[ This should probably feel a lot more weird and tense than it actually does, and Reggie can't figure out why that is. He could have pretended not to know what Jughead was talking about (which would have been too easy, given the text he sent), played dumb and pretended nothing happened, but for some reason Reggie didn't really want to do all that. Doesn't.
He doesn't want to unpack it, and he's certainly in no hurry to discuss it, but it still doesn't feel like the kind of thing better to just bury deep at the back of his mind to never speak of again -- and not even just because of the sex -- hence why he's actually making an effort now rather than shutting the conversation down.
So far it barely feels all that awkward to him anyway, bantering back and forth in this all-too-familiar way as if they were talking about (or around) literally anything else rather than a deeply personal shared experience, but maybe because this is a brand of blase emotional distance that Reggie is well practiced in. No less uncomfortable for him as it for Jughead, to be sure, but Reggie doesn't manifest discomfort or anxiety the way most people do. ].
[ He can only banter for so long until it starts to feel like actual flirting and that's a can of worms he absolutely doesn't want to open just yet. Maybe later, once he's had time to reflect and get his thoughts together he can talk to someone about what this barrage of homoerotic dreams mean, if anything but in that regard Reggie isn't his first pick. ]
i don't want to talk about this but i also don't think it's going to go away on its own
in ur dreams and ONLY there but I hafta ask otherwise how will I know which messages to start screening
[ It is a bit of relief to get to the point, though -- Reggie is really not ready to get into flirty banter with Jughead of all people either, even if it's neither of their intention-- especially since clearly they're agreed on not digging into it. For now, at least.
This is just... clearing the air, that's all. Even Reggie can understand the benefit in something like that. ]
[ Maybe he should've waited until he had some bright ideas before starting this conversation, but if he'd done that they just would never have talked again ever. It's not like this is something he has any experience with.
Maybe just start with a confession and see where it goes from there. ]
Some parts were good. It was nice not hating you for once.
[ The temptation to get defensive about "some parts" occurs strongly and not for any good reason, if only because Reggie reflexively likes reminding people of how good he is in bed (even, yes, in dreams) when he senses the slightest hint of an implication otherwise.
But he doesn't, because really, he agrees. Ignoring the sex altogether for a moment, there were still parts of the dream that weren't so good. Or almost weren't. ]
yeah I guess that was ok I mean none of it was like a NIGHTMARE or anything it was just
yeah [ Agreeing with Reggie feels oddly natural just now, like all he needed was some practice. They're so different but they're not really that different and if that was the whole point of the dream, then it did what it set out to do.
As for the sex, it was incredible in a way only dream sex can be and he is never bringing that up, at the very least not until they've exhausted absolutely every other topic possible. It doesn't need to be said, really. They can both suffer in the knowledge. ]
you'd make a good serpent. seriously.
[ He never even considered it before but now that he has, he can't really understand why it never occurred to him. Stubborn, violent, loyal to a fault. Sounds like a Serpent. ]
[ While Reggie is normally much more comfortable being almost exaggeratedly candid about sex, this is one of those times where he and Jughead are definitely on more or less the exact same page. It's been easier to explore himself here than it would have ever been in Riverdale, easier to be open to and even casual with things he'd normally compulsively lie to himself about and deny, but that doesn't translate to an ability to be open and casual with talking about them yet.
Although even that he could probably manage if not for the expressly baggage-laden fact of who they are.
This is easier, and actually... meaningful, too, in a way. Reggie's never actively examined his latent interest in being a Serpent, but these days there's far less tension in the thought. And same with the thought of... ]
lol yeah? yeah I probably would u wouldnt make a half bad bulldog either assuming those skinny legs of urs can actually run
[ He's not nearly in as bad shape as he could be and if he actually dedicated himself to something akin to exercise, he'd probably be pretty okay at it eventually. It's a matter of disinterest, not physical inability and as much as he absolutely loathes the entire athlete worship thing he has to admit that it was kind of... nice. It's not out of the picture. ]
[ Reggie may have some grudging respect for the Serpents these days, but his opinion of FP is... neutral, more or less. He did come to Reggie's rescue with Fred Andrews and ex-Sheriff Keller on riot night, but otherwise... eh. Reggie doesn't go out of his way to have high opinions of people like FP.
And dad burns are always funny anyway. ]
but theyd probably croak if they tried it now & there's a difference btwn being scrappy and being able take it on the field ok? its no where near as easy as it looks it takes dedication effort & a crapload of training just to build up the body 4 it let alone the skills and talent to be any good
but ur not hopeless I can admit u got the potential
[ And look, what kind of captain would he be if he ever said things like that lightly? ]
[ This is mostly a self-deprecating joke, it's not like he can actually try out for the football team even if he wanted to. Nice to hear that he's appreciated though, that Reggie has some kind of faith in him. ]
[ He manages not to respond with the no way that rises kneejerk in his head, but barely. Reggie doesn't like showing weakness, and saying no might suggest he has a few. ]
[ Not the question he expected. Somehow it's almost harder to answer this one, even though he's shared it before-- but no one's ever actually asked him.
Weird. Hearing that from Jughead, hearing it at all. Reggie doesn't disagree, nothing about how his parents have raised him has impacted his ability to develop a strong sense of self-esteem -- just something of an inferiority complex and the proclivity to overcompensate -- but that doesn't mean he ever really anticipates sympathy. And usually that's fine, because Reggie hates feeling pity, but this isn't that, either.
He doesn't reply for a while, but taps at the keys occasionally just so Jughead knows he's still there, that he hasn't abandoned the conversation, but what the hell do people say to things like that? ]
[ Jughead doesn't do pity. Avoiding pity used to be one of his strongest motivators to not talk to people about whatever shitty thing he was going through and that hasn't really changed. People mean well but in the end it always feels like he has to comfort them or pretend that whatever golden solution they've cooked up is actually something he's willing to do and if that's the case, he might as well not bring it up. He figures Reggie might be in a similar position. ]
yeah.
[ He continues to type. This was awhile ago now and it feels only fair to elaborate a bit - Reggie's shit is ongoing, his has been over for almost a year. ]
closet at riverdale high. before that, projector booth at the drive-in, until they tore it down.
don't tell betty, I'm pretty sure she still doesn't know.
[ Yeah, it's pretty much the same for Reggie. Pity makes him feel weak, it grates and humiliates him, and it doesn't solve anything. Maybe it's a moot point, too, in a way, because when he does mention it people tend not to say anything. Just being acknowledged at all is kind of... something. ]
sure dont sweat it its not like me and betty talk that much anyway Im not just gonna randomly bring u up
[ Truthfully it's more the kind of thing Reggie would fling out casually and cruelly during a fight or to make a point rather than "tell" anyone, or at least... the kind of thing he would have done a year ago.
Still, it's useful to know, just in case. He's not always the best at keeping secrets when he doesn't know they're still secrets. ]
fyi i dont care if u tell anyone or not nick and ronnie already know and betty doesnt yet but she will so like it doesnt matter
I'm not going to bring it up w anyone. that's your thing to talk about.
[ This could so easily end here. They've touched on the important stuff, tested the waters, figured some shit out. Had an actual, real, personal conversation about stuff that isn't weird porn. That's a big fucking win when it comes to them but Jughead still feels a need to cement something that's been nagging at him. These Riverdale kids suck at talking to each other. He doesn't want to contribute to that bad habit if he can help it. ]
and if you want to hang out or talk or whatever, it wouldn't be the worst.
[ They do suck at it, and Reggie has been trying to make more of an effort nowadays since they're really all each other has. That and he's learned it doesn't always suck, actually, to vent a little and be heard.
Reggie never has trouble making himself heard in general, frankly it's usually harder just to get him to shut up, but about certain things? Certain things don't even come up, because that either people will care way too much, or not at all. ]
lol talk about what tho? what can u and me possibly have to talk about is there anything?
[ ... Yes, but Reggie isn't gonna be the one to bring it up. ]
but sure yeah same to u we can hang out or talk about whatever
[ Jug knows there's something and even more so he knows that Reggie knows there's something. If he could deny that fact he wouldn't have started this conversation in the first place and while he still wouldn't necessarily call them friends they're something.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He doesn't want to unpack it, and he's certainly in no hurry to discuss it, but it still doesn't feel like the kind of thing better to just bury deep at the back of his mind to never speak of again -- and not even just because of the sex -- hence why he's actually making an effort now rather than shutting the conversation down.
So far it barely feels all that awkward to him anyway, bantering back and forth in this all-too-familiar way as if they were talking about (or around) literally anything else rather than a deeply personal shared experience, but maybe because this is a brand of blase emotional distance that Reggie is well practiced in. No less uncomfortable for him as it for Jughead, to be sure, but Reggie doesn't manifest discomfort or anxiety the way most people do. ].
what is this, a booty call?
[ He knows it isn't, but, again: it's Reggie. ]
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[ He can only banter for so long until it starts to feel like actual flirting and that's a can of worms he absolutely doesn't want to open just yet. Maybe later, once he's had time to reflect and get his thoughts together he can talk to someone about what this barrage of homoerotic dreams mean, if anything but in that regard Reggie isn't his first pick. ]
i don't want to talk about this but i also don't think it's going to go away on its own
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but I hafta ask otherwise how will I know which messages to start screening
[ It is a bit of relief to get to the point, though -- Reggie is really not ready to get into flirty banter with Jughead of all people either, even if it's neither of their intention-- especially since clearly they're agreed on not digging into it. For now, at least.
This is just... clearing the air, that's all. Even Reggie can understand the benefit in something like that. ]
u got any bright ideas then
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[ Maybe he should've waited until he had some bright ideas before starting this conversation, but if he'd done that they just would never have talked again ever. It's not like this is something he has any experience with.
Maybe just start with a confession and see where it goes from there. ]
Some parts were good. It was nice not hating you for once.
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But he doesn't, because really, he agrees. Ignoring the sex altogether for a moment, there were still parts of the dream that weren't so good. Or almost weren't. ]
yeah
I guess that was ok
I mean none of it was like a NIGHTMARE or anything
it was just
idk
different
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As for the sex, it was incredible in a way only dream sex can be and he is never bringing that up, at the very least not until they've exhausted absolutely every other topic possible. It doesn't need to be said, really. They can both suffer in the knowledge. ]
you'd make a good serpent. seriously.
[ He never even considered it before but now that he has, he can't really understand why it never occurred to him. Stubborn, violent, loyal to a fault. Sounds like a Serpent. ]
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Although even that he could probably manage if not for the expressly baggage-laden fact of who they are.
This is easier, and actually... meaningful, too, in a way. Reggie's never actively examined his latent interest in being a Serpent, but these days there's far less tension in the thought. And same with the thought of... ]
lol
yeah?
yeah I probably would
u wouldnt make a half bad bulldog either
assuming those skinny legs of urs can actually run
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[ He's not nearly in as bad shape as he could be and if he actually dedicated himself to something akin to exercise, he'd probably be pretty okay at it eventually. It's a matter of disinterest, not physical inability and as much as he absolutely loathes the entire athlete worship thing he has to admit that it was kind of... nice. It's not out of the picture. ]
my dad played, how hard can it be
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tho so did mine
[ Reggie may have some grudging respect for the Serpents these days, but his opinion of FP is... neutral, more or less. He did come to Reggie's rescue with Fred Andrews and ex-Sheriff Keller on riot night, but otherwise... eh. Reggie doesn't go out of his way to have high opinions of people like FP.
And dad burns are always funny anyway. ]
but theyd probably croak if they tried it now
& there's a difference btwn being scrappy and being able take it on the field ok?
its no where near as easy as it looks
it takes dedication effort & a crapload of training just to build up the body 4 it
let alone the skills and talent to be any good
but ur not hopeless
I can admit u got the potential
[ And look, what kind of captain would he be if he ever said things like that lightly? ]
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[ This is mostly a self-deprecating joke, it's not like he can actually try out for the football team even if he wanted to. Nice to hear that he's appreciated though, that Reggie has some kind of faith in him. ]
can I ask you something personal.
not about your dick.
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what is it
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does your dad hit you
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yeah sometimes
not like every day or anything
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you deserve better than that
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Weird. Hearing that from Jughead, hearing it at all. Reggie doesn't disagree, nothing about how his parents have raised him has impacted his ability to develop a strong sense of self-esteem -- just something of an inferiority complex and the proclivity to overcompensate -- but that doesn't mean he ever really anticipates sympathy. And usually that's fine, because Reggie hates feeling pity, but this isn't that, either.
He doesn't reply for a while, but taps at the keys occasionally just so Jughead knows he's still there, that he hasn't abandoned the conversation, but what the hell do people say to things like that? ]
yeah
thanks
did u rly live in a broom closet
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yeah.
[ He continues to type. This was awhile ago now and it feels only fair to elaborate a bit - Reggie's shit is ongoing, his has been over for almost a year. ]
closet at riverdale high. before that, projector booth at the drive-in, until they tore it down.
don't tell betty, I'm pretty sure she still doesn't know.
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[ Yeah, it's pretty much the same for Reggie. Pity makes him feel weak, it grates and humiliates him, and it doesn't solve anything. Maybe it's a moot point, too, in a way, because when he does mention it people tend not to say anything. Just being acknowledged at all is kind of... something. ]
sure dont sweat it
its not like me and betty talk that much anyway
Im not just gonna randomly bring u up
[ Truthfully it's more the kind of thing Reggie would fling out casually and cruelly during a fight or to make a point rather than "tell" anyone, or at least... the kind of thing he would have done a year ago.
Still, it's useful to know, just in case. He's not always the best at keeping secrets when he doesn't know they're still secrets. ]
fyi i dont care if u tell anyone or not
nick and ronnie already know
and betty doesnt yet but she will so like
it doesnt matter
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I'm not going to bring it up w anyone. that's your thing to talk about.
[ This could so easily end here. They've touched on the important stuff, tested the waters, figured some shit out. Had an actual, real, personal conversation about stuff that isn't weird porn. That's a big fucking win when it comes to them but Jughead still feels a need to cement something that's been nagging at him. These Riverdale kids suck at talking to each other. He doesn't want to contribute to that bad habit if he can help it. ]
and if you want to hang out or talk or whatever, it wouldn't be the worst.
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Reggie never has trouble making himself heard in general, frankly it's usually harder just to get him to shut up, but about certain things? Certain things don't even come up, because that either people will care way too much, or not at all. ]
lol
talk about what tho? what can u and me possibly have to talk about
is there anything?
[ ... Yes, but Reggie isn't gonna be the one to bring it up. ]
but sure
yeah
same to u
we can hang out or talk about whatever
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Maybe he needs something. Maybe they both do. ]
alright. I gotta go do damage control.
see you around, mantle.