The growing popularity of the game Gryphons and Gargoyles (based on Dungeons and Dragons), and the mysterious Gargoyle King. As well, the focus on a cult known as The Farm.
Started: July 22, 2024
Ended: September 15, 2024
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Riverdale. Once a safe, decent, innocent place, had become noir town, like the setting of a Raymond Chandler story filled with dames to kill for, postmen who like to ring twice and more mobsters than a Scorsese retrospective at the Bijou. We were a town of lost souls, each of us wrestling with demons, each of us with secrets we were trying to keep. Mine was on the large side, 6'5 to be exact. I was covering up the death of a wicked man. But Tall Boy Petite wasn't the only fresh corpse in noir town. Claudius Blossom had taken the big sleep, and my girlfriend Betty Cooper had murder on the brain. And murderers, in Betty's world, needed to be brought to justice. Meanwhile, Archie Andrews no longer felt haunted by Hiram Lodge. But he was still haunted. Trapped in that in-between place, avoiding his destined face-to-face with the man in black, Archie struggled, searching for a sense of purpose. The only thing Archie knew for sure, was he was angry. And hitting things made it better. With Hiram laid up in the hospital, clinging to life, there was blood in the water. And sharks were closing in on the mobster's daughters, Veronica and Quinn Lodge. Yes, we all had our problems. The town was drowning in them. And a hell of a good-looking one was about to walk through my door. I didn't mind playing detective, especially for this price, but if I'd known then and there where this investigation would lead me, I never would've taken the money. *** "From my family to yours." Elio tells me and Veronica.
"While I love a grand gesture, Elio, diamonds are a girl's best friend." Veronica tells him.
"These are for your father. I heard he was still in the hospital and wanted to come here, personally, to let you know I'm praying he pulls through." Elio tells her as we look at the white flowers.
"To paraphrase Samuel Clemens, reports of death have been greatly exaggerated." Veronica tells him.
"The vultures are circling, Veronica, Quinn. They're eager to swoop in on your father's territory." Elio tells us.
"Are you talking about yourself right now?" I ask him.
"I'm offering some friendly advice. Jobs like the hit on your father? It's very rare they go unfinished." Elio tells us. *** "Nico, Leo...we're in a crisis. The mob underworld smells blood in the water, and we need to change the narrative, obscure the fact that our father is down for the count and present a strong front." Veronica tells them as me and her stand in front of them inside the hospital outside of daddy's room.
"It's too late for that." Leo tells her.
"People are talking." Nico tells us.
"No one's seen the man in black recently and no one's collecting the vig." Leo tells us.
"Wait, what? Why the hell not?" I ask.
"We should get out there and start collecting immediately." Veronica tells them.
"Nico and I have discussing options. It might be in your family's best interest to align with the Grandes." Leo tells us.
"You mean Elio's family?" I ask him and he nods.
"Not gonna happen." Veronica tells him with a scoff.
"Your father took a bullet two inches from his heart. If we're not careful, our next play could be our last." Leo tells her.
"We don't need you to mobsplain what's best for our family." Veronica tells him.
"Due respect, you're not being realistic." Nico tells her and I scoff.
"And due respect, you're fired. Both of you." I tell them.
"Seriously? You're getting rid of the only capos you have left?" Leo asks.
"You mean the same two clowns who didn't protect our dad from getting shot? Yeah, no, we're good." Veronica tells them and they walk away from us. *** I'm watching over the speakeasy and watching Josie sing, and I watch Archie and Reggie talking.
"Can I get another bartender in here, please? Another bartender! Don't touch me." I hear Archie say before Toby slams Archie onto the bar.
"Toby! This isn't what we do here. I got him." I tell him as I walk over to him and Archie.
"It's okay, I'll go. I'll go." Archie tells us as he stands up after Toby releases him.
"I got him. It's fine." I tell them as I help Archie walk out of the speakeasy. *** Quinn...please don't tell anyone about this." Archie tells me as I help him into the bathtub.
"Listen to me, you're in some sort of slump and it's time to wake the hell out of it. It's time for a literally and metaphoric cold shower." I tell him as I walk over to the shower head.
"Wait...wait, Quinn! Don't..." Archie tells me as I turn on the water. *** "What's this?" Archie asks as I hand him his drink.
"Lemon, ginger and cayenne. Where's Mr. Andrews?" I ask him as he drinks the drink.
"He's at work. I got canned on my first day. So, I went to drown my sorrows." Archie tells me.
"Archie, I know things are weird between us right now because we don't know where we stand, and I can't even fathom the hell you went through. And maybe all that you can do right now is wallow in booze and pick stupid fights. But I think personally, I think you need to find another way to channel that anger into something constructive. Like your music." I tell him.
"Quinn..." Archie trails off.
"But if you're in the mood to punch things, Kevin's dad boxes at the gym. Either way, you need to deal with your demons head-on and not hide from them." I tell him.
"I thought I did. In the cabin, I thought I faced my demons, and killed them. And myself." Archie tells me.
"You lost me." I tell him.
"You're right, Quinn. I gotta face this head-on. And there's one person I still haven't seen since I've been back in Riverdale." Archie tells me and then stands up and walks away.
"Where the hell are you going?" I ask him.
"Going to face, and kill, one last demon." Archie tells me as he puts on his coat and then walks out of his house. *** I walk out of daddy's hospital room and look over at Archie as he stands up and I walk over to him and give him a quick hug.
"How is he?" Archie asks.
"Thanks to you he's alive. What were you even doing here?" I ask him.
"I...came looking for you. To talk to you after I left you in my house, about how I was acting like an ass in the speakeasy. I wanted to apologize. I wasn't myself. I haven't been for a while." Archie tells me.
"I'm also sorry. For ever asking you if you shot my dad." I tell him.
"Yeah, at some point, maybe I could have. But I don't hate him anymore, Quinn." Archie tells me.
"He's awake, and he's asking to see you. But Archie, if you ever need someone to talk to...I'm here." I tell him and then watch him walk into daddy's hospital room. *** "Hey." Archie says to me as he walks up to me in the speakeasy.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" I ask him.
"Better." Archie tells me.
"That's good." I tell him.
"Thank you, for taking care of me and setting me straight." Archie tells me.
"We all need tough love sometimes." I tell him.
"I was thinking about your advice to do something constructive. Do you think Mr. Keller would talk to me about boxing?" Archie asks.
