LPN Deep Dives: HOFAS / Episode 9: Tradwyrms and People-tinis

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City – Episode 9: Tradwyrms and People-tinis

Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Date: July 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively, irreverent episode, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski bring the full force of their deep-dive expertise—and worm costumes—to discuss Sarah J. Maas’s "Crescent City" series, focusing on new chapters and centering especially on the notorious "Midden Guard Worm." With their trademark blend of fandom, humor, and costume commitment (even risking marital peace), they parse character strategies, underground epic battles, and explore broader themes like trust, guilt, and ecosystem morality, all while serving joyful worm banter and offbeat tangents. Their in-depth discussion spans both key plot points and hilarious asides, making for a uniquely engaging companion to this fantasy epic.

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Worm Costumes, Marital Rifts, and 4D Podcasting

Timestamps: 01:07–10:00

• Both Natalie and Jackie are decked out as worms for this episode—a fact they can’t stop riffing on, despite this being mostly audio.
  • “If you don’t watch the filmed versions of these shows, today might be the day you join us.” — Natalie (01:07)
  • “Imagine the writhing of the worms.” — Natalie (01:25)
  • “Mine’s like the angrier... you’re the playful.” — Jackie (02:28)
  • “I’m having a people-tini. I’m ripping heads off!” — Jackie (02:41)
• They recount buying or DIYing worm costumes (complete with nude suits, tattooed mouths) and how this commitment led to tensions at home.
  • “This costume got me not laid yesterday.” — Natalie (05:53)
  • “This is the reason the fight is... worth it.” — Natalie (07:02, 07:42)
  • “We’re willing to end our marriages over these costumes.” — Jackie (07:46)
• Worm identity is a running joke, with debates about stay-at-home vs. hunter/gatherer worms and trad-worm values.
  • “Honestly, trad worms are what we’re looking for.” — Natalie (14:35)
  • “Get to making me butter. That’s what they do, right? Homestead me.” — Natalie (14:35–14:49)
  • “Give me a warm homestead jar, something...” — Jackie (14:49)

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Chapter Analysis: Bryce’s Plan, The Midden Guard Worm & Valkyrie Vibes

Timestamps: 15:13–38:30

Bryce’s Gambit

• The episode steps into chapter analysis, focusing on Bryce’s “tunnel chess” with the Midden Guard Worm as her unwitting weapon.
  • “Even in the tunnel, she is always a couple steps ahead.” — Natalie (15:21)
• The hosts break down the mechanics of Bryce’s plan (leaving a blood trail as bait), and how this echoes the themes of trust and calculated risk.
  • “Do you remember how her hands weren’t healing, but her knees were?... This grosso was simply picking the scabs off over and over and leaving a trail of blood like a little amuse bouche for the worm. A little temptation.” — Jackie (20:22)
• The dynamic between Bryce and Nesta is celebrated for its chaotic, “diabolical slut” energy.
  • “I love you. You’re my best friend. If I don’t kill you.” — Jackie (21:30)
  • “Valkyrie—with a lot of sass!” — Natalie & Jackie (21:39–21:43)

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Worm Representation and Ecosystem Ethics

Timestamps: 22:09–38:17

• The hosts offer tongue-in-cheek “worm representation,” defending the worm’s behavior as natural, contrasting the human/fey perspective—showing an awareness of colonialist tropes.
  • “You come into our home... you want me to get off this earth because I’m behaving as a worm behaves?” — Jackie (35:42)
  • “That is technically some colonialist... It’s worm is what it is.” — Jackie & Natalie (36:00)
• They point out the broader ecosystem consequences and the worm’s role in the natural order.
  • “You kill all the worms, the whole system falls apart.” — Natalie (36:16)

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Shifting Scenes: The “Meat Cave” and Bro Drama

Timestamps: 38:31–44:39

• The POV shifts to Ethan and friends post-Viper Queen, with Marc the Lawyer attempting to get them out of the Viper Queen’s legal trap.
  • “He managed to finagle with the Viper Queen... Declan informs them he’s gonna go to his legal offices and try to find loopholes for them to get out of the situation.” — Jackie (39:56–40:23)
• Ethan’s solo “heroic” bargain triggers exasperation and critique.
  • “Ethan, come on, man.” — Natalie (40:52)
  • “Of all of them, honey, a Bryce you ain’t. You gotta talk to somebody about your plans before you do them.” — Natalie (41:37)
• Spirited sidebar on “Rocks for Jocks” classes, dance schools as jock programs, and pursuing “useless” degrees for love of the subject.
  • “That’s why we dress as worms.” — Natalie (44:13)

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The Worm Showdown: Magic, Masks, and Skeleton Battles

Timestamps: 45:08–54:46

• Back in the tunnels, Bryce serves as bait for the worm; the ensuing battle leans heavily into grotesque physicality, magic, and visual spectacle.
  • “She’s going, ‘Hey, boys.’” — Jackie (45:08)
  • “A wall of water exploded in front of Azriel. The behemoth body of the worm, dwarfing even the warrior’s powerful form.” (45:44)
• Notably, the worm is impervious to magic, eating spell energy and silver flame alike.
  • “Azriel looks confused and shocked when his blue lasers seem to get sucked inside of the worm’s body.” — Jackie (46:54)
  • “That’s how hungry we are.” — Natalie (48:00)
• Epic twist: Nesta dons the Mask, summoning death and reanimating the giant skeleton.
  • “It’s a mask. What’s she gonna do with it, Natalie?” — Jackie (49:35)
  • “Nesta glowed with silver fire, still wearing her mask, a finger pointed toward the fight, commanding that creature of bone and death to attack the worm again and again.” (53:06)
• The skeleton (skelesaur!) and the worm battle in a “bone fight” until Nesta delivers the coup de grâce.
  • “It digs its massive bone claws into the worm’s slimy flesh. And the worm screeches in pain and rage...” — Jackie (52:06)
  • “She runs to the skull and then jumps, raising her sword and bringing it down into the worm’s face... worm collapses to the ground, dead as a doornail.” — Jackie (54:10–54:19)
• Azriel must talk Nesta down from the mask’s thrall, invoking her friends and loved ones.
  • “Feyre and Elaine are waiting. And more quietly, Nyx is waiting. Whoa. Those are Acotar’s...” — Jackie (55:56)

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Aftermath: Guilt, Trust, and “8D Chess”

Timestamps: 54:46–64:17

• Bryce is wracked with guilt over using her companions as bait and being the “monster,” paralleling her earlier judgments of the Fae.
  • “She feels like she’s always told herself that she’s better than the Fae... but what she just did is pretty Fae.” — Jackie (25:15–25:35)
• Bryce apologizes, but Nesta and Azriel are ice cold; forgiveness is not easily given.
  • “Bryce does a bratty, ‘Well, then why don’t you just kill me?’” — Jackie (58:40–58:44)
• The layers of manipulation and mutual deception are revealed. Nesta admits the entire cave-in and chase was intentional, orchestrated to guide Bryce.
  • “When she understands that Nesta means that they intentionally caused the cave in. That this entire scenario... they made it clear that they couldn’t go back.” — Jackie (61:05)
  • “12D Chess then.” — Natalie (61:40)
• Banter continues about worm existence, with affirmations of worm identity and purpose.
  • “I’m just a worm.” — Natalie (62:04)

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Tunnels, Glyphs, and the Next Challenge

Timestamps: 63:06–64:54

• The trio traverse deeper, encountering continuing wall glyphs depicting evolving civilization—a “long story.”
  • “The passing of time is happening in these drawings where these multi-level dwellings appear amongst the scenes of nature.” — Jackie (64:00)
• They encounter a chasm—a visual cliffhanger for next time.

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Cut to: Prison, Prophecy, and Rune’s Grief

Timestamps: 65:08–73:48

• Briefly departing fantastical caves, attention switches to poor Ruhn languishing in captivity, wracked with self-loathing and guilt.
• Reconvenes with Lydia/Hind (via magical link); despite their estrangement, there’s lingering hope, loss, and pain.
  • “She tells him that the Asteri are using all of their mystics to search for Bryce and that the Asteri seem nervous. Ruhn doesn’t allow himself to feel hope. But he asks what difference that could make. She gets a bit of fire in her and tells him he must underestimate his sister.” — Jackie (71:28)
• A brief existential aside on Buffy and the hell of existence.
  • “Hell is living.” — Natalie (69:24)

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Closing Notes & Memorable Quotes

Costume Dedication

• “We’re willing to end our marriages over these costumes.” — Jackie (07:46)
• “If I was a worm, of all the worms I’ve ever seen, I would have sex with you the most of them.” — Jackie (30:52)

Notable Worm POV Riffs

• “You come into our home... you want me to get off this earth because I’m behaving as a worm behaves?” — Jackie (35:42)
• “You kill all the worms, the whole system falls apart.” — Natalie (36:16)
• “As a stay-at-home worm, I have to look my best. It’s part of my job.” — Jackie (25:15)

Character Banter

• “If I don’t kill you.” — Jackie (21:34)
• “Nesta’s mostly making the plans here.” — Jackie (34:09)
• “Azriel looks confused and shocked when his blue lasers seem to get sucked inside the worm’s body.” — Jackie (46:54)
• “Nesta glowed with silver fire, still wearing her mask, a finger pointed toward the fight, commanding that creature of bone and death to attack the worm again and again.” (53:06)

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Next Episode Teaser

• Cliffhanger: The trio faces a giant chasm in the tunnels, setting the stage for more challenges and revelations next week.
• Read up to Chapter 18 for next week’s deep dive.

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In sum:
Episode 9 is a rollicking, costume-enhanced journey through Crescent City’s darkest tunnels, as Natalie and Jackie deliver a meta-commentary on worm life, gendered ecosystem roles, and whether any of this would have cost their marriages. They uphold worm dignity, analyze self-sabotaging heroines, expose Asriel as the group’s emotional center, and gleefully pit reanimated skeletons against eldritch worms—all while keeping it real, raunchy, and riotously funny.

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Key Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------|------------| | Worm Costume/Opening Banter | 01:07–10:00 | | Bryce’s Plan & Worm Ethics | 15:13–38:30 | | Meat Cave/Ethan’s Bargain | 38:31–44:39 | | Worm Battle & Skeleton Fight | 45:08–54:46 | | Aftermath: Guilt, Trust, 8D Chess | 54:46–64:17 | | New Chasm & Lore in the Tunnels | 63:06–64:54 | | Prison POV: Ruhn & Lydia | 65:08–73:48 | | Closing/Read-ahead Info | 74:17–75:02 |

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For more, join Natalie and Jackie in their next deep dive—worm costumes optional, worm spirit mandatory.

Transcript

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Host/Moderator]

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

[Natalie Jean]

You know, I'm just gonna say it to you guys. If you don't watch the filmed versions of these shows, today might be the day that you join us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Here's some. Some audio. We'll call it 4D.

[Natalie Jean]

Sure. Yeah, yeah. It's kind of like, do you smell it? Do you smell what the worm is cooking right now? Because I love Natalie and I have two different takes on one worm. And I feel that it's not that Natalie definitely spent a lot more time on her costume, but she did. And I love that for an audio show that is some people listen to it audio audibly, you're going to just hear, but just imagine the writhing of the worms.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

And then you look at me. I'm more the li representation. I feel like right now we represent two wolves worms. And I think within us, what, we're one person? Well, I think that. I think that we are contained within the, you know, the identity of worm. But we're two very different worms out here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mine's like the angrier is the playful.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm like looking for a good time. Like, I'm having an apple, Teeny. You know, I'm over here waiting for happy hour and you are like, work, work.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm having a people teeny. I'm ripping heads off.

[Natalie Jean]

You better not have a people teeny. Not as long as I'm around. Not in this tunne.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Dang it.

[Natalie Jean]

You did a really good I. You did really good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thanks.

[Natalie Jean]

We really.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not again, both plan to show up as the worm.

[Natalie Jean]

No, we didn't just. I really didn't think that Natalie would show up as the worm. But then it was funny because yesterday we were talking and Natalie was like, you're gonna laugh a lot when I show up as my costume. And I was like, oh, I thought you were gonna laugh a lot when I showed up in my costume. But then, technically, I was looking at my costume, and I didn't want anyone to get upset because I don't want anyone thinking, oh, you went out looking for a. I will say this is a tequila worm costume. And that was not what my intention was. Like, I wasn't trying. And I will say, when you put worm costume into Amazon, this is what shows up. This is it. Unless you decide to maybe put a different take on it. And again, if you don't watch the filmed episodes, you might want to start now because the transformation is about to begin. Already.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, you have a shirt on.

[Natalie Jean]

My skin.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My skin. You have a shirt on under your skin. Wow.

[Natalie Jean]

I have a shirt on underneath. And it says, worm in total control of herself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I really do.

[Natalie Jean]

It says worm in total control of herself. Because I am. And not just any worm. All right? I'm out here in these tunnels fighting for us, all right? Dreaming of what we could be gnashing. And you're over here just drinking your people teenies. And I'm just a worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just, I'm really overwhelmed by what's happening over here. Looking at you.

[Natalie Jean]

You're overwhelmed by what's happening over here? Yeah, I'm overwhelmed by what's happening over there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I can't see me, so I can only see you.

[Natalie Jean]

You're very scary.

[Host/Moderator]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

You're very upsetting, and I'm worried about how I am. How you're going to do the. In fact, I, I. Someone brought up because of the hat. They're like, can you take the hat off of the worm costume? And that sombrero is sewn on to that worm, so it was.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cut the, the rim of it off. Cut the, Cut the rim off. And then it's a fez. But that's a different racism, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And I don't want to do that either. You know, I feel like even then, it's like, even if I just cut off the top, that it's just showing the. And then I feel like it's like, did I get circumcised? Is that what's going on in these tunnels? And that's why I'm so unhappy and why I keep eating people.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Teenies, maybe I do really love the, the artistic choice you made of putting a bunch of different mouth tattoos all over your face.

[Natalie Jean]

My favorite is when I put. So I put on this full nude suit last night in front of my husband, and I didn't have anything on underneath. And it is completely the. The. It's completely see through. And I. I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Seductive.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, this is. This what ended up happening. And maybe this is tmi. I will say I did try to seduce him while we. I got turned down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow.

[Natalie Jean]

This costume got me not laid yesterday.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe you should have put the makeup on so he could see the full image.

[Natalie Jean]

Once he sees all of it. Like, it's not just me singing I'm just a worm and night life is a nightmare because I was doing that to him in front of him. And it really did. It stopped me. I couldn't stop bidding. And I know you're married to a Zabrowski sometimes, every once in a while, we bit ourselves into not getting laid. And this is one of those times. It's one of those times I just couldn't stop. I thought it was so funny. I just thought it was so. And I just kept trying to seduce him, and he just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I will say this costume has caused a marital rift for me.

[Natalie Jean]

Both of our costumes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Because it's birthday week for Mr. Henry Zabrowski, my love. And I've had to spend the last two evenings working on this costume. Worse than not spending time with my wonderful husband. And now I just had to at least have him look at and go, can we at least agree that this is funny to have?

[Natalie Jean]

This is the reason the fight is. Yeah. Oh, no. Also, again. And he did laugh because that's the thing. This is like, I did laugh after getting turned down sexually in this costume. And I, like, I. We did laugh about it, even though. I mean, I was sad at some point, but, you know, I couldn't stop myself. So I'm glad that we both got into very different looking like this. And that this is what cost the weird riffs with our husbands. And I. You know what? Worth it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Worth it.

[Natalie Jean]

You think that we don't show up for this show.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's right. We're willing to end our marriages over

[Natalie Jean]

there for these costumes. And my funniest was when I've got little bike shorts on underneath this. Thank God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or we would have had a different problem.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I mean, it was quite the show. And that. See, that's what I was trying to use as seduction last night. But still. And then I. He's like, you should put the shorts over the worm, like, on the outside. And I was like, a worm wouldn't wear shorts, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, that's ridiculous.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, that's so stupid. I mean, a worm would wear a shirt to, like, represent, like, oh, you saw this?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, it's so people know your interests.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. I'm a worm in total control of herself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you are. You are sort of porky pigging it right now or like Winnie the Pooing it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, exactly. But also, how would you wear the shorts?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I agree. I think you made the right decision.

[Host/Moderator]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, again, this is a different kind of like stockinged feet, you know, so have stocking feet.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Stocking feet.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't. It feels weird. It always feels weird performing with no shoes on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But there's no toes.

[Natalie Jean]

No toes. They're stockinged.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think probably before we start, I should take the top of this off because.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you don't. Is that. I mean, I. But everyone, can we please give her a round of applause while you're. I mean, you're. I know you're. You have to come and look at this costume. YouTube.com romantasy you have to check it out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Once I take this off, another horrible thing will be under it. So don't worry.

[Natalie Jean]

Are we. We both have transformation costumes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not intentionally.

[Natalie Jean]

I just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is the only flesh colored or, you know, beige colored suit I had at home and.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. And you didn't cut the tips. You just left the fingerless. That was smart. I just cut the tips.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Adam.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can you help me take this off?

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

You really did a great job. It looks really good. It was worth it to get into the argument, but for me, I would say my costume. Not worth it. Did not get la. But it's just, man, the problem is I bought this nude full suit. I'm gonna use this for everything.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think you should.

[Natalie Jean]

I. In fact, when I put it on, my husband did say it does look more like your skin than your skin now because I have tattoos on, but this is like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm like, all your tattoos are gone.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think he just went through excruciating

[Natalie Jean]

tattooing and lots of money, but then

[Host/Moderator]

he just got another one for his kid.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, I think he's got a lot of things going on in there that noggin is what. There's a lot of stuff happening.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess there's some stuff happening in there, but, you know, I. I guess if you want to go through it, you go through with it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think if you just. Sometimes some people feel healing through the pain and so going back and forth might be nice for him.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Listen, we're all different. I keep putting off my tattoo laser removal because I'm actually pretty good with pain, but yet this freaks me out for some reason because People say it's

[Natalie Jean]

so bad you get blastovers instead.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I kind of want to start fresh. Yeah. I want it for a while. I don't even think I'm gonna get any more for a long time. I think I'm like, I'd really love to get covered when I'm like 70.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Although my mom has been going through trying to get a bunch of tattoos, it is different because as your skin ages, it gets thinner. So sometimes it doesn't take on different parts of your skin because the skin texture is so different.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's very true. And you have to be working with somebody who's comfortable with like aging skin in that way. And some people are actually kind of specialists in it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. In fact, the person that my, my mom works with, my mom appreciates it because. And her says that pieces look wonderful. Amazing. But he just refers to her skin

[Host/Moderator]

as soft skin rather than.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Host/Moderator]

And she's like, thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is soft. It is.

[Host/Moderator]

It is soft. It's very soft.

[Natalie Jean]

I. It's difficult. I feel it's difficult to have real conversations knowing that we both are looking the way that we do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know what I look like, cuz we don't have the, the screen on right now, so.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I do know that you have a man's head on the back of your head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do.

[Natalie Jean]

If you do want to like show everybody, because I know it's not up,

[Jackie Zabrowski]

but it's very twist right now with my worm, I don't have legs.

[Natalie Jean]

Can you do the twist? I need everyone to see how upsetting it is. Thank you. Oh, is that a man you trust? Oh, is that someone you trust?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What is he saying in the microphone?

[Natalie Jean]

I think he's saying, kill me, someone Please help me off of this worm, woman.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I'm like Voldemort.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I'm sorry. But his face was on the back of a head.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right. His head was on the back of a head of a young. And so I guess you would be the Voldemort side and the other side would be the Tom Riddles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it's the dealer's choice. Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Whichever you think.

[Host/Moderator]

Great.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we locked in. Yep. I think so.

[Natalie Jean]

Now we are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now we're ready.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now you've had this feast for your eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

You guys can't see it because a lot of it's getting edited out. We are having to get a lot of worm assistance assistance on this show. And it's been very funny because it's like crazy that being a Worm is as helpless as it is. But isn't it good that we learn these things? Sometimes you gotta slither a mile in a worm's slime and.

[Host/Moderator]

No that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, it's hard out there for a worm. And, you know, on the other side of it, you can cut us in half and both sides will become sentient and grow their own brains.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, does that mean I'll have double mouths? I've always. This is why. Why do you think I put all these face tattoos on my face? And my favorite was when I was putting on this and writhing on the ground for my husband, pretending I was a worm. And I was telling him I was going to have a bunch of mouths on my face. And then I showed him the temporary tattoos. I was. And he's like, you going to put those all over your face? And I said, yeah. He's like, how are you going to get it off? And I said, it's going to hurt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's. That sounds like a problem for future

[Natalie Jean]

Jackie to deal with. Not me, not this worm. I ain't got no problems. The only problems I got are there are some in my way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah, you're looking at me. I'm not in your way. I'm another worm.

[Natalie Jean]

Right now you're giving instead of worms.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe you're bringing them home for me to eat. Oh, you're the provider.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I'm the gatherer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, hunter.

[Host/Moderator]

I'm the hunter.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're the hunter. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And the gatherer. Jesus, worm, do something.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know, but, like, you know, I know I'm accustomed to a certain

[Natalie Jean]

lifestyle with this kind of. I mean, I. When you're looking like your stay at home worm, and honestly, trad. Worms are what we're looking for. Yeah. Get to making me butter. That's what they do, right? Homestead me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God. Give me a warm homestead jar, something. What did they do? I'll get an egg.

[Natalie Jean]

When a jar is not a door. I messed up the perfect joke. Being a worm is horrible.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this is the first two lines of chapter 14.

[Host/Moderator]

The midden guard worm had arrived at last, precisely according to Bryce's plan.

[Natalie Jean]

Didn't you know that even in the tunnel, she is always a couple steps ahead?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

4D chess. Even in the dark.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my gosh. And she knew. Oh, did she know? She's like, oh, tunnels. Yeah, gnashing. Got it. And she knew that there were gonna be a Midden guard worm down there meeting you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get over you. Meeting your worm.

[Natalie Jean]

See, again, these are kilos. You want Me to put the other costume back on. He just looked. It's just such a drunk worm in this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You can tell by his. The red eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. He's again begging for death. Like the man attached to your skin suit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Did you buy the skin suit for this?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, it's. This was in my home.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We have a costume closet. And I went, what is sort of beige colored? Yes, this is technically.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, now I've got this. I. I can use this for anything. I could be a naked mole weevil. That's kind of where it begins.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Big finger.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I could. A big middle finger. Or I guess I'm. I'm giving thumb.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm sorry. Yeah. Are you disgusted by me now?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, no, no. I. I don't want to call you a thumb.

[Natalie Jean]

I always want to be a pointer. Always a thumb, never a pointer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I believe in you.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Not a ring finger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That means you have to get taller.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God. I'll go get the.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The knee surgery.

[Natalie Jean]

Surgery. Oh, my God. And I'm like, I want to give them more worm for their buck.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then that will give you a mental health check. And I don't know if you're going to pass.

[Natalie Jean]

You think I can't show up at the doctors looking like this? Being like, give me the leg extension surgery.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I have to have it.

[Natalie Jean]

I watched the material. Listen, I have to have it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I need to be more of a worm. I need to be longer.

[Natalie Jean]

Longer worms. I mean, I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's.

[Natalie Jean]

It's difficult.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, we're feeling as trad worms out there. Like, I feel like we're being held back and it's time to go out and show them how big we can get. I guess you also could cut me in half and double my size.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but I think they make you shorter.

[Host/Moderator]

Oh. For a time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know if they grow longer again, actually. I don't know. Let's find out. We'll cut you down.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God. Wow. This is gonna be a long day. Oh, God. You trying to saw me in has.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

It would take so long. And I'm like, stop, stop.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't want to.

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[Natalie Jean]

You got to get in there.

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, yes, we are back in the cave once again. This chapter the Midden guard worm has blasted through a hole, apparently. And they now have real. Well, they're realizing currently that Bryce had planned this all along. Not all along, but she came up with a plan.

[Natalie Jean]

I tried to not be annoyed by it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know how she does these pre planning. I don't even know how I'm going to get home later.

[Natalie Jean]

She was hanging out with the Sobec being like, I guess I'm the Sobeck problem like a couple of chapters ago. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I almost ran out of gas on the way here and it's because I didn't plan for it and.

[Natalie Jean]

And you didn't want to stop and get gas dressed like the worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I was going to be even later.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, gotcha, gotcha. And no, I slithered here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I roll. I rolled in my suit.

[Natalie Jean]

She got here eventually, guys. And that and the costume held up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. Made it even better technically. So do you remember how her hands weren't healing, but her knees were?

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, this grosso was simply picking the scabs off over and over and leaving a trail of blood like a little moose bush for the worm. A little temptation.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess it would be like little eggs. Like little deviled eggs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like an appy.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah, just like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just a little nosh to the main course. And it was only a matter of time until the worm found her offerings. Asriel and Nestra. As the worm bursts through the the cave tunnel, Asriel and Nessa draw their weapons and Bryce's Nesta I her in the chaos, basically realizing in that moment that Bryce had planned all of this. Bryce tells her, you know, she's all

[Natalie Jean]

slippery too, because Ness is like, oh, what a after my own heart. You know, like, you diabolical sluts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I love you. You're my best friend. If I don't kill you.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, if I don't. If I don't kill you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like she could become a. A Valkyrie.

[Natalie Jean]

A Valkyrie. Oh, yeah, for sure. But then she would definitely do it with a lot of sass.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She would. And it might be a little too much sass for us to handle. So she basically, when Nessa, like looks at her and she's like, you know, oh, you did this. Bryce says she's sorry, but she runs. She thinks about how she really doesn't want to hurt them, but she imagines that they can handle this. It's something that she assumes that they're so powerful that's not going to kill them.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just a worm and life is a nightmare. Oh, even in my home, they're coming at me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. That's my thing. So we'll get.

[Natalie Jean]

We'll get back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

Coming at us. I'm sorry, Natalie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Worm representation is real. You are valid too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Of our home.

[Natalie Jean]

You just don't. Because you're the top on. I know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She just really, she needs to break free from them. Her magic is pulling her towards something that she thinks could be an answer to save her world. And she doesn't know if they're going to prevent her from doing that, so she has to do it. I feel like this plan is not great personally, but I kind of get her panic in this moment. It's not a good idea, though. And though she's. She runs. So she got gets away from them. She can kind of still hear what's going on, but they're like around a bed also.

[Natalie Jean]

That's big for a Bryce apologist, by the way. Can we all acknowledge that worm Natalie really just like, gave us a lot of wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So thank you. Okay. You're welcome.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're welcome. Though she's out of range of seeing them at this point, she has been able to see, you know, the silver and blue light that their magic is like bouncing off the walls. And so she's kind of like getting that. And then she hears them, like, struggling. And then she hears Azrael shout it Seems almost like a shot of pain. And it becomes eerily quiet all of a sudden for two warriors battling a worm.

[Host/Moderator]

Bryce slowed to a stop. The darkness behind her loomed. She found herself face to face with a scene depicting a great battlefield before the high walls of a city. Fae in winged horrors and snarling beasts all at war, entrenched in pain and suffering. One of the Fae stood in the foreground, spearing a fellow Fae warrior in the mouth.

[Natalie Jean]

But which one? I got so many mouths. I got so many teeth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But that's just a. That is just a drawing.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's just in a drawing. And she's just like. She's just taking a little inspo. Stop.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's giving her maybe a sense of self, like what she's done. Self awareness. The image sends guilt coursing through her. She.

[Natalie Jean]

You should feel guilty. Look at us in the many teeth, all right? And think about what you're doing to us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't think she feels guilty about the worm.

[Natalie Jean]

She does feel guilty about the worm. I know that she's feeling a lot about us because she's looking at us and how much work we put into looking good and gnashing out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How did she know I have work done?

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, she can see it. Excuse me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think my teeth extension is very natural.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I got leg extensions. You got teeth extensions. You know, again, two worms inside of us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I don't actually have this many teeth. I had. I'd like additions put on.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's just a little touch up.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow, you're an innovator.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As a stay at home worm, I have to look my best. It's part of my job. So she starts to feel really terrible. She feels like she's always told herself that she's better than the Fae. That the Fae are these evil, selfish beings and that she wasn't like them.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you're not like that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But what she just did is pretty, Fay. Like, if I'm gonna be honest here.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, it's almost like they're Trixie.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, almost. She feels like a monster. And she turns back towards what she just did. What she just left behind. She thinks of how Hunt would lecture her for setting a trap and then immediately freeing the target. Nevertheless, she begins to run back towards the scene she had just created. As she takes a cautious pace towards the scene where she left them, she starts to feel paranoid about her light changing quality. It's like probably changing because she's turning away from where she's supposed to be leading. But in her mind, it's the guilt of her light almost is disappointed in her, what she's doing.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you got. I don't know. Do we got to start looking into that? I feel like, see, looking too deeply, and then you're taking it all personally. And we don't even know if the light magic is taking it personally.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But, you know, sometimes that's how you give yourself a lesson. You have to learn about when your body is telling you something, you should listen.

[Natalie Jean]

And also, you'd think that Bryce would have learned the lesson of, like, talking about your plans with other people, trusting people. I know. Everyone's probably screaming at me like, she

[Host/Moderator]

just met these fucks.

[Natalie Jean]

She doesn't know if she can trust them. And you are right. But it's just. It's like. But she didn't learn with her last gaggle of friends. And maybe we should learn a lesson here, Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you have to take the moments in these worlds, because everything's constantly war and fighting and distrust and trust and all this stuff. They haven't done anything to her to hurt her so far. And. And so she has to kind of take that as a sign as well, that they could have repeatedly already dumped her or done whatever.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's got to, you know, take what she can in this moment to help herself and. Oh,

[Natalie Jean]

We're really. We're making poor Adam. Or Adam's really going to have to. He's taking care of wormness today. I tell you what. I'm sorry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you, Adam.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you for respecting us and our craft. Yeah. Because it did get cut out, but I just. Accident. Because my hands are so slippery, I spilled my. My sparkling water all over my keyboard. Everything's fine in here, guys. We. It's our craft.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's our craft.

[Natalie Jean]

Or that's just everything we touch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. It is American cheese.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

That's.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That doesn't. See your. Your hands are too slippery. Again, we're both just experiencing what it would be to be a worm.

[Natalie Jean]

It's hard. It's really. And I'm like, not until today did we know it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

I encourage everyone dress up as a worm. It'll really put your life in perspective.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. You'll take. You take advantage. You take for granted your phalanges, your skin being able to grip.

[Natalie Jean]

Grip.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Having the. The grooves.

[Natalie Jean]

Texture. No, that's really what it is. The mix and the texture, man. I'm just excited about all the sexual things I'm going to use this suit for. Not with my husband. Yeah. That's not it not to find somebody else for it. I just really was. I was just like. When you see something and I just had so many ideas of what I could use for it. And Jeff's like, or you could send it back. And I was like this, how dare you, Jeff. Base of my new life. I was like, I'm gonna start coming home from work and just putting this on every day. This is my new swaddling.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God, I'm so sorry, Jeff. Now I was mad. Now I'm. I feel bad.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Jeff.

[Natalie Jean]

I need my worm skin. Jeff.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

How?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she begins to go back towards the scene. She's cautiously re approaching and you know, she's feeling guilty about what she's done. The light is like, no, no, no. Bryce, what did you do? And recall the last episode, they had just crossed a waist deep river and then stopped at that change of scenery where that there were these big scenes carved in the wall. And then suddenly there was this big thrones scene. And that's where that big old skeleton was. Massive skeleton. And they're like, we're just going to. We're going to not think about this too hard. We're going to keep moving. And then she had been drawing the worm this whole time. So realizing, you know, they must have driven the worm back towards the river because when she passes the skeleton, they're not there anymore.

[Natalie Jean]

Now we're just a worm down by the river.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. And okay.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, she really isn't very forgiving, you know, really shows everything.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, you look great. I mean, you're where you're basically wearing a unitard. So that is what it is.

[Natalie Jean]

Make me feel beautiful as a worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You do. I think that you're just to love me.

[Natalie Jean]

If I was a word.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Of all the worms I've ever, ever seen, I would have sex with you the most of them.

[Natalie Jean]

Yay. Thank you. I really thought that like this is worm gets her groove back. And I, I really feel like today is the day I'm gonna have sex with my husband in this outfit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I mean, you can, I'm sure, guilt him into it and say if you really love me.

[Natalie Jean]

Can you imagine?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is.

[Natalie Jean]

This is the hill I die on. I have to. Oh, what? You're kick shaming me right now. Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Poor. If you found out this is what really got you going.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, we do try not to kink shame here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I mean, I do sometimes.

[Natalie Jean]

This is a lot. This would be a lot to like if you've been together for eight years. You know, it's like and then you find out. It's like, this is what I have to do.

[Host/Moderator]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

We're always evolving and changing on the floor. And he's like this, too. I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, I. I love my husband more than life itself. It would be really rough to try to figure out how to make him wanting to poop on the floor work.

[Natalie Jean]

You don't want doo doo schmear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I would figure it out. Oh, but, man, that's love. Do I not want.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. You know, I think that was in your vows, if I remember.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I said, that's my deal breaker.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep. Scat play. No, thanks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then I had explained to my

[Natalie Jean]

grandma what Scott was. And she screamed about it in the middle of the ceremony. I. I was up there. I was efficient. I remember. And we're fielding questions. It's actually kind of nice. I feel like it opened up a pipeline.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We'll discuss chapter. So we recall.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we are back. She's past where they. They were left behind.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's like, they must have made it back to the river. She doesn't see any sign of anything. Unfortunately, when she gets to that tunnel entrance, going back towards that river, she sees the river flowing. And then there's just nothing. It's silent. Her worst fear of this moment is that she just killed two of them. She doesn't think that they deserve necessarily to die. So she doesn't see anything until she sweeps her light across the river. And suddenly she sees Nesta. Nesta's body lies prone on one of the very stones they had just crossed over, unmoving.

[Host/Moderator]

Oh, gods. She'd done this. She'd fucked up beyond forgiveness. Bryce raced to Nesta's prone form, splashing through the icy water, slipping over stones, the river foaming around her waist in a strong current. As she reached to turn the female over, Nesta's eyes were open and blazing with fury.

[Natalie Jean]

Fooled you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then there was a blade at Race's back.

[Host/Moderator]

Nesta snorted, getting to her feet, utterly unharmed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. Looks like two people can play 40. Just making it eight. Eight.

[Natalie Jean]

Chest. Chest.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Asriel is also there. Yeah, but he is really nice to look at.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, so it is just still a D. Chess.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm gonna say. Nessa's mostly making the. The plans here.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, because we kind of. I know that, again, we haven't really lived too much in Azriel's brain necessarily, but I will throw it out there. He's not really given that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, he's clever at certain things and he's battle smart. He is and he's not the same kind of puppy dog himbo that cast, but just the. The bonus chapter that we have had of his. I'm getting a lot of you guys understand me?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You don't get it. Yeah, Emo boy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So I'm just guessing. Nesta is mostly running the ship right now. Azrael now has this blade at her back. And he snarls to Bryce to give him one reason not to kill her right now. She's like, I did. I came back. They inform her that they are all now being hunted by the worm. Bryce urges them to follow her away from the river. She says, let's go. But the other two refuse to leave until the worm is killed. They feel right leaving it in the world. To which I say, you come into our home, right?

[Natalie Jean]

How dare you? I don't think so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're invading my space and you want me to get off this earth because I'm behaving as a worm behaves.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, and then you set up some food for me to invite me over. And then you gotta kill me because I came to the party.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That is technically some colonialist.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, man. It's worm is what it is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And for real, you're. You're interrupting their ecosystem. That's their home. They're down here eating the bat lizards. Yeah, the bat lizards.

[Natalie Jean]

Probably keeping your ass is safe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You kill all the worms, the whole system falls apart.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just so glad we're both here to represent them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. I agree.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can't leave this. It's not evil. It's a worm. Just being a worm.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh yeah.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Natalie Jean]

Try Angel Soft for your tushy. It's made by Angels Soft and strong. Budget friendly. The choice is simple. Pick up a pack today. Angel Soft.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Soft and strong. Simple. Bryce curses herself for being so damn soft to return to get these. But.

[Natalie Jean]

But that's what you curse yourself for a second ago.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's calling herself a monster. So which is it, Bryce?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh yeah.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nesta brushes her off saying whatever we need be back. You showed your your hand before by helping Nesta from getting. Not getting the Booby traps.

[Natalie Jean]

Booby. And she just says that. And she's like, okay, yeah, booby, booby.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And now we need to focus on what's happening in the moment. As they inform her, the worm has slunk down into a pit inside of the river, which. First, yuck. But second, I guess great that they didn't get pulled into one of those while they were crossing the rivers. This whole time. There was wormholes this whole time in the river. Imagine you're just walking and you just get sucked down in one of those. But they didn't.

[Natalie Jean]

And then think, who's the. The villain there? Yeah, the worm. As you get sucked into their hole.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And they didn't even do that to you the whole time. So I'm just saying, maybe put some stuff into perspective.

[Host/Moderator]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ezreal confirms that it is hiding because Nesta's silver flame scared it. But it is still laying in wait. They're simply too delicious to abandon. We cut back to the boys in the meat caves. So we are leaving the tunnel cave, and now we're in the meat cave on another planet.

[Natalie Jean]

Cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ethan is still reeling from the meeting with the Viper Queen, which ended with her singing, make your brother proud.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn. Vi you a.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's a snake after all. Snake's gonna snake. They're all there together in the commons room, in those chambers, except for Mark, who apparently is a lawyer. I don't know if we learned that before. I don't remember that.

[Natalie Jean]

But again, I always confuse them. Anyway, Mark's the boyfriend. I know, but I. I still confused. I still confuse. I know. Flynn and Declan. Like, I'm aware I know them. It's just. I kind of get them all. I'm like, which one's the tech one and which one's the. Oh, I know which one's the.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I still don't remember which ones. I just remember Mark is the boyfriend because it's the Mark with the C. Which is pretentious. No, it's just French.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's how you know he's a lawyer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, it makes sense, but he's also. He seems, like, really sexy, you know? Like, I like Mark.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. As a character, especially coming in and helping with all this stuff. Like, that's. That's a lot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He loves his man. So he is a lawyer, and he managed to finagle with the Viper Queen and. And do lawyerly debating to get himself out of the meat market. Basically, she gives him permission to leave so he doesn't have to sneak out and then get chased. Declan Informs them that he did so. So that he. He's going to go to his legal offices and try to find loopholes for them to get out of the situation they're in, which is with like.

[Natalie Jean]

It's crazy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. It's like, how do you regulate snake bargains?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know, man. Yeah, how do you get him released from something? Like, I feel like that's a. But I guess maybe in this world there are laws for it. So that's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It may be good. I guess then it's time for Ethan to make the announcement. Maybe we don't have to worry about the lawyer, because I made a stone solid deal with the Viper Queen that is sure to be smooth sailing. Great.

[Natalie Jean]

It's an Ethan led plan.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're all, of course, immediately upset. He explains the deal that he made. And Tharian immediately berates him for not asking who the fight would be with. He rightfully points out that this is clearly designed to screw them over and benefit the Viper Queen. Why would she do that? Therian and Ethan get into an argument. Tharian pointing out that it's too late for him, that he's. That Ethan is an idiot for trying to free him, and that even if he got out, the River Queen would be there waiting to ensnare him. Ethan's like, shut up. Shut up.

[Host/Moderator]

Just.

[Natalie Jean]

You got of all of them, honey, a Bryce you ain't. You gotta talk to somebody about your plans before you do them. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He just doesn't though. Nope. Never does. In fairness to Ethan, they do not have any plan. None of the other males have made a plan. They don't seem to have a lot of options. And so sometimes maybe the reckless person does just have to do the thing. And occasionally it will work out. And like Ethan points out to them, even if Mark found some legal way around everything for to free Therian, they have two days. And you know, court ain't on that sort of timeline even in this world.

[Natalie Jean]

Nope.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Flynn hands him a glass of whiskey. Ethan, that is, and tells him to drink up, to get ready for whatever hell is facing him. Because obviously there's going to be some twist. Ethan, come on, man.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

But.

[Natalie Jean]

But the Viper Queen made a promise, Natalie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know if he was paying attention in his college classes. I know that there's a stereotype that athletes who get into college are not learning anything in the classrooms.

[Natalie Jean]

Rocks for jocks. But what was your class? Did you have one of those, like the science class that was quote, like the dumb one for maybe. I. I just Went to a very athletic school, like I wasn't. But FSU is known for their sports, and I don't give a. So they had rocks for jocks, which was geology, that they made dumb enough that even the people that were there for football. And I'm not saying not all footballers, but I'm gonna say a lot of

[Jackie Zabrowski]

them, they want to also give them a way to get through school because they want them to be there for football. And so they don't want them to get bad grades, which is kind of. But I didn't go to. I went to two colleges and neither of them were sports forward at all. But my first program was a BFA dance program. And I will say for it, a lot of the dance, the BFA dancer classes were not. They were for simpletons.

[Natalie Jean]

You were there for the dance.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But that's why I switched over to a BA program, because it was much more academically focused. It was really hard because I felt a little bit like I was a jock, but, like, I.

[Natalie Jean]

You were the jock of a dance school.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, but at the same time, they're not even, like, pushing us into a career where we'd make any money.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What am I doing? Yeah, it's kind of like.

[Natalie Jean]

It's all, like. A lot of it's set up for failure, but that's okay. That's why we dress as worms.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's in. And look at me now. Dum dums.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

See, that's why I went to the academic program.

[Natalie Jean]

Look at this. Look at what she can do. I mean, honestly, you made a great costume, and that's worth it. I don't see any rocks for no jocks here. All right,

[Jackie Zabrowski]

so. So basically they're like, ethan, good luck, buddy. Take a shot. We cut back over to other caves. Now we're back in this world's caves. Bryce has agreed to help them bait the worm. She doesn't really have an option. She has taken a position on one of the rocks in the middle of the river to serve as bait. She's going, hey, boys.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, how did you know that would work on us? Oh, but not sexually.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just flexing your buns flesh. Yes. So she could run again. But, like, what's the point is she's just going to run back and forth over and over.

[Natalie Jean]

So she's in the tunnel. I mean, here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she's gonna just sit on this rock. Azrael tells her she'll probably be fine to escape the worm in time. Because she's like, what am I supposed to do when it shows up and he says, you'll figure it out. Which is fair because she kind of just did that to them.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She doesn't have to wait very long, though.

[Host/Moderator]

One moment there was only the rushing river. The next, a wall of water exploded in front of Azriel. The behemoth body of the worm, dwarfing even the warrior's powerful form.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce had never seen such a horrible creature, even during the attack on Crescent City this spring.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, as a worm. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know you meant that as an insult, but it's not in worm.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Culture.

[Natalie Jean]

We're not taking it as such, but,

[Jackie Zabrowski]

man, that's got to be one ugly creature if it's scarier than all of

[Natalie Jean]

the Crescent City monsters, all the demons and everything. But it's also like, I'm sorry. Not all of us can do what Natalie did. You know, putting on all this, like, looking so good. We've got things to do down here. Most of us look more like me. And it's because we don't see the sun. And that's for the best. They're kind of. I guess they're also kind of like Goth worms.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think all worms are Goth. Most of them want to be underground, Right?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And it is pretty metal again to be able to, like, get your head cut off and still regenerate it. So that's for sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Both Nesta and Azriel spear their magic out at the worm. And Azriel looks confused and shocked when his blue lasers seem to get sucked inside of the worm's body. So instead of it doing any damage to the worm, it seems to almost be like, seeped into the. The very flesh of the worm, which seems like a very unusual thing to happen in their world. It splashes back down into the water pit. They all dart their heads around. So basically, the worm goes up and then it goes back down into a hole.

[Natalie Jean]

It's free Willian.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's Free Willy. And over and over again. But it's coming out of different holes, which is fun for the worm. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And their dick is put away even though they are free willying. It's caged.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's caged for sure. They all dart around, waiting for a sign of it to return. Then it rips out of another sinkhole in the water behind them. Bryce having joined Asriel and Nesta on the shore. Nesta shoots out her flames again. And they're again shocked to see the worm eats her silver fire.

[Natalie Jean]

That's how hungry we are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. Then it's Gone again. Bryce wants to leave, but the other two refuse to keep this worm alive on this planet. It appears again, this time almost on top of them. But before Bryce can react, Azriel grabs both her and Nesta, flying them both high into the air. So I guess this ceiling wasn't low and they were just deciding to walk through freezing water for no reason before

[Natalie Jean]

you really could have flown them. But man, I. We all hate asking for help.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's true. That's true. We never want. We never want to be a bother.

[Host/Moderator]

Nope.

[Natalie Jean]

And think about that next time you're in icy water and your friend could fly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Your friend is bat wing. And they could easily fly you over. Just ask. So he grabs them, they fly out of reach just before the worm. So the worm rises up and they fly out of the. The. The. The reach of the worm.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

And then it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then it disappears back down underwater again. Azriel and Nesta briefly argue midair before Azrael sets them down on one of the riverbanks. Bryce doesn't follow what they're arguing about, but it's clear that Nesta wants to take a plan of action that Azriel demands she not even consider. I'm sure Nesta will take that right to heart.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I don't think so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just kidding. Azrael starts. Nesta.

[Host/Moderator]

Something metallic gleamed like sunshine in Nesta's hand.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a mask. It's a mask. It's a mask. What's she gonna do with it, Natalie?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. Somebody's gonna raise it. Asria shouts at her to stop. But whatever is about to happen is going to happen. As she slides the mask over her

[Natalie Jean]

face, it's almost like it's. There's another in this tunnel that does need to learn more lessons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But also.

[Natalie Jean]

I know it helps it. It's just like one of these times though, guys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nesta doesn't like to listen to people generally.

[Natalie Jean]

I know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Suddenly, an icy wind fills the tunnel.

[Host/Moderator]

Bryce had endured that wind before in the bone quarter. A wind of death, of decay, of quiet. The hair on her arms rose.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So death is now in the tunnel. Which is probably not a great sign. Nesta's eyes peer out of the mask, only not they have been replaced with pure silver fire. Somehow death is here as.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, the death wasn't in a wind. She was a dead. What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What?

[Natalie Jean]

That's not even a wind. She's the death smell. She's smelling it. She's making it smell.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Azrael is fully panicking now, begging her to Take the mask off.

[Host/Moderator]

Great.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce hears bones jingle, jangling in the distance. Azrael grabs Bryce, pulling her to the wall, as the worm makes another leaping pass at its dinner.

[Natalie Jean]

I do like the idea that they all came out with tap shoes on. You hear, like, as they come here, like. Oh, God. They're gonna put on quite a number.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, they're gonna do a dance happening and they're gonna distract.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a dance fight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's a. What are they called? Flash mob.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, so it's coming.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The. The worm comes out, comes out again. And just as it's making, it's bringing its massive jaws down toward the fay trio, a massive, bigger than the worm skeleton collides into the side of it. What? It's the bones. They had passed in the tunnel chapters earlier.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, it's not a dance fight. It's a bone fight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The place where Bryce tried to flee the other two and the bones, they've been reanimated. It digs its massive bone claws into the worm's slimy flesh. And the worm screeches in pain and rage. I work so hard at my costume, it's getting ruined. Then it takes the worm's head into its mouth like a dog and shakes from side to side, snapping the creature's body from hither to tither. Bryce watches from Azriel's grip, who keeps pulling them deeper into the mouth of the tunnel, avoiding the rock and floor exploding about the caverns. So Azriel, instead of heading towards this fight, is pulling Bryce further into the tunnel, away from it. The giant beings engage in a vicious battle.

[Natalie Jean]

You want to battle?

[Host/Moderator]

No. Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Nesta only stands near, seemingly unafraid,

[Host/Moderator]

hair drifting on a phantom breeze. Nesta glowed with silver fire, still wearing her mask, a finger pointed toward the fight, commanding that creature of bone and death to attack the worm again and again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Rock and roll.

[Natalie Jean]

It's awesome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She raises a closed fist and the dead thing seems to react, pinning the worm down. As Nesta draws Ataraxia and approaches the monstrous forms, the worm seems to feel the blade approaching and begins to thrash.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But the skelesaur holds it down as

[Host/Moderator]

Nesta arrives with a dancer's grace. Nesta scaled the undead beast's tail, running along the knobs of its spine like rocks in a stream, getting to higher ground, to a better angle.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, fine. I'll marry you, Nesta. Jeez.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, she's so hot. She's a hot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She runs to the skull and then jumps, raising her sword and bringing it down into the Worm's face.

[Natalie Jean]

Hold whole thing. Smell thing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It makes a final scream. And then the worm collapses to the ground, dead as a doornail.

[Natalie Jean]

What does that mean, dead as a doornail? Yeah, it's gotta have some reason.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As soon as it stops moving, Azriel releases Bryce and starts running to nest aside. Not to check on her, it seems, but begin to begin screaming at her to take the mask off.

[Natalie Jean]

Take it off. It originates from the medieval practice of

[Host/Moderator]

hammering heavy nails through doors and bending the tips over to secure them in.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, good to know.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, coffin. Ah, yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She stares. Solo works because she's deaf. She stares soullessly into Azriel.

[Natalie Jean]

I can't hear you. I can't hear you. I can hear you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't understand that.

[Host/Moderator]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She stares soullessly into Azrael's eyes. And Bryce is terrified by what she sees there. Nesta begins to walk towards the hastening Azriel. With cold indifference, he growls at her to let the beast rest. And she blinks. The skeleton collapses with a massive boom of bone scattering across the cat the cave floor. But she doesn't take the mask off. Azrael begins almost a chant of names. Cassian is waiting for you. Gwen and Emery.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, she's got mask brains.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce can't help but note that Ataraxia is out in a swing, away from ending Azrael's life. That they must have an immense trust if he is willing to risk being this close, she thinks. Nesta's eyes begin to dim behind the mask. Feyre and Elaine are waiting. And more quietly, Nyx is waiting. Whoa. Those are Acotars. Ackee at the last name. Nyx. Nesta's mask dims fully and drops off her face. Nesta's eyes return to the ones that Bryce first saw. Nesta looking on the verge of unconsciousness, as though her body is drained of all energy.

[Host/Moderator]

Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Azrael grabs her before she can fall and wraps her and hug, saying thank the mother. Thank the mother. Over and over. Bryce isn't sure of what sort of relationship these two have. But suddenly it feels as though she shouldn't be staring at them as they embrace.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But as she turns away to give them privacy, Nesta steps away from Azrael. Whatever power she holds over the mask wills it to disappear out of her hand to somewhere.

[Host/Moderator]

Bryce had so many words in her head that none of them came out. Nesta just sheathed Ataraxia down her spine again and said to Bryce, keep walking.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, she's gotta walk it off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's such a Badass.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. God, she's really hot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then we're at chapter 15, still in Tunneltown Worth. Bryce a little bit later on, she's still trying to pull herself together to from standing toe to toe with death herself. She can't help but hear in her mind. Through love, all is possible running through her thoughts as she thinks about the way that Azrael convinced Nesta to return. She assumes that the names Azrael called out to get her to release her mask were people that Nesta cared about. Through love, all is possible. As she leads them in silence for a time, Bryce can't take the guilt anymore. And as she walks forward, she spits out that she's really sorry.

[Host/Moderator]

At their silence, she twisted to look back at them. They wore twin expressions of ice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce does a bratty well then why don't you just kill me?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God, you're so mad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Azrael replies with the malice. Because whatever you're being drawn to is something we gotta see with our own eyes. Nesta adds that they've already played out so much of their plan, they might as well finish it.

[Natalie Jean]

Aha. Fine. I just. Don't kill me then.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do whatever you want. I don't even care.

[Natalie Jean]

It just. It really does. Like. And I don't usually feel like I don't feel this way about Bryce all the time. But tunnel Bryce specifically is definitely giving Ethan. I feel like there is like a little of just like you're stronger than that. Like, stop with this. Stop, stop. But also is part of it like she notices that, like, oh, I'm a badass. But Nesta, Whoa. Recognize game. I recognize that game for sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you can also argue that she is still playing dumb to an extent. Like her falling was fake. She didn't actually mean to fall. She didn't actually accidentally fall in the river to cut her hands. That whole time she's playing sort of like a bimbo character.

[Natalie Jean]

8D chess.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She could be doing that. Who knows? So Bryce, when Nessa says that they're gonna keep acting their plan out, Bryce realizes something. In that moment, they knew she was going to try to escape through the pit in the interrogation room, Nesta clarifies. Well, Rizan guessed that you would. She seems to be irritated when she tells Bryce how happy Resond was with himself when he was correct. But even he didn't realize that she would winnow slash teleport out.

[Natalie Jean]

Ah, so he's Trixie. But he doesn't know everything, even though

[Jackie Zabrowski]

he thinks he does. That's what Nesta's thoughts are saying, yeah,

[Natalie Jean]

but even then, it's like, Nesta, you're so much more like that than rizond is. Like, really? And it's like, I think that me. Me thinks thou doth protest too much.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not because, like, she likes.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But because.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, because she's annoyed by it. Like, she is annoyed by, like. Oh, of course he's right. As opposed to, like, how Nesta also acts about everything.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

For sure.

[Natalie Jean]

And I feel like they're. They kind of act similar a little.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Absolutely. Sometimes those clash. Yes. Nesta leaves Asriel's side behind Bryce and pushes ahead of her. Tells her that they were instructed to follow her and make sure that there's no turning around, essentially. So what Nesta is explaining makes Bryce's mouth drop. When she understands that Nesta means that they intentionally caused the cave in. That this entire scenario of Nesta following her with Azriel coming. They knew she was going to do this, and they made it clear that they couldn't go back.

[Natalie Jean]

12D chess then.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But that's just four more in Nesta's.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's just. So she's 8D.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And Bryce is 8 double D. Come on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Come on now. Yeah.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Big old.

[Natalie Jean]

It is. So sorry. If a man made that joke, I think everyone would puke to death. And I'm sorry that I made that joke.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, in this. This costume, I feel like, what are they gonna do? Get mad at you?

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just a worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not just a worm.

[Host/Moderator]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Looks a dead worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Dead worm. Looks like you're not the only one who can be deceptive there, Bryce. Bryce asks why they're going to all this trouble with her. Nesta says without turning around, that they are going to these lengths because she has seen Bryce's star before and it is intrigued them. Bryce responds, yeah, your bargain tattoo. You told me. But no, that's not what Nesta means.

[Host/Moderator]

Then where Bryce breathed. If she could get answers. But Nesta strode ahead again into the darkness.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No place. Good. Great.

[Natalie Jean]

Again. We got so much time in the tunnel. I know you're upset right now, but, like, it's just all the cryptic knowledge.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess if there's a place to be cryptic, it isn't a tunnel.

[Natalie Jean]

And especially after you found out that someone was trying 8D chess when you were already 18.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

There's all these glyphs on the wall, and you're like, why is this a riddle? Are we supposed to be following a story? What is that? What are we doing here? So they move forward. They keep walking, walking. They take rests. Though no one's really sleeping. Time passes when they begin. The next time they they stopped from arrest. They still are seemingly not wanting to speak with with Bryce. And it's starting to really bother her. She gets that they're pissed, but they also were manipulating her. So can't they call it even or something? She watches the carvings pass by again having returned to these large sweeping scenes. Unlike that one massive throne carving back there. It does make you wonder what's up with that. Why was there a big skeleton there?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But now we're back to the scene seeming to show that this. This is telling some kind of long story. The passing of time is happening in these drawings where these multi level dwellings appear amongst the scenes of nature. As though it's over time. They're learning how to construct.

[Host/Moderator]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But then suddenly Nesta stops short in front of her. What? We have a problem.

[Host/Moderator]

Nesta murmured as they stepped up to her side. A chasm stretched before them. Bryce's starlight glowing in a single ray straight across it. Bryce swallowed.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, they really did. Well, it's a chasm, but he's got wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like we've got way we got to deal with some. Some. Some other issues are going to come.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you think something down there either down there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But we're not gonna find out right now. Instead we're going to cut to. Oh God. It's not a tunnel Town in Georgia town.

[Natalie Jean]

Put me back in the tunnel.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just want to be back. I don't want to go here. Poor Run. God, he is in terrible shape.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They don't make it fun for them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. It's another day in an endless string of days. And he's just received his meager food rations because he's on the floor again, grateful that he's kept the food down today. He hates himself in some ways for what he's doing. But Hunt has asked him this much. So he has returned to the mental bridge. Lydia is there immediately, framed in fire. A distressed Lydia asks Ruhn what's happened. As coldly as he can muster. With nothing left inside of him. He tells her curtly that he needs to deliver intel to her.

[Host/Moderator]

The flame around Lydia banked until it was nothing but her flowing golden hair. And it killed him. She was so fucking beautiful. It wouldn't have mattered to him. Hadn't mattered to him during those weeks they'd gotten to know each other. But

[Jackie Zabrowski]

really, really wouldn't have mattered. Rune.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

There's no there's no way he would have had this back and forth of, oh, how do I feel? I'm pretty sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What if. What if she looked like the character Denise from the Kristen Wiig SNL sketches? What if that's who showed up through the fire?

[Natalie Jean]

Actually, I feel like Denise is very worm coated. Like, I feel like she is very. Well, like, it's a worm that got out of the tunnel. That was like, I know, but I'm not over. She is very, very worm coated. But I. But I. I think you're right. I'm pretty sure it would have been easier for Rune to be like, I don't want to f her anymore. If he saw Lydia and she was busted. Like, as busted as she probably would be in real life. Like, if not, you know, a shifter. Like, if not like a magical, you know, creature of some sort, you know, she'd be busted. I mean, you know, all the Triari really probably would be busted.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't want to hear Run saying, it doesn't matter because it doesn't matter.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, I would. My pee pee wouldn't have been hard for her. Like, it didn't matter. Of course it mattered. Don't lie to us. Like, especially at this point, you get.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're allowed. You allowed to want to feel attracted.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

To your lover.

[Natalie Jean]

That's an okay thing to want.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And that's what I thought.

[Natalie Jean]

But also, he does have a lot of time to think down there. So maybe he's really trying to lie to himself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's true. He's here to tell Lydia what they now know about Hell that she hasn't been privy to. That the Prince of the Pit has told Hunt. Bryce ain't there.

[Natalie Jean]

Not there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she was supposed to be. She was going to be bringing back an army to help them fight the Asteri. Lydia doesn't know the majority of this part of their storyline, but that hope seems lost now. So even though Lydia didn't know all of what was going to happen, she knew that they were making attempts at trying to stop the Asteri. He is here to tell her not happening. Our thing didn't work. And also, my sister might be floating into, like, a 12th plane somewhere. And, like, just lip. Like, floating forever, falling endlessly for the rest of eternity. We're not really sure.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know. But I would say usually find out where the spirit goes. And, yeah, I am talking about Buffy right now. That if you have a friend whose spirit goes into another realm and you think that, like, oh, this is probably a Bad realm. So you rip her. Her spirit out of that realm and bring her back to current reality. And then you find out hell is actually living all along, and she doesn't want to be ripped back into this reality. I feel like if you're going through that, like, that sucks. And maybe ask where the spirit is before you pull the spirit back from that world. But that's not what's happening with Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What a wow. What a lesson for all of us.

[Natalie Jean]

I think about it all the time. Hell is living.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It sure is.

[Natalie Jean]

Thanks, Buffy. I'm glad I didn't watch you when I was a teenager, or else I'd be very different. What would you be doing? I mean, I just feel like that the sadness that would have overtaken me as a teenager of thinking that, like, really the afterlife or anything else besides being on Earth is really where a heaven could exist.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

And that, like, reality is being alive. And I just. I was. I was a very morose teenager.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. That's a. That's a lot. That's a heavy thing for to tell.

[Natalie Jean]

That's what I'm saying. In a teen show. It really is, but.

[Host/Moderator]

Man, Buffy.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, it goes there. Oh, it goes there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we're going here.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. Yes.

[Host/Moderator]

Sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. We're back in the torture room. I'm sorry, Natalie. I just want to be anywhere but here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we have to deal with it. We have to be here. And the sad, too, because then they're also watching this. This couple's connection crumble. She basically. He tells her that all hope seems pretty much lost now to pull back any Ophion or anybody you're working with, any rebels, keep them away. Through all of this unsettling news. She asks why he's telling her any of this now. And he says because if she or Opiana had guessed that, that they might have been an option, that they shouldn't wait for it. Lydia hesitantly asks if Bryce is alive. Ruhn doesn't know. He feels her watching him, and he knows she's thinking about the Oracle prophecy. That he told her about his line ending.

[Host/Moderator]

But Lydia said she's not dead. Nothing but pure confidence filled her words.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bitterly, he asks how the do you know that? She doesn't flinch at his rudeness.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, she's used to Pollux. I feel like she's more of that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She tells him that the Asteri are using all of their mystics to search for Bryce and that the Asteri seem nervous. Ruhn doesn't allow himself to feel hope. But he asks what difference that could make. She gets a bit of fire in her and tells him he must underestimate his sister.

[Host/Moderator]

You.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He snarls.

[Natalie Jean]

He's very tired. All right. He couldn't think of a witty comeback. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh no.

[Natalie Jean]

He's been tortured for so long.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But at the same time it's better probably to keep him mad in that moment.

[Natalie Jean]

Because then sad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If. If he's out of all energy, any juice left in him, it's going to be easier for him to fade away. If you keep him angry, it'll at least give him a fight left into him. She reiterates that those mystics are usually kept quite busy doing their their master's dirty work. To use all 1,000 of them to search for Bryce means that Rigelus is quite concerned, maybe even has an inkling of what she might be up to. And it scares him.

[Host/Moderator]

It was about as much as run could take. He turned back toward his end of the bridge.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ruhn. Agony runs through him as his name comes from her mouth and memories of their time together rush through him as painful as the injuries he suffered. Daybright Hind. Lydia. Who was she at the end of all of it? Even if she had become someone who did the right thing, how much evil was committed before that? He can't square the circle facing away from her. Lydia still whispers that she's doing what she can to help him. He says, I don't care what you're doing.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He looks over his shoulder so that she knows he means it when he says he's only here to report something that might save lives.

[Host/Moderator]

Hurt flashed in her eyes and it was kindling to his temper.

[Natalie Jean]

How dare she look that way.

[Host/Moderator]

Look like she was hurt when it was his fucking heart.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're dead to me.

[Host/Moderator]

Ruhn hissed and vanished.

[Natalie Jean]

Ouch. Oh man. You know what? I'd rather be a worm. I think at this point, like with all this stuff going on at least like with a life as a worm, you just. You just. It gets ended. I feel like this is going to be the sequel to the Taylor Swift album Life is a Showgirl. But then life is a worm and I want to hear her writing about life as a worm.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As a trad worm. You got to think about I'm at home waiting for you to come and you never will.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Travis, Kelsey and I'll just be

[Jackie Zabrowski]

looking out the worm window now. We're me coming home.

[Natalie Jean]

What's that? Your dirt era girl. Please read up until chapter 18 for next week. My mom inspired me to dream big and work hard. Tyler Adams,

[Jackie Zabrowski]

what would you like the power to do?

[Natalie Jean]

Bank of America Proud to be the Official bank of US Soccer and FIFA World Cup 2026 bank of America NA member, FDSE.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

On the under $3 menu at McDonald's,

[Natalie Jean]

a McChicken is $2. Because when you're craving a McChicken, you deserve a McChicken. And now that McChicken is just $2.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Natalie Jean]

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