LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 22: Nootchie Poochie
Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski

Episode Overview

In this episode, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski take listeners through Chapter 42 of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas, in their ongoing “deep dive” into the Crescent City series. The duo brings their signature irreverent humor, blending insightful analysis of character arcs and plot developments with playful banter, costume reveals, and tangential pop-culture commentary. As always, they keep the vibe inclusive and delightfully unfiltered while breaking down pivotal moments in the book, focusing on friendship dynamics, power plays, and steamy encounters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Costume Reveals & Banter (04:03–10:10)

• Jackie introduces her ambiguous costume with steampunk/Gothic Black Parade vibes, while Natalie plans to dress as mermaid Sally from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This segues into playful speculation (e.g., Leatherface as a mermaid: “Gliding through the water, but still covered in, like, skin and meat and stuff.” – Natalie, 04:50).
• The conversation turns to My Chemical Romance and the notion of “gatekeeping” in fandoms:
  • Natalie: “If you like it so much that you are gatekeeping it, maybe you’re not okay. Perhaps you are not okay. And you should go to the brain doctor.” (07:10)
• They joke about facial hair, costume fails, and the empowerment of self-expression—setting a light, comedic tone.

2. Tabletop Role-Playing & Promo (08:00–09:10)

• Jackie admits partially basing her Vampire: The Masquerade character’s look on Bryce Quinlan: “I just want to have sex with Bryce Quinlan, even though she annoys me.” (08:27)
• The duo riffs on the growth of TTRPG culture and its connections with fantasy literature.

3. Juniper’s Promotion & Bryce’s Overreach (11:16–15:56)

• The main plot analysis begins with Bryce arriving at Celestina’s office, but first being interrupted by a distressed message from Juniper.
  • “How dare you?”—the text from Juniper that triggers Bryce’s guilt (12:01).
• Jackie and Natalie dissect why Juniper is hurt: Bryce maneuvered her into a promotion, removing her agency and undermining her sense of accomplishment.
  • Jackie: “It’s arrogant and it’s condescending. Even if she meant well and didn’t see it that way, that’s what it is.” (14:52)
  • Natalie: “That’s an uphill battle that is unfair to her, but it is her battle to fight—unless she asks you to help.” (14:26)
• Their commentary highlights the nuances of well-intentioned interference, diversity, and the impact of privilege.

4. Bryce and Celestina—Requesting Hunt’s Return (16:15–25:15)

• Bryce meets with Celestina to ask that Hunt’s punishment be lifted for one night.
  • Jackie jokes, “She’s like, I gotta get it in, you know what I’m saying? No, she doesn’t say that. Maybe it would work, though.” (17:36)
• Celestina, tired of Hunt moping in the barracks, grants Bryce’s request, effectively ending his punishment.
  • Natalie: “Celestina’s like, good. I’m sick of him. Get him out of here.” (25:53)
• This segment explores negotiation among women in power (“She’s trying to make it seem like a little bit of a kiki.” – Natalie, 22:14), personal boundaries, and the effectiveness of strategic vulnerability.

5. Friendship Fallout: Bryce, Juniper & Fury (25:53–29:17)

• Post-Celestina, Bryce attempts damage control, calling Fury for guidance about Juniper’s anger.
• They debate the best approach to atoning for unintentional harm between friends, ultimately agreeing with Fury’s advice: “Give her some time. Come up with a good apology. Don’t try to fix it immediately.” (27:41)
• Jackie: “You made your bed, now you kind of got to lie in it.” (26:44)

6. Bryce & Hunt Reunion (29:31–31:13)

• Bryce surprises Hunt in his dorm with the news of his early release.
• The scene is delightfully raunchy (“Before he can react, she runs up, kisses him deeply... wrapping her legs around his waist. Okay, they’re about half ready to go at it in the doorway.” – Natalie, 30:04).

7. Side Characters & Comic Relief

• Pollux and the Hind barge in, making derogatory prostitute jokes about Bryce (“You paying her by the hour?” – Pollux, mocked by Jackie at 30:44).
• Jackie and Natalie skewer repeated crude humor in the book, comparing it to Sabine’s recycled one-liners (31:09).

8. Dorm Life Memories (31:47–34:32)

• A mere transitional moment inspires an extended riff about dorm sex, loft bed mishaps, and the perils of college bunk beds—providing comic levity and relatability.

9. Ethan & The Mystic—Alpha Origins (37:43–53:32)

• The scene cuts to Ethan, who receives a life-changing call from the Prime, offering him the chance to become an Alpha of his own pack.
  • Natalie, as the Prime: “If he wants to come back, he can come back as an Alpha of his own pack.” (44:15)
• Jackie questions whether Ethan is “ready for Alpha status,” and both hosts note the Prime’s sudden change of heart toward Ethan’s worth.
• Ethan visits the Astronomer’s and encounters the female mystic—who is, unexpectedly, a wolf and an Alpha, sold into magical servitude as a child.
  • Jackie: “Her parents and siblings were not part of a pack, almost sounding like they had been exiled...they sold her to the astronomer in order to feed their family.” (50:08)
• Natalie and Jackie highlight the tragic cycle of exploitation, likening the mystic’s story to broader themes of trafficking and powerlessness.
• Ethan’s impulsiveness pays off as he considers helping the mystic, defying the Astronomer at great personal risk.

10. Therian, The River Queen & Political Intrigue (55:11–58:32)

• Therian reports to the River Queen about the imminent island mission and asks for reinforcements. She refuses, not wanting to risk her people.
• The Queen’s coldness and disdain see Therian grappling with his expendability:
  • River Queen (via Natalie): “Defend my honor against such slander and return alive.” (57:54)

11. Ruhn and Daybright—Brain Bridge Intimacy (58:59–71:19)

• The scene transitions to the mind-linked Brain Bridge, where Ruhn and Daybright’s banter becomes highly flirtatious, bordering on sultry and emotionally vulnerable.
  • They debate “punishments” and test out sexy power dynamics: “What kind of punishments do you like? Restraints? Floggings?” (60:20)
  • A sudden, jarringly intense sexual sensation from Daybright (offscreen) reveals layers of pain beneath her spy persona—hinting at abuse or even coercion in her “real” life.
  • Ruhn respects her boundaries, and they share an intimate, nonphysical connection: “He tells her he feels calm when she’s around. She tells him he talks like he’s handsome.” (70:19)
• Both hosts praise this complex dynamic for its tenderness and slow-burn tension.

12. Chapter Structure & Final Thoughts (71:08–71:38)

• They marvel that all these events comprised just one chapter, noting “everything’s churning right now.”
  • Jackie: “This is all of the different churns starting to churn together.” (71:34)
• The cliffhanger focuses on character trajectories, relationships in flux, and upcoming steamy action: “Work on them forearm strength ‘cause we've got some dick and dick and dick and dicking to do.” (71:46)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jackie: “You heard it here first, folks. Natalie wants to have sex with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Leatherface. Well, as a mermaid.” (05:05)
• Natalie: “If you like [My Chemical Romance] so much that you are gatekeeping it, maybe you’re not okay. Perhaps you are not okay. And you should go to the brain doctor.” (07:10)
• Jackie: “It’s arrogant and it’s condescending. Even if she meant well and didn’t see it that way, that’s what it is.” (14:52)
• On dorm sex:
  “In New York, all the places were so small that this person was trying to utilize their space.” (34:00)
• Jackie (summarizing the River Queen): “She’s being underwater bitch like…like we always have come to expect. But you know, she’s looking out for herself.” (58:08)
• On Ruhn and Daybright’s intimacy:
  “He tells her he feels calm when she’s around. She tells him he talks like he’s handsome. Oh, my God, you guys are so freaking ridiculous.” (70:19)
• Chapter length appreciation:
  “That was all one chapter. It’s good.” (71:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:03 | Costume reveals, Leatherface mermaid tangent | | 07:10 | Gatekeeping & fandoms banter | | 08:27 | Jackie bases her RPG vampire on Bryce—promo moment | | 11:16 | Juniper’s text, confrontation about promotion | | 16:15 | Bryce’s meeting with Celestina over Hunt | | 25:53 | Fury advises Bryce on damage control with Juniper | | 29:31 | Bryce & Hunt’s steamy reunion in the barracks | | 31:47 | Dorm sex & adult college anecdotes | | 37:43 | Ethan’s call from the Prime, offer of Alpha status | | 47:00 | Mystic’s origin story—the tragedy of the tank | | 55:11 | Therian and the River Queen, political refusal | | 58:59 | Ruhn and Daybright, Brain Bridge intimacy & revelation | | 71:08 | Chapter wrap-up, final thoughts, tease for the next episode |

Tone & Style

The episode is candid, goofy, and packed with coarse, loving sarcasm. Natalie and Jackie maintain a conversational, comedic approach but aren’t afraid to dwell on serious issues like friendship boundaries, trauma, class politics, and found family. Their language oscillates from sassy stream-of-consciousness to perceptive literary insight, always keeping things approachable for Crescent City diehards and casual listeners alike.

Next Reading Assignment:
Read up to Chapter 45 for next week’s episode!

Sample Outro
“Work on them forearm strength ‘cause we've got some dick and dick and dick and dicking to do.” (Jackie, 71:46)

For fans or those new to the series, this summary captures the wild blend of Crescent City's drama and the hosts’ infectious, off-the-wall personality.