ima need space.

          marco  didn’t  get  a  lot  of  studying  done  at  home.   he  didn’t  like  the  environment.  one  of  his  favorite  places  to  study  was  the  cafe  and  today  it  doubled  as  he  watched  the  different  patrons  to  make  observations  for  his  psychology  class.   marco  found  himself  in  a  corner  of  the  cafe  with  his  notepad  making  notes  about  the  people  in  one  of  the  corner  booths  opposite  of  where  he  was  sitting  when  he  got  interrupted  mid  sentence.   “oh,  yeah.”   he  grabbed  the  menu  and  flipped  it  open.   “do  you  have  any  restrictions  or  anything?   don’t  want  to  recommend  a  burger  if  you  don’t  eat  them.” 

          velma realized, when the moment set in, that it was probably a bit weird that she just sat across this stranger without introducing herself. almost doubled down with a second apology, too - but she didn’t. in true velma fashion, though ( getting ahead of herself in social situations ) - she shook her head before answering and said, “ i’m velma, by the way. i should probably say that...” nervous laugh.        

        “ and a burger sounds great, ” she said as she glanced over at the menu he had. the selection looked pretty common from this angle (upside down) - with sandwiches and burgers and the like. just like home. “ any chance they have a veggie option ? ”                                                          

closed starter for @ohjinkiies​

Haven made her way to the library as she always did for some much needed me time. She was enjoying her life now that she’d finished her PH.D and was working as the Elementary science teacher as Walt Academy. He application to Stark Industries was going well too. She was riding that high as she placed her books on the table by the window she likes. Usually, she had someone else with her when she sat here but she was fine alone. She looked up a bit surprised at the person standing right across from her though. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, were you going to sit here?” She hadn’t noticed and now she felt guilty. 

        velma had one more exam to take before she could finally say her final semester at harvard was over. finishing remote had been more difficult than she anticipated, though she didn’t regret coming to elias when she did. but the public library was a popular spot - especially now, apparently, as velma was struggling to find a seat. she was almost there, open table clear in view, when someone else tried to sit across from her at the same time.

        “ oh, no, it’s okay. i’ll find somewhere else, ” she insisted half-heartedly as she slowly turned to the full room. that wasn’t going to work. “ actually - do you mind if we share ? i promise i won’t interrupt ... just need to submit this exam. ”

He was definitely struggling. He felt exposed in this town where he had nowhere really to go hide in some books. The library seemed popular here and while he had no trouble meeting people, he really just needed a moment to think. He’d gone from dedicating his life to what was basically a legend to finding out it was all true and now he had to help protect the one hope Atlantis had to surviving an evil fairy who wanted to destroy it. It was a lot, okay? He’d decided that his best move would be to get some food. Mama Odie’s seemed like just the place so he dropped his books on a table outside and let his heavy bag fall only for all of his other books to spill out. He scrambled to collect them. He’d taken these books from his grandfather’s library. 

“I’m so sorry, give me a moment, I’ll have these up and out of the way.” Milo apologized to the passerby as he handled the priceless books. 

        mama ode’s was the talk of the town - the first place people suggested when asking for local eats in the area - and velma had fully anticipated it being packed when she walked in, just before lunch hour, to get her daily everything bagel and cinnamon latte. but to her pleasant surprise, she walked in and the air was almost still. there were always customers, of course - but it was nowhere near crowded like she was expecting. she hummed happily to herself as she made her way up to the counter and ordered her breakfast.

        the transaction was quick and soon enough velma was adjusting the strap of her bag, picking up her order, and twirling around to find a seat. less than crowded aside, the awkward dance around passersby were inevitable with tables so close together - especially when said individuals were walking around with an armful of books.

        “ here, let me help you, ” velma offered, rushing to set her things down before taking a book that was close to falling from his grasp. she knew what it was like to be wrestling a tower of literature. “ are you ... doing research for something ? ” she asked, looking over the cover. 

        after more than one person recommending the place to her, velma decided to spend her saturday studying at mama ode’s cafe. but a new place with a slightly offbeat menu had her a bit intimidated when it came time to order lunch. she looked over her laptop at the stranger sitting on the opposite side of table. “ sorry to interrupt, ” she said - very much not sorry for interrupting. “ could you tell me what you recommend to eat here ? ”

DAPHNE HAD BEEN SAT ON HER BED, an episode of The X-files on in front of her while another book on all kinds of curses, that seemed to be filled with unhelpful theories, sat on her bed next to her. As much as she enjoyed the show, the investigation on-screen only reminded her of the group’s many so all those years before, which ultimately, reminded her of the call she had made to Velma.

She couldn’t entirely blame Velma for picking an Ivy League school over cryptids and the paranormal, but that didn’t help the bit of rejection she felt. Who knew, maybe Velma didn’t even have those kind of interests anymore. Maybe the few things they had in common, and their friendship, was simply a thing of the past.

She was trying to distract herself from this thought by watching Scully downplay whatever theory Mulder had when there was a knock at the door. Ignoring it for a moment, the thought of it possibly being a package from online shopping made her get up and open it, eyes wide with surprise for only a split second before she was squealing with excitement, arms thrown in the air before they were wrapping around Velma.

“Oh, my god, you’re here!” The excitement in her voice portrayed exactly how she felt, if not with a little added bewilderment. “I can’t believe you’re here! I mean, after all time passed and I didn’t hear anything-” Daphne didn’t finish her train of thought when she was already grabbing one of Velma’s suitcases and pulling it into the house, an act she wouldn’t have done for just anyone. “What about Harvard?” 

        when it came to the mystery inc gang, life had gone in four entirely different directions. maybe it wasn’t how they expected things to go after everything they had been through together, the adventures they’d embarked on being ones that out link them for life, but eventually it all started to seem a bit childish to velma. energy focused on things that wouldn’t exactly benefit her and her goals in the long run. 

        and that was why she had chose harvard. why she still chose, to some degree, harvard. it was definitely a choice to finish her semester remotely, and she didn’t know what she would do next semester, but she made her choices and she would be sticking to them. always did. while the choice to move to elias did, for a moment, feel like choosing between herself and her friends - this was the solution that felt best. choose both.

        “ i’m here ! ” she replied with a grin as she hugged the other woman - a blissful moment where time felt like it had hardly passed. while her relationships with the others were complicated, and perhaps they always have been, there was something about being here with daphne that felt like coming home. “ i’m so happy to see you. you look great. ”

        oh, the school question. as if she didn’t have it all figured out. “ explained to my professors that i had a bit of an emergency and somehow managed to arrange remote learning. no one tell the dean that the emergency was a mere vitamin d deficiency. ” she laughed.          

He’d put this off for too long. Scooby was looking up at him expectantly, waiting for him to make the best move; Do something – anything – just stop staring at this dumb door. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see her, it was quite the opposite; he was probably more excited to see her than anyone. He just wasn’t sure how this was going to go and the idea of it going poorly had his hands shaking, his fingertips almost vibrating with anxiety. It was stupid, really. He’d faced monsters, the worst of the worst, and made it out unscathed, but after this long the thought of talking to Velma Dinkley alone still gave him heart palpatations.

Finally, after a wet nudge from Scooby’s nose, he was able to rake his knuckles against the door in a lazy knock. Once given the go ahead, he opened the door enough for the dog to push through but lingered in the entryway. 

❝ Velma ? ❞

        when velma dinkley finally chalked up the nerve to abandon harvard and join freddy and daphne in elias, she didn’t know shaggy would be on his way, too. she should have considered it - in fact, it was not like velma not to - but admittedly it took an embarrassingly long time for the shock to wear off when she spoke to fred and she hadn’t even thought to bring up shaggy. with daphne, her mind had wandered to other things. but to not expect a full reunion was an oversight on her part, one that managed to derail her to a certain degree. left her with a heavy pit in her chest and nerves fluttering like deranged moths.

        with remote learning still left as an excuse in her roster ( did anyone actually expect her to completely leave her studies behind ? )  velma found herself locked away in her room when the front door opened and happy barks could be heard down the stairs. she had a discussion post due thursday, a paper due monday, and she could very easily find herself in this room for days if she had the nerve ! but that wasn’t realistic, let alone smart. she’d have to face the music eventually.

        and he must have had a similar mentality, because before she could muster up the energy to get up and finally show face to shaggy and scooby - she heard a knock on the door.

                                          “ shaggy ? ”

     she lifted herself up from her seat at the desk and turned to the door, the small smile that had washed over her expression quickly transforming into a grin as scooby ran through the door. “ hi scoob ! ” she called as she leaned over the greet the pup - scratching behind his ears and cooing as he wagged his tail. he got bored of her quickly, deciding it was best to explore the room instead, and she stood back up and crossed the room to meet shaggy, pushing aside her nerves long enough to pull him into a hug,

        “ it’s good to see you, ” she said softly as she pulled away. “ how was your trip ? ”

👻 ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ───────────  when   freddy   had   reached   out   to   the   gang   about   getting   mystery   inc   back   together   the   reaction   was   as   anticipated.   he   was   met   with   skepticism.   with   velma,   his   call   was   ignored.   that   was   also   expected.   their   relationship   had   never   been   the   closest.   it   had   always   been   icy   between   them.   as   he   had   gotten   older   freddy   recognized   as   to   why   they   were   the   most   strained   out   of   the   four   of   them.   he   was   a   dick   and   that   was   putting   it   lightly.   always   hogging   the   spotlight   in   any   way   he   could   even   if   that   meant   taking   credit   where   credit   was   not   due.   add   on   freddy’s   need   to   be   in   control   and   of   course   velma   wouldn’t   have   fond   memories   of   freddy   jones   or   want   to   be   around   him   once   more.   

it   had   taken   her   sometime   but   velma   had   finally   joined   them.   freddy   knew   he   was   starting   at   square   one   with   all   of   them.   while   things   weren’t   entirely   patched   up   with   daphne   the   distance   between   them   was   becoming   smaller.   there   was   still   work   to   be   done   but   freddy   was   willing   to.   the   same   sentiment   stood   with   velma   and   shaggy.   it   took   him   sometime   to   realize   but   mystery   inc   had   been   the   only   genuine   friends   he   had   not   only   in   his   youth   but   life.   he’d   do   what   he   could   to   atone   for   who   he   was   in   high   school.   heading   upstairs   to   the   living   space   of   mystery   inc   headquarters,   freddy   stopped   outside   of   velma’s   doorway.   he   leaned   in   the   frame   knocking   on   it   as   he   watched   her   unpack.      “   have   a   decent   flight   ?   ”      he   asked.   small   talk.   awesome.   

        velma didn’t know exactly what she was supposed to expect when she stepped off the plane in elias, california.  it was the first time she was leaving home for an environment that wasn’t based in academia. in fact, she had even put her education on hold - which was not a very velma-like move. but, while she originally anticipated being riddled with nerves, the girl managed to hold on to an ounce of confidence that came with the realization that her friends needed her. they needed her and they recognized it, too. and honestly? that was a change of pace teenage velma would be ecstatic over. it was probably part of the reason why velma was there now, chasing a sense of validation previously missed.

        after catching up with daphne for awhile, she made her way up to the room she’d be staying in to unpack her things. she had almost found a home for everything in her first suitcase when in walked none other than freddy jones. the air between them seemed stale as she looked over at her old friend, but that seemed inevitable with the time that had passed. velma offered a warm smile regardless at his words before crossing the room to greet him with a hug. “ oh, it was fine, ” she said. the flight was nothing to report about, which were the best kind of flights sometimes - simple and without havoc. “ how have you been, fred ? ”

serena was halfway through stuffing down a beignet in her mouth when the stranger appeared. she knew it was a longshot to wish that the booth would stay unnoticed, that people would decide ‘oops, might as well go somewhere else’ – but this was mama ode’s after all. who would want to go somewhere else?

it was her usual haunt after a walk on a weekend morning, and it was while the stranger spoke that serena bit off a tiny, polite piece of beignet. she slid her plate, plus teacup and saucer, closer to her side, so there was enough space and when she finally swallowed her bite, she gave a light laugh.

“ oh ! well, um … do you mean historically, or geographically, socially, or … ” she started to think aloud, before looking at her once more. “ i’m sorry, wait, what is this for ?”

        velma had been so zeroed in on the empty seat that she hadn’t considered, even for a moment, the state of the individual occupying the other. here she was, popping up in surprise, and the other woman was in the process of eating. good going, velms. 

        “ sorry to interrupt, ” she said quickly as she collapsed into the seat. she wasn’t the most graceful, miss velma dinkley, and surely it was apparent in moments like this one. but here she was anyway, ready to absorb any and all information like a sponge. 

        “ anything, ” velma said carefully - thought she was certain that would once again open the door for useless information. she cleared her throat to correct herself. “ anything you think a newbie should know about. advice, maybe. ” she shrugged. “ or even warnings. ”

MOLLIE BLINKED AT THE WOMAN WHO RUSHED OVER, almost expecting to hear about more monsters had shown up in the small town. However, she changed to a look of glee at the proposition. “Oh, that sounds like a fun game!” Her feet swung underneath her in the booth as she asked, “What kind of stuff do you want to know? Like, what’s in the town or where the best food is? Because that’s a pretty hard question to answer. It’s probably between Mama Ode’s, or maybe the Pit Stop. It’s usually a pretty nice temperature around here. A couple months ago, all these monster things were like tearing stuff down and attacking people, but it’s all gone back to normal now. Oh, and there’s a lot of cool events, like a Flower Festival recently!” Mollie listed all of these facts off, looking up as she thought of each things, as if they had equal potential for interest. 

        monsters. ding ding ding. that had to be, at least in part, why freddy and daphne needed her help. this girl hadn’t been the first to mention them - it seemed to be a core memory in the minds of elias’ citizens - but she was the first to do so with such detail. “ attacking people ? ” velma repeated, her tone showing surprise. people mentioned the lockdowns and destroyed buildings ... but no one had said people got hurt. “ did anyone die ? ” she asked bluntly as she made a note. there was no doubt in her mind that the rest of the girl’s experiences of the city - which she so happily rattled off - were just as interesting ... but the brunette was hyper focused now. she leaned in. “ how did things go back to normal ? ”