Veggie

Veggie is the het ship between Reggie and Veronica from the Riverdale fandom.

Canon
When Veronica arrives in Riverdale and meets everyone, Reggie might be the type she would be aligned with as a mean girl, but while trying to redeem herself, Veronica doesn't really give Reggie the time of day. He's also a bystander as part of the sexist jock ensemble of Riverdale High, when Veronica is targeted by Chuck Clayton. This changes when Veronica orchestrates a night out and brings Reggie along as her "boy toy", although their relation remains casual. Veronica actually confesses to Reggie, Kevin and Josie that she feels like all she had left that couldn't be taken from her was her name, and Reggie has a sombre reaction to it, unlike how he usually acts.

Reggie's flirtatious with most girls, including Veronica and makes the most inappropriate, meathead quips about Veronica's mother when opportunity knocks. Reggie doesn't seem to like Veronica as a person that much, but treats her like he does Cheryl: the whole "same social strata" high school conduct. Veronica asks Reggie for the name of his dealer, while helping out Betty, and Reggie reluctantly obliges. They square off on occasion, such as when Reggie tries to frame the Serpents for vandalism once they're transferred to Riverdale High. Veronica steps in to defend the Serpents as this thwarts her parents decree that she maintain the peace between the Southside and Northside. Once the Lodges' activities are revealed to the community at large, Reggie taunts Veronica over her criminal ways, which prompts her to punch him out cold. Subsequently they face off in the student body presidential election, where Reggie and Josie come off looking much better compared to their competition.

Unbeknownst to Veronica, her father starts paying Reggie to lead "The Dark Circle" as a vigilante group which vandalises the Southside and goes after Fangs Fogarty, once it's made public he and Midge were having an affair. Reggie has meetings with Hiram in his study (almost in Archie's stead) and is manipulated and egged on by Hiram, leading to Reggie seeking out Fangs with a gun. After Fangs is shot, Reggie's afraid people will think it's him and he calls Hiram for help, who hangs up on him. This serves as a wake-up call for Reggie who tells Veronica he realises who he was and who he should be and that he is not ready to be student body president.

FRIENDSHIP They start over and become friends over the summer between their sophomore and junior year. As junior year begins, Reggie helps Veronica ready her 'speakeasy' in the basement of Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, La Bonne Nuit. Reggie agrees to be the resident bartender, also supporting and helping Veronica when her father's minions try to frame them as drug peddlers. On opening night of the Speakeasy, Reggie is by Veronica's side and they stay close throughout the evening, working as a team.

When Veronica devises a plan for breaking Archie out of juvie, Reggie serves as her fake fiancé escort. After their plan succeeds, Reggie, Veronica and Josie wait with Reggie's car in the woods to take a wounded Archie away. They bring him to Dilton's bunker where Veronica asks them to keep Archie's whereabouts a secret. Veronica and Reggie are both in class together when Sheriff Minetta starts questioning the kids about Archie's escape and although Reggie manages to evade suspicion with his smarmy, crude diversion tactics, Josie does not and they witness Josie having a seizure.

Veronica's losing money on Pop's and Le Bonne Nuit and Reggie talks to her about what's bothering her, sort of dismissively asking if it's about Archie 'ditching' her, indicating Reggie is mad at Archie for hurting Veronica, but also doesn't want her to focus on Archie. Veronica confides in Reggie and he inspires her to hold a casino night. When Veronica has to risk everything to keep Elio from hustling her, Reggie's impressed with her nerve and showmanship. She explains to him that she cheated and celebrate's her success in the conversation with Reggie and they share a sweet, intimate look, indicating something could be brewing between them. Along with other cheerleaders, Veronica suddenly has a seizure at school. After getting better, she meets with Reggie at Pop's and he tells her that Hiram is trafficking a new drug. Veronica asks Reggie to find out more about it. They later hang at La Bonne Nuit, where Reggie informs Veronica that the Southside prison is the new drug lair.

THE QUARANTINE "Has anyone ever told you, you're a badass"

- Reggie

A month after Hiram had Riverdale quarantined to start his 'kingdom', Veronica is running La Bonne Nuit in defiance, which has become a blooming success as a refuge for teens from the Lodge tyranny all over the rest of Riverdale. Reggie picks up beer across the border (despite the quarantine) and is jumped by the 'Gargoyle Gang' and beaten up. At La Bonne Nuit, Veronica tends to his bruises with an ice pack, apologising for her father's ambush. Veronica's efforts to best her father are thwarted and Josie pays by being antagonised by the Hiram's gang. Both Veronica and Reggie go to Josie's to talk to her afterwards, but mostly Veronica and Josie talk while Reggie takes in Veronica's reaction to the issue. Veronica makes a deal with Jughead for the Serpents to defend LBN activities from Hiram's gang and Jughead meets with Veronica and Reggie, who present as partners of LBN. Jughead, FP, Fangs and Sweet Pea among other Serpents go with Reggie on his next beer run and ambush the Gargoyle Gang, sending Hiram a message with one of them. Veronica sings at La Bonne Nuit that night as Reggie walks in, mesmerised by her and locking eyes with her. Veronica follows his gaze and starts singing to Reggie, who wordlessly encourages her. Later, after the club has closed, Reggie and Veronica are alone, in an embrace and share their first kiss.

ARCHIE RETURNS

The day after their kiss, Reggie walks up to Ronnie in school, all smiles and soft, asking whether she got his texts. He leans in for a kiss, but Ronnie rejects him and tells him Archie's returned. Veronica seems conflicted about her new feelings for Reggie and the unresolved feelings about her abrupt ending with Archie, but she and Archie immediately get back together. Though sad, Reggie tries to pretend he's fine and accepts the situation, and even asks how his friend-turned-rival is doing. She asks Reggie not to tell Archie about them and he agrees. Ronnie decides to throw Archie a surprise welcome home party at La Bonne Nuit and serenades him, while Reggie watches increasingly agonised that only the night before Ronnie was singing to him. Archie suffers from PTSD and leaves during Veronica's number, which infuriate's Reggie on Ronnie's behalf.

Reggie talks to Veronica at school the next day, expressing his anger at Archie's exit. Although he's mad about Archie hurting Ronnie, Reggie's reasonable and has noticed the difference in Archie, which he relays to Veronica. She agrees, but Reggie can't stop himself from asking her if it changes anything between him and Ronnie. Ronnie doesn't outright reject Reggie, still conflicted about her feelings for Reggie, but can't tell him what he wants to hear. Reggie leaves frustrated and later confronts Archie about his exit, but learns the extent of what Archie went through and they make peace. Reggie tries to distract himself with a dating app in the student lounge, obviously pining for Ronnie. Archie joins Reggie and a misunderstanding leads to Reggie thinking Ronnie told Archie about her and Reggie. Archie doesn't really seem angry with Reggie, moreso focused on his own turmoil. Reggie tells Veronica that he accidentally told Archie. Veronica's upset and talks to Archie, where they wordlessly cede that the relationship is done with. Ronnie spends the night with Archie, and they agree to have the actual break-up talk after the SATs, but Archie is unwell and leaves the class. After Ronnie's father is shot and she's at the hospital, Archie shows and Veronica asks if he shot Hiram. Archie's astounded, it's finally stated aloud that they're over and he leaves. Reggie shows up at the hospital, not knowing about the break-up but just there to comfort Ronnie in her time of need. Ronnie's surprised to see Reggie and they look at each other for a moment, before Reggie hugs her. Veronica closes her eyes in his arms and seems to feel safe and lets herself be vulnerable.

SOMETHING NEW

Fanon
Veggie is a fairly common ship, having risen in popularity in Season 3 when Veronica and Reggie have had a lot of storylines together. The pairing took off in Season 1 when Veronica decided to go to a club and bring Reggie along as her 'boy toy'. It's a popular and longstanding pairing in the comics.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * The Official Riverdale Twitter promoted Veggie with a set photo of Mendes and Melton on 11 January 2018

Photos

 * Veggie/Gallery