[closed] Six cylinders under the hood, crashing and kicking

[burger_king]

WHO: The Scooby Gang
WHERE: East Coast, up to New York.
WHEN: July 1 to 10-ish.
WHAT: The Riverdales are roadtripping up north for many, many reasons, and drag assorted friends into the adventure.
WARNINGS: Teens being teens. Individual warnings in the headers.


[ It's been a year since Jason Blossom disappeared. A year since Cheryl was found on the shore of Sweetwater River, shaking and shivering. A year since Archie Andrews blew off a different roadtrip to spend time with someone else. A year since Riverdale changed in its very foundation, secrets coming up to the surface like worms during a rainstorm, and here they are not knowing if Riverdale even exists.

Only one way to find out. ]

Comments

OOC: WHAT HAPPENED

[burger_king]

Comment to this with stuff that a) totally happened but wasn't threaded out and b) was threaded out and more people should know about because let's face it, this is going to be an intimate journey.

Leaving/Early in the trip

[burger_king]

REGGIE MANTLE | ota

[bragnificent]

❚❚ ON THE ROAD

[ For Reggie, who's been here for about a year, it's been more like two years; all the more reason, then, to finally commemorate that anniversary in some kind of more tangible way. Jughead and Betty (among others) are the last people Reggie would have expected he'd been making this drive with, of course; he'd talked about it with Archie back when he was still here, but they'd never gotten around to it. But unlike for Jason Blossom, for the rest of them, life still moves on.

Reggie's taking his own car, although anyone else is free to ride along with him even if it's only for part of the trip. Otherwise, he doesn't mind riding on his own; he's got music and he's got his dog, Moose to keep him company, and keep company with anyone else who may be sharing the car. If he likes you and you're riding with him he may be open to letting another driver man the wheel for a bit, but otherwise he is fine doing the bulk (if not entirety) of the driving. Aside from the music, it may or may not be a somewhat quiet drive-- big-mouthed though he may be, Reggie isn't really one for small-talk, so it really depends. In the backseat are his packed bags, which include changes of clothes, hair/hygiene products, fireworks, booze, gatorade, and he may or may not have a baggie of pills or powder on him in his coat pocket for some point during the trip. Hey, always be prepared.

❚❚ PIT STOPS

[ Naturally, every road trip is going to require a few pit stops: to get gas, to get a bite to eat, to walk Moose, or to just get a bit of a break from the other people in the car. Any and all of the above.

Every hour and a half or so, Reggie stops to stretch his legs and let Moose out, and he's refueled the car's tank couple of times as well. Each time he takes about 10 minutes in the convenience store, maybe more if anyone else is in the car, maybe less if not. If there's a drive-thru at any point he may hit it, grabbing a burger and onion rings and coffee for himself, because with Moose in the car that's what he's doing for dinner; no long diner meal for him, at least not at this stage of the trip.

[burger_king]

[ driving ]

[ He offered to drive because his car — stolen, scrubbed — fit more people, and because quite frankly he's missed being on the road. Bikes over cars any day but you can't shove a bunch of your friends onto a bike and take off without some serious traffic safety violations. Bag in the trunk, Jug allows himself to get lost in the long stretches of road, following dark woods and passing through towns so small you barely enter them before you're out again.

It's not the longest drive in the world, but after awhile he finds himself zoning out too much. Eyes on the road, he addresses whoever's in the passenger seat at the moment. ]

Put on some music?

[ break ]

[ Jughead is a growing boy with a near bottomless appetite, so you bet he'll take any chance he can get to grab a meal or a snack when they stop for gas or to stretch their legs. Only, the timing of this trip means he's preoccupied by something other than whether or not the burger comes even close to the ones at Pop's - there's protests brewing. The closer they get to hitting the imPort cities they just left behind, the more withdrawn Jughead becomes, nervously checking his phone for news. ]

[perfectible]

[ On one of their stops, while Jughead is distracted, she gets him a bag of beef jerky and cheetos (there's not a lot of options). She approaches him, wrapping her arms around him as he's checking his phone.]

Hey, I got you something. [ She presses the two bags to his chest, resting her chin on his shoulder as she stands on tiptoe. ] It's not burgers but the pickings were pretty slim.

[burger_king]

[ Trust Betty to know exactly what soothes his weary soul. He looks up as she slides an arm around him, smiles at the bounty she provides. ]

Wow, thanks. This is perfect. [ She gets a kiss on the head as thanks. ] You okay?

veronica sawyer

[couldbebeautiful]

[one: you got a fast car]

[This early on in the trip, Veronica's still trying to dance around the awkwardness of her being here: she knows maybe two or three people on the same trip well enough to consider them acquaintances at least, if not friends, but between her kinda-friend with benefits and her friend who she kissed under divine influence and all the other strangers, she's well aware she doesn't quite fit.

Still, just because she doesn't quite fit doesn't mean she won't strike up a conversation with most of them anyway. Reading books and writing in her diary can only get her so far, and she's not entirely keen on writing in her diary in such a cramped space, where someone could lean over her shoulder and read what she's doing.

The topics tend to vary: she makes a good-natured complaint about the music these days (back in my day there was more synthpop, bands these days just aren't brave enough to overuse a synthesizer), asks hey, what're you reading there?, trading TV recommendations with someone else, or even, on one particularly boring stretch of highway, boredly saying:] Hey, guys, I spy with my little eye something that starts with T.

[two: world burn]

[It's the night after the protests, and Veronica's not going to be able to sleep tonight. She texts the friends she left behind, even texts Kaneki to check on him and his shop, because his shop had gotten vandalized once in riots like this. She hopes to god they're doing okay.

She wanders out of the motel room she's rented and perches herself on the hood of the car. Harsh light illuminates her face as she types away, throws into light the way she's worrying her lip with her teeth, her furrowed brows. When she hears someone step closer, she looks up, tensing somewhat before she relaxes, seeing who it is.]

What're you doing out here so late?

▸ WORLD BURN

[bragnificent]

[ By this point Reggie has just about finished his business with Tate upstairs and headed back outside, on his way between rooms to possibly head back to his own -- maybe not to retire for the night yet, but to at least check in on Moose and Matthew -- when he notices Veronica in the parking lot.

She seems preoccupied, but rarely does that kind of thing matter much to Reggie. She could probably use a distraction anyway, and who better to provide one than his handsome self? Besides, the two of them haven't had much alone time yet this trip, so he wouldn't mind squeezing in at least a little now. ]

Nothing yet. [ Wink. He settles himself on the car next to her, long legs stretched out along the hood. ] Thought I'd just get a little air. So what are you doing out?

[couldbebeautiful]

I figured I might as well take in a little bit of fresh air, before I have to cram myself back into a car tomorrow. Plus, [and she holds her phone up like a lighter at a concert, only with more frantic hand-waving] the signal is shit inside my room.

[The signal's not exactly the best anywhere.]

Did you hear anything lately? About some protests going on.

world burn, time is a lie

[burger_king]

[ Jughead is out here for much the same reason - some air, some time away from the group, a chance to get a grip on what's going on in the cities they left behind. The timing is... fortunate, probably, he has a feeling he'd get way too wrapped up in the protests if he'd been around for them. Probably for the best, this. Less risk of another black eye. ]

Just getting some air. [ He gives her a lopsided smile, making an effort to act like nothing weird has ever happened between them. ]

You okay?

[couldbebeautiful]

[Nothing weird has ever happened between them ever! Absolutely nothing! Veronica hasn't been purposely not talking to Jughead in an effort to avoid her own awkwardness about what happened, what are you talking about?]

I'm—I'm fine. [Nothing happened. Although Veronica does turn somewhat more serious now as she goes on, in an effort to not talk about The Thing That Did Not Happen:] Just—worried for a couple of people, that's all.

Mid-trip/destination

[burger_king]

▸ THE BIG CITY

[bragnificent]

[ Visiting (not-) Riverdale was indeed quite the bittersweet experience, more bitter than sweet for Reggie; he doesn't like to sink himself deep into the waters of grief and conspiracy the way Jughead and Betty do, but to instead step back, dust himself off, and move on. It's not necessarily always the best strategy in terms of emotional health or recovery, but as far as Reggie's concerned, it works. Repression always works until it gets to a boiling point.

Not wanting to stay there too long, Reggie's decided to leave earlier and drive down to NYC a bit ahead of the rest, Tate (and probably Matthew, as well) riding along with him -- yet another benefit to taking two cars -- which gives them some extra time to get situated in respective hotel rooms.

Reggie knocks on Tate's door. ]

Hey, I'm gonna chill in here for a while, all right? I don't think the roomie is big on partying. [ Based on what he's reasoned of Matthew so far. Reggie whips out a baggie of powder from his pocket to clarify his meaning. ] That cool?

[ He's only asking as a formality though, probably already letting himself into the room. ]

REGGIE MANTLE | ota

[bragnificent]

❚❚ MOTEL

[ Whether or not it's been a stressful, tense drive or a relatively peaceful, uneventful one, it's a bit of a relief to finally stop for the night. The sky isn't terribly dark yet, a nice mixture of deep blues and purples and oranges, but Reggie is exhausted; the first thing he does is drop Moose and whatever things he'll need overnight off in his room, then indulges in a little pick-me-up that he drinks from a bottle or maybe pops as a pill as he leans from the 2nd floor motel railing. It helps take the edge off, which is something he needs given who all else has come along for this trip. (Yes, Jughead included, even if Jughead is the one who initiated the whole thing.)

Otherwise, there's not really a lot to do at motels except mingle with the other guests, which is hard to avoid when his room and the adjacent neighboring rooms are all part of the road trip party. A night-in could either involve just watching TV or finding a little more intimate time alone (alone alone or with somebody, for a conversation, for getting up to mischief outside in the parking lot/elsewhere around the motel, or for... well, intimacy, depending on who that somebody is. ]

❚❚ ( NOT ) RIVERDALE

[ As expected, Riverdale isn't where it's supposed to be. All of them pretty much knew this already -- at least, Reggie certainly didn't expect anything else -- but it's still a profoundly strange experience, driving through what should be your hometown but looks and feels completely different, driving past what should be your house or your school and seeing completely different buildings. Even the geography is different; there's a river around where Sweetwater river should be, but it doesn't look the same either. Reggie knows right away that he doesn't want to spend a lot of time here.

He parks by the river, though, steps out with Moose to sit by the shore for a little while not entirely unlike Cheryl had been when they first found her-- legs bent, arms resting on them. The real Moose, Reggie's best friend, had been one of the people to actually find Jason's body, which makes dog Moose being here feel appropriate in an odd way.

Anyway, this is the moment Reggie packed fireworks for. Fourth of July at the river, even if it's not the right river. Time to go out with a bang, as they say. ]

❚❚ NEW YORK NEW YORK

[ Reggie leaves not-Riverdale a bit earlier than the other group, because it feels weird to him in a way he doesn't ever care for. Jason was his friend and it's never really pleasant being faced with the reality of teenage mortality, especially regarding someone you knew and were close to; combine Jason's death with Moose's near miss, and Reggie could very easily wind himself up worrying about his own safety were he the type to worry about these things.

Luckily, he is the type who actively tries to avoid dwelling. Acknowledging Jason's death for this trip is a big step in of itself, even if he's still far from actually dealing with it.

So, he leaves early to drive down to the city, which is where the magic happens. Reggie will spend at least a couple days of the road trip in NYC, shopping, hitting clubs and bars, running around or chilling in Central Park, and of course staying in a hotel much nicer than the shitty motels they're stuck with coming/going. ]

(Not) Riverdale

[dreamkid]

[ Matthew, in the wake of their concert encounter, may have (definitely has) developed a crush on Reggie--evidenced throughout this trip by a level of enthusiasm that is a little high even for him, and the occasional unnecessary looking in Reggie's direction; nothing terribly damning unless one is paying close attention or happens to be a mind reader--but after four days he is in love with Reggie's dog. He plops down on the other side of Moose with a delighted greeting of "hey pal!" and uses both hands to give the animal some very indulgent ear rubs. ]

Good boy, [ he praises, sounding as pleased as if Moose had just recited the Declaration of Independence from memory, rather than simply letting Matthew pet his ears. Pat pat, goes his hand on the top of Moose's head, and only after that does he look over at Reggie, still beaming the same smile he gave the dog. ]

It's pretty out here.

not riverdale

[couldbebeautiful]

[Veronica finds the town they're in quaint, if unfamiliar—she's never known a Riverdale in her world, she doesn't feel as if the wind has been punched out of her gut when she stops by a different school, a different house, a different river. Still, it's disconcerting even for her, just being here and knowing that in some other world, this town is home to someone she knows.

It makes her think of Sherwood, again. It makes her wonder if Sherwood is here in this world, if there's a version of her or of the Heathers or of Martha or, god, even of JD walking around in it. Most likely there isn't, and she's not sure whether to feel relieved or bereft.

She finds Reggie at the river, splitting momentarily away from exploring the town they've come so far to see. For maybe the first time in a while she's dressed to blend in, a light blue blouse paired with dark jeans and a wide-brimmed hat. She pauses in her tracks to take in the sight of the river, then ambles over to Reggie.]

The knockoff version of your hometown sucks.

not riverdale.

[perfectible]

[ Betty approaches him, tucking her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.] This feels... surreal. [ Going on a road trip with Reggie wasn't what she expected to do, not exactly. It was something Archie wanted. And going to find Riverdale felt like the right thing to do in the wake of his absence.

It wasn't there, just as expected, just as the map told them. It simply wasn't there. ] It doesn't even... look like home. [ It's just like someone erased the whole town.]

[burger_king]

[ motel ]

[ The best thing about being on a roadtrip with your girlfriend is that you never actually have to worry about who you're sharing a bed with. Okay, maybe that's not the best part but it's pretty sweet and he's sure not sad about missing out on the squabble over who gets the couch or the floor - he's spent enough time sleeping on floors as it is.

From time to time he needs a break from all this socialising. One night he finds himself in the motel parking lot, leaned back against the hood of his car, switchblade heavy in his hand. He keeps it with him under the guise of personal protection - Maurtia Falls isn't the safest of cities — but it's not his physical safety he's worried about. He flips it over in his hand, feels the balance of it, the click of the blade extending and folding back. Some days it feels like he really is balancing on a knife's edge, the smallest mistake enough to knock him over. ]

[ empty spaces ]

[ He didn't expect Riverdale to be here. It probably would've been more messed up if it was but there's still a heavy sense of dread as they roll into the town that isn't Riverdale, the houses that aren't their houses, the diner that isn't Pop's. Nothing looks familiar, even though he feels like he's catching something in the corner of his eye, a flash of recognition that dissipates as soon as he takes a closer look.

While others might want to leave as soon as possible, Jughead opts to sit in it for awhile, letting the empty feeling of abandonment settle in him. Riverdale isn't here. They're all they got. ]

[ new york ]

[ It doesn't feel like it was that long ago that he and Archie talked about moving here, living the bohemian lifestyle in some shitty apartment, him a writer and Archie the musician. Archie isn't here, but New York still is and while others might opt for museums and bars, Jughead does what he can to soak in the city. He takes some time to snoop out the haunted places he googled in preparation for the trip, dragging Tate along (of course) and whoever else's up for getting spooked by the ghoul boys.

In the evening he's reluctant but not impossible to convince to go out, though he'll still refrain from drinking and head back to the hostel if there's any whiff of bar hopping. It's been an exhausting trip in many ways. There's a lot to digest. ]

▸ EMPTY SPACES

[bragnificent]

[ Reggie and Jughead's approaches to dealing with the lonely (but expected) absence of Riverdale and whatever residual grief and trauma may still be hanging heavy, if not in the air itself, then in their minds and bodies. Jughead wants to let it sink down into his bones, whereas Reggie always prefers to brush it off as much and as soon as possible. He doesn't care to risk anything getting under his skin, but it happens more than he'd probably admit-- usually, though not always, that can get ugly fast.

Since Jughead suggested this trip, though, Reggie's mood has hovered in a sort of calm unease, a weird cool-headed detachment; a good thing as far as his temperament goes, and thus a good thing for everyone else involved on this trip, but it doesn't allow for much stewing over Jason, or any of the rest of his own missing pieces back in Riverdale, in any proper way. Which is how Reggie prefers it, anyway.

Before he leaves he does give himself a bit of time to wander around, though, and in doing so he naturally comes across Jughead eventually. Reggie debates for a moment just continuing on his way, but instead he walks over. ]

Hey, I brought some fireworks.

[ If Jughead wants to join in lightning any, since actually offering is more than Reggie feels capable of. ]

new york

[perfectible]

[ This trip has been a lot. Driving through a town that wasn't their home, the knowledge that when they go back, they may have to deal with whatever comes of the riots and missing Archie.

She steals Jughead away in the evening when everyone else decides to go out and party. They are both tired, yes but a distraction is needed. So they head out of the hostel, trying not to think of the dream that Jughead told her of once, Archie's dream and once they get to Central Park, she loops her arm through his and smiles up at him.]

I know it's not a haunted hotel or anything but... it's one of my favorite places here.

Heading home

[burger_king]