LPN Deep Dives: HOFAS / Episode 10: Double Crab Wontondo

Summary

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LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 10: Double Crab Wontondo (July 28, 2026)

Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Special Guest (Recurring): "Possibly Henry" (additional co-host)

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Episode Overview

This energetic and irreverent installment of LPN Deep Dives continues the hosts’ breakdown of Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series (specifically House of Flame and Shadow), capturing the chaos, absurdities, and emotional nuances of several pivotal chapters. Natalie, Jackie, and guest Henry blend comedy, wild tangents, and genuine analysis as they discuss themes of trust, power, technology vs. magic, and the development of female friendship, all while maintaining their signature playful, unfiltered tone.

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Key Segments & Highlights

1. Goofy Opener: Paddleball, Mustaches, & "Sunball" Nonsense

[01:10 - 06:13]

• The episode opens with playful banter about the fictional game "Sunball," with Henry impersonating Ethan, wandering into teenage werewolf mode, and lamenting his quasi-cop mustache.
• There's a running joke about costumes (Viper Queen gold jumpsuit, mustache malfunctions).
• The group riffs on Mormon “soaking,” “swigging,” and all things crab Rangoon (“You didn’t see the crab Rangoon all over my shirt, Natalie.” - Henry, [07:49])
• Quote:

  “You gotta admit, though, he’s really good at that.” – Natalie Jean, [04:31]
  "Even wolves can make a snake cry. Don't you forget it." – Henry, [04:25]

2. Satirical Sports Commentary & World Building

[06:14 – 15:43]

• Extended goofing on Sarah J. Maas’s avoidance of detailed world-building for "Sunball"—comparing it to real-world sports (“A lot of people...think it’s more football, some think baseball, I always thought it was lacrosse.” – Jackie, [21:51–22:00])
• Commentary on character costuming, Ethan’s simplicity, and recurring jokes about only “jocks” playing ball to get into college.
• In-character antics (“I’m just but a boy. Shave me, Viper Queen!” – Henry, [04:33])
• Quote:

  "I’m getting pretty good at this. Oh, no. If you see this over here, everybody, you got to get yourself to the YouTube or else you’re just annoying yourself." – Henry, [04:07]
  "They don’t make the jocks go to class." – Natalie, [06:31]

3. Transition Into Plot: The Tunnel, Trust, and Magic as Power Exchange

[13:14 – 29:41]

• The trio discusses the literal and metaphorical abyss the characters face. Comic sexual innuendo surfaces as they break down Bryce’s attempt to explain the power transfer (charging up “like a battery”) to Azriel and Nesta.
• Philosophical musings on the limitations of magic, the need for trust, and the vulnerability of letting others' powers “enter” you.
• Quote:

  “She doesn’t know how to explain the concept of a battery to them. In fact, her mouth can’t even form the words correctly...” – Natalie Jean, [17:20]
  "Someone else's power is inside of her." – Henry, [27:43]
  "Is that, like, naughty?" – Natalie, [27:48]

4. Technology vs. Magic: The iPhone as a Magic Object

[21:04 – 25:56]

• Natalie and Jackie express their discomfort at modern tech objects entering the fantasy world of Prythian, especially the idea of iPhones, crypto bros, and social media.
• Discussion of Bryce’s phone as an emotional touchstone.
• Quote:

  "No, I don’t want those tech sleaze bags in Prythian." – Natalie, [24:43]
  "Did I have a more visceral reaction to this than the idea of guns being in Valaris?" – Natalie, [24:48]

5. Intimate Friendships and Emotional Stakes

[25:43 – 29:55]

• The hosts highlight how the series’ focus on female friendship is a rare and vital element.
• Discussion sets up the vulnerability and trust between Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel as they attempt to cross a massive abyss through magical teamwork.
• Quote:

  "There is as much a love story between her and Danika as there is with Hunt...not all love is sexual." – Natalie, [26:09]

6. Lore Deep Dive: Mythologies Collide

[30:56 – 38:12]

• Natalie lays out the significance of the Cauldron in the ACOTAR universe, weaving in parallels to Bryce’s tattoo—a symbol possibly connecting her to the other world’s primordial “made” magic.
• They debate creation myths, the interplay of their gods (Erd/the Mother vs. Cauldron) and the dread of “sentient death.”
• Quote:

  “Bryce tells her that it felt like sentient death to her.” – Natalie, [32:28]
  "I mean, it'd be cool to know what that feels like." – Jackie, [32:31]

7. Comic Tangents: Bodily Functions, Bats, and Poop

[39:25 – 41:20]

• The “tunnel dump” segment: How do Fae handle bathroom breaks in epic journeys?

  "He makes like a little shadow Porta Potty. That’s cute." – Natalie, [39:43]

• They riff on “guano” as both plot device and Jim Carrey reference.
• Quote:

  "All I know about guano, I learned...from Ace Ventura." – Henry, [40:38]

8. Death, Souls, & Existential Crisis

[41:20 – 42:53]

• The panel analyzes worldviews on death and the afterlife (the Mother reabsorbing souls in Prythian; the Asteri’s harvesting in Midgard).
• Bryce’s anxiety about what happens to her soul if she dies “in the wrong world.”
• Quote:

  "Will that mean that she and Hunt will be...in two separate heavens?" – Natalie, [42:09]

9. More Tech Angst & A Bittersweet Reunion

[42:54 – 44:08]

• Nesta gives Bryce her phone back, resulting in an emotional moment upon seeing Hunt’s face on the lock screen.
• The hosts speculate about how ACOTAR characters (Nesta, Cassian) would interact with modern tech.

  “Oh my God, can you imagine how annoyed Cassian would be trying to figure out how to work a smartphone?” – Jackie, [44:15]

10. Tharion & Ariadne’s Showdown Preliminaries

[44:42 – 47:40]

• The show pivots to Tharion’s anxieties around fighting Ariadne and their power dynamics (“How do you want your wolf cooked?” – Ariadne).
• Reinforcement that Ariadne’s loyalty and motives remain mysterious.
• Quote:

  “I’m a dragon...why would I be scared of you? But it’s nice that he tries.” – Henry, [45:54]

11. Technology’s Place in Fantasy & Culture Shock

[47:42 – 50:49]

• The hosts extend the "phone as culture shock" joke, marveling at Nesta's probable bewilderment at music apps and the internet.
• Quote:

  "Nesta is absolutely on Tumblr...just talking about all the morose things." – Natalie, [43:54] "[Music on a phone]...that’s really gotta blow her mind." – Natalie, [48:59]

12. The Metal Wall, Mysteries, & Crossover Lore Bombs

[50:50 – 54:22]

• Arrival at the mysterious star-engraved metal wall, with references to the ACOTAR Prison and "arena-sized" chambers.
• The passage into the next chamber is dramatic, emphasizing both world-jumping and Sarah J. Maas's cosmic myth arc.
• Quote:

  "So not a good story, I guess. She looks away as Nesta asks her about music..." – Natalie, [48:22]

13. Ethans’ Showdown & the Viper Queen’s Twist

[54:51 – 62:44]

• Ethan’s battling fate is set up with comic pathos—his “paddle” as sword, friends wishing him luck, Viper Queen trolling his shirt, subverting expectations.
• Ariadne is revealed to have been traded away to save Ithan (“Twist?” – Jackie, [60:13]), he’ll be fighting the Fender heir instead.
• Quotes:

  "I mean, at this point, he's too stupid to be alive, Natalie." – Henry, [56:52]
  "A serpent never sheds its skin." – Jackie, [60:13]

14. The Prison Chamber & Cosmic Connections

[62:44 – 74:44]

• Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel reach the ACOTAR Prison chamber; the ward’s magic drama unfolds, Bryce outsmarts Azriel.
• Massive discovery: the “arena” chamber contains a star map and planetary model that directly reference Midgard and Earth constellations.
• Discussion of the purpose of the made objects, crossover mythologies, and the Asteri’s presence in multiple worlds.
• Quote:

  "This is like Spaceship Earth. The story culminates in this room and has been waiting for her." – Natalie, [73:33]
  "It was like Dance Dance Revolution." – Natalie, [74:00]

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)

• Henry (re: "Sunball”): “And then I recognized that she legitimately...never said anything about the game. What if it is just Ethan in a field being like...But he’s the best one.” [03:30–04:05]
• Natalie Jean (female friendship): “There is as much a love story between her and Danika as there is with Hunt...not all love is sexual.” [26:09]
• Henry (iPhone in fantasy): “No, I don’t want those tech sleaze bags in Prythian.” [24:43]
• Jackie (Nesta & tech): “Nesta is absolutely on Tumblr...just talking about all the morose things.” [43:54]
• Natalie (constellations): “That’s the Great Ladle. And that’s Orion the hunter—Hunt. Her. Hunt.” [67:34]
• Comic callback: “It was like Dance Dance Revolution.” – Natalie, [74:00]

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Overall Notes & Takeaways

• The episode walks a line between deep nerdy analysis and total chaos, balancing inside jokes, lewd bits, and actual insights.
• Strong theme: Technology vs. Magic and what it means for crossing worlds.
• Emotional emphasis on trauma, trust, and friendship among the main cast.
• Surreal references: Dance Dance Revolution, Ace Ventura, The Mask, Tumblr, Jim Carrey, Alanis Morissette.
• The “Double Crab Wontondo” title is a running visual and innuendo gag.

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Suggested Listening Points

• Comic banter & characterization (01:10–06:13)
• Explaining power, trust, and vulnerability (17:20–29:41)
• Mythology and cosmic crossover (30:56–38:12; 62:44–74:44)
• Ethan’s battle twist and pathos (54:51–62:44)

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Next Week

Read up through chapter 12 for the next deep-dive episode.

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Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Sometimes you gotta get on your knees for the goon, and sometimes the goons gotta get on the knees for you. Just depends on what you're looking like and if you're demanding it or not. Yeah, I'm a teenage boy, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. This one was. This one was tough for me to. To really work out because I'm so

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

attractive that you have to remind yourself that I'm just. But a minor wolf.

[Natalie Jean]

You're not a minor.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm just little.

[Natalie Jean]

The character itself is not a minor.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

In my brain, he's got the brain space.

[Natalie Jean]

Because you think of him as Jacob of a minor. Yes.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And maybe, you know, this has nothing to do God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We were just talking about russet skinned

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Jacob yesterday, and that's not my language. That's smyers language.

[Natalie Jean]

You know it is.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

She just kept referring to him as such. And that's not on me.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, it's all Mormon stuff.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, but that's the thing. Do the Mormons get on their knees for the game?

[Natalie Jean]

Absolutely not.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No way. They might get on their knees for the swig, which, I mean, I'll do a lot for a dirty soda.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess they could get their friends to hold them on their knees and move their head back and forth.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

There you go. And then it's like soaking, but it's just mouthing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm just mouthing on it instead.

[Natalie Jean]

I think that could be called swigging, technically.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. Get a little slurp, Get a little derp. Get a little syrup. Get a little dirt.

[Natalie Jean]

I wonder if people understand who you are yet. I do actually think this brown. Why wouldn't they know it's doing something for you? I think it's. It looks kind Of.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Is it doing something for you, Natalie?

[Natalie Jean]

No, but I think it's working.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

What if I told you that down where we're being kept. I brought the sunball with me. Oh, no.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. Reveal.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay,

[Natalie Jean]

Don't edit any of this out

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

of the audio version.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't edit a single second. You listen. You.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You listen to all of this. You listen. You listen to all of my Smash battle. No, it's a sun ball. I realized. Did I. I was gonna go. I was gonna purchase a football for this. All right? I was gonna purchase football. And then I started looking into Sunball, and then I recognized that she legitimately, on purpose never said anything about them all. They never said anything about the game. They don't know anything about the game. What if it is just Ethan in a field being like.

[Natalie Jean]

But he's the best one.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He's the best one. And they're like, just give him another battle. Yeah, you're real. I mean, I'm getting pretty good at this. Oh, no. If you see this over here, everybody, you got to get yourself to the YouTube or else you're just annoying yourself.

[Natalie Jean]

You're making a snake cry over here.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, even wolves can make a snake cry. Don't you forget it.

[Natalie Jean]

You gotta admit, though, he's really good at that.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He's like. I mean, I hit it, like, whoa. I ate it, like, four times in a row. Did you see that, Viper Queen. Viper Queen. Oh, no. Oh, no. I'm just but a boy. And that's why my mustache is coming off. I'm just but a boy. Shave me, Viper Queen. I need a shave before I go in for a fight.

[Natalie Jean]

Are you. Is it the mustache? Because you're underground. You can't shave.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Why does it only grow in as a cop's mustache?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Because, you know, I feel like regardless of what he wants, of regardless of what Ethan wants. And. Yeah, I was about to call him Jacob. Regardless of what Ethan wants, I think this is all he gets. And I think he's like, man, put on the werewolf. I should be a bum shifting a wolf, then I should be able to. Oh, I thought I was gonna be hairier than this.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a thick. It is a thick upper lip.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, if it falls off, then the Viper Queen. What are you gonna do about it then? What, are you gonna glue it back on? What are you gonna glue it back on? You're gonna hit me with a ball? Oh, you know what? Put me in the ring with this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'll take care of her.

[Natalie Jean]

I think the Viper Queen is ready to just let him go.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You mean so I could fly away?

[Natalie Jean]

Sure.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's really cool. I am glad that you were dressed as the viper queen because I really wanted to be dressed as a viper queen. I didn't have a proper jumpsuit for it though.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I actually don't either. I feel really disappointed. She is wearing gold self that I still do not own a gold jumpsuit in my home.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But you got those great boots, though. The boots are kick ass.

[Natalie Jean]

These were.

[Commercial Announcer]

Whoa.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm the best at it. Did you see this? Did you see it? Did you see? Oh, my God. I've hit every single one. I made every single one, guys. That was crazy.

[Natalie Jean]

That's how he got recruited for college.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's all he had to do. And then they gave him a scholarship. See, this is the problem. That's why again, Rocks were jocks.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, they don't make the jocks go to class.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

They don't. He's out there with a fattle ball. He's not doing his chem homework. This mustache is going to come off at some point, but it's good. I think that he would probably in like getting ready for it. He'd be so upset as he's like, oh, well, I'm just too on two

[Natalie Jean]

of it already coming off.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm too. Oh, yeah, yeah. Been moving my face too much.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, you know, we got the gist of. I think what you were trying to do, which was to show that he has with Underground. I thought about.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I thought about the costume. I wanted to everyone to know that I thought this through.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie, I do appreciate that you bought this shirt for this episode.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

For the goo.

[Natalie Jean]

Which has nothing to do with the episode.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I just imagine he would see this shirt and be like, oh, whoa. Me too. I mean, I've never prayed for one, but I would. I am hungry.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that. Does that mean that you are praying to masturbate because you're praying for crab

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Rangoon, Natalie, you sicko.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, I think that I believe I

[Natalie Jean]

actually did not put that together until just now. So maybe I'm.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You didn't see the crab Rangoon all over my shirt, Natalie. I'm sorry. You're not looking at me and not recognizing all of the work I put into this. Look at the crab Rangoon on the shirt, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that supposed to be a double? Yes, it's a you. You.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's like Madonna.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like Madonna.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. I get down on my knees and I pray or whatever that song is. My is. And I take y' all come put it in my mouth. She can't sing.

[Natalie Jean]

Is masturbating right?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes. So how so you've never stood on your knees and just jerked off on the floor before, Natalie. It's like you've never lived.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess not.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And I was like, yeah. You ready for it down there? God, so unfair that we don't have a hose like attachment.

[Natalie Jean]

I agree. I'm jealous a lot of the time.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We need more accessories, like a vacuum.

[Natalie Jean]

I really want what the penis brings to the mind because there's a lot of issues.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, it brings it to the mind.

[Natalie Jean]

But it'd be fun to have.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I just want to play with my dingling. My ding a ling. I mean, you hear the My Ding a Ling song, and I'm like, yeah, I do want to play with that. It's science. Just hangy ball. Look. Why do you think Ethan plays this? It's because he literally gets kicked out of class for playing with his own dingling, so he has to play battle ball. I'm getting sun, so I'm sorry. Sunball.

[Natalie Jean]

It's sunball.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It is like a little sun in the solar system.

[Natalie Jean]

I really think you have something going here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And it is because I. I did. And you can see on the back. I cheated and made the string much shorter because I would have been breaking all of the equipment in here.

[Natalie Jean]

That's actually really smart of you to do beforehand.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Thank you. Thank you, Natalie. And that's the first time Ethan has ever been called smart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And. And he goes. Goes on my bed ball. It's a smash on it.

[Natalie Jean]

The sides of your mustache are pointing down now, and it's really grossing me out.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's droopy. How do I get it?

[Commercial Announcer]

Odd.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, what do I do?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh,

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

no, it's. It's. It's gonna sweat. It's gonna sweat off me. Lip there soon.

[Natalie Jean]

Can't wait to see how long it takes.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Don't worry. Oh, my God. Speaking of British accents, I didn't even get a chance to tell you about how we almost got talented Mr. Ripley when we were at the pool in Vegas.

[Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We almost got talented Mr. Ripley at the pool in Vegas. There was this British guy, and his name was George, and he snuck on over, and then he was trying to, like, up talk us up talk us. And then he was trying to get in our cabana, and he was, like, a young finance guy, and he was just in town on a job on business, and he had nowhere to put his stuff, and he just wanted to come and with us for a bit. And he was like trying to. And I'm pretty sure talented Mr. Ripley us. And I think he was going to take over our lives. And we didn't let him Natalie for you because we were celebrating your birthday. We allowed this man to not talented Mr. Ripley us.

[Natalie Jean]

That was a sidebar about our personal life that I was not expecting.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, well, I'm sorry, baby. Ball is my life queen. If you want me in the pit, you better bring my ball off with me.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm not sure that I do want you in the pit. Yeah, why don't. No.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Don't I look like I'm ready to fight?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think you're supposed to want to fight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh,

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

obviously my mustache doesn't.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's frowning hard currently.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's going. It's going. It's going. It's gone. Now I just look like Theop now. You have spirit. Oh, just Yovon also just have big crusty top upper lips.

[Natalie Jean]

He does.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, yeah. Crust on it. I'm gonna be on Joe Rogan.

[Natalie Jean]

Please, God, no.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm crusty. I'm on Joe Rogan.

[Natalie Jean]

They've done so much damage.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But what about my smash ball?

[Natalie Jean]

You gotta start talking like this. You're just a 50 year old boy doesn't know nothing about politics.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's why my mustache is falling off. I can't even grow into a man.

[Natalie Jean]

So we're not even at this scene yet, by the way.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, sorry. Sorry, everybody.

[Natalie Jean]

We aren't in the pit.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

We are caving it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Get back in the tunnel.

[Natalie Jean]

Not a pit, not a pit. Underground. Different?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Not a bit.

[Natalie Jean]

We are.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

When is a pit not a pit?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When it's a tunnel.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Ugh.

[Natalie Jean]

Thought you were gonna say an arm.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Nope. I didn't make a joke.

[Natalie Jean]

Nope.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

So it's the goon shirt. I think that my. I think that between like the hat and the head, you know, the bad male wig. The male presenting wig. That man. We gotta go to that spot. Male presenting wigs are just so bad. We're going.

[Natalie Jean]

I gotta go. I'm trying to go neck before next episode.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You should see what it looks like underneath this hat. But not right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe. Okay, so we're not in this. We're in another land underground. In chapter 16. We're actually three of us are there on the edge of glory. Maybe if it's a glory hole for a giant. Because they are on the edge of a big old hole.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But watch out because it sounds like a big old dick bag on it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Could Be.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know where we are because we're in this tunnel and we don't. None of them know where they're going.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

But they've come to an impasse because they are at the precipice of an abyss. Stare for too long, it begins to stare back. Ah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Which is kind of sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

Is it? That's more like a joker, I guess.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But I don't know. I feel like it all goes in. I. I keep thinking of the from beneath it devours from Buffy. And I keep thinking about how I'm turned on by the phrase from beneath it devour hours. And I feel like all this, like. Oh, you're looking into the darkness. The darkest looking back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like it's kind of sexy.

[Natalie Jean]

Kind of on your knees.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

For the goon.

[Natalie Jean]

For the goon. So why can't as fly them this time, is my question. Well, she's a long hole, but she ain't wide. Not wide enough to take those girthy wings.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Did I write this? Oh, my.

[Natalie Jean]

I do think I've been hanging out with you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, have you been. You're not. Oh, sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

Starting to turn into your Instagram.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

So, I mean, when you start talking Girthy Wangs, I say, hello, girthy wangs.

[Natalie Jean]

So I guess instead of another opening, they're sort of like. They're not at another big place, like where the worm was chasing them. They're now, like, almost in the tunnel, but the ground collapsed where they are, so there they can't get flown across. They run through a series of ideas both banal and magical, and none of them are possible for them to get across this.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh. Oh, that's the. Isn't it crazy? Sometimes the biggest problem is man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And sometimes our biggest problem is whole.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, you can have all the magic in the world, but if you're too dying.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, man, that whole conviction.

[Natalie Jean]

But there is a way. Bryce decides, though, she has to, like, show her cards a little bit. She asks Ass if he has ever been powered up by another person with his magic.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Boing, boing, boing.

[Natalie Jean]

And he's like, in some. In some senses of the word, both he. And then it becomes again, we're making them sexualized. And that's not cool.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, it's not cool.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You got to get in there.

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[Natalie Jean]

Both he and Nessa, they don't seem to really grasp the concept. And a frustrated Bryce realizes she can't even. She doesn't know how to explain the concept of a battery to them. In fact, her mouth can't even form the words correctly as she speaks in their native language. Remember she spoiled the bean.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The word bean.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Forgot she was one of them being swallowers. I'm glad that I'm a Theo Vaughn now so I can call him that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you gotta watch out for those Slurricanes like we saw in Las Vegas.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's. You know, there was a plate.

[Natalie Jean]

There was a place on Fremont street offering a drink called a Slurricane. And I still don't know what that was supposed to mean.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I. I don't think that. Yeah, I don't think they want you to know. I think once the Slur game done come through, it's anybody's ball game then there.

[Natalie Jean]

I think that there's a lot of Slurkings going on in. On Fremont street, unfortunately.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, I love Fremont though.

[Natalie Jean]

Not for that reason, but for the chaos.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Dr. Rock. We were all jamming to Dr. Rock.

[Natalie Jean]

I gotta post photos from that. I have some good ones. We're not There. I wonder if they have Fremont street here though. Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Where do they get to go to party?

[Natalie Jean]

Although I feel like their club.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

They. Well, that Bryce, like, you know, in the Crescent City World. They definitely obviously do.

[Natalie Jean]

In Valeris they have that one woman's club and I can't remember the name.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that Nest. And then Nesto's always also like getting.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh yeah, she was. Well, she was going all the dive. She might have been.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

She was going.

[Natalie Jean]

She was at the Fremont Street.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And they were going to the, the Strip in Vegas.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yo, she knows how we roll. But also I feel like, you know, in day court they get Liddy Rita's.

[Natalie Jean]

Rita's bar is where the others go. But Nesta was going to Fremont Street. She was definitely going to like the Golden Nugget.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Why do you say it like that? That's my spot.

[Natalie Jean]

I know.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Take me to the Nug. And I say it every time. Take me to the Nug. Which is my made up tagline for the Golden Nugget. Because I love it so much.

[Natalie Jean]

And I bet Jeff loves it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He loves it when I said take me to the Nug. And I say it just like that every time.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, now we're back. I'm sorry, we're. We're going on a lot of tangents here. Let's go. We're going. Yeah. Yep. So we are. She's like, basically, listen, I don't know how to explain this to you, but if you zap me with your magic in my star, I can winnow. Because that's the word for it. Across. They're not seeming to trust. Too trusting of her at the moment. But she points out that it will involve shooting it into her chest. So they might have to, they might have to have like a dual trust. Because basically I have to trust you're not going to kill me.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. Over zap me with whatever you're going to put in me.

[Natalie Jean]

Or you could just, just, just shove it in. Like, she won't fight. And then you just be like, well, I'm just gonna kill you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. So plus, but at this point, I mean, they would have killed her by now, you know, at this point.

[Natalie Jean]

Plus, she says, I can't offer you anything since you took all my stuff already. Or I would. Nesta and Azrael look at each other and then say, well, we do have this to offer you so you don't trick us. And it turns out this has all been an Apple commercial, this entire book.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

To get this goon shirt.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Because can you imagine, though, if it's just like pulling the phone out and being like, oh, my God, this iPhone is incredible.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Incredible. And I love this. Did you get the update? I also will say I looked into building an iPhone costume, and it was again, difficult to do, hard to get across.

[Natalie Jean]

You wanted to be an iPhone?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I wanted to be her phone.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That. That.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, you'd have to do. You couldn't just buy, like, a shitty one that you would get at, like a costume store.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, you'd have to build it.

[Natalie Jean]

You have to build it out and paint a portrait of Hunt on it. Yes. As the save screen.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That is what I wanted to do. But you know what? Surprise.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, this is almost the same.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's kind of. You put. You put a goon insert on. It's like you have a fully develop costume on. Yeah. I got the paddle ball. I thought about Sunball. I do. Again, like that SJM is just like, I don't like sports, so whatever. A lot of people, though, online see it, which is crazy, because I always. I think I always. I thought.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess I saw it as football, really.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But every baseball, I guess there are a lot of people, or at least a lot of people online feel it's more of a baseball.

[Natalie Jean]

I always thought it was more of a soccer or lacrosse.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

There's also some soccer out there, so. But it is crazy that it is that nebulous.

[Natalie Jean]

I, for. I, for one, appreciate it. I know some people want to hear the sports parts, but in the she who Will Not Be Named series, I remember glazed over.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay, just tell me. All right. Snitch. Yeah, no, same, but so I'm glad

[Natalie Jean]

personally, and I love that now we have this creative expression that we can all have or we make up whatever it is. Like this incredible game that you've come up with.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I love it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Although I didn't come up with the paddle ball because then I'd be a genius.

[Natalie Jean]

Then we'd never have to podcast again.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. Because I'm like the creator of Post its. I am the creator of Paddleball, Actually, if anybody ever asks you, you can say that I made it, because.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can they tell you that's not true? Probably very easily with their phone, which is what they're bringing up in the tunnel.

[Natalie Jean]

But I feel like we have a Roman Michelle vibe, so.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Thanks.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, my God. We have to get an Allen coming.

[Natalie Jean]

Please. Oh, do you imagine?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Please. Oh, and then have a big old dance together. And then maybe that's what we add to the end of the monster show that we do.

[Natalie Jean]

I tried to get you guys to. To do that dance with me at Pop when we did Pop History Tour.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I know.

[Natalie Jean]

I tried to get the you and Holden to do the choreography with me.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Surprisingly enough, that's not our strong suit.

[Natalie Jean]

I would have been happy to teach you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But now.

[Natalie Jean]

Now got to happen.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But I have to be dressed like this.

[Natalie Jean]

All right.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Or like the worm from last week.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. We can do it as worms.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. As worms.

[Natalie Jean]

So basically what we're doing is they have her sword, they have her phone. They're holding on to all of their. Her stuff physically on their bodies at that moment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Her phone. With Nesta's movement, the lock screen came on blaring bright in the gloom, with Hunt's face right there. His beautiful, wonderful face, so full of joy.

[Natalie Jean]

This is very sad, but I will. This is one of the only parts in the book that made me bummed about House of Flame and Shadow.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

This was the only part.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. I actually don't mind the world jumping at all. I am mostly like, get that away from my precious prothene people. Get the demon machine. Get Tim Apples reality out of my world.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, it's a beautiful place where there's no social media.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't want those. Those tech sleaze bags in Prythian.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, I don't want them.

[Natalie Jean]

Did I have a more visceral reaction to this than the idea of guns being in Valaris?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. Yeah. Even just the thought of like, imagine the crypto guys in Prythian and like,

[Natalie Jean]

imagine with their heads down, going like we all do.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, we want our heads up and looking at the magic.

[Natalie Jean]

I hate it. No, don't give them phones.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But at least you know, in this moment, they don't really know what or how it works.

[Natalie Jean]

It's not like they're asking. I know they're asking. Nesta pockets the phone again after a moment and asks about the, quote, portrait tucked into the case, which is the photo of Bryce with Danica Juniper and Fury from her bedroom that she took with her to the eternal city. Like the soldiers used to do at the end of the last book, if you remember. I don't. I think maybe soldiers still do that. I'm not sure, but I always imagine like World War II with their. Like honey in the helmet.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I imagine. Yeah, there's got to be everybody's. Yeah, right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You got pictures.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I mean, also, I kind of love the idea of having like actual pictures in your purse. Yeah, I would love to Go back around to that to, like, have a flap out of.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I have them. I love printout. Yeah, I. I love them so much that I got a printer for him. Yeah. So basically this photo is the four of them. And in this, like, happy memory that she has. And this, I think, shows the value of the women, slash, female friendships that are centered in this series, specifically. Yeah, it's her friends, not her lover, whose photo she carries. Like we've mentioned before talking about this book, there is as much a love story between her and Danika as there is with Hunt. The show for show. Oh, they said the show for show for show. Because not all love is sexual. It's not a sexual relationship between her and Danica, but that. That young women in female friendships and femme people's friendships are, like, so, so important to growing up and, like, and how they change. Yeah, So I do love that about this series. They go back and forth in the moment to try to reach some sort of truce, to trust Bryce to take them over. So they just got to get past this hole.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Gotta get past this hole.

[Natalie Jean]

Somebody help me get past this hole. Bryce explains that he just needs to shoot the target with the blue light she's seen him expel. There you go on their exploits. She asks him to try not to fry her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce braced herself, sucking in a deep breath. Azrael struck before she could exhale. Searing, sharp power, a bolt of blue right into her star. Price bent over, coughing, breathing around the burn. The alien strangeness of the power.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Someone else's power is inside of her.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that, like, naughty?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it is.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I mean, also, it's just like, the fact that Hunt's not there. She's never had somebody else's power being like, like, splurted inside of her like it is. Or at least if anything, I think in this moment. It's not that it's sexual, but it is vulnerable and scary to have, like, allow someone's. Especially someone you don't trust, to allow their power to enter you.

[Natalie Jean]

I can kind of see Hunt wanting to be in a chair for that.

[Commercial Announcer]

Sure.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But with another shadow. Daddy Pacha. And then the shadows are all. And then, like, the shadows are helping with the. And his shadows and my shadows. And then it's just, yeah, yeah, yeah,

[Natalie Jean]

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a. One of the fan artists. I wish I could remember who it was off the top of my head, did a, A. A series of Bryce interrogating one of the Autumn King, one of the Autumn brothers, and Hunt in the other room. Instructing her. And, like, it turns into a sex scene. And Hunt's like. He's like, you know, he's into it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, my God. And especially because they're all so bad.

[Natalie Jean]

Anyway, that's not what we're talking about.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, we're not thinking about that.

[Natalie Jean]

Nesta actually sounds concerned when she asks if Bryce is all right. Bryce isn't sure. This wild, unfiltered power on this planet, not dulled by the Asteri, kind of feels like a taking a shot of Everclear.

[Commercial Announcer]

Whoa.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's like the smelling salts.

[Natalie Jean]

When she opens her eyes, the other two kind of retreat from her because she realizes her eyes are glowing.

[Commercial Announcer]

Sick.

[Natalie Jean]

Actually, her skin is, too, as she looks at her hands. Not like her starlight, but, like, almost like she's a light bulb. Nevertheless, they take her hands, ready to get this over with. Her teleport is seemingly effortless, even with taking both of them at once. Her glowing skin calms down after they touch down on the other side. And the other two actually look impressive. Best with her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hard to do.

[Natalie Jean]

Hard to do because you remember on the. When her powers dulled, like, through the Asteri, she can't really do something like that powerful. So she gets them across because up

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

here, her powers are wild. I do like the description and the difference of where, like, the magic in Crescent City is controlled. And there is a glass ceiling to it. And I like the raw, primal energy of Prythian.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, same. That's why it's my favorite. No, her class, sure. But my. My man is in.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I understand.

[Natalie Jean]

She lets go of Azriel's hand before she gets tempted into reaching for her sword. Because, as you recall, the swords are singing to each other, and she's. It's like, trying to convince her to grab it. They walk ahead, unsure of what's waiting for them. Hours later, we get an Akatsara Ankyeez. The cauldron.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nesta said hours later, pointing to yet another carving on the wall. It indeed showed a giant cauldron perched atop what seemed to be a barren mountain peak with three stars above it. Azrael halted, angling his head.

[Natalie Jean]

That's Ramiel.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At Bryce's questioning look, he explained a

[Natalie Jean]

mountain sacred to the Illyrians. Bryce is like, where are you talking about?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I don't understand. I see the stars and I see the mountains.

[Natalie Jean]

What are you talking about?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Although I am surprised she even does the winner. You talk like, I'm surprised it's not Bryce being like, yeah, I knew. Yeah, I knew. What Those peaks were.

[Commercial Announcer]

Thanks.

[Natalie Jean]

She doesn't actually say what are you talking about? I just said no. Basically, they go into their own creation mythology. Which is what the Cauldron represents in the Acotar series. They have the Cauldron and they have the mother. Bryce explains that there are five gods in her world. But Nesta explains, seemingly rattled, that the Cauldron isn't just a fable for them. That it is the real object and that she was forced into it. It's how she became High Fae. Bryce tentatively suggests that it might be like that mask that she put on. Conscious in some way. The other two seem hesitant to reveal too much. But Nesta asks if Bryce could sense the mask. Bryce tells her that it felt like sentient death to her.

[Commercial Announcer]

Cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not that I think it's cool to know what that feels like.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, it'd be kind of cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sentient death.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Rock and roll. That's a Dr. Rock. He should take those lessons.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Change the name. Dr. Rock's kind of a bummer. But they were actually great. Yeah, they did.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

They did. They did.

[Natalie Jean]

They did. What's it called? What's the Queen song called? Oh my gosh.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Bohemian Rhapsody. Did we sing Bohemian rhapsody at like 1am on. On Fremont? Yes, we did.

[Natalie Jean]

It's healing.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes, it is. Yep. We all came together on Fremont. And then just like a slur cane.

[Natalie Jean]

Good lord. So Bryce is disturbed by how that mask made her feel and asks if this is just normal magic in their world. They explain that the mask is in fact part of this thing called the Dread Trove and is abnormally powerful and dangerous. Us like the rest of the objects that are make up the dredge row.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And of course we all want to make all the Jim Carrey references. Oh, I held back.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I stopped myself. Okay.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Because we've done it. We've had our talks with the mask, but it is it with all of this. It's hard to not get one. Somebody stop me. You know, like we don't get not a one.

[Natalie Jean]

Because that's a sentient mask.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah. It sounds like sentient death to me. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And I think that it was based on. Based on the. The mask in the book.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes. That's. They got it from Cuban Pete. They saw Cuban Pete and were like, that's sentient death right there.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep. Not because I want to die. I'll never not love the mask. So I don't care what anybody says.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Natalie Jean]

Nessa explains that she has mastery over the mask because it was a made object like her from the source of all magic inside of the cauldron. So Nesta basically has got the same juice on her. That's the term they use, quote made. She doesn't seem proud of this. Just. It's a fact. She didn't have a choice. She was forced to become this. Bryce brings up to the base. They called her back tattoo. Made that all the way back in the interrogation room. But they don't seem exactly sure that's what it is. It's just there's something in her, whatever is in her back that is alike these terrifying objects. Because if it's made, that means it's from the cauldron. And how could this thing from her back be from the cauldron when they

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

don't even have it over there?

[Natalie Jean]

And so they're continuing to like talk about their. Their mythology stories. And she says they don't have anything like the cauldron on Midgard. They have, you know, these five gods and they have, you know, Solas Cthulhu. And we've talked about them throughout the book books. And then Erd is the thing that guides all of them. The weaver of fate. And Bryce thinks that that is her belief of why she's there. Nesta wonders if have we done. I have. I'm upset about it because.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

God, I just live for that look of just disappointment in your face.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I just needed to get it out to make sure that I could upset her.

[Natalie Jean]

I think that you should come dressed as surfing earned. But you don't Know what herd looks like. So you have to decide what it is.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I mean, I'll just put this goon shirt back on.

[Natalie Jean]

Boo. You can't. That can't be Ethan and earned the costume.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

What if it is what it's like popped out. You're like. This is what I've been praying to wearing the on my knees for. Goon in shirt.

[Natalie Jean]

It could be. Could be Alanis Morissette. Does anyone know that reference?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Very deep cut.

[Natalie Jean]

Kevin Smith reference. Okay, so they're wondering if Erd has made this.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You're thinking of the song. But maybe Earn did it. Maybe Erd made it. Maybe.

[Natalie Jean]

Then Bryce has a brief philosophical crisis. This Whose gods are where. If the fae leave, do the gods follow? How did the other gods appear? And who watches the watchman? Whoa. There's no time for this in the cave. There's no time to have this discussion.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And yet there's only time in the cave. But philosophical.

[Natalie Jean]

They start to walk again. But Bryce wants to know what they think happens when they die on this planet. She's not sure if they even have the concept of a soul here. They explain that they believe that their essence returns to the mother until she finds another purpose for them. She sucks them right back up into her womb, so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's like when you, like, squeeze something out, but then you don't let go of it all the way. And it goes and it sucks it back in. Is that what you're doing?

[Natalie Jean]

You're our. You're umbilical corded to her forever.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I guess I'd rather be accorded to her than in my actual. Like, I don't want my mom. If given the opportunity, my mother would suck me back in.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, sure. Her. It's like the end of the movie Dead Alive.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I think that's what they say is happening. But then she spits you back out again. So it is sort of like reincarnation.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

They ask about her world's views on death and she goes into. She's like, let me tell you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, they got some views on death. They got some liberties. They got a plan.

[Natalie Jean]

They've planned some things out that are not really laid out the way that they say they are. So she goes into all the stuff she's discovered about the Second Light and the Asteri, and they just are just a montage of them staring aghast at her.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Which also, again, was really good for anyone that was just reading these books, especially for the first time, because I was like, love this Little refresher. Thank you for the refresher.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, sure. Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

A little refresher in there.

[Natalie Jean]

I'll take some cave and info dump. Any dumb little tunnel dump.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, well, that. That's when you're really making.

[Natalie Jean]

So I mean, I'm assuming they've had to do that in this tunnel, right?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, I feel like maybe as like covers them in shadows or something.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I imagine gives them some kind of prize.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, he makes like a little shadow Porta Potty. That's cute.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, like a. Like a. Like a camping shower. You know, like one of those kind

[Jackie Zabrowski]

of things, but made with shadows.

[Natalie Jean]

It keeps the poop.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He stores it. Maybe they take the poop away.

[Natalie Jean]

No, because he wants to examine it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, he wants to see. Oh, for his research. Wink. I mean, it's okay. As is in either one of ours. So, you know, we can say that

[Natalie Jean]

I'm sorry to all you people.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Sorry to you, Aziz out there.

[Natalie Jean]

Unless you are somebody with a scat fetish who also loves Asriel, then you're welcome.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And enjoy.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know what. We'll find out what's happening at. At the. In the as brain pretty soon. And we might have an announcement too, about the release of the book coming. Too soon, I guess.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Bat boys do bats in pellets. Guano. Is guano a pellet or is that a stream?

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's a. Like a liquid ish that gets hard. Okay, I know you can make things out of guano. I.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

All I know about guano, I learned. Speaking of Jim Gary from Ace Detective. Yes, I only know. I only know guano from. From some of it is in pellets, but also apparently guano is. It's accumulated excrement of seabirds, bats and seals. It's not just batshit. The more you learn.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, white devil. White devil.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Are you a Slurane right now?

[Natalie Jean]

So let me guess. White devil.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He's Ventura too.

[Natalie Jean]

Terrible, but it's bad. Still saw it in the theater as a little girl. Oh yeah, because I loved it the first.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We loved him.

[Natalie Jean]

So they're like. So they're staring at her telling this horrific story. And then Nessa says, so you guys are food on your planet. Bryce says, well, I'm not. I actually gave my soul to my dad best friend in case she was too nasty to get to heaven. And Nessa thinks that actually sounds like she made a better deal because at least you won't be, quote, harvested. Yeah, Bryce agrees, but also can see she doesn't know what that means. For her. So who knows? It could be worse because they don't like us, don't really know what goes on afterwards. She then spirals internally. For a second, Bryce wonders if she dies on this planet, what will remain of her soul to be left here? Will that mean that she and Hunt will be in heaven and heaven to a starry boogaloo separately? Will they be in two separate heavens?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

God, and obviously I want to be in the sequel. Although I don't. Not with the hysteria.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh yeah, because that's the hysteria world.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm just here for the boogaloo.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Nesta must take pity on her. And seeing Bryce kind of like crash out, gives her her phone back. It was the deal after all that she got them across the ravine safely. So she gets her phone. She tries to hold back tears as the picture of Hunt on her safe screen flashes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She flashed the screen at Nesta and Azrael. That's Hunt, she said hoarsely. My mate Azrael peered at the picture.

[Natalie Jean]

He has wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce nodded, throat unbearably tight.

[Natalie Jean]

He's an angel. A Malka.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But talking about him made the burning in her eyes worse. So she slid the phone into her pocket.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, but also Azrael, I think. Like his wings.

[Natalie Jean]

He's trying to connect wings. I have those.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I have wings.

[Natalie Jean]

Look.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No, Jackie, just because we're dressed like Ethan doesn't mean as well as the brain of Ethan.

[Natalie Jean]

He's not.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

No. But I imagine he is surprised like in the. You know. Because they're just learning about the world.

[Natalie Jean]

It's true. Nesta is curious about the invention and asks if she will show her how to use the. Use it next time they rest.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't do it with the face ID and everything. Don't do this.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Don't do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You don't want it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Can you.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean dude, Ness is going to be posting on an anti Fay message board before we can blink.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh my God. And also just like the that I feel like the memes she's gonna make about brother in laws in power.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh Nesta is absolutely on Tumblr.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Just talking about all the morose things. She like she's been through photos of like girls like like with like curled over themselves.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Are you saying Nesta, she's just like us back in 2005?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, absolutely.

[Natalie Jean]

So also I just wanted to. I asked. I added in here that just made a note. Our researcher. She said. Oh my God. Can you imagine how annoyed Cassian would be trying to figure out how to work a smartphone?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh my God, he would get so immediately smashing it with his huge hands. He'd eventually just crush it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He.

[Natalie Jean]

He would just crush it. And he would be correct. He'd be like this. And I'd be like, yes, please.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You're right.

[Natalie Jean]

We cut over. So that's where they are. They basically have now started looking at this devil machine. We cut over to Tharian, who has taken another beating in the ring, but still lives for another day. He's bleeding and he comes into the bathroom to tend himself, but also because he wants to corner Ariadne. She's already in this bathroom. And Tharion feels dread about the upcoming battle against Ithan in what he presumes will be against Ariadne. They don't know, but, like, she's the most terrifying person they have there, so he just assumes it. He growls as he enters and she faces him. He warns her not to kill Ethan as she looks at him indifferently. She bats her eyelashes and it's like, I don't know what you mean. She toys with him as he browbeats her on all the damage that will happen if she kills him. The enemy.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

She'll make all the problems. Okay, Varian, we. We know. We know your communications. We know.

[Natalie Jean]

We know also, but, like, she's not intimidated by you. She just laughs at him and asks how he knows she's the one fighting Ethan.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And she's like, I'm a dragon. You do know this, Ray. Like, why would I be scared of you? But it's nice that he tries. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And then she says, also, aren't you warning him to not hurt me? Therian grabs her arm as she tries to brush past him and sort of says insultingly to Ethan that he's not concerned that Ariadne's gonna be killed.

[Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Just cuts over to Ethan.

[Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Natalie Jean]

That's how he impresses her, his lovers and his.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

The fighting opponents. Yes, I'm.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm scared. I'm scaring everybody. She tells Therian that she has a job to do and she's not a part of his little cabal, and she doesn't want to be.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay, doubt it.

[Natalie Jean]

Which I think the dragon doth protest too much. But she warns him, basically says, I'm not in your little gang. I'm not a part of your plan. It is actually so stupid, and your plans are futile to go against the Asteri. And all it's going to do is get all of you killed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Her skin heated, searing his palm, and he had no choice but to release her. She stalked toward the hall door that led to the eerily quiet pit did as the Viper Queen had promised. Only she would watch.

[Natalie Jean]

Therian tries to ask her in that scene what she wants and is she just going to stay here being a servant forever? And she doesn't really answer. So we don't really know what her deal is. She's a bit of a mystery. She as he, you know, as he has to release her arm, she just kind of walks past him and asks how he likes his wolf cooked.

[Commercial Announcer]

Whoa.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We got well done. No, don't. I mean, not at all.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't tell them what the best performance. We go back to the cave and Bryce is opening that Pandora's box of phone apps and explaining what photos are. They're crossing another stream, this one thankfully shallow. And they pass more carvings of epic wars.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This time on a larger scale. Entire cities burning. People screaming in pain, devastation and grief on a whole new level. No paradise to counter the suffering, just death.

[Natalie Jean]

So not a good story, I guess. She looks away as Nesta asks her about music and seems dumbfounded when Bryce explains thousands of songs are on this device in Acotar. Nesta is a dancer and loves music more than anything. So this is the idea that they don't have. I like, you know.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Well, because remember she got that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. It was called a symphony.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Symphonia. Thank you. I was not gonna. I was. Susie. Saucy. Your music, whatever. Yeah, so she got one of those things that plays the music. So this has really gotta blow her mind.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. Which is, you know, that is a nice thing to have access to a bunch of music.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But I mean, even us 15 years ago, like it's like at the beginning of the ipods even then. Remember when that happened? Dude, you're like, that's crazy. I could have all my CDs on me.

[Natalie Jean]

I miss having just an ipod. So you listen to music without the Internet. I miss that. Literally. I miss that because then you can just put music on. You're not.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Put your phone on airplane mode. Try live a life like it. Sorry, plane. Everybody loves that plane.

[Natalie Jean]

But both Azriel and Nesta marvel at the phone, but also seem wary of it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

As they should be.

[Natalie Jean]

She explains how on Midgard this is called technology. And that most things in Midgard are technology and magic combined. They begin to ask about the horrible weapons she had showed them through her mind way back in the interrogation room when they suddenly stop. They seem to have reached a thing in the tunnel.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A massive metal wall now blocked their way, 30ft high and 30ft wide at least, with a colossal eight pointed star in its center. The carvings continued straight up to it. Battle and suffering. Two females running on either side of the passage, as if running for this very wall. Indeed. Around the star an archway had been etched. Like this was the destination all along.

[Natalie Jean]

They got somewhere cool.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I do like that they're like. And they happened upon it, which is like this is a huge wall. I feel like they would have saw like you were walking in one direction. They would have seen it for a while.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, but was it because they were looking at the.

[Commercial Announcer]

The phone?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, this is the problem. We can't look up to see all the metal walls.

[Natalie Jean]

So yeah, there's a big scary wall in front of them. Bryce, a little shaken, asks if this is what Nesta meant when she said that she had seen Bryce's star before. But no, this isn't what she meant. And Nesta looks a little bit shaken herself. Without a lot of options, Bryce walks to the wall.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The lowest spike of the star extended down right in front of Bryce. She laid a hand on the metal and pushed. It didn't budge.

[Natalie Jean]

Nesta comes up to her side and taps it. Neither of them really know what to do next. They're just sort of like poking the wall. But before they can debate, suddenly it begins to groan. They all gasp and react.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she couldn't have moved if she'd wanted. Couldn't take her eyes away from the shifting wall. The spikes of the star began to expand and contract as if it were breathing. Metal clicked behind it like gears shifting, locks opening. And in the lowest spike of the star, a triangle of a door slid open.

[Natalie Jean]

No time for cliffhangers. Nope. Chapter 17 begins only moments later, as they have all passed through the threshold into whatever fresh hell is on this side.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And that's how you transition through a moment you don't know how to write and then are on the other side. Maybe this is just coming from somebody that is now writing a video game Mystery of just like. Yeah, well, you got to get them out of there somehow. Put a new chapter wall there. New wall.

[Natalie Jean]

This wall.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Up pass the wall.

[Natalie Jean]

There is only silence and darkness on this other side. Bryce feels as though the very air changes, is even more ancient from whence they came. They peer into the blackness ahead when

[Jackie Zabrowski]

a shriek of metal sliced through the air and Bryce whirled too late. Even Azrael, now mid stride, hadn't been fast enough to stop the door from sliding shut. Its thud echoed through her feet, up her legs. Dust swirled.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Well, well, keep going.

[Natalie Jean]

So now they're on this other side and they have to keep going into the darkness. A moment later, Bryce's starlight blinks out. She has this instinct to run, but to wear how it's pitch black. Thankfully, Azrael can pull two orbs of feylite from him, even if they are dim in comparison. As he sends them forward ahead to scope out where they are. Well Toto, they aren't in cave anymore.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

What? Pazmetal wall is no cave.

[Natalie Jean]

They are on the edge of one final passageway.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it seems like they've been in this tunnel for thousands of years. At its other end lay a vast circular chamber, its floor carved with symbols and drawings akin to those on the walls of the tunnel. Nesta whispered, voice breathy with fear. This is the last place I saw

[Natalie Jean]

this star on your chest.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She drew Atoraxia and the blade gleamed in the dimness.

[Natalie Jean]

We call it the prison.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Whoa. Crazy name for it. Bet it's a prison.

[Natalie Jean]

Kinda what

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

it's like. That's crazy that I would know that. That's crazy. Look at me in my ball. And then I would know that that prison, if it's called a prison, don't probably.

[Natalie Jean]

We're back with you. We're back with you now.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

But also for the Ackee's. We know about the prison.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We know about the prison.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. But now we're here with Ethan. Only his shirt and his paddle to protect him from this fight.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm just a l looking again. Co happen. Just by himself, just paddling, paddling. But you. I feel like you always know where he is though by this sound.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, he's in the other room. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, just keep him over there, huh?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, I know.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Smash. Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer]

You hit.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You smash it.

[Natalie Jean]

He's really good at it. Then we're with poor Ethan. He is standing on the edge of the fighting ring, which is usually crowded with gamblers and rabble rousers at this time of night. But there is neither a rabble nor rousing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, nay, no.

[Natalie Jean]

Not a horse, but a snake. Well also Ethan's friends are there minus the sprites. So all the others who has have come down with him. The fable Sigrid and Therian. The. The sprites didn't want to see the violence, which is totally valid. And I respect their friends.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We we and we respect their boundaries.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep. He doesn't see Ariadne anywhere but like Tharion, he just assumes that he is to fight fight her. The crew are all whispering pieces of advice to him about how to survive this. They're all saying, like, show her your shirt.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Show her your shirt. Maybe she'll be so inspired.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think that they're.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's not what they're saying.

[Natalie Jean]

No. Oh, they're smarter.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

They're going, you're gonna die, bro.

[Natalie Jean]

No, you just go like. No, you go. Oh, you're gonna do great, man. Yeah. Believe in you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But we. We do love you. I feel like you have to look into his eyes. Tell me you love me.

[Commercial Announcer]

Please. Please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, he needs.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I just feel bad for him.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You should. But it's. I mean, at this point, he's too stupid to be alive. Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

No, we need. I think probably need him for something. Therian, looking distressed, tells him that Ariadne is not going to go easy. But he doesn't reveal the conversation that he just had with her. He tells Ethan that he's probably going to get very hurt, but that he can survive. Which is the best they can do. Like, you're gonna get messed up. Yeah. But here's maybe some tips on how to live through it. Ethan semi jokes that he'll be fine as long as Therian can use his water magic to put him out. Out as in like he'll be on fire.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

On fire.

[Natalie Jean]

Though last time they talked, Tharian had been angry and dismissive of Ethan's decisions. He softens here. He tells Ethan that it means a lot to him, that he would try to free him. And that if somehow he does manage to be freed from this, he will make it count. This part.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

We're back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ethan said to Therian. Flynn and Deck.

[Natalie Jean]

It's what we do for each other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

None of them contradicted it. His heart strained brother.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Because my other brother, he's somewhere else. So I'm just so glad. Me and paddle and you Therian and Flynn and Dag, you were there and you were there.

[Natalie Jean]

Brothers don't shake hands.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And they're all just crying. And it's just Ethan. It's just. He's a simple boy. He's just a simple boy. Give him his paddle. It's all he needs.

[Natalie Jean]

Give him his brothers.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's all he needs.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, technically that's not toxic. And it's nice, I guess. Yes. The Viper Queen wasn't there yet.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

But now, thank God, because she would have been like. Like, what is happening with this now

[Natalie Jean]

she makes her grand appearance looking unfortunately devastating bodies tea face card and ever declines. She stops when she sees Ethan, letting him know how disappointed she is that he's not dressed better.

[Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

What do you mean? What do you mean? I've got my paddle, I've got my Crab Rangoon shirt on. What do you mean?

[Natalie Jean]

And your hat.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Ready to fight. I. This is it is that moment is why I am dressed this way. Of just the Viper Queen looking him up and down. Just being like. And we're wearing this. This. It's a good shirt. It's a double inu. In you crab one tondo

[Natalie Jean]

craft one time. Yeah. So then she also, you know, she berates Tharian for not dressing him in finer clothing instead of the beat up clothing he showed up in. Therian just ignores her and she struts over to her seat. Ithan wonders where Ariane is going to appear from, but I think we all know that there's going to be a twist. Twist?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A serpent never sheds its skin.

[Natalie Jean]

She waves her hand and tells Ethan. Begin.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay, okay, okay, okay. Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

He looks around confused. Like where? How do I start fighting?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

If you don't want me to paddle, I don't know what you want me to do.

[Natalie Jean]

The Viper Queen is typing on her phone when she says. Oh, her. Oh no. She's been sold off. It was a mutual agreement between us. She insinuates that it seems as though she, Ariadne, asked to be traded so she wouldn't have to kill Ithan. And kind of gives a side eye to Tharion to suggest that maybe somebody tried to convince Ariadne not to kill him. Him. Viper doesn't mention who her new owner is, but suggests it's somewhere unpleasant. So Ariadne is no longer in the employ of me, the Viper Queen. Ithan gets control of his pounding heart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She wanted him off balance. Wanted him reeling. He squared his shoulders.

[Natalie Jean]

Who am I fighting?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then the Viper Queen slid her phone into her pocket and smiled, revealing those two white teeth.

[Natalie Jean]

The Fender air, of course.

[Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

You know when he gets upset, he's got a paddle. Like he needs his paddle.

[Natalie Jean]

It's his spinner.

[Commercial Announcer]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh

[Natalie Jean]

well, damn. Don't we have enough going on here that now we have this situation? So he's just paddle down time. Paddle down time.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He was really upset and you know he needs to get it out of his paws.

[Natalie Jean]

He spent all of this time getting the Fender air cig out of the coffin thing at the astronomers and now he's being forced to fight her fighter to the death in this pit. But we don't know what's going to happen yet because we teleport back to where Nesta has called this place. They're in the prison ackees know what the prison is. So the good news is that Nesta and Azrael finally know where they are. The bad news is they're in the prison. One of the worst places they could have ended up.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce listens to the other two argue about what they should do. Azriel wants to go back to go get Rhys, but that would mean that they would have to go through the prison and return. And it's like this entire ordeal. Nesta wants to finish out the mission led by the starlight that Bryce has like brought them through. So she's basically saying we should complete this as the starlight is telling them to not to go all the way back to find re Greece because they can't just leave from where they are. They look at Bryce when she asks them what the prison is. They explain that yes, this is an actual prison. It's also an island. One that is considered dangerous and mysterious in the world. Covered in mists, which is interesting.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

A violin.

[Natalie Jean]

Because there's a place covered in mist on Midgard. Azrael doesn't think they walked under the ocean somehow to get here because it would have taken much, much longer.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Although it did seem like they were going there for quite some time, but

[Natalie Jean]

that the door they crossed just now was a. Some kind of portal. They are still standing in the entrance way to this massive chamber. And they decide they should just go in. I mean, what else are they gonna. There's nowhere to go. They watch Azrael's felite move around the room ahead of them to see more of the carvings. More carvings cover this wall. These walls, they actually cover every square inch, including the floor. Azriel has Bryce by the arm, but she tugs herself away, or at least tries to telling them she's going to go in first. He won't let go of her, but lets her step a little ahead into the room which Bryce describes in her thoughts as arena size sized. I always imagine this much smaller of a room. I think I must have missed that line.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

The arena sized.

[Natalie Jean]

So it's huge. As she looks at the carvings, her eyes.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Sorry, I have so much crust on my face. I didn't even realize like I started. I was like, why does it like hurt when I move my nose?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it's, it's because it's all crusted over.

[Natalie Jean]

You can't really see it.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Okay, as long as you can't. But you guys might at home.

[Natalie Jean]

But I do feel like Ethan might have like food residue around his mouth a little bit.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

He's not the tidiest makes sense.

[Natalie Jean]

As she looks at the carvings, her eyes snag on one in the center of the room on the floor, an eight pointed star. And Nesta recognizes it because yes, we've seen this room in a court of silver flame. It was where the harp once sat bringing the maid Harp as and Nesta argue again about how to proceed. Nesta knows this room. But Azriel says that they can't trust that the rules will still be the same as when she was in here. They didn't even know there was a secret entrance after all. Bryce grips her Arkesian amulet and recalls that it has helped her to get through wards before. And then Azriel falls for the oldest trick in the boat book. Bryce says what's over there?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're not used to her little trickery ways.

[Natalie Jean]

And when he turns, she moves. She took a guess and walks straight through the ward. So she basically to get out of Azriel script goes. Oh my God, look behind you.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Wow. Whoa.

[Natalie Jean]

Azriel's furious. But Nesta looks kind of proud of her because you know, anything that makes the bat boys look stupid, she's gonna enjoy.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

She's like, good work.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

So recognizes man.

[Natalie Jean]

So she has gotten through the wards. An irritated Azrael points out that he can't get through that the ward. So she's on her own now. Whoa.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's because he's so big.

[Natalie Jean]

It's because he's too masculine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He couldn't possibly fit.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I love you, ass. Oh, he's so serious.

[Natalie Jean]

Nesta tells her that now she's decided to take this action. Even though she kind of respects it, she's gonna let her deal with what's inside before Nesta follows her. And so Bryce, go look around for a little bit. So Nessa, if you know, you read the other books, she was able to also get through these wards last time and it was probably due to her being made, which makes it seem appear that Bryce could be made. Or it is the Arkesian amulet. Sighing, Bryce scans the space and over all of the carvings. Her stomach drops when she recognizes a series of stars on the ground around the eight pointed star. These are Midgards constellations.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce pointed to a cluster.

[Natalie Jean]

That's the Great Ladle. And that's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's Orion the hunter Hunt her hunt.

[Natalie Jean]

Sounds like Earth to me.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Whoa, dude. What I will go ahead and say again. In reading this the first time I was like, so what is that?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So what are we, what are we saying here?

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

There's just so Much that happens in the tunnel. And so much that's going on that I was so confused at this point in the book. And I'm like. And that means. But what it means is that they were aware of the other worlds, whoever carved this. Whoever carved it, that they were aware of the other worlds.

[Natalie Jean]

So.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And also Hunt. Swing, swing, swing.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, Hunt was named after that constellation. Well, after. Yes, after the. The. That character, which is, of course, also in the Earth world.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Boots with a Thur.

[Natalie Jean]

So me boots with the Thur. Maybe that is what Mars is just Midgard, and we just don't know.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

So what you're saying is, let's get on a spaceship. Let's get our asses to that hot

[Jackie Zabrowski]

planet and see what we can uncover. There's magic there.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I think so.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Just got to get there. It's a little.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's little planet. And that's why it's got big magic.

[Natalie Jean]

I thought it was huge.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I don't remember.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mars is little.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm going to say it. I don't know. I know Uranus is big, and I know Saturn is big. I think that's where my.

[Natalie Jean]

You were right. Wow.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Whoa. I thought Mars bigger. Like, someone better get out there. Smart dark paddle.

[Natalie Jean]

That's so embarrassing.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I'm the smart one today. I'm the smart one today.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

This whole time, you know, it's good, though, because it was like, really, all I know about Mars is that it's lil and that it's hot. And I was like, and if that's 50 of what I know about Mars gone, it would have made sense.

[Natalie Jean]

I love space stuff, and I can't believe that I. I didn't even realize that Mar was so much smaller. Wow. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It hurts.

[Natalie Jean]

When the knowledge gets dropped, she feels the amul. Amulate.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Oh, did I take away your front bunch again? Not breast lobe.

[Natalie Jean]

Frontal lobe. Frontal loes. Frontal lopes. Cantaloupes. We're almost done with this episode, but we got to wrap it up.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Up.

[Natalie Jean]

She feels the amulet activate as she walks around the room, watching the floor as she's just examining. This is the solar system that she is from carved onto the ground. She realizes some of the. The floor is also raised in these sort of like half orbs, as though it's, you know, planets, basically. So it's like a 3D model almost of the planets from her solar system. She calls them out to the other two as she spots them. One of the planets, Orestes, causes Azrael to kind of take like. Like, gasp. He Recognizes the name. Ackes might remember that this is the name. Orestes is one of the stars over Mount Ramiel and one of the titles of the Illyrian rankings for those who'd make it to the bottom of the mountain during the rite of passage. But Bryce doesn't know this in wonder. She continues to trace her little piece of the universe. And when she finds the sun, she knows which way to turn in order

[Jackie Zabrowski]

to find directly between Lakos and Thur.

[Natalie Jean]

Midgard.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The name seemed to echo in the chamber.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce is shook. That's her planet, man.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's like she found like an old school, like kindergarten model of like looking in like, whoa. And maybe that look is Midgard. You know, it is made out of

[Jackie Zabrowski]

a cantaloupe because it's. Maybe it's different melons.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, that's nice. For snacks. She asked Nesta what the harp was that sat here on the eight pointed star in the middle of her solar system. Despite Azriel's glare, Nesta responds right away. The harp was a made object that could do a number of things, including stop time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She could think of only one group of people in her own world who'd be able to create stuff like that. Who, if they had indeed made such objects, had a really good reason for wanting to get back into this world to claim them.

[Natalie Jean]

Huh? Oh.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

So the asterisk would want to be able to make it back to get all their. To get all and also all that free primal power.

[Natalie Jean]

And also to exact revenge. Bryce slowly asks if there was ever a made object on their planet that was a horn. No reason specifically, just a shape I thought might be good for me made. So just don't think too much into it. They don't know. However, Bryce is coming to a realization. The harp wasn't down here just to hide. It was there to act as a signal to someone like Bryce. It was like a radar. Bryce puts a hand to her chest as she slowly tells them that she thinks that those tunnels were telling the story of how all of this came to be.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

It's like Spaceship Earth.

[Natalie Jean]

Like Spaceship Earth. Exactly that. The story culminates in this room and has been waiting for her.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Why?

[Natalie Jean]

Azrael wants to know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce stared at the eight pointed star for a moment before she said to find the truth. Bryce. Nesta cautioned, as if reading her thoughts. Bryce didn't so much as look back as she stepped onto the star.

[Natalie Jean]

And it was like Dance Dance Revolution.

[Commercial Announcer]

Whoa.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

And then it all lit up and she was like. And then she's there.

[Natalie Jean]

And everyone's like, I've trained for this my whole life.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

I mean, I get it. It's like. It's like you never knew what moment you were waiting for. And I felt that way when given the opportunity to write my own game. It's like, that's why I've been in

[Jackie Zabrowski]

these games for so many years.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

That's why. Not just because I'm horny and lonely. It's because we're horny and lonely as.

[Natalie Jean]

As a nation.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Co-host (Possibly Henry or another male host)]

Please read up until chapter 12 for next week.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

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