( How is his first response so complicated. He can't miss Reggie, he doesn't know Reggie. He misses one person and that person shouldn't be here. They're better than this. Or, they might love it and Jackson would get jealous and possessive. Or, maybe, they'd embrace polyamory. But, all of that is hypothetical. And he isn't delusional enough to think it's going to happen.
He also doesn't even know if he wants it to happen.
He lived before Ethan. He'll live after.
Reggie is -- a kid he took his frustration out on and then a conduit of his channeled prowess. )
Look who's being a showoff. Yes, Reggie. I miss you. I'm just playing it very cool. Here, have an emoji. 😎
[ Reggie, on the other hand, might feel as complicated about this as he does in part because he can't help but be reminded a bit of Derek, with Jackson-- not entirely, of course, but a bit. He'd liked Derek a lot.
Misses him, for sure. But a lot of what he liked about Derek overlaps with what he's found compelling about Jackson so far, too, he's exactly the kind of guy Reggie either ends up hating or wanting to be friends with benefits with. ]
😎 im just sayin no need 2 be shy about hmu 4 a booty call if thats what this is rly about I dont mind & u wouldnt be the 1st no one can get enuf of me, I just bring that out in ppl
[ It's Fine. He's Fine, This Is All Fine, better to be clown than talk for real, right? Right. ]
( He starts to type. You know I have a boyfriend. But, why would he type that out. He deletes it one letter at a time. Reggie is contracted. He knows that much. He knows Reggie is younger and not 18 which is as young as he should go. 17, legally, if he were at home. He doesn't know in London. He doesn't meet 16 or 17 years olds. And his boyfriend is older than Reggie by a few years. He doesn't know anything deep about him.
[ Reggie has a boyfriend too, but in Duplicity, that doesn't mean much-- well, no, it does, but rather, monogamous relationships are hardly a thing here.
It's what Reggie would prefer; slutty though he can be, he doesn't like sharing when he's actually committed to someone, but Nick is also a warlock. Between Duplicity's penchant to throw people together at random for sexual encounters outside of their control and witch culture in Nick's coven, expecting monogamy is just...
Reggie knows he can't, though he will never not slightly resent that fact.
He would also argue that he is 18, but that's just on a technicality.
And Reggie doesn't know what all Jackson's thinking behind that short, clipped sentence. All he can tell is that he should reign himself in, because Jackson isn't bantering back. ]
( Maybe Reggie is the one that should relax. (Jackson should as well, but he won't be admitting to that.) Jackson is on edge everywhere in Duplicity, especially since charms had their ways with his impulses. )
[ Reggie is, at times, arguably too relaxed. It's his version of coping, though; he either fights back or rolls with the punches, and he picks his battles.
He doesn't always pick the right or most reasonable battles, but he does pick them. ]
r u sure 4 ur sake I hope so cuz being uptight will not help u out AT ALL like I get it dude I do but trust me
that this place is creepy? and that it sucks to never rly know who or what ur gonna be doing all the time? which means sometimes u gotta make the 1st move b4 they MAKE u cuz like if u gotta do sumthing at least let it be on ur own terms u know?
and u got off easy anyway IM the one with the friggin stripe bro idk how the hell they choose who gets to be what but it cant be based on personality
However they choose, with or without the stripe, all of our decisions can be undermined. Their magic and their science affects everyone here. Just because I won't see what I'll do coming doesn't mean I'll just go and do something because it's me doing it. When I want to do something, I do it. That won't change here. And maybe I get to because of my designation, but I'm not going to sit here and whine about my fate. Does being here suck? Epically. And the last thing I am is uptight, so call me uptight again and see what happens. The only thing I regret happening between us is your side of this conversation because of the bastardization of the English language. 😂 If you were wondering.
Reggie doesn't actually disagree with Jackson, but embracing some of what Duplicity puts on them by leaning into a nonchalant attitude about the casual sex is just another coping mechanism. He might not be able to handle this situation if he let himself give into his real feelings, and he'd rather repress those as much as possible than be stressed and miserable all the time. ]
but if theres no gettin around it either way then u might as WELL experiment while u got the chance I mean why not right? u dont always know what ur gonna like b4 u try it
what is that tho like a threat? lol whatre u gonna do about it insult my spelling again so what if Im not great at spelling u can still read it cant u
but no I wasnt wondering no one ever regrets screwing me 😉
ftr tho u dont rly own me that part wasnt real
[ The enjoyment, though, that definitely was... Reggie's, anyway. ]
Yeah. I don't want to own you. Pretty sure you're already owned. Happy they get to deal with you full time.
As for threatening you, I think you're fully aware of what I'm capable of.
And my experimenting days are behind me. I know what I like. Learned something new along the way, yes, but I'm pretty set in my ways, Mantle. Thank you for the advice though.
yeah well u were pretty emphatic abt it b4 so I still gotta make sure dont I but yeah Im spoken for
and thats not much of a threat I can handle what ur capable of
[ He may be interpreting that a different way than Jackson intended him to, or... maybe that was the point? Reggie doesn't know, or really care either way. He lives for innuendo. ]
I wouldn't call you a sissy. I'd be much more imaginative. It would involve bigger words and a slowing down of speech just to get the point across.
You're also not one. My first night you went toe to toe with me in a boxing ring. You don't need to worry about your reputation in my eyes.
Werewolf-wise. Hayley or Lyall? ( What was the other werewolf's name? ) Or Klaus
( It occurs to him people have come and gone, probably even other werewolves. But, he thinks in the present tense. )
You told me to suit myself. I took it literally. Obviously. It's fine. Small town preppy. It's fine, Reggie. Don't worry. I'm only making fun of you. Because I want to.
[ He'd rather be thought of as an idiot than a sissy, though, so Reggie's glad to hear Jackson at least respects his masculine prowess. ]
& I dont worry abt my reputation I just wanted 2 set the record strait glad to here I didnt have to
neither. idek who those ppl are
[ Reggie feels kind of weird admitting to this, since he still isn't entirely comfortable being so open about discussing fucking guys, but it's probably stupid to feel that way at this point. Especially while talking to a guy he's also fucked, and considering the other person in question isn't around anymore. ]
Not sure the record is set STRAIGHT. But, consider the record set. Reggie.
( He's having a nice night of banter he stumbled into and very, very light flirting when he's hit immediately. Derek. Is it a coincidence? It's a common name. And this is another freakin universe. )
and what the hell ever. let the record stand cuz yeah, it can speak for itself
[ Reggie quite enjoys banter too, and he's already determined that Jackson is probably someone he could be friends with, so he's not even going to get defensive about that little "not so straight" remark.
Not that he has any grounds to, but that rarely stops Reggie from getting defensive about anything.
Then Jackson surprises him again. There's a long time of just:
Bouncing in and out, before Reggie finally responds with: ]
( Knowing him and having been terrorized by him and his Betas and then taught by him are two very different things. Does he know Derek Hale? He was a freak who hung around the high school, one of the only people who really intimidated him other than Peter Alpha Hale. Then, he'd begged Derek to bite him and had rejected any notion of "pack." It was then that his transformation went south and he became Derek's enemy.
Derek also killed him. So, there's that.
He's not going to go into any of it, ever, not to Reggie. So, instead, Reggie gets one succinct reply. )
Reggie isn't entirely sure what to do with that information. He knew a little bit about Derek's past, but not a lot-- Derek volunteered some of it, usually spat out to make some point or another, and it was never anything light enough Reggie felt comfortable asking to hear more about.
But that's not really his style anyway. Reggie is a good listener when people need someone to vent to, but he doesn't pry, doesn't make people talk. He doesn't want to provide them with any kind of clearance to ask him similarly personal questions. ]
( More loaded questions. He briefly contemplates telling him a cliff notes version. He declines almost immediately. All that matters is the outcome. Does he live a better life? Is he more powerful now? Is the only creature of his kind? If the answers to all of his questions are, "Yes..". )
[ He and Derek had a talk about it once, biting, which is why Reggie's curious. But that's loaded on his end, nothing he feels like volunteering either, cliff notes or otherwise.
Bringing up Derek at all is loaded, though, in a weird way. Not for nothing, but still, was it worth it? ]
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He also doesn't even know if he wants it to happen.
He lived before Ethan. He'll live after.
Reggie is -- a kid he took his frustration out on and then a conduit of his channeled prowess. )
Look who's being a showoff.
Yes, Reggie. I miss you. I'm just playing it very cool.
Here, have an emoji. 😎
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Misses him, for sure. But a lot of what he liked about Derek overlaps with what he's found compelling about Jackson so far, too, he's exactly the kind of guy Reggie either ends up hating or wanting to be friends
with benefitswith. ]😎
im just sayin
no need 2 be shy about hmu 4 a booty call if thats what this is rly about
I dont mind
& u wouldnt be the 1st
no one can get enuf of me, I just bring that out in ppl
[ It's Fine. He's Fine, This Is All Fine, better to be clown than talk for real, right? Right. ]
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( He starts to type. You know I have a boyfriend. But, why would he type that out. He deletes it one letter at a time. Reggie is contracted. He knows that much. He knows Reggie is younger and not 18 which is as young as he should go. 17, legally, if he were at home. He doesn't know in London. He doesn't meet 16 or 17 years olds. And his boyfriend is older than Reggie by a few years. He doesn't know anything deep about him.
Does he want to? )
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It's what Reggie would prefer; slutty though he can be, he doesn't like sharing when he's actually committed to someone, but Nick is also a warlock. Between Duplicity's penchant to throw people together at random for sexual encounters outside of their control and witch culture in Nick's coven, expecting monogamy is just...
Reggie knows he can't, though he will never not slightly resent that fact.
He would also argue that he is 18, but that's just on a technicality.
And Reggie doesn't know what all Jackson's thinking behind that short, clipped sentence. All he can tell is that he should reign himself in, because Jackson isn't bantering back. ]
relax
it was a joke
[ Ish. ]
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Don't worry. I'm relaxed. Enough.
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He doesn't always pick the right or most reasonable battles, but he does pick them. ]
r u sure
4 ur sake I hope so cuz being uptight will not help u out AT ALL
like I get it dude
I do
but trust me
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and that it sucks to never rly know who or what ur gonna be doing all the time?
which means sometimes u gotta make the 1st move b4 they MAKE u
cuz like
if u gotta do sumthing at least let it be on ur own terms u know?
and u got off easy anyway
IM the one with the friggin stripe bro
idk how the hell they choose who gets to be what but it cant be based on personality
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Their magic and their science affects everyone here.
Just because I won't see what I'll do coming doesn't mean I'll just go and do something because it's me doing it. When I want to do something, I do it. That won't change here. And maybe I get to because of my designation, but I'm not going to sit here and whine about my fate. Does being here suck? Epically.
And the last thing I am is uptight, so call me uptight again and see what happens.
The only thing I regret happening between us is your side of this conversation because of the bastardization of the English language. 😂
If you were wondering.
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[ Well, not... exactly. Though also, kind of.
Reggie doesn't actually disagree with Jackson, but embracing some of what Duplicity puts on them by leaning into a nonchalant attitude about the casual sex is just another coping mechanism. He might not be able to handle this situation if he let himself give into his real feelings, and he'd rather repress those as much as possible than be stressed and miserable all the time. ]
but if theres no gettin around it either way then u might as WELL experiment while u got the chance
I mean why not right?
u dont always know what ur gonna like b4 u try it
what is that tho like a threat? lol
whatre u gonna do about it
insult my spelling again
so what if Im not great at spelling
u can still read it cant u
but no I wasnt wondering
no one ever regrets screwing me 😉
ftr tho u dont rly own me
that part wasnt real
[ The enjoyment, though, that definitely was... Reggie's, anyway. ]
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As for threatening you, I think you're fully aware of what I'm capable of.
And my experimenting days are behind me. I know what I like. Learned something new along the way, yes, but I'm pretty set in my ways, Mantle.
Thank you for the advice though.
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but yeah
Im spoken for
and thats not much of a threat
I can handle what ur capable of
[ He may be interpreting that a different way than Jackson intended him to, or... maybe that was the point? Reggie doesn't know, or really care either way. He lives for innuendo. ]
whatever tho
suit urself
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Hopped up on the red charm. Not without it. It would be cute if you tested me, but it wouldn't end well.
I do. If you want any tips, let me know. High school teenage fashion has diminishing returns after high school. If that counts here. 🖤
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ur the one who brought it up
[ Technicalities though, honestly. Reggie is just trying to retain a little bit of pride now, as long as they're doing damage control. ]
look Ive hooked up w/ werewolfs b4. so its cool
Im not saying I want ppl to hulk out on me or anything but like yknow
Im no sissy either
wait what
[ A delay. ]
u know that wasnt litral right
whats wrong w how I dress
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I wouldn't call you a sissy. I'd be much more imaginative. It would involve bigger words and a slowing down of speech just
to
get
the
point
across.
You're also not one. My first night you went toe to toe with me in a boxing ring. You don't need to worry about your reputation in my eyes.
Werewolf-wise. Hayley or Lyall? ( What was the other werewolf's name? ) Or Klaus
( It occurs to him people have come and gone, probably even other werewolves. But, he thinks in the present tense. )
You told me to suit myself. I took it literally. Obviously.
It's fine. Small town preppy. It's fine, Reggie. Don't worry. I'm only making fun of you. Because I want to.
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so dont talk to me like one
[ He'd rather be thought of as an idiot than a sissy, though, so Reggie's glad to hear Jackson at least respects his masculine prowess. ]
& I dont worry abt my reputation I just wanted 2 set the record strait
glad to here I didnt have to
neither. idek who those ppl are
[ Reggie feels kind of weird admitting to this, since he still isn't entirely comfortable being so open about discussing fucking guys, but it's probably stupid to feel that way at this point. Especially while talking to a guy he's also fucked, and considering the other person in question isn't around anymore. ]
his name was derek
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Not sure the record is set STRAIGHT. But, consider the record set. Reggie.
( He's having a nice night of banter he stumbled into and very, very light flirting when he's hit immediately. Derek. Is it a coincidence? It's a common name. And this is another freakin universe. )
Derek Hale?
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and what the hell ever. let the record stand
cuz yeah, it can speak for itself
[ Reggie quite enjoys banter too, and he's already determined that Jackson is probably someone he could be friends with, so he's not even going to get defensive about that little "not so straight" remark.
Not that he has any grounds to, but that rarely stops Reggie from getting defensive about anything.
Then Jackson surprises him again. There's a long time of just:
Bouncing in and out, before Reggie finally responds with: ]
yeah.
u know him?
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Derek also killed him. So, there's that.
He's not going to go into any of it, ever, not to Reggie. So, instead, Reggie gets one succinct reply. )
He's the one who bit me.
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Reggie isn't entirely sure what to do with that information. He knew a little bit about Derek's past, but not a lot-- Derek volunteered some of it, usually spat out to make some point or another, and it was never anything light enough Reggie felt comfortable asking to hear more about.
But that's not really his style anyway. Reggie is a good listener when people need someone to vent to, but he doesn't pry, doesn't make people talk. He doesn't want to provide them with any kind of clearance to ask him similarly personal questions. ]
oh.
is that a good or bad thing
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Ultimately, good.
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...
did u want it
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I made him.
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[ He and Derek had a talk about it once, biting, which is why Reggie's curious. But that's loaded on his end, nothing he feels like volunteering either, cliff notes or otherwise.
Bringing up Derek at all is loaded, though, in a weird way. Not for nothing, but still, was it worth it? ]
how come u wanted 2 be a werewolf
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