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( volume ii, chapter xxxv )
deal with the devil
RIVERDALE HIGH
JANUARY 20TH, 2018
RIVERDALE
''Veronica, are you trying to manage my brother right now?''
''Define manage.''
''People are gonna lose their homes,'' he expressed, as if attempting to explain astro-physics to a five-year old.
The raven-haired girl sighed, rubbing her temples. ''Why don't you come with your dad, and sit down with my dad, and hash this out like civilized humans face-to-face?''
''I'd call your father a lot of things, Veronica, but I don't recall ❛civilized human❜ being one of them.''
''Okay,'' Jughead accepted. ''One condition. Your dad comes to Sunnyside Trailer Park. I want him to see the people that he's going to be displacing.''
''Fine. And trust me, no one's going to be displaced. Mia, I give you my allowance to attend.''
''Thanks,'' the blonde replied sarcastically. ''It's not as if you're coming to my home.''
༺✧༻
SUNNYSIDE TRAILER PARK
JANUARY 21ST, 2O18
SOUTHSIDE RIVERDALE
To put it simply, Hiram Lodge was a tyrant. He was a dictator, who was playing with Riverdale like putty in his hands. Truth be told, he didn't expect anyone to figure out his tactics, and if they did, to be smart enough to keep them to themselves.
Jughead, however, defied those expectations.
''Thank you for agreeing to sit down and discuss this misunderstanding,'' Hiram began, almost turning his nose up at the beer bottle FP put down in front of him.
''There's no mis—''
Mia's father cut off her brother, repeating his words in a less-aggressive tone. ''There's no misunderstanding here. Tall Boy said you paid him to decapitate the Pickens statue.''
''As an excuse to turn up the heat on the Serpents,'' Mia added.
''We got a lot of nervous people scared they're gonna lose their homes.''
''I heard about that,'' the man admitted. ''Though it has nothing whatsoever to do with me, I've spoken with Mayor McCoy. As a gesture of good will to the Southside community, I'd like to settle any back rent you or your neighbours owe the town.''
''What do you want in return?'' Jughead asked, narrowing his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Hiram smiled, a wide smile which felt more like a wolf baring it's teeth at it's prey. ''Peace in the land.''
''Hmm.''
A pregnant silence ensued, before FP stood and offered his hand. ''It's a deal.''
''There is one thing,'' Hiram informed, as soon as the two men shook hands. ''Mayor McCoy tells me there is some kind of exposé you're working on, Jughead. So, in exchange for my generous offer, I'd appreciate it if you just kept my name out of it. Sound fair?''
Jughead scoffed. ''Sounds a lot like a bribe.''
''No deal.''
''See you in the funny pages.''
''Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Mr Lodge.''
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