt, which she reveals was with the vampir.

[Natalie Jean]

The vamps had worked hard to get people to forget the tiny fact that they'd all come from hell, lesser demons themselves, that their ancestors had defected from their seven princes during the first war and fed the Asteri imperial legions vital intel that aided in their victory. Traitors and turncoats who still held a demon's craving for blood.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just a little bit of a vamp backstory for you all, she tells him without saying the words that the vamp had suggested he feed while going down on her, which is not for me.

[Natalie Jean]

Time and a place, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She notices his eyes traveling down her body as she's bringing this up, as he works out what she's suggesting. She's amused by his shock, and that seems to shake him out of the sadness of speaking about Shahar. But then she.

[Natalie Jean]

Would it make them, like, bloodthirsty? Yeah. Would it make them lose control if he had eaten her out while she was on her period?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. I thought maybe. I guess you are talking about period. I thought he just wanted to bite her.

[Natalie Jean]

Or maybe just biting on the labias.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess that's what I thought it meant.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Maybe it could be, like a corn on the cob situation.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get out of here, Declan. So we.

[Natalie Jean]

Me, babe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she kind of, like, shakes him out of his sadness about Shahara, but then she brings her back up immediately.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, because she's also insecure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because don't you want. I mean, it's the devil, you know, versus the devil, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

True.

[Natalie Jean]

We gotta know about this so we can try to be better than her. Which, you know, we don't want to actively say that, but we know that's, like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's what you're thinking. So she kind of asks, like, do you think you, like, do you have feelings for whatever, Like, I don't care if they do, like, you're solving. And he reveals that he'll always have deep feelings for her and that anytime he's physical with another person, he can't let himself forget everything that she gave up for him and for their cause. Bryce is like, oh, that's cool. Wow, cool. She then thinks about how maybe she was misreading signals from him.

[Natalie Jean]

God, I just had, like, a slap in the face of a memory of, like, someone I was waiting to get out of a bad relationship, and I was. The second they broke up, I remember being like, what's up? How's it going? And she's like, oh, he's still heartbroken. All right, well, I will be waiting. I will be here when you're done.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, not waiting. I don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm not waiting. I don't need you. I don't want you. I've been there. Never. Never.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, it's the worst feelings, too, when you think, like, you. Like when you have a crush on somebody and you think that they're flirting with you, but then, like.

[Natalie Jean]

Like they say, like that. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then you're just, like, the pit.

[Natalie Jean]

Of your stomach going, oh, I was reading into. So I'm so stupid. Like, oh, you mean give me an opportunity to yell, I'm so stupid.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Which we're not supposed to say about ourselves, but I think we do anyway.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she's feeling like that right now. She's saying in her mind, you know, maybe he wasn't trying to make his interest known, even though he obviously was sending these mixed signals to her.

[Natalie Jean]

And also being vulnerable for him is difficult.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's true. So she's like, I swear to God, he was just staring at me like he was going to eat me in the gun range. But now he's saying he can never think about another woman. So Hunt kind of sees her reaction, and he almost seems to start to backpedal what he was about to say. But he cuts himself off because he notices Bryce has become frozen in what looks like fear.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Staring ahead at something. He follows her line of sight, and he sees a crowd of people in the middle of it, charging towards them. Sabine.

[Natalie Jean]

It just sucks because Sabine is so hot. And now that, like, I've looked at pictures of Sabine multiple times, I'm just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, God, she's so hot. I don't know if she's bad, though, because, like, bad people are not pretty.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So you think that she's got, like. Like her brain makes her ugly. You know, she's hot as. You know, she's so hot. You are lying.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, only ugly people are bad. People.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She confronts Bryce, asking her where the Danika's sword is, but she doesn't call it Danica's sword, even though it was.

[Natalie Jean]

No, because she would never say Danika's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sword because it was not brought to Sabine. Sabine did not get called to the.

[Natalie Jean]

Sword or because it ain't yours, but.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She wants to know where it is. Bryce is kind of shocked and sort of like, going into a panic attack. So she kind of just stands there shaking, doesn't respond to Sabine. Hunt begins to pull Bryce away and cautions Sabine to watch it. As they pass by her, Sabine calls Bryce a quote, stupid slut.

[Natalie Jean]

Nah, bitch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Hunt starts to lose.

[Natalie Jean]

I run a hut.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Bryce, who's, you know, going through something, holds him back, says, please, just let's go. Like, let's leave. I don't want to do this right now. It's not because she's like. I think it's not because she's terrified of Sabine. It's that Sabine represents Danika's mother, and she feels. I think Bryce feels such deep guilt, and she knows that her mom also feels that way, that it's Bryce's fault. And so she just, like, feels paralyzed by this. That. And so. And Hunt wants to, like, lash out and, like, rip Sabine's face off. And Bryce is like, please, just take me away from here. Like, I. I gotta go. So he does, but, like, man, talk about a super villain. I don't think I've ever called somebody A in my life ever. I don't think I've ever. To someone's face. Have you ever called somebody to their face? I don't even think I've said it about somebody unless it's very jokingly said.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I said it. Meant it. Again, talk about, like, flat. Like, you asked me the question. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No judgment. I'm just, like. I've never to.

[Natalie Jean]

To, like, I was real angry, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm sure they deserved it. It is an intense thing to say to somebody.

[Natalie Jean]

It is. You're right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Especially, like, your daughter's best friend. That.

[Natalie Jean]

Especially. Yeah. No, I don't think I would say that to someone like, you know, in this capacity.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Stupid slut.

[Natalie Jean]

What? Jesus. Good. No, Sabine is a very good villain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And so, you know, they. They. They walk away because, you know, Bryce asks for that. Deaf. I've definitely been called slut before, but.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He scoops Bryce up and flies them back to her apartment, landing on the roof. Before Bryce walks to the stairwell. He grabs her arm, holds her there, looks her in the face and promises her that they're going to find who did this. She recalls how she's still confused by what he said about Shahar. But she recalls how just, just a little bit earlier, he had used the term us when referring to her and himself, deeming the two of them this one piece. So she decides to believe him and trust him just a little. Cut to later in the evening and Bryce gets a call from Declan while she's brushing her teeth for bed.

[Natalie Jean]

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, he's tapping.

[Natalie Jean]

Computer, computer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can't. Can't stop typing.

[Natalie Jean]

No, he's always. Man, these tech guys are always typing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So. So as she's taking this call from Declan because she imagines there's some news to be had, she's walked. She walks through the house, knocks on Hunt's door as she's conversing with Declan, who tells her on the phone that he has some news for them. But before she can process what Declan's saying, she's struck dumb. When Hun opens the guest room door.

[Natalie Jean]

Burning. Fucking soulless. He wasn't wearing a shirt and from the look of it, had been in the middle of brushing his teeth too. But she didn't give a shit about his dental hygiene when he looked like that. Muscles upon muscles upon muscles. Souls all covered by golden brown skin that glowed in the first lights. It was outrageous. She'd seen him shirtless before, but she hadn't noticed. Not like this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's got it bad. It's that feeling, yeah, the switch over when you've like realize you like somebody and then suddenly there's just everything they do. But then she has to like shut this down.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you're like in the middle, like on the phone. You imagine. How do you not start laughing like that, like an idiot?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, she's like. She's like. He just said he has only eyes for jar Girlfriend.

[Natalie Jean]

Dead girlfriend.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she's like staring at him like a creep. But you know, he doesn't seem to mind that much because when she finally looks up at his face, he's kind of grinning at her, like he's amused. He's pleased with himself, I bet about it. But anyway, there's news from Declan.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh yeah?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it's kind of a big deal. He analyzed the footage from the night the horn was stolen, like they asked. And he. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

[Natalie Jean]

He has been typing this entire time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he noticed something the ox didn't. There were voices on the footage that shouldn't have been there. And that led him to doing some testing and figuring out that the footage had been spliced in. It was footage from another night, taken and placed in to act as the footage for the night of the blackout. Someone switched the real footage out, and Declan is pretty sure he knows who did it. He tells them there was only one one person with clearance that night during the investigation. Sabine Fender.

[Natalie Jean]

The villainess herself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, and now we're on to part three, y'all. So let's leave it there.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, dudes. Oh, my God. All right, well, now, man, we didn't like anything about the cut of any of her jib, and now we're gonna have to go down the road if Sabine Fendir aren't waiting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What the fuck was she doing with that damn footage?

[Natalie Jean]

Dunno. Guess we're gonna have to find out next week.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Canyon.

[Natalie Jean]

Please read up until chapter 42 for next week. This show is made possible by listeners like, thanks to our ad sponsors. You can support our shows by supporting them. For more shows like the one you just listened to, go to lastpodcastnetwork.com.