Oblivious to the danger approaching them, Shaggy, Daphne, and the others had warmly greeted Fred and Velma when they arrived. Velma, like Daphne, was wearing an evening gown (orange, of course), and Fred, like Shaggy, had also worn a suit, temporarily swapping his ascot for a tie. They chatted and reminisced (all while Shaggy and Scooby were putting significant dents in the buffet table).
"Jinkies, I'm so glad you were all able to be here tonight," Velma sighed. "My family is flying in, but they're only getting in tomorrow for the launch—this banquet wouldn't have been any fun without you guys here!"
"Hey, you'd have to work hard to keep Scoob and me away from all this food—right, Buddy?" Shaggy grinned.
"Rheah!" Scooby agreed.
"And we're just happy to see you and Freddie again, too!" Scrappy piped up.
"Same here, Guys," Fred agreed. "I can't believe how long it's been—what have you guys even been up to in all that?"
"Oh, this and that," Daphne said. "Writing articles, of course."
"Yeah, did you see that beaut about the HOA fraud going on outside Tucson?" Flim-Flam asked. "I got to help 'em blow the lid off of that one!"
"Oh, I've been meaning to talk to you all about that one!" Velma exclaimed. "I wish Freddie and I could've been there!"
"Yeah—with those HOA members running around in sheets?" Fred grinned. "Just like old times, huh?"
"Yeah, like, phosphorescent sheets, ghostly moaning on speakers—the whole deal!" Shaggy said.
"How many Scooby Snacks did you need to get these two to help out?" Velma asked Daphne.
"…Actually, none, now that I think about it," Daphne realized. They'd been there to help Vincent get a real poltergeist—capturing the fakes had been a bonus, and considering that their main objective was to help Vincent, the thought of Scooby Snacks hadn't crossed any of their minds.
"Wow," Fred commented, with a low whistle. "Sounds like the two of you have actually gotten a bit braver!"
Shaggy and Scooby exchanged glances and shrugged.
"Uncle Scooby's always been brave," Scrappy boasted. "But you're right—he and Shaggy have gotten even braver!"
"And hungrier," Fred noted, seeing just how much food the two had put away. "Hey, Daph, didn't you say that you and Shaggy became permanent members of the Chronicle's investigative reporting team?"
"That's right!" she said, proudly. "We still write other articles, too; Shaggy and I will be doing a human interest piece about the launch. And that reminds me, Velma… I wanted to get a chance to speak to your supervisor about the possibility of an interview—you said he's been waiting his whole life for this moment?"
"Oh, right!" Velma said. "Yes, this project is the crowning achievement to his long career at NASA—there he is, over there. Come on—I'll introduce you!" She led them over to where an elderly man was talking to two other men around the same age. "Excuse me, Dr. Midori?"
"Ah, Velma!" he exclaimed. "I was just talking about you! Gentlemen, meet my protégé, Miss Velma Dinkley. Velma, these are two old friends of mine—Mr. Solo and Dr. Kuryakin."
"Space scientists?" Velma asked.
"Just old friends," Dr. Midori said. "Though Dr. Kuryakin here has a degree in quantum physics. Mr. Solo here, I've known since childhood. Speaking of which, these must be your childhood friends."
"They are," Velma grinned. "Everyone, this is Dr. Takeshi Midori, head of the Minerva mission!"
The others took turns introducing themselves, and once Daphne explained her interest in an article about the launch, Dr. Midori was more than willing to grant her an interview.
"Inasmuch as I would like to remain humble, this launch represents decades of work," he admitted. "I would certainly love the public to know about it, and you, Miss Blake, would get the scoop—that I intend to end my career on this high note and phase into retirement after the launch, with Miss Dinkley heading the research on the Minerva project once the probe lands, remaining only in an advisory capacity."
"Jinkies!" Velma gasped.
"You didn't know?" Daphne asked.
"No, this is news to me, too!" she said, stunned.
"Like, congrats, Velma!" Shaggy grinned.
Scooby leaped up to hug Velma, prompting a group hug from everyone else, as well.
"You know something, Guys?" Fred mused, in the midst of the hug. "I remember when we all had reservations back when we had to part ways, but look at us now—we've all made it. Velma's going to be taking over this Minerva project, I've got a book tour coming up in a couple weeks, Daphne and Shaggy are with the Chronicle full-time, Scooby's gotten braver, Scrappy's found a friend… I'm proud of all of us."
"And you barely know me," Flim-Flam teased.
Fred just chuckled.
"Well, it feels like I've known you for longer," he returned.
The smile grew on Daphne's face; Flim-Flam really had become one of them—if only Vincent could be here…
Her thoughts were jolted by her phone chiming its "Dancing Queen" ringtone. Embarrassed, she pulled away from the hug and glanced at it, pausing in surprise.
"It's my mom," she said. "Sorry, Everyone, I think I should take this—I'll be right back."
She apologized a second time to Dr. Midori and his friends before walking away to take the call.
"She still likes ABBA," Velma mused. "I guess some things just never change."
"And I still love the Bee Gees," Shaggy informed her.
"Do the two of you still squabble over who gets to pick the playlist?" Fred grinned.
"Yes, they do," a new voice cut in. "Incessantly."
Shaggy stared, slightly awed, to see that Vincent had materialized beside them, dressed in his tuxedo and cape.
"Mr. V!?" he asked.
Fred and Velma looked confused by Vincent's sudden arrival, as did Dr. Midori—but Mr. Solo and Dr. Kuryakin did a double-take.
"…Excuse me…" Mr. Solo said. "Have we met before?"
Vincent gave him a quick glance.
"No, I think not," he determined.
"…Ah." Mr. Solo glanced at Dr. Midori. "Excuse me, Takeshi—I think I need coffee."
He left, followed by Dr. Kuryakin, who cast a baffled backwards glance at Vincent, as well.
"I don't believe I know you, either," Dr. Midori said, trying to be polite.
"You will forgive my intrusion; I was invited by Miss Daphne Blake," Vincent explained. "You see, I'm… a historian; Miss Blake thought I would find this Mars mission to my interest."
"And it looks like she was right," Shaggy grinned, as Scooby jumped up to hug him, now.
"We're so glad you could make it!" Scrappy agreed, scrambling up onto Vincent's shoulder.
"Yeah, this is going to be even better now that you're here, Vince!" Flim-Flam chirruped.
"So… Shaggy, who's your historian friend?" Fred asked.
"Oh, this is Vincent Van Ghoul—he's helped us out. A lot," Shaggy said. "Mr. V, these are…"
"Fred and Velma, yes, I know," Vincent said, extending a hand to them. "Forgive my acting with such familiarity, but your friends have told me so much about you—it feels as though I know you already."
Fred accepted the handshake first, still a little baffled.
"Nice to meet you, too," he offered. "I, uh… Well, I don't really know as much about you as you seem to know about us…"
"Oh, wait a minute—I recognize your name!" Velma exclaimed, shaking Vincent's hand next. "You were the one who Daphne sourced in her article about the Gorgons back in March! You're from Athens!"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Ah, Athens, city of Athena," Dr. Midori mused. "It was she who I named our project after—her Roman epithet, Minerva. As Mars is her brother, I thought it poetic for his sister to be the one to greet her."
Vincent was unable to hide his snark.
"Poetic it may be, but not very accurate, I fear," Vincent said. "Pallas Athena is not at all close with her divine half-brother Ares—even if she didn't object to him having a temple in her city."
"Ah. I must admit, I didn't delve too much into the mythos," Dr. Midori sighed. "Excuse me, I should check on some of my other guests…"
He took his leave of them, leaving Vincent with the others.
"I didn't really give much thought to the mythos, either. Maybe Daphne should've referred you to us sooner," Velma joked. "Well, maybe we can say Minerva is checking up on her brother to see what he's up to." She sighed, wistfully. "I've always wanted to visit Athens; we did visit Greece a few years ago—but we stayed on Helios Island. …It was our last big trip together before I started my internship here, actually."
"Maybe we can all take a trip to Athens together if our vacations line up," Fred suggested. "I wonder what it's like."
"Full of life—and the love of life," Vincent replied. "That's the one thing that hasn't changed across the centuries, though just about every other way of life has changed. But if you could only see the city in her former glory, when the Parthenon's marble still gleamed, and that spectacular chryselephantine statue of the goddess still stood within it… And Orpheus's hymn to her filled the air…"
Shaggy had to bite back a smile as he saw Fred and Velma listening as Vincent recited the hymn, absolutely hooked—Velma looked absolutely enthralled.
He glanced over at Daphne, and was a little surprised to see her frowning as she talked to her mother; she was so deep in conversation that she didn't seem to realize that Vincent was even here.
He walked over, now able to pick up her end of the conversation—
"What do you mean 'oh?' I just told you that Shaggy and I are now full-fledged reporters for the Chronicle, and all you and Dad can say is 'oh?' I thought you'd be happy for us; Fred and Velma are…!" She trailed off as Shaggy tapped her on the shoulder; she turned, glancing at him with a questioning look—but as Shaggy indicated Vincent over by the others, Daphne's frustrated expression took on a look of joy once again. "Mom, Dad—we'll talk about this later; I've got to go."
She abruptly ended the call.
"Everything ok?" Shaggy asked.
"…I don't know," she admitted. "It was kind of weird—I'd mentioned we were here to celebrate tomorrow's launch, and it was only after I mentioned that you and I were going to write an article about it that they seemed… disappointed. It was the same 'oh' that they said when I turned 18 and told them I didn't want to work for the family company. I thought we had settled this then, but now it's sounding as though they want to start that up again… I hope I'm wrong."
"What'll you do if they do?" Shaggy asked, his eyes wide.
"I don't know, but I do know that I'm not leaving you guys or Vincent—no matter what." She exhaled, looking over at Vincent, who still had the undivided attention of the others as he continued to recite the hymns to Athena, and she found the smile returning to her face. "What got him started?"
"Dr. Midori mentioned that the Minerva project was named for Athena's Roman name," Shaggy mused.
"…That'll do it," she smiled, and she and Shaggy walked back over to them, arriving just as Vincent finished his recitation.
Fred and Velma both broke out into applause.
"That was beautiful," Velma gushed. "I've never heard a recitation with such passion before!"
"Yeah; that was something," Fred agreed. "I'm guessing you're a writer yourself?"
"I've dabbled in it over the years, yes," Vincent mused.
"Rhou should hear some of the poetry rhat he's written!" Scooby agreed.
"Yeah, wait'll you hear the one he did about Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night!" Scrappy added.
"He's got a million of 'em!" Flim-Flam boasted.
"Oh, I'd love to hear more after the launch tomorrow!" Velma insisted. She turned to Daphne and Shaggy. "And now I've got a bone to pick with you two—I'm sure Freddie does, too. Why didn't you introduce Mr. Van Ghoul to us sooner?"
"Yeah, what did you think—we were going to run off with him or something?" Fred teased. "Though I'll admit, I'd love to consult him for some future books…"
"Uh… well…" Daphne began.
"Don't fault your friends," Vincent insisted, stepping in. "They'd been trying to convince me to meet with you for months now—the hesitation was mine." He paused. "I've spent most of my life in solitude, devoted to my work, and little else. Your friends were the first in a long time to get me to challenge that, and they have been hoping that you would be able to challenge that, too."
"And it looks like they were," Shaggy observed.
"And I told you they'd love you!" Daphne added.
"He's wonderful!" Velma agreed.
"Yeah, you should've heard him talk about Ancient Athens and all those tributes to Athena!" Fred added. "It was almost as though he'd actually been there!"
There was a slight pause.
"…Funny you should mention that…" Shaggy began, but stopped when Daphne gave him a look.
She then waved it off and turned to grin at Vincent.
"I'm so glad you reconsidered and decided to join us after all!" she said, sincerely.
Vincent hesitated. He didn't want them to worry, but he knew they had to be vigilant—and, for that, they needed to be forewarned.
"I regret to admit to you, Daphne, that this isn't entirely a pleasure trip," he said, at last. "I'm also here on official business."
"Oh…" Daphne sighed. Her eyes widened as she realized what he was trying to say. "Oh."
Shaggy and Scooby gulped, and Scrappy exchanged a glance with Flim-Flam.
"Well, I guess it can't be helped if you're busy," Velma sighed. "If you need to leave, I'll understand."
"But do leave us a way to get back in touch with you," Fred added.
"Oh, I'm not leaving just yet," Vincent assured them. "I just wanted to—"
He was cut off as the ground suddenly shook.
"Zoinks!" Shaggy yelped, as Scooby leaped into his arms. "What's happening!?"
"It feels like an earthquake!" Fred exclaimed, as the banquet guests began to scream and panic.
"But there aren't any major faultlines here!" Velma pointed out. "This has to be something else!"
Daphne glanced at Vincent in concern, and he offered a nod of confirmation as someone let out a panicked cry, pointing out the window.
"Look!" the guest exclaimed. "Look at that thing out there!"
They all ran for the windows, freezing in horror and concern as something large and long burrowed its way up from the ground; it continued to extend upward, its large cylindrical body—and sharp pincers on the edges of its mouth—gleaming in the moonlight.
The Time Worm had arrived.
Notes: I honestly feel that Velma would have been awed to meet Vincent, rather than the rude, skeptical reaction we got in Curse. Amusingly enough, I based her reaction off of a scene from the movie The Trouble With Girls, which featured Vincent Price and Nicole Jaffe (the original voice of Velma from the Where Are You/New Movies days) in small roles, but they did have a scene together, which more or less was Vincent's character reciting quotes while Nicole's character looked on in awe. Frank Welker was also in this movie (a rare live-action role for him and Nicole), but he and Vincent sadly did not have any scenes together.
Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin are cameos from another one of my fandoms, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; I'd more or less established in my MFU timeline that Napoleon had a childhood friend who became a NASA scientist. Their reaction to Vincent and wondering if they'd met him before is an in-joke four years in the making—a one-time character in the show, THRUSH Executive Marton, was also played by Vincent Price; I had Marton mention in a fic I wrote four years ago that he had a distant cousin in Tibet, which, of course, was a reference to Vincent Van Ghoul (who had an offscreen role in that fic—he was contacted offscreen to ask how to deal with a supernatural threat that had been unleashed)—at the time, I never imagined that I'd be writing 13 Ghosts fic, but now that I am, I just had to bring the joke full-circle; all those allusions I'd made in previous fics that Vincent had distant mortal relatives was, admittedly, all for this moment.