duplicity ic inbox - FIRST STAY

[perfectible]

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[perfectible]

So you're a Dominant.

I can meet you there now?

[atbombshell]

I'll order you something.

[perfectible]

Okay, I'll be there soon.

[atbombshell]

( she's easy to spot when betty arrives, the redhead in her serpent's jack sat by a window, slow sips from her milkshake, a second sat on the table )

Betty!

( she waves her cousin over when she sees her, a brief look around the cafe that looks a little less than pleased )

[perfectible]

[ to be honest, betty hadn't been back to the diner since she was killed there. and when she enters, she feels an unsettling chill run down her back.

but she focuses on cheryl and tells herself it's better not to drink or eat anything from here even if cheryl is sipping away at her own shake. she moves to sit down across from her cousin, a mixture of feelings.

she's a familiar face who has become something of... an ally? maybe even a friend... almost. but definitely family. ]

Cheryl. [ and no matter what, she wouldn't wish this place on anyone.] I'm sorry you got brought here.

[atbombshell]

Betty, I know it isn't your fault.

( even if she knows that's not why betty's apologising but just in case she felt any guilt in there )

Reggie's managed to fill me in on most of it. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about.

( she absolutely had a vague agenda. when didn't she? )

[perfectible]

I know, I'm just saying that no one deserves to be dragged here.

[ of course, betty didn't expect this to be small talk hour.]

What is it? [ she's fine with getting down to business as she tries and fails to see a submissive mark on cheryl's skin so that tells her she's a Dominant (unless she did a really solid job of covering it up.]

[atbombshell]

( she pauses, drinking a little more before answering )

I'm here but Toni isn't. I know that you have Jughead--

( she hates this whole deal and whilst cheryl would like to just deny it reggie was convincing about a few things )

They're serious about what they want.

[perfectible]

[ betty isn't entirely sure where cheryl is going with this but she does understand how hard it is to be here without the person you love. betty doesn't know much about their relationship since betty wasn't there to experience the dating but... she'd heard about it.]

Yes, they are. At the risk of sounding dramatic... they are deadly serious.

[atbombshell]

( she still wants to argue it but cheryl's not an idiot, she's learning quickly. reggie is-- more trusted than the others here and betty even more so. she doesn't doubt that her cousin's truthful about it )

It wouldn't be Riverdale if it wasn't dramatic.

( they might not be in riverdale but they still knew what happened )

I don't want to die, Betty.

[perfectible]

[ betty studies her cousin, trying to figure out what she's not saying.]

Look, Cheryl, I don't want you to die either and you're not going to... there's a lot of us here and we're not going to just abandon you here, okay? [ she pauses.] Plus, you and I are family...

[atbombshell]

As touching as that is family doesn't solve what they want.

( and though she pauses it isn't for long. she's going to have to spell this out )

But I won't cheat on my girlfriend.

[perfectible]

... Okay. [ yes, she's going to have to spell this out.]

You don't have to have sex with who you're contracted with, Cheryl. [ pause.] So where are you going with this?

[atbombshell]

( betty, for someone so smart-- )

I'm not having sex with anyone that isn't Toni. Don't make me get more specific.

[perfectible]

You're going to have to because I have no idea what you're trying to say to me...

[atbombshell]

You have your boyfriend. You can get past what these freaks want.

( sex with the person you loved was simple. no one would bat an eye about it )

I can't.

[perfectible]

Not always. [ she knows she's lucky but at the same time there are times get out of control.]

But you're a Dominant, aren't you?

[atbombshell]

So?

( she has some idea of what being a dominant allows her to do but not everything )

[perfectible]

You’re the one with the most control, you don’t have as many restrictions on you. And no matter what designation you are, you can set the rules of the contract.

[atbombshell]

If I wrote a contract.

( which she didn't intend to. playing into their sick desires? )

I can't believe you think I'd go along with it.

[perfectible]

So you’re planning to go to jail? Cheryl, you can’t be serious. Do you know what they do to people there?

[atbombshell]

And give up my life otherwise?

( she was someone that clung to control, particularly after the family she'd had to fight with for something in her life )

I'm not you, Betty. I can't-- I can't think of doing that.

( of just taking someone else into her life. it'd been hard enough opening up the first time )

[perfectible]

[ well there's a jab into a particularly sensitive part of betty's psyche. she blinks before she frowns at her cousin.]

So you'd rather be tortured and experimented on? Because while I don't know Toni that well, I don't think that's what she'd want you to do. And for the millionth, you don't have to be intimate with someone you're contracted with. [ it just... happens.]

If we weren't the same designation, we could be contracted. [ she sighs.] Cheryl, there's nothing wrong with doing what you need to survive.