LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 6: Seedy Slimy Snakes and Satyrs

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City – Episode 6: Seedy Slimy Snakes and Satyrs

Hosts: Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Podcast Network: The Last Podcast Network

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1. Introduction & Cosplay Banter

Timestamp: 00:19 – 07:06

Episode 6 kicks off with Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski enthusiastically embracing their cosplay roles, enhancing their discussion with playful interactions about their costumes. Natalie, dressed as the Viper Queen, and Jackie, embodying the Heat Miser, engage in a spirited conversation about wig quality, makeup, and the challenges of portraying their characters authentically.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie (00:31): "The hairline in this wig is what makes it look the worst."
• Natalie (00:51): "Super Saiyan? This is what Dragon Ball Z looks like when they really fast."

Their banter not only showcases their dedication to cosplay but also sets a vibrant and entertaining tone for the episode.

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2. Transition to Crescent City Discussion

Timestamp: 07:06 – 10:30

The hosts seamlessly transition from their cosplay antics to delving into the heart of the episode—the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas. They focus on Chapter 18, describing the intense encounter between characters Bryce and Hunt outside the Meat Market. Jackie paints a vivid picture of the Meat Market as an "evil flea market," drawing parallels to real-world locations like Santee Alley in Los Angeles.

Notable Quotes:

• Natalie (09:01): "She's not like the other girls."
• Jackie (10:11): "She's not like the other girls."

This section emphasizes the gritty and complex setting of Crescent City, highlighting the tension and stakes involved in Bryce and Hunt's mission.

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3. Introduction of The Viper Queen and Mythological Elements

Timestamp: 10:30 – 18:05

Natalie and Jackie explore the rich mythology interwoven into Crescent City, specifically focusing on the introduction of the Viper Queen. They discuss her imposing presence, likening her to mythological figures like Jormungandr from Norse mythology. The hosts delve into the significance of names and symbols, illustrating how Sarah J. Maas skillfully integrates ancient lore into her narrative.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie (34:21): "The Viper Queen is thought to be a reference to Jormungandr."
• Natalie (34:24): "I'm the worm. Midgard worm."

Their analysis underscores the depth of Crescent City's world-building, offering listeners a deeper appreciation of the series' intricate details.

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4. Bryce and Hunt’s Complex Relationship

Timestamp: 18:05 – 35:06

The discussion shifts to the evolving dynamics between Bryce and Hunt. Natalie highlights Bryce's strategic nature and her ability to manipulate situations, while Jackie examines Hunt's stoic and protective demeanor. They analyze key moments from the transcript, such as Bryce's interrogation of the Seder and the subsequent confrontation with the Viper Queen, revealing layers of character development and tension.

Notable Quotes:

• Natalie (24:07): "It's really serious, I don't like it."
• Jackie (26:27): "I am having an internal war."

This segment captures the complexity of Bryce and Hunt's interactions, highlighting their contrasting personalities and the underlying chemistry that drives the narrative forward.

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5. Themes of Power, Addiction, and Morality

Timestamp: 35:06 – 49:57

Natalie and Jackie delve into the darker themes presented in Crescent City, such as the illicit trade of obsidian for demon summoning and the societal stigmatization of demonici (children born from demon-vanir unions). They discuss the ethical dilemmas characters face, the allure of power, and the destructive nature of addiction, exemplified by the Viper Queen's venom.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie (25:31): "Obsidian is for summoning demons."
• Natalie (38:39): "They're getting addicted, so that's not good."

The hosts provide insightful commentary on how these themes enrich the story, adding layers of conflict and moral ambiguity that challenge the characters' motivations and decisions.

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6. Character Backstories and Motivations

Timestamp: 49:57 – 66:33

The hosts explore the backstories and motivations of key characters, including Bryce's debt to Jesiba and Hunt's military past. They analyze Bryce's traumatic experiences with Danika, her friendships, and the personal costs of her alliances. This section offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the characters' complexities and the burdens they carry.

Notable Quotes:

• Jackie (57:24): "Hunt answers, 'Micah paid 85 million gold marks to own him.'"
• Natalie (67:08): "How old he is? 233."

By dissecting these elements, the hosts highlight Sarah J. Maas's talent for creating multifaceted characters whose histories profoundly influence their present actions and relationships.

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7. Climax and Cliffhanger

Timestamp: 66:33 – 75:00

As the episode progresses, Bryce and Hunt confront the Viper Queen, leading to a tense exchange that culminates in a mysterious clue: "Look towards where it hurts the most." Natalie and Jackie dissect this pivotal moment, speculating on its implications and setting the stage for future developments in the series.

Notable Quotes:

• Viper Queen (43:57): "Look towards where it hurts the most."
• Jackie (72:05): "We are to gauge that that is a sensual, unintentional, sensual touch."

The hosts leave listeners on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the significance of the Viper Queen's cryptic message and its impact on Bryce and Hunt's quest.

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8. Personal Reflections and Concluding Thoughts

Timestamp: 75:00 – End

Wrapping up the episode, Natalie and Jackie share personal reflections on the themes discussed, the emotional depth of the characters, and their own connections to the story. They emphasize the importance of vulnerability, trust, and the enduring bonds that form amidst adversity. Their heartfelt insights provide a meaningful conclusion, resonating with listeners who appreciate both the narrative and the hosts' perspectives.

Notable Quotes:

• Natalie (69:14): "Sometimes it's too much, and then you can't be friends and you can't look at them."
• Jackie (71:54): "They are bonding over tormenting Ruhn."

The episode concludes with a sense of anticipation for future Deep Dives, promising continued exploration of Crescent City's rich tapestry.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 6 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City offers a comprehensive and engaging analysis of the ongoing narrative, enriched by the hosts' dynamic chemistry and deep understanding of Sarah J. Maas's world. Through their insightful discussions, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski provide both fans and newcomers with a captivating exploration of the series' intricate plotlines, character developments, and underlying themes.

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts for ad-free access to new episodes and to join Natalie and Jackie in their next adventure through Crescent City's enthralling landscape.

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This summary captures the essence of Episode 6, highlighting key discussions, character insights, and thematic explorations, while incorporating notable quotes and timestamps for an enriched understanding.

Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

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

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The hairline in this wig is what makes it look the worst. Because it's just like a big folded flap. There's no lace front, of course, because.

[Natalie Jean]

This is what that does. That doesn't have a lace front. It's not a lace front wig. It really looks like it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If it had it, it would look like real hair. What is it?

[Natalie Jean]

Super Saiyan? This is. Oh God, it's the saddest. I'm the least manga. It's Super Saiyan. Right? Super Saiyan. Something like that. Where Dragon Ball Z when they really fast. That's what you look like. No, you look like the Eat Miser. You look like you're dressed like the Eat Miser.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I look like a sensual sprite.

[Natalie Jean]

I, Mr. Heat miser. Y Mr. Cute lady.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's not making it better for me because I'm frowning and I look more like him now.

[Natalie Jean]

You do look more like him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The more you frown.

[Natalie Jean]

Frown harder, you big, beautiful ball of heat. Harder. Frown harder. I don't remember any of the. I'm trying to look up. I missed a green Christmas. I missed the sun. I missed a heat blister. I missed a 101. I don't remember. I just know I'm Mr. Heat Miser, which apparently he never says.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, you can just say how he.

[Natalie Jean]

Tries to go about it. Rather than him being like a. Like a hell freak. He's like, no, no. I'm the one that grows the off Heat Miser. You're trying to give me this bullshit at Christmas time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I'm in hot with anger towards something I'm not even really paying attention to.

[Natalie Jean]

I. You know. How dare you. You know, sometimes, Natalie, you got to choose something and you got to feel a lot about it. And I never knew I had this many thoughts about Heat Miser. And thank you for asking. Thank you for asking me how I felt about him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm just here to bring out all of the things that you are storing inside of yourself. With my different costumes that will relate to different things from your childhood that were upsetting.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, and. Well, it wasn't upsetting necessarily.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or was it? Think. Think more.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. It's why I've been scared of fire. Not because of the burns. Never because of the burns.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, you love the burns.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You're Mr. Heat miser. I guess I got to get over it if I'm going to be sitting next to the Heat Miser for. For the next hour and change.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Look it sort of looks like fire.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. Actually, you know what that does? You're making a flicker flacker with your hair right now. For those of you that can't see Natalie, she is, I don't want to say attempting. I'm gon say, successfully driving, thriving, dressed as Lehaba, and you are killing it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's cute. You could take a couple notes.

[Natalie Jean]

It's better than what I was looking at when I was thinking about making my Lehaba costume. And we will see that at some point during this season, because I got some stuff for it, and I was like, I'm gonna look dumb. But you know who didn't do that? Natalie Jean. And I'm impressed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I don't look. I look the picture of next to in. In the dictionary. Not dumb.

[Natalie Jean]

It's me. It is you. It is you dressed like this. And you. I love that you, like. Sometimes you just got to jump, you know, you just got to see what the character is going to be.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The net will appear.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you're right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then it's going to take you to the mental institution, but it will appear.

[Natalie Jean]

Then you'll see it. Maybe other people won't see it, but, man, I just. I'm really proud of you, Natalie, for going for the gusto.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

With all the flame makeup, too. You really. You did a great job.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This would look better under black light. I'm gonna say that this is the.

[Natalie Jean]

Opposite with us, like, doing a bunch of ecstasy. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, we have black lights behind us, but you can't tell, really.

[Natalie Jean]

We do also have a brand new. For those of you watching, we do have a brand new white raven light behind us because Natalie is going to be crafting quite the scene of our background as time goes on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We might see more pop up on this wall as we go.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm excited about it. It's like we're on the city streets. Yeah. You can't f with us, boys. Although especially with me today dressed as the Viper Queen. You're welcome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This lip, by the way, is perfect with this green. Like, the green and the purple are flowing together.

[Natalie Jean]

Can I also. I'm just gonna take this moment and say I have heard a lot that purple and green don't go together, that they are joker colors. I think they look great together.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Does the joker.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Thank you. I think they look great together.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do does in DC have to take over everything in the world? Does everything have to be under the lens?

[Natalie Jean]

I think when you're mostly green, a nice purple lip Pops, of course, come at me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He doesn't own those colors.

[Natalie Jean]

What are you gonna like color spectrum theory at my ass? Go ahead, do it. I was wearing like a bright blue pant the other day, because bright blue pant is in, but I don't wear a lot of light clothes. And I kept putting on different tops. And Jeff's like, well, that doesn't go with it because it's like a primary color and doesn't go with other. I was like, but then what does it go with? I don't understand color theory. I guess I could look at a color wheel.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. But you still. Sometimes you just got to feel it out. Because sometimes things that aren't supposed to go together, I still look really good together.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I certainly. I definitely sometimes look at my outfits. I'm like, well, I am dressing. Some days I'm dressing to really, like, bring out 15 year old me, and some days I feel like I'm dressing to bring out like six or seven year old me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because, you know, also then wearing shit I didn't want to wear. And so I'm really taking back. It's just. You know what, guys? It's me taking back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I recommend that to everyone. Embrace whatever parts of your childhood. You either clothes that you wanted that you couldn't afford, or you couldn't get. Clothes that made you feel insecure, but now you kind of want to retry, like, do it. Who gives a care?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Natalie. Wow. Ouch. Hurts my ears. Who gives a care? Yeah, who gives a care?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I said it. I said it.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Thank you, Natalie, for being the one to tell us what we needed to hear today.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, when we're dressed this way, we can't just talk about clothes. We need to talk about Crescent City.

[Natalie Jean]

No, we need to talk about the meat market bitches. Me. This morning, I put on the Viper Queen because I was trying to seduce my husband as the Viper Queen, because I think the Viper Queen's really sexy. But let's be real, he doesn't know the character of the Viper Queen. And then I started being like, ooh, I run the meat market where anything you can sell can be sold. And he's like, is that supposed to turn me off?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's not sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like, I don't know if that's doing what you think it's doing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You can fuck a corpse there.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, whatever you want. Yeah, it's just a bag of meat. Come on. And I think it's sexy, but apparently it's not as sexy on the outside, if people don't know the character.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, he passed a very important test. That you want for a partner.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

For them to not go. Wait. Anything.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You know what? You're right. I should have done this before we got married. What if I found out now that he's, like, into you? You know, effing a corpse bag? And then I'm like, oh, God, what do I do? I gotta get rid of my husband.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I gotta get rid of him really fast.

[Natalie Jean]

If you find out your partner wants to. A corpse bag, you gotta get rid of the partner.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You do. I'm sorry. Not to kink shame, you know, but.

[Natalie Jean]

That is probably a lot like an actual one. You know, kinks aside.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What? So you feel like if he wanted a real doll of an obvious dead body and he wanted to have sex with it, you'd be. You could. You could make it work.

[Natalie Jean]

Not me personally, but maybe some people. You know, I tried never to gank shame. But then if you think about the actuality of it, it's like, no, I'd have a really. I'd have a pretty big problem with it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'd have a hard time.

[Natalie Jean]

I'd probably. I'm glad we talked this out here. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. So the people who go to the meat market, they don't have shame about their kinks. They go with gusto.

[Natalie Jean]

You come on over to me, children.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's Viper Queen. That's a voice. Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Come on over to me, children. That's her catchphrase.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we're at the start of chapter 18. We're outside the meat market, and Hunt has chased Bryce down because in the last chapter, she had told him, oh, yeah, I'm going to bed now.

[Natalie Jean]

She wasn't going to bed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She basically evaded him for about 30 minutes. She snuck out the back, got on her scoot, scooted all the way down to the meat market.

[Natalie Jean]

About the town.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And Bryce kind of knew he was gonna find her. She's not shocked when he just slams to the ground.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, he's very good at his job.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's very good. But he's peeved. He's PO'd.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

@ her. He's so. Oh, he's mad.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He told her not to go after the Viper Queen without protocols in place.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, no. That's observed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So mad. But she quickly corrects him. She's not going to see the Viper Queen. She has some other stuff to do, so. Get over yourself, Hunt. Athelar.

[Natalie Jean]

Take that, Hunt. But he doesn't have time to reprimand her right now because they've got other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Things to do and she's not stopping. So he's got a follower because he doesn't really have a choice.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he. We're with Hunt in this scene, and his thoughts are. He's just fuming. He's so angry. But she's very unimpressed with his anger. He's. A lot of people would be afraid of Hunt in that situation, but not Bryce. She's not like the others.

[Natalie Jean]

No. She's not like the other girls.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He has. Again, he has little choice but to follow her into the meat market. And it's interesting smells and sights. I get a sense of my visuals of. It is like an evil flea market.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Like one of the really big flea markets, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I don't.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like Shanty Alley.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, that's what I put in my. That's what I said. I don't want to make it sound like I'm insulting Santee Alley. No, I love Sandy Alley because Sandy Alley is a place in Los Angeles where they have a bunch of stalls where things may or may not have fallen off the back of a truck. And you can. There's like, I don't know, blocks and blocks of it. And there's literally hundreds of these stalls that you can go to. And they're not selling. Creepy. It's like a cute version of the meat market.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Yeah. It's not as much like. It's not. Yeah. I don't think you can get human meat at Santee.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I haven't found that block yet, if that's the case. Or maybe you need a couple asking.

[Natalie Jean]

I think. Yeah. I think that we need to know who to talk to and how to ask for it. And you know what? I'm proud of us that we don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I'm proud of us, too. But now we need to try. Yeah, let's go insult everybody who's selling stuff.

[Natalie Jean]

You got human meat. Hey, you got tortoise back there? Give me, give me, give me. I want it on the half shell. My turtle power.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Santee Alley does not sell food in general, but maybe somewhere they do. Yeah, because at the meat market, there's a bunch of definitely hidden doorways.

[Natalie Jean]

Right. They're not gonna put all the illegal things just right out in the front. If you want, like an endangered lizard, you gotta go up into some sort of crate in the back room.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right. You gotta find your way there because they have to hide it from all of the authorities.

[Natalie Jean]

Telling me I can't have my lizards anymore.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, it's just kind of more fun if you're gonna get something like, like contraband. Don't you want to have to, like, do like, an Indiana Jones thing?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I feel like. I feel sad for the people that use the Dark Web because then, like, they're not having the fun human interaction side of it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do feel really sad for people who use Dark Web. It's really. That's got to be really hard.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Lonely.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Very lonely. In fact, they might have already burned all the bridges and isolated themselves against everyone they've ever known.

[Natalie Jean]

That part of the problem.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So they're in the meat market. Even though it's kind of shanty like and a little dirty, there's still this big mosaic and it's displaying death with a scythe and an hourglass. And it has the inscription memento mori, basically to suggest that, hey, you're. You're gonna die. You might as well enjoy your time.

[Natalie Jean]

Live while you're living.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Some kind of, like, jazz playing in the background.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, this is a classy establishment, so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Carpe knocked him if you will. Get over yourself. Oh, no. What I wrote was give yourself over to absolute pleasure.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow. Is that from Rocky Horror? Ah, gotcha.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Erotic nightmares.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, looking at you dressed like singing visions. I don't know if it's. It's giving what you want it to give, but it's giving something to treasure forever. Hell, yeah. Oh, wow. Oh, my God. Tim Curry, you're back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know a lot of you are singing along with me right now. And you know what?

[Natalie Jean]

I hope that you look like Natalie does as well while you're singing along.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I bet you are.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I agree to an extent with this. This ID ideology, this theory. As long as you're not causing harms to others. And it seems like a lot of the stuff in the meat market might be a hurt. Hurtful to people.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah, I think it's real bad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As hut is taking a sweep around, look with his eyes, like, looking over the hall. Bryce clomps past him and he glances at the back of her leather jacket. Through love all is possible is hand painted on the back.

[Natalie Jean]

Such a pretty phrase was a fucking joke in a place like this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He obviously doesn't think highly of this place. And why would he? From what we've heard, it's a place really only sadists would enjoy fully.

[Natalie Jean]

Because, like, I love being bad girl, but I don't like being like Doing bad girl things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, you don't like doing evil Ish things. You don't want people to be hurt. Like they have as we'll get into. They have fighting pits.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it's not even surprise.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm not that big into fighting pits.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I took you for a fighting pit kind of.

[Natalie Jean]

I know I do. I'm like, oh, let him fight to the death. And usually it's over me and my dignity, but that's a whole separate. Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's something that's not. Again. Market, we need to talk. What I next cost you my brain. You can work through that.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, okay. Oh, not in a good way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Okay. Yeah. Because, you know, especially in these kind of fighting pits, it's not people who are enjoying boxing. It's like people bare knuckle, like. Like fighting for a debt they owe or something.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. It's not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's not cool. Also, I feel like this is a place where they would have like chicken fights and stuff, and that makes me upset.

[Natalie Jean]

At least they never bring up any kind of like dog fighting or anything else like that. I'm gonna say it. I'd rather watch the humans fight to the death than watch dogs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. At least the people have some autonomy in that situation. I don't know. I think sjm SJM is a big dog lover, so I don't think she would ever.

[Natalie Jean]

I li. And thank God. Thank God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, thank God. As Hunt follows her through the rows of stands, he notices that she nods and greets different vendors on the way as though they know each other, that they're familiar with one another. She sees him marking this and turns to inform him that she sent here often to help Jesiba procure certain things and seal the deal on others.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course, Jesiba sends her rather than dealing with it herself. Why would she. She would never have to steep down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, it seems like she really brought Bryce on because of her social abilities like that. She needed somebody who could be a little eye candy people person. Little easy on the eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Not like Jesiba ain't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

But she's too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's too established to like, have to go do all the. The hot, you know, the hoofing.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like if you're hundreds of years old, like, do you want to flirt anymore? Like. Or is all of that dead?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think. Well, she has a lot of sex. We learn.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, we know that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But like, she sort of just goes you.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's that. I'm talking about, like the actual, like, art of seduction.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you really want to do that if you're hundreds of years old now?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I go, come here. You come over.

[Natalie Jean]

You choose rather than.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they go, okay.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, if you look like Jesse Jezebel pointed at me and was like, you're gonna have sex with me, I go, yes, ma'am. Anything you say, ma'am.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. She also mentions that she gets Syrinx durian fruit there, which is cute. Have you ever had durian?

[Natalie Jean]

You know, I haven't, but I was looking at one. I was at this place called the 99 Ranch Market, which is an amazing Asian market. And they've got insane like. Like the fish department is insane. And I was kind of thinking about just buying random things and be like, how do I cook this? But I didn't because I was worried about wasting the food.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's scary. I'd be scared of it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Durian's fruit, though.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I know, but doesn't. Isn't it really stinky? It is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It smells, but it tastes good.

[Natalie Jean]

But it's very stinky.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's so weird. It smells sort of like death, but it tastes like vanilla pudding.

[Natalie Jean]

Weird. So do you just plug up your nose?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I mean, you kind of. Just once it's in your mouth, it's fine. Yeah, it's very strange. But I recommend everybody trying it, at least.

[Natalie Jean]

I would definitely try it. It.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He then starts to follow her as she winds up going to a rickety staircase. There's a second floor mezzanine overlooking all of the stalls on the wear in the warehouse floor. And so she kind of goes up to the second floor and along the mezzanine. It has all these closed doors. I like imagine it looking like the mezzanine. Like a hotel, but. Yeah, but like, shoddier. That's what I'm seeing. And so she walks, and he's just sort of having to follow along behind her. He doesn't really know what she's doing.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like I'm seeing something in like, Deadwood in this too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah?

[Natalie Jean]

Like what?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was thinking about Deadwood too.

[Natalie Jean]

Really?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know why? Because I feel like I. I'm supposed to hate the Viper Queen, but she's.

[Natalie Jean]

Like swearengine, like, swearing. Jin, you kind of do like the bad one. I love the. I know we shouldn't like the Viper Queen. She's very evil. But I like the confidence. I like the swagger. I like being in me. Like, yeah, I'm a fucking woman and I run all this shit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But also, like, there's this. The way that the character Swearengine is written into the. If you guys have never watched Deadwood, you fucking absolutely should stop.

[Natalie Jean]

Even if you're like, I don't care about, like, cowboys. I don't care about the old West. It's just really, really.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. It's one of the best shows ever. But Swear and Jun becomes. It's like one of those characters poured.

[Natalie Jean]

Cold seltzer down my breasts, and I didn't mean to make that sound.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just thought you were doing it for Swearengine.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, but also.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, because he. He has that sort of. You could never imagine him redeeming himself for how he acts. But then they figure out a way to write it in, and that's kind of how feel about the Vibe Queen. I literally was thinking that when I was writing this, because I feel as though she does these horrendous things. But then, is there this? How can you redeem that? And sometimes you find really weird ways, because if you don't. If you don't spoil it, but if you don't know how Swearengine gets redeemed on the show.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's crazy.

[Natalie Jean]

It's great. Oh, God. Now I just want to watch Dead. No, we can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, we can't. No, we're here. We're here. So she is walking down these door, this. This row of doors, and she stops at one eventually, and he's just like, God, what are we doing? She kind of opens this door without being invited in, and then suddenly, we're in a dark, smoky room. In it is a satyr. And a satyr is not just to. It's not just for this world. It's in our mythology.

[Natalie Jean]

Mr. Tumnus, a Seder.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Who.

[Natalie Jean]

Mr. Thomas from the lion, the Witch in the Wardrobe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, you.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I'm sorry that I just asked you that. You don't know. I'm gonna look up Mr. Thomas, because now I have to know. Oh, I'm sorry. He's a fawn. He's a foun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So a satyr is a man with cloven hooves, furred legs, and little curling horns that kind of look like a goat. And that's from Greek and Roman mythology. If you've ever read the actual short story of the Lawnmower man that Stephen King wrote, I think that's a seder. That's not anything like the movie the Lawnmower Man.

[Natalie Jean]

I would. I. I was about to ask a bunch of questions about that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's really weird. They just turned his they kind of just took the name of his story and then said it was a Stephen King story and has nothing to do with the short story that Stephen King wrote.

[Natalie Jean]

It's very strange, weird. And also for those of you that really are just begging me for the information, fauns and satyrs are both half man, half goat, but they serve different purposes in storytelling. Fauns are quote, out to get you than satyrs are apparently.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, Fonzer. I thought Fonz were.

[Natalie Jean]

This is even referenced in lion the Witch. Warp drove when Edmund says that everyone knows you can't trust a fawn. And it is a slight foreshadowing. Well, I won't get into Lion Witch Nordrop. But also, if you haven't read the lion, which. The Wardrobe, you should.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wait. So is a fawn the one in Midsummer Night's Dream? Sorry, guys.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm sorry. It doesn't matter. I've lost. I'm lost in it, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is why you guys listen. Rights to talk about really dorky stuff that you learned in eighth grade.

[Natalie Jean]

Puck's a fairy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Puck's a fairy. Well, fucking throw me in the dumpster then. I don't know what I'm talking about.

[Natalie Jean]

That's great. I was hoping you were gonna say this today. Just picks you up, throws you the dumpster.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At least you try.

[Natalie Jean]

Like in the beginning of Purple Rain. I can never get over the fact that the beginning of Purple Rain, just randomly. They take a woman and they throw her into a dumpster.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I always forget that too, because I'm constantly only remembering the scene where literally rubs her vagina.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, it's not a movie you watch with the family.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, please don't ever do that.

[Natalie Jean]

Although we watched it together.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, yeah, I mean, that's. That's just sort of on different family, though canon. They walk into this room with the Seder satyr.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, we're talking about Seders, who.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sits in a room. And it's described again as pretty slummy. It's. It's like, you know, worn down furniture. It's not a nice place. It's a crappy, slummy apartment. And the entirety of the meat market is described as that way. It becomes evident that the Seder specializes in one thing, and that's salts.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're like, oh, salts. What's the big one?

[Natalie Jean]

What? For your food, get some msg. White salt, black salt, gray salt in grains of every size, from near powder to flakes to great rough hunks. Of it. Salts for protection against darker powers. Against demons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, that's different kinds of salt, bitches.

[Natalie Jean]

We need some salt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But that's not what Bryce is here for. This Eve. The satyr looks worried at the sight of her, like he knows her and isn't happening to see her. I imagine that he has dealt with Jesiba before. I need the obsidian, she says. Oh, the obsidian makes some. That sounds like it's an intense something. He is not happy at hearing this. He immediately denies that he has any of it in the first place, but she knows otherwise.

[Natalie Jean]

Shake him down. Shake him down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This sounds like it might be a teensy bit illegal. She tells him a second time that she needs the stuff. Seven pounds, seven ounces. Hunt thinks about the meaning behind this very specific weight or quest.

[Natalie Jean]

Seven, the holy number or unholy, depending on who was worshiping seven asteri. Seven hills in their eternal city, seven neighborhoods and seven gates in Crescent City. Seven planets and seven circles in hell with seven princes who ruled them, each darker than the last.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's a lot of sevens.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a lot of sevens. It doesn't sound like jackpot to me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nope. Hunt's thoughts fill us in on what obsidian is. It is for summoning demons.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Demons from the place known as hell. H E L on Midgard. We don't exactly know what this means just yet, but it seems like it's actually a physical place where full bodied creatures can enter and can come from, which is, as far as I know, not Earth's hell. But I. Maybe.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, it lost an L somewhere, so maybe it's just moving really fast.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It took. It took an L. It's unclear.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you feel like it's more weight on you to be funny at, like, dressed as the Heat Miser? Like, do you think that like the Heat Miser might be like getting into your veins or anything?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is the Heat Miser funny?

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. No, I think it's the opposite.

[Natalie Jean]

No, that's why I'm worried that, like, maybe that's why you're. Maybe you get upset because you're being funny. You know, maybe like, oh, I don't like war inside of your body.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I am having an internal war.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And I just. I wanted to make sure everyone was feeling for Natalie in this time because, like, I know that you're really battling a lot on the inside.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So is it connected to the Earth's hell? We don't know. Unclear. But it sounds pretty spooky scary. I don't like it. He Is Hunt is internally shocked at this turn of events. It's clear from his reaction that obsidian isn't a safe or common thing to procure or summoning demons is a safe thing to do.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, probably not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He thinks about the damage that can be caused trying to summon a demon. The summoner is at risk, and sometimes the demon can escape.

[Natalie Jean]

Uh oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even though the rifts at the north and south pole where the demons actually came through in the first place, were now used to control their entry into this world, they were sealed during a great war.

[Natalie Jean]

And this does not mean that Santa Claus is a demon. Although I think we could QED here and be like, maybe he slipped through, portal got closed, and now he's trapped here. He's like, I guess I better give gifts to kids or else I'm gonna rip them apart limb from limb.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's the two options.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I would assume for a demon, you know, you got to be a good deal. Are you a good demon or a bad demon?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

No, we don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he is. He goes. He shows up at everybody's house at night, which is pretty creepy, right?

[Natalie Jean]

While you're sleeping.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't like it.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I don't like it either. Get out of my chimney, bro. You demon. You gift demon.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They don't really know where these demons come from. They call it hell, but nobody's ever been there from this world. And they are big trouble. When they are let loose in Midgard, bad stuff happens, so they really try their best to not bring them into the world. So summoning Juan seems like a bad plan?

[Natalie Jean]

No, I want them to stay where they are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We are to assume that the spindly clear creature that Bryce saw mauling that angel, that thing that killed her friends, is from hell. Hunt also thinks about how demons. Well, what he says in essence is that sometimes loose demons essay, different veneer is kind of what he's suggesting in his thoughts.

[Natalie Jean]

That's why you don't really want more of them around.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. And they create a mixed species creature, and those are known as demon Demonachy.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that how it's said in the audio?

[Natalie Jean]

If I remember correctly, yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So basically, when the demons, they do this to other vanir, they create these creatures. These children of these unions are called demonici, and they are generally considered pariahs in society, which is really unfair. Completely unfair.

[Natalie Jean]

It is not their fault. Just because you're scared of them too, which I imagine they would be because, like, I guess it would be difficult to know. Whatever Powers you're gonna have because of the, you know, shake them up. Of the genes down yonder. Sure, but I'm a scientist again. I know. I say shake them ups.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. It's unfair that they would just kind of abandon these. These creatures who didn't ask to be born.

[Natalie Jean]

You didn't ask for it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Seder dealing in this salt is clearly doing it illegally. But Hunt obeys Bryce's demand that he not interfere with this interaction. She tells the satyr he'd better cough it up. She knows he's got the obsidian. And then accuses him of selling it to Philip Briggs, something that helped him make his bombs. She goes on to tell him Jesiba is waiting and threatens him with a time limit. So she's kind of pulling Jesiba clout in to try to convince him, like through threats to. To cough it up.

[Natalie Jean]

You smart girl. You smart not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt doesn't know if this is true or not. He has no idea really what's happening. He's sort of just being taken along for this ride. So maybe Jesiba is involved. He. He's just kind of watching and waiting to see what happens. Regardless, it works on the Seder. She spooks him enough to convince him to hand over the obsidian for 10,000 gold marks. They make their exchange. Bryce gloating as she and Haunt walk out the door. But as they do, they walk right into the Viper Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

That's me and my snake teeth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's pretty good. I don't know what that is.

[Natalie Jean]

Right A little bit at the first.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sound, I think is the right one.

[Natalie Jean]

I'll keep that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, that's good.

[Natalie Jean]

So scared of me is what I'm saying.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, they are. She's waiting right outside the door of the Seder shack. I don't know what you would call that place's apartment. As though she knows every single interaction that occurs in the meanwhile.

[Natalie Jean]

I know who comes in. I know who comes out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And so she's waiting for them. We see her for the first time, and she's in quite an imposing figure right away. She's called tall and quote, moon skinned, wearing a gold jumpsuit, large emerald hoop earrings, and has a chin length black bob with dark purple full lip.

[Natalie Jean]

Joker.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's like the Joker.

[Natalie Jean]

And I feel I'm gonna say this multiple times because I'm sure that I'm going to come back in as the Viper Queen. Even though she might not need to come in as the vil.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, we have to continue to workshop our costumes. I'm Going to come back probably as Lehabah, but, like, with some added.

[Natalie Jean]

I just want more fits that I know that the Viper Queen would wear that. It's like, well, Jackie wouldn't wear them, but the Viper Queen would wear them. And then it gives me an opportunity to wear sluttier clothes. And then I'm like, well, it's good that I have them for the character.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's why cosplay is fun.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, God, cosplay is fun. Join us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Really is a good time. I haven't gotten to the commitment level where I'm buying the contact lenses for characters, but man, those would be cool contacts to have because she has snake slit eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

There are so. Especially when SJM gets into all of their eyes. There are so many times because a friend of ours gave me a good website where you can get like prescription good, like colored contacts as well. And I've stared at them. I'm like, Jackie, once you open up that pop top can. I will not be able to. I can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. It's so true.

[Natalie Jean]

Getting colored contacts. I can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So true.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie. I can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I want. I. Don't look at me. I'm not the one.

[Natalie Jean]

You have to stop me from doing it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You think I can control this? This.

[Natalie Jean]

Someone's got to stop me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know who.

[Natalie Jean]

Cosplay is too much fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. And okay, so through all of this, a whole bunch of mythology just came together for me. So Midgard is apparently from archaic Germanic cosmology, which is what they called Earth before we understood geography in the way that the stuff was laid out. So in archaic Germany mythology, we called.

[Natalie Jean]

Earth Midgard, which I did not know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And guess what? The old English version is pronounced Midengard. This appears multiple times in Beowulf, which makes me mad at myself for not remembering this, because I definitely studied Beowulf a lot in college.

[Natalie Jean]

You. I think you can give yourself some grace of what we don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just graduated.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I think I just been a couple of years, girl. I think it's all right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I haven't. I haven't lived an entire human's adult life since I graduated. It's fine. I'm bringing this up. Why? Because the Viper Queen is thought to be a reference to Jormungandar.

[Natalie Jean]

Say it right, Natalie. This is my past.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Jormungandr.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Midgard.

[Natalie Jean]

Because I know how it's properly said.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

Jordiman. Gardner. No, I've got. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, that's.

[Natalie Jean]

I Just I feel like, as Viper Queen, like, I should know these things. Things I feel like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's right. Which is translated to the Midgard serpent from Norse mythology. And what does that look like?

[Natalie Jean]

A lot like me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A lot like the Midden Guard worm.

[Natalie Jean]

No, but if you look up the Midden Guard worm. Actually, the Midden Guard worm is very scary. And hopefully I don't look like that to you, but if I do, good luck.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're not impressed by the connection?

[Natalie Jean]

I'm very impressed. No, that's very crazy. Crazy. I'm the worm. I'm the worm. What I took from it is I'm the worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What?

[Natalie Jean]

I'm the worm. Midgard worm. I'm the worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God.

[Natalie Jean]

So I'm your man, Gunda.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The old English version of Midgard is Midden Guard, which is to say that the Midgard is. The Midgard is from Midgard, perhaps. Just saying.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Some of this stuff. I guess some of these things are referenced in comic books before. Like, Marvel has some of this References stuff in it. But that's not my stuff, so I didn't connect it.

[Natalie Jean]

Shut off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Big shout out to our research assistant Jess for catching some of that, because you're the best.

[Natalie Jean]

This is awesome, though. No, this is very scary. And it also goes to show how early SJM is setting up so much, so much for the world. Like, she's just. Man, what is she good at in a fight? Something jazz. You kill it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And anyway, VIP queens got snake eye.

[Natalie Jean]

I wish.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As Bryce and Hunt attempt to act casual at the sight of the infamous Viper Queen. The queen looks Hunt over like he's a piece of meat himself. Oh, it is the meat market. Bryce placates her when she notices this by saying, nothing's going on upstairs, but everything happening where it counts. And he's just like, do it.

[Natalie Jean]

What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This seems to please the vibe Queen. And Bryce thinks about how she was actually around during the angel uprising that put Hunt in this position. So now we're with Bryce's thoughts in this section, and she's realizing this viper is old enough to have been in existence when Hunt was captured originally.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Though Bryce is attempting to act unbothered, she is very afraid, which makes sense that this lady is in charge of a horror show, and she can do unspeakable things to people who displease her.

[Natalie Jean]

Anyone that can rise up the ranks to be any kind of crime boss, I think you should absolutely be scared of.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, Very dangerous.

[Natalie Jean]

But it is. I hate to say it's so badass. That it's like a fun hot bitch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, every single one of us, not all of us, but a lot of us as young people had very toxic crushes. Relationships after gone after Jackie. What? Yeah, yeah, I know. Jackie, I know you're shocked by this because you never did that.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm an angel in human skin.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But yeah, this is not these kind of. It's a whole trope. But so that she keeps them there in front of this door, kind of toying with them under the guise of making casual conversation.

[Natalie Jean]

But she's obviously like blocking the door.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's like lot letting them leave and also kind of analyzing what they're doing there.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I mean, you don't also get to this position without being nosy. I think it's just more surprising that she does some of her own dirty work still. Because can you trust anyone?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, I think she enjoys it. She's like. She is sort of just like. Like a cat with a mouse. Just like toying with them. Bryce is like, okay, well, bye. See you later. And she tries to bail, but one of the several drugged bodyguards that is with the Viper Queen blocks them both from exiting. We learn that she gets people addicted to her venom, which acts as a sort of what seems like a high functioning opium or heroin or something.

[Natalie Jean]

Which you'd think that like I wouldn't want my cronies like on heroin or opium. I. I'd want them a little bit more alert than that. But I guess to each their own.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But they do seem like they are like they can physically still be like presence, but they're all. It kind of leaves people in a daze and very, very addicted. I think was the main issue with it is that once you start taking it, your body starts craving it repeatedly. So that's not good.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So the Viper Queen doesn't let them leave. Instead, she sort of insists. Insists that Bryce and Hunt follow her to her first floor space. Her office. Ish. On their way, being led down the stairs again. So she's kind of the Viper Queen's sort of like corralling them back down the steps. And Bryce and Hunt can kind of whisper. During that time, Bryce quietly lets Hunt know that she actually was intending to draw the Viper Queen's attention so that they wouldn't have to wait for an appointment for her.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Hunt, it's always intentional with Bryce and don't you forget it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's essentially saying, yeah, I did this because I knew she would be alerted to it and would show up.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it was around this time that I was like, okay, everything you do has like. No, actually, actually I have like planned this 10 steps ahead. But I think it's something that you like. I. I've said on previous episodes that I've gotten to learn and love about Bryce because she isn't always right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

And I like that there are times when, you know, she is getting. Having a failure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Aylin is also like that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's always like planning 12 steps ahead. But then sometimes again, you know what it is?

[Natalie Jean]

It is my real life of the lack of communication that annoys me. That's not how like, not. You're not effectively communicating and you probably could get a lot more done if you could just talk about your plan with another person. But I understand. How do you trust?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How do you trust?

[Natalie Jean]

How do you trust? And especially, like, especially where she is right now. And I get that. And especially after reading the books. I understand that with my reread.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sure. But you're still allowed to be annoyed by her.

[Natalie Jean]

Little annoyed by her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she says, yeah, look at that ass.

[Natalie Jean]

But you know, oh, he's sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That ass makes up for a lot.

[Natalie Jean]

Make up for a lot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she says, I wanted to do this. But he's of course angry at this trickery. And he tries to assert himself in that moment by telling her her he'll ask the question when they get in the office. No. Is all Bryce replies.

[Natalie Jean]

Take a hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just like, oh. The space where the Vipe leads them surprises Bryce. It's next to the market floor and it looks barely more than a storage room. But I feel like that makes sense because she probably has many spaces and she's not going to take them to the nicest one. Especially like just trying to sort of interrogate them.

[Natalie Jean]

If I was the head of the meat market, I would have a spot that was just mine in almost every establishment that I ran.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

Just so I could always have a room to go to to have a meeting. Right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Especially. Yeah, especially because you're not gonna take them to your nicest spot.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's trying to just fuck with them, kinda. So also perhaps she's in this position in the layout because it has something to do with the fact that the infamous fighting P exist underneath the market. Are so close that Bryce can hear the screams and roars under their feet.

[Natalie Jean]

How else is she supposed to get work done? You know, some people use white noise. Some people like the. It's different, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Bryce watches the Viper Queen light a cigarette from the shoddy desk in the room and thinks about how the space.

[Natalie Jean]

Was far from anything befitting a serpentine shifter whose snake form was a moon white cobra with scales that gleamed like opals and whose power was rumored to be different. Something extra that mixed with her venom. Something strange and old.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cool. Cool snake.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. That's awesome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Vipe cuts to the chase. They're here to. To dis. She knows they're here to discuss Danika. They try to shift. Bryce and Hunt try to shift to a non accusatory tone. But Vipe isn't worried about being offended. Look, she says, I see why you're asking. But Hunt knows how much I have to work with the Ox members. It's a bit of a symbiotic relationship. I have nothing to gain from her death. When they.

[Natalie Jean]

Which is really like the most you could ever ask from the Viper Queen of like the Viper Queen essentially being like, look, I didn't want her to die. And I'm just gonna say that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but just in very pragmatic.

[Natalie Jean]

Just being like, I feel like it's kind of nice. I feel like that's as nice as the Viper Queen can be. Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's not saying she couldn't. She wasn't capable of doing it. She just didn't feel like that would benefit her. Anyway. When they press her about Maximus Tertian, she calls him a quote, spoiled little bitch, but denies involvement in his death, saying that his father would cause her too much irritation to bother killing his little sex pest.

[Natalie Jean]

So I don't have the time to deal with that. Natalie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which sounds I. I agree that would be an annoying person to deal with afterwards. But they point out that the night it happened she had pulled all of her people, AKA the people. The Vibe Queen keeps indentured servants at best, off the streets. So that's perplexing. They're like, why did you. You seem like you knew something was going to happen, right? Hun accuses her of knowing something about the murder. Murder. Just a precaution.

[Natalie Jean]

She flicked her tongue over her bottom teeth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A SERPS can taste when shit is about to go down, like a charge in the air. I can taste it now all over the city. She goes to suggest he probably got killed in a bad drug deal. And then she's sort of done with them. She flippantly tosses a thumb drive to them them, tells them it's video footage of her alibis during both of the murders. A spa when Tertian was killed and in the middle of a three day orgy during the Pack of Devils Demise.

[Natalie Jean]

Can we pause for a moment? I mean, how and why? And can I get an invite, Doc? Or do you think it's too scary of an orgy that I actually wouldn't want to be?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. I feel like it could be really upsetting.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you think it would be like, a lot more like, you know, like. Oh, God, I was gonna say Sade. That's not what it is. Sade is the singer Marquis de Sade. Yes, Marquis de Sade. Marquis de Chaude. Think about how sexy that could be.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, Marquis de Sade is not sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

No, but that's what I'm saying. Maybe it would be more of like that kind of like, writhing energy of, like, sex and gore and pain and, you know, like, I feel like. Yeah, I don't think it would be my kind.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not into it. I do love it. She just has footage of it, though.

[Natalie Jean]

But also means that there's probably cameras everywhere in the meat market, which is kind of fun because she's got eyes everywhere, which I think is fun and sexy and scary.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is so zoinks to all that.

[Natalie Jean]

Zoinks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Viper Queen is an overtly sexual creature, but seems to get away with it more because she's a hot lady. So she's kind of oppressively sexual.

[Natalie Jean]

And why do you think I love this character?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, I mean. Yes, but we're not.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't. We don't like her, though. We don't like her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's also not okay to force your sexuality on people.

[Natalie Jean]

No. No matter what.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even if you're Lady.

[Natalie Jean]

You're very, very right. You're very, very right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But also, who's going to challenge her when she's being overly aggressive? Right?

[Natalie Jean]

So let me dream. Okay. I know I don't want it in reality, but Cat, a girl dream.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, that's why the roleplay stuff works for people sometimes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Informed consent. Even as Hunt seems incredulous that she just handed him what is essentially a porno of herself, she still stares at his crotch and propositions him. Again, not okay, because he's not interested.

[Natalie Jean]

But it's always a no until you ask. But you gotta ask.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's true. She then goes to offer brief Bryce position, I guess we'll call it, in the meat market. You can read between the lines of what the Viper Queen's offering Bryce, which is essentially a high end escort that would rake in cash. Hunt seems very angry at this and growls that she is not for sale. Okay, Hunt.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Interesting that you're so concerned. Okay, Bryce squirms away from the hand that he's put on her shoulder and glares at him like, don't talk to me.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, I'm fine. I do not need you to take care of me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Viper Queen is totally done with them and tells her thugs to escort them out and drop them off outside the market. Their time is done for the night. On her turf. She makes clear away with you. As Hunt grabs the drive and they make their way for the door. The Viper Queen says to their retreating figures, look towards where it hurts them most. That's always where the answers are.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's where me and the Viper Queen will never be the same. It's that mystery. It's that intrigue solving the riddles, right? I can't speak in riddles, and that will forever be my downfall.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is a problem.

[Natalie Jean]

That's where the answers are. Look to the rock and water. That's it. That's what I would say. So don't listen to me. And if I ever give you a riddle, be like, jackie, I know that there's nothing. There's no puzzle to be solved.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, you just basically gave somebody a fortune, which you could then send them on a journey of themselves. And they're like, is the rock really a rock?

[Natalie Jean]

Or is it Dwayne Johnson? Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

To watch the Jumanji remake, because that's going to tell me that I need to go to the jungle.

[Natalie Jean]

We'll also say the Jumanji remake not as bad as I thought it was gonna be.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's all right.

[Natalie Jean]

It was cute. Good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's fine.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, it's not the original.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. So she tells Bryce to look towards where it hurts the most. And she calls it their little investigation, the Viper Queen as an insult, essentially. But she kind of also gives Bryce this suggestion, as though maybe she is trying to help her without. She can't show that she cares at all.

[Natalie Jean]

Right. She doesn't want to show she cares, but she kind of wants to point them in the right direction. But most importantly, she wants to point them in the direction that is away from her. Look somewhere else.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we cut over to Bryce and Hunt back at Bryce's scooter, and they briefly talk over everything that just occurred. They both agree on something nice.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Viper Queen isn't the murderer. But Bryce tells him that she's going to think a bit about the Viper Queen's suggestion to look towards where it hurts the most. Chapter 20. We're with Bryce in the basement library of Griffins, where Bryce is trying to focus on tracing Maximus's movements the weeks leading to his death, while Lehiba sits nearby watching a reality show called Fangs and Bangs on its ass.

[Natalie Jean]

I need fangs and bangs. So desperate.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wrote that into the script.

[Natalie Jean]

I need Jackie. Jackie. That's so funny. Immediately after. Jackie, I know you're clamoring. I need it. I need fangs and bangs, please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's not called that, really.

[Natalie Jean]

We.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't think we ever learn the real name for. But that's what Bryce calls it. Teasing Lehabah. And she goes, it's that color at that. Stop calling at that. But Bryce is feeling a lot of dread right now. In. As they sit in this library in the basement of Griffin's Antiquities, she knows that she needs to not only trace Maximus's movements, but she has to trace Danika's, too. And that keeps distracting her. She does not want to do it. Of course. We probably all experienced that to some level of just trying to push something away. I'm gonna table that. We're gonna compartmentalize it, and I'll deal with it on another day.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She knows that she can't really do that at this point because they're running out of time. It's not helping her focus that Lehabah keeps bringing up Hunt and suggesting Bryce invite him in. Bryce makes a very crude joke about Lehabah and Hunt not being size compatible. What? Which turns Lehaba purple with embarrassment.

[Natalie Jean]

Their little friendship is so cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is cute. At that moment, Jessica calls and starts chastising Laba for not working. But Bryce defends her, saying that she's entitled to a 15 minute break.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you, Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even though Lamba really is just not never working, but whatever. She's enslaved. Like, let her.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, do whatever.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Shortly after this, Bryce is in the main storefront, following whatever orders Jesiba had just given her on the phone. Call. Call. Or is she supposed to be doing that? She's sort of just staring off into the distance, feeling sick about having to go through Danika's last whereabouts. Before she can think too hard about what she's about to do, she grabs her phone and just punches in Hunt's number. He answers immediately, kind of on edge, confused, because Bryce has never called him before, so he assumes there's some horrible emergency happening.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't you feel that way? Anyone calling you?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Just like, why are you calling me? What happened? What catastrophic event has occurred that you are calling me? Calling me on the phone?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I hate that. But she tells him that she's fine that she actually needs his help with something.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Before he can even finish asking her about what, he's already pounding on the door to be let in. So he, like, zaps down immediately out. Her voice a bit sheepishly, she tells him to just come inside for a minute. Neither of them speak, most likely because they've never been friendly in any way up until this point point, but maybe because they'd agreed on the Viper Queen, and maybe they had, like, a moment there, or maybe just because Bryce is that alone and scared and doesn't have anyone else. But she's about to ask him something when Lehaba begins to knock behind her on the basement door, wanting to help Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, she just wants to help.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's like, I'm worried. I. Oh, hun's in there. Yeah, I'm just. You have to come here because I'm so nervous for you. It's really. Of course, because she hears Hunt's voice inside and she got a crush on him. But Bryce is hesitant to let Hunt down to the basement because there are things down there that the asteroid would be pretty pissed about. Hunt promises, however, that he won't report anything Back. Back. Resigned, knowing Lely won't stop badgering her if she remains on this floor with Hunt. She opens the door to the library and Lele flies out so fast that she practically bashes in to Hunt, the.

[Natalie Jean]

Angel examined the fire sprite hovering a foot away from his face. She was no longer than Bryce's hand, her flaming hair twirling above her head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, aren't you beautiful?

[Natalie Jean]

Hunt said, his voice low and soft in a way that made every instinct in Bryce sit up straight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa. Bryce felt a certain kind of way about it, huh? She's kind of surprised by this reaction she's had, but she shakes it off and prods Lehaba to speak up. Because suddenly, now that she's face to face with Hunt, she's become very quiet. That's cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

After Hunt's compliment to her, Hunt lifts a finger. Sort of like, it seems like what you would do with a fire sprite instead of like, offering your elbow to somebody.

[Natalie Jean]

He lifts out a little, he puts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

His little finger out and for Lehiba to sit upon as they begin to descend into the shadowed sub level.

[Natalie Jean]

So cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Lily is over the moon even as she turns a bright red like a blush as Bryce leads them down. She turns back to look at the pair and Hunt gives her a quote, wry smile. And she kind of thinks about how maybe he is pretty damn Good looking.

[Natalie Jean]

Interesting. It took this long for you to just kind of start noticing, did you? Well, she's wrapped up in other things. I understand.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They reach the floor and Leheba begins to chatter at Hunt, to Bryce's displeasure. Treasure. She has to tell her to stop almost revealing private information repeatedly, including that Bryce had saved Syrinx from being gifted to a foreign warlord by Jesiba. Of course, before Bryce can stop her, she does get out that Bryce bought Syrinx's freedom. Therefore, his slave tattoo, the SPQM that all of them wear, has been covered over with a seal tea, meaning that servitude is over. So apparently, if you are in slavery and you get freed, you get a stamp over the other tattoo.

[Natalie Jean]

It just sucks because then it's always there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it's still.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. That's the point.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. To still kind of embarrass you, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Horrible.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Day is a free elf.

[Natalie Jean]

No, don't dabby. Don't dabby right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But buying sea rings. Freedom comes at a cost, apparently. According to what? The information that Lehiba lets out, Bryce had to pay 233,000 gold marks to Jesiba, which she will continue to owe to her, likely for a few centuries, because it is a fortune.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Lili goes on to tell him that she costs 90,000 gold marks. When she boldly asks Hunt how much he costs, Bryce tries to shush her because that does seem very rude.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I imagine it's a rude question.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Hunt answers. Micah paid 85 million gold marks to own him.

[Natalie Jean]

85 million.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At least. You gotta be a little bit flattered, right? We were like, that won't cost that much money.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I would hope. I mean, I know that. I know I wouldn't go for much on the market. I don't have a lot to give, but I'll make you dinner. I'll a lot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, you have many things to offer.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Thank you. 85 million. 85 million reasons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. Well, that's how much I cost. Good luck, everybody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Would you let somebody purchase you for $85 million? I feel like, who. The person who had that much money is not going to be doing something very.

[Natalie Jean]

That's the thing. Because I feel like it's like, yeah, if it was my husband, he can buy me for $85 million. Because then I've got $85 million and I still already want to have sex with him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, also, if you're married, that's both of your money.

[Natalie Jean]

But also, I thought you were just like, he already owns me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yes, of course.

[Natalie Jean]

No, Jackie, he already owns you. He is your husband. Yeah, you're right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right. No. Otherwise, though, I feel if. Though somebody were going to slap that money down, it's not going to end up well for you.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, no, no, no, no. If you've got 85 million extra to buy a person. Yeah. You're probably not going to use them for good things. Probably.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Probably not. As they talk, Hunt comes over to where Bryce is seated.

[Natalie Jean]

Hunt dropped into his seat, his wing brushing her arm. Softer than velvet, smoother than silk. He snapped it in tight at the touch, as if he couldn't bear the contact.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I will say that that is often how SJM describes how penises feel. So I think that we're soft. Soft as velvet, smooth as silk. I feel as though we are to take from that. That it is.

[Natalie Jean]

Dick is soft to the touch. I guess I've never thought about it before.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She has.

[Natalie Jean]

Like it's any softer than anything else.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She has described penises of the characters in these books in those manners.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right. Yes. Yeah, you are correct.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So I think we're supposed to. And we know that from the bat boy's wings for Acotar readers, that those are sexual organs in some ways. So I think we're to gauge that that is a sensual, unintentional, sensual touch.

[Natalie Jean]

And he was like, oh, no. Oh, no. Sorry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He wants to know why Bryce decided to put herself in such debt to Jesiba. Bryce said because the warlord wanted to hurt and break him until he was a fighting beast. Syrinx is my friend, and I was sick of losing friends.

[Natalie Jean]

Good for you, girl.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Good for you. Well, that is quite revealing to this gruff angel. This is a little bit. She's being a little vulnerable in the moment.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, also, you gotta think she's about to start thinking about going through the last hours of Danika's life. And even just thinking about that you were gonna want to have somebody that you can be vulnerable with. So I feel like that is the whole, like, her inviting him in, besides just needing help. I think that she was also being like, can I trust you with my actual vulnerable feelings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And I think that she's watching this with the use of Lehabah in this, of revealing a bunch of stuff that she wouldn't rather. She would rather not be reveale. I think it actually expedites the friendship between Bryce and Hunt that we wouldn't have seen without Lehabah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And we're with Bryce's pov. Right now. But she watches him watch her. And it's obvious that he's seeing her in a different light at this moment, because, as you remember, he is seeing her as, like, a bratty, drunk party girl. And this is a little bit more of a thoughtful person person. So he becomes gentler now in his questioning, and it begins to give Bryce a bit of a panic attack, which.

[Natalie Jean]

Also I completely understand as someone of, like, when I first started feeling real.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't need anyone.

[Natalie Jean]

And spiral, spiral, spiral, spiral, spiral.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

What if I do? What if I do?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So she thinks about how alone she is and how she has isolated herself after the deaths, even refusing therapy that her mother asked her to go to. She knew the therapy would help, but she wanted to feel the pain. The only thing that's real.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Bringing out all the sexy stops today. Heat Miser.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's why I come. That's why I come At Christmas time. We know. The sexiest holiday.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And the sexiest of all things Christmas. The Heat Miser. Oh, it's great.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She is now feeling the panic rise because Hunt is looking at her with something like concern or even understanding, which she can't handle right now. Okay. To get out of the moment, she clicks Lily's tablet back on just in time to where she left off, which happened to be a steam and steamy sex scene between a werewolf and a vampire. Jackie, this show is made for you.

[Natalie Jean]

Fangs and bangs. I need it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This, of course, lightens the mood for everybody. And it embarrasses Lili and declares she's going to go take a nap with Syrinx. As she nestles in with Syrinx, which is so cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt hears a thud that has him on edge in the room, but it's just Leelee informing him that the books are going to try to get into his stuff to escape. So basically it was a book leaping off the shelf, trying to slide him. Trying to slide into his stuff to, like, get upstairs. So she tells him to don't allow them to follow him up the steps. She yells at the escaping book and then falls asleep with Syrinx using his tail like a first stall.

[Natalie Jean]

So cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

After answering Hunt's inquiry about all the animals in the tanks down there. There. Jesiba's enemies and former lovers, if you'll recall.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She gets to the point of why she asked him to come in in the first place. She needs to list out all of the spots Danika went before her death. She quietly asks him if maybe he could question her that maybe it would help her bring memories up. She doesn't say out loud that she can't make herself do it on her own, but he seems to understand what she's asking, asking. So he starts to just pepper her with like general questions about herself. He wants to know about her studies. And she tells him that she studied the ancient Fae language in and ancient art. Classic lit major to be exact.

[Natalie Jean]

In college we learn that you almost nowhere. I can attest to it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you are just like Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. Except if she also had a double major in theater. You know another one. Ah. To be or not to be. That's what I remember. That's it. That's all I got all those years.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we also learn in their conversation here that the way that Bryce got this job with Jesiba in the first place was through Fury. Fury had worked with Jesupa, the mysterious duo. They. We don't really know much about either of these ladies right now, but they seem to be doing a lot of important sexy mystery backdoor things.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, it's sexy mystery.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sexy mystery.

[Natalie Jean]

It is. It's scary sexy mystery. Which is my favorite kind of sexy mystery.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. And so it was over in Panjira, which we have not really learned a lot about. Yet another area on Midgard where Fury and Jespa work together. And Fury, Fury got Bryce this job for after her college was done because Bryce was having a hard time finding work apparently. And Hunt kind of then questions. Oh, you're friends with Fury because Fury is notorious in the world for being a pretty badass assassin.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell yeah, dude.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she's like, yeah. So Hunt's like, do you know what she does? And Bryce is like, let's not go there, man. I don't ask questions.

[Natalie Jean]

Really.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

I know she's important in some fashion. She's like, actually, then again, how many friends do you have that you have no idea what they do for a living?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And most of my friends are assassins.

[Natalie Jean]

They might be. We have no idea. Are they a comedian or are they assassin again? The only two things that someone in Los Angeles can be like an ass. Ass, noise, noise, double the ass, not double the fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she kind of pushes the conversation away from. From that. And then she starts talking about her family. And we learn that her stepfather, the father who stepped up, we'll say served in the war. And then we find out all humans have three years of mandatory military service in this world, which is.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Especially when they don't have the powers that the veneer have.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, they use Them as a human shield.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. They use the. Yeah, exactly. As the pawns upon the chess set.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. And so everyone has to serve in the military. But he went further up. He was like, very revered in the army. And also they. We learned that if humans refuse to do that military service, they're considered like. Like they get enslaved, essentially.

[Natalie Jean]

Y'all. With all this slave talk, can we.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just get rid of it?

[Natalie Jean]

Could we not own other things like that?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce thinks about how terrible war is on this planet. All of. Can you imagine, like all of our weapons of war and Earth, plus, like magic powers?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Insane.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It'd be horrible. She's glad that she doesn't have to go. And I mean, that's reason enough to me to pledge your loyalty to your fairitage. So you don't do them.

[Natalie Jean]

Not a human. Not a human. Don't make me. Don't make me do it. Please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She asks him a question. How old he is? 233. And I just realized that's the age that Jesiba charged Syrinx for seeing. Syrinx. That's the same 233.

[Natalie Jean]

Why 233?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. But he's 233 and Syrinx was $233,000. Two and. $233,000. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Specific numbers.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's just very Specific number.

[Natalie Jean]

There has to be a reason.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

There has to be a reason. It's very specific if it's coincidence. So that's interesting. She realized that that made him only 33 when he led the armies against the rebels those centuries before. And he asks if she's ever killed anyone. And we're all a bit shocked when she says yes. We don't learn about what happened at this point, but she has killed someone.

[Natalie Jean]

Surprise lit his eyes. But she didn't want to go into it. What had happened with Danica's senior year that had left them both in the hospital. Hospital. Her arm shattered and a stolen motorcycle little more than scrap.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A wall of memories cascades through Bryce's head the week following. Whatever occurred that she's talking about. And her time after recovering with Danica while the pack of devils babied them, while they were healing.

[Natalie Jean]

But none of it had compared to what had changed between her and Danica on that trip. The final barrier that had fallen. The truth laid bare. I love you, Bryce. I'm so sorry. Close your eyes, Danika.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So that little. That little paragraph sounds romantic, but we already know that's not their vibe. They weren't in a romantic relationship.

[Natalie Jean]

But it also goes to show. Honestly, it gives me chills thinking about, like, that friend, that level of friendship.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, the intimacy of it.

[Natalie Jean]

Of, like, when you go through something really intense with a friend that maybe you didn't have that relationship with beforehand and how connected you are afterwards.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sometimes it's too much, and then you can't be friends and you can't look at them and.

[Natalie Jean]

Because your trauma can't allow you to break that boundary ever again. And that's okay, too. There's so many things can happen after going through a huge trauma with someone and. But in this case, it just brought them like they were like sisters.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Despair at these memories threatens to consume Bryce. Hunt seems to see this and goes another direction. He wants to know the happiest memory she has with Danika from the last week that they were together. At least it gets her to shift her attention, and she flounders, trying to bring herself back to the present. She watches him for a moment and then admits probably the tattoos that she and Danika got that week. Bryce was so drunk she barely remembers. Which, by the way, not a good idea, kids.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, no, don't. Don't be drunk when you're getting tattoos.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Especially because the kind of tattoo artist that would be willing to tattoo you when you're drunk is not the kind you want tattooing you.

[Natalie Jean]

That is. That is something I learned real young. Don't learn it the bad way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The tattoo, if you'll recall, is talked about at the very beginning of the book. The one across her back, back. This makes Hunt smile a little, this retelling of the story, and he encourages her to keep going. She begins to list all the happy, silly moments that occurred between them that final week. It's bittersweet, though. And after she's come up with everything she can think of, she feels a bit drained. Tells him she's done for the night. Before Hunt can protest, Bryce gets a text. It's from Ryne. He tells her to meet him at one of the only places without cameras in Crescent City. Luna, statue you. But won't say anything else about what he needs. Bryce and Hunt share a bonding moment at this time when they both agree not to tell Ruhn that Hunt will be arriving with her, but basically to fuck with Ruhn. So they're bonding over tormenting Ruhn, you.

[Natalie Jean]

Know, and any port in a storm when you're just beginning a friendship, you know? Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

That's not. You shouldn't follow that advice. I am. I think it's really cute as we watch them starting to become friends. Friends. And I like how they, like, kind of almost take the sensuality of their friendship out of it. Up top. Even though obviously she is very attracted to him and he is very attracted.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We don't know if they're gonna be together.

[Natalie Jean]

No, we don't know. We definitely don't know that. We definitely don't know that. But we are definitely gonna go see Big Brother run. And I'm excited to know more about him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He is. Well.

[Natalie Jean]

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