( reggie should be thanking sweet pea's shoulder bag for saving his face from getting knocked in. he grips the strap, his nails digging into the material. his mouth twists into a more permanent scowl. if looks could kill, reggie would be bleeding out on the ground. )

You really wanna walk into a nest of vipers, Mantle? Be my guest.

( which is a threat as much as it is an invitation, because sweet pea would love to see reggie's carefully constructed defenses crumble when presented with the real southside. there are a lot of people, sweet pea included, who haven't been so forgiving about the incident with fangs. did reggie do it? no. but he still had a gun, and the intent was still the same. the only reason sweet pea hasn't beat him bloody is jughead. he respects the will of the king (regardless of how tied up it is will northsiders like archie andrews) more than he respects reggie's de facto innocence. )

I'd be glad to show you all the comforts of my uneducated hospitality.

( there's venom in that statement; reggie's still just as ignorant as he'll ever be. )