Do I need to remind you what happened the last time he was there for her? What she had to do to because of him? [ Three hours of camming, which could've been so much worse than it was but still a violation. And, while we're on that subject. ] You know that's not a promise I'm going to make and anyone who kisses my girlfriend or does anything else to her without her explicit consent can expect the same treatment.
[ There's that, too. Betty didn't want to, or at least that what she told him. They had a whole fight about it. ]
If even Betty didn't know that was against the rules, what makes you think Nick did? He was trying to help her, you bridge troll-- and in what universe do people ask someone they've kissed already before every single time? Don't make it out to be more than it was, he just wasn't thinking.
[ His whole body re-tenses just a bit, arms and shoulders stiff, jaw clenched, fingers curling tightly against his palms. ]
Because... [ He pauses. ] That's none of your business.
How about when their boyfriend is back in town? Or is that concept too difficult for you?
[ He braces himself for a fight, body angled towards Reggie so he has more of a chance to punch back should it come to blows again. ]
But this was apparently enough of your business for you to come all the way down here while I'm at work just to punch me in the face? Give it a rest, Reggie.
No-- [ He grinds his teeth. ] But around here no one cares about that kinda thing, so even if you guys do it doesn't exactly mean that people will just know that.
[ It'd be obvious to Reggie, sure, but he knows them, and Nick is from a very different world than they are, even if it is just across the river.
He draws back slightly, jaw still tight and eyes narrowing. After a pause, he decides why not, he'll bite: ]
Give what a rest? [ This might as well happen. He cracks his knuckles against his palm, but it's idle, not threatening. ] You got something to say to me, Jughead?
So just because he's an idiot, I have to shut up and take it. Got it.
[ This is so much bullshit but he's already hashed it out with Betty and he sure as hell doesn't need to hear it again from Reggie of all people. This really is none of his business.
He gives Reggie a tired look. Does he have the energy for this conversation? Nope. ]
No, I guess not. After all, you said it yourself - you just like to keep things simple.
Or maybe just try not overreacting like some kinda paranoid crackhead.
[ Not that Reggie's one to talk about overreacting or losing his temper, but whatever-- he doesn't care that much about the sanctity of Betty's relationship with Jughead, obviously, he's only invested in so much as Nick is involved. Which is, er, complicated.
But does he feel like Nick will keep trying to pursue Betty after and in spite of this? No, so it seems like a moot point to him. Not a "next time" sort of situation. ]
And what I said is that it's none of your business-- all you need to know is that if you mess with Nick, then you mess with me. Figure it out.
[ He wants to spit back something about how it happened in their home, how he's not the one trekking halfway across town just to retaliate - and then it hits him. They have the same motive and once that clicks so does the rest. Jughead doesn't know anything about this relationship outside of what Reggie has told him, but it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to assume it's not so much out of convenience anymore.
This explains so much. ]
Yeah, I think I just did. [ Whatever anger he still had in him makes way to what can only be described as cockiness. ] Tell your boyfriend we're good - as long as he doesn't get Betty in trouble.
[ Reggie bristles a bit, mouth opening as if to argue, but then after a second or two he closes it again, working his jaw to one side and briefly shifting his glare away as well.
He's not comfortable with the label yet -- among other things he's still not fully ready for the world to know about him -- let alone hearing it come out of Jughead's mouth, but weirdly he still feels no particular urgency to deny it. Maybe because they're still not speaking, so the effect is for once slightly more affirming than accusatory. Not to mention, "boyfriend" is vastly preferable to "Dominant."
Still, though. Fucking hell. That cocky tone makes Reggie want to punch Jughead a second time, make both sides of his face match. ]
Yeah, yeah. Don't friggin' flatter yourselves. He doesn't need her any more than she needs him now.
[ Which is to say: they don't need each other at all, at least not in that way. And at least not now. Hard to predict how future circumstances may help or hinder that status quo, but for now, all that matters is the present.
And really, those are easy enough terms to agree to. His gaze turns back forward again. ]
[ This is another thing that he could argue against - if Nick doesn't need Betty right now, why was he there? Why was he kissing her in the first place? Not even Betty knew that and that makes him think Reggie would have even less of a clue. It's pretty much a moot point, anyway. Even on a good day Jughead is less than interested in the relationship drama that goes on in Riverdale, and although he has more of a reason to be invested here, it's not that appealing. ]
Suits me just fine.
[ He lifts his hands, as if to signal that the subject is dropped yet again. It's a little disappointing. They've had a surprisingly good couple of conversations lately but after this, he has to wonder if he was wrong after all. Maybe very little has changed. ]
[ Reggie has a vague idea as to why Nick may have been there, but not the whole picture, and either way he's certainly not keen to defend it any more than he's already had to. The point, from Reggie's perspective, is less that Nick was right to kiss Betty and more that Jughead was wrong to punch him, end of story.
It does feel weird standing here like this, as if nothing has changed from a year or so ago even though in fact, the opposite is true. On the other hand, though, Reggie's a little relieved by it; he doesn't want to keep butting heads with Jughead, he doesn't mind that they've been able to talk and tolerate each other better lately, but that in of itself is so unnervingly new for them he feels a little better knowing that getting along a little bit hasn't erased their explosive differences, that it still isn't enough to make them friends.
Because tolerating Jughead he's fine with, but he doesn't ever want to relate to him.
And not that Reggie is about to articulate any of this to Jughead. ]
Good. So long as we understand each other.
[ He has to get back to work, too. He stares at Jughead narrow-eyed for a few more seconds, jaw tense, but then nods, turning to go. ]
And yeah, that's it. I gotta get back to work too-- I just came to settle the score and then be done with it, and as far as I'm concerned, it is settled.
[ Maybe he was wrong to punch Nick, but that doesn't change his mind about whether or not he deserved it. Jughead has no desire to take the high road in this particular instance, even if Archie implored him that they all need to come together in one unified group in order to get back home. That's - idealistic, to put it nicely. Not everyone will get along and that's fine.
Whatever. He raises a hand in parting, happy to head back inside. ]
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[ There's that, too. Betty didn't want to, or at least that what she told him. They had a whole fight about it. ]
Why do you care, anyway?
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[ His whole body re-tenses just a bit, arms and shoulders stiff, jaw clenched, fingers curling tightly against his palms. ]
Because... [ He pauses. ] That's none of your business.
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[ He braces himself for a fight, body angled towards Reggie so he has more of a chance to punch back should it come to blows again. ]
But this was apparently enough of your business for you to come all the way down here while I'm at work just to punch me in the face? Give it a rest, Reggie.
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[ It'd be obvious to Reggie, sure, but he knows them, and Nick is from a very different world than they are, even if it is just across the river.
He draws back slightly, jaw still tight and eyes narrowing. After a pause, he decides why not, he'll bite: ]
Give what a rest? [ This might as well happen. He cracks his knuckles against his palm, but it's idle, not threatening. ] You got something to say to me, Jughead?
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[ This is so much bullshit but he's already hashed it out with Betty and he sure as hell doesn't need to hear it again from Reggie of all people. This really is none of his business.
He gives Reggie a tired look. Does he have the energy for this conversation? Nope. ]
No, I guess not. After all, you said it yourself - you just like to keep things simple.
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[ Not that Reggie's one to talk about overreacting or losing his temper, but whatever-- he doesn't care that much about the sanctity of Betty's relationship with Jughead, obviously, he's only invested in so much as Nick is involved. Which is, er, complicated.
But does he feel like Nick will keep trying to pursue Betty after and in spite of this? No, so it seems like a moot point to him. Not a "next time" sort of situation. ]
And what I said is that it's none of your business-- all you need to know is that if you mess with Nick, then you mess with me. Figure it out.
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This explains so much. ]
Yeah, I think I just did. [ Whatever anger he still had in him makes way to what can only be described as cockiness. ] Tell your boyfriend we're good - as long as he doesn't get Betty in trouble.
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He's not comfortable with the label yet -- among other things he's still not fully ready for the world to know about him -- let alone hearing it come out of Jughead's mouth, but weirdly he still feels no particular urgency to deny it. Maybe because they're still not speaking, so the effect is for once slightly more affirming than accusatory. Not to mention, "boyfriend" is vastly preferable to "Dominant."
Still, though. Fucking hell. That cocky tone makes Reggie want to punch Jughead a second time, make both sides of his face match. ]
Yeah, yeah. Don't friggin' flatter yourselves. He doesn't need her any more than she needs him now.
[ Which is to say: they don't need each other at all, at least not in that way. And at least not now. Hard to predict how future circumstances may help or hinder that status quo, but for now, all that matters is the present.
And really, those are easy enough terms to agree to. His gaze turns back forward again. ]
And shut the hell up, I don't wanna hear it.
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Suits me just fine.
[ He lifts his hands, as if to signal that the subject is dropped yet again. It's a little disappointing. They've had a surprisingly good couple of conversations lately but after this, he has to wonder if he was wrong after all. Maybe very little has changed. ]
If that's all, I'm going back to work.
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It does feel weird standing here like this, as if nothing has changed from a year or so ago even though in fact, the opposite is true. On the other hand, though, Reggie's a little relieved by it; he doesn't want to keep butting heads with Jughead, he doesn't mind that they've been able to talk and tolerate each other better lately, but that in of itself is so unnervingly new for them he feels a little better knowing that getting along a little bit hasn't erased their explosive differences, that it still isn't enough to make them friends.
Because tolerating Jughead he's fine with, but he doesn't ever want to relate to him.
And not that Reggie is about to articulate any of this to Jughead. ]
Good. So long as we understand each other.
[ He has to get back to work, too. He stares at Jughead narrow-eyed for a few more seconds, jaw tense, but then nods, turning to go. ]
And yeah, that's it. I gotta get back to work too-- I just came to settle the score and then be done with it, and as far as I'm concerned, it is settled.
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Whatever. He raises a hand in parting, happy to head back inside. ]