LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 17: Opal Official

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City – Episode 17: Opal Official Summary

Released on February 11, 2025 by The Last Podcast Network

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Introduction

In Episode 17 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City, hosts Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski delve deep into the intricate dynamics and pivotal moments of Sarah J. Maas's popular adult science fiction series, Crescent City. This episode offers comprehensive insights into character development, plot progression, and thematic elements, providing both seasoned fans and newcomers with a nuanced understanding of the narrative.

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Meeting the Characters: Bryce, Hunt, and Ember

Natalie and Jackie begin by exploring the complex relationships between the central characters—Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, and Ember. They discuss Bryce's evolving relationship with Hunt, highlighting the emotional depth and underlying tensions that drive their interactions.

Natalie (12:09): "Jesus. And I have to say that when I was, like, looking through stuff on Reddit for this Episode. Someone on Reddit pointed out that Randall's last name, Silago, is a sort of shortened slang in Spain that means bat."

The discussion emphasizes Bryce's struggle with her past and her mother's influence, particularly focusing on Ember's protective nature and her own aspirations.

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Ember’s Protective Instincts and Maternal Bonds

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Ember’s character—Bryce's mother—and her interactions with Hunt and Randoll. The hosts analyze Ember's critical stance toward Hunt's presence in Bryce's life, interpreting it as both protective and reflective of her own traumatic experiences.

Jackie (22:10): "Imagine, too, that she probably thinks so highly of her daughter that she probably assumes that she could be shooting a lot higher."

Natalie and Jackie delve into Ember's past, revealing her history with the Autumn King and the complexities of her relationship with Randoll, who becomes a father figure to Bryce after Ember's departure. They speculate on the significance of Ember's distinct features, such as her pendant symbolizing the union of Solas and Kathona, and her red hair inherited from her biological father.

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Emotional Clashes and Character Growth

The hosts discuss the emotional confrontations between Bryce and her mother, particularly focusing on Bryce's reluctance to seek healing for her traumatic scar—a symbol of her unresolved grief and connection to her late friend, Danika.

Jackie (25:06): "It's like speaking to Bryce from one person that has daddy issues to another person has daddy issues. This would make me slip out of my seat."

Natalie highlights Bryce's internal conflict between honoring her past and striving for personal growth, while Jackie explores the impact of these interactions on Bryce's relationships, especially with Hunt.

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Hunt’s Vulnerability and Sentimental Gestures

Hunt Athalar's character is examined in depth, particularly his attempts to bridge emotional gaps with Bryce through subtle gestures like gifting an opal stone symbolizing joy. Natalie and Jackie appreciate Hunt's awkward yet heartfelt efforts to connect, noting his transformation from a seemingly stoic warrior to someone capable of emotional depth.

Natalie (33:50): "He doesn't know what he's doing. He's trying. He doesn't know how to date somebody."

The conversation touches upon Hunt's past relationships, including his connection with Shahar, and how his experiences shape his current interactions with Bryce, emphasizing his struggle to navigate newfound emotions.

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Climactic Revelations and Cliffhanger

As the episode progresses, Natalie and Jackie build anticipation around the climactic revelations in the narrative. They discuss Bryce's confrontation with Therian, uncovering deeper layers of the plot related to the mysterious drug Synth and its implications within the story's universe.

Jackie (57:15): "The intel came in a day before her death. She was spotted doing a deal on a boat just past here."

This culminates in a dramatic cliffhanger where Bryce learns unsettling truths about her best friend Danika and the pervasive influence of Synth, leaving listeners eager for the next episode.

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Memorable Quotes

Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight several poignant and humorous moments, enhancing the listener's engagement and providing memorable takeaways.

Jackie (12:09): "They're using. They're being able to use it as healing. They're, like, making new medicines with it."

Natalie (46:18): "It takes strength, Natalie. It takes strength."

These quotes encapsulate the blend of serious analysis and light-hearted banter that characterizes the podcast.

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Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode

Wrapping up, Natalie and Jackie reflect on the episode's discussions, expressing their excitement for future installments and encouraging listeners to continue their journey through Crescent City. They hint at unraveling more intricate plot points and character backstories in upcoming episodes, ensuring continued engagement.

Natalie (51:15): "But a lot of times those really passionate relationships happen because you were literally on almost a commune-like situation on set."

Jackie (58:07): "This is such a good cliffhanger. Oh my God. Oh, okay. Especially hitting the end of this book."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Natalie (12:09): "Jesus. And I have to say that when I was, like, looking through stuff on Reddit for this Episode..."

• Jackie (22:10): "Imagine, too, that she probably thinks so highly of her daughter..."

• Jackie (25:06): "It's like speaking to Bryce from one person that has daddy issues..."

• Natalie (33:50): "He doesn't know what he's doing. He's trying. He doesn't know how to date somebody."

• Jackie (57:15): "The intel came in a day before her death..."

• Jackie (58:07): "This is such a good cliffhanger..."

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Final Thoughts

Episode 17 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City offers an in-depth exploration of key characters and plot developments within the series. Natalie and Jackie expertly navigate the complexities of Crescent City, providing listeners with thoughtful analysis, engaging discussions, and intriguing insights that deepen the appreciation of Sarah J. Maas's rich narrative tapestry.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

First decision of the morning. A creamy mocha frappuccino drink. Or will we ease into the day with a sweet vanilla? Maybe a smooth caramel? Ooh, what about that white chocolate mocha? No matter which flavor you choose, delicious coffee, coffee awaits. Better coffee starts a better day. Start with bottled Starbucks frappuccino drinks. Pick up a bottle near you wherever you buy your groceries.

[A]

Welcome to CRE City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski.

[B]

Okay, I had to at least throw this on quick. I'll do it for the pictures. But he has talons whenever he's a merman, so I feel as though like he should be wearing talons right now. But obviously they're not made for using a computer. They won't. They are.

[A]

Don't they make talons that you can use your computer with?

[B]

Or why don't they make MacBooks that are former people?

[A]

You know what? This.

[B]

In 2025, I feel like we should.

[A]

Really be championing this. I feel like it's not fair that the other people outside of the human race in these books, like how, like, can. Like, can the malakim. Can they open up their phone with just their face?

[B]

I don't know. It seems like all the tech is for humans and not for the malakim and not for the veneer.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

I'm just. I'm just making a point. Okay. I'm just bringing it up and maybe we need to address it.

[A]

Thank you. Brave. This is brave.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

[A]

Especially while you're dressed as a merman.

[B]

I am a bit of a merman. I need to make some alterations a little bit, but I'm pretty.

[A]

What do you mean?

[B]

Pretty happy with this.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Perfect merman.

[B]

You know, it's this line I wish I could cover. Like, hide the neckline, cut your neck.

[A]

Off so that it would fit.

[B]

I wish I had slit my throat.

[A]

No, Nelly.

[B]

No, I don't wish that.

[A]

No, I don't wish that.

[B]

Okay, I have to take this off, but I'll wear it for the picture.

[A]

Thank you. I just appreciate that you are dedicated to your craft.

[B]

Look at my stripes.

[A]

They're great stripes. They're amazing stripes.

[B]

Thank you. I feel like I need to slightly raise up if you're watching.

[A]

Show it off. I mean, when you've got a 19 pack like that. I feel like that is hard work that deserves to be rewarded. I reward you. I reward you.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you. I worked really hard on these cotton based abs, so I didn't actually make this or anything. I don't know why I'm pretending.

[A]

I know, but, you know, I was gonna let you. You know, you can say whatever you want as far as I'm concerned. If you want to pretend like you made it, then, I mean, you're that strong. I shouldn't argue with you.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

If you've got 19 AB, then I think that you are the one that will win every argument.

[B]

That's. That's what I've been told in school.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I have to also though, say I'm ashamed to admit that my fins are the wrong color. And that's.

[A]

You know, I was gonna puke everywhere when you walk in because your fins are the wrong color.

[B]

It's not the right color for him and it's not his color. And I'm sorry.

[A]

I guess we'll allow it for now just because we can't see it under the table. But you wait for when we take those pictures for us to post Natalie.

[B]

I guess maybe I can photoshop it the right color.

[A]

You better, or I'm going to be too busy puking.

[B]

I thought you were going to say I better not so that everybody knows.

[A]

I want. I want you to experience the freedom of having the tail be the color you need it to be.

[B]

Oh, thanks. I feel seen.

[A]

Thank you. Maybe it's just because I'm a hot mom.

[B]

You are hot mom. You. I knew who you were immediately when you came.

[A]

Did you? Because you knew I was a hot mom. I just. I am. I know.

[B]

I know that theory and would be all up on Amber, right?

[A]

Oh, yes. I am a mother that shows off her ts.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel like Ember is hot enough that she would be the mom that all, like all of Bryce's friends probably wanted to.

[B]

Of course.

[A]

I mean, look at Bryce. Look at where she comes from.

[B]

I'm. I'm not. Again, what did you say you thought you were mom from where?

[A]

You said you're Santa Fe. I have. I've got this, like. I feel like she's like, the kind of mom that, like, also knows how to, like, do ceramics and stuff like that. And she'll come out and be like, oh, hey, boys. She's like, covered in like, like, like soot from I don't know.

[B]

But she's not being, like, creepy about, like, seducing the boys no, she's just. She's just, like, existing, and they're just like.

[A]

And that's how I feel in this wig.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

Technically, she does just have long, dark hair. And that could have just been my hair. But then it's like this. This.

[B]

To me, you need a wig to become somebody, you know, you gotta, like. You got it. Metamorphosize.

[A]

Yeah. It's like, let me think about, you know, kissing old daddy. Oh, baby Daddy. I guess not. Baby Daddy just.

[B]

Daddy stepped up.

[A]

Dad who stepped up.

[B]

I could have also just wore my hair for Therian, but I didn't. I have the color of the right color hair, and it just. I felt like it wasn't him.

[A]

When you've got the wigs, use them.

[B]

I got wigs?

[A]

Yeah. They're multiplying.

[B]

Oh, that's a different song I was singing. Oh, you were thinking. I was singing. Legs, legs, and she knows how to use. You went the grease route.

[A]

Yeah, I did.

[B]

Oh, you got a lip. Now it's up higher. It's like, now in the, like.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

God, I hate having lipstick on my teeth. Thank you for telling me, because I would have been very upset if I.

[B]

Saw it out there. Yeah. I want people to tell me if there's a thing happening, you know?

[A]

Yes, always. And I'm usually that person. It's like something stuck in your teeth. The tag is sticking out. It's like, we don't have to be ashamed of these things.

[B]

People are gonna be more upset if you didn't tell them. Ultimately, you gotta talk about these things.

[A]

Sometimes you've got something in your teeth. It's not shameful.

[B]

Also, yeah, I think Henry sometimes doesn't notice the things I do. And so he won't tell me. Like, my eyeliner's been smeared across my face for six hours. And I'm like, why? And he's like, I just thought it was makeup.

[A]

I don't know. You're beautiful. I don't know. I see that. You're beautiful.

[B]

It's very sweet. It's in a nice way. It's not, like, where he's being, like, dismissive. He's just like, I just think you look really nice. And I'm like, thank you. You're being toxically supportive.

[A]

How dare you?

[B]

No, I would prefer it. I want him to be nice.

[A]

It's. Yeah, it's cute. He's very nice.

[B]

Oh, mommy time.

[A]

Oh, I'm here. And my tits are here. And Hunt knows it.

[B]

So that's where we left off. If you recall, Bryce and Hunt were about to do a phone chat, a video chat with the parents we left off. Amber had just heard Bryce offer to get Hunt drunk in order to meet them.

[A]

Oh, my God. Always check to see if mommy got on the call early.

[B]

I know. I mean, I feel like she did it on purpose.

[A]

I mean, also, it seems like it's like she's used to getting the Bryce Adelaide Quinlan from her mother.

[B]

Oh, she is.

[A]

Even though she's a hot mom, she still has rules.

[B]

I think Bryce, like, kind of enjoys the back and forth, like the bickering with her mom. It's maybe how they show affection for each other. Well, I think Bryce has a hard time with showing love.

[A]

Yes, she does. And that also goes to show in the relationship between Bryce and Hunt as well, because it is very, like, jocular and kind of like, like, slap you in the back of the head because I've got a crush on you kind of thing.

[B]

It is. Even with Danika, she notes how they didn't say I love you to each other normally, and. And they didn't have that kind of deep, like, sentimental friendship, but there was still tons of love there, just like their own thing. So that's sort of. It seems like with her mom. And we're with Hunt's POV at the start of chapter 56. And he is taking in Bryce's mom and stepdad.

[A]

Yeah, he's taking in a couple bumps down to the seraph.

[B]

Listen, he is being more mindful than maybe you're suggesting.

[A]

I couldn't imagine meeting the two of them. I'd be like.

[B]

So he does immediately acknowledge that she is very beautiful. And she has black hair, which I always have such a hard time picturing.

[A]

I want her to have red hair. Her name is Ember. It breaks my brain that I looked twice to make sure, because in my brain also, she has red hair. Yeah. Because she's Bryce's mom. And I imagine. But then it makes sense that she gets the red hair from the Autumn King.

[B]

But then I was like, oh, that's so strange to think of black hair and red hair in the same family. And I'm like, oh, wait, my husband and my sister in law have red hair and black hair, and your mother has brown hair.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, you know, it takes all kinds in a family. Oh, those genetics.

[B]

Oh, they all get mashed in there, bouncing about. So she gets. Obviously gets her red hair from her bio dad, but it's such a different color. But I kind of wonder if there's going to be a reason that her hair is such a distinctly different color.

[A]

Has to be, I feel like. And I don't know if it's just because of the extra Ember chapter we got later on. And obviously we're not getting into that right now.

[B]

Way later on.

[A]

Way, way, way later on. I just feel like there's so much missing with the story of Ember, and I know we're gonna get it.

[B]

We're gonna get some.

[A]

I just. It's got to be in the next Crescent City, I imagine.

[B]

Especially because it's weird that she and the Autumn King even met in the first place.

[A]

Well, because that's the whole thing. And the fact, like, someone brought up. I was reading as I was looking into Ember for this costume, someone brought up, which I didn't even realize. I'm probably jumping way too far into the future, but I want to bring this up while I'm thinking about it, that it's always described in the scent of Ember as well as the Autumn King, that, like, they have similar scents. And so someone has posited that were they mates? And that that's why he was so feral when she left him with the baby and that she broke the mating bond.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

So. But, like, isn't that crazy to think of, like, a mating bond between a. Like, a full human?

[B]

So is she a full human?

[A]

Dunno.

[B]

Dunno, Dunno.

[A]

But we're not gonna find out today, y'all. No. Because we're just meeting the parents.

[B]

Yeah. There's a think about how much happens between now and that bonus chapter.

[A]

Just as I was saying it, I was like, flashes of, like, plot, plot, plot. And I was like, oh, my God. And then that happened. And that. Oh, my God. Yeah. And there's that. But it's like, okay, Jackie, we're still in the first book.

[B]

If you haven't read the other books, you're not even gonna. It's gonna blow your boobs off.

[A]

Butts, butts, butts and boobs.

[B]

Where this story goes.

[A]

Yeah. Dude.

[B]

Wild. Okay. So she does, in fact, have freckles, like Bryce, which. Wow. With black hair and freckles. Are you kidding me? Stunning.

[A]

I. I die.

[B]

I. I found this piece of art of the two of them. I don't know who did this art, so I can't credit them, but we are looking at it right now, and. Oh, my God, they're both so hot. Illustration.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Jesus.

[A]

Good Lord.

[B]

Oh, and I have to say that when I was, like, looking through stuff on Reddit for this Episode. Someone on Reddit pointed out that Randall's last name, Silago, is a sort of shortened slang in Spain that means bat.

[A]

Whoa. That's awesome. Awesome. I'm sorry. Burping a little bit.

[B]

Yeah. There's apparently a municipality in Spain called Silago, and that. It's a. It's referencing a bat. The bat.

[A]

Hell, yeah. It sounds like a sexy part of Spain.

[B]

But does that have something to do with the Illyrians?

[A]

Oh. Ooh la la. I like that, man. Every time I think of a theory, I just feel like in my brain, I can watch the Rolodex of like. Of, like, how that could work, how that could lay in. You know what I mean?

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

What if.

[B]

What if wings, just, like, he grows them as an adult man. There's hope for all of us. We might all be Illyrians, guys.

[A]

We can't just be regular humans, right? Just making disgusting.

[B]

I get why people get obsessed with things like flat earth or even just, like, you know, the weird heavens that exist in religions, because you're just like, come on, there's something. Right, Right? I mean, I. Listen, I love Earth. I think Earth is amazing. I love being here. But, like, nobody has magic powers.

[A]

Are we just saying, nobody has got to be somewhere. Come on. I just think that they're immediately hidden. I feel like they're taken away. I feel like we don't get to meet those people. That's why I hope you never find out you have powers, because then they're gonna try and bury you.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

I will find you.

[B]

Thank you. I appreciate it. Samesies.

[A]

Thank you. Oh, my God. I hope that my magic starts coming out soon.

[B]

What if it comes out of your vagina?

[A]

No. Go. Oh, God. It was a. It was my period the whole time. Magic.

[B]

I think that they have recently discovered that they can. They're using menstrual blood to discover new. Like, this is something I've only vaguely looked at, so I'm sure I'm correct and take it as scripture. Don't.

[A]

Scientist Natalie. Yes.

[B]

They're using. They're being able to use it as healing. They're, like, making new medicines with it. And I think that people were so misogynistic in our society for so long that they were just like, ew, period.

[A]

Rather not.

[B]

Yeah, so we'll see. Maybe we are magic.

[A]

Think about that.

[B]

Randall sits into frame, you know, after Ember's given this, like, berating, you know, Randall also comes in as they're doing all their greetings, and Bryce Lights up, calling him dad. Hunt has already established that he knows of who her stepdad is because he's a famous sharpshooter. And now we also see that Randall is filled with recognition as he gazes at, quote, Athy, which is how she's referred to him, to her mom, who still doesn't acknowledge, really, who he is. It's not necessarily a welcoming gaze coming off of Randall when he realizes, oh, this is Hunt Athelar, not some dude named Athy. But he doesn't mention it right away. Instead, he acknowledges that they were stationed in the same place at the same time. And it sends Hunt into a barrage of memories of war, because they're basically war veterans kind of greeting each other in a way. And Bryce seems to see Hunt sort of going into PTSD mode and takes his hand underneath the screen so the parents can't see. But she's, like, taking his hand underneath. She can tell. She's, like, really attuned to him.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Moments later, Hunt notices that Ember is wearing a pendant, like Bryce does, but hers is silver and two triangles with a circle compared to Bryce's Archesian amulet. And he notices that it's. This is a symbol of the union of Solas and Kathona. And we don't know why at this moment, but we will learn probably why she's wearing that. Very shortly before there can be more war talks amongst the males, Ember wants to know about why this hulking, beastly man is living in her impressionable daughter's apartment. Yayo.

[A]

I bet she wants to find out.

[B]

She's like, what are you doing?

[A]

What's going on over here? Interesting. Big, thick man. It's not like she knew what Hunt Athelar looked like.

[B]

Also, I think probably she's got Mom Dar on where she can see the, like, body language between the two of them, even though Bryce is acting like he's just some guy, like, has to.

[A]

Live, but also the fact that she, like, holds his hand underneath the. The screen. You can't see that, but it's like, that's something that is usually, like, shown in other ways.

[B]

You can. I'm sure Ember's, like, side eyeing the two of them, being like, yeah, he's your roommate. Okay.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So Hunt explains to Amber that, you know, the arrangement that we already know about, that he's there because they're both working on this thing for the ox, and they leave some stuff out, but mostly are being honest. The parents don't buy that.

[A]

No.

[B]

At all. They're like, okay, sure. And Bryce and Ember kind of bicker back and forth during this. In a jovial way.

[A]

Oh, my God. Like a Gilmore Girls kind of way.

[B]

They're being a bit of a Gilmore Girl.

[A]

I definitely see them in a Gilmore Girls fashion. And that goes out to my other Gilmore Girl bitches out there.

[B]

What's up, Stars Hollow bitches?

[A]

What up? Rise up.

[B]

So they're continuing their, like, back and forth. And Hunt and Randall are kind of watching it. Randall confirming that the two of them tend to be this way 24 7.

[A]

Ember's eyes danced with devilish delight.

[B]

Does athy know about J.J. what? She's just, like, like, torturing her daughter.

[A]

I love their friendship. I love that, like, their relationship. The, like, Bryce and Ember's relationship is so adorable to me. And I think that, like, Sarah writes it so well that it does make me feel like a relationship that I would love to have.

[B]

Oh, totally. So after, when. Whenever asked, this is obviously to tease and kind of torture Bryce, but Hunt panics for a moment, thinking that she's referring to some dude. And he doesn't, like, maybe even realize he's going to have the reaction. But he, like, kind of goes like, who the fuck is J.J. he's totally. He's like. You can tell by his thoughts at this point. He is obsessed with Bryce.

[A]

Yeah, dude.

[B]

Like, he went from being, like, very standoffish in his thoughts to he's, like, head over heels with her right now. Yeah, dude.

[A]

Really paying attention. And can you only imagine if he found out then that she had a boyfriend? Oh, he'd flip.

[B]

Oh, he'd be so bummed. He'd probably go sit on the roof and cry.

[A]

I bet he'd probably, like, dial my number and I'd be like, oh.

[B]

Oh, Ember. Or Jackie.

[A]

Jackie, okay. Or Amber. I mean, again, I'll watch either tape. If it's of me or of me acting like Ember, I'm fine with it. We can make dreams become a reality, Hunt. So am I. Scary.

[B]

I mean, it wouldn't even be that. Well, no, it'd be super fucked up. But, like, because she hasn't been intimate with on yet, it's not like you guys have both. You know what I mean?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's, like, only kind of up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So he realizes quickly that Ember's talking about Jelly Jubilee and not a man. Even though it seems Ember has put together that Hunt is the umbra mortis, she kind of just kind of waves over that, and she starts prodding him for Information about himself. He's one of those credentials. And all the stuff he has to do for his job. He's like. She's like, who are you?

[A]

She wants to know about him because she's a good mother.

[B]

Yeah. Either trying to be supportive or be analytical and critical of him.

[A]

Nosy. Definitely nosy.

[B]

She pushes to know again why he's living there, and the two of them, again, insist it's for work reasons.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Randall tries to silently signal Ember to back off, but she's like, no, I will not.

[A]

Hunt insists, hell yeah, Randall. You can't control Ember, all right? She's a flame. You can't control her.

[B]

It is interesting again, her name is Ember in the Autumn King thing.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It's interesting.

[A]

And the fact. That's why it breaks my brain that she doesn't have red hair.

[B]

Yes. Again, also yes.

[A]

If you look like. I feel like you look at an infant that comes out of a person that has a bright red hair, and you're like, that's Ember. Yeah.

[B]

I had a friend who would like bright ass, red hair growing up whose name was Autumn, because that's. She was born with red hair. And you're like, that's the post. That's. That's the season that she looks like. So we'll see. We'll see what happens.

[A]

We'll see.

[B]

Hunt insists that, no, no, he really is here. And then kind of compliments Bryce in front of her parents, which is very cute, that Bryce is actually very helpful on this mission. She's been this really important asset, and that's the reason why they're kind of bunking up at this point. Ember sort of does a mom thing and kind of belittles Bryce. And Hunt can feel her hurt because she kind of dismisses this and goes. She calls her merely, quote, an assistant antiquities dealer, which is kind of shitty. Yeah. Like a very mom thing to do. You're just like, Jesus.

[A]

Imagine, too, that she probably thinks so highly of her daughter that she probably assumes that she could be shooting a lot higher.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But also not including the trauma that she's experienced and how that oftentimes will stunt a person from moving forward and trying to gain traction with their life. So I feel like Ember is also, like, trying to do, like, the nudge nudge of a mom of, like, you know, you could be more than that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which is. It's like, layoff. She's going through a lot, and she has been through a lot. But, you know, a mom's gonna.

[B]

Mom Mom's got a mom. Randall encourages Ember to change the subject. And though Bryce and Ember are still semi tense, they change the subject over to start talking about Ember's pottery to like, move away from the touchy stuff.

[A]

Just Randall behind her and just in one time. Ghost.

[B]

Well, you know they're doing that.

[A]

Oh, yeah. And he ain't a ghost in this. He a full fledged human being. So they're gonna fuck.

[B]

Yeah. So then they. They bang, probably at the end of that. So we cut over to Bryce in the same scene.

[A]

Bryce knew her mother was a brewing tempest. Hunt was kind to them, friendly, even well aware that her mom was now on a mission to figure out why he was here and what existed between them.

[B]

He did good. So from her pr, that's a lot of pressure. Well, yeah. I love this. The sentence, Bryce knew her mother was a brewing tempest.

[A]

I. I love that. But also, like, he probably didn't have to go through this with Shahar. And if you've never really sat and had to have like a meeting of a parents conversation with a significant other, it's real pressure filled.

[B]

Well, in any case, it is.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. Yeah.

[B]

Even if you've done it.

[A]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Even if you've done it before, because it's a new parent, new situation.

[B]

I didn't meet your parents at Christmas, which is a tense time.

[A]

It was. Yeah.

[B]

No, but it wasn't. It was fine. We had a fun trip. We drove down.

[A]

Drove from New York in traffic. Yeah. That wasn't the best choice we've ever made. But you know what? What a fun time we had trapped in the car together.

[B]

I thought it was a good time.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I had Waffle House for the first time. Isn't that nice?

[A]

God. Go. Don't even bring up Waffle House to me, Natalie. Why'd you do this to me? Now? I want Marvel House, Natalie. I want them scattered. I want them smothered. I want them covered.

[B]

Your boobs?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Waffles.

[A]

Can you scatter them on the grill? I don't think they will, even if you tip them. Although, I don't know. I haven't asked.

[B]

She listens to Hunt and her mom debate Sunball as after they move this conversation away from the 10 stuff. And Hunt inquires. And Randall kind of explains about his organization that he has that helps traumatized human veterans. So they're just kind of learning about each other.

[A]

Randall's a good man.

[B]

He's a good man. They're all having a pretty easy going time. When Hunt turns full traitor. Hunt, he asks Ember if she's tried to persuade Bryce to get her leg scar looked at.

[A]

Bryce froze at exactly the same heartbeat as her mother.

[B]

Turns out Mommy didn't know about it. And Hunt, he probably knew this. He probably intentionally did this because he knew that she hadn't told her mom. Bryce tries to brush it off, but Hunt goes for the jugular. She's still limping from two years ago. Mama, probably venom's still in there, too, man.

[A]

And it's like speaking to Bryce from one person that has daddy issues to another person has daddy issues. This would make me slip out of my seat. The fact that, like, I'd be so angry with him, but I'd be like, but also, it's like, I know what you're doing, and I see what you're doing. And also, also, I hate that you're trying to take care of me. But also, also, also, I trying to take care of me.

[B]

It's probably bringing up a lot of feelings in her at the moment. And she seems outwardly aghast by it.

[A]

Because that's crazy to talk because, like, in my brain, Bryce and Ember talk all the time. And that she does leave good, like, big chunks of her life out of their conversations. And, like, I definitely used to have that relationship with my mom where I definitely kept a lot more out of the conversation because I just didn't want her to know about it. And then I kind of grew up and stopped doing things that I was ashamed of all the time. And then I realized, like, oh, I don't have to lie about what I am or what I do to my mother anymore. Yeah, I guess this is growing up.

[B]

I don't think you need to tell your mother all the things that you do.

[A]

No, I'm not talking about, like, the slip ins. You know what I mean? I'm talking about that we're not that kind of religion.

[B]

I mean, even in, like, some of the bad things you do, they don't. It's okay. You don't have to tell them everything. It's all right.

[A]

Right?

[B]

No, but it's nice that you got to a point that you are wanting to share it and not being like, I need to confess these sins to her.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So Bryce is pretty peeved. She calls him an in front of the parents, which seems to alarm both of them, as he is the umbre mortis. Yeah, but he knows what he's doing bringing this up. He just kind of laughs and Says casually, hey, you know, if she doesn't do something, she's gonna go through the drop, and then she's gonna be like that for eternity. So maybe we need to talk about it.

[A]

Okay, Daddy. Hunt.

[B]

Bryce insists she will not take an appointment if her mom sets one and closes the laptop. Man cut over to her mom, calls back minutes later, and we're with Bryce. By then, Bryce is in her room. Her mom isn't angry, but she's firm. She warns Bryce to be careful around the angels, specifically Hunt and Micah Dominus. Bryce argues back and kind of says, I'm not a baby. But also, yeah, Micah is an angel, and they're scary, but he's better than the other ones. And Amber's sort of like, that doesn't.

[A]

Really mean anything much.

[B]

And during this argument, Ember kind of gets vulnerable and reveals that it's triggering because she sees her daughter with an older veneer male, and it's reminding her of her experiences with the Autumn King. Bryce is flooded with guilt at her mom's admission and wishes she could, you know, reach through the phone and hug her. Her mom apologizes for being critical of her, but tells her that under no uncertain terms that she was making an appointment for Bryce and that she will go to it.

[A]

Mom's got a moment.

[B]

And she also digs into the real. She knows whether or not Bryce will admit it, she doesn't need to live in suffering in order to honor Danika's life, right? And before Bryce can even, like, snap back at that, her mom just hangs up. Because she knows, like, Bryce is gonna, like, freak out, but she's like, I know this is why you're doing this. Bryce's like, no, but, you know, she knows. Chapter 57. Bryce is getting ready for bed, and Hunt knocks on the door. This is right, you know, after all of this has happen, she shouts at him, you know, calls him a traitor. She's not really angry, but she's just like, fuck you, dude.

[A]

Yeah. Hunt pushed off the door and approached. The room became too small with each step closer. Too airless. He stopped at the foot of her mattress.

[B]

I'll go to the Medwich appointment with you. When he turned cute. When he asks why she doesn't want to go, she finally just kind of unloads. So even though she's kind of mad he did. He accomplished what he was going for, which is her telling the truth. She says healing this wound means Danika and the devils are fully gone. It's like this weird souvenir or memento of this most up memory of all time, really. I mean, she walked in on her friends, like, mutilated in her body in her own home.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That's a lot. So she thinks about this scar and this pain as almost a lifeline to them, which I do understand.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

She thinks, like, if she heals it, they're gonna disappear. It's gonna evaporate the memory of them.

[A]

But also, it makes sense that she hasn't shared this truth to her yet. Because, like, once you say that aloud, it's like. Like, oh, it's. My verbal processing helps so much. Oh, say that aloud. It's like, oh, that's. Well, that's silly. Like, that's. But in your head, it makes sense. So you don't want anybody else to know what your reasonings are just because then you can protect yourself better. Yes, because she knows that that's not the way it should be.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But man, we can be so good at lying to ourselves.

[B]

And to hold on. To hold on to, like, our bad habits or our traits that aren't helpful to us. Like the fear of releasing those, letting those go. It's really scary. But it's like always better. And then it's like always better when you release them.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So weird how we fight against that so much. He tells her, you know that's not the case, which is. You got to say it. But obviously, like, I know. It's easier said than done, of course. And she tries to turn away from him.

[A]

Bryce shook her head, looking toward the window. But his fingers closed around her chin. He gently turned her face back to his. His dark, depthless eyes were soft, understanding. How many people ever saw those eyes this way? Ever saw him this way?

[B]

So, yeah, they're in her bedroom, guys.

[A]

And as I just. Where? It's like, he just met the parents. It's gotta be very, very difficult. That's why even earlier, when too airless, when, like, he comes into her bedroom and how airless her room becomes. Because, like, your crush walking into your bedroom while you're laying on the bed, doesn't matter how old you are. That definitely can knock the wind out of you.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Because beds where sex happens.

[A]

Sex.

[B]

And only in the bed.

[A]

Yes. Never anywhere else. Lord knows you could get chickenpox. Yeah, I don't know. Is that. Is that the threat? Is that what happens?

[B]

No, wait, the bedbugs are in beds.

[A]

Oh, God, not in the beds.

[B]

Fleas. You get fleas?

[A]

Yeah, from all your trash bangs.

[B]

So he explains that he's kind of just trying to translate for Bryce, because she can't. It's too close to her. Ember's feelings. And she's like, I know that your mom just can't think about you in pain. It's like something she can't bear as your mother. And then he timidly adds that he can't bear the thought of it. It either. He offers her his friendship. In this moment, she's very clearly moved, but teases him, telling him they've been friends since he, quote, thought JJ Was a dildo. She invites him to sit on her bed with him and watch tv. And the restraint that they have.

[A]

Sheesh.

[B]

Couldn't be me.

[A]

Could not be me. After all those blocks. I. I don't know, man. Like, at this point in reading the book the first time, I just remember I was vibrating.

[B]

Oh, yeah. But they don't. Don't they talk as they sit next to each other? Bryce telling him the story of how Ember and Randall met, omitting the Autumn King. Still, he's still not aware that the Autumn King is her father.

[A]

Right.

[B]

She explains that Ember ran away from the biodad and sought safety from a temple, for Kathona probably hence wears the amulet. But biodaddy was furious that Ember had run away with his new offspring. The priestesses couldn't physically fight off the thugs that she knew he was going to send their way. So Ember took baby Bryce to another temple, called a Solis Temple, where Randall was about to swear his vows to become a Sun Priest.

[A]

What?

[B]

He was tasked with driving them to safety in the territories of the House of Earth and Blood, because even the Autumn King can't touch them once they're on these other lands of a different house.

[A]

And she saw Randall was like, you want to be a priest? Come on, baby.

[B]

Do you think that he was, like, really not interested? And she just kept seducing him?

[A]

I mean, how could it, with the way Ember looks in my brain? I would do anything for this woman. Woman. But I'll show milf.

[B]

Oh, sure. Randall having sought to be celibate. I guess they don't actually say that, but it's implied that he was priest. Yeah. That he was all. He was disturbed, like, mentally ill from the trauma of the war, and he didn't know how to handle it. And so he said, I'm gonna go, like, try to, like. I think maybe he wouldn't, like, fix his soul in some way. Like, he felt the guilt of what.

[A]

He did and put a stopper at the end of his Penis.

[B]

That's how you make it up. And that's what they do when you become a priest, right?

[A]

Like a wine. Like.

[B]

Yeah, they have a little.

[A]

They go a cork. Boop.

[B]

They suck it up. So he is going to about to do this and then he's tasked with like taking them over to the House of Earth and Blood. And obviously over that trip, which I imagine we might hear about at some point, he obviously got the major hots for Ember and decided to live a life of that ass instead.

[A]

Noise, noise. I mean, how could you not? And she was a damsel in distress. And he was just, oh, ready to take care of her.

[B]

And the baby needed a new daddy. He died. Who stepped up. Even though her bio father still attempted to infiltrate the passage of Ember and Bryce to the House of Earth and Blood. So there was a whole thing we have never seen of a shootout. There was a big battle that went on because the Autumn King tried to steal them back before they could get to the House of Earth and Blood.

[A]

We have to get this fleshed out at some point, right?

[B]

I imagine this.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Well, especially because now that we have a bonus chapter where we're with Ember's pov, right? We're gonna get her memories, I imagine.

[A]

I can't wait. I love Ember. Yeah. I don't know if you can tell.

[B]

No, I do. I love her too. But they make it Randall. Basically, Bryce alludes that he killed some of the Fae and they made it over the border to the House of Earth and Blood and they became safe for a time. Hunt tells her after she's done telling this story that he's glad that something worked out for two good people. Bryce realizes in this moment that she and Hunt are laying in her bed. And just this morning they almost went full at it in the kitchen. She's like, oh, gulp. And asks if he wants to watch TV with her. I don't think she's ready to face the strong ass feeling she has for him. Like there's lust there. But obviously it's much more than that.

[A]

More than that.

[B]

And I feel like she's not mentally prepared to deal with. It's not like. Because she's talked about this earlier in the story, like if it was another male, she would just banged it out. Yeah, she would have just done that. But like, this is different.

[A]

Different. It's different. And there. There is a time. You know, I know I've talked about this before. There is a time when you meet someone where it's like, oh, this Is different. And I don't know if, like, it's like, oh, whoa. This is like a much bigger step when you actually, like, have feelings for someone and you haven't banged yet.

[B]

Yeah, I've definitely.

[A]

I've only done it once, and it's the person I'm married to, so don't worry. I'm not. Yeah, yeah, I know you did. I know you did. Natalie, she told me. She goes, we waited 16 months time. And I was like, I am very proud of you. You have to really get to know. It's a year and four months. That is the secret amount of time that you need to get to know somebody before you bed them. And Natalie taught me that.

[B]

When your relationship can drive.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That's when you have sex.

[A]

Wait, 16 years. Wait a second. Wait.

[B]

No, no. Every month represents.

[A]

Oh. Which represents a year. Okay, great, great.

[B]

That's. Everyone knows that.

[A]

Hunt smiled slowly, as if he knew precisely why she'd swallowed, but lay back on the pillows, his wings sprawled beneath him, a predator content to wait for his prey to come to him. Fucking hell. But Hunt winked at her, tucking an arm behind his head. The motion made the muscles down his biceps ripple. His eyes glittered as if he was well aware of that, too.

[B]

Hell yes. Yeah, I don't have that level of discipline.

[A]

No, I love that.

[B]

That he, like, made his muscle flex.

[A]

Just right above his head. Oh, my God, don't.

[B]

Especially because he's like. She's basically saying. He's also acknowledging what just happened and being like, yeah, sure, I'll wait.

[A]

Yeah. All right. Because he is. He's letting her lead because he knows that she's the. I mean, I know they both have trauma, but I appreciate the fact that, like, in this instance, he's like, I'm. I am waiting for you, babe. I'll be here. I ain't going nowhere, but I'm gonna.

[B]

Flirt with you on your bed. We go to a brief Hunt POV at the end of this chapter that takes place moments later in her room, and he's mulling over the acceptance of the friendship from Rice. It mattered to him, though he's well aware the word doesn't really address the entirety of what was occurring between them. Friendship, that is.

[A]

Yeah. Friendship. Yeah.

[B]

The two of them watch trash show after trash show, and Hunt feels content.

[A]

And happy, and wasn't that the most dangerous thing he'd ever done?

[B]

That's crazy, because he's done a lot of dangerous things before.

[A]

Use a lot. He takes them weapons and he goes, bang, bang. It's no good.

[B]

But this is more dangerous. Opening your heart matters a lot. There's no gun inside your heart, no cavity.

[A]

And if there is, you should probably see a doctor, because I don't think it's supposed to be there.

[B]

Don't think so. Even though Ember begs Bryce to take the Medwich appointment she's made her the next day, Bryce ignores all of the texts her mom is sending her at the start of chapter 58. She has other plans this day, and they involve tracking down synthesis. She and Hunt are in the meat market. Well, Bryce decided to go to the meat market, and then Hunt is relegated into following her. Yes. He doesn't want her to. She. He wants her to go to the doctor.

[A]

Of course he does. He's the one that brought it up in the first place. And I also love how fast Ember jumped on that, that she was not fucking around. She's like, no, I'm making you one. I got you one for tomorrow.

[B]

Yeah, it's. That's a mom. Mom in there, right? So she's not doing that she wants to get on top of, because now they know a little bit about. Since she wants to find out what the fuck's up with it. We've learned that it is this powerful drug that they believe came from a medical facility, Redner Industries, and that somehow it became street level. Like, people are taking it in bad doses, which is something we deal with in the real world all the time. And so. And when they take it in massive doses, it can become really bad for you, but it gives you, like, a real good feeling.

[A]

Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm not saying that.

[B]

I know. I know. I agree.

[A]

I just. I would definitely try it. I mean, if it was offered to.

[B]

Me, I'd be too scared. Be too scared to like it too much a little bit.

[A]

Just like, to feel the power coursing through your body.

[B]

So, yeah, so now she's like. Well, the first place I would think of to look for Synth would be the meat market, where all the, you know, the village drugs happen, villains hang out. So it's, you know, he's chasing after her, kind of going, we should be doing the med. Which appointment? Why aren't you doing this? But she's gone back to snapping at him to stay out of her business. Not in, like, a real anger way, but she's just like, I can't be bothered right now. Hunt is not having it. He's trying a different approach than before. So even though he's agreed to go to the meat market with her. He's still sort of trying to reason with her about going to the doctor or the Medwich because he's got a case of the feelings now. Before he was sort of just flippant with her and kind of gruff and irritated. And now he's like, I guess I need to consider her feelings.

[A]

And I do also wonder if like this is. These are tactics that he learned through many, many years of torturing people that I feel like it. That he's like now using in like a love way where he's like, oh, I can try it in different ways a little bit. Right. Because it's like. Well, I don't think he's had a lot of. Something tells me that Shahar may have not been the most like, emotionally available. Yes. Open person. So I imagine he didn't learn it there, right?

[B]

Well, no. And we'll find out a little bit more about his mom. But it seems like that probably he did get raised with love in that way, but. No.

[A]

God.

[B]

But yeah, I guess what you're referencing is like something that you can go through in the earth human world where, you know, you go through something bad. It's like you process it and you grow as a person or you become shut down and more toxic and then become sort of like a shitty person. So I guess you're saying like all of the stuff he went through, he processed and learned how to like develop into a more well rounded person.

[A]

Exactly. And like use it for a benefit rather than just. I mean, I guess it is a benefit if you're end goal is torture and getting information from someone. So I guess technically that is effective. But I just, you know, I find it interesting that for someone that has not been in a. Has not had a lot of relationships that he is so good at navigating her feelings because like you said, this is the first time he's trying to like deal with her feelings. Yeah, he doesn't know how to do any of that shit.

[B]

And so he does offer this. Hey, I know you're trying to say like, I can take care of myself, but he's not trying to get into her business. He's offering reasonable concern, though. They haven't discussed a relationship between the two of them. The two of them, they both seem to understand that it's on the horizon in some way, even if they're not like outwardly saying it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He points out that she probably wouldn't want some boyfriend or mate that just gets dragged around by the nose and doesn't have Opinions.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Implying that it's. That it's him.

[A]

Right. Which.

[B]

Okay. Huh. We're here. She doesn't seem phased by him bringing this up, though. He also mentions, like, hey, even though Randall's a tough guy, you know, the dad you respect so much and voices his opinions and is protective of her and Ember, he's not some bullish meathead. Right.

[A]

Let me take care of you.

[B]

And she's not. Not disagreeing with him. She's, I think, still very irritated that he's showing her a point.

[A]

I get you. I see you. I was strong. I was definitely. I'm still strong, but I was definitely the person for most of my life that was like, I don't need your fucking help. Don't try to fucking help me. Don't look to me. I am not weak in any way, shape, or form. And then it just took the right relationship for me to think, oh, that's not being weak. Like, being able to rely on someone else and be vulnerable.

[B]

It takes strength.

[A]

It takes strength, Natalie. It takes strength.

[B]

So she's kind of a little bit accepting this reason, and. But then she also kind of pushes back. She points out that her mom didn't have good experiences with males before this man came along in her life, this Randall. Hunt knows that. And she also has a very. He's, like, kind of also processing. Ah. She has a strong father figure, so he better not be around either. Like, he is also respecting Randall in this situation. Bryce accentuates this by revealing that her dad was, in fact, so protective of her that she didn't go on a single date until she was at ccu. Not to mention the human boys were terrified of Randall Carter.

[A]

Could you imagine, like, this, like, great fighter that did so much that. Like that. Just like, famous sharpshooter. How do you go. How do you date the daughter of that person?

[B]

But it doesn't seem like he did the toxic dad thing where he was like, I'm gonna bring a shotgun. Any dates to come along?

[A]

No, it just.

[B]

He taught her how to defend herself.

[A]

Yes, he did. And I think that he's just. That his. His career predates. I can't think of the words. My brain just stopped working. Everybody knows who he is.

[B]

Everybody. Time for a nap.

[A]

He's a war hero.

[B]

Everyone go to sleep.

[A]

Okay, we'll take a.

[B]

We'll take a podcast, 15 minute nap. We'll be silent, and we'll come right back.

[A]

So Hunt, sitting silent, just sitting here. Just silently sitting here in our costumes. Don't look at me. Natalie. It's our 15 minutes of silence. Natalie.

[B]

Yes. Through this discussion about her time as a, you know, teenager growing up. Hans making her blush with come ons throughout this being. Like, it wouldn't have kept me away.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And she. She brushes him off and points out that her tall Fae stature and Fae ears made her too different to the boys anyway, so it didn't matter. As they fake peruse the stalls, trying to sort of suss out the space, and they talk, you know, they're kind of just pretending like they're shopping. And they pass by a stall selling pretty stones. Hunt speaks with the seller, and the seller gives him a description of what each stone can do. You know, you can think of like a. Like a New Age shop. And she says that the stone of Opal, that, like the opal looking stone that she's selling is supposed to represent joy or supposed to bring you joy. And he buys one and in turns and puts it in Bryce's palm. You could use some joy.

[A]

Hunt said quietly. Something bright sparked in her chest.

[B]

So could you.

[A]

She said, attempting to press the opal back into his palm. But Hump stepped away.

[B]

It's a gift. Oh, my God. He got her present.

[A]

He got her a little present. Guys.

[B]

We cut to Hunt's pov, and he's chastising himself for being so clunky at the courting ritual, which is even cuter.

[A]

He doesn't know what he's doing. He's trying. He doesn't know how to date somebody.

[B]

No, it's very cute. He recalls that he hasn't thought about buying a female a gift in about 200 years.

[A]

Yeah, 200 years of you killing and torturing people. So it's like, it's okay that you're rusty there, bud.

[B]

So he's thankful that Bryce accepted it and seems quietly pleased and didn't kind of mock him for, like, his awkwardness. He thinks about how it would have gone if he had done this for Shahar and decides it at the time, it would have seemed trivial to both of them. Shahar was rich with jewels already, and both of them were so deeply focused on the rebellion that it kind of just wouldn't have meant anything. And this is not that. And it's not to say that that's bad or wrong, but he just notes the difference of these relationships, that this is a very sentimental moment for him that he probably wouldn't even been thinking about with Shahar.

[A]

Well, I feel like it's almost, you know, I don't know anything about war. Surprise. But, like, it makes me. Jackie.

[B]

War Battle Hawk. Zabrowski.

[A]

That is my middle name. And thank you for using all of it. War Battle Hawk. Thank you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it kind of reminds me of, like, I feel like what he had with, like, what Hunt had with Shahar was like a. A showmance of sorts. But how does that apply to a war? Like, a war man, where it's like, they were both so, like, together in their convictions and what they were fighting for, that. That created a type of love. But I do feel like this is the first real love since his mother that Hunt has really experienced.

[B]

If you don't know what a showmance is, it happens a lot with, like, cast and crew working on a long project together that there might be this really passion.

[A]

Riana Grande and SpongeBob.

[B]

Oh, no, they're still Ghost John.

[A]

I bet you it's gonna be done by the end of part two. Once part two comes out, I bet it'll be over.

[B]

All right. It's the God. The gamuts. The God gauntlet's been laid down.

[A]

That's what that's called.

[B]

But a lot of times those really passionate relationships happen because you were literally on almost a commune, like, situation on set.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And so these weird connections start happening, and then when this. The. The sets wrapped, you kind of realize, like, oh, we don't actually have, like, anything in common. And so it does. It could be like that with.

[A]

Right.

[B]

He and Shahar never really got to have a normal relationship, so they ever.

[A]

Went to the movies together. You know what I mean?

[B]

They were, like, building battle formations. What do you. I don't know how you prepare for.

[A]

I thought you were, like, in my brain. I was like. Like, the things that. You know, like, the things. Catapults. Oh, maybe I imagine they were building.

[B]

They were building catapults again.

[A]

War Battle Hawk. And also. Yes. We've got all. I don't know. Fights. MC. Scared.

[B]

Yeah. Fights.

[A]

McScarred over here because she's scared. You're scared of her. You're.

[B]

You better be scared. Me.

[A]

So intimidating.

[B]

So, yeah, we don't know if they ever would have had a war. I mean, it sounds like it was a warmance.

[A]

Warmance, but does. I don't know if that happened.

[B]

I don't know if that's probably. I mean, I imagine that happens with, like, you know, Battal. What are they called?

[A]

We can't even discuss it. We know nothing about it. I'm sorry if.

[B]

We love you. We appreciate you veterans. If you're Listening veterans, we love you. Thank you.

[A]

Thank you for knowing it so we don't have to.

[B]

But I imagine if you're in another country, serving the country, the America together, probably stuff comes up, and then when it's over, you're like, oh, I'm good. Yeah, yeah, never mind.

[A]

I'm gonna go continue on with my life.

[B]

Yeah. So she takes the. The opal, and he's thinking about it. He's like, that was really awkward. But I did. And she took it great. So they move along. They're still kind of fake perusing. And they move along to another booth with a teenage girl working who says that she's watching the booth for her mom. Bryce has the realization she may not be young anymore when she tries to rap with the teen. Hello, fellow child. How do you do? Can a cool cat score some sick, happening lit drugs around here?

[A]

Oh, my God, you must be one of them. There you I've heard about.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow. Can a cool cat score a happening drug?

[B]

So she does sound like a narc. And the teen is like, what do you want? Like, you're obviously like, literally everyone in the market is on a chat saying, you're being shady and weird, so just like, tell me what you want. And Bryce is sort of stunned by this revelation. She thinks she's really slick, and she generally is, but it is very funny that it's a teenager that can really, like, see through all her, like, okay. So Bryce is like, okay, fine. What do you know about synth? The unimpressed teen barely looks up from her phone to tell Bryce that the Viper Queen doesn't mess with that stuff. It's not a moral issue. It's that it's too risky to earn the, quote, reward of it. It. Bryce realizes in this moment that the kid is actually texting with the Viper Queen as they're talking. And the kid then relays the message from the Viper Queen that just was sent to her. Go talk to the river folk if you want to know about since.

[A]

Oh, go knocking on Mr. Abs doors over here. Yeah, it's underneath my abs.

[B]

Oh, that's terrifying.

[A]

Yeah. No, I mean, I don't know what makes. Makes an ab. I guess it's a muscle. But what if you're just full up of drugs?

[B]

I guess. I guess you could just put some AB implants in.

[A]

So I'm saying I'm puffed with drug.

[B]

Oh, so my abs are pockets of drugs. Dude. Cool.

[A]

A slice. Say, let me. Let me add it. Let me add it. Suck it from your chest.

[B]

Oh, God. We need to end this episode.

[A]

Sorry, I won't suck it from your chest.

[B]

Shortly after this, Hunt is chasing after Bryce as she speed walks towards the river's edge, waiting for Tharion to appear after quickly sending an otter his way. So as soon as she gets his information, she's not waiting. She sends an otter out to Therian and she starts immediately walking to the water. And Hunt's like trying to stop her being like, we need to be more diplomatic about this. We need to like, figure out how to like, approach this situation. And she's like, I'm not waiting any longer. He doesn't want her to go accusing a potential ally. But Bryce is not waiting for bureaucracy.

[A]

Bryce is going to do what Bryce is going to do.

[B]

She clarifies that she's not necessarily accusing Therian of doing this, but that he might know about it and has kept this from them even though he agreed to help on the mission. They wait for him at the edge of the docks in the gross part of the river, outside the meat market. Therian appears quickly, his arrogant grin fading, as Bryce demands to know what he knows about Synth. Hunt again tries to interject, but Tharion doesn't actually get defensive. He only says, no, synth isn't in the river, it's on the river. So he knows about what's going on. If she's stunned, she doesn't show it. Only continues to question, is it from the drug company who is dealing it on the streets? Hunt again tries to stop her, but he's cut off by Tharion.

[A]

Danika Fentyr, Tharion said, his eyes soft, like he knew who Danika had been to her.

[B]

The intel came in a day before her death. She was spotted doing a deal on a boat just past here.

[A]

Danica, how much else don't we know about our best friend?

[B]

Therian has just revealed that Danic Fendir was the one dealing sin on the river.

[A]

Dude, it's just. It's like every little thing is another huge stab into Bryce too. Like that. It's just how much of everything she learns about Danika that just opens up such a world of what she didn't know about her best friend.

[B]

Yeah. So this is only a couple chapters, this episode, but I wanted to end this here because we're going to launch into a whole nother section coming up, and why not leave you on a little cliffhanger?

[A]

This is such a good cliffhanger. Oh my God. Oh, okay. Especially hitting the end of this book.

[B]

It's just goes, yeah, we're getting close, guys. We're, like, 70 of the way through book one, and I can't believe we get an episode that was only an hour. That was kind of impressive.

[A]

Oh, my God. Wow.

[B]

Barely reappping.

[A]

Yeah, man. Sometimes I guess I got. I got molassy lips over here. And you big on gear off.

[B]

I don't even understand what you're talking about.

[A]

I guess I had molasses all over my lips.

[B]

Oh, I thought you were saying Lassie, like the dog.

[A]

Oh, yeah, I'm throwing kids down the well.

[B]

That's not what Lassie did.

[A]

Oh, please read up until chapter 61 for next week. It.