Yeah, he knew slipping up the steps labeled ‘employees only’ was going to either end in two ways; he’d get caught or he’d end up picking the wrong room and get away with sneaking into the movies. As soon as he opened the door though the boy had found his luck cut short.
“Okay? And… are you going to kick me out or keep your lip tight? Everyone knows the best view of the movie is up here.” He didn’t even know what the movie was but he didn’t care, it was summer and the heat had gotten to him, he needed a free way to entertain himself that was inside. “I can bribe you with popcorn.”
“I already get free popcorn.” she told him, grinning a little. “You picked the worst movie to sneak into. You could have gone to see Aliens.” But still, she didn’t force Sweet Pea to leave. If he wanted to sit through this garbage with her, she’d let him. Besides, it’d be nice to have an extra hand on deck if something went wrong.
“ — shit , i’m so sorry , totally did not mean to come up here … ” leave it to ARCHIE ANDREWS to lose his way to the bathroom ! ( though , in all fairness , he’s rather sure there used to be a bathroom this way … ) “ this is sick , though … ” dark hues will circle around the boooth , focus suddenly drawn to the screen separating the two of them from the rest of auditorium . he’ll take a step closer to the edge , attention fixated on the space below them . “ these have gotta be the best seats in the whole theatre ! ”
Ethel gestured for him to step back. “It is, but you have to pay very close attention to the projector.” she whispered, gesturing to it. She made sure it was safe and sound, and the film reels were in place and running, before guiding Archie out and into the hallway. “Bathrooms are by theater five.” she explained, pointing down the hall. “However,” she started, leaning her head back towards the projection booth. “I wouldn’t say no to some company in there when you’re finished.”
the theatre was familiar , in most aspects . though she couldn’t blame the girls for being here , she too would join in on the fun - if she didn’t have a job to do , or wasn’t so freaked by the displacement . perhaps one day , she would actually enjoy being a young adult . today was not that day . perfectly pink painted lips will grin at the other , she lets out a chuckle .
“ sorry , sometimes i forget i’m not home . ” where everyone knew her , and who WOULDN’T let betty cooper into the booth if she wanted to be there . “ i just know the view is always the best up here . ”
Ethel nodded in understanding. “Yeah, but you could have picked a much better movie to get a good view on.” She gestured to the screen. “Prince is iconic, but this movie isn’t good. I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for the fact that this is my job.” she confessed, whispering.
She got a folding chair from the back of the room, bringing it up beside her. “Just whisper if you want to talk, I don’t want to disrupt the fan girl meeting down there.”
Ethel liked working late at the theater, usually, especially when she got to run the projector. It allowed her peace and quiet, to play films that she couldn’t play during the day. Tonight, however, was an exception. She’d had to play hostess to a late night premiere: Under the Cherry Moon. The theater was empty as could be, save for a small cluster of Prince fangirls and an overeager couple down in front. She couldn’t blame people for not showing up, the film wasn’t good, but she was unbelievably bored.
When the door opened on her little projection booth, she turned and prepared to talk to her boss about the bad ticket sales. She relaxed, though, upon seeing who it really was. “You’re not supposed to be up here, y’know.” she teased, grinning a little.
☆ﾟ*・ﾟ┊shannon purser, she/her + 20, cis female┊❝ isn’t « Ethel Muggs » totally tubular looking? they seriously remind me of a character from « Riverdale ». i started seeing them at « Hawk Cinema » a few « months » ago, humming to the tune of « can't fight this feeling + reo speedwagon » when they think no one’s looking. also, they’re like totally known as the « brains » of town, so i’d keep my eye on them. seriously. ❞ (lila, 21, she/her, EST)
howdy howdy! my name’s lila, and I’ll be playing ethel muggs for y’all! I've always had a soft spot for Ethel - she and I have similar body types and similar interests (justice, staying out of the spotlight , dungeons and dragons). I'm a college student working towards a communications degree with minors in theatre and writing, and I write horror on the side. fun fact about me: it took three tries for me to Ethel a song for my application because all of my ideas for songs were released after 1986 and I’m a stickler for sticking to time periods.
so here she is, a girl who deserves better, ethel muggs!
history (tw: death, suicide attempt)
Ethel isn’t proud of a lot of her history. She’s done a lot she regrets: throwing a milkshake in Veronica Lodge’s face, everything that lead to her being in the playbook. But she regrets Gryffons and Gargoyles the most. She’d been in a fragile place: her father had almost died, so many people around her had died or been close to the edge, and she didn’t feel safe. For a time, G&G gave her safety and camaraderie. Then everything changed.
She lost herself, hallucinating and giving herself over fully to the game. Her suicide attempt (as much as she’d deluded herself into thinking it was noble, she knew what drinking the poison truly was now) in the bunker is what forced her to realize how far she’d gotten and how badly she needed help. There’d been an attempt to call Betty, Jughead, Archie, anyone, but then an unfamiliar nurse had come in with a cup of water and she’d drunk from it.
Ethel awoke in the Sisters of Quiet Mercy Hawkins National Laboratory, and spent what felt like years there. She became a puppet for the Sisters scientists there, trying to break Betty Cooper once she’d gotten there, too high on Fizzle Rocks and power to stop herself. But then she’d been locked in with the Gargoyle King Mind Flayer and forced to pass through the gates of withdrawal for the first time in what turned out to be a month and a half.
When Betty unlocked the door to the "throne room" Ethel was shaking and sick, but finally sober, conscious, and willing to help for the first time in a long time.
Once they’d gotten the other kids out, Ethel tried her best to help Betty keep them safe. She became their mother hen, shepherding them to safe places across town. She only returned home once that work was done, still deeply scarred from all she’d seen and done.
Now she’s picking up the pieces and trying to rebuild herself; make herself better. She’s got a steady job at the local movie theater, she’s going to therapy and taking classes in Library Science out of town. But most importantly, she’s using what she knows to help others.
Ethel just hopes that it’s enough to make up for what she’s done.
headcanons:
I have a whole about page for canon things about her, but here’s some important stuff.
Ethel is Reform Jewish and goes to a synagogue outside of Hawkins.
She speaks three languages: English, conversational Hebrew, and ASL.
She can play the accordion.
Almost everyone her age in town was invited to her bat mitzvah when it happened.
She has a ragdoll cat named Curie.
When she came home for the final time, she burned all of her G&G stuff.
Her favorite job at the movie theater is running the projector.
