[It all comes down to a single phrase: "plausible deniability." Veronica had insisted upon a business that wouldn't be run illegally—had known what it would take to get there. For her, it isn't long before she realizes that to have that deniability, she has to have some meat shields standing in her way. She has to have people who are willing to bend over backwards, able to incite loyalty in people—
And she has to do it without involving Archie. Her father thinks she's foolish. If he can't be trusted to be involved in Lodge Industries, then he should be used. Hiram tries to remind her of this every day, and she insists that Archie is off limits. Her father got to him once. Isn't that enough?
Apparently not.
Before long, Veronica's schemes are trailing behind her father's. For all the honesty and agreements between them, she knows she's just on the other side of the chessboard trying to keep him in check. The problem is that she hasn't posed much of a threat. Not yet. And she knows that the way things are going, eventually Fred and Archie Andrews will either have to be all in or cleared off the board.
Veronica tries.
She tries.
And along the way, there is so much deniability until she calls Archie over. Her father? Her mother? Gone on a business trip to Los Angeles. Apparently they want to beckon some investors to come over and consider shooting in a sleepy town like Riverdale. Apparently it's inspiring—and, of course, Lodge Industries would be influencing them. Behind it, she knows that it's just another front, another sketchy and skeevy way of ensuring that the Lodges own Riverdale.
So, that's why Archie's on his way. Veronica knows that the Andrews never wanted to be the one barricade between the doom and gloom of a Hiram Lodge World, but here it is. Maybe she should be talking to his father, but—well. Something tells her that she has to win over Archie first.
Like her father, Veronica has a flair for the dramatic. When Archie arrives, Andre will direct him to the Lodge study. Within, Veronica will be waiting—complete with her father's favorite chess set prepared for a game on his desk. The rum is already in her glass, and she's waiting.
Veronica knows that if this move doesn't result in a checkmate, Archie Andrews may never live to see graduation.
It's a risk she has to take.
After all, Archie's life is on the line regardless.]
[ Something's up with Ronnie, Archie had said, stretched out on his bed, Jughead's legs over Archie's as he clacked away at his laptop. There hadn't been anything else to follow that statement. Archie just knew something was off, but he couldn't tell what. Jughead's answering hum had been thoughtful but ultimately noncommittal. Compared to trying to wrestle an entire gang away from more damaging criminal enterprises, vague weirdness with Veronica probably didn't rate. So the topic just hovers at the edge of his consciousness, where Archie picks at it but ultimately lets it alone.
Veronica's helping run her parents company. Pushing too hard feels the same way running out on the ice after Cheryl had: dangerous, everything a breath away from shattering under his feet. Selfishly, Archie doesn't want to do anything to fuel that possibility.
But even after all his careful avoidance, the issue still feels primed to come to a head. Veronica's asked him over when her parents are away more than once, but it's different this time. As he walks into the study and takes her in, he's aware of how weighted the moment feels. Veronica looks so serious that Archie knows immediately she didn't bring him here for their usual tryst. ]
What's up, Ronnie?
[ Instead of taking the seat on the other side of the board, Archie walks to her instead to kiss the top of her head. ]
You want to take that up to your room?
[ Take the drink, leave the chessboard. Stave off whatever's about to happen in doing so. ]
[There's that goodness again. Veronica wonders if it's genetic. Is it something that only one family in a town like this can acquire? Even the Kellers don't seem permanently predisposed toward goodness. Kevin, for one thing, has taken to side trysts with Moose while Midge is still very much his girlfriend. If that's not a sign of some ambiguity than nothing is.
She reaches out to take Archie's hand, gripping it for a moment.]
I'd love that, Archie, but not right now. I figured I'd ... set the scene for you. [Plus, it gives her quick access to some of her father's paperwork. She knows there are still pieces of information hidden away from her, and it's only a matter of time before she has to unearth them. She also knows that it's only a matter of time before she has to reveal some of the messed up things she's had to do.]
For now ... [Veronica pulls her hand away. It isn't a sign of rejection.] Sit, s'il te plaît. Daddy's study is unfortunately the best place to really begin.
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barges in i want mob boss stuff
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And she has to do it without involving Archie. Her father thinks she's foolish. If he can't be trusted to be involved in Lodge Industries, then he should be used. Hiram tries to remind her of this every day, and she insists that Archie is off limits. Her father got to him once. Isn't that enough?
Apparently not.
Before long, Veronica's schemes are trailing behind her father's. For all the honesty and agreements between them, she knows she's just on the other side of the chessboard trying to keep him in check. The problem is that she hasn't posed much of a threat. Not yet. And she knows that the way things are going, eventually Fred and Archie Andrews will either have to be all in or cleared off the board.
Veronica tries.
She tries.
And along the way, there is so much deniability until she calls Archie over. Her father? Her mother? Gone on a business trip to Los Angeles. Apparently they want to beckon some investors to come over and consider shooting in a sleepy town like Riverdale. Apparently it's inspiring—and, of course, Lodge Industries would be influencing them. Behind it, she knows that it's just another front, another sketchy and skeevy way of ensuring that the Lodges own Riverdale.
So, that's why Archie's on his way. Veronica knows that the Andrews never wanted to be the one barricade between the doom and gloom of a Hiram Lodge World, but here it is. Maybe she should be talking to his father, but—well. Something tells her that she has to win over Archie first.
Like her father, Veronica has a flair for the dramatic. When Archie arrives, Andre will direct him to the Lodge study. Within, Veronica will be waiting—complete with her father's favorite chess set prepared for a game on his desk. The rum is already in her glass, and she's waiting.
Veronica knows that if this move doesn't result in a checkmate, Archie Andrews may never live to see graduation.
It's a risk she has to take.
After all, Archie's life is on the line regardless.]
no subject
Veronica's helping run her parents company. Pushing too hard feels the same way running out on the ice after Cheryl had: dangerous, everything a breath away from shattering under his feet. Selfishly, Archie doesn't want to do anything to fuel that possibility.
But even after all his careful avoidance, the issue still feels primed to come to a head. Veronica's asked him over when her parents are away more than once, but it's different this time. As he walks into the study and takes her in, he's aware of how weighted the moment feels. Veronica looks so serious that Archie knows immediately she didn't bring him here for their usual tryst. ]
What's up, Ronnie?
[ Instead of taking the seat on the other side of the board, Archie walks to her instead to kiss the top of her head. ]
You want to take that up to your room?
[ Take the drink, leave the chessboard. Stave off whatever's about to happen in doing so. ]
no subject
She reaches out to take Archie's hand, gripping it for a moment.]
I'd love that, Archie, but not right now. I figured I'd ... set the scene for you. [Plus, it gives her quick access to some of her father's paperwork. She knows there are still pieces of information hidden away from her, and it's only a matter of time before she has to unearth them. She also knows that it's only a matter of time before she has to reveal some of the messed up things she's had to do.]
For now ... [Veronica pulls her hand away. It isn't a sign of rejection.] Sit, s'il te plaît. Daddy's study is unfortunately the best place to really begin.