LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 34: Boom Boom Bridge

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Special Guest: Holden McNeely (for “Dudes Grappling with Erotica” segment)

Overview

In this episode, Natalie and Jackie bring their signature humor and insight to the build-up of the explosive final act in Sarah J. Maas’s "House of Sky and Breath" (Crescent City #2). They deep-dive into chapters 67–71, focusing on Tharion’s desperate pact with the Viper Queen, Ethan’s quest to rescue a lost Fenrir wolf, and the preparations of Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn as they head toward a high-stakes infiltration of the Crystal Palace. The hosts also indulge in tangents about cosplay, monster sex tropes, and why nostalgia is a trap, before closing out with a raucous dramatic reading of an NSFW Hunt and Bryce scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vibes, Cosplay, and Tangents (02:49–12:45)

• Natalie and Jackie's banter opens with jokes about costuming, "artistically" wearing uncomfortable clothing, and the logistics of dressing as Viper Queen or Ariadne.
• Cats & Jellicle Lore: Jackie (05:54) reflects on watching Cats (again) and the weirdness of CGI cats, sending the duo into an extended bit about cats as post-apocalyptic soul-eaters.
  • Quote (Jackie, 06:29): “That's why, don't trust the cats. The cats are waiting for us to get raptured...so they can eat the sinners and absorb their souls.”
• Morally gray vs morally green (07:36): The duo riff on the infamous “morally gray” fantasy archetype, proposing “morally green” as the Viper Queen’s proper descriptor.

2. Tharion’s Transformation: Making a Devil’s Bargain (12:44–26:49)

• Recap: Tharion, desperate to escape the River Queen’s wrath, runs to the Viper Queen’s lair and offers himself into her service.
• Comic relief as Natalie and Jackie speculate on snake reproduction, referencing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for snake knowledge (15:13).
• The pact scene:
  • Tharion accepts the Viper Queen’s venom via wrist bite, entering into magical compelled servitude (“Her eyes glowed green...He’d crawl through coals to fulfill her orders,” Jackie, 24:35).
  • Insight (Natalie, 24:47): “You return to me.”
• Addiction & Power: Comparison of her venom’s effect to both drugs and enslavement, discussing parallels with real-life addiction and manipulative relationships.
  • Quote (Jackie, 25:00): “You shouldn’t be in control of your dick fin anymore. You need to be punished a little bit.”
• Costume talk continues: Green lipstick that stains tongues, and cosplay woes turning into a tangent about sex toy design ("alien eggs" kink, 27:48).

3. Ethan’s Dilemma: Saving the Forgotten Wolf (28:34–34:51)

• Ethan’s Next Mission: Having learned the wolf imprisoned in the Astronomer’s lair is likely a lost Fenrir heir, Ethan feels torn about aiding the rescue vs. helping the main group.
• Sabine’s Ruthlessness: Ethan worries Sabine will slaughter the captive wolf out of political self-interest.
• Past Trauma & Family Secrets: Reflection on how wolf lineage and magic inheritance work, with brief comparison to toxic families and secret siblings.
  • Quote (Jackie, 30:23): “Imagine how many the prime has ejaculated into. There’s gotta be half wolves all over Lunatheion.”
• Comparison to Willow’s rat spell in Buffy (33:56): Jackie points out the ongoing theme of “magically imprisoned” women and the lack of closure for such characters.

4. The Starborn Romance: Ruhn & Day at Boom Boom Bridge (39:46–48:36)

• Ruhn and Day’s Meeting:
  • Day (Lidia) tries to end the affair, fearing for their safety, but is drawn back to him.
  • Ruhn insists on their bond, and they finally share a physically intimate moment—yes, on the bridge (45:12).
    • Quote (Jackie, 42:42): “Your fate is bound to mine.”
  • Their intimacy is interrupted by magical danger—Day is snatched away, presumed captured.
• Meta commentary: The hosts debate whether anyone in SJM’s worlds should trust the good sex or the “fated mate” trope—it's always a prelude to danger.

5. Planning the Heist: The Crystal Palace Assault (50:16–61:00)

• Team Chaos Reassembles:
  • Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn frantically strategize after Ruhn bursts in with news of Day’s capture.
  • The group summons Cormac and Tharion for an emergency plan to infiltrate the palace while triggering a diversion (using rebel Pippa’s upcoming raid).
• Sibling banter: Run and Bryce mock and challenge each other’s loyalty to their partners, making analogies to siblings’ ability to cut to the “core truth” (52:02).
• Moral stakes: The group admits the plan will likely involve casualties. Bryce privately mourns the past, realizing nostalgia glosses over real pain.
  • Quote (Natalie, 60:53): “The idea of the reminiscing on past times is just that. You’re thinking about it in fantasy. It’s not really like it was ever good.”
• Existential Reflections:
  • Bryce muses on the immense, world-changing consequences of overthrowing the Asteri and the uncertainty that follows revolution.
  • Hunt reassures her: “We need to know what Sophie discovered. There will be no moving forward if we stay in the dark.”

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jackie (25:00): “You shouldn’t be in control of your dick fin anymore. You need to be punished a little bit.”
• Natalie (24:47, as the Viper Queen): “You return to me.”
• Jackie (41:36): “All I’m thinking about Adidas all day. I dream about sex, man. I wrote that on every pair of Adidas I had.”
• Jackie (63:41): “I’ll follow you into the dark.”
• Natalie (60:53): “The idea of the reminiscing on past times is just that… You’re thinking about it in fantasy.”
• Jackie (58:38): “In for a penny, babes.” (on the YOLO energy of the heist plan)
• Jackie (65:29): “We don’t know who’s going to make it. It’s going to be explosive, fo sho.”

7. Dudes Grappling With Erotica: The Hunt & Bryce Scene (66:27–72:49)

Timestamps: 66:27–72:49

• Holden McNeely and Jake Young dramatically read Hunt’s oral sex scene with Bryce, with over-the-top asides about pubic hair and Taco Bell.
• Quote (Holden, 69:57): “I knew you’d taste like this.”
• Quote (Jackie, 71:51): “Bryce was screaming the words a little death, yes, Hunt’s wings still cocooning them as she came, hard enough that she arced clean off the counter…”
• Meta-humor: Hosts tease Holden about riffing too much and generally giggle through descriptions of angelic cunnilingus.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|--------------| | Cosplay/Cats/Tangents | 02:49–12:45 | | Tharion & Viper Queen | 12:44–26:49 | | Ethan & Hypaxia Wolf Rescue | 28:34–34:51 | | Ruhn & Day: Boom Boom Bridge | 39:46–48:36 | | Palace Heist Planning | 50:16–61:00 | | Existential Realness / Reflections | 60:53–63:41 | | “Dudes Grappling with Erotica” Segment | 66:27–72:49 |

Tone & Style

The episode is irreverent, witty, and candid, filled with pop-culture references, sexual innuendo, and feminist commentary. Natalie and Jackie play off each other’s tangents, keeping the deep dive fun even when approaching heavier topics (trauma, addiction, revolution). They maintain empathy for the characters while poking fun at fantasy tropes, always circling back to their own fannish enthusiasm.

Summary

Episode 34, "Boom Boom Bridge," walks listeners through pivotal late-stage moments in HOSAB: dangerous bargains, complicated relationships, and the shadow of revolution. Tharion becomes magically enslaved to the Viper Queen, Ethan plots to rescue a forgotten wolf, the team assembles for a do-or-die palace job, and Ruhn/Day’s romance ignites—briefly—before disaster strikes.

Along the way, listeners get musings on monster fuckers, nostalgia, cosplay, snake biology, and the messiness of both real and fantasy heroism. The episode concludes with a now-traditional, hilariously NSFW dramatic reading that is equal parts celebration and sendup of Maas’s purple prose.

Next week: Read through chapter 72. Action is imminent.

For listeners craving Crescent City snark, sexy deep-dives, and honest, unfiltered fun—this episode is not to be missed.