rythmicjea

[rythmicjea]

Unexpectedly Expected - Chapter 4 "Gotta Go Back"

So I've been in a bit of a rut. I tried doing daily micros and that helped a bit until I got bronchitis and then my cat passed away. It has been a whirlwind of six weeks. Then I started doubting if I should have even started this story to begin with. I had a beginning and an ending and like one scene for the middle. Then, I don't know what happened. Call it fastidiously studying season 4 for another fic that I'm going to write or just divine inspiration. But I finally figured out what I was going to do with this story.

The title comes from the song from Grease 2. And I am convinced that Riverdale as a whole is just an homage to that movie. And I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher McDonald! Super nice guy. And I told him that my love of camp came from Grease 2. If someone doesn't like Grease 2 then they don't like camp. And he loved that.

Anyway... With all that being said. Our core four go back to school to be teachers. Jughead is tackling English 1 and some other English style courses. Veronica is the economics teacher. Kevin is the Choir Director. Archie is in charge of PE and the Football Co-Coach (along with Reggie). And Betty is teaching English 2 and Shop. And Jellybean is our drunken mess of a facilitating angel. Also, Tabitha is baaaacccckkk!!

“Who can tell me about the summer reading?” Silence was always the response.  “Who can tell me what it was?” He asked again. Still silent. “This is gonna be great.” He whispered beneath his breath trying to keep himself psyched. He was about to go into his spiel about getting out of the first quiz if someone, anyone, could say anything about the summer reading when a beauty in a green sweater strutted by his classroom window. “You. Look. Stunning, Miss Lodge.” Kevin joined her in the hall. “No doubt you’re going to be the student’s favorite.” The choir teacher praised. “But you have to tell me what happened before, during, and after the wedding with a certain not your boyfriend.” She sipped at her triple tall, two pump vanilla, two pump almond, organic, nonfat, extra foam latte. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Kevin.” She demurred. “So, this semester, our main project will be taking apart this classic car. A 1954 Crestline and putting it back together. Any questions?” She asked sweetly. “Yes,” she pointed to a guy in the back. "How can you teach shop if you’re a girl?” Her nails bit into her palms. Every semester. “Think of a better question and then maybe I’ll answer.” The high pitched trill of Archie’s whistle bounced off the Aux Gym walls while stragglers continued to walk in. Kids of all grades sat with their backpacks and hoodies piled around them. “Welcome to Gym Class! Our focus will be on physical fitness. That means you’ll be dressed appropriately. If you do not have the proper attire, see me after class and we’ll get some for you. You will have five minutes after the bell to be out of the locker room, dressed, and right here, ready to go. All doctor’s notes must be submitted by the end of the week. They will also be vetted. Which means I will be following up on each and every one.”  The students groaned loudly knowing there was no way they were going to get out of working out for an hour each day. He blew another blast on his whistle. “Laps until the end of the period!” And he watched as the several dozen teens begrudgingly started their haphazard and lazy pace.

And that's just the first day of school...

[rythmicjea]

Number 5 is my favorite

Veronica Lodge Icons

Veronica Lodge Icons

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[rythmicjea]

remember when riverdale s7 was airing and they did that whole storyline on the comic book code and used that story to straight up say: "this is censorship! this is racism! this is fascism! america is a fascist state!" and so many people in this fandom still went: "i can't believe they wasted so much of this season on a story about comic books." like, how on earth do you miss the point that badly? they literally told you to your face what this story was about.

[rythmicjea]

Where are my Jeronicas at??

[rythmicjea]

please nobody ever tell me if this has been done so I can sit back and stew in my own genius.

[rythmicjea]

hands in the hair of somebody in darkness named betty or joaquin or ronnie or reggie

[rythmicjea]

1. Isn't the official ship name vughead, that's what they say in the show. 2. Do you just act like the poly between the 4 didn't happen and it was just vughead near the end? 3. Do you acknowledge the fact that Jughead cheats on Veronica by kissing Tabitha and then never tells her(at least not to our knowledge)? (just so you know I'm not trying to be mean, I hope it doesn't come off that way, I've just had these questions for vughead fans and I never really asked any.)

I'll answer these in the same order you asked.

1.) Yes, in the show the ship is called "Vughead". But, I don't know of any Jeronica shipper that prefers that name. They were given that name as a counterpart to "Bughead". They used the same naming convention as Barchie/Varchie (the second part of Archie's name being the suffix). Like, it isn't "Tughead" for Tabitha and Jughead it's "Jabitha". However, we don't prefer "Jeronica" because we don't want it to be associated with Bughead. We prefer it because "Vughead" just sounds ugly lol. (Think Mondler/Chanica. One is "official" but one clearly is a better sounding portmanteau lol)

2.) I won't speak for all JV shippers, but I (and the other shippers I know) don't ignore the Quad. It is something that happened in their senior year of high school. However, it was made very clear in the show that it ended when they graduated. The timeline goes like this: For the rest of Junior year, JV and BA dated individually, beginning somewhere at the start of senior year the quad happened, the quad broke up right after graduation, JV find their way back to each other or make a long distance relationship work. Because while they "satisfied" themselves with the quad, they realized who their forever person was. (However, I'm on the hunt for a great S7 quad fic!)

3.) I don't believe he cheated. Cheating implies there was intent to be duplicitous. Jughead was saying goodbye. He was saying goodbye to a life he once had and a person circumstance denied him when the "new" timeline was created. Knowing how relationships in the 50s were I don't think Veronica would have found much problem in it either. (it is not the same as today where you are basically exclusive from the beginning. Going steady was a big deal and before a couple went steady they usually dated a few people at the same time. This is why in the comics Archie choosing between Betty and Veronica was seen as 'normal teenage angst/drama'. The comics never present him moving between girls as "cheating".) Also, I don't think that Jughead remembered the kiss either. So, there was nothing really to fess up to. I imagine that those viewing the memory movie (no idea why Tabitha couldn't make a film reel of it and have it shown on the projector but oh well! lol) were in a sort of trance and time sort of stopped around Jughead and Tabitha and then restarted when he took his seat again.

I totally don't take your questions as mean! I love answering questions like this. I think that there is so much nuance to Riverdale as a whole and the relationships (familial, platonic, romantic, etc) within them! So, thanks for asking!

[rythmicjea]

What about tabitha? jh is outside trying to get her to stay and then goes back to veronica like nothin happen??

Right. So, this is where things can get a little confusing. But, it's been established in this season, episode 1 specifically, that Tabitha's kiss has mind-wiping capabilities. Because there is a 1955 version of Tabitha, she knows that to keep everything stable, she has to wipe his memory of her. The angel version of her. And, Angel!Tabitha has the ability to basically see into the future. She tells Jughead what the rest of 1955!Tabitha's life looks like. She tells him her counterpart's future so he knows that they aren't endgame.

At first it's like "So, you've been dating Veronica and you're now just going to drop her?" But, they only decided to get together like a week prior (episode 18 ends on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). She's pretty resilient. She's very much a "if he doesn't want me then I don't want him" kind of gal. However, when Tabitha gives them back their happiest memories, she erases the memory of her angel self. To everyone, she's on tour with the NAACP fighting for civil rights.

Jughead knows that in the future, he loved Tabitha. But when you go back and watch that scene he says "we lived together. We had a life together". He never says "we love/d each other". And 1955!Tabitha is gone. He may write her letters from time to time but there are too many obstacles for them to try and make a go at anything serious (not only would it be a long distance relationship, it was very much illegal to date). Though, sitting under his arm, in bliss, is Veronica. The other side of his coin.

Angel!Tabitha, to ensure Jughead's happiness, erases her memory from his mind, and points him in the direction of his forever person. That was the best gift, she could have given him. The old adage of "If you love something, let it be free" comes to mind. Because, in the Sweet Hereafter, Tabitha is nowhere to be found - Angel or 1955.

The rest of the saying goes "if it doesn't return, it wasn't meant to be. But if it does, love it forever." Jughead never went back to Tabitha, but he did go back to Veronica.

[rythmicjea]

Pic #13 is Veronica thinking "I'm gonna the biggest good time gal when we get home."

Veronica Lodge & Jughead Jones Icons

Veronica Lodge & Jughead Jones Icons

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Veronica Lodge Icons

Veronica Lodge Icons

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[rythmicjea]

RIVERDALE (2017 - 2023)

[rythmicjea]

My favorite thing about Riverdale newbies is watching them change their minds from their original hardcore unbreakable stances. Because that trip is WILD.

[rythmicjea]

CAMILA MENDES as VERONICA LODGE Riverdale, ‘A Different Kind of Cat’

[rythmicjea]

Reading your WIP draft is wild. Because you're like "This is good! I'm vibing with this! I wonder what happens next!" And then you get to the part where you stopped and realize that you have to write what's next.

[rythmicjea]

Meanwhile in Riverdale

[rythmicjea]

Meanwhile in Riverdvale

(gif credit: @cherylblossom )

Betty and Veronica #85, March 1995

[rythmicjea]

I think each season of Riverdale should be its own college class. At least that's how I'm rationalizing my hyper specific breakdown of the plot of season 4.