perfectible | duplicity ic inbox

By next month.

What's their name?

[ A longer pause, as he sighs slowly. ]

Its me.

[ she types out What? before she deletes it because she knows what it means and...

I'm sorry, Reggie. but she deletes that too. he doesn't want pity. so there's a pause. ]

When he comes back, I'll give him back your contract if you want.

[ she wants to give him hope. how many times did archie come and go? ]

Yeah.

[ He won't mention it, or acknowledge it -- not right now, anyway -- but he appreciates that she keeps it businesslike. Reggie's never been good at accepting pity or comfort, even when he could use it. ]

If he comes back I figure it'll most likely be in a week or two
So if ur good to wait til then b4 we make things official

[ And... he isn't sure how to finish that thought, so he swaps to a new one: ]

Would u want me to move in or nah

[ she knows him well enough by now to know how she needs to play this. she can give him comfort in other ways, in treating how he needs to be treated and taking care of him when he needs that too.]

That's fine. We'll play it by ear.

[ at his question... ]

You can or I can try to take over the deed to the house or get you your own place. What do YOU want?

Edited 2021-03-14 18:32 (UTC)

[ He thinks about it, though not for long-- he's already thought about it enough, plenty, even if he'd rather give the opposite impression. ]

I dont really care

He left the church to his friend nate in case he disappeared
Which is fine I wouldnt wanna keep living here anyway

[ He could, probably, logistically speaking, but it would hurt too much staying there without Nick. ]

So like whatevers fine
After all it's only 3 months

[ it makes her angry that nick wouldn't leave the home to reggie but her issues with nick since coming back (and her sadness about losing him too) will have to wait. ]

I have the extra room if you want to stay with me until we figure out what to do with the contract and then we can figure out where you want to stay?

[ Maybe they'll get a chance to talk about it now, at least. Reggie may not have an easy time opening up, but that doesn't mean he never will; proximity helps, and time. Comfort levels. Alcohol. ]

Sure
I dont have that much to move over so it shouldn't take long
There's the car and there's moose those are the main things
Obv u can drive her if u want

There's parking at my building and Moose is always welcome. I'll send you a permission slip to come up stay with me. [ because he'll need that now. ]

I'll put a pizza in the oven and put more beers in the fridge.

Sweet

[ He hadn't necessarily planned to come over tonight -- or to move in any sooner than they contracted, if at all -- but honestly, it's a relief. Reggie doesn't like staying in the church alone, knowing Nick isn't on his way home. ]

Want me to pick up anything on the way over?
More pizza even
Booze
Idk, whatever u want

[ she's not going to let him be alone. even if he doesn't want pity, this message is a request for help in so many words and maybe even him seeking comfort. they don't have to talk, they can just talk and drink and do whatever else to distract themselves.]

Bring whatever you want that will make you comfortable and call me when you get here so I can help you carry stuff up or at least, grab Moose while you carry.

Lol ok can do
Omw then give me like 15 minutes

[ He figures, for now, all he really needs to bring over is some clothes and other daily essentials that will fit easily into a duffel bag. Back in Riverdale his room is crammed with things, but there's hardly an entire lifetime's worth of accumulated detritus here; no school supplies or sports equipment or gaming consoles or big screen TVs. No books (well, none that are his), no photos. Just his car, the dog, and a couple bags worth of clothes and skin/hair products.

Oh, and booze. There's still a few bottles of that, too, which he also packs in the duffel.

(Approximately) 15 minutes later: ]

Ok I'm here 👍🏼

See you then.

[ Betty sets about doing what she said she would, putting two homemade (but frozen for later) pizzas in the oven and tidying up her place until she gets his message. She's honestly glad to have the company.

When his message comes through, she sends a thumbs-up back to him before she heads down to meet him downstairs.

And once she's there, she can't help it, she moves to give him a hug, pressing a gentle kiss to his jaw as she does so.]

Thanks for coming. [ she says it like he's the one doing her a favor.]

[ He's caught slightly off-guard -- though only a little, hardly enough to show -- and hugs her back with one arm (the one not loaded down with his bag), grinning a bit despite himself. The circumstances may suck, but he and Betty have grown on each other a lot during their time here. He's happy to see her, to be here with her. ]

No problem.

[ He says, opening the car door wider for Moose to jump out. The dog yaps happily, hopping onto the sidewalk. Reggie slings the bag over his shoulder, wryly raising a brow. ]

Honestly, this is already practically everything. One or two more trips and I'll probably be completely moved out.

[ She's glad that he hugs her back, that his desire to fight being vulnerable allows for it. As he pulls back and Moose gets out of the call, she moves to grab his leash with a grin, giving him some pets before she glances up at her friend.]

Well, you can keep anything you want here, for as long as you want.

[ She tilts her head towards the door, indicating they can walk that way.] So I put my new cat, Cappuccino, in my bedroom. Figured we may not want a dog-cat war on our hands.

[ He laughs a little, shutting the door with his foot and then locking the car up before he starts to follow her. Reggie's been here enough times that he knows the deal, like, generally speaking, but he looks around a bit more observantly now, noting things he may need to remember if he's actually gonna live here. ]

I forgot you got a cat. That figures. [ He shrugs ome shoulder. ] But it'll probably be fine, though-- believe me, Moose can get along with almost anything.

More like the cat found me. [ she laughs a little, guiding them through the door] She's still a kitten so... she should be okay with him too. [ she wouldn't know to be afraid of a dog quite yet.]

I have a spare key for you. [ Of course, she doesn't know where this will go. If he'll want a place of his own or if they will live together and maybe move into a bigger place (it's probably about time for her anyways). ]

Edited 2021-03-14 20:13 (UTC)

Oh, so exactly like Moose. [ Another laugh, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. ] I dunno if he was a stray or what, but, he was actually super easy to train. Go figure, right?

[ A runaway, maybe. Reggie found the dog out and about amidst all the chaos of that hell week -- month? -- some time ago, and obviously he wasn't about to abandon the poor thing to its fate. And then...

Well, Moose has been a great pet, so no complaints, really. Plus he's a bulldog, so he's small, therefore not likely to overpower a cat even on accident.

Reggie looks over, eyebrow raised. ]

What, already?

I found a whole litter but I got them all homes thankfully. [ She wasn't sure she could handle more than one cat.

However, at his question, she doesn't look back at him as she pushes the button for the elevator as she answers.] I made one in case anyone from home showed up. [ Namely Jughead but also Archie and Veronica.]

[ Reggie nods slowly, thoughtfully -- more at her comment about the keys than the cats, but it cover both well enough -- and drops his gaze briefly down to Moose, who's trotting happily in step with them, stopping every now and then to investigate the interesting new smells around Betty's building. ]

Makes sense. I'll hold onto it, then. [ He steps into the elevator. ] So, next month, huh? Then I guess this is pretty good timing.

I kept asking if people needed a Dominant and never got any bites. [ She does look back at him now, nodding a little. She'd rather Reggie not be hurting than her conveniently having a submissive she likes fall into her lap. ]

I guess I just feel strange asking a stranger directly if they want me to have theoretically complete control over their life.

[ He has to know her well enough by now that she doesn't have a desire to control her submissive. She glances ahead as the elevator lurches to a stop at her floor and the doors open. ] I would have dealt with whatever they gave me if it meant you wouldn't have to lose him though.

I'm sure it's nothing personal. [ He shrugs again, holding onto the strap of his bag. ] I feel like there's not always a lot of us to go around, you know? Especially the way some people like signin' more than one.

[ Reggie's tone stiffens ever so slightly at that. He's not referring to Nick, really, although Nick has done so in the past, and Reggie did not care for that shit at all; he'd much rather the city get rid of that policy altogether.

He glances over at her, but briefly, directing his gaze forward again after a moment. ]

It's fine. [ It's not, but. ] I'm glad I can help.

Sometimes it feels that way. [ That it's personal and that there are not enough submissives to go around, so to speak. Betty had also had multiple submissives before herself, so she gets it. But sometimes it's difficult not to take it personally sometimes.

Stepping off the elevator, she guides Moose out and towards her apartment door (there are only two apartments per floor after all).]

It will be okay.

[ Reggie follows along, looking at Moose, looking at the floor as he walks, wherever else there is to look before he'll inevitably have to look back at Betty. He can sense the tension there, hidden under layers of words and skin, all the things they aren't talking about. Maybe they will and maybe they won't, maybe tonight or another night or maybe not all. Even knowing Betty can relate doesn't make it any easier for him to acknowledge out loud.

He waits for her to unlock the door, and once inside will set his bag down carefully so as not to jostle the bottles packed into it. ]

Yeah, it will. [ He nods vaguely but decisively, then turns toward her. ] So, you want a drink or somethin'?

[ Betty is painfully aware of what he's going through, she'd gone through it twice. But she had the knowledge that when she went home, Jughead would be waiting for her. And while technically Nick was in the next town over... that didn't mean they were from the same... verse. And she knew first hand, you don't remember this place when you leave it.

She gets them into the apartment and moves to squat down to let Moose off his leash so he can explore the apartment as he pleases. She's already put out two bowls to serve as his water and food dish, the former is full of water.] The second bedroom is yours to have and use however you want. [ Meaning, he can redecorate or move things around if he wants.

At his question, she lets out a laugh and nods.] A drink would be great. [ She waves her hand towards the little bar cart she has.] I'm going to check on the pizzas, they should be close to done.

Edited 2021-03-14 21:50 (UTC)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

OMG SORRY