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Yeah, but you'd still rather he be home, right? Or would you rather be here together?

[ It's a genuine question; Reggie's not sure what the right answer is, and he's probably in much less of a position to know than Betty would be. Whatever his "relationship" had been with Veronica before, it clearly hadn't been so unshakeable to survive even something as small as Archie coming back home-- and if she ever showed up here he doesn't imagine it would be any different, not that they don't all have bigger things to worry about.

Having bigger things to worry about almost makes it a little easier, though. ]

Anyway, I asked around a little, and everyone I've talked to seems to think people go back home when they go missing. Like sometimes they even get official letters about their contracts being broken. So... [ Not that it's evidence of anything, but. ] You wanna get a coffee or something?

Of course, [ that's an easy answer. As much as she misses him, as much as she wishes she didn't have to hook up with other people (no matter how good the sex is)... ] Jughead is safer back home right now. Given how much trouble he'd gotten in here and the way things are going... I'm not sure he wouldn't have been made an example of sooner rather than later.

[ Reggie tries to reassure her but it's all things she's found out on her own. She just doesn't know how to trust it without knowing for sure herself.] I hope that's true, that it's what happened with him. [ She can't hide her surprise when he asks if she wants to get coffee and she almost accepts out of shock.] I would but... I kind of want to go home and change before I have to go to work. Also, weren't you just headed home?

That sounds like Jughead all right. [ He doesn't mean it in a bad way, though nonetheless a bit bluntly. ] I dunno what's true or not either, but I think you'd be better off not to assume he's still here unless you get more reason to. Cuz if he is then I kinda doubt they could keep it a secret that long.

[ An assumption on his part, but it feels like the kind of thing that couldn't stay hidden, given how many people right now are already on the hunt to expose anything they can about this place. Or maybe someone would escape, even. That sounds like a Jughead move too; he'd probably lead some kind of crazy revolt in there. ]

Um... no. I was going to get some coffee. [ Good. Believable. He clears his throat. ] So I just figured we could go together. Where do you work?

[ Whether he said it bluntly or not, it's true. Jughead doesn't do well with being told what to do and balks at authority. Jughead was heading down a dangerous road before he disappeared. So she doesn't take offense to his words.
]

If the tables were turned, he'd do anything and everything to find me so... that's what I'm doing. [ And she'd do that either way.

Also Reggie, you're a garbage liar.] The library.

At least it's not all you're doing.

[ Heh. Heh... Reggie doesn't even care if that's an awkward joke to make (for a few reasons, even), the set-up was just too good to resist. And yes, he is a garbage liar, but since he thinks he's getting away with it he's not about to stop now. It's not that he particularly wants coffee, he just doesn't want to go back to the apartment until she's gone. ]

The library can't wait like, another half an hour? [ He gestures sweepingly with an arm. ] But I mean, if you gotta go, then...

Edited 2019-04-10 03:33 (UTC)

[ She gives him such a look for that first comment because... well obviously, it deserves a look. ] Why are you being so weird? [ She isn't saying no to the coffee, she just wants to know what his motivations are. ]

You know I don't care if you're contracted with Nick, right?

Um... [ Damn. Called out. Reggie shrugs, trying to brush it off. ] Yeah, of course. Obviously. Why would you?

[ It's hard to break out of the habit of overthinking things, but as much as Reggie likes Nick, he's still a little wary of what assumptions people might make about them upon knowing they're contracted. True or not... ]

I'm not being weird. I, uh, just thought maybe you'd feel awkward if I mentioned it. Not that it's like, a big deal or anything, but, you know.

[ Well, this is a different side of Reggie. She's not sure she's ever heard him fumble over his words like this, seem so nervous. ]

Right. It's not a big deal. [ And she doesn't feel awkward but the thought that there's something more going on here does strike her. But she doesn't push quite yet.

Because she and Archie are contracted and there's nothing on between them. ] Why would I feel awkward?

Because... I live with him and you guys are hooking up. Right? That's not being weird. Cuz like, I'd totally get it if you'd need a little space with that. I can pretend this whole conversation never happened if you want.

[ He needs to find a way to change the subject, but he's drawing a blank. The real pitfall to having almost nothing in common with Betty, except for the very thing he's trying to steer their conversation away from. Reggie clears his throat and quickly continues: ]

Hey, what are the libraries even like here? Is it like, mostly porn? Cuz that's what I'm picturing.

Yeah, I'd prefer that, [ she says, not correcting him on the fact that she and Nick are hooking up, as if it might keep going or that it happened before. She can't speak to the former but the latter is not true. She looks at him, at his questions.]

No, it's a real library with actual books. [ But yes, it has porn.]

[ Subject changed achieved, thank god. At least for now. Reggie relaxes a bit, tension dissipating from his shoulders. ]

I guess it'd have to be for you to work there. But... [ His eyes regard the ceiling a moment in thought. ] Man, this place really makes like, no sense. Some stuff is normal and then everything is like Freak City.

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