"We?"
Phantasma gave a nod, earning a shrug from Velma towards Daphne. Unsure who she exactly meant by the statement, but not against having some company. The two women moved to the bed that Daphne had claimed, sitting across from where Phanty had settled on Velma's bed by her book.
"Well, I guess a little 'girl time' wouldn't hurt."
With her and her expression lighting up, Phanty clapped her hands and floated in an excited circle before zipping into the wall and beyond. The two women blinked at the sudden poof of the ghost lady, staring at the wall where she had vanished into. Only a few confused seconds ticked by, before there was a knock on the door. Looking at each other, they shrugged and Velma got up off Daphne's bed. Curiosity winning out over her puzzlement, Velma moved to the door and opened it to see whom might be beyond it.
"Might we be allowed inside?" Sibella asked, holding what seemed to be her own purple pillow in her arms, matching her laced purple nightgown and fluffy robe. She must have been holding on to the pillow, waiting for Phantasma to get back to her about if she could join them in their room.
"Uh, sure. Come on in." Velma offered, waving her arm to show that it was ok. Though a small part of her mind was thinking about how a Vampire has to be invited inside to enter homes in mythos. But then again, she was a guest here, not Sibella. So, if anyone had to be invited in, it was her and Daphne.
Nodding her head, Sibella drifted gracefully into the room. But it didn't stop there.
One by one, the other ladies in the household passed into Daphne and Velma's guest room. Each with their own pillows and pajamas, they took up various spots in the space. Trying to be out of the way, Elsa sat on the floor by Velma's bed. Her legs stuck straight out in her oddly adorable green onesie. Because someone her size and stature, who was going to tell her she looked otherwise in that outfit? She was holding on to a navy body pillow which looked normal sized in her grip.
Tanis decided to sit nearby on that bed, leaving enough room for Velma to claim her own spot. Figuring that Daphne was sitting on her own bed, so the empty one must be the one Velma had claimed. Tanis was wearing a pair of golden silk pajamas, though long sleeve so it covered as much of her bandages as possible. Not wanting to spook Daphne too much at her wrappings like she had done with Velma. She had a matching silken pillow case on her pillow, it seemed stuffed beyond normal capacity and looked like it would be so fluffy and soft to lay upon. Though Tanis didn't miss the book on the bed, peering into where the bookmark was placed to see where the woman had stopped reading last in the book.
Crossing the room quickly in her plaid red and green pajama pants and ratty gray old t-shirt, Winnie moved to strike up a conversation with Daphne. Winnie had flomped her tattered pillow down beside her and hopped on part of the bed next to the fellow red head. Phanty moved to hover in the air by Winnie, adding in comments to their conversation as she clung to her own blue translucent pillow as she floated. Having had to leave it outside when she passed through the wall to ask the ladies if it was alright for them to come and join them.
Sibella was the only one who hadn't sat down, waiting for Velma to take her seat before she found a place for herself and her pillow.
"I hope you don't mind. Tonight, is the last time we will probably get some time to ourselves. I don't know if either have you have been a teacher before, or had a job that you really love... But sometimes need some personal time away from it. We love those little girls..." Sibella started before Velma brought up a knowing hand.
"...But sometimes you just need a break from the responsibilities of being a teacher and get to be yourself for once? Not having to be the 'adult' for a change, right?"
Velma spoke up, knowing the feeling. She hadn't been an official teacher in the past, but she had helped enough kids out that she knew how that sort of thing went. Surely, she must have been a hassle to her own teachers over the years, often challenging them if she thought that they had taught something wrong. A legendary terror among the public-school faculty! Growing up, Velma knew more teachers by name than she did fellow students. Though her skipping grades probably didn't help.
"Yes. And it's been a long time since any of us, besides hanging out with each other... that we were able to spend some time with someone our own ages."
Tanis at least assumed that technically they were the same ages. Time flowed differently from the human world to the Monster world, so it was hard to exactly pin down without several sheets of paper and more calculations then Tanis was willing to do that night. Well, unless Velma wanted to work on it with her. But they had come here to spend time as a group, not really to sit down and do time differentials.
"So, what do you guys want to talk about?"
Ever the gossiper, Daphne was totally up for having a chat with these ladies and get to know them more. Leaning eagerly on her own pillow. (Though she hadn't packed a matching pillow case for her pillow. This time.) It was... weird to be sitting here in a circle of her, Velma, and the Grimwood teachers. Two detectives who have spent their whole lives unmasking monsters, to be surrounded by basically that. But these ladies, (while being the daughters of some of the most famous mythical creatures that she had ever heard of) it was hard to see them as that when they were in pj's clutching pillows like some teen slumber party. Certainly, a far cry from the villains in rubber suits and masks that they caught on a regular basis. And nothing like the evil real monsters, ghosts and the like that they had run across in the past that Velma preferred to not remember. Though some that came to mind for Daphne, she could understand why Velma chose to forget.
"Why don't we go around the room to ask questions? So, everyone gets a chance to ask something?" Phanty proposed, figuring that they probably had enough questions to go around the room at least once. Giving everyone a chance to ask something of each other, and getting to know one another in the process.
"Alright, then who would like to start?" Sibella offered, trying to help organize the event as hostess. Raising her hand from the floor, Elsa quietly claimed the right for the first question. Daphne and Velma waiting patiently for the gigantic woman to make her question known.
"How did you girls meet Shaggy and become Mystery Incorporated?"
"Oh wow..." Looking over at Daphne, Velma smiled at her friend. They had been together so long, it had been hard to remember a time when they didn't know each other, or the guys. And it had been years that they had been living together in Miss Snowlark's old house, to not know a time without one other. Ignoring some personal vacations or visiting friends or family in short bursts away from the gang.
"Shaggy and Fred are the oldest. Their parents knew each other in the neighborhood so they played as babies. My family moved to town and eventually met the Jones and Rogers, and I was introduced to the guys as a baby. So, we played a lot growing up as kids."
"And I came in slightly later." Daphne added in, remembering faintly when she was young and her parents moved to the sleepy town of Coolsville for a breath of fresh air and a better place to raise their daughter. Not to mention being closer to some of the Blake factories and increasing their product base past the soap company that it started as back in the day.
"We all went to school together, well some years with Velma jumping grades. And actually, made a Scooby-Doo detective agency up in a treehouse as youths, in Shaggy's backyard. That was probably where we started our dabbling in solving mysteries around our home town. Though Shaggy and Scooby haven't changed much since then, besides being older."
It was kind of crazy to think that at such a young age, they had a rather successful business, and on top of that had foiled several adults that had been committing crimes in their home town.
"We went to high school together as well, though in public schools. It was around that time that we kept traveling and getting ourselves into more and more mysteries. Mostly by chance, but it eventually developed to the business we have today. Solving crimes and catching the bad guys." Velma summed up. And that was basically their lives. Traveling across the world, solving any mystery they came across, or were asked to come and solve, and then all the other adventures that happened during and in between.
"How about you girls? I know that you guys were students here before. But why did you decide to come back to the human world and become teachers? What do you all teach?" Daphne wondered, using her question. Though cheating a bit by making a multipart question. But she figured that they weren't really going to be that stingy on the answers. Wanting to learn more about the ladies.
"Well, the human world is so interesting compared to the Monster world. There is a type of simplicity that you humans have that is captivating." Sibella started, though quickly jumped to clarify her statement. Catching herself, putting a hand to her mouth in worry before moving to add more to what she had said.
"Not to call you ladies simple or think that you might be. But because of all the clans that exist in the monster world, it's a constant struggle for power among the clans and family lines. The politics is so engrained over there, that it can be quite stifling. Especially being daughters of such influential monsters."
"Being teachers here, we can enjoy just teaching the students what they need to know from both worlds. And time goes slower here, so it's easier to enjoy the less complicated lives of being educators then having to be the next generation of Monster leaders. To avoid the conflict and constant clashing of groups, and just focus on the kids that we have here at Grimwoods." Tanis added, enjoying her times with the girls that they currently had as students. And remembering the students that had graduated in the past under their tutelage. Helping each generation to learn everything they needed to know about being a cultured and educated ghoul.
"And also, things like this conversation could exist." Sibella said solemnly, pulling her pillow close to her. Trying to not think about some things. "Most monster clans that didn't support the idea of learning things about the human world, look down on Grimwoods and those schools like it. But since our fathers and other powerful clans support the school, their complaints are just that. Though we still have to deal with some of those issues."
"Wow, that sounds complicated. Politics have their place, but it should be at least something that you know you are getting yourself into. Rather than force it upon your kids."
Daphne commented, feeling bad for the ladies in the room. Knowing somewhat how that feels, since her own father was a wealthy and influential man. And being a Blake, Daphne had a lot of pull if she wanted too. If not for her name, but the money that came with it. Not that she took advantage of that often. One of the reasons she enjoyed being part of Mystery Inc. Solving mysteries and doing things on her own merit rather than who her parents were. And running her own small business on the side, having nothing to do with her parent's company.
"Yes, why Miss Grimwood was more than happy to let us come back as teachers here. And while she has retired, she continued to be an influence for the school with the other clans in the Monster world. Letting us just focus on the students here." Sibella hopes that she was living up to the Grimwood name for being the next headmistress. Taking great pride in her work at the school.
"I took on the role in the school as Head Mistress, keeping the school in order and connected to both worlds. I also teach the girls etiquette, culture and historical information that the girls need to be informed of. Hopefully giving them everything they will need to know as they return to their clans and help influence them."
"As I told Velma when we met, I'm the Science teacher." Tanis said speaking up from her spot on the bed. Though her earlier lab coat might have given that fact away to the fashion sleuth in Daphne. Familiar with that particular brand, as a certain someone enjoyed the same kind of apparel.
"Doing both practical and the theoretical. And well, often doing fun experiments with science for the girls! Always good to give the kids something hands on to help them learn the various concepts and information. So, no matter if they learn by words, or works... They will each get their own way of learning."
Velma was curious about some of Tanis' curriculum, and would have to ask her later on what the school year looks like on paper. Eager to see what sort of courses Tanis would teach as a Science teacher. Wondering if she would be open to comments in case Velma thought of something that might be good to add to the roster. There had been countless things Velma had wished her own instructors had taught her in the past, so maybe some of that might be useful.
"I teach Shop class and home economics." Rumbled Elsa from the floor. "I like building things with my hands, and showing the girls how to do it too."
Elsa made some type of squishing things together, motion with her hands. Trying to show to Daphne and Velma how she liked to build things in her own way. But the rest of the ladies in the room knew just how skilled Elsa was. Using several of her gadgets about the school for various reasons, and often seen in the kitchen as appliances. And Elsa's own father still enjoyed the shock-man that she had made back when Shaggy had been around.
"Shaggy and Scooby had left several recipes with our Butler, so Elsa was able to take them and various recipes that Miss Grimwood left us to teach the girls various meals. It is always good to know how to cook for yourself, family and friends. Elsa is great with the girls." Sibella added, knowing that Elsa wasn't much to talk about herself. Adding some positive comments to fill in where the tall woman had left out.
"I'm the music teacher." Chirped Phantasma, beaming a smile and waving to Daphne and Velma. Playing a few air notes on her invisible piano, she mimicked the motion of playing across the empty space in front of her. "I help the girls with whatever instrument they want to learn, or sing. I know how to play many instruments. And I also teach practical composition, music theory, and mathematics. Ahahahahaha~"
Daphne's brows furrowed for a second at the thought, wondering why Phantasma was the one to teach both music and math. But Velma just nodded, understanding that music and mathematics could be easily be taught from the same teacher. Having a lot of the same principles, and applications depending on how you looked at it. And depending on how involved, they could be quite intertwined in one another.
"And I handle the physical education!" Thrusting a thumb into her tattered t-shirt, Winnie proudly proclaimed her job as teacher for the girls. "I took everything that Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy taught us, and expanded on them as the core curriculum. Also, adding a bit of health ed and proper nutrition with Elsa's help. So, we can teach the girls how to take care of themselves no matter where they are. Human or Monster world. And we do pretty good each year with our annual volleyball tournament against the Calloway Cadets from the schoo~ool next door!"
But before Velma or Daphne could get a chance to ask about the Volleyball competition they had heard about in the various stories of what had happened when Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy had last been there... Someone else cut in with their question.
"What is it like to be chased by all those monsters, ghosts and such on those Mysteries you are always solving? Is it scary?" Leaning forward, Phanty hovered in eager anticipation for hearing the tales from the two ladies. Though the question was a bit amusing coming from a 'monster, ghost and such' sitting beside them.
"Well, if someone appears out suddenly when you aren't expecting it, it tends to be a startling situation." Velma explained, thinking back to the fact that Phanty had spooked her only moments ago, even though she didn't mean it. "It's when something that appears out of nowhere suddenly, then turns and chases after you, wanting to catch you... is where the mysteries are the scariest."
"But isn't it always a person in a costume?" Wondered Sibella, thinking how scary might something be, if you knew that there was just a human under there.
"Well, sure. Most of the time there is a person inside, or a group of people behind it all. But that doesn't stop them from committing some type of crime that they want to keep us away from. If someone had a knife in their hand, and was chasing after you... you would run away. Same thing with a man in a mask." Daphne explained. Just because they knew that someone might be behind what was chasing them, didn't mean it was any less scary or any less of a reason to run. Though once the initial fright had worn off, running was more like a strategical retreat then fleeing. Well, for everyone besides Scooby and Shaggy.
"Oh, yeah. That makes sense." Though Winnie. "If someone was running at me, it makes sense to run away unless I knew what was going on."
"Yeah, that is usually what we do on a mystery. We run away till we have collected enough clues to figure out what the bad guy was up to." Velma said, trying to show out their thought process. But avoiding the use of the words 'monster' in this crowd... still being a bit weird to say aloud in the room.
"Usually a criminal has some type of ulterior motive when in costume. They are trying to find something, or stop people from going somewhere, or something along those lines. Once you understand what their motivation is, and had a better understanding of their end game... we can move into the process of capturing and unmasking them. If someone is making sure people stay away from a particular location, then it's easy to find that criminal if you go to that place they don't want people to be in. So, it is easier to set up one of Fred's traps, or use Shaggy as bait to draw them out."
"You use Shaggy as bait?" Gasped Tanis, thinking about how scary it must be for her old teachers to be put in those sorts of situations when a costumed deviant might be after him. No wonder they ran away so much when they first visited. If they get subjected to having strange and scary things coming at them all the time, it would be hard to know what not to be afraid of.
"Well, we kinda do that to Shaggy and Scooby." Daphne admitted, itching the side of her face in a bit of embarrassment. It had become so common of an occurrence, that it had become habit.
"Yes, we use them as bait, but they do agree to it... most of the time." Velma laughed thinking about it. "Those two are the best runners out of us all. And well, it is easier to catch a criminal when you can control where they will end up. By using Shaggy and Scooby to draw out the bad guys, it gives the rest of us a chance to capture them with one of Fred's plans. What villain won't want to capture someone who they have chased before and hadn't caught? Or someone who might be taunting them to chase after them?"
"What happens if they catch you?" Winnie asked, her eyes wide with the thought.
Casting a glance over at Daphne, Velma wore a bemused grin on her face as she looked to her best friend. Who just rolled her eyes back at her.
"Really Velma? Alright..." Daphne sighed, shifting on her bed to toss her head backward and run some fingers through her red mane. Trying to find the best way to say it... before Velma decided she was taking too long.
"Well... Over the years, I have found that I have the unfortunate luck of getting captured..." Daphne paused, trying to find the best way to say this to the ladies in the room. How to explain that she got captured, more then she would care to admit.
"ALOT!" Interjected Velma, not being able to help herself. Earning a well place pillow tossed right at her face with a Phwump as it hit her squarely on the nose, knocking her glasses askew. Not normally one to be so mischievous in a room full of people she had just met, but the laid-back environment made it easy for Velma to fool around. Hard to take them all as serious monsters when they clutched at their pillows in eagerness for the story she and Daphne were telling.
"Yes! Yes... Ignore my blind friend over there, who if she loses her glasses on a mystery... she's a useless bum!"
Tossing a sour raspberry at Velma, Daphne then continued. Ignoring the revenge tossed pillow, and raspberry right back at her from Velma in retaliation. Dodging the flying object with grace, as she continued.
"I'm accident prone, which means that I tend to trip over things and clip corners of doors for no reason. Stubbed toes and all that sort of thing. And along with that, I fall into a lot of traps that happen to be in whatever mansion, castle or other places that we end up exploring. Now, while it can be very inconvenient, it is a very useful skill. As I tend to also find many clues that lead to the final capture of the bad guys..." Daphne defended herself before Velma cut her off.
"But she tends to be the one who the guys sneak in and capture in the dead of the night, or sneaking out from some trap door she hadn't found yet. So, we have to search the whole area to find her when that happens. Lost and tied up in some storage room or underground warehouse."
"Yeah, but it has at least lessened over the years. Martial Arts certainly helped. So, the bad guys tend to try to grab me less with me being a black belt." Daphne pointed out, though her skilled still didn't help her be less prone to tripping over things. Sure, she would land on her feet at the end, but the tumble still would happen. Or still falling in the trap doors.
"Does that mean you get kidnapped now, Velma?" Tanis wondered, looking in awe between the two ladies. It all sounded so adventurous! Capturing the bad guys before they did something horrible. Being chased and evading capture by the skin of their teeth. Solving complex clues, having to figure out what is and isn't an important clue... and saving the day!
"Well, pity the poor soul who tries to capture the famous Miss Velma Dinkley!" Daphne said with a laugh, thinking about all the various villains that had tried to capture the small woman.
"One, she is harder to catch then you might expect. She is short, and that helps her avoid the swipe of an arm from behind a bookcase."
"Har har." Droned Velma in a monotone. Obviously not amused at the question or how Daphne was explaining it. Though she wasn't wrong, yet. So she didn't intervene. Letting Daphne continue as she had taken her own jabs in stride.
"And she is quick on her feet. Shaggy and Scooby has taught us that too... And pity the guy who things she is easier to capture without her glasses!" Daphne said with a snort, giving her head a shake at all the amusing memories.
"The poor soul that tries to nab the Great Velma Dinkley, will most likely end up with at least a bruised jaw for their troubles. If not for a well-placed elbow in surprise, she has a KILLER right hook!"
Turning her head away, Velma couldn't argue about the statement. Her lips pushing tightly against one another as she couldn't bring herself to comment. Daphne was right about it, and she had beaten up enough baddies to have gained a reputation that villains now avoid coming after her all together. Though while nabbing Daphne was the go to option, occasionally some progressive criminals have moved to try to capture one of the guys instead. But that didn't tend to go over too well either. With the Chicken duo being almost impossible to actually catch off guard, or just plain catch! And Fred proved a clever kidnap-y. Often getting himself out of his own kidnapping far before the rest of the gang had time to find where he had been kidnapped too.
"So, yeah. They don't really go after Velma that much either."
"So, what was the most..." About to ask another question, Winnie was cut off by a cough from Sibella.
"Ahem. I think we have taken up enough of the ladies' time. It is getting late, and they should be getting at least some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day after all."
Ever the Hostess, she had to cut them off somewhere. Time had gotten away from them, and they all could use some sleep before the students get back. Rounds of 'awwws' and other unhappy comments were said, but each of the teachers got up and gathered their things to leave.
"We will need to talk more." Grinned Winnie, tossing her pillow over one shoulder and waving a goodbye.
"Get some sleep." Spoke Elsa from behind her own pillow. Slowly shuffling out of the room, and having to bend her head a bit to fit out of the doorframe.
"Rest well! See you in the morning!" Tanis added, clutching the overly stuffed pillow to herself with a grin at the two ladies.
"...Don't let the bed bugs bite!" Chatted Phanty, giving both Daphne and Velma a sudden, but a well-received hug before dashed out of the room with her own pillow.
And with all the other women gone, Sibella was the last to leave. With pillow in hand, she nodded her head deeply to the two women.
"Thank you for sharing your room with us tonight. It was really nice to just sit around and talk with you two. And I hope that what happened earlier didn't put a dent on your visiting us."
"Sorry I reacted poorly." Velma admitted, feeling quite silly at her reactions earlier. "It was also a pleasure spending time with you ladies tonight."
Nodding, Daphne had to agree with Velma. "It was a lot of fun talk with you guys. Please get some sleep as well, you ladies need to be ready for taking on those kids when they get back."
A gentle smile passed across Sibella's face, as she bowed slightly and left their room. Closing the door behind her, leaving Daphne and Velma alone to get some rest.
With the room to themselves, they moved to start settling in for the night. Each lady moved to their own bed, adjusting them to get ready for sleep. It didn't take long before they wished each other a good night. Flicking off the lights and snuggled in their covers. Settling into the comfort and the silence of the night.
A few seconds ticked past, before Daphne spoke up.
"...You don't think there are actual bed bugs... right?"