LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 26: Where is the DEMON CONSENT?

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 26: Where is the DEMON CONSENT?

Hosts:

• Natalie Jean (Some Place Under Neith)
• Jackie Zebrowski (Page 7)

Release Date: April 15, 2025
Podcast Network: The Last Podcast Network

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1. Introduction and Immersive Experience

The episode kicks off with Natalie and Jackie embracing their roles as demons to provide an immersive experience for listeners. Their playful banter about costumes sets a lively tone, blending humor with in-depth discussion of Sarah J. Maas's "Crescent City."

• Jackie: "We're excited to announce that we're going to Prythian and Vaalbara and Bazgaeth." (00:31)
• Natalie: "If you're nasty and you can too." (00:36)

2. Costume Preparation and Role-Playing

Natalie and Jackie delve into the details of their demon costumes, highlighting the importance of visual elements in enhancing their podcast discussions. They discuss the practicality and aesthetics of their outfits, including wings and masks, which add depth to their analysis.

• Jackie: "Rubber masks are really good for podcasting." (02:56)
• Natalie: "They give a sense of environment." (02:27)
• Jackie: "It's an immersive experience that we're trying to convey here at Crescent City." (02:31)

3. Plot Analysis: Chapter Highlights

The hosts provide a comprehensive breakdown of key events from chapters 84 to 91, focusing on Bryce's heroic efforts, the chaos unleashed by Micah, and the strategic movements of various factions within Crescent City.

a. Bryce's Heroism and Sacrifices

Bryce's relentless fight against the invading demons is a central theme. Natalie and Jackie emphasize her determination to protect the vulnerable, even at the cost of her own safety.

• Natalie: "Bryce doesn't hesitate. She has annihilated Micah. She's at the front door of Griffin's, and she is seeing all hell literally breaking loose from the portals." (16:25)
• Jackie: "Bryce is running out of energy at the start of chapter 85." (44:32)

b. Micah's Destructive Plans

Micah's sabotage of defense mechanisms showcases his commitment to chaos, aligning with his role as a primary antagonist. The hosts discuss his strategic dismantling of protective gear to facilitate the demon invasion.

• Natalie: "Micah has destroyed all the defense equipment of Lunathian." (31:48)
• Jackie: "He's really good at being evil." (32:15)

c. Leadership Failures and Moral Dilemmas

The episode critiques the summit's ineffectiveness, highlighting the prioritization of the ultra-wealthy over the general populace. This mirrors real-world issues of inequality and corruption.

• Natalie: "The ultra wealthy are a protected class who are going to get the shelters. And the poor as well as humans on Midgard are mostly not going to be saved." (19:35)
• Jackie: "Always be terrified of losing the people you love every moment of every day." (23:15)

4. Character Development and Relationships

Natalie and Jackie explore the evolving dynamics between characters like Bryce, Ethan, and the Viper Queen. They discuss the redemption arcs, emotional confrontations, and the nuanced portrayal of antagonists.

• Jackie: "I need more Viper Queen." (39:50)
• Natalie: "It's almost like if we both die, they're exchanging, like, we don't hate each other." (50:38)

5. Thematic Insights

The discussion delves into themes of sacrifice, leadership, and the blurred lines between good and evil. The hosts analyze how personal motivations and societal structures influence the characters' decisions and the overall narrative.

• Jackie: "SJM loves a good morally gray character." (39:34)
• Natalie: "Maybe they're not having a great time wherever they are, you know, but maybe they do love to kill." (55:24)

6. Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, Natalie and Jackie share memorable quotes that encapsulate their insights and add a touch of humor to the analysis.

• Jackie: "Don't let Reddit know." (16:21)
• Natalie: "I'm a baby demon." (56:55)
• Jackie: "We are the demons of the last podcast network." (55:26)
• Natalie: "You just. But I feel like if we got enough people in these costumes, we could learn how to kill." (13:20)

7. Conclusion and Future Directions

The episode wraps up with reflections on the ongoing battle within Crescent City and anticipation for future developments. The hosts express excitement for upcoming episodes and encourage listeners to stay engaged with the series.

• Jackie: "We need to be represented a little bit more." (28:50)
• Natalie: "We got to watch it in the backyard of the projector." (21:38)

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Final Thoughts:
"LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City" Episode 26 offers a rich and engaging analysis of Sarah J. Maas's epic series. Through their immersive role-playing and insightful commentary, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the book's complex narrative and character dynamics. The blend of humor, deep analysis, and interactive elements makes this episode a valuable resource for both avid fans and newcomers to the "Crescent City" universe.

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Note: All timestamps correspond to the provided transcript and are intended to highlight key moments within the episode.

Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're excited to announce that we're going to Prythian and Vaalbara and Bazgaeth.

[Natalie Jean]

If you're nasty and you can too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Join us in spring of 2026 at the Dreamers and Readers Festival. A three day event chock full of choose your own adventures.

[Natalie Jean]

Multiple Fae balls, fashion shows, photo shoots.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hoteez, everybody at least fear.

[Natalie Jean]

15 different events at the otherworldly Gaylord Texan resort that you can customize to make the perfect trip fit your Fantasy Dreams.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Visit fantastiquecollection.com and use our code Faybayes at checkout to receive $10 off of any of these events.

[Natalie Jean]

Dreamers and Readers Night 1 and 2.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mythical Creatures Masquerade, Fantastique, Starfo Ball and the Farewell Fae Bash.

[Natalie Jean]

Not only that, but if you use our code fayebays at checkout for those events, you will receive an exclusive, exclusive swag bag from the weekend.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'll do anything for a swag bag, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

Swag. Give it to me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, that's right. Use our code faybays f a e b a e [e-mail] to get your $10 off of any of these events.

[Natalie Jean]

Dreamers and readers. Baby. I cannot wait for this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Gimme, gimme.

[Natalie Jean]

Give me that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sw. Welcome to Crescent City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski. Gotta get into position here, man. I have heard that rubber masks are really good for podcasting.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I mean, it gives a sense of environment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Really, it's an immersive experience that we're trying to convey here at Crescent City. And Natalie and I did not plan this out.

[Natalie Jean]

We didn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I dare say these might be our best looks yet.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I think so. I feel like we're at a mixer or like a haunted house like afterwards where they're trying to get to know each other and like before they decide who they're gonna fuck.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh yeah, this is the mixer. Yeah, this is the fuck mixer.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Jessica. Just be Jessica. You're not the monster right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I am the monster. Don't come close to me. I probably should take this off, cuz actually, Natalie I just straight up couldn't hear what you were saying.

[Natalie Jean]

And it really makes it so funny.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Was it so funny you're gonna.

[Natalie Jean]

It's really a loss that you'll never know what I said.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Especially because you forgot your.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, there you go.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My teeth. Oh. Oh, oh. I'm just a gargoyle snake thing. For those of you not watching the YouTube, Natalie and I have both dressed as demons from hell. Both off character. Not. These are not specifically surprise ones that were written about in it, but, like, I love that both of our brains went to. I'm sure there's lots of different kinds of demons that are coming out of the portal into hell.

[Natalie Jean]

We're artistes, Jackie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right. We are artistes. And so we brought our own imagination to this episode. And I'm excited about it. I am more excited about. I was gonna say I was more excited about my wings, but I really love your little wings, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

Which ones? I have three fairs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do see the three pairs, but I'm talking about the little ones that kind of match my big ones. But I do feel like they do match. I'm the, like, papa bear and you're the baby bear, and I feel like I'm gonna take care of you because my wings. Oh, man. It's providing a great breeze for that sound. That clacking sound is because my wings are mech and I can pull a string.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm jealous of these wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You probably should be. They are kind of awesome. And I am worried about how often I'm going to be wearing these wings. Just like going to the Ralphs.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, those are perfect for Cassian. They even have a red tint.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, I gotta take those out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, you gotta take it out. Oh, you can't hang.

[Natalie Jean]

I can. I feel as though people will be very upset.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, just, you know, trying to talk with fangs.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's a hard knock life out here for us demons, okay? We're always clanking around with our wangs, and we can't keep our claws on because we've gotta look at a computer. Being a human sucks.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. I'm clanking around with my wang all the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. That was me throwing my claws because the claws are just not gonna. I can't scroll on the mouse pad.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm gonna have to partially strip now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I'm scared. It's a sexy demon show. Show them legs. Yes, Stanky demon, come out. All right, let's.

[Natalie Jean]

Let's see if I can keep my Wings balanced for the remainder of the show.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it is also fun that Natalie and I both applied a full face of makeup and then immediately covered our faces with masks. And now our makeup is all fucked up for the rest of the show and I'm finding this is dedication.

[Natalie Jean]

They're more monsters.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And I do look like I've got labia flaps flapping around my head right now. But that's kind of fun because. Let me turkey up in there. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

It's giving a little bit of a velociraptor, which is cool. Do you spit?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I could. Oh, man. Every. It just took. Can you please give it up for my self control that I didn't just try to projectile spit at you like a camel. And in my head it was like, but it'll be cute like a camel. And I stopped myself. It happened so fast that I heard the do not spit on your sister in law and I didn't. So yay for me.

[Natalie Jean]

You've got a good voice in there somewhere telling you good things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's very small and it's very distant, but it shows up here. The squeaking of do better, do better. And then I throw them further down into the chasm that is my brain. Not a lot going on in there. I know she needs a beer that it upset her so much. She's already. She's got a. Get into her six pack over here. Six.

[Natalie Jean]

Just my held hell sauce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's hell sauce. I have been referring to my Waterloo's as mallows recently and it's. It is probably shouldn't say that into a microphone. That could be heard internationally because it sounds like I'm just drinking piss.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, like a toilet. Your toilet.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry, Natalie, I don't know if you know how international of a demon I.

[Natalie Jean]

Am, but I don't. But now I do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I can speak about eight different language and including like grubbish.

[Natalie Jean]

Aw, that's kind of cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then they turn into butterflies.

[Natalie Jean]

What is that?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't think grubs do.

[Natalie Jean]

Do they?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What's the.

[Natalie Jean]

Does the language change?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, go ahead. Honestly, it's like a lot like mermaids does sound.

[Natalie Jean]

I do feel like that has a mermaid tinge to it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh my God. You heard me and thought mermaid. Get in line, Natalie. Everybody's calling this bitch a mermaid. No way. I wouldn't be caught anywhere near a being of water.

[Natalie Jean]

Why?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I mean, I'd want to fuck a mermaid, but I don't want to be a mermaid because then I gotta be like wet all the time. And you can't take the fucking fin off to make it dry and put your baby powder on it.

[Natalie Jean]

Put your baby bird on it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Put your baby powder on it. Parrot baby powder.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, powder baby. You shouldn't use it anyway. Isn't it filled with.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I think it's. I think it's cancer powder now, but gotta get dry somehow. Lord knows, can't use a towel.

[Natalie Jean]

I do like that. These wings are cantering to the right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They are left. I just think they're so cute.

[Natalie Jean]

They are really cute. And they have a little magnet you can glue to your. Like, tape to your back so that it looks like they're floating wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's awesome. Right now they're on my head. Oh, those are the floating wings. Ah, gotcha.

[Natalie Jean]

These are the. My wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was talking about these. Sorry to touch your wings. I should ask first. I'm sorry, Natalie. Oh, my God, Natalie. Did I just turn you on? I'm sorry. It's like your ball skin. I'm sorry, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

The wings are like balls. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sensitive.

[Natalie Jean]

I think they are in this world too. We haven't learned yet, but we know in Prythian the wings are very sensitive.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I feel like we get that. We definitely get that energy from Hunt when, like, you know, it was used sensually.

[Natalie Jean]

That's true. And also, whenever he pulls. Puts a wing around her, it's sort of like a. A proclamation.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, that.

[Natalie Jean]

That's my woman, my womb.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. I had to take my head off because it was flapping rubber in my ears and it was distracting. Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't like it when the rubber is flapping. I think you better tack it down or something. Okay. I don't talk about condoms very often, but I love calling them rubbles. Oh, yeah. Oh, God. I got a whole bo full of rubbles. And I think it's because I think about, like, Weeza saying. Talking about robbers. Weeza from Steel Magnolias. I don't know if she was interacting with robbers a whole lot, but if she was laying pipe, she certainly was. And that kind of, you know, and that kind of town, you got to.

[Natalie Jean]

You don't know what's wrong.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Parish, you better be laying down them rubbers or the road's gonna get too slick.

[Natalie Jean]

No, you gotta put some where cotton. Come on, guys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, come. Come on, guys. I mean, when the wing yapping get to yapping. Rubbles, Rubbles. Rubbles.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. What is happening today?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's the wings. I think I'm drunk on wings. I Have been having so much fun with these goddamn wings.

[Natalie Jean]

They're fun. I'm jealous of them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I. Yeah, but your wings are so cute and floppy and mine are so regal and big.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, they are firm and. And stiff.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I apologize. I even feel like I'm pushing you off the screen with how big my little are.

[Natalie Jean]

But that's fine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I. I think you can come closer to me. Natalie, you're the outfit. I won't hit you.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie, you're the alpha today, Doc.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Thank you for saying that. I've been waiting a while to become the alpha and I'm here for it. And you better ask before you have a severe coffee. Cause I'm alpha. Never mind. Do. What do you want? Never mind. I'm a sub. I'm a sub forever.

[Natalie Jean]

That's okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How fast I fold. How easily I can be overtaken.

[Natalie Jean]

That's fine. Come on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Fine. I'm strong. All right. I'm putting on a horns number two and I talk about my boozy.

[Natalie Jean]

I love that you have varieties of this costume.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Different kinds of horns.

[Natalie Jean]

These horns are also sick, dude.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thanks. I'm sad because the bald cap didn't show up, but it looks cute with the hair.

[Natalie Jean]

I want to go out. I feel like we should go out to the bar after we bro this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

In the middle of the day. Showing up at a bar, that could be the move.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I wish. I can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God. I think we would take Angela knows by storm and they would be like, why did you say it like that? Like, I don't know. What? Do you have control over your mouth? Well, I certainly don't.

[Natalie Jean]

We'd certainly end up on the citizens app.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. And it's been my dream. I have been thinking about trying to take over because I feel like the guy with the machete on the bicycle, like, he loves to wield his machete specifically. They're always talking about him wielding his machete and I feel like he some help. He's probably too lonely out there wielding that machete by himself.

[Natalie Jean]

Be a great companion for him in this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. I've been looking for like a warriors esque gang to join and I think it's machete bikes.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, we are definitely reaching a time where we're going to need to choose a gang, that's for sure. So pick one out thoughtfully.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Natalie. I think this is the gang, right? Oh, come at us. Wait a second. I got to get my claws on. Wait a second. I'm going to come at. Wait, let me put my Teeth in demons. We're gonna come.

[Natalie Jean]

You just. But I feel like if we got enough people in these costumes, we could learn how to kill.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We would definitely scare a lot of people. I don't know if you see my human man chest.

[Natalie Jean]

I do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

With abs on my snake costume.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, that's your. That's your whole brand. Don't you love half. Half animal porn?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm down to fuck a shifter. It really depends, you know, on, like, what they shift into, how they shift into it. Like, you know, I'm down to talk sh. Drifter. Anytime.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I gotta discern, you know, I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Guess we should start the episode.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry, the juice is loose. Not that one.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

But us, I think we're the Juice in that. Ah, Micah's experiments.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry, it's my hawk noise. I need a new noise. Natalie. Demon friend. No, that doesn't work either.

[Natalie Jean]

Caveman.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right, I'll workshop it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So Micah's experiment actually crushed. He really. He nailed it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He knows how to kill pretty easily.

[Natalie Jean]

He got the portal open. Too bad he's inside a vacuum cleaner and he can't see it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we.

[Natalie Jean]

He ended up turning the heart gate into a portal, which. I mean, what an entrance we're making.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you talking about us?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. What a bat. I mean, seriously, that's like entering the Fashion Ball. What is that one called?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, man.

[Natalie Jean]

The one that the fancy people get invited to Epcot. The Epcot Ball. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I thought you were talking about that. I mean, it is quite a fashion ball.

[Natalie Jean]

It'll come back to me. You guys know what I'm talking about.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Paris Fashion Week. I'll say every fashion thing I know. Sex in the City.

[Natalie Jean]

No, come on. The one where they all go wear the crazy outfits and they're like. There's a theme.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, the Fair. The Vanity Fair. Yeah, no, no, I know what you're talking about. Memphis.

[Natalie Jean]

No, Memphis.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's just the first word that came into my brain. I know it's certainly not at Memphis. I know. They wear the crazy things, and then they did the theme. That was camp.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, that one. So that's like the entrance that the demons made into this world. I'd like to think of them each appearing one at a time, like doing a strut.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Did they also have to pay for their tickets for dinner?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Sissy. That walk.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Give it, give it, give it. We are fucking slaying.

[Natalie Jean]

I do feel as though we look like we could be on Dragula and I. I mean, they would never accept me because they're very talented, but, man, I feel like this is the closest I've ever been to being on Dragula.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think that they would at least look at our costumes and be like, well, you tried, you know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. They would give us, like, a side eye, but be like, I won't destroy you emotionally.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But they would destroy us emotionally.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm very, very vulnerable and very easy to hurt.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Should say that. I say that every day. Into the mirror.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't let Reddit know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Please don't let Reddit know.

[Natalie Jean]

So the heart gate has been turned into portal, and we'll learn shortly that they all actually have been turned into portals. All the gates.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That sucks.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce doesn't hesitate. She has annihilated Micah. She's at the front door of Griffin's, and she is seeing all hell literally breaking loose from the portals. So she just starts to run with C rings, of course, stopping long enough only to secure Syrinx in the apartment. Grab all the weapons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hell, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Including Danica's sword, of course, and the jacket.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But also just to. Just to, you know, flatten my balls. So everybody knows it is the Met gala. And I think that's why I said Memphis, because I could see the word, I see the letter M. So me. Yeah, so I was. It's like I was pulling a bit of a brain, man, right there. I. I could see it in my, like, the brain scan of the stars that make up my brain.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that how you see things in stars of your brain? Yeah. Oh, that's pretty cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's like the night sky in there.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, bleak. No, I love the night sky. Space is awesome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Vacuous.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, but, like, filled with other cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but it's definitely, like, heavy. You just don't even know how heavy it is.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you? Have you ever seen the. The satellite photo of all of the universe, the known galaxies?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I. You said the word satellite, then I shifted to Dave Matthews Band in my brain, not satellite.

[Natalie Jean]

I actually mean, look at this. Look at that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa.

[Natalie Jean]

Those are all galaxies, girl.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's a lot of galaxies.

[Natalie Jean]

Trillions and trillions and trillions of planets. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Where'd they take that?

[Natalie Jean]

It's from a telescope.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Where'd that from?

[Natalie Jean]

Telescope.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it was crazy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How they doing that?

[Natalie Jean]

She then races to the roof of the building to get a grasp on the melee, and this is where she realizes it's not just the heart gate, it is all of them. She is watching from the roof, and it is utter chaos. And destruction. As she's calculating her next move, she gets a call from Juniper, who is hysterical but safe as she was with the ballet company. And they all made it to a shelter, which apparently are all across. They're laid out across the city, different shelters. She hears a siren warning belt out all over the city. Get to the shelter. Get to the shelters.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it's scary outside. I would listen to that alarm. I'm like, man, they're so upset that they can't even, you know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess you should probably pre record those.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I think probably not in the moment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

She.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's what I would do.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Juniper sobbing lets her know that the powers that be have said that they are going to close the shelter door soon. Through the convo, we learn that they have the same issue on Midgard as we do here. The ultra wealthy are a protected class who are going to get the shelters. And the poor as well as humans on Midgard are mostly not going to be saved.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. It's just like the movie Greenland. I think that I so weirdly, that.

[Natalie Jean]

Movie became a thing. It was one of those ones that I hated so much that I thought about all the time. And then I was like, do I love this movie?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We have made many, many a conversation about the movie Greenland. And I don't think anybody else is still talking about this movie. But there's something. I feel like it invaded our family.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I can't express to you enough how much I both hate and I think love that movie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Because essentially it is about that. About like the people that would get saved if all the shit hits the fan. But then it's like following them and they're supposed to be like the heroes of this. But also think about all of the many, many people who aren't being helped because they don't have your in. And still he's like, but my child has diabetes. And I'm not saying that that's not very scary. But also, many people are not even being given an opportunity to leave Gerard Butler. Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

I think they're making a sequel, aren' What? I'm pretty sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Greenland. Two kids die in Boogaloo.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, wait, I gotta look this up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. That wasn't even a spoiler alert. I'm gonna be real with you. I've made so many jokes about this movie, but I don't even remember what happens.

[Natalie Jean]

It will be released this year.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. What?

[Natalie Jean]

Greenland Migration.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What? I know you're migrating.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because you're super Rich. And you got the fucking ins. Oh, Greenland.

[Natalie Jean]

How many of the listeners. There's must be, like, four people listening to this who've ever even heard of the movie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Those four people are listening to us right now going, yes, yes. You're so fucking right. And we're here for you.

[Natalie Jean]

I actually think you should go watch Greenland after this episode.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I kind of want to watch it again just so I can remember and I can make more bits about it.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. I kind of want to watch it again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do we need, as a family. How many bits about the movie Greenland do we need?

[Natalie Jean]

More than this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

More if we. If we want to have a tight 15 on it. Yeah, you better get to fucking working.

[Natalie Jean]

We got to watch it in the backyard of the projector. Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Force everyone maybe a yearly watch of it just to remember what's going to happen when the shit really hits the fan. Okay? And now we're all going to be left behind.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, we got.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Guys, look at the wings, though, because if you pull this, the string, the wings go up. So, like, if that's not a reason to live, I don't know what is.

[Natalie Jean]

You're an invading class, so I don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Want to hear welcome me. Hello. Ever heard of being a good hostess? Bryce, you're really shitting the bed right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, you in it first.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

So they're hearing this siren, right? And then we learn through this conversation that the. There's like an automatic shut of the doors in an hour from when the sirens go off. But Juniper is essentially telling Bryce, the ultra wealthy that are already there are going to close it early because they don't want to risk being injured.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Shock.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. Shocked.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ever heard of the Purge?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I mean, yeah, for real. So, yeah, the wealthy donors who are with the ballet company at the time of this, you know, everything starting to happen, they're like, no, we don't want to save the less fortunate. We want to close because our very precious DNA is so important. Bryce lies and tells June that she is also safe, but she obviously isn't, and then tells Juniper that she loves her. This is a bit ominous after the night of the Pack murders, because if you'll remember from way back then, Danika goodbye to Bryce was in I love you. And it was. It was because Danica knew she was gonna die.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Always be terrified of losing the people you love every moment of every day.

[Natalie Jean]

If they say I love you, just assume they're always coming back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Always, always know that they know that they're about to die. So never TR. Anybody says I love you.

[Natalie Jean]

No. You get the sense that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you about to die? Are you?

[Natalie Jean]

You get the sense that. Bryce is fairly certain she won't survive the night. She watches ghouls pour out of the Moonwood gate. And all I can see is the scene from Ghostbusters after the unit unit shuts down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hell yeah, dude.

[Natalie Jean]

The site sends her running downstairs to street level. So she busts out of the apartment building. We cut over then to the summit room, which is unshockingly in disarray. If you'll recall, Hypaxia has managed to release Hunt from his manacles. Or should I say Angelicles? Where do I come up with.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Was good? It was a good run.

[Natalie Jean]

He's watching Declan try to monitor everything from the cameras he can access, as well as the various leaders screaming into phones. So they're all watching the downtown area just be like ripped apart. And then all of the leaders who are at the summit are all going, get me that. Get off this phone.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you go and do that.

[Natalie Jean]

Where is the land? Give me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The numbers are up and the vials are down.

[Natalie Jean]

He verifies for the readers that these are in fact demons from hell. Because he can recognize them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You called?

[Natalie Jean]

He's fought a selection of them before, so if there was any wonder, this was from hell. He knows that they are. He recognizes the species. The Camarus. Old wing head. That one as they pour out. That one's a bitch. He's always complaining about stuff.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, he's complaining. We gotta kill that demon first. Jesus Christ. Although now that my horns have kind of like gone a little south on my head, I kind of look like a lambie.

[Natalie Jean]

It's cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Little lamby.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, that one where the horns move around.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Around. Yeah, like they're made out of space in their brains, but really just cuz they're not thinking about anything a homie. Oh, that's cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Brains are in the horns like an octopus.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, they're like separate.

[Natalie Jean]

So sometimes they move on their own.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but that would be really bad for other people to know because it's like, oh, don't cut off the horns. Like, don't you want to cut off my wings instead?

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe there's. Maybe there's little brains in there too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We could talk it out. Come on.

[Natalie Jean]

And your. Your wings brains are perverted. The little dirty perverts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wings, brains. A ball. Brains, babies.

[Natalie Jean]

As they observe the various areas, Hunt notes that fay enclave in Five Roses has extravagant security enchantments covering the entire Area. That is to say, the Fae, who are all wealthy because they have all of the power and the money and all the. The. You know, the. The Fae skills. So they can just, like, steal all the money, I guess. So they're all rich. And so their little area in Five Roses is fully protected. These big bubbles of magic. And they are not offering shelter to anyone. And yet Hunt notes that these are the homes that the ox has been ordered to protect, not any of the most vulnerable who are out on the streets.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Makes fucking sense.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow. Again, always the same, huh? No matter where we go. Hunt shouts at Sabine to go get the wolves to help the citizens, but she brushes it off, saying, orders are orders, and we're not supposed to do that. The ox has to go deal with the rich people.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, it's like, bitch. Stop being even more of a bitch. This is the time when we put all of our differences aside and we help each other.

[Natalie Jean]

No, she's being a bit of a Kris Kardashian surprise.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A momager.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Momager. Ruhn then tries to appeal to the Autumn King, saying, go help the people on the street, but surprising no one. He also declines to help the defenseless. This. He hears Tharion on the phone, commanding any MER officers to get anyone nearby the water, under the water, using whatever tech they have to prevent them from drowning there. I think they have, like, bubbles or something. They put you in hell?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Isaiah tells them that. See, that's a smart thing to do if it's happening. You run to the water edge and be like, mer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. But he's using his water phone.

[Natalie Jean]

But he's in the summit, so he's in dry land.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, so it's his dry phone. He must have a water phone.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I think they do, right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Some kind of commute. Maybe they have beepers under there. That would be kind of cute. Because, like, they can't really. I guess they can.

[Natalie Jean]

They're like bubblers. Whenever somebody's trying to get a hold of him, it starts to bubble.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hell, yeah. But it also is getting you a little bit high. No wonder those people.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that a weed?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A bubbler is. Yeah, it's a. It's a pipe that you put water in.

[Natalie Jean]

It's not cool in any way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, you're So. I was about to be like, oh, my God, never. He doesn't even know what a bubbler is.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't even do weed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, you don't do weed, so why would you know?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. I think I'm supposed to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, you're not. I mean, you are technically. You married into the home of weed browskis. But that's true. You know, you don't. That's not for.

[Natalie Jean]

I should be learning about your culture.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. You know what? Thank you. We need to be represented a little bit more. And soon our holiday is coming up. All right, and what are you going to be doing to celebrate us?

[Natalie Jean]

Well, my birthday's two days before that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but then it's our holiday. You can have all of April leading up to your birthday. My horns are sagging. That's when you know I'm upset.

[Natalie Jean]

I like that they go to South. Isaiah tells the room with sorrow that the 33rd are out on the streets, but they are getting ripped apart. They can't fight against the level of creature funneling into the world. It's like the mist.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Sabine reaches Ithan, who we learn is out in the thick of things. So far, he's okay, but he tells the room with with a heaving breath as he's trying to fight off all of the demons, that the wolves are quickly being overwhelmed. As the room debates the next moves, we also hear that no one from the summit is going to make it fast enough. Really? Because it's going to be at least an hour to get there. He then realizes Hypaxia has been speaking on the phone and the room hears her tell whomever she's speaking with to head into the city and that she's going to join them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hell yeah, Hypaxia.

[Natalie Jean]

Sabine snarls that she'll die by going, but Hypaxia just says she'd rather die like this than sit here and watch the city be destroyed. Yes, Queen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Literal Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, she's literal Queen. She points at a screen and they all see what she is pointing at. Bryce. Bryce is running through the street, gun and sword in hand.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

Firing and firing at the demons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is very sexy. Even though you're coming after us. But honestly, I would.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, I'd be like, serve.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, girl.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was like, I don't want to rip you to shreds, but the way that you're killing us right now is really serving and I'm here for it.

[Natalie Jean]

They hear Bryce screaming at the people in a panic to go towards the shelters. Someone in the summit room asks where she's going and they realize the meadows. She's headed to the Meadows, the place where most humans will be utterly unprotected.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she is gonna go fight for us.

[Natalie Jean]

We cut to Bryce and she is in shock. But has not stopped moving. Badass behavior.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hell yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

We get a montage of monster splitting. She's just going.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't go for the horns. If you could go for the wings, that would be great. I mean, I love my wings, but, like, I'm sure they'll grow back.

[Natalie Jean]

You think? Oh, yeah, I guess they do, right, Hans? Grows back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunts grows back. So, I mean, I feel like it's like we're just demon, you know? I feel like even at a spite, my wings might grow back.

[Natalie Jean]

Ooh, spite growth. Yeah, I love a spite growth. I try to grow as a human being out of spite.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Out of spite. All. Oh, all the. The time. It really is. It gets you everywhere, guys.

[Natalie Jean]

That kind of does use that spite.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't turn it against yourself, only make yourself better.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Exactly. At chapter 84, we're learning through Hunt's eyes that Micah has destroyed all the defense equipment of Lunathian. So before he was going to go do. He has plotted this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, dude.

[Natalie Jean]

Months and, I guess years.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's really good at being evil.

[Natalie Jean]

He's really. He's committed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And I think we should take a lesson from that. So before he went to go, you know, over come, overtake Bryce, he had shredded witches, brooms, police vehicles, guns. No, not, like, cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He didn't just let the waves of music take them over.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no. He ripped them. They're little tiny disintegrated pieces. Now they're on splinters.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Annoying. I know.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. The room speculates that he did it so that when he began messing with the portal, all of the people coming in to stop him would be delayed. Even the ox would probably come after him, even though he's an angel. They kind of have to, because he was letting us in. Letting the riff raff in from hell.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Opened up all those portals. I think he should probably get in a little bit of trouble for that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, he's gonna be trouble. Fury quietly tells them that she has a helicopter hidden, because, of course, she does. Sick hunt again. Chastises Sabine for not putting more wolves out in the square to help. She screams that there aren't any wolves left to go to Old Square because they're all getting ripped up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But the prime of the wolves had stirred at last and pointed an ancient, gnarled finger to the screen, to the feeds. And he said, one wolf remains in the Old Square. Everyone looked then to where he'd pointed, whom he'd pointed to. Bryce raced through the carnage, sword glinting with each swipe and duck and slash.

[Natalie Jean]

Sabine tries to no, sweetie, babe, that's the lady that's not. And she condescendingly tries to explain to him that he's just sensing the sword out there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The prime's age worn eyes blinked unseeingly at the screen. His hand curled on his chest. A wolf. He tapped his heart. Still, Bryce fought onward toward the meadows. Still, she ran interference for anyone fleeing for the shelters, buying them a path to safety. A true wolf. Yeah, you're giving wolf. Give it. Give that wolf paws up. Put your paws up.

[Natalie Jean]

Put your paws up. You kind of have to wonder why Sabine is so awful. Because it seems like her father is a noble wolf. And then you have to wonder, you know, was he the best father?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I think somebody's got daddy issues. But at least Sabine. Go work on it then, all right? A lot of people have daddy issues. You gotta work on them.

[Natalie Jean]

A lot of really great figureheads maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Weren'T the best parents, you know, they maybe had other things that they had to do. All right. Right. He had to lead a whole pack.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's the prime. That's a lot of pressure.

[Natalie Jean]

But, you know, he's got to look inward, and he say, how did I create this? You know? But he doesn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, he doesn't.

[Natalie Jean]

But then he made a good granddaughter, so that's good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but that. Was that because of him, or was it in spite of him?

[Natalie Jean]

It's hard to say.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We'll never know.

[Natalie Jean]

But he sees that Bryce is noble and fighting, and that's what a wolf is supposed to do. And Sabine is not. That's why maybe the sword didn't call to her. She's not exhibiting wolf traits.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You ain't good enough, bitch.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, Sabine's pissed about hearing her father say that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Not to bring up Hunchback of Notre Dame for the second week in a row, but I realize we're really giving. Like the little gargoyles. Remember the little silly gargoyles that were a part of Hunchback Last week you were given Esmeralda. Wow. How doth they fall? Have you seen. Now you're given Gargoyle.

[Natalie Jean]

Have you watched. I mean, ain't that the way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just like a lady. From Esmeralda to gargoyle in 2 seconds flat.

[Natalie Jean]

Did you just watch it or something?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I haven't. I don't think I've seen it since I was a child, but I haven't either. I, I, I guess maybe I. Something is calling for me to rewatch it, I guess. Should I.

[Natalie Jean]

Should I be rewatching it one of those that me, like, I was never. Are there, like, Dom Heads?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah, I think so. I think they're French, but I don't know if they like Hunchback and Notre Dame. We were just talking about this because we were going through some old Disney because Jeff had brought up that he had never seen how to Train youn Dragon. And I was like, oh, I also haven't seen how to Train youn Dragon, but apparently it's one of those that, like, it doesn't matter if you have children or not. It's just a good one.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, really? I want to watch it because I am absolutely going to Epic Universe as soon as possible. And there's an entire land.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ooh, do you get to ride a dragon? You do.

[Natalie Jean]

There's some kind of coaster there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, I was really upset because I. When I walked upstairs earlier, Holden was like, nice dragon costume. And I was like, fuck off, you asshole. You fucking asshat of a man. I am not. I am a demon from hell. All right, yeah, maybe I'm a random demon from hell, but that doesn't mean that you could just put me under a different classification, you fuck.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like there may be other underlying passions behind you screaming at Hulk.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Why? Because he sees only my dragon scales, but he doesn't see me for my horns and my mechanical wings. Oh, sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

It's okay. Let your wings shine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you, Natalie. See the power of the community of women. Thank you, Natalie, for seeing me as the demon I am.

[Natalie Jean]

You're welcome, Hunt. Overcome with emotion at seeing Bryce and also hearing the Wolf Man. What's his name? The Prime. The Prime.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Prime.

[Natalie Jean]

Also seeing the prime show, like, honor and respect. Bryce is, like, really? You know, he's over. He's verklempt, and he asks Isaiah for his phone, which Isaiah hands over to him. And you first think, he must be calling Bryce, but then we don't know. At first, you just hear him say, you owe me a goddamn favor, into the phone. When another female answers that call, the.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Viper Queen only said amusement coding her rich voice. Oh, oh. Ooh. It is coded.

[Natalie Jean]

This is just a thing that adds to the mystique of the Viper Queen Queen. You'd think he'd want ultimate revenge on her because of what she did on that the Barge. But you can almost. I feel like the Viper Queen sometimes serves as a moral mirror in the book, where what she did to him was awful, but also what the angels were trying to do was insane.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you gotta, like, stop it in some way.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, it's almost like, yeah, she's obviously not a wholesome and pure character, but that she's reflecting what the opposite character is doing. So, like, yeah, maybe they wanted the goal was good, but what they were trying to do was insanely dangerous and bad. And so we don't see her then as a full villain character still from that behavior, because we're going through Hunt, you know, he. Instead of spending his time trying to then destroy her for what she did, he's saying he's. I'm playing your game. Okay. Yeah, well, now it's my turn. Because what you did, well, that's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, SJM loves a good morally gray character. Oh, yeah. Loves showing those different facets and only unleashing it slowly over time. And I'm so excited to see, like, in time, as the Viper Queen grow. Like, I want even more.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, we'll get it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I need more Viper Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

Whatever they discuss isn't divulged just yet. And after he hangs up, his heart almost stops. Stops when Jesper tells the room that Bryce is on the phone. They put her on speaker as she runs on the video footage. So Declan is linking the phone call that Bryce is making to the room and also the phone line with the ox so everybody can hear what Bryce is saying. Bryce's phone is, like, sticking out of her bra. Because, yes, women can do it all in heels and backwards.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Top pocket. Pockets.

[Natalie Jean]

Top breasticle.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Shelf man. Nothing was quite like, you know, working in customer service and in the summer when someone will pay with a wet titty dollar. Like, a wet titty money just like, this is covered and it's all wrinkled up and they just, like, give it to you. I'm just like, at least dry out your titty money before you hand it to a stranger.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't shame her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right. And I'll. It would be one thing if I was working at, like, Rockaway Beach. Beach, but I'm in the middle of Brooklyn.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it's not cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We shouldn't do, like. Oh, maybe at least then you could, like, lie to yourself and be like, oh, they probably just got out of a pool.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, right. Yeah, I can just. Gaslight yourself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

So, yeah, she's got her phone in a bra. She tells them to get back up to the Meadows. Now that's where she's heading. She's shooting demons. As Sabine starts to argue, Bryce screams that there are children there who are helpless. This. The room goes silent. And then they all hear Ithan's voice, who is with the ox. I'm coming, Bryce, he says. Bryce momentarily looks overcome with emotion when she realizes it's Ithan. Just as Sabine demands that Ithan stand down, that he not disobey her commands.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

Ithan ignores her and repeats to Bryce that he's coming and he's bringing the wolves he has with him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And I will say, of course, this is the first time that I'm like, okay, maybe I don't hate Ithan. I really out the gate, didn't like Ethan and I'm not annoying. I found him annoying. And let's say maybe it comes full circle at some point, but. And then at this point, I was like, okay, all right, I see you, little wolfie. All right, I'm. I'm. I'm all about this. Let's see how you turn out.

[Natalie Jean]

Let's see. So we see that he's disobeying Sabine, which, yes, you better at this point, after everything you did to Brian, Ethan and all. The wolves under his command end their call to Sabine, which is obviously a big deal.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

We cut to a brief POV of Ethan as he measures the distance to the meadows. As he runs, his pack follows him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The jackals join them. The coyotes, the wild dogs and common dogs, the hyenas and dingoes, the foxes. It was who they were, who they had always been. Defenders of those who could not protect themselves. Defenders of the small, the young shifter or true animal. That truth lay etched in the soul of every canine.

[Natalie Jean]

I forgot this passage was in here when I was reading it last night. Immediately started to cry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Immediately burst into tears. I can't it even. I just. I don't know. Oh, my God. Natalie. Yes. It may have been like 1:00 in the morning, but last night I sent you this Tick tock. That was just puppies learning how to.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it was like just a montage of a bunch of different puppies for the first time. And I was like, I need. So I send it to Natalie. That's what I did.

[Natalie Jean]

I played it today. I did see it until this morning. And Carmi was like, what the are you looking at? Mama?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mama. Put that tick tock away. Mama. I guess she's turned into Elvis. Oh, my God. Carmi would be so cute in a nudie suit. How cute? With a little. Oh, my God. She needs something to really strap. She doesn't have much in the way of hips, but we can get that nudie suit on her.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, but she has more morals than Elvis. Elvis did.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but I mean, put a peanut butter on bacon sandwich in front of us. That ritual. She's like, I'll show you how Elvis I can be mama.

[Natalie Jean]

She does like to poop inside, like I heard Elvis does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, when in toilet, you know.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce is running out of energy at the start of chapter 85. The synth probably would have helped here, but then she probably also would have shredded herself apart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So it's probably semantics.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, she's a mere human. And even her Fae blood and gun skills can only go so far.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But they go very far in the levels of sexiness, though, because I'm all about this.

[Natalie Jean]

She blows the head off of a few more demons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I know we shouldn't be pro this because we are demons.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, if she's doing what, you know, she started like this, I'm. I get it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. It's like. I feel like. You know what it is like as demons, I feel like she respects. Respects us because she's coming at us with everything she's got. You know what I mean?

[Natalie Jean]

I'll. Yeah, I can. I'll just accept that I feel seen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And validated as a demon from hell. And I thank you, Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

How do you feel? If I take this off my head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm gonna puke everywhere. But I guess you can take it off your head.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry. Wow. Heavy hangs the head that last night wore the wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You were wearing the wings last night too?

[Natalie Jean]

No. Oh, I just remember a moment ago as last night.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, okay. I thought it was just you sitting at home by yourself, watching, you know, I don't know, Top Chef with the wings on your head. I mean, like practice. Oh, man, I can't believe you would use that ingredient like that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's like a finishing school for demons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. We have to learn how to cross our legs gracefully and grandly. Yeah, we both quoted A League of Their Own. That one part of A League of Their Own. Sorry. Nedry and I were talking about Marla Hooch the other day, and then we both just kept going, like, too ugly to fuck. Oh, my God. Someone wants to have sex with that thing. Like being the baseball announcers. But just talking about that.

[Natalie Jean]

So mean to Marla Hooch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Marloche, there's nothing wrong with Marla Hooch. She's a great player. She's got a lot of great things going for her. Everyone should be so lucky as the fuck Marla Hooch.

[Natalie Jean]

I dare say she's pretty.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, dude, it's like there's, you know, there's a hole for every port, bro.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, it's just through the male gaze where they're able. She's not wearing a lips the right way and she's not swinging her hips.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Although diamond lips are on diamond. Dottie, give the Go home. Give the wife a little pickle Diggle. I'll be on my way. I now we will stop.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We got to quoting Elizabeth. Will we?

[Natalie Jean]

Probably not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hopefully just for today. John Love. It's such a little part and he just does so much with it. Perfect.

[Natalie Jean]

Then she's out of bullets. But she's at least made it to the meadows and has spent the last few minutes trying to clear the street of humans. Sending them to the shelters when she could. A big scary monster demon with talons jumps at her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Should we have to do we have to get out her are very difficult to put on claw glass.

[Natalie Jean]

I can't reach them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right. We're imagining them.

[Natalie Jean]

I couldn't be a demon because I would get there and be like this is a bird. It's beautiful. I just. Can I just relax here?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like oh I forgot. Did you see how cool my wings are? Like I feel like I would just.

[Natalie Jean]

Be so show all the kids you're like. So it tackles her and then all she can do at that point the gun. The rifle is out of bullet bullets. This monster chop jumps at her. She just jams the rifle in its jaw opening it up. Basically like prying it open. As it tackles her to the ground. She waits for death to come.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But then a sword plunged through the demon's gray head. A massive sword at least 4ft long, borne by a towering armored male figure. Blue lights glowed along the blade. More glared along sleek black body armor and a matching helmet. And across the male's chest, an emblem of a striking cobra glowed. One of the Viper Queen's Fae bodyguards.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Good job, Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Dude, you were. That was fast thinking. You did a good job.

[Natalie Jean]

Smart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Alright, we're still upset with you, but you. You're thinking fast.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And I'm still mad at the Viper Queen, but not really.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah but like also it's like to take down the archangels. Like. Like you think about it in like. In terms of what. Like she was bad at what she was doing in terms of saving everyone in the long run. Like. Like. Or starting a chain of events that could save everybody in the long run. Is that bad? Morally gray.

[Natalie Jean]

Morally gray. She sees more of the Viper Queen's Fae bodyguards appear. And behind them the wolves. And then all the dogs came.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're helping everybody with backup.

[Natalie Jean]

She's able to use Danika's sword to engage with the demons again. Slicing through bodies in the throes, she spots Ithan in his wolf form, absolutely destroying all of the U.S. it's sexy. Yeah. She thinks about how much he looks like his brother. Even in their wolf forms, they look similar. He transforms in front of her, and while fighting off creatures, they look at.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

One another, Their stares held, and all the words she'd needed to say hung there. She saw them in his eyes, too, as he realized whose jacket and sword she bore.

[Natalie Jean]

They both know they can't speak now, but they have this sort of. I. They have an exchange with one another.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess they're not making the mouth sounds. I don't know how to silently communicate.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, also, it's a radio show, so, like, you do have to tell them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, a little bit.

[Natalie Jean]

A little bit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I can silently communicate if I'm hungry. And I go, oh, that's not silent Silent.

[Natalie Jean]

No. But it doesn't work on the microphone.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's important to my mouth.

[Natalie Jean]

She was pointing at her mouth. Oh. So, yeah, they have this, like, moment. They know. It's almost like if we both die, they're exchanging, like, we.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry, we don't.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't hate each other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like, I don't hate you. I don't hate you. I'm so. You know, she basically absolves him. Yeah. And also. And I think sort of in that moment, she's also motivated to keep going because she's, like, running out of steam, but saying, like, maybe I'm going to be able to reconcile this relationship, it, like, gives her that, like, little extra push to keep going.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right. And also, I think that him seeing her acknowledging, like, even in passing that, like, oh, you're using Danika's sword. You're wearing Danika's jacket, like, and giving her that, like, you. Like, you are powerful and, like, we need you, and you have that connection, rather than, like, I feel like earlier Ethan would be like, take that. You don't deserve to wear it. So I also feel like it's an acceptance that she needed to push forward.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At this point, sure.

[Natalie Jean]

We cut over to the summit, and Hunt is watching everyone prepare for Fury's helicopter trip when Sandriel storms back into the room. She tells them they need to stand down. Ruhn begins to argue, but she cuts him off. They have been ordered by the asteroids, but it's okay because the Asteri are going in to help.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Still, I mean, I immediately am like, okay, that's Sus as I don't trust these things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, you're all powerful and this has been going on for a little bit. So it's like you're saying, like, these theory's gonna come and they're gonna, oh, hello. Where are they all powerful? Shouldn't you just show the fuck up then?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, wow. Just leadership talking out their ass. Can't believe that. So regardless of that, Hunt feels relief wash over him. He knows that if the Asteri and maybe even Sandriel's deranged Triari are headed there that they could, like, provide some help. They're great at murdering. It's their passion.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

They will be able to help the people of Crescent City, even if they're kind of evil. All they want to do is murder. And here's a chance for them to murder a bunch of things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they definitely don't don't want the demons pouring in.

[Natalie Jean]

Right. Because it doesn't serve them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Exactly. Then they still need all of these plebes because somebody's got to do all the dirty work of running a city. What are they going to do without all of them, you know?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, exactly. Then Declan announces that they are three minutes away from the shelter, doors closing for the remainder of the attack. So it's been about an hour of fighting at this point, and Declan is letting everyone know these are the final moments, which is to say Bryce and Ethan are still out there, those that weren't already prematurely shut by rich people, of course. They watch as Bryce and Ethan fight in tandem, still working to get the remaining humans on the street into the shelter, which Hunt describes the opening of to be about the size of a garage door. So the shelters are like that size. Hunt begins, pleading with the screen, imploring Bryce to get inside, as Declan announces, two minutes are left, but there are still people with babies and pets on the street. And Hunt should know more than anybody that she won't go in there while there are still civilians on out on the street. As 30 seconds remain, Bryce and Ethan began to sprint towards the open shelter door. They're far though, and are at a race against time. As they bolt towards safety, they see on the screen other wolves already inside the shelter as the doors close, closing, fighting to hold the door open against the mechanism for just a few extra moments to get them inside.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. It's just like in Twister when they're trying to get into the underground bunker.

[Natalie Jean]

That's a good one. I was thinking of Indiana Jones, but Twister's good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, man. Oh, daddy. Watch it. Miss that house and miss that house. Come right after you, my daddy.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, Daddy. That's right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. Spoiler alert for the very beginning of a movie that's about 20 years old.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's older than 20 years old.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ouch. Natalie, it is 20 years old. I'm a demon. Do you really want to, like, I'm a baby.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm a baby.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm a baby demon.

[Natalie Jean]

So For a demon, 30 years is probably like not nothing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I think that they probably live forever in like unending torture or they're providing the torture, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They might.

[Natalie Jean]

They might have a. It's their passion, you know, they might enjoy it. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I do feel like it's like they do kind of like get into their space every once in a while and they immediately get murdered. So they're probably not having a great time wherever they are, you know, but.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe they do love to kill.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So maybe we're having a blast.

[Natalie Jean]

It's never work if you do what you love.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Oh, yes. We are the demons of the last podcast network.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So they're getting close, but as they near, with just enough room for one person to get under because it's closing, they can't hold it up any longer. Bryce slows herself down just a few paces and then shoves Ethan inside without him realizing it. The door shuts just as Ethan turns to look at her with shock in his eyes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, wolfable appeal.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce is still in a full run and runs. Basically slams into the closed shelter door because that's how close it was. The people in the summit room watch the screens as Bryce turns and looks out at the city street with no plan. She's fucked.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is it no plan, though? Because with Bryce, you never know what's going on in there.

[Natalie Jean]

Sometimes a plan you don't know and you just let your body go.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, man.

[Natalie Jean]

We cut over to Bryce, who is admittedly terror filled in this moment, attempting to figure out where to go. She sees the viper queen soldiers in the distance who are still fighting the monsters and decides that if she can make it to her, her apartment, she might be able to shelter some of the people who got left behind because there's fancy wards on the building.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wonder if, like certain demons. It must be that certain demons are harder to kill than other demons, Right? It's got to be like a whole, like different, like different like you were talking about before, like different species of demons. Because I'm trying to think about, like, you think about the fact that you have the umbra mortis. Who's there to kill? Demons that get into. Into their world.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you probably need somebody that's strong, but there's got to be all different kinds. I guess I was just thinking in my head that I was like, I am a little surprised that you could just shoot a demon.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, you could get a lot of them. I think a lot of things die if you get their head. You know what I mean?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think, yeah. You go after the head, and that's usually what you're. It's like if you decapitate them. So I imagine that's usually what the umber mortise is taken care of for sure.

[Natalie Jean]

But then, you know, you go. You look at, like, creatures like the crystal and really hard to kill. Certain pitfalls you got to watch out for. They each have their own little things. They do. And then some of them sure, like, spit poison. Some of them probably have, like, secret barbs, like a stingray spit right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I won't. I don't like to spit. I'm not that kind of person. But oh, man, if I could camel at ya. Oh, God, I wish I could spit on the camera from here. And then all of a sudden, like, the. Like the big goop just goes down. Everyone's going like, no, why would she. That's watching it home.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, we can just have there. James. James, you have to now make that a whole.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, James, is so much work to do. James, you don't have to do it.

[Natalie Jean]

Stop everything.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, James, you don't have to do. You could do it again, though, if you wanted to.

[Natalie Jean]

James, you better do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Meanwhile, my head, my horns just keep hitting my wing. I'm falling apart as a demon over here.

[Natalie Jean]

It's hard to be a demon. I've learned a lot. I've. I've gained empathy for demons from this costume.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. I think that we needed. Yeah. We've been gaslighting these demons for far too long, and we need to make sure they know that their feelings are valid and that it's difficult for them. They were just in their home where they get to torture people. Now they have to go through a portal.

[Natalie Jean]

And they opened the portal, the port portal pulled them out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. They're not asking where's demon consent.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. Seriously, this is all Micah's fault is. So she decides she's going to make this run to the apartment, and she fights off all of these attacks as she runs. It's a great action Sequence. I want to see it. She watches with dismay as she is getting closer to the apartment, as the last of the date sun fades below the horizon. Hunt is watching the screens with dread as the sun finally sets. He's disturbed by how quiet the city is at this moment, knowing it's not from everyone getting to safety. Many, many people have died.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're doing a really good job out there.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. We're crushing. And he knows enough about hell to know that when the sun sets, that means an entirely new, new set of terrors will arrive.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All our friends.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, ones who can't stay in the sunlight. Like goth people. They're managing to track Bryce. And they watch as she stops in an alcove near the heart gate. They watch as she slides to the ground, exhaustion lining her face.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

They watch as she pulls her phone out. And Hunt's heart shatters as he recognizes a soldier on their last leg. Unable to keep going and knowing it, the room hears a phone ringing and Sandriel, in a daze, pulls Hunt's phone out of her pocket. Because she's a. To everyone's shock, Ruhn only has to growl at her twice before she gives the phone over to Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Kept it charged the entire time. And I just want to be like. Like Sandriel. Thanks for hooking a brother up.

[Natalie Jean]

I could imagine she did it because she wants to see if there's anything she can glean from people who call him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm sure she's using it for evil, not to hook a brother up.

[Natalie Jean]

Right? But thankfully, there's enough pressure that she didn't keep the phone from Hunt, because that would have been like. Come on. Seriously. In the last moment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Come on. So he actually, though, actually, actually, if she was really an archangel, no way would she give that phone him.

[Natalie Jean]

I almost wonder if she just now that Micah was just killed, is now a little bit concern kiss about everyone.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like teaming up against her.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, there's that too.

[Natalie Jean]

So Hunt answers the phone. She seems surprised by that. Expecting the voicemail or what. What do they call it? The audio mail.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

He tells her help is coming. But that's not why she called. No. She's making this call to say her goodbyes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she called you first, you fuck. So think about that.

[Natalie Jean]

She did call Hunt first. And at first the terror of running from the creatures is still on her face. But after a moment of speaking with Hunt, hearing his voice, something close to peace seems to come over her. She's sad, but doesn't seem so scared. Hunt, on the other hand, is petrified from the tone of the resignation in her voice. He implores her to get to her apartment and that he'll be there soon. She ignores him and tells him to tell her mom that she loves her and that she gets her strength from her. That she loves Randall and is thankful to call him Father proud, the only father that ever mattered. Ouch. Hun sees something like shame pass over the Autumn King's face face because they can all hear this call.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Fuck off, Daddy.

[Natalie Jean]

He tries to stop her again, but she continues on. She wants him to tell Fury that she is sorry for lying. Her voice breaks as she tells Hunt to tell Juniper thank you for stopping her from jumping that night, that she's glad that she could be here for today.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt's heart cracked entirely. He hadn't known, hadn't guessed that things had ever been that bad for her. From the pure devastation on Rune's face, her brother hadn't known either. Tell Rune I forgive him, bryce said, shaking again. Tears streamed down the prince's face.

[Natalie Jean]

She says that she had forgiven him long ago, then says something Ruhn doesn't seem to fully understand. She says to Hunt to tell Ruhn that she's sorry she hid the truth from him and that she didn't want to take anything away from him. Ruhn is confused about what that means, but we'll all know shortly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't worry, she's got other things up her sleeves.

[Natalie Jean]

Hunt doesn't care about any of this at the moment. All he does is plead with her again to go to the apartment building, but she cuts him off off. She tells him that she was waiting for Hunt as well. In her heart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt couldn't stop his own tears then.

[Natalie Jean]

I was waiting for you too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She smiled even as she sobbed again.

[Natalie Jean]

He begs her a last time to go to the apartment and wait for him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She opened her eyes and got to her feet as true night fell faced the gate halfway down the block.

[Natalie Jean]

I forgive you for the shit with the sin. For all of it. None of it matters. Not anymore.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She ended the call and leaned Danica's sword against the wall of the shelter alcove, placed her phone carefully on the ground next to it. Hunt shot from his seat.

[Natalie Jean]

Brice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She ran for the gate. Oh, what's gonna happen? What's that little going to do? Ah, you better be hiding from us. Because the night it brings extra terrors and you never know when our terrors will come for thee. Oh, your wings are touching me. I'm upset her wings are touching me.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe make your wings smaller.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. Oh. So I need to change my wings to make you more comfortable?

[Natalie Jean]

I need to make yourself smaller for you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. If. Interesting guy. Oh, you're trying to put on your claws right now. Because you're trying to scare me. You can't intimidate the unintimidable. Thank you very much. Wings.

[Natalie Jean]

Ah, my babies. My b.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get out of here. My wings are bigger.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, I got to get out of here. Let's go to the bar.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Let's start drinking. Please read up until chapter 91. SA IT.