Woo-hoo, another chapter! Something about it feels extra accomplished. I hope you are having a wonderful week and that this makes just it a little bit better. :)
LeafGreene01, I honestly can't unsee the reviews, so you all do have some influence (maybe even a lot?) which is something I love - it's like a shot in the arm every time someone leaves me a note. Sometimes (perhaps even often) I forget all about who suggested something by the time it works its way into the plot - so I will give you full credit, since I am not sure myself. :) Thank you so much for your contributions to the muse and the story!
Natureliesbeneath, I loved that your head was right there with Jughead's through that conversation. I think him being tired and a step behind isn't a new dynamic, but him having these kinds of stakes for such a sustained and complicated lie is starting to get beyond him. And I agree that Dax is keeping track of what he sees and hears. I love your analysis of Archie! He is definitely on edge, and under pressure(!) and any feeling of competing for resources with Jughead seems to really set him off. I've been thinking about what him getting past that would look like, since I do think that's a vital part of his arc in this series... I guess I'll be waiting to see. And... ta-da... a chapter sneaking in just before January ends! (I am inordinately proud of making it in time :)
Enjoy!
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Jughead found his movements settling into the rhythm of Archie's voice as the band sang their final song – and the roadies began clearing the stage in preparation for Breaking Fast, all while taking turns singing along in whatever mic each happened to be closest to when an opportunity arose to contribute to the song. It was amazing how quickly they'd adapted to this arrangement, and they seemed to enjoy it immensely.
It was great that the song was so long, too, since this was turning out to be Jughead's dinner break. Either Brand or FP had brought a bag full of burgers and fries, and Mrs. Andrews had directed Jughead to it with a brief whispered conversation.
"Hurry it up." Brand appeared as if out of nowhere, jostling Jughead's left elbow and then tapping his own wrist meaningfully.
It looked as though Brand was indicating that time was passing, but Jughead knew better. He gave Brand a quick shake of his head; he was fine, and his injuries were not slowing him down.
"Hey. I'd better not find out that you aren't pulling your weight." FP came up behind Brand and, in a move that was full-on Serpent King, he gave Jughead's shoulder a provocative push and made such ice cold eye contact that Jughead had to remind himself that they were all just acting. His dad hadn't been drinking; this wasn't an after-hours confrontation in the Whyte Wyrm.
"Everything okay?" Dax appeared just as abruptly as Brand had, making Jughead startle.
Ah. No wonder both Brand and FP had approached him... and turned their acting up to eleven.
FP shot Dax a look that was mildly curious. He seemed completely impervious to Dax's imposing body language.
Correction: FP Jones probably was completely impervious. Jughead could chalk a lot up to solid acting and working hard to maintain their cover story, but sometimes his dad was just… himself.
And when it came to this cover story, that was a thought Jughead tried not to dwell on. FP moving on to resume his backstage work made that a little easier.
Brand, in stark contrast, leveled a dark stare at the other head of security and then made a sarcastic show of looking around. "I don't know, because at least some of this three-ring circus is your responsibility. I wouldn't take a bet at this point, though; not on this tour."
"Well. That's real concerning to hear, especially coming from you of all people. Because isn't your boss – his mother – taking care of all that?" Dax frowned deeply. Then he caught sight of the stack of burgers and looked puzzled. "Whoa, Cyrano. Whoever ordered you food hasn't gotten a good look at you, huh? Or was this the result of some kind of a… decimal point error?"
Jughead took a huge bite of burger instead of replying. No matter how this conversation went, it was more than likely going to interrupt his ability to finish this meal, so his first priority was getting enough protein down to quiet his stomach for the next few hours.
Dax watched Jughead chew for a moment and apparently decided to let the subject drop. He turned back to Brand. "I'm gonna need to borrow a set of hands once we get back to the hotel – overnight, and for most of tomorrow. It's already been cleared with everyone."
"I'll send Quince over once she's done here," Brand nodded toward the hallway where she was deep in conversation with Hermione Lodge.
"Nah, don't bother. I wouldn't leave you that shorthanded," Dax said casually, sliding a hand onto Jughead's left shoulder meaningfully.
Brand's eyes tracked Dax's hand – and his expression went cold. His tone was flat with finality when he replied: "Quincy will be with you in ten minutes."
"I'm fine working with Cyrano."
"Well, it just so happens that Jon's mother-," Brand began objecting.
"I'll talk to her." Jughead spoke up quickly around another mouthful of hamburger and hurried to swallow when both men looked down at him in surprise. "I mean, she won't mind. She'll just say that, um, it would be a good experience getting to know more about how different security teams… do things."
It was a weak argument, but Jughead was pretty sure nobody was going to disagree with him about what his 'mother' would say about this.
Brand did his looming thing where he abruptly seemed taller and broader and angrier, all without doing anything specific that Jughead could identify.
Jughead wanted to take a step back, and he could tell that even Dax was noticing warily.
"Then it's settled." Dax pointed at Jughead, somehow making it a friendly gesture and not a threat, and in the same movement took a subtle step away from Brand. "Meet us on our floor as soon as you get back to the hotel."
"Yes sir."
Jughead's response to Dax came out automatically; he wanted to cringe when he saw Brand's eyebrows go up and one hand go to the back of his neck.
He only had a moment to regret everything before he was alone with Brand.
"Yeah?" Brand asked, sweeping his hands wide, and clearly referring to… everything.
"Yeah." Jughead wasn't sure he had any more to say, so he took another big bite. The song was going to end soon and he needed to be as ready as he could manage. Then he thought of what to say: "I might learn some things."
Brand nodded hesitantly, seeming to catch the multiple meanings, but then frowned. "Who's going to… you know, hit send?"
"I won't be sharing a bed," Jughead retorted, offended that Brand apparently thought he was capable of forgetting his strict writing deadline. As if that was possible. "And it's almost ready to go."
Brand's expression relaxed slightly at that news, though he still looked worried. "Well, if you do end up getting into bed with him – or anyone –, keep me posted. The group text will be the fastest way to get the word out."
Jughead nodded, but he had to hide a small smile at the idea of anyone trying to recruit him into some kind of nefarious plot.
That would make the whole investigation far too easy; they never got that lucky.
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Veronica, Alice, and Betty stood over the small table in their dressing room backstage, laughing so hard that tears were rolling down their faces.
"And then!" Alice exclaimed while typing the words on the computer they were gathered around. "Not only did the tour fire Clark, the squeakiest there is in all of cleanliness–,"
"Wait. Say that again?" Veronica managed between peals of laughter. "That is so completely him and so completely makes no sense at all."
"-but they also separated the most disruptive parties from one another and sent them to their respective corners."
"That's not… entirely fair. Jughead and Brand have not been the most disruptive people on the tour," Betty protested, but she was laughing too hard for her words to carry weight.
"What they overlooked in all of this was, of course, the crack team of Hermione Lodge-,"
"We're a crack team?" Veronica's mother had been waiting for them in the hallway just outside the dressing room, but apparently she had no trouble hearing them.
"The phrase has definitely been used to describe lesser forces," Alice said firmly. "We qualify."
Betty nodded. "Agreed."
"Well, in that case, I suppose we have been overlooked. But what all this means is that if there is any more trouble and we're needed…" Hermione entered the room, "which we hope will not be the case… nobody will see us coming."
Hermione's eyes dropped to a now-worn envelope that Betty had jammed into her back pocket. "And speaking of trouble, what in the world inspired FP Jones to put pen to paper?"
"Oh." Betty's fingers found the envelope and she caressed its smooth paper. "He's just the messenger."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
"Um. Yes?" Betty gave Mrs. Lodge a funny look. There was no way anyone but Jughead could have written the letter, and it had been sealed – and FP was not in the habit of snooping in the way that Betty had become accustomed to expecting with Brand.
"Hmmm." Hermione did not look mollified by the response. "Well, take it from me: even as a messenger, FP can do serious damage."
Betty sneaked a glance at Veronica, who looked confused by her mother's words, and at Alice – who, of course, looked as though she was in complete agreement. Alice and Hermione had been a little mind-meld-y lately, and Alice had never made a secret of the fact that she disliked and distrusted FP.
Then there was a sharp stabbing sensation in Betty's gut as she realized what else Hermione's words could mean: that someone had been the messenger who had outed all of the minors in the Southside. It was completely possible that Mrs. Lodge suspected FP of being the source.
Veronica must have had the same thought; she suddenly looked as ashen as Betty felt.
"How are your parents, dear?" Hermione's demeanor softened as she asked the question.
Oddly, it seemed like Mrs. Lodge did not regard the change in topic as a non sequitur.
Betty found herself hesitating. It almost sounded as if Hermione Lodge thought there was some connection between FP and her parents' impending divorce.
"Have you heard from your mom?" Veronica jumped in, her expression increasingly worried.
"Yeah. She's fine." Betty shrugged, her mind spinning. She willed the conversation to end. "She hopes we're all having a good time."
"That's nice." Hermione smiled, and she seemed genuinely pleased to hear that Alice Cooper was doing well. "She's going through a lot."
Well, duh. Betty stared at Mrs. Lodge, and now she was torn between wanting to escape the conversation – and hoping that Hermione would spill the beans on whatever it was she thought she knew about the divorce proceedings.
"Ah, well. We've all been there." Hermione seemed to shake herself, indicating both Veronica and Alice Carter.
It was true, Betty realized abruptly; they all had been there, and experienced the dissolution of their family before Betty had.
And maybe all this group could provide was cold comfort… but at least it was comfort.
"Oh man, we've got to move," Veronica suddenly said. She held up her phone. "Archie wants us back at the hotel as soon as possible."
"So?" Alice asked, a challenge in her voice.
"He's calling in favors," Veronica said ruefully. "Let's go."
Hermione chuckled. "Let me guess. Is he changing up the set list again?"
"Who knows." Veronica checked her phone again. "But Gunnar's already on his way and said Archie will be right behind us."
"Well, since you owe him favors," Betty said teasingly, "I guess we'd better get a move on."
Veronica had to laugh. "Yeah. Remind me not to get into hock to him again."
They scooped up their costumes and belongings and were heading out the back in minutes. Betty pulled on her heavy coat against the frigid wind, grateful that they'd only be in it for moments before they'd be ensconced in the warm car that would take them back to the hotel.
She was curious about what had Archie so eager to get them back to the hotel. It was out of character for him to be quite this excited about getting the band back together for the evening.
Maybe he had an idea for something big. That was an energizing thought; he'd had some really interesting ideas. And besides, wasn't eccentricity a sign of genius? Betty often thought that about Jughead; maybe it was time she appreciated that about Archie as well.
Shooting Veronica a quick glance as they pushed through the heavy doors and hit the icy temperatures beyond, Betty could see that she was the latecomer to this way of seeing Archie.
The thought warmed her as they hurried together to the waiting car.
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SAC Wilson leaned forward and massaged her eyes the moment the door closed on her tiny room backstage where she'd set up a temporary office and tried to get a handle on the situation. It was still unclear what was going on, but they thankfully had no new problems arise since her arrival: just every last problem that could possibly have arisen in the few short days that her people had been on this tour.
"FP, you've got to have at least one theory that stitches this all together… preferably without naming Clark as our evil mastermind. Please." Aaditi had spent over an hour interviewing Dax in part because he had refused to be satisfied with anything short of promises – on topics which she was not just unwilling to address with him, but also at this point had no ability to even predict.
FP chuckled.
"I am glad to see that this is funny to you." Wilson's tone did not hold any heat, though, and she did not look up from her hands. "And, for the record, I recommend that you not laugh in anyone's face when you're consulting."
That was a secondary reason for this meeting; requests had been made for FP's expert opinion on a case that did not involve the Southside.
"Noted. But what do you want me to say? It's probably Dax, no matter what Jughead says about the man. It could be someone in Breaking Fast. Or that Damian guy. Hell, Gladys could pull some strings and get all of this to happen." FP spread his hands apologetically.
Aaditi looked up at him, her brow knit in frustration. "If your only criterion is who could have hired people to do it, then why not add Davies to the list? Or you?"
"We-ell," FP said with a maddeningly droll lilt to his voice, "that's kind of my point. We don't have a bead on motive, so we're stuck looking for means. And anyone could hire anyone. It's not like we have any individual showing up at ground zero for everything. I mean, except for Jug, but-,"
"Wait, Gladys arranged all of this, didn't she – Jughead writing, yes, but also Archie opening for this portion of the tour?" Wilson snapped her fingers. "What if Dax is right in broad strokes, just not about it being Clark? What if the common denominator is Jughead, because he's writing up the tour, but only so he can be an eyewitness to events?"
"Wow. Huh." FP grimaced at the idea and then chuckled again. "No. Gladys isn't staging all of this to give Jug a story. She knows as well as I do that he doesn't need any help to knock it out of the park."
Wilson looked unconvinced and she lowered her voice urgently. "FP, he was going to write some articles for a big-name music publication. He is now the insider eyewitness to what is fast becoming the kind of story that becomes a legend. The articles could lead to a book, a film, and who knows what else. Journalists are already referring to the tour as a lightning rod-,"
"Damian is," FP corrected. "Don't confuse him with an actual journalist."
"It's not just him. It's trending. Check a few entertainment news stories," SAC Wilson replied firmly. "And pretty soon it will be clear to all and sundry that Damian's line that lightning has struck more than once in a positive way might also bespeak… trouble. And that's always where the real story lies."
Both of their phones began buzzing in unison.
"Trouble, you say." FP read the incoming deluge of texts swiftly. "Kind of like that?"
"Let's go." SAC Wilson stood and motioned for FP to leave the small room first.
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"He saw it first, and I guess he-,"
"How in the world did he see it first?"
"Well, he saw the post that instigated it, and I guess he took action before it took off, because things were in motion before we had a real problem."
"But… if he saw it in time to take action before there was a problem, then couldn't everyone have just… left the venue?" Ryan asked.
The silent grimaces confirmed it: the current situation was going sideways, or at least a fair approximation.
And someone was going to have to deal with it.
"Dax, could you possibly get back in there and-," Morgan began.
"Davies is already on it." Dax raised both hands against the expectant expressions of every member of Breaking Fast and shook his head. "And I wish him all of the luck in the world with that. He sent me to brief you and then get into position for… whatever the hell he decides he needs me to do."
Everyone stared at Dax in disbelief.
"Doesn't Davies have an actual plan?" Paul asked, taken aback.
"Not as far as I can tell." Dax shrugged. "I wouldn't fire him just now, though. Andrews is already bizarrely upset about Kent being canned after this afternoon; they'd become running buddies or something. He also, don't forget, had drugs delivered to his hotel room. Mary Andrews is still out for blood over that. It is my professional opinion that, if you don't tread lightly, you could find yourselves without an opening band."
"Well, get a move on, just in case Davies does end up needing you. Otherwise we might find ourselves without an opening band either way." Paul blew out a long, gusty breath. "So much for the curse settling on just one person."
Dax shot Paul a sharp look at the implication that the opening band was collectively cursed - and not Jon Wilson -, but he held his tongue. Now was not the time to have that conversation.
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"You got all the others out. I guess I have to respect that." Brand was furious, but things were too emergent for him to let that fury loose.
Jughead hoped that was the case, anyway. Otherwise, Archie was about to get murdered where he stood.
"You read it! They were threatening Veronica, and-,"
"I saw it."
"You just don't take it seriously."
"I think it was one of several dozen less than credible threats we've received over the past twenty-four hours. No details, no nothing; just one more cry for attention." Brand inclined his head as he continued: "Granted, it got a bit more attention than the cologne-soaked roses Sarah had to suffer."
Archie had been visibly preparing a retort, but his mouth snapped shut as he absorbed what Brand was saying. "Several dozen?"
"In the last twenty-four hours," Brand repeated. He caught Jughead's eye and flashed his fingers in what appeared to be a peace sign.
Oh. He was signaling a two. Jughead tried not to react as he tried to parse Brand's bizarre logic: apparently his godfather was making all of this up for Archie's benefit, saw this as falling on his own sword since it may or may not actually be true – Brand had no clue about anything they'd received that recently – but figured lying would do the least amount of damage.
Or maybe Brand was telling Jughead to peace out.
If only their relationship were ever that simple.
"He's not lying. I saw a couple. It's creepy, but I think it's just…" Jughead tucked his thumb into his palm, hoping Brand understood that he was signaling back a four and understand what that meant: that this was a much bigger sacrifice for Jughead, since Archie would feel a whole lot more betrayed by his best friend if he found out that this was all BS to get him to cooperate with whatever plan Brand eventually came up with for getting them all out of the venue in one piece, without starting a stampede. "...sort of… what being famous is like these days."
"You don't think it's real, then?" Archie's expression changed and it was suddenly charged with relief and emotion.
Oh. Apparently Archie had been worried. Really worried.
Jughead stared at his friend. Brand was literally overseeing everything, Archie had gotten worried enough to take action to protect Veronica, and the redhead had taken action without so much as texting Brand?
There was a whole lot wrong with this scenario, ranging from Archie's distrust of his own head of security to his second line of defense against the threat to Veronica's safety.
"So, uh, why did you respond?" Jughead asked cautiously.
Brand's fingers flew in a swift rebuke. Apparently with just a few words Jughead had inflicted an eight on his godfather.
Jughead wanted to roll his eyes, but he also did not want Archie to realize his security team was signing information to each other right in front of him. That was unlikely to go over well.
"I was trying to distract them… by giving them another target?" Archie sounded tentative for the first time. "That's why I didn't leave with the rest of the band. I wanted to make sure the focus was here, on me."
Oh. That actually made some kind of twisted sense.
"Well, you single-handedly took a random internet threat and gave it legs." Brand's voice was suddenly harsh. Jughead wanted to wince, knowing that Brand's change in demeanor was most likely meant to counteract whatever damage Jughead had done to the situation with his innocent question. "So now we have a situation that is a whole lot more challenging than handing off an IP address to SAC Wilson. What am I going to do about the fact that every fan in this building thinks they're going to get a chance to see you defend your girlfriend? From what I can tell, nobody's budging from the venue, and that includes Damian and his godforsaken livestream; everyone's worked up. And let me just say that they did not need much working up after everything that's already happened today."
Something about Archie's words – and Brand's words – gave Jughead an idea. "You know… giving the crowd a target might not be the worst idea."
Archie's expression hardened as he turned his attention from Brand to Jughead. "Oh? Really? So you think it's not literally 'the worst idea'? How big of you. Am I supposed to thank you for this generous outpouring of support? Or maybe-,"
"Arch." Jughead shot his friend a look. "I am trying to help you."
Jughead took a step toward Archie, looking him up and down. He shot a glance over his shoulder at Brand and flashed his godfather an eight of his own, but with a shrug and a questioning expression.
Brand cocked his head thoughtfully, but he was already frowning and Jughead was pretty sure that his idea was about to be shot down.
Then Brand's phone buzzed.
When Brand's eyes came up from the phone screen, there was a new urgency in his expression. "Sold. Only you will follow the exact route I give you, Jones. Without deviation. And we need to move now."
Jughead was nodding eagerly before Brand finished speaking.
Less promisingly, Archie was narrowing his eyes at them both and he took a step backward. "No. You said yourself that you don't think the threat is real; it's all a lie made up to get attention. That means we can just walk out of here."
"No. We can't." Brand's exhalation was too quiet for Archie to catch, but Jughead steeled himself.
Two of the people he knew best in the world were about to dig in their heels.
And somewhere, in some way that Brand had not seen fit to share with the group, pressure was building for them to make a decision – right now.
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Archie felt his hands begin to shake with frustration as he realized that everything he'd been attempting was about to go up in smoke. His only goal had been to protect his friends, keep the focus of the online threats firmly on himself while everyone got to safety, and to do his level best to slip out of the venue unnoticed himself - ensuring that nobody fell victim to the actions of the person who had posted the vague threat online.
Now it was horrifyingly clear that Archie himself had created a threat to everyone - to his fans, himself, and to his best friend - by taking the only path forward that he'd seen in the heat of the moment.
Jughead didn't even look steady on his feet. Archie's hands clenched into fists as he regarded his best friend.
"This isn't going to work." Archie folded his arms. "Think of something else."
Jughead folded his arms beside Archie.
"Every other option I see at this moment involves a significant risk of a stampede." Brand shook his head harshly. "I am not equipped to extricate people from that, let alone treat crush injuries."
"You were sure it was a bluff. Are you less sure now?" Archie demanded. He uncrossed his arms.
Jughead uncrossed his arms.
"Andrews." Brand was clearly losing patience, but trying to keep his voice steady. "There are a lot of failure modes here. It's definitely a bluff, and that makes it less dangerous – but not a whole lot less if we can't pull something off right now."
Archie sighed heavily, studying Brand as if he'd be able to figure out a better plan just by staring at his head of security. He ran a shaky hand over his face.
So did Jughead.
"Cut that out," Archie finally snapped at his best friend. "I get it. You're ready to jump in the path of a bullet for another Andrews."
Even Archie was startled by the resentment he heard in his own voice.
This time Jughead broke the pattern and shook his head emphatically. "Come on, man. This is so not about that."
"Do not yell at your journalist, Andrews; that rarely ends well. Besides, do you really think I'd be suggesting this if I thought it would be dangerous for Jones?" Brand demanded.
Archie's eyes narrowed, but after a few moments he huffed a small laugh of defeat. "All right; fine. That's the first argument you've made that I literally cannot disagree with."
Archie watched as Jughead and Brand looked over at each other. Something seemed to pass between the two, and then Brand lifted one shoulder in a shrug and Jughead smothered a laugh.
"But this right here?" Archie motioned between Jughead and Brand. "It does not inspire confidence. In fact, it makes it seem like you're not telling me everything."
"And?" Brand looked sincerely puzzled.
"He's saying we aren't acting like we work for him, Brand," Jughead said, the lightness of his tone making the edge in his voice even sharper.
"No, I am not-," Archie heard himself sputtering; he sounded way too defensive.
"We're wasting time," Brand cut him off. "Don't think too hard. That's why you pay me the big bucks: to do that for you when situations like this one arise. Now let's move."
Archie wished for the very first time that he was a part of the wolf pack.
Or that he had no reason to depend on that stupid entity that Brand Davies had dreamed up and given a name.
Because working with them was getting more maddening by the day.
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We're back to the opening! (back to the future? :) That 'click' always feels so satisfying, too. I hope you enjoyed! Thanks in advance for any and all notes - they inspire so much and encourage me immensely. Thanks so much for reading along!
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