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Published on:

13th Mar 2023

Ep. 269 - The Midwife and the Orc by Finley Fenn (Part 2)

Hey HBs! We're back with part 2! In which we go into orc mountain and Gwen SHOWS him her mettle and wit and hunger!

Finely Fenn is a MASTER!

TW: discussions of abortion, self harm, and negative self talk.

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Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome back to heaving bosoms, the podcast where two great

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friends, recap, romance novels.

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Do big swoons and cackle their faces off.

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We've got about three weeks until the annual heaving bosoms holiday St.

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Vincent Day.

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In addition to planning all your warm cocktails and cozy

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We have some fantastic St.

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Vincent items for you in our Etsy store.

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else safe when you're on the go.

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The inside is fuzzy and they feel so incredibly lush.

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Those feature art of St.

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Vincent and Evie during their carriage adventure.

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And it was created by Marah.

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Faraz.

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There's a St.

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Vincent would always warm brick and ML pen.

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It's a real, if you know, you know, situation.

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I designed a special edition marriage of convenience candle that is specific

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to devil in winter with the help of HB Jen at post pouring company.

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Vincent and Rosewood for Evie.

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And it smells so, so good.

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So if you want to treat yourself or be the Saint vincent you want to see in

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the world By getting a care package for a friend Check out our etsy store The

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link is in the show notes But now We're back with part two of the midwife and

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the orc by finley fen Trigger warning for discussions of abortion self-harm

Speaker:

and negative self-talk Here we go

Melody:

So then they get to or mountain, okay.

Melody:

And she's scared, , and he's like, don't worry, none of

Melody:

my or brothers will hurt you.

Melody:

You're wearing my

Naima:

It scent.

Naima:

Yeah, that's right.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

You're not pregnant.

Naima:

Cuz he can sc that, but you know, they can smell me all over

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

. Yeah.

Melody:

You're claimed, uh,

Melody:

firmly.

Melody:

So he takes her in, it's like super dark and she hates it.

Melody:

, and he takes her to the captain and they talk and he's like,

Melody:

Hey, captain, change of plans.

Melody:

I'm in love with her.

Melody:

Um, I don't

Naima:

is grim for everybody from

Naima:

book one and, and Jewel is like sleeping with their son in his lap.

Melody:

Oh my God,

Naima:

I love Grim.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

I was so, wasn't Nick awesome to see again?

Naima:

And and his lieutenants, the, the maiden pair.

Naima:

The, yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

They're so good.

Melody:

Balder and somebody else.

Naima:

I can't think of.

Melody:

so,

Melody:

, he's like, as long as you're okay with it, quick change of plans,

Melody:

I think we can still like, you know, do an adjacent outcome,

Naima:

Plan.

Melody:

but like, like with more hot sex between this one and I,

Naima:

Right.

Melody:

Ari are you okay with that?

Melody:

Also?

Melody:

She's a midwife, you know

Melody:

what I mean?

Melody:

Like she can be very useful.

Melody:

Yeah,

Naima:

Cuz we have women here and around like in the territories

Naima:

and they could come see her.

Naima:

And this is a gift to our tr to our clan.

Naima:

Like this is Yeah,

Melody:

And so she in that moment not only finds out that everybody in the

Melody:

room knew and helped plan this plot to

Melody:

ruin her life.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

and then she also finds out that like the captain is totally cool

Melody:

with just riding along with this.

Melody:

It's fine.

Melody:

cool

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

But she's, I she's irritated.

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

And for some reason in the hallway, I don't remember why it's pitch

Melody:

black, his or eyes can see she can't, and he finds out that her

Melody:

dad, like, locked her in a crypt or forgot her in a crypt or something.

Melody:

When she was young.

Naima:

she got locked in there and he didn't come searching for

Naima:

her for like two or three days.

Melody:

or, or Yeah.

Melody:

It was a, it was bad.

Melody:

And so she has a, a hard time with like enclosed dark

Naima:

yeah.

Naima:

Uh, yeah.

Naima:

One with think

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

Her father is useless.

Naima:

How do you not notice?

Naima:

It might not have been days, but it was like a lot of

Naima:

hours.

Naima:

It was hours.

Naima:

And when you are that young, I'm talking about that probably felt like forever.

Naima:

How do you not notice your, child

Naima:

is missing.

Naima:

She wasn't a teen, she was a

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

She was a, a small

Melody:

one, . Oh.

Melody:

And that's, that's one of the things he says.

Melody:

He says like, they make a deal, I'm sorry, before they get to

Melody:

or mountain, they make a deal.

Melody:

He's like, she's like, if you, because cuz his whole thing is I'm making a sacrifice

Melody:

taking you to or mountain because everybody's gonna know about my absolute

Naima:

failure.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

Like that's what you represent to

Naima:

Because you're, you're not

Naima:

pregnant, number one, like you should be.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And so she's like, what if I pose as a midwife to everybody who doesn't know?

Melody:

And then you don't have to chat about it with everybody who doesn't know.

Melody:

And he's like, wow, that sounds nice.

Melody:

Hmm.

Naima:

And we have lots of fun.

Naima:

A k a fucking, uh, while we there.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

He says, if you show your, your wit and your medal and your hunger

Melody:

to my, my kinsman, I will show you lots of

Naima:

And that's very important because that's going once

Naima:

again, come back to bite in the

Melody:

it's a Fay

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

It's real Trixie.

Melody:

Real Trixie.

Melody:

This guy.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Melody:

Honestly, God So what happens?

Naima:

he realizes she can't see in the dark, and so he goes to like, it's like

Naima:

the equivalent, I guess, of a storeroom.

Melody:

Yeah, it's like a

Naima:

like Yeah.

Naima:

Trading post kind of thing.

Naima:

And he

Melody:

It's like a do

Naima:

lamp.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

It's an or mountain bodega.

Melody:

A splash.

Melody:

Mountain bodega is what it is.

Naima:

This needs the little plaque

Melody:

Yeah, .And he hears him like fighting with the person

Melody:

all in, all in what they call

Melody:

Black

Melody:

tongue.

Melody:

Which Finlay Finn again, how very dare you.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

That's the perfect detail

Naima:

It really is.

Naima:

It really is.

Naima:

Because , it's so lord of the ring renish like, it, it really is.

Naima:

So, yeah.

Naima:

So,

Naima:

they're arguing, but she can't tell about what, and he comes

Naima:

back out with a, with a lan.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Because he is like, he's like, you did really well in front of my

Melody:

captain back there and I was wondering why you smelled of fear, but now

Melody:

I get it, it's childhood trauma.

Melody:

No worries.

Melody:

We can mitigate childhood trauma.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And he, and then he is like, , and it's really nice to remind that fuck

Melody:

face over there that I am part of his clan and he needs to deal with me

Naima:

That's right.

Naima:

Oh God.

Naima:

I couldn't stand him for most of

Naima:

the book.

Melody:

Oh, it's so good.

Melody:

And then she's like, okay.

Melody:

, well, I'm with

Naima:

Oh,

Melody:

what?

Melody:

What's next?

Naima:

yeah,

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

I'm talking about so fast.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

All right.

Naima:

Okay

Melody:

Oh yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So then she's like, what's next?

Melody:

And he's like, do you really want to meet my clan and see their ways or something?

Melody:

Are you

Naima:

girl.

Naima:

She should just analyze every fucking thing that comes out of his mouth,

Melody:

five clarifying questions.

Melody:

Five of 'em.

Melody:

And you gotta get real imaginative.

Melody:

All

Naima:

yes,

Naima:

yes.

Naima:

Because to us, I'm thinking the way he, he said it, it's like, sure, I'll go meet

Naima:

your clan and learn about your traditions.

Naima:

Like what do you like, I don't know.

Naima:

Pray before you eat

Melody:

sure.

Melody:

Like she knows that he's not very well liked.

Melody:

And so she's like, I'm ready to give anybody sass.

Melody:

I'm

Naima:

Yeah, right on your, let's do it.

Melody:

I'll show you my medal.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And so he very determinedly takes her into a fuck cave.

Naima:

all fucking sex.

Naima:

Free for

Melody:

It's hot, I'm not gonna lie.

Melody:

It's hot,

Melody:

it's awkward.

Melody:

It's all the things

Naima:

all the things.

Naima:

Cause

Naima:

I can just imagine me walking into there and I'm like, everywhere

Naima:

I'm looking, somebody be fucking,

Melody:

it's all BJs and butts.

Melody:

Sex.

Melody:

I

Naima:

That's it.

Naima:

That's it.

Melody:

All the bees.

Melody:

All the butts.

Melody:

Sex

Naima:

the only people who weren't was like the mated pair, like the,

Naima:

the captain, the battle captain,

Melody:

that was such a good detail.

Melody:

Everybody is having a legit moaning, groaning, orgy around them.

Melody:

And these two, one of

Melody:

them

Melody:

is the captain of the whole thing.

Melody:

He's like the leader of the whole clan.

Melody:

He's sitting with his mate and they're both sewing.

Melody:

It's so cute.

Naima:

Stella

Melody:

And we needed those details with Sofast specifically because

Melody:

he's such a fuckhead that like we needed to see those softer sides.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Like when it comes to his mate to Stella, she's the only person who gets

Naima:

that side.

Naima:

The front.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

He's,

Melody:

still an overbearing, idiotic puppy,

Naima:

my God.

Naima:

Isn't he who does not listen

Naima:

and is not very observ like, I mean, grant, we'll give you this dude, like

Naima:

you haven't had a mate before, but hell look at her like, look at her.

Naima:

She's not happy.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

He's losing herself right in front of you.

Naima:

And it is not only due to the pregnancy,

Naima:

it's

Melody:

Absolutely.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

It's the way you're handling the pregnancy.

Melody:

Haha.

Melody:

So they meet and he's like, oh yeah, who's this?

Melody:

Who wears your seed in my house?

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

But isn't pregnant by you,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And not, there's no or baby up in

Melody:

there.

Melody:

And he's just looking straight ahead, not offering her any hints or assistance or

Naima:

No, he freezes like

Melody:

Oh, yeah, so then, huh, basically what happens is he's like, oh yeah.

Melody:

The, the leader says, oh yeah, did he tell you all about our goddess

Melody:

and our rituals and all the important business that has to be attended

Melody:

to before we can do anything else?

Melody:

And she's like, I don't know.

Melody:

I'm just a midwife man.

Melody:

Like, he did tell me about this goddess or whatever.

Melody:

He

Naima:

Which she lied.

Naima:

She hadn't heard anything about a

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

She's like, oh, don't nothing to see here.

Melody:

I know about the goddess, but midwife though.

Melody:

And he is like, oh no, you're gonna take care of this ritual

Melody:

before anything else happens.

Melody:

So you need to go over there and fuck on that altar in front of everyone

Naima:

And she's like, she's like, um, say

Melody:

She's like, record scratch.

Melody:

I'm sorry.

Melody:

Uh, this is trying to let on that it's not like new, new information.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

But it's new as hell.

Melody:

oh.

Melody:

It's sprung on her.

Naima:

And and he still has it said a thing like Joe R still is just like

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And like

Melody:

staring at a wall, like he's catatonic almost.

Naima:

really?

Melody:

And so she's like, oh, okay.

Melody:

I guess like, I guess we're doing this.

Melody:

Like I, I feel like I agreed to show him my medal and I agreed

Melody:

to, to learn his clans ways, which now feels much more significant.

Naima:

It it, she caught onto that.

Naima:

She caught onto that, that this was, there was something much deeper

Naima:

going,

Melody:

And he knew, he knew what he was walking her into and

Naima:

he

Naima:

did.

Naima:

didn't

Naima:

tell her.

Naima:

Nope.

Naima:

He did, but later on he says, I did tell you, I asked you, were

Naima:

you ready to show my clan, your strength, your hunger and your medal?

Naima:

Like in your wit?

Naima:

And dude, no, you didn't.

Melody:

you

Melody:

can't do it in riddles.

Melody:

What are you, a bridge troll?

Melody:

I didn't go out to date A bridge troll.

Naima:

you had to, she had to pay the fee

Naima:

in order to be in the pork mountain.

Melody:

I clicked the OR button.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

And nobody told me it came with riddles.

Melody:

This is

Naima:

That's right.

Naima:

I did not sign up for this

Melody:

There was a multiple choice mythical creature bang athon checklist.

Melody:

And I chose, or God,

Naima:

but when she agrees that like, cracks his paralysis really?

Naima:

And he like, looks at her and is like,

Melody:

Are you sure?

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Are you, you sure you wanna do this?

Naima:

And

Melody:

And she's real mad.

Melody:

She's daggers at his eyes, but she's like, yeah, I'm sure.

Naima:

yeah, bitch, that's what she's thinking.

Naima:

,get over here and let's do this shit and let's get it over with.

Naima:

Cause uh,

Naima:

you left me out here to, to like

Melody:

oh, hanging out to dry.

Melody:

Absolutely.

Melody:

And this is another.

Melody:

Fucking genius master stroke that I didn't even think of until this very

Melody:

moment because the whole book is about choice, informed free choice.

Melody:

And not only does she show that in all of the good ways and all of like,

Melody:

you know, the tangential bad ways, there's, there's consequences of lack

Melody:

of choice that hurt other people.

Melody:

But she also shows the consequences of being forced into uninformed

Melody:

choices with the couple,

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

All

Melody:

does this.

Naima:

like yeah.

Naima:

Oh God.

Naima:

And it isn't just with them

Naima:

cause it's, yeah.

Naima:

It's like she does this again with another couple and you can see

Naima:

how if you don't have all of the information to make the right choices,

Naima:

it can destroy your relationship.

Melody:

absolutely.

Naima:

I love how she did that.

Naima:

I love how she

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So now we have some exhibition, uh, ritual sex,

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

All the, all the auras stop fucking and watch them,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And she's like, he can feel her starting to get nervous,

Naima:

Oh, I love this part.

Naima:

I love this

Melody:

So he does start just biting up on her ears,

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

and

Naima:

he's

Naima:

like

Naima:

look at me

Naima:

only And, and then when she like, starts to get a little distracted after he kisses

Naima:

her and she starts to look around, he like grabs her chin was like, look at me.

Naima:

I was like, that.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Melody:

And every time he like, does, ah, every time he can feel her, like

Melody:

slip back into comfort a little bit, he like chuckles, which is really

Naima:

it's

Melody:

very hot and

Naima:

wicked and

Melody:

arrogant and, ah,

Naima:

Ah.

Naima:

All the things.

Melody:

So they have some doggy style sex.

Melody:

and then apparently part of the ritual is that all those ORs have to see

Melody:

how much come she milks outta him.

Melody:

And so when he pulls out, he, he not only pulls out, but he also like separates

Melody:

her ass cheeks and like gets back a little bit so everybody can see it.

Melody:

Just like pollution out of the orifice.

Melody:

Okay, everybody.

Naima:

Never ceases to amaze

Naima:

me how far we can go.

Melody:

I loved it

Naima:

Oh my God.

Naima:

It was was great.

Naima:

It

Melody:

and I loved that we saw in the moment how conflicted,

Melody:

but how still Intuit, she

Naima:

to it.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Which was,

Melody:

like riding that shame line again.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Cuz this is, she's never been an exhibitionist.

Naima:

These are all in front of ORs and this is all so weird, but also hot,

Naima:

like

Melody:

It's har it's rough man.

Melody:

And so then he like talks to the goddess of the hearth or

Naima:

the, the like fireplace

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And he is like, bul, I brought this bitch to you.

Melody:

Do you love her?

Melody:

And then Bul spits some sparks at him and she's

Naima:

Yeah, I know.

Naima:

She's like, oh

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

on.

Melody:

Oh, I loved it.

Melody:

It was great.

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

So now he's a big man on campus.

Melody:

He's finally, she realizes like, , as this unrolls that like this is

Melody:

a, this is a rite of passage that everybody in the clan has to do.

Naima:

right.

Melody:

And later on it's weird for her because everybody keeps

Melody:

calling her his mate and treating her as his mate and welcoming

Naima:

And he's never said that to her,

Naima:

like he's

Melody:

no, he did not.

Naima:

no, they've never discussed this.

Naima:

He's never called, he's never claimed her that way.

Naima:

Even though they're having all the fun.

Naima:

It's never going past the fun.

Melody:

Yes.

Melody:

So then they leave, they do bounce.

Melody:

He's

Melody:

like,

Naima:

words.

Melody:

Yes.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So they

Naima:

Cuz he's, cuz he's still a male at the end of the day.

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Melody:

she's very quiet and she's like, I just need a bathroom.

Melody:

Can you please get me to a bathroom?

Melody:

And can we talk somewhere in private?

Melody:

And he's like, yeah, okay.

Melody:

Sure.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

He knows he's fucked up.

Melody:

he knows he's not dumb.

Melody:

So he takes her down into like a spiral staircase latrine or something.

Melody:

And she's like, why didn't you tell me?

Melody:

And he's like, I did letter of the law, fake contract did.

Melody:

And she's like, you know, you didn't, and

Naima:

He knew and he pulls out the words from earlier.

Naima:

Like I told you, you would have to show them, you know, your wit and

Naima:

your strength and your hunger For me.

Melody:

And you have to learn the ways of

Naima:

That's right.

Naima:

And you said you wanted to,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

You said

Naima:

You signed up for

Naima:

this

Melody:

like consent to me.

Naima:

and she's like, uh,

Naima:

bitch, no I didn't

Naima:

you.

Naima:

And you know, you know, you didn't explain that to me.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And she's like, did you, like, you just knew that like, what?

Melody:

Because I'm easy that I would, you know, like, what the fuck man?

Naima:

Like you?

Naima:

used my Hung like my attraction for you against me.

Naima:

Like that's what you did.

Melody:

Again,

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Again,

Melody:

and like, just like Roy does, you've manipulated me

Melody:

just like Roy does all the time

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

and

Naima:

then she spirals and she's like, basically it's because I'm stupid.

Naima:

It's

Naima:

because I'm like naive.

Naima:

It's because I'm weak and just spirals.

Naima:

And that's why she keeps falling for this manipulation and so easily,

Naima:

and they believe they can do it is

Melody:

right, right.

Naima:

he, at this point, he takes her into a second, like she's doing all

Naima:

this, going through this all in her head in a second room, and he waits outside.

Naima:

Why?

Naima:

Because he thinks she's about to do, like, take care of her

Naima:

hygiene and

Naima:

whatnot.

Naima:

But, um, what is she find?

Naima:

I

Melody:

She has the, she takes off the handle of the, lantern that he

Melody:

got.

Melody:

It's a metal handle, and she

Naima:

she just, yeah.

Naima:

And, and she's bleeding

Melody:

And she's like, this, I can handle this pain, this, I can handle

Melody:

this, I can, I understand this.

Melody:

This is very straightforward, this pain, and that is what I need right now.

Melody:

And so then, then, she's like, okay, I can handle it.

Melody:

This is fine.

Melody:

I'm all put back together again.

Melody:

But then in an instant, he's in front of her in

Melody:

this cramped

Naima:

I,

Melody:

bathroom situation and he's like, no, no, you cannot do this to yourself.

Melody:

You

Naima:

Oh, because he smelled

Melody:

like this.

Naima:

Ugh.

Naima:

I was just like, I was like,

Melody:

And she's like, you don't get to tell me what the fuck to do.

Melody:

Like, you have not been playing fair with me.

Melody:

You don't get to tell me.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Cause while they were outside, she was also like, did you not know?

Melody:

Like, weren't you afraid that I was gonna like shoot you down and

Melody:

embarrass you in front of everyone?

Melody:

And he admits that no, he knew That she would be a ride or die

Naima:

but it wasn't because she was weak.

Naima:

He knew she would because just the opposite.

Melody:

she's, yeah, because

Melody:

she's loyal and strong.

Naima:

but he didn't tell her that like,

Naima:

you know, heaven forbidden uses his words that she can

Naima:

understand.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

But then, but then,

Naima:

there were moments where he truly did, but they were a little too

Naima:

late cuz she'd already, you know,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So he licks up on her forearm and he heals her.

Melody:

And then how does he make this better?

Melody:

Naima, I think he says like, ask me anything and I will

Naima:

I'll tell you.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Like, ask me.

Naima:

And, and so

Naima:

they, they

Naima:

do they have her conversation?

Naima:

Yes, yes.

Naima:

Which is that he, cuz she wanted to know why, Sofast was so ugly towards him.

Naima:

Like he didn't belong there.

Naima:

And he tells her about how his grandfather you and they called him seer,

Naima:

like that's what they called the seer.

Naima:

And

Melody:

And

Melody:

so

Melody:

that used to be No.

Melody:

Well, the clan, so that used to be like the

Naima:

leader.

Naima:

position.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And after a big battle, like his grandfather used to, was on work

Naima:

mount now, I think after a big battle that he fucked up, like because

Naima:

of him they lost a lot of lives.

Naima:

And so instead of just owning it, he let, and, and facing

Naima:

like the consequences of that

Melody:

Right.

Naima:

ran off

Melody:

He ran off and he pretended to be of a different Clan,

Naima:

Clan, like

Naima:

the Sky clan.

Naima:

And because of his build, it wasn't unbelievable.

Naima:

And, and so , he had a mate had his father, and his father did well he

Naima:

said he didn't think his father knew

Naima:

the truth, but apparently his father back to Work Mountain or some way

Naima:

how he came back to Work Mountain.

Naima:

But all this time he believed he was.

Naima:

And then the k that's how I'm gonna

Melody:

I said kk.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

The k I like

Naima:

kayes, which are the like the learn.

Naima:

The learn it.

Naima:

They like all Yeah.

Naima:

The book ones.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

They told him a few months ago that the truth about his, um, about his

Naima:

lineage, . It was so, it was so cute.

Naima:

Like who?

Naima:

Cause she's pissed at him, but then she got pissed for him.

Melody:

He's like,

Melody:

they outed you.

Naima:

like damn.

Melody:

like

Melody:

she's ready, she's ready to take some ORs down.

Melody:

She's ready to be like, are you bookish?

Melody:

Because I will end you.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Melody:

And he's like, no, no, no, no, no.

Melody:

I,

Naima:

Yeah,

Melody:

they only told me in private, but.

Melody:

I couldn't live with a falsehood like that.

Naima:

Cuz he, cuz he is, he has this core of honesty and he, well honor cuz

Naima:

he doesn't mind telling the lie now,

Melody:

No, and he got it from his papa, you know what I mean?

Melody:

Like He

Melody:

comes by it very honestly.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

So he's not the chief spy for no reason and

Melody:

so the issue then is that because he's btu, , his grandfather used to be the

Melody:

leader and that used to pass son to son.

Melody:

But since he just like up and disappeared, since then, it's been the

Melody:

battle

Melody:

captains

Melody:

who have been the leaders.

Melody:

So he presents himself as like grandbaby, seer

Naima:

right

Melody:

and

Naima:

and so

Naima:

fast.

Naima:

It's like, fuck the, the hell you say, you're not taking my position.

Naima:

You haven't earned this position and your grandfather was a coward.

Naima:

And so he does not welcome him into the clan.

Melody:

Not to mention that he's been raised Sky.

Naima:

Right.

Melody:

completely different, yeah,

Naima:

he's has different customs.

Naima:

He doesn't know their customs and, and sofas.

Naima:

Big thing is you don't know the goddess.

Naima:

, you know, and he feels like he's the voice of the goddess and

Naima:

whatnot.

Naima:

And you know, you're walking in here like you've been, we've known

Naima:

you from this different tribe.

Naima:

You're the chief spy, you know, you don't know our ways, you know, so, and then you

Naima:

want to, like, you got the Title C and when Sofa says it, it's not a compliment.

Melody:

No.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

It's

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So she then understands and she's like, she's like, I was just, uh, I thought

Melody:

I was just a pawn to him, but he tells

Melody:

her like, you weren't a pawn.

Melody:

What I was thinking was I was finally gonna have somebody with me like, Helping

Melody:

me being by, yeah.

Melody:

Being by my side.

Melody:

That's why I knew you would do it.

Melody:

Not because you're weak, not because of anything like that, but because you're

Melody:

so good and you're so loyal and, you know, I, I've just, I've been basically

Melody:

alone since this ha I've had no place.

Naima:

right,

Melody:

And I thought that you could maybe be by my side, and

Melody:

she's like, yeah, would've probably still done it had you just told me

Melody:

out loud with your fucking words.

Melody:

God,

Naima:

him damn thoughts.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And he's also like, which is what he told so fast if he wasn't like, so pigheaded.

Melody:

yeah,

Naima:

I'm bringing us a gift, like I'm bringing the all of or Splash mountain,

Naima:

like a gift.

Naima:

a midwife.

Naima:

And she, and you know, she took one look at Stella and saw that all was not right.

Naima:

and sofas was like, the fuck you say, she's not touching Stella.

Naima:

We have a healer for that,

Naima:

which is just ignorant because she's human.

Melody:

Right, and we find out that it's even more deep-seated than that

Melody:

because, , apparently under CFA's, you know, paradigm bow tool has been led to

Melody:

believe that any time you go and seek a healer or anything like that, it's

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

of weakness

Melody:

instead of care.

Melody:

And so there's a really good chance Stella's not even seeing a healer,

Melody:

because that would show weakness, which would reflect on Sofast,

Naima:

right, right.

Naima:

And she doesn't, doesn't push it because she doesn't wanna shame him

Naima:

as his Nate, like, she doesn't wanna appear weak.

Naima:

So yeah.

Naima:

It's like so many like religious things, like wrapped up in this

Naima:

and their whole philosophy.

Naima:

So contradicts who Jo is like, it so ki it makes zero sense to him,

Melody:

Absolutely.

Naima:

by it.

Naima:

It makes zero sense to him.

Naima:

And yeah.

Naima:

So she's like wasting away before his eyes and he's too stubborn

Naima:

and, and just blind to Yeah.

Naima:

To see it.

Melody:

So then Joe R's like, I promised you garden and fun times.

Melody:

And then I did spring all this bullshit on you.

Melody:

So how about garden gardens?

Melody:

Like gardens?

Melody:

I'll show you my

Melody:

garden.

Naima:

got a card for you,

Melody:

We got a secret garden.

Melody:

This for you.

Melody:

So,

Naima:

up in this bitch?

Naima:

Like, like,

Melody:

So he takes her, to his garden and she's like blown away.

Melody:

And she's like, it's amazing.

Melody:

It's so beautiful.

Naima:

it, it was amazing.

Naima:

Like a little paradise.

Melody:

yeah, it's, it's the Garden of Eden.

Melody:

Like, really?

Melody:

That's what

Naima:

Really is.

Naima:

With, with

Melody:

it calls to.

Naima:

Or sex.

Naima:

But I'm, I'm sure and Eve were having sex in a

Naima:

garden,

Melody:

it's definitely the Garden of Eden before, you know, shame And

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And fig leaves inner like,

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

so she's like, where would you put my garden if I were to bring it here?

Melody:

And he takes her to the very center of this garden in

Melody:

like a prime place.

Melody:

There's a beautiful altar and a gorgeous old ancient

Melody:

tree.

Melody:

And she's like, oh my god.

Naima:

And I don't know if Finley meant this, but to me that the fact

Naima:

that that plot of land was right in the center, prime spot with that

Naima:

alter, like that blessing, like sacred alternate, that was so symbolic to me.

Naima:

Cuz she has never had prime position priority in anybody's life.

Melody:

Never.

Naima:

Not since her mother died.

Naima:

Like so,

Melody:

And she.

Naima:

but it, it just spoke to

Melody:

No, I, I think it absolutely did.

Melody:

It definitely read that way to me, but it was, it was somehow like, maybe even

Melody:

turned up a notch because it's like he did it naturally and with like, subconsciously

Melody:

almost, because he doesn't

Naima:

right.

Melody:

in the goddess at this moment.

Melody:

He's

Melody:

like,

Naima:

like,

Naima:

your bullshit, God is like, he's like, he doesn't, he's not

Naima:

really buying into their thing.

Naima:

he's not And he

Naima:

doesn't even recognize that that's an altar in the middle of that.

Naima:

He

Melody:

right.

Naima:

recognize that.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

But I think

Melody:

on some innate level he

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Because he of who he is,

Melody:

Right.

Naima:

I, I totally agree.

Melody:

And it was a perfect, it was perfect within the narrative

Melody:

structure because it allowed her to notice it, wonder about it, be like,

Melody:

oh my God, am I important to him?

Melody:

And then brush it off because she knows he's not religious.

Naima:

right,

Melody:

And like that, that kernel had to grow within her throughout the book too.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

So good.

Naima:

I'm like, I'm like, does she quiet?

Naima:

Like,

Melody:

I know, right?

Melody:

What kind

Melody:

of goddamn

Naima:

master plotted

Melody:

brain?

Naima:

right?

Naima:

I'm like, do you have like a, a like chart with like, here

Naima:

threads here, here comes.

Naima:

It's insane how it just all kept reappearing, how like these little kernels

Naima:

of thoughts and, and then symbolism, like with the pi, even with the pine cone and

Naima:

it kept coming back and I'm like, damn,

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

I need to go take a

Melody:

No, her craft is tight.

Melody:

Like

Naima:

really is, and the world building is freaking amazing.

Naima:

It's like you said, every, every clan has their own thing and so like the

Naima:

world building is so like layered and rich and like almost complicated

Naima:

sometimes because they're so different.

Naima:

But not, not overwhelming to the reader.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And I think, like, I think that's also really smart from like a

Melody:

strategic author standpoint,

Melody:

because like for other, let me think, um, something that might be

Melody:

similar that pops into my brain is like the Ice Planet barbarians, you

Melody:

know?

Melody:

But there's always like, there's, I don't know, I feel like Ruby Dixon has

Melody:

to think so much more about how to make each saku different on their own, because

Melody:

their culture is one there, there's no deviation from, you know, the one tribe.

Melody:

And so this way I feel like it gives her, as an author, so many

Melody:

more cultural touchstones to draw back from in order to like, create

Melody:

these characters and like, wow.

Melody:

She takes advantage of

Naima:

she does.

Naima:

And she does it masterfully,

Naima:

like, ugh.

Naima:

It's so, it's, it's wonderful.

Naima:

Like it's.

Naima:

I love it.

Melody:

It's, I

Melody:

love

Melody:

it.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Sorry.

Melody:

So then like, he's like, I'm gonna show you fun now.

Melody:

It's fun times.

Melody:

We're gonna do a lot of fucks, we're gonna do a lot of plant

Melody:

things.

Naima:

in a hammock.

Melody:

my God.

Melody:

Did I, have I told you about my, my random sort of knee jerk obsession

Melody:

with putting some sort of sex swing into the pleasure chest?

Naima:

um,

Melody:

Uh,

Naima:

I would've remember that.

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

I don't know why, but like, every single time we think about a

Melody:

logo or like a scene that could happen in the pleasure chest or anything,

Melody:

I'm always like, I don't know, is there a sex I have no idea why.

Naima:

in this, in that one scene where they had sex in the hammock,

Naima:

it really freaking was the sex.

Naima:

It was, was I like it was the origin story of the sex.

Melody:

Philly Fen gave me exactly what I wanted and

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

good Lord, So I don't know.

Melody:

It's a great time.

Melody:

and then, I don't know, she has like a moment of, I, you don't

Melody:

like me, you don't care about me.

Melody:

Right.

Melody:

Because he keeps on sort of going hot and cold with her after sex.

Naima:

sex.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

Which is like, come on.

Naima:

That's like the most vulnerable time for women.

Melody:

yeah,

Naima:

beared your body beared, like

Melody:

you've

Naima:

you're vulnerable into

Naima:

your body.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And she doesn't have like the best relationship, like history

Naima:

with a loving partner who has aftercare down to a science.

Naima:

She has not had that, you know,

Naima:

a side bitch showed up at the door after they just finished having this

Melody:

I can't.

Naima:

history.

Naima:

She's coming from.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

You running hot and cold is not really helping.

Melody:

right.

Melody:

And it's sad because his, it's a defense mechanism for him.

Melody:

We

Melody:

find out

Naima:

Cuz he's feeling

Melody:

he's feeling too many feelings and he doesn't wanna like, pressure her

Melody:

into Sta like being his mate and staying and like doing forever with him or

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

Based on fun.

Naima:

He wants her to want to be there

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

him.

Melody:

But her insecurities and her negative self-talk,

Melody:

it's like the worst thing for

Melody:

her.

Melody:

And you know, it's a beautiful mess is what it is.

Naima:

It like the whole thing, like them is like, they're,

Naima:

they're a beautiful mess.

Naima:

, that's a perfect, that's like the perfect word,

Naima:

. It was such a lovely, hot, emotional mess

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And so he's like, I don't know.

Melody:

I think she's like, you don't like me, you don't want me around, or whatever.

Melody:

And he's like, I don't know what you're talking about.

Melody:

Like,

Naima:

we just did the, the, we fuck like crazy.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

We've been doing all the things

Naima:

All the fun.

Melody:

and you slept for the first time in, I don't know, weeks

Naima:

Hello?

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Hello?

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And I love that he remembered that, or no, because he had been watching her.

Naima:

That's when she realized what this motherfucker really been watching

Naima:

me and he listens.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

And that

Naima:

can be scary and that can be great.

Melody:

right.

Melody:

And so he's like, I didn't let anybody come.

Melody:

Like there were people who Oh, that's what it is.

Melody:

Because she's like, oh, Stella comes and she hears about all these healers, right.

Melody:

Are you

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

you're good.

Melody:

Okay.

Naima:

Oh, my.

Naima:

Okay.

Melody:

No, you're good.

Melody:

Um, also, I'm good.

Melody:

So yeah, she hears about all these healers and she's like,

Melody:

it was just a manipulation.

Melody:

You telling me that you needed a midnight here was

Naima:

right?

Naima:

You have a healer.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

You, and as far as.

Naima:

from what, sofa said or somebody else said it too.

Naima:

I think like, he's like the healers of healers, like,

Naima:

you

Naima:

know, like, he's amazing.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

What do you need me for?

Naima:

That was just another lie to get me here.

Melody:

right.

Melody:

And he's like, what?

Melody:

No, you're, you're a human woman who knows shit about other human women, and you're

Melody:

also just like, generally brilliant.

Melody:

And we, we do need you here

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

They know ORs

Melody:

gonna know?

Naima:

I'm right about human, women's bodies

Naima:

in and childbirth.

Melody:

They're doing their best.

Melody:

But Yeah.

Melody:

And like, also, and he clocks into the fact that like there's a really

Melody:

good chance a human woman might not be super comfortable talking about

Melody:

certain things with an old ass or man

Melody:

and.

Melody:

So he is like, I don't like I you, you are needed here.

Melody:

And she's like, wow.

Melody:

He notices that midwifery is a holistic experience that is like

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

transcendent and important.

Naima:

It just made him that much sexier.

Melody:

So then he takes her on midwife rounds.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And it, I loved, I loved this part of the book.

Naima:

I did, I did that and when she basically held office hours, like I, I,

Naima:

just loved it.

Naima:

I loved it.

Melody:

Okay, so let, should we just skip to office hours because I'm

Melody:

thinking of it.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

So basically like more mountain stuff happens.

Melody:

Lots more sex happens that you should read

Melody:

about.

Melody:

Oh no, I'm so sorry.

Melody:

We cannot skip to office hours.

Melody:

So sorry.

Melody:

We do have to do garden alter times first because after this.

Melody:

Wow.

Melody:

Huh.

Melody:

I can't believe how negligent I just was.

Melody:

Yikes.

Melody:

They call me a professional . No, no.

Melody:

I'm kidding.

Melody:

Who does that?

Melody:

. Okay.

Melody:

So then after these rounds, she's like watching all of these ORs

Melody:

with these women and they're just so effusive and affectionate and

Melody:

like the last round they do of the day, is his like old clan brother

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Oh God.

Melody:

Yikes.

Naima:

we see it.

Naima:

We

Melody:

They walk in and they are Infl Grande Deo.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

They're doing a doggy style

Naima:

it.

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

and Simon is like, we have guests, do you want me to stop?

Melody:

And his wife Maria is like, no, do not stop.

Melody:

And he's like, yeah, show them what an awesome or mate

Melody:

you are.

Naima:

he

Naima:

pulls it

Melody:

he does put it in her butt

Naima:

he put it in her ass.

Naima:

Like,

Naima:

and, and, and, and Gwen is like, holy shit.

Naima:

She's taking that

Naima:

monster cause he has tree dig.

Naima:

Like

Naima:

cuz he's huge and he has tree.

Melody:

yeah,

Naima:

is he gonna split her,

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

And so she's like, oh my God, what an actual human feat.

Melody:

and

Naima:

right?

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

And so Joe R is like, oh yeah, Maria's

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

really, good woman.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Oh God.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

How do

Naima:

we

Naima:

almost skip that?

Naima:

Cause that sent her,

Melody:

Oh.

Melody:

And that is a spiral I recognize.

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

I was not mad at her about this.

Naima:

Yes, absolutely.

Naima:

Absolutely.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So she's like, oh my God.

Melody:

Uh, yep.

Melody:

That's what he thinks a good woman is.

Melody:

She's tall, she's curvy, she's beautiful.

Melody:

She

Naima:

And

Melody:

cock any which

Melody:

way.

Melody:

Wow.

Melody:

Doesn't even think about it at

Melody:

this point.

Naima:

she doesn't care that there are people watch.

Melody:

She's in, she's fine with the exhibitionism.

Melody:

Like just she's cool with it.

Melody:

And like I am, I think maybe none of those things,

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

She, she definitely says I'm not a good woman.

Melody:

No, I'm not a good woman.

Melody:

If that's what a good woman is,

Melody:

not me.

Melody:

Super.

Melody:

Not.

Melody:

So she does the whole conversation, uh, co consultation, like a fucking professional.

Naima:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

.Mm-hmm.

Naima:

Because

Melody:

then

Naima:

that's, that's who she

Melody:

That's right.

Melody:

And so his competence boner is all over the place.

Naima:

It really

Naima:

is.

Naima:

He is so proud.

Melody:

honestly.

Melody:

And, and all day he's been sitting back and like, he'll do interference

Melody:

when something awkward happens.

Melody:

Like, they're like, can I see you next week?

Melody:

And nobody knows if she's gonna be

Naima:

She, cause as far as she concerned, as she is concerned, she was only

Naima:

supposed to be there for like one day.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

This is a half day trip that, uh, whoopsie turned into an overnight

Melody:

and now like she keeps on committing to seeing someone in the morning.

Melody:

She's like, fuck,

Naima:

like, are you gonna be here?

Naima:

Like, yeah.

Naima:

Come, I'll see you.

Naima:

Can I do a follow up in a couple of

Melody:

Yeah,

Naima:

And, Jo's base, like, we'll get, you

Melody:

I'll bring her back

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And not committing to win,

Naima:

because again,

Melody:

He's honoring her.

Naima:

That's right.

Melody:

That's how he's honoring her.

Melody:

God damnit.

Melody:

So

Naima:

so

Melody:

she's in her good woman

Naima:

him.

Melody:

get it.

Melody:

I get it.

Naima:

I do, I got it too.

Melody:

And he says like, okay, well do you, he, he opens the door

Melody:

and he is like, oh, it's raining.

Melody:

Do you wanna sleep in doors?

Melody:

And she goes, actually, I think I, you just need to take me home.

Naima:

Yep.

Melody:

And he's like, what?

Naima:

What,

Naima:

what the fuck just happened, right?

Melody:

the

Melody:

day, we just had,

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

he's like, I didn't speak false to you once today.

Melody:

Like , not even one time.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

I can't even think of it.

Melody:

Half a time.

Melody:

All right.

Naima:

I was like on a roll with the honesty today.

Naima:

I don't what the hell happened.

Naima:

You had, you had great rounds.

Naima:

Like

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

I, oh man.

Melody:

I have to actually read this out loud because it's so, her spiral is so

Naima:

Painful.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

She let it like all out like an emotional splatter.

Naima:

Like, you know what, she let it all out like emotional or seat.

Melody:

That's right.

Melody:

She

Melody:

really did.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So he is like, I don't, I don't understand what's happening.

Melody:

And says, oh, sorry.

Melody:

Oh no, I might've gotten the wrong one.

Naima:

Oh, hold on.

Naima:

Let me see.

Naima:

Ohoh.

Melody:

Man.

Melody:

There are a lot of times I, I googled the word Dotty because she uses that

Melody:

to describe herself quite a bit.

Melody:

Oh, no, it's Dotty and Unfashionable.

Melody:

That's chapter 30.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

So he's like, I don't, I don't understand how this could have happened.

Melody:

Oh no, I did wrong again.

Melody:

I'm sorry.

Melody:

I was wrong.

Melody:

Maybe this isn't it.

Melody:

Wow.

Melody:

She talks so bad about herself

Melody:

so much.

Melody:

Here it is.

Melody:

I should have just Googled not a good woman.

Melody:

What is my problem?

Melody:

My fucking lateral.

Melody:

A D H D brain.

Melody:

Sometimes like, no wonder a lot of people can't follow where I'm going.

Melody:

Jesus,

Naima:

but in, in your defense that like shows how many times she did talk that

Naima:

about herself that she kept getting the wrong

Naima:

time.

Melody:

Yeah,

Naima:

was a lot, there was

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

And so uh, so he's like, I, I don't know what's happening.

Melody:

Why are you, why are you doing this?

Melody:

And she goes, yeah, you didn't lie to me at all today.

Melody:

And she says, which is exactly why I know how things are between us.

Melody:

Like, you might feel obligated and aroused and like maybe even amused sometimes, but

Melody:

I'm still a Lord's daughter and my father is a big problem still in your world.

Melody:

And like, I, I don't know.

Melody:

Like you, you didn't intend to trust me and you'd never want someone

Melody:

like me to actually join your new clan or be your, your mate.

Melody:

She wants to say.

Melody:

But he picks her.

Melody:

Oh, sorry.

Melody:

And then she says, I'm not a good woman.

Melody:

I'm not beautiful.

Melody:

I'm barely even interesting.

Melody:

I'm a dotty stupid unfashionable plant obsessed Lord's daughter with a penant

Melody:

for self-destruction and an appalling ability to fix my affections upon males

Melody:

who couldn't actually care less about me.

Naima:

she

Naima:

ran herself down.

Melody:

Ah, and she says, the more time I spend with you, the

Melody:

worse it gets, and the more I want to forget how you really see me.

Melody:

So I really should go now,

Melody:

before it gets worse.

Melody:

And he says, you wanna know how I see you?

Naima:

Give it, give,

Melody:

And she's so scared, but she's like, ah-huh.

Melody:

And he picks her up bodily, walks her into that goddamn garden, into the center of

Melody:

it, puts her down on that mosques covered altar, and just starts undressing her.

Melody:

As he's saying.

Melody:

You will never say that ever again about yourself.

Melody:

You will never call yourself stupid again.

Melody:

Because I know, I watch, I see.

Melody:

And like you are none of those things.

Melody:

And he, so I was conflicted about this.

Melody:

It was, it was completely in line with the characters.

Melody:

But, you know, my, my out of body brain was like, Jo, she needs words, you

Melody:

know, because he's telling her that.

Melody:

But then he is like, and I'm gonna prove it to you with a Lingus that'll rock

Melody:

your world.

Naima:

and it did

Naima:

Fair.

Naima:

Fair.

Naima:

It did rock.

Naima:

But yes, she needed the words

Naima:

because let's

Melody:

Sure.

Naima:

often, but his words were so destructive

Melody:

Yep.

Naima:

that she needed like all the positive, affirming words

Naima:

from him.

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

Lingus was on point.

Melody:

Oh God, you never again say you're stupid.

Melody:

He hissed at her as both his Claude hands grasped at her bare thighs, yanking them

Melody:

brazenly apart, or all the rest of this.

Melody:

You no wish me to speak false to you.

Melody:

Then you stop doing this with me.

Naima:

I,

Melody:

And she's like, I don't understand.

Melody:

All of that is very true.

Melody:

And so not only does he go down on her and then he crawls up on her and

Melody:

they have penetrative sex, and she's like, he's telling me without words,

Melody:

like, his eyes are just boring into

Melody:

me.

Melody:

And he's telling me

Melody:

without words

Melody:

that like,

Naima:

her.

Melody:

I'm, I'm his, he's claiming me and all of the, oh

Naima:

And like, so, like subconsciously he does it on such a place of, a

Naima:

sacred place of like honor and worship.

Naima:

Like he's worshiping her with his

Melody:

Yes.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Because one of the ways that you access the goddess BTU

Melody:

is to, um, fuck flagrantly,

Melody:

in her honor

Naima:

on her altar.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

. That's right.

Naima:

And because she's like the goddess of like the moon

Naima:

and the sky and like elements really

Melody:

raining

Naima:

coming.

Naima:

It was so beautiful.

Naima:

Like I imagined it in my head.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And the thunder is going in time with like his thrust, and there's

Naima:

screams and moans and like, oh, it

Melody:

And his, and his body is like sheltering her

Naima:

yes, from the rain and he's getting it.

Naima:

Oh god.

Naima:

It was elemental.

Naima:

That's what that was.

Naima:

It was so great.

Melody:

So he sits down next to her and like throws his arm over her body and

Melody:

she like, again, pretty much on instinct, just sort of puts her hand down between

Melody:

her legs and takes a bunch of his cu and just starts wiping it on herself.

Melody:

And she's like, I don't know why I need this, but I

Melody:

do.

Melody:

And he's like, oh yeah.

Melody:

So he gets in there too and he's start like, I swear to God, he

Melody:

puts it on her ear lobe even.

Melody:

He's like,

Naima:

he just wipes her down.

Naima:

Like it's, he doesn't like, it's like alo, you know what I

Melody:

Yes.

Melody:

Goddamn coconut oil.

Melody:

Oh.

Naima:

Everywhere.

Naima:

Everywhere.

Melody:

And then

Melody:

he goes, so, you know, go home.

Melody:

Not yet.

Melody:

Oh, it's so good.

Melody:

Oh.

Melody:

And then she's like, but I don't understand this, because you were all

Melody:

business all day and like everybody else was being sweet and touchy

Melody:

and

Naima:

yes.

Melody:

And He's like,

Naima:

He's

Melody:

yesterday.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

He's like, I hurt you yesterday.

Melody:

By fucking in front of people.

Melody:

And like, there was no privacy.

Melody:

And I didn't wanna do that again.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And, and he is like, I took you around to.

Naima:

all.

Naima:

So like, so you could do your thing like that makes you happy

Naima:

and you were so great at it.

Naima:

What do you mean

Naima:

It's like he, he really did, he was, telling her with outwards

Naima:

again, how competent he found her.

Naima:

How smart, how, how important.

Naima:

And showing her how important she was to not just the women,

Naima:

but to like all five clans.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Because it wasn't just his clan that he took it, it was like all

Naima:

well so fast then, you know, but all the other women of the other clans,

Naima:

like she even like, it was, he was

Naima:

showing her without words.

Melody:

she

Melody:

was,

Naima:

like, dude, she's

Melody:

she's,

Naima:

me.

Naima:

The word.

Melody:

kind of person.

Melody:

Like she

Melody:

needs to hear it.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

like

Naima:

language.

Melody:

just start, like, just dabble in some praise kink, you know?

Naima:

You know what?

Naima:

I think that's what mine is.

Naima:

Honestly.

Naima:

I'm gonna praise kink.

Naima:

Yeah, yeah,

Melody:

off.

Naima:

Give me the words, but like, write 'em down.

Naima:

Cause I don't wanna look in your eyes and be like, that's awkward.

Melody:

Oh, interesting.

Melody:

Interest.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

So,

Melody:

so then

Melody:

she has like office hours now.

Naima:

The office hours were so great because it wasn't just,

Naima:

and hey, I didn't realize until she like did the office hours

Naima:

how many women, even though she did say it in the beginning, like there were

Naima:

more and more women who were turning up like cuz , human women know ORs can fuck.

Naima:

So they, they would get in trouble if they didn't have a midwife who

Naima:

would help them like take birth

Melody:

right.

Naima:

to prohibit

Melody:

Or

Melody:

just help them through the pregnancy.

Melody:

Like one lady comes in.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

One lady comes in and says, my first birth was really harrowing because I didn't

Melody:

tell the midwife I was pregnant with an OR

Melody:

baby

Melody:

until the labor.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And she was like, if my dude hadn't been outside hiding in the bushes, it would've

Melody:

been awful cuz she was

Naima:

Going take it.

Melody:

to take it and confine me,

Naima:

Right, right.

Naima:

Because she didn't, the midwife assumed that she didn't want the baby and when

Naima:

she was like, oh hell no, that's my kid.

Naima:

Gimme my baby.

Naima:

It's like, okay, I'm gonna take this baby and then you're gonna be in prison.

Naima:

Cuz obviously you're not in your right

Naima:

mind.

Melody:

You're def,

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

You're batty.

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

like,

Naima:

no way you could possibly want an

Melody:

no,

Naima:

Like there's no way.

Melody:

no, you don't,

Naima:

mate.

Melody:

you don't deserve agency anymore

Naima:

No.

Naima:

And, and what was so terrible about that and what Gwen found so

Naima:

terrible about that it's a, it's another woman doing that to a woman.

Naima:

You know, if any Usha understand and have sympathy and compassion for each other

Naima:

women and that midwife was all levels of horrible.

Naima:

And so there are women coming in from not just, or mountain, but other

Naima:

little or community.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Cause they've heard that there's a human midwife

Naima:

at or mountain

Melody:

And

Melody:

some of them are like,

Naima:

so awesome.

Melody:

like, can you stay for my birth,

Melody:

please?

Naima:

And she's like, another day,

Naima:

another

Melody:

Ah, I

Melody:

can do my best.

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

And she tells this one lady that was, ugh, that was so awesome.

Naima:

She tells this one woman, cuz I think she was like a couple of

Naima:

weeks away or like three weeks away.

Naima:

And she's like, , I can't promise that I will be here like at your next checkup,

Naima:

but I will do my very best to be here for your birth so that my face is one

Naima:

of the first faces that your baby sees.

Naima:

I was

Naima:

like, Quinn,

Melody:

your son.

Naima:

you are so the shit.

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

Oh,

Melody:

so

Naima:

she was amazing.

Naima:

She was amazing.

Naima:

at, at her job.

Naima:

She

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

so the last appointment though is a little, little

Naima:

Good friend.

Naima:

Well, yes, yes.

Naima:

With all the, the tea, you

Naima:

know,

Melody:

And so Jo R has been telling her , the women need you and like

Melody:

telling her that, you know, men are still hunting us and you know, sort

Melody:

of telling her all these things.

Melody:

But he is doing it in a very bread crumb way.

Melody:

And Jules comes in and she's like, no

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

in crisis mode.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

Really, like we

Melody:

all came up with this plan.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

De Yeah.

Melody:

Defcon most extreme.

Melody:

Thank you.

Melody:

Cause I never know if it's one or five was just the

Naima:

No, it's five.

Naima:

It's five.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Cause we're, we're literally 12 days away from this law going,

Naima:

she thought she had more time,

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

but she's like 12 days away because,

Naima:

um, like Right.

Naima:

This is going into law.

Naima:

They steamrolled this

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And up until this point, they've already lost five mates and

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

BTU clan.

Naima:

was so hurt by, no, no wonder what's his name's Matt like,

Naima:

and, and we're ready to go to war.

Naima:

They were ready to go to war with men and this is when Jo

Naima:

stepped in with this plan to

Naima:

keep them from just, you know, fucking over this treaty because they

Naima:

would've put everybody in jeopardy.

Melody:

Right.

Melody:

So he, and then he takes this sacred vow.

Melody:

That's what that necklace is.

Melody:

That's a sacred vow that he's gonna go fuck this woman over.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

and

Naima:

but it's also, that necklace is also what she finds out.

Naima:

Who did she find out?

Naima:

She found out from one of the women, I can't remember which one.

Naima:

But that necklace is basically given to untried members

Naima:

clan.

Naima:

kids,

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Kids.

Naima:

right.

Naima:

right.

Naima:

And when you do an act of service that benefits the clan, then

Naima:

you've grown up and you're, I guess, a full grown male in that

Naima:

that clan.

Melody:

ass years old.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And he is a tried and true warrior.

Naima:

He has been in the service of ORs for years,

Naima:

just, and he's being treated like an adolescent with that thing.

Naima:

And

Naima:

all the times he's str Oh, she is hot.

Naima:

She is hot because like all she's remembering, like all the times

Naima:

he's, he stroked it and we were thinking up until this point,

Naima:

like, oh, he has like a memory.

Naima:

Or maybe it's like a comfort thing.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

I'm thinking it's passed down from like family or something

Naima:

like

Melody:

it's like, yeah, it's a crutch.

Naima:

was so not that,

Naima:

that

Melody:

opposite of a crutch,

Naima:

actual fuckers and, you know, that was all so fast.

Naima:

Who did that?

Naima:

You know, it was, you

Melody:

Absolutely.

Naima:

it was just another form of humiliation,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

, okay.

Melody:

So now he comes back in and she's pacing and she's not okay because she's

Melody:

like, he's still, it's all a manipulation.

Melody:

I

Melody:

thought we were getting somewhere,

Melody:

and it's obviously not, and I don't understand, like why?

Melody:

Like, what else do I have to do

Melody:

and what do I have to prove to him?

Melody:

And she's, she's hard spiraling.

Melody:

And so he comes into the room and she says, I'd rather be alone right now.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

crosses his arms and he very gently says, no.

Melody:

Nope.

Naima:

Because there's a scalpel nearby.

Naima:

No.

Melody:

really?

Melody:

And she's like, what?

Melody:

What do you mean?

Melody:

No, I'm telling you that I'm not gonna have you around.

Melody:

And he's like, no, I'm not gonna leave you.

Melody:

Not here,

Melody:

Not

Melody:

like this

Naima:

how you're feeling.

Naima:

nope.

Naima:

nope, nope, nope.

Naima:

Not gonna do it.

Melody:

you're a witch Who's gonna find another way?

Melody:

And she like, cannot make words.

Melody:

She's so mad.

Melody:

And she's like, you still are holding back from me, and I don't get it.

Melody:

And so then he goes over and he lifts her up onto the table.

Melody:

And

Naima:

I was a part of me was like, this is,

Melody:

what,

Naima:

but then the other

Naima:

part,

Melody:

you say?

Naima:

part of me was like, this is so ins,

Melody:

Oh, it didn't even cross my mind.

Melody:

Yeah, they'll wash

Naima:

then the bigger part of me didn't give one single solitary fuck

Melody:

no,

Naima:

Just the one she was about to give.

Naima:

I was just, it was about to get like, that's all I cared about really.

Melody:

especially because this was, this was like, God, what was it?

Melody:

It was like emotionally fortifying truth serum.

Melody:

That's what this sex was used for.

Naima:

yes, yes, yes.

Naima:

And it wasn't gentle like,

Naima:

He was replacing, like sex for her, cutting it herself.

Naima:

Like he was making her use this as a way of

Melody:

As a release, right?

Melody:

A different kind of release, a

Melody:

different valve for the same emotion.

Melody:

Right.

Melody:

And he makes that very clear because throughout he's like,

Melody:

pumping into her and then going,

Melody:

all right, now tell me

Melody:

tell me what it is.

Melody:

Like, what is it?

Melody:

Have I, what have I done today?

Melody:

And I will, I will shoot you straight about it.

Melody:

So they go round and round and she's like, you didn't tell me that.

Melody:

Like one woman killed herself because she was kidnapped and

Melody:

had to terminate her pregnancy.

Melody:

Like, that's

Melody:

not, that's not you.

Melody:

And so after all of this, he's like, it's not because I don't trust you,

Melody:

it's because I know that you'll take it all

Naima:

onto yourself.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And this is not, this isn't on you.

Naima:

This is not your fault.

Naima:

You're

Naima:

not

Naima:

responsible for your

Melody:

you.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

And

Melody:

he's like,

Naima:

She would've,

Melody:

she absolutely would've.

Naima:

but she has before, so

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

He's like, I know you would've dropped everything.

Melody:

You would've put your own health aside to like, make something Right.

Melody:

That is not yours to

Melody:

make.

Melody:

Right.

Naima:

That's Right,

Naima:

right.

Naima:

right.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

and it's so good.

Melody:

And it's so just like, I don't know.

Melody:

I spend so much of this book, like heart Racing Eyes as big as saucers.

Melody:

Just being like, how is it this level good too?

Naima:

I didn't know

Naima:

I he is

Melody:

part of my heart?

Naima:

right, right.

Naima:

Because I, so like, I connected with her but I also connected with

Naima:

him like he was such a protector,

Naima:

you know,

Melody:

and

Naima:

and Oh,

Melody:

that before.

Naima:

never.

Melody:

like.

Naima:

Which is why she was always so confused by like, with like

Naima:

his methods because she didn't recognize it as protection.

Naima:

You know, she's

Melody:

mention.

Naima:

smothered

Melody:

Yes.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And not to mention that he's a bit clumsy about it cuz he's

Naima:

Oh, he is like, no, no, he, he really just did a, he

Naima:

got in his own way sometimes.

Melody:

Absolutely.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Melody:

So, uh, we can't get into it, but before this, there was this, um, crazy moment

Melody:

that where she made him part of his tribe even more because he took her down to look

Melody:

at the fight rings and then he got ghosted into fighting and then he did beat the

Naima:

I love this scene.

Naima:

I love this scene.

Melody:

I loved it.

Naima:

the head with an

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

An ax that his brother kicked toward him

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

the right.

Naima:

Because they were like, they, this is what went back to like one

Naima:

of the things he just doesn't like about them is what sense does it

Naima:

make for you to beat each other The shit not seek help afterwards.

Naima:

If we were to have an attack by men on the mountain right now, none

Naima:

of you would be

Naima:

worth a damn right.

Naima:

You would be no help to us at all because you are just broken really.

Naima:

You got broken bones, you got people throwing up in the grave.

Naima:

Blood is everywhere.

Naima:

Why are we doing this?

Naima:

And he's not against sparring because the sky spar, but they

Naima:

don't, they don't do it to Maine.

Naima:

And they were like, the only clear winner is the person

Naima:

who's standing, like literally.

Naima:

So while he is like going him is sofast or like battling, he's moving

Naima:

the

Naima:

injured ORs out of

Melody:

he's moving injured and unconscious ORs

Melody:

out of the way.

Melody:

And he's noticing the ORs.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

He notices the ORs who do

Melody:

it too,

Melody:

to support him.

Melody:

One of them is an or who, he's like, he's finally on the ground and Sofast

Melody:

is beating him to a pulp with his fist.

Melody:

And so one of them just kicks, Sofast, um, acts over to him so

Melody:

that he can collo him in the face.

Naima:

his, his eyes just rolled back in his head.

Naima:

He just,

Melody:

And

Melody:

then

Naima:

start cheering they,

Melody:

oh, oh, and they make eye contact.

Melody:

She's up in this, like, this stands Okay.

Melody:

They make eye contact.

Melody:

His eyes go molten.

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

He

Melody:

leaves the ring.

Naima:

there.

Melody:

He is prowling at her like a

Naima:

Oh, we all can see what's about to

Naima:

come.

Melody:

is just, he's just, just putting his hand on those bollocks,

Melody:

being like, oh, I got a load for you.

Melody:

And then she notices that everybody's

Melody:

watching

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Crowding around

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And he's like, he's like, do you wish for me?

Melody:

Like, do you wanna like honor me too

Melody:

this

Melody:

way?

Naima:

what this is,

Melody:

Oh, yeah.

Melody:

And she's, yes.

Melody:

Yeah, she's still, she's still worried, like

Naima:

Right.

Melody:

Completely comfortable with everybody

Naima:

with the exhibitionist.

Melody:

But she finds it hot

Melody:

and it does hit

Naima:

of her.

Melody:

button a little bit, as well as just the general ecstasy.

Melody:

And so she deep throat, so, so holy shit.

Melody:

So he, he grabs her hair and he like pulls her back a little bit and she's like

Melody:

trying to get her tongue onto his cock

Naima:

This is like one of my favorite parts though.

Melody:

I know.

Naima:

is like, what is he, okay, go

Melody:

cuz he, first, he looks at her and he is like, you

Melody:

only look at me while you're

Melody:

sucking me off.

Melody:

And she's like, no props.

Melody:

And then he's like holding her off and she's like desperately trying to get

Melody:

back on his cock to get that honey comb.

Melody:

And he looks over at one of the ORs, who's like, definitely

Melody:

team, uh, jour now, or Jo now.

Melody:

And he's like, what should I do with her?

Melody:

Should I let her suckle me?

Melody:

Oh, should I let her suckle your seer until I spill my seed or whatever?

Melody:

Or should I like, tend to her throat?

Naima:

I was like, he was like both

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And he says, and he like, he's in a daze too.

Melody:

He's in a blis out daze.

Melody:

And he's like, both

Melody:

please.

Melody:

And so he's like, you heard him?

Melody:

You suck me first man.

Melody:

And so she gets to, she gets to lolly popping on him.

Naima:

What does do in the middle of that fixes his,

Melody:

She fixes his broken nose and she is

Melody:

like, this, this is hot, this hot, arrogant fuck.

Melody:

Like, he thinks he's going to ignore me.

Melody:

I'm gonna

Melody:

go even harder.

Melody:

So then she starts deep throating him and he's like, oh, which I

Melody:

didn't forget about you don't worry.

Melody:

Like, do you want me to give you what you want all the way down your throat?

Melody:

And she's like, oh.

Melody:

Literally nodding on his cock.

Melody:

Base base onto his goddamn abdomen.

Melody:

She's nodding on it.

Melody:

Her

Melody:

nose is touching on it, and so he just starts fucking

Naima:

Fucking

Naima:

her

Naima:

throat.

Melody:

in front of his entire

Melody:

clan

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

and they watch her just drink

Melody:

him down.

Naima:

Ah,

Melody:

he's like, you're a witch woman.

Melody:

And like he doesn't say anything.

Melody:

He just like closes it up and he is like, Hey bud, why don't you come to the

Melody:

garden tomorrow and I'll show you how

Naima:

Yeah,

Melody:

things

Naima:

You two, your I.

Naima:

Oh,

Naima:

they're twins.

Melody:

those ones,

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

because they were the ones who were like pulling guys outta the way

Naima:

Right, right.

Melody:

and he is like, you can come hang out in my garden too.

Melody:

Like come be in mic club.

Melody:

And then he is like, all right woman, come on.

Melody:

And he takes her out and they were like quiet for a little while and

Naima:

Yeah, he just used me in front of everybody to prove a point.

Naima:

He manipulated me, but like she's going

Naima:

and yeah.

Naima:

And

Naima:

then

Melody:

picks her up.

Naima:

oh, it was so,

Melody:

He,

Naima:

of my favorite

Melody:

I know he puts her up against the wall and he starts like kissing

Melody:

her neck and being like, which woman?

Melody:

Like you've entranced me.

Melody:

Thank

Naima:

honored me, like

Naima:

you in front of my, my, my clan.

Naima:

Like

Naima:

Oh, he

Melody:

how important that

Melody:

was and you gave it to me.

Naima:

Yeah.

Melody:

And he's

Naima:

It was great.

Naima:

He is.

Naima:

And you can feel it like with his words and that stops like the whole spiral

Naima:

that she was, cuz she realizes that he wasn't dismissing her or using her, or

Naima:

he

Naima:

was Yes.

Naima:

They did this together.

Naima:

Like

Naima:

she helped him once again prove what, like his strength, his realty,

Naima:

his, his leadership and that he had a strong ass woman with him

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

so grateful.

Naima:

And, uh, that was one of my favorite scenes.

Naima:

That

Melody:

I can't

Melody:

believe I forgot it.

Melody:

Then

Naima:

against the wall.

Melody:

yo Yeah.

Melody:

God.

Melody:

Does he ever, and then she does those office hours and he, he, uh, oh.

Melody:

So the pivotal thing at the end of this, my transcendent fuck regardless,

Melody:

is that he's basically telling her like, I, I'm trying to do all

Melody:

of this without entrapping you.

Melody:

Like I, I'm trying to let you find your own way.

Melody:

And I'm just sort of hoping that I'll, I'll be included in it.

Melody:

And he's like, I didn't want to like back you into a corner and

Melody:

like irreparably make you mine.

Melody:

And then she's like, oh my God.

Melody:

The only way he would be able to do that is if I was

Melody:

pregnant, but I'm on like massive

Naima:

Impressive.

Naima:

Like triple the dose, like I've been really building this up for

Naima:

so no, no accidents can happen

Naima:

cuz she doesn't wanna repeat a 16 year old

Naima:

herself, like 16 herself.

Naima:

So,

Melody:

And so she says, wait, Jo,

Melody:

Am I pregnant?

Melody:

And he's like, yes, you are.

Naima:

Oh God.

Melody:

And she says, since when, because she wants to know how long he

Melody:

hasn't told her.

Naima:

right, right.

Melody:

And he's like, I think the altar out in the garden.

Melody:

I think like the goddess blessed them.

Melody:

I'm sorry I'm not religious either,

Naima:

I'm But the way y'all blessed that, that alter

Melody:

Oh, come on.

Melody:

You

Melody:

were

Melody:

getting a

Naima:

any of us surprised?

Melody:

Jesus.

Naima:

Hell, I might have left up pregnant after reading that.

Naima:

Like I'm not surprised youre

Melody:

That's like Magic Mike two level.

Melody:

Get you pregnant.

Naima:

man.

Naima:

So we're not, we're not shocked.

Naima:

But yeah, she's like, she is stunned

Naima:

cuz apparently like human, human birth control is new match for the honeycomb

Melody:

come on.

Melody:

Come on.

Melody:

And so he's like, he's

Melody:

like, but I still, well, he

Melody:

kind of did.

Melody:

And he's like, I'm sorry.

Melody:

I

Melody:

know I should have told you, but I, I sort of didn't, I just couldn't believe it.

Melody:

Like, I couldn't believe that

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

He was

Naima:

in shock cuz that wasn't his plan

Naima:

It wasn't his plan anymore.

Melody:

right.

Naima:

But she's thinking it was his plan.

Naima:

Like she's still, she goes back to sp she goes back to that and she,

Naima:

what I like about through the whole book, even though she spiraled

Naima:

a lot, it got corrected quick.

Naima:

It didn't drag out, which could have been so annoying if it did, but it didn't,

Naima:

it, it got corrected quick and so did this, you know, like she realized that.

Naima:

All she did was she thought back to how he had been with her in these last few days.

Naima:

And he, she knew that that wasn't his plan anymore.

Naima:

But she was angry that he'd been keeping

Naima:

that from her,

Melody:

And he

Melody:

says like, I don't wanna trap you.

Melody:

I want you to find your own way.

Melody:

And so he offers her a termination.

Melody:

He says, I'll take you to the healer right now and you can, you can get

Melody:

the herbs that will terminate this.

Melody:

And she says, she's like a little bit horrified.

Melody:

And she's

Melody:

like,

Melody:

J Jo,

Naima:

son

Melody:

what you want?

Naima:

Yeah,

Melody:

like, God, no.

Melody:

Like that

Naima:

I was so glad he

Melody:

thinking about it.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Like, I, God, no way.

Melody:

I do not want that.

Melody:

But I Absolutely, if you want that, we should do it.

Melody:

And she says she thinks about it and she's like, this is completely different

Melody:

than my 16 year old self getting

Naima:

Right.

Melody:

pregnant with Roy

Naima:

And you have already shown that not only do you want a son, but

Naima:

that you would care for this son.

Naima:

You would nurture this son and me,

Melody:

Uhhuh.

Naima:

you, you would not abandon me.

Naima:

You've already shown that even before we found, I found out, you

Naima:

know, we were pregnant, so she knows

Melody:

Yeah,

Naima:

not Yeah.

Naima:

And

Naima:

another, she's like, another thing I loved is that they didn't

Naima:

drag that out either with her.

Naima:

Like, I don't know if I wanted, I have to think about

Naima:

it.

Naima:

No, she, she knew because she'd been in that

Melody:

absolutely.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

And she, and, and I love that Finley Finn still makes it clear right there.

Melody:

She's like, once again, I have never judged a woman for making that

Melody:

decision.

Melody:

I just

Naima:

is choice.

Melody:

place in my life, I

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And I, I'd loved how she took the time and explain that through her inner dialogue

Naima:

that she, she made that decision before for her reasons that were very valid

Naima:

at the time.

Melody:

regretted it.

Naima:

Never, she doesn't regret it.

Naima:

She just regrets that other people would look at her di like, which

Naima:

judge her for, for that decision.

Naima:

But she also recognizes I'm in a different place

Naima:

with a different male,

Naima:

different circumstances.

Naima:

And she

Naima:

makes the choice.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Everything.

Melody:

Different position.

Melody:

Um,

Naima:

in,

Naima:

in her job, like she has a job, she's a midwife.

Naima:

So she makes the choice.

Naima:

And that's one of the things that just fires me up about people who are

Naima:

pro-life confused, pro-choice, like the name of it is literally pro-choice.

Naima:

That means I have the choice to decide whether I'm going

Naima:

to keep the baby or I'm not.

Naima:

It's not pro-abortion as y'all like to say.

Naima:

It's, it is not that.

Naima:

It's pro giving the woman her choice to have autonomy over her body to

Naima:

decide what she wants to do with it.

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

so

Melody:

Well,

Naima:

so clear here.

Melody:

yeah.

Melody:

And actually, that's actually why, um, I refuse to call people

Melody:

on that side pro-life, because I

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

branding is fucked.

Melody:

um,

Naima:

so misleading.

Melody:

Uhhuh, and it automatically makes what anybody who poses

Melody:

anti-life, like, what the

Naima:

Right, right.

Melody:

call them anti-choice.

Naima:

You know what, I'm about to do that from

Naima:

down wood and I'm about to tell my daughter that

Naima:

Cause I, we, we just had like this discussion about this, um, about a

Naima:

month ago, about what Pro-Choice is.

Naima:

And cuz apparently there she had a, it was a discussion in the

Naima:

classroom about it and I was like, listen, this is what pro-choice is.

Naima:

It is not pro-abortion.

Naima:

That's, that's what they like to brand it as, or make it seem as

Naima:

to be, again, misleading language.

Naima:

But

Naima:

it is not.

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Melody:

, it's not

Naima:

a woman.

Naima:

It's about

Naima:

choice and I Exactly.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

But I am so using that

Naima:

now.

Melody:

anti-choice.

Melody:

That's all they are.

Naima:

yes.

Naima:

yes.

Melody:

that life once it comes out.

Naima:

No, they're not supported money-wise emotionally.

Naima:

Like they're, they're nothing.

Naima:

Nothing.

Naima:

So you're, you're basically, you're an your anti-choice.

Naima:

You just wanna take away my choice,

Naima:

my control.

Melody:

You're pro

Melody:

forced

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

, Melody: like

Naima:

all circumstances, you're, you're so rigid that you won't even

Naima:

conceive of a, you can't conceive of a situation where this could be

Naima:

harmful, a woman to go through with this.

Naima:

So, yeah.

Naima:

That I'm using that from that one.

Naima:

I'm gonna tell Autumn

Melody:

Yay.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

okay, so then I love this too because she has, like, she shows how like she

Melody:

has no idea where he is mentally or

Melody:

emotionally because she's like, kind of, kind of talking him into being with her.

Melody:

She's like, and I mean, I might not be exactly what you

Melody:

want, but like,

Melody:

it's been like working, you know, we fuck well,

Naima:

yeah.

Melody:

like, it seems like you like me a tiny bit.

Melody:

Like, I don't know.

Melody:

I think maybe we could make a go of it.

Naima:

And he's like,

Melody:

It's like, what the fuck?

Naima:

yeah,

Melody:

girl.

Naima:

right.

Naima:

Whatcha you talking about?

Naima:

Yeah,

Melody:

You're a god tier woman.

Naima:

That's right.

Naima:

Your God is gifted.

Naima:

What do

Naima:

you mean?

Naima:

Like,

Melody:

goddess gifted.

Naima:

like seriously

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

get well long.

Naima:

Shit.

Naima:

I'll keep you here . I'll keep you here woman.

Naima:

Ow.

Naima:

Like, that's it.

Melody:

Absolutely.

Melody:

Give

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

So listen.

Naima:

So they have this honeymoon period, kind of like what I call

Naima:

like a honeymoon period after that, like a lot of days like.

Naima:

What few days go by and she's not even thinking about going home.

Naima:

And in the meantime, cuz she left a note when they originally left

Naima:

saying, going to go see a client might, might be a while because

Naima:

complications.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

So since she's been staying there, like his scouts have been keeping an eye

Naima:

on the house and going in and leaving

Naima:

notes.

Naima:

and making it look like she's been there and been back, like, you know, making

Naima:

it look, lived in the food is gone.

Naima:

it's

Naima:

like, yeah, like they're so crafty.

Melody:

They are.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

and this is where I haven't read till, I'm gonna read it this afternoon.

Melody:

So

Naima:

Okay, okay, okay.

Naima:

Like, I got, like, I'm gone.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

All right.

Naima:

So, okay.

Naima:

Look, they go like, I don't, I think this was before you might have read this.

Naima:

She meets great Aunt Agnes's lover and he, he introduced

Naima:

himself like, I'm your great uncle

Naima:

and I, and at first I was like, she got, but no, like, they can't have, first of

Naima:

all can't have female works, but yes.

Naima:

So that's not, but yeah, that was the org that his aunt was in love

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

they had a full blown relationship.

Melody:

Yeah, they had, they had a, a December, A silver

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Mm-hmm.

Melody:

time in their lives.

Naima:

They did.

Naima:

And he started telling her about her aunt and, how much she adored her.

Naima:

She, she, she really, and it takes away some of her guilt about her or not.

Naima:

So, yeah.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

Alright.

Naima:

Did you get to the part where like they're in the garden?

Naima:

and the ORs come like the three ORs.

Naima:

Like

Melody:

yeah, yeah,

Naima:

Darden.

Naima:

They come back, Stella's late, and when she comes, she's like looking

Naima:

even more like tired than usual.

Naima:

She's like looking really, really run down and up very much so,

Naima:

like eyes are red, like pale.

Naima:

And , when up until this point has not pushed being her midwife on her,

Naima:

she's been her friend and she really has to walk that line of not crossing over.

Naima:

So she takes her into like this one light that they have where they like

Naima:

mix all the, the herbs and everything to make like, you know, medicine.

Naima:

And Stella has become a very accomplished herbalist.

Naima:

Like she is doing the thing and she's been enjoying it.

Naima:

But she looks really, really sad, you know, she looks really

Naima:

sad today more than usual.

Naima:

And being her friend and not trying to be like her midwife Gwen is like,

Naima:

you know, I'm here if you wanna talk.

Naima:

You know, and, and so she, she tells her, Stella tells her that she is so

Naima:

tired, you know, she's just sad and she's tired and she almost wishes,

Naima:

even though she loves her baby, she almost wishes that pregnancy didn't

Naima:

happen because it has for so fast to her.

Naima:

It has been all about my son, my son, my son, my son,

Naima:

and not about

Naima:

her.

Naima:

And

Melody:

incubator to him.

Naima:

basically, and that's what she says.

Naima:

She's like, I don't even feel he loves me for me anymore.

Naima:

It's all about his son.

Naima:

And he doesn't care about my feelings, you know, he doesn't care about my wants,

Naima:

he doesn't listen to me and I'm tired and I just want to go and, and um, she's

Naima:

like, Gwen is like, that happens with women, with couples, you know, and women.

Naima:

Even think, like, that's not unusual for women to think like that, you know?

Naima:

And, and so she's like comforting her on that.

Naima:

And she's like, no, it's worse.

Naima:

Like he does, he does not listen to me.

Naima:

And I, I just, I, I don't wanna be here anymore.

Naima:

I don't wanna be pregnant.

Naima:

I, I just wanna go.

Naima:

But she's not like, wanting to harm me.

Naima:

She's just really venting.

Naima:

And so, um, and she's scared.

Naima:

She's so scared because of the new laws.

Naima:

So

Naima:

she, she

Naima:

feels so

Naima:

trapped.

Naima:

That's what it's, she can't.

Naima:

leave.

Naima:

She's so scared and she feels incredibly trapped.

Naima:

And she's like, this, this motherfucker don't even want me to go outside.

Naima:

Like, you know?

Naima:

And Gwen is like, switches into midwife real quick, but you

Naima:

should, you need fresh air.

Naima:

You need exercise as a pregnant woman, you need all of this,

Naima:

and you need to tell him that.

Naima:

She's like, he's won't li he won't listen.

Naima:

So she offers, Gwen offers her, like, you know, my cottage is free.

Naima:

The scouts are looking out after it, you know, if you and Sofast wanna go

Naima:

there for a break, or you wanna go there for a break, it's guarded, it's quiet.

Naima:

You can work in my garden because you become so good at this herbalist

Naima:

thing and, and it gives you a break.

Naima:

But that's when she was like, you know, then she's thinking to herself

Naima:

like, damn, like the law though.

Naima:

Like, it's dangerous for her.

Naima:

And before that, like before that her, like, Stella had knocked over like hin

Naima:

Bain, which is a, like a knockout drug or

Naima:

whatever, while she was mixing it, because it, it has some

Naima:

kind of medicinal purposes,

Melody:

Uhhuh

Naima:

so then

Melody:

sounds

Naima:

is like, right, it's important.

Naima:

It's important.

Naima:

Like, so Gwen says, after, you know, they're talking about, you

Naima:

know, the law and how women are being hunted and she feels trapped.

Naima:

Gwen is like, I'm so.

Naima:

God, I'm so sorry.

Naima:

I'm so sorry.

Naima:

And if I could end this for you, I, I would, I would, at that moment,

Naima:

on those words, sofast bust into the hut and he's like, basically,

Naima:

what the fuck did you just say?

Naima:

Are you threatening my child?

Naima:

You're, you wanna, I knew you were up to no good.

Naima:

I knew you were, you wanna come here and end work pregnancies.

Naima:

That's basically what he is like, he's like, get the fuck away from my wife.

Naima:

And she's like, cuz he's like, intimidating, but Gwen b and Gwen is like,

Naima:

hold, oh,

Naima:

like listen back the fuck up.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

That's not what's going on.

Naima:

But he does, he is not listening.

Naima:

And she's like, you know what?

Naima:

If you would get your head outta your ass and see that your wife needs

Naima:

you, needs you to listen to her, maybe she wouldn't be so damn sad.

Naima:

You know what I mean?

Naima:

Like, and he is like, fuck this, let's go get your shit.

Naima:

You ain't never coming back to this garden,

Naima:

ever.

Naima:

And Gwen is, I mean, not, not Gwen Stella is so shut down, but in the mean,

Naima:

when he is like going off who appears Joar and he is like, listen back up.

Naima:

You ain't talking to my woman like

Naima:

this.

Naima:

You, you need to go

Melody:

You've crossed a line.

Naima:

He is like, I will beat your ass again

Naima:

because he's, he's beating his ass again in the

Naima:

ring.

Naima:

and that's another thing was Stella was like saying to Gwen, he is like so

Naima:

fast has like been impossible to live with, especially since Joar came back.

Naima:

He's the seer, he's like the inherited leader and he's feeling threatened

Naima:

because all he is done for this clan, all the battles he's led them in and

Naima:

he's feeling so unappreciated and so.

Naima:

Like, that's so we all know that they've been talking and that that

Naima:

gives you a glimpse into another.

Naima:

Like so fast feels threatened by Joar.

Naima:

So he's like, get your shit.

Naima:

We're going, you ain't never coming back to this garden.

Naima:

Stella is so shut down and she just nods.

Naima:

And inside Gwen is like, say something, but she doesn't, she

Naima:

just walks off with her head down.

Naima:

And um, so like after that her Jo like to cheer her up.

Naima:

Joar takes her to, he was like, let me show you my other garden, my

Naima:

secret garden hug.

Naima:

Quincy Joseph again

Melody:

holy shit.

Naima:

into like bows of or Mountain

Melody:

Does he have a mushroom garden?

Naima:

room full of

Naima:

mushrooms.

Naima:

Like any kinda variety you can think

Naima:

of, eatable, get high mushrooms,

Melody:

Yes.

Naima:

like every, she is stunned and she is so happy.

Naima:

But Gwen being Gwen after she's like, and there's two rooms, two huge rooms

Naima:

and he's telling her like when he first came to or mountain as an orlene,

Naima:

that's how long he's been growing it.

Naima:

Um, he discovered them and now he, he will go out and pick 'em and now

Naima:

it's like his own mushroom paradise

Naima:

down there.

Naima:

Really?

Naima:

And, but Gwen being Gwen, she starts thinking, wait, you lied again.

Naima:

You hid this from me.

Naima:

Because she's like, you know, I won't tell anybody about your secret garden.

Naima:

And yeah, he did, but she sees something in his eyes and it's

Naima:

like, she's like, hold up.

Naima:

No, it's just secret from me.

Naima:

It's not secret from everybody else.

Naima:

So you didn't trust me.

Naima:

So apparently other people do know about this mushroom garden.

Naima:

He never told her about the mushroom garden.

Naima:

And she's like, so you didn't trust me.

Naima:

Like, why have you been keeping this a secret?

Naima:

So obviously we, you know, you don't.

Naima:

Really, trust me, you still see me as like the Lord.

Naima:

She keeps going back to that like the, the Lord what's name's daughter, and

Naima:

and he's like, listen, it's not that I needed to know that you were staying.

Naima:

I needed to know that I could trust you cuz I didn't, I

Naima:

didn't know if you would leave.

Naima:

I didn't know if I could trust you with the secret.

Naima:

I didn't know,

Naima:

but now I do and which is why I'm showing you.

Naima:

Right?

Naima:

So it's still like that kernel of doubt there.

Naima:

But, um, they do edibles,

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

There's Hallucinogenics in this

Naima:

there are release that like relax

Melody:

Oh, I

Naima:

like they do.

Melody:

to read this.

Naima:

The, the mushrooms are very real.

Naima:

Like you get high off the mushrooms and she's like, yo, I'm pregnant,

Naima:

I can't eat through the edibles.

Naima:

And he's like, yeah, if you was pregnant with a human kid, but you got or seed in

Naima:

you bitch that ain't touching like the, or

Naima:

like

Melody:

an OR in

Melody:

there.

Naima:

not your kind of baby, you know,

Melody:

I love it.

Naima:

So they have high sex and it's amazing.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

But right after that, he's like, oh shit, Stella.

Naima:

And this is when we find out that's not the only reason they call him seer.

Naima:

It's not just for leadership because there have been, there's been like little

Naima:

hints, but she's like, how does he know that something's wrong with Stella?

Naima:

And he like, get your shit.

Naima:

Let's go get dressed.

Naima:

And so they're like running through or mountain, get to her room, he,

Melody:

Uhhuh

Naima:

and she's gone.

Naima:

She's, her bed is gone.

Naima:

But on the floor, just like knocked out, sprawled out is

Naima:

so fast.

Naima:

And he goes over

Naima:

to him, she drugged his ass, knocked his ass right on

Naima:

out.

Naima:

And it's so much that like Joar can smell it on him.

Naima:

And he's like, he like slapping so fast.

Naima:

Like, come on, wake up,

Naima:

wake up, wake up, your women's gone.

Naima:

And he is like, trying to so fast comes to a little bit, but he's still like

Naima:

drugged and he tries to take a swipe at Gwen and like Gwar having that because

Naima:

he is like, it's your fault she left cause of you cuz you filled her mind.

Naima:

She's like, no, it's all you,

Naima:

You didn't listen to her, you drove her away.

Naima:

And then so fast starts crying.

Naima:

Like he starts crying cuz like Jo's like, we have to go after

Naima:

her now we have to find her now.

Naima:

She's

Naima:

pregnant, she's dangerous out there.

Naima:

And I, we have to find her.

Naima:

And he's like crying and he is like, listen, I'm gonna go Jo's.

Naima:

Like I'm gonna go get the rest of the soldiers.

Naima:

We're gonna find her and we're gonna hunt her down.

Naima:

And so fast.

Naima:

It's like, no, you cannot, the shame that will be that.

Naima:

And that's, that was Gwen's reactions.

Naima:

Like, this motherfucker care about shame and pride than his

Naima:

own.

Naima:

Not only just

Naima:

yes.

Naima:

Made and, and the baby, you, you so you're so obsessed with.

Naima:

And then she realizes that no it's not because he keeps on, he's like crying

Naima:

at this point and he keeps on talking and she realizes it's not about him.

Naima:

And Jo explains it to her that like, he's like, no, he's not talking about himself

Naima:

with mates.

Naima:

If they leave their shame, the shame will be on the mate.

Naima:

That she'll be outed, she'll be kicked out of the c.

Naima:

That she won't be welcomed anymore.

Naima:

And it's basically like throwing, like shitting on the goddess

Naima:

is pretty much what it's like.

Naima:

And so he wants to find her before anybody realizes she's gone.

Naima:

So the clan won't turn on her.

Naima:

It's all about her.

Naima:

And he is like, and then he, he just breaks delmore.

Naima:

He is like, I know she's been sad.

Naima:

She's not the same stellar and I don't give a damn if she loses

Naima:

the baby, do I want my son?

Naima:

Yes, she loses that baby.

Naima:

I don't give a damn.

Naima:

I just want her back safe in my arms.

Naima:

And that's when you see like this other side of him.

Naima:

He's been acting this way with her because he's been scared and he just didn't know.

Naima:

He just didn't know.

Naima:

And he wanted to protect her, not, not really like his son.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

But he wanted to keep her safe because he loves her so much.

Naima:

So they leave, they're running through or mountain.

Naima:

And then out of the blue comes, is it Calder?

Naima:

Like,

Naima:

like the other, the

Naima:

orco through whom?

Naima:

Nudged the ax towards

Naima:

him.

Naima:

And he is like, yeah, I'm going, I, I know she's going, let's go.

Naima:

And he puts so puts like sofa's other arm on him, like, let's ride out.

Naima:

And now, because um, at the same time this has been like a revelation to Gwen, Joe

Naima:

R is not just a seer as a l as a leader.

Melody:

He has premonitions,

Naima:

yes, he sees things

Melody:

huh?

Naima:

and she realizes that.

Naima:

And she's thinking back to all the other times, like when the men came, it wasn't

Naima:

so much tasting them or sniffing them on the air, it was knowing that they were

Naima:

there and knowing like, which way to go.

Naima:

And he, he knows things and she confronts him about it and , she's

Naima:

like, this is another thing you have lied about and you did not tell me.

Naima:

And will our son be like this too?

Naima:

That's one of the reasons he didn't tell her either, because he knows

Naima:

people doesn't handle that well.

Naima:

And all this time sofa has like, Sneered like sear.

Naima:

And this is why

Melody:

yeah,

Naima:

have not handled him knowing Well and he was afraid.

Naima:

If she knew that he could see things, she would be, she wouldn't want their baby.

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And so she's livid and in when fashion she goes through, you knew that

Naima:

your original plan wouldn't work.

Naima:

You knew that

Naima:

this how everything was going to unfold.

Naima:

And you knew that I would get pregnant and that was a way for you to keep me here.

Naima:

You also knew that the only way, like your plan would work anyway because

Naima:

I would have to go back home because she tells them Gwen is at my cottage.

Naima:

She is like, I know.

Naima:

Like she has to be.

Naima:

That's what we talked about.

Naima:

That's it makes sense.

Naima:

That's the only place she would go.

Naima:

And he's like, so she's like, so you knew it would all work out this way and

Naima:

the end that I would have to go back

Naima:

see my

Melody:

still find out I'm pregnant with an ORs baby.

Melody:

But did

Naima:

I would be, no, he

Naima:

didn't.

Naima:

he

Naima:

tells,

Melody:

flashes of things,

Naima:

and it's kinda like if you're made it with somebody like

Naima:

in other books and he tells her with you, it's always changing.

Naima:

It's either dark or it's always changing.

Naima:

You have changed and this is words.

Naima:

You have changed the plan

Melody:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Naima:

and it's like

Naima:

she is, yeah.

Naima:

She's this unprotect Exactly.

Naima:

She's this unpredictable variable where everything else that he sees,

Naima:

because he also saw Gwen running, like he, he knew Gwen was gonna

Naima:

be in dangerous at some point.

Naima:

but with her, he can't predict cuz she's unpredictable.

Naima:

but she's not really hearing that.

Naima:

She's not.

Naima:

And yeah.

Naima:

And she tells him, Listen, we're gonna go get Gwen,

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

her.

Naima:

You're gonna bring her back here, and then you're gonna leave me alone.

Naima:

You're not gonna talk to me, you're not gonna come near me unless I

Naima:

yet read him the whole riot act.

Naima:

Read him the whole riot act.

Naima:

So you Yeah.

Naima:

It was ugly.

Naima:

And he was so hurt.

Naima:

He was so hurt.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

He, he was, he was gutted.

Naima:

So they're running, powders, like, go make sure she's safe.

Naima:

We're gonna come up.

Naima:

cause

Naima:

cause Yeah, right, right.

Naima:

And so they get to the woods and he stops.

Naima:

And I think he like, feeds her

Naima:

and, and he stops and he, she looks right.

Naima:

She looks behind her and he's just crying.

Naima:

He is just crying.

Naima:

And he tells her, I didn't know you switched the plan.

Naima:

You changed the plan.

Naima:

You are everything.

Naima:

You're my mate.

Naima:

And I fucked up.

Naima:

I did, but it wasn't on purpose because I was afraid that you wouldn't want

Naima:

the baby, but I didn't manipulate you.

Naima:

I just didn't know.

Naima:

And she is, she's kind of listening

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

and she's kind of hearing him, but she's still mad as hell.

Melody:

I mean, it would be very, it's a very convenient thing to be true.

Melody:

You know what I mean?

Melody:

I

Naima:

yeah.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

It's so I feel like she again, jumped to a conclusion cause

Naima:

I understood his reasoning.

Naima:

But still, I'm like yeah, you should have told her, dude, you should have.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Anyway, she was going to, anyway, you, you wrote it.

Naima:

She come to this conclusion that he knew deploying to work all along and

Naima:

he was still being that manipulative, deceptive, or, you know, and that

Naima:

he was willing to sacrifice her to get in good with his clan.

Naima:

that's how she saw it.

Naima:

And so he's like, I'll leave you alone.

Naima:

I won't come unless you call for me.

Naima:

but I, you know, I love you and you know, I'm, I'm gonna be here for you,

Naima:

but I'll, I'll respect your wishes.

Naima:

I'll respect your choices.

Naima:

Again, choice.

Naima:

Like, I'm going to give you what you want, but I, I do love you.

Naima:

And I didn't mean for any of this to happen.

Naima:

So she leaves him at the shadow of the woods and she knocks on the door.

Naima:

She hears like, like a sound initial, she knows Stella's there.

Naima:

And she's like, Stella, it's me.

Naima:

Stella opens the door and Stella is a mess.

Naima:

She's like, I did.

Naima:

I go home wrong.

Naima:

I should not have done this.

Naima:

I should not have ran.

Naima:

I'm so scared.

Naima:

I was just fed up.

Naima:

And she was like, sofas is going to hate me.

Naima:

He's gonna hate me for drugging him

Naima:

and leaving him and endangering his son.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

She's like, no, no.

Naima:

Sofas loves you.

Naima:

You should have seen homeboy.

Naima:

Like, he was nuts.

Naima:

And it wasn't about his son.

Naima:

It was about, you do love you and you know, I don't like so fast.

Naima:

Like, she's like, , she's, and she's like, oh my God, what am I gonna do?

Naima:

And then the door just slams open.

Naima:

I'm like,

Naima:

bitch, you got locked, like an orca approved lock for this door.

Naima:

And she like slams this, like, the door slams open and she's like,

Naima:

holy shit, what beast is this?

Naima:

It's like muddy.

Naima:

It's hairy.

Naima:

It's slathering at the mouth.

Melody:

it so fast?

Melody:

Oh, he's a mess.

Melody:

He had

Naima:

he got, he got, comes in behind him and he is like,

Naima:

look, dude got away from me.

Naima:

Like, I couldn't even hold him anymore.

Naima:

We were, we were living in the mud just like, and the hair is like his hair.

Naima:

It's like all over the place.

Naima:

And she's, he like grabs Gwen to the, to him.

Naima:

And they have this moment and he is like, This is when you find out,

Naima:

cause I didn't read their novella,

Naima:

but this is when you find out what the kink is and he is like,

Naima:

he's like comforting her and he like slaps her on the ass

Naima:

kind of gently.

Naima:

And Gwen is like,

Melody:

Oh, you're treating me like my old self again.

Melody:

That is one thing they talked about earlier in the book.

Melody:

She was like, are they always like this where she just like

Melody:

cows and, and he's overbearing.

Melody:

And um, and Jar was like, no.

Melody:

Normally she's like giving him shit and teasing him until he spanks

Melody:

her.

Melody:

And then she's

Naima:

yes.

Naima:

She like, she's like a brat, you know, she's like a brat for him.

Naima:

And, and , it hits Gwen and she's like, oh, okay.

Naima:

I get, she's like, listen for the purpose of the room, okay, you

Naima:

don't have to discontinue intimacy games just because you're maid is

Naima:

pregnant.

Naima:

Now here are some things, don't nipple play because it can cause contractions.

Naima:

You don't want that.

Naima:

And then with the restraints, don't make 'em too tight cuz it's circulation.

Naima:

Needs circulation, of course avoid the baby bump, but

Naima:

otherwise it's perfectly healthy.

Naima:

And listen, any sudden changes in your relationship when

Naima:

it is pregnant, when she's

Naima:

pregnant, it's

Naima:

going to cause problems.

Naima:

Right?

Naima:

Cause she's, she's already questioning her body and all of

Naima:

this and then you switching it up is only gonna make that worse.

Naima:

And they both like freeze and they look at her and they're like, uh, are you serious?

Naima:

And she's like,

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

the room?

Naima:

Yes,

Melody:

for the whole room

Naima:

the

Melody:

in

Naima:

room in case anybody's being arrested.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

That is perfectly safe.

Naima:

And then so fast it's like, woman, are you certain?

Naima:

And she's like, yes, I'm

Naima:

certain

Melody:

so fast.

Naima:

And there's my bedroom over there in case you wanna

Naima:

continue this conversation.

Naima:

Cuz he like slaps her ass again.

Naima:

They go in that bedroom and start flexing her

Melody:

I love it.

Naima:

is like, is like, um, I think they're gonna be a while.

Melody:

Yep.

Naima:

Um, I'm gonna go out.

Melody:

They're a little

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

I, I'm gonna, cause you know, in case some men come, I'm gonna go

Naima:

out and hang with your, your mate.

Naima:

And that's when she realizes that Ard did not leave.

Melody:

No, he's not leaving.

Naima:

No.

Naima:

Nope.

Naima:

He's

Melody:

He's gonna be

Naima:

and still watching over.

Melody:

Dick knows.

Naima:

is not going anywhere.

Naima:

And so

Melody:

now.

Naima:

he, they die like he might as well build a little hu up in the tree.

Naima:

what?

Naima:

A little tree house.

Naima:

Like he might as well.

Naima:

He's not going anywhere as long as you're here.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

So she's in there and all she hears is like the slaps

Naima:

and the groans and whatever.

Naima:

And then she hears the sound of hooves

Melody:

No, I knew it.

Melody:

I

Melody:

knew it.

Naima:

Roy.

Naima:

Asshole Roy.

Naima:

And he's like, he doesn't even knock either, but he doesn't

Naima:

bust up in there in a sexy way.

Naima:

He busts.

Naima:

Busts up there in the asshole way.

Naima:

Where the fuck you been?

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

But get all in notes where you been.

Naima:

I know you haven't been visiting the villages cuz ain't nobody seen you.

Melody:

Oh

Naima:

So where you been?

Naima:

And she's like, basically like, you know what?

Naima:

Not your

Naima:

business.

Naima:

Um, we're not getting married anymore.

Naima:

And he's like, you're dreaming.

Naima:

Yeah, we're getting married.

Naima:

And she's like, I would never marry a person who doesn't respect me and

Naima:

who threatened to destroy my dream by burning down my house and my garden.

Naima:

He's

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

God.

Naima:

I was just talking.

Naima:

I was mad.

Naima:

You know?

Naima:

So they're going back and forth and his ugly side comes out again

Naima:

because she tells him, bitch, I said, I'm not going back with you.

Naima:

And more, even more.

Naima:

I found somebody else and I'm in love with him and I'm having, yeah,

Naima:

I'm getting, I'm with him now.

Naima:

I'm not getting married to you.

Naima:

He's like, do you mean your work?

Naima:

she's like,

Naima:

uh,

Melody:

I'm sorry.

Naima:

you mean?

Naima:

I'm like, say, say what?

Naima:

Like, I don't, I don't, understand.

Naima:

I don't compute.

Naima:

He's like, yeah.

Naima:

Yeah, you mean the or that's been sniffing around you and hanging around

Naima:

the, the town that they live in.

Naima:

And he's been, and it's funny because he's been doing all kind of like petty

Naima:

shit, like letting, letting birds loosen the, the town council when

Naima:

they're in a meeting and it's just all kind of shit, like giving him shit.

Naima:

And he's like, yeah, you think he's, we've been follow tracking him for

Naima:

months, tracking him for months and we almost called him in the woods.

Naima:

So those were, those were Roy men in the woods.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And he's like, coincidentally, we almost called him three weeks ago.

Naima:

Coincidentally, that's when your ass disappeared.

Naima:

Like, so he's like tying it all together in an nepo.

Naima:

And that's when she realizes Joe, this did not jo r being falling, like

Naima:

following her and like hunting her, which is like the skyway, um, of, of

Naima:

mating instead of like the, his clan has put your ass on a, like on the

Naima:

altar and

Naima:

let's screw, like exhibition is screwing.

Naima:

No, the skyway is hunting down their me and taking them.

Naima:

And that's how he first took her.

Naima:

Remember?

Naima:

That's

Naima:

how he first took her.

Naima:

He took her in the skyway first and then he took her in the bat way.

Naima:

So I know it's just all coming together.

Naima:

And she's realizing this and she's like, no, he was obsessed

Naima:

with me before the whole

Naima:

plan because the plan didn't come into fruition until like a month or so ago.

Naima:

This, he said, like Roy said, he's been following me for months,

Naima:

plural.

Naima:

he does love me.

Melody:

Ah,

Naima:

Y'all chills.

Naima:

And Roy is like, yeah, what we're going to do, I know about 'em.

Naima:

We're gonna find him.

Naima:

We're gonna kill him.

Naima:

And you, you're coming back with me right now.

Naima:

And who do you think sent me here for you was like your father.

Naima:

So your father's no help.

Naima:

We're gonna take you and we're going to kill that baby in

Naima:

you and then you're going to marry me.

Naima:

And then you're basically gonna beg for my forgiveness.

Naima:

She notices, like remember she took the crossbow with her to work mountain at some

Naima:

point that that Crossbo got back And I think like, I think Ard put it back there.

Naima:

She notices it under the window, an open window, but also the fir what She also

Naima:

notices, her foot nudges a pine cone.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

Because there was this moment, the pine cone is the same one when they were in

Naima:

the woods coming back, he threw a pine pine cone at her like as a reminder

Naima:

of when they've been there before.

Naima:

And she's like, yeah, that pine cone shit ain't gonna work.

Naima:

Like you've been lying.

Naima:

And he like, so she like hurls it back at him,

Naima:

like throwing it in his face and he catches it and

Naima:

that's when he starts crying.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

So, and when they're in the house, her foot nudges the pine cone

Naima:

and she realizes he has not left

Naima:

me.

Melody:

He

Melody:

he's telling me that He brought me a cross

Naima:

That's right.

Naima:

Like forget, forget gifts.

Naima:

Like who wants a bracelet when you have a cross?

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

she notices.

Naima:

So does Ray, Ray lunges for it.

Naima:

She is closer.

Naima:

She turns around and shoots it at him

Melody:

Shoots it at him.

Naima:

heart.

Naima:

But Ray's a little like squirrely bastard so it gets him like right here.

Naima:

But dude pass and he like passes out from the pain and so she, I was, I was

Naima:

like, when I was reading this I was like,

Melody:

You know what?

Melody:

I love that because it solidifies that this is no longer her house.

Naima:

yes,

Melody:

about the mess

Naima:

no, no,

Naima:

like

Naima:

with

Melody:

now.

Naima:

remember joar like I'm

Naima:

not gonna shoot you cuz I'm not,

Naima:

I'm not cleaning up no mess

Naima:

and dragging your body out.

Naima:

Mel, screw the mess.

Melody:

I don't care.

Naima:

And what also what I loved about this, and you're also gonna

Naima:

see it with her father cuz he's like on his way there, it's kind of

Naima:

like in the first book, how Jewel killed her husband and saved herself.

Naima:

She saved herself.

Naima:

Like she took down the big bag.

Naima:

Like yeah cuz her father isn't really the big this law is,

Naima:

but her father's a weak man.

Naima:

But Roy is something else entirely.

Naima:

And he was getting ready to like snatch her up and beat her

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

she saved herself and put him down and so fast.

Naima:

And um, and Stella comes out

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Oh

Naima:

standing over him so fast is butt naked and all Stella has over a sha and

Naima:

she's standing over him and about to put another arrow right through his heart.

Naima:

And Sofast is like, hold up woman.

Naima:

Hold up.

Naima:

Think about this.

Naima:

You're, you're of our clan now.

Naima:

That's who you are.

Naima:

You're ol now.

Naima:

Right?

Naima:

You have to ask yourself, the question is, how is this gonna serve the

Naima:

Klan, you, your mate and the goddess?

Naima:

If this ends, then take the shot.

Naima:

If it's not and it's just gonna cause more problems like us going to war

Naima:

after, you know, we lost our women, then don't take the shot.

Naima:

But you need to talk to the goddess first.

Naima:

And at first she's like, yeah, I ain't having no time to talk to the goddess.

Naima:

But she does, she does that pose like she did at the altar in the garden.

Naima:

And she like puts her hand over her fist and a hand on the table.

Naima:

The table turns out to be an altar.

Naima:

By the way.

Naima:

Her aunt had an altar in her house.

Naima:

So the first time they fucked was when an altar again,

Melody:

Stop it.

Naima:

like all the strings,

Naima:

man.

Naima:

All the

Melody:

Goddess Gifted

Naima:

I know.

Naima:

I, she was meant

Melody:

from the

Naima:

of she lady.

Naima:

Your brain,

Naima:

your

Naima:

imagination.

Naima:

So this whole time she was, has been a part of that clan,

Naima:

even though she didn't know it,

Naima:

you know?

Naima:

So she communicates and she realizes like, yeah, this is not gonna serve.

Naima:

This is only gonna bring down more war on it because he is like an officer.

Naima:

Like

Naima:

he's, he tells her, he is like, so are you gonna do that or are you gonna call

Naima:

them in here and convince them you were attacked and that you were defending

Naima:

yourself and they should take 'em over?

Naima:

It's like, you're right.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

So they go back in the room and she like, brings on a girly girl persona

Naima:

and calls them in there and they're like, she's like, he was going to

Naima:

attack me and I had to shoot him.

Naima:

And my father's gonna be so upset that he treated me like this.

Naima:

And his second in command is pretty much like, oh Roy, I told him his

Naima:

hothead would get him in trouble one day

Melody:

Mm,

Naima:

and they just scoop him up and it was like, we're so glad to

Naima:

see you're okay, cuz we heard rumors.

Naima:

So glad, glad and I know your father is gonna be so glad you're okay.

Naima:

They scoop all boy out and go,

Melody:

whoa.

Naima:

yeah.

Naima:

And then her

Melody:

up.

Melody:

Nice work.

Naima:

I know.

Naima:

And then her father arrives.

Melody:

it's time.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And he's just such an, God bless him.

Naima:

Uh, he's an idiot.

Naima:

And he's still not listening to her about, she's like, what is this?

Naima:

I heard about your shot Roy, and where have you been?

Naima:

I've heard rumors.

Naima:

And she's like, hold up, hold up.

Naima:

I'm not marrying Roy.

Naima:

Roy just tried to assault me.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

And I met somebody else dead.

Naima:

And she's like, but she's like, I've heard about your law.

Naima:

Okay, I've heard about it going to effect.

Naima:

You're going, you're, you're just harming women and where are you doing?

Naima:

And he's doing that.

Naima:

Oh, pat, pat, pat.

Naima:

You know, Gwenny,

Naima:

don't worry your pretty head about it.

Naima:

She's like, oh, I'm gonna worry my pretty head about it because guess what?

Naima:

I met somebody.

Naima:

I'm in love with him and we're going to get married.

Naima:

And I have his, and I'm pregnant with his son right now.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

her father's like really not upset,

Naima:

right?

Naima:

Because he's like,

Naima:

oh, really?

Naima:

Is he titled,

Naima:

how Rich is he really?

Naima:

Let's bring

Naima:

him

Melody:

notice

Melody:

that she says son in particular?

Naima:

No, he doesn't.

Melody:

how would she

Naima:

Right, right.

Naima:

He does not pick up on

Naima:

that until she

Naima:

says, Joar come out and meet my father, cuz

Naima:

she knows he's there.

Naima:

He sters out the bedroom into the room, her father loses his, he's like, oh, shit.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Naima:

Huh, huh.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And then she's like, you're an ass, but you, at least you did think of me.

Naima:

You told me to run.

Naima:

Like this is the level, this is the standard of care that

Naima:

her father has shown her.

Naima:

That she's impressed by the fact that, um, he told her to run and didn't

Naima:

run himself to abandon her with the

Naima:

work.

Naima:

Right?

Naima:

And so she's like, yeah, this is my mate.

Naima:

This is Jo.

Naima:

You realize if you go through with this stupid law that you're not just

Naima:

condemning women, other women, you're condemning me and believe me, I

Naima:

will return with you and I will tell everybody how I'm pregnant by an org.

Naima:

And I, yes, I will.

Naima:

She's like, I will testify in front of all your cronies.

Naima:

Okay?

Naima:

Gladly.

Naima:

It's going to shame you.

Naima:

It's not gonna shame me, but I will do it if you don't.

Naima:

He's like, listen, Gwenny, I've tried to change the law.

Naima:

I tried to convince them that this is wrong.

Naima:

They're not listening to me.

Naima:

They're going forward.

Naima:

And she's like, you know what, then change the law and you better do it.

Naima:

And so her father is like, she's on.

Naima:

She's a little impressed that he did try to get this to stop even though you

Naima:

were the one that was spearheading it.

Naima:

Right.

Naima:

And.

Naima:

So he's like, SI.

Naima:

He's like plopped down in a chair pretty much in vapors.

Naima:

His, his daughter's pregnant by an or.

Naima:

He's like, oh my God, Gwenny, all the men, like all the, and or who's going

Naima:

like, wh why, why did you do this?

Naima:

And so Jo produces a mushroom,

Melody:

Wait.

Naima:

dunno if you remember, but remember earlier it was almost like a throwaway

Naima:

kind of comment how her father, like his vices are women in recreational drugs.

Naima:

And so Joar produces a mushroom.

Naima:

And her father was like, gimme that

Melody:

please.

Melody:

And thank you.

Melody:

Not even

Naima:

And Gwen is like, yo, yo, hold up, hold up.

Naima:

Do you have any side effects from Hallucinogenics?

Naima:

Whatever.

Naima:

He's like, Nope.

Naima:

Pop.

Naima:

He's like ing in his mouth.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And he visibly relaxes like, this is his shit.

Naima:

This is his drug of choice.

Naima:

And he's like, where did you find those?

Naima:

Did you steal 'em?

Naima:

And he's, and she's like, no, he grows them.

Naima:

He is a very accomplished mushroom,

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

whatever that is,

Naima:

right?

Melody:

He mushrooms all over the place.

Naima:

yes, he is the mushroom guy.

Naima:

Okay.

Melody:

He could be your mushroom guy.

Naima:

you read my mind.

Naima:

You read my mind.

Naima:

Okay, okay, you read ok.

Naima:

He goes, he's like, okay, I don't know if I'm be able to like do this.

Naima:

She's like, you will do it.

Naima:

And then Joar was like, and if you do it, I will keep you with mushrooms.

Naima:

You will never go without mushroom.

Naima:

And her father's like, So how many mushrooms are we talking?

Naima:

He's like, I'll give you a monthly supply of mushrooms.

Naima:

He's like, one a day and more for my friends.

Naima:

And he is like, yeah, no, I can't do like that many.

Naima:

How about two for a week?

Naima:

Two per week, and some for your friends.

Naima:

And then they just go, they start haggling

Naima:

and Gwen is like the fuck.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

They start haggling on how many mushrooms Jo is going to give him.

Naima:

And when they come to like a set amount, her father was like, good deal.

Naima:

Okay, I'm gonna do it.

Naima:

I'm gonna do it for you.

Naima:

A k a and the mushrooms.

Naima:

And, and he's like, damn it.

Naima:

I'm just like, I'm just overcome and I'm hungry.

Naima:

I've been traveling.

Naima:

And Gwen is like, Jo, can you

Naima:

fix

Naima:

can you

Naima:

fix my father's something to eat?

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Can

Naima:

Jo fixes them all, something to

Naima:

eat.

Naima:

Like he prefer.

Naima:

He goes out and of course catches another grouse and like brings

Naima:

it in more mushrooms got sage.

Naima:

He fixes it up and the father is like, at first is like, no.

Naima:

But then when he eats it, cuz her father, her father is like, that's

Naima:

another sin of his, is like gluttony.

Naima:

And hes it, hes it.

Naima:

And so by the time he leaves he is like satisfied.

Naima:

He is going to do his best, he's going to get that law changed.

Naima:

And he's, and he's set in mushrooms with him and his, for him and his friends.

Naima:

And after he leaves, j just like cracks up.

Naima:

He's like, do you realize your father was taken down by drugs, by mushrooms?

Naima:

And she starts laughing and she is like, yeah, mushroom sealed the deal.

Naima:

And so like they have this moment, it is, and then so fast.

Naima:

And, and Stella comes out and they had this moment and so fast,

Naima:

even though they're not like, buddy buddy, you know, so fast is.

Naima:

Respects 'em.

Naima:

And he a and he tells them they're both blessed by the gods and he tells

Naima:

Gwen, because of how you saved us, all of us, we're gonna protect forever.

Naima:

Protect this house, don't sell it.

Naima:

We're not gonna allow anybody

Naima:

to, to, you know, burn it down.

Naima:

It's a place of worship for all the tools.

Naima:

And they can come in and basically fuck on the

Naima:

altar

Melody:

a, it's a

Naima:

like Yes.

Naima:

And you can continue to see,

Melody:

Personal fuck pad.

Naima:

listen, that is exactly what it is, Ian, when she's not at Work

Naima:

Mountain, he's like, when you're, when you're at Work Mountain or

Naima:

you're traveling with your mate, we're gonna, we're gonna guard over it.

Naima:

It is hours.

Naima:

You're part of our clan.

Naima:

Your mate is our clan.

Naima:

And so this is ours now.

Naima:

Like, you know,

Naima:

it was so sweet.

Naima:

It was such a moment.

Naima:

And Jo's like, and you can continue to see the human women

Naima:

who are pregnant pregnant with ORs or, or who needs your services.

Naima:

You can come back here and do that.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

And she is like overcome because she realizes her dreams have come true.

Naima:

Like this was her new way and he was always saying,

Naima:

you're finding your own way.

Naima:

And this was it.

Naima:

She gets to be who she is.

Naima:

She has her mate say professor loved one another.

Naima:

Like, and so then we have the epilogue, right?

Naima:

And there's a big old party that Rosa, who's like the

Naima:

HIEs, like has organized for Jo in the garden and he walks out and he was

Naima:

like, shit, these are a lot of orgs.

Naima:

Like, are they trampling my plants?

Naima:

And she's like, no, no, no, no.

Naima:

We got guards to, we got ropes, making sure nobody's over there.

Naima:

We got guards to keep everybody in check.

Naima:

And it's

Naima:

the twins, it's a party for him.

Naima:

Like a coming of age party

Naima:

for

Naima:

him to get rid of.

Naima:

Yes, yes, yes.

Naima:

And he served his clan.

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

So it's a party for him.

Naima:

I, it was so great.

Naima:

I was like,

Naima:

yay, yay.

Melody:

Oh,

Melody:

That is the sweet heist.

Naima:

Hannah's there because, oh, that's right.

Naima:

They had captured Hannah.

Naima:

Roy told her, they captured Hannah.

Naima:

Remember Hannah is the one whose baby she

Naima:

delivered.

Naima:

They captured Hannah.

Naima:

She had her father let Hannah go.

Naima:

So Hannah's back with her man, or was it two her men, her ORs, she's

Naima:

back with her ORs, two of them.

Naima:

And so they're at the party, she's like hugging on the

Naima:

baby because she delivered it.

Naima:

And then so fast is like, you know, time, it's time Now, Neil before the altar,

Naima:

which is in the middle of the garden, and he says some words and basically what,

Naima:

what he says is, we have our sear back.

Naima:

He's, he's back in line.

Naima:

He's proven his worth, he's proven his service to the Klan and to the goddess.

Naima:

And, um, he's one of us.

Naima:

And so he takes that big ax and he like swings it toward,

Naima:

the back of Jo's neck, but

Naima:

it like stops real quick.

Naima:

It only slices the cord.

Naima:

I mean, dude has great reflexes, right?

Naima:

And the tooth falls to the ground and Kaldor comes, picks

Naima:

it up and throws it in a fire.

Naima:

And that's the ritual.

Naima:

And then they, him , Hey, this is the part I was like, you know, we, we just

Naima:

couldn't end the book without more banana

Naima:

sex, right?

Melody:

yes, yes,

Melody:

yes.

Melody:

yes.

Naima:

it started that way.

Naima:

Let's end it

Naima:

that way, right?

Naima:

So, So, fast bends Stella over the altar, right?

Naima:

And he's like, yeah, you, you, you move.

Naima:

You know, if you move too slow, you're gonna lose your chance.

Naima:

And he put Stella over the altar.

Naima:

And starts fucking her And, and Joar was like, oh, hell no.

Naima:

Not in my garden

Melody:

Oh my

Naima:

on my altar.

Naima:

You're not gonna have one up on me.

Naima:

So he looks at, he looks at Gwen, she's like,

Melody:

Alright.

Melody:

yeah,

Naima:

She's not quite as opposed to exhibition as sex as

Naima:

she used to be.

Naima:

So there having sex right next to each other.

Naima:

And Joar is so fast going back and forth like, yeah, you see how my woman screams?

Naima:

She's screaming for her man.

Naima:

And she's, and

Naima:

Joar is like, well, listen to this.

Naima:

And he like pulls on Gwen's hair.

Naima:

She's screaming louder cuz she get in this

Naima:

dicks, oops.

Naima:

Really?

Naima:

Whose penis is bigger

Naima:

while they're having cervix?

Naima:

And then the funniest part after they like come,

Naima:

right, he picks Gwen up and she sprinkles all over so fast.

Naima:

Like, like how my dog will sprinkle when a tree, that's what she did.

Naima:

And they both start laughing.

Naima:

Cause there was like, it isn't raining, isn't it?

Melody:

Oh

Naima:

so passes piss.

Naima:

But he finds it funny.

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

So like, it's hilarious.

Naima:

And that's how it ends.

Naima:

Like they, they hug, they're like, yeah, it was so good.

Melody:

It was so

Naima:

ending.

Melody:

This book

Melody:

was so many levels.

Melody:

So many levels of amazing.

Melody:

Like it's hard to even communicate.

Melody:

We did it in four hours apparently.

Naima:

Shit.

Naima:

Have we been talking in four

Melody:

I just realized we've for four

Naima:

Melody?

Naima:

It is one o'clock.

Naima:

Holy.

Melody:

up at school right now.

Naima:

We have never, this has to be a record.

Melody:

I think this might be a record.

Naima:

Fuck.

Naima:

This does not be like four hours.

Melody:

No, not even close.

Melody:

I'm not

Naima:

I, I, blame this on Finley Finn,

Naima:

I don't even have to pee yet.

Melody:

I know.

Naima:

Like, you should not write so nuanced, like nuanced books that

Naima:

we have to dis like discuss shit.

Naima:

Like

Naima:

We

Naima:

had to

Naima:

discuss a whole

Naima:

lot of

Melody:

dissect it.

Naima:

things in the book.

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

We did.

Naima:

Stop.

Naima:

it.

Melody:

Stop.

Melody:

Provoking.

Melody:

Such, such topical commentary.

Melody:

Relevant commentary.

Melody:

No wait.

Melody:

Huh

Melody:

uh.

Melody:

I

Melody:

just,

Naima:

Four hours.

Melody:

four hours.

Melody:

Wow.

Melody:

Naima

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Wow.

Melody:

I just have to say I, oh man.

Melody:

This book is so a good,

Naima:

So good.

Naima:

So good.

Naima:

Ugh.

Naima:

I just enjoyed it so much.

Naima:

Oh, when?

Naima:

Because wouldn't you just love to read all of those parts out

Naima:

loud?

Melody:

Are you

Naima:

Okay.

Naima:

Look, when you go back and you finish it and you read like the part with

Naima:

the, um, duals, like the competing sex,

Naima:

please text me.

Melody:

Oh my God.

Melody:

I w Don't

Naima:

Please text me,

Melody:

Nobody could stop

Naima:

And the part where he cries, like, he cried there and then he

Naima:

cried at the very end when he was like declaring his love for her,

Naima:

like when they were in the garden during a party.

Naima:

Jo R is so wonderful.

Naima:

Like, he is

Melody:

wonderful.

Naima:

Oh,

Melody:

I love it.

Melody:

Oh my God, I love it so hard.

Melody:

God.

Melody:

And I love you.

Melody:

Thank you for not, for being so awesome that I didn't notice.

Melody:

We talked for four hours.

Naima:

Listen, this is like this same, same.

Naima:

Cause I'm still like, it's just two, right?

Naima:

It's just two.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Before,

Melody:

um,

Naima:

dead at the

Melody:

It doesn't seem possible.

Naima:

dead.

Naima:

We do

Melody:

my God.

Melody:

Mm-hmm.

Naima:

too.

Naima:

. Melody: You know what?

Naima:

I think our, our joint lady love should be this series.

Naima:

Oh, absolutely.

Melody:

Bananas.

Naima:

Yes.

Melody:

Bananas good.

Naima:

in the earth in the org is so good.

Naima:

Like I, that's her, her latest one.

Naima:

And then the next one is going to be like the two, the um, the maid pair like

Naima:

ORs.

Naima:

They're gonna find their maid

Melody:

Oh,

Naima:

together in the

Naima:

maid and or that's coming out.

Melody:

Wow.

Naima:

yes,

Naima:

yes.

Melody:

You know what?

Melody:

That makes me so happy.

Naima:

that.

Melody:

That makes me so happy.

Melody:

Because like, I don't know, I think, I think, uh, like maybe it was Katie, I

Melody:

don't remember somebody in a Manina book.

Melody:

It was probably gifting me to his best friend.

Melody:

Not sure, but like, my favorite part about Minaj books like that is like their

Melody:

whole on their own, they've had their own perfect, you know, dual relationship just

Melody:

with the, with those two, but then like, adding in something else just makes it

Naima:

It only makes it better.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

Yes.

Naima:

And that is definitely what they are cuz we've seen them since the first book

Melody:

Yeah.

Naima:

they are still, they're, they are wonderful together.

Naima:

and the fact that, like you said, they're so whole and complete

Naima:

together in a healthy relationship together, and they're just, they're

Naima:

adding onto it.

Naima:

Like it only, it can only be, I'm so excited to read that book.

Naima:

Ugh.

Naima:

She only gets better and better and better.

Naima:

Like these books, these, they only get better.

Melody:

It's crazy.

Melody:

Yeah.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

Well, I

Naima:

it.

Melody:

you.

Melody:

Um,

Melody:

we

Naima:

I

Melody:

both of us.

Naima:

four hours.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

I think there's a book.

Naima:

Yeah.

Naima:

Something like that.

Melody:

something like that.

Melody:

Okay.

Melody:

Keeping a badass.

Melody:

And love yourself as much as you love Splash.

Naima:

Yes.

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About the Podcast

Heaving Bosoms
A Romance Novel Podcast
Melody Carlisle and Sabrina Bradley love romance and they do it out loud! Every Monday, these long-distance best friends recap romance novels from a comedic, intersectional feminist, sex-positive perspective.
If you're itching for a BFF book club or just love raucous slumber party vibes, this is the show for you! Whether you've read the book or not, all are welcome! Giggling, tangents, and sincere joy abound.
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