nothing but my name (the most damn ridiculous dark shadows au ; roger and carolyn and vicki and burke and barnabas ; g)
The cane should have given it away. Polished ebony with a shining silver wolf's head. Barnabas Collins: one of the pioneers of the goth rock movement ten years ago - Vicki could have bashed her head in for not recognizing it.
"I'm sorry - nobody to see Carolyn unless they've made an appointment," Roger had said. "Her rehearsal time is precious.
Vicki fought the urge to roll her eyes as she scribbled his quote down onto her notepad. Carolyn, across from her, grinned and flipped her crimped hair across her shoulder.
She said, "Uncle Roger's really good about making sure people don't harass me and whatnot. Usually just, like, 'friends' -" she made air-quotes with her fingers upon speaking the word, " - from high school, but you never know! Better him take care of it than to let some creep in!"
At that, Vicki forced a smile. The fact that she was almost certain she could see the entirety of Collinsport from her second-story window made her doubt the validity of that statement.
She didn't see the battle going on in the parlor, didn't see the curly-haired man in the sharp suit pushing his way inside, wedging his way through doorway arm-first. She didn't see it, but she heard Roger's protests and threats to call the authorities.
Threats that weren't acted on, she noted, but she stayed alert, leaning in her seat toward the doors of the drawing room.
"There's someone who I think you'll be very interested in meeting," said - someone. Vicki didn't recognize who. There was silence for a long time, and then a slow clicking on the floor. Vicki stood.
"I haven't got time for this nonsense, Mister Devlin!" she heard Roger snap, and her gaze quickly flicked to Carolyn in a silent statement of awe.
"Your uncle knows Burke Devlin?" Vicki whispered. Carolyn's eyes darted momentarily and she shrugged, shaking her head.
She didn't know.
Carolyn Stoddard, aspiring pop star, had no idea who Burke Devlin was - one of the most - if not the most - notorious and successful musical managers in the industry. Vicki just kept her jaw from hitting the floor, and she hurried over to the door. After a pause went by without sound, she cracked it open just so.
What greeted her, apart from Roger and Burke - she'd read too many reports, seen too many photographs of him not to recognize him immediately - was a man.
Just a man. A man of average height, dressed head-to-toe in black, topped off with a large sunglasses an a hat, both of which he removed. Nothing but a man's face was revealed, as average as his height. The only artifact that stood out was his cane, which the man exchanged from one hand to the other.
Roger crossed his arms. Vicki could tell he was just as confused as she was. What was so special about this man that Burke Devlin would push his way into Collinwood for an introduction?
Luckily, her questions were answered immediately, as Burke Devlin gestured to the man grandly and announced, "May I present to you - Barnabas Collins."
This time, Vicki couldn't catch her jaw before it dropped. Her hand fell away from the doorknob, causing the drawing room door to swing wide open, revealing her. Carolyn was suddenly out of her seat, pushing past Vicki and stopping just inside the foyer. Roger turned to stare at them both, but Vicki's gaze stayed flicking between Burke Devlin and Barnabas Collins.
"Ladies," Burke said with a nod. It was all she could do to nod back.
"Barnabas Collins?!" Carolyn exclaimed breathlessly. Looking over, Vicki could have sworn that the blonde's eyes were trying to escape from their sockets.
Of course. The cane should have given it away. Polished ebony with a shining silver wolf's head. Barnabas Collins: one of the pioneers of the goth rock movement ten years ago - Vicki could have bashed her head in for not recognizing it. And she called herself a journalist when she couldn't even recognize one of the most over-exposed stars of the past decade, regardless of the distinct lack of white makeup and black eyeliner.
Her mind focused again, and she saw Burke staring at Roger expectantly, arms crossed. When Roger remained still, Barnabas cleared his throat, looked straight at her, and asked, "And you are?"
Barnabas Collins. Speaking directly to her.
Her mind screamed at her, reminding her of her profession, but it didn't keep her heart from stopping. Finally, she managed to gasp, "Victoria Winters. Vicki." She extended her hand and Barnabas raised it to his lips. Vicki went still - if anything was too much, it was this. He must have caught onto her overstated awe because he smirked and looked down at her other hand.
"Are you a reporter?"
Vicki tilted her head, not understanding the question - or, rather, the eerily accurate impression - before she realized her notepad and pen were still clutched in her hand. Tightly. The paper was wrinkled. She nodded.
"Miss Winters is documenting the preparations for my niece Carolyn's first concert." Whatever silencing spell that had held Roger must have snapped, because he was back, charm in full force as he crossed in front of Vicki and over to Carolyn. He gave her a gentle push in Barnabas' direction. "Carolyn Stoddard."
After the two had exchanged introductions, Barnabas chuckled to himself, saying, "I had no idea that my family would be as elated to meet me as I am."
There was a frantic flurry as Vicki and Carolyn looked at each other, then to Roger, then to Burke and Barnabas. Burke had a raised eyebrow, and suddenly all the arrows were pointed to Roger.
"I had hoped that would be kept a secret," Roger mumbled.
"It's true?!" Carolyn practically shrieked the question, but Vicki couldn't complain. She was sure she was feeling just as much excitement as the younger girl - the difference was, Vicki was incapable of vocalizing it.
"It's true," Roger replied with a sigh before turning his attentions back to Burke and Barnabas. "It wasn't relevant - I wanted Carolyn to succeed on her own merits, not because of who her relatives may be."
"You're a musician, then," Burke said, suddenly taking an interested in the blonde. Carolyn, suddenly flustered, managed to nod enthusiastically. Burke rubbed his chin thoughtfully and mumbled, "Interesting."
Roger and Carolyn glanced at one another.
Barnabas clarified, "I'm considering taking on a protegee, actually."
The words dangled in the air, no reply to snatch them up, and Victoria could tell that her article was about to become far more compelling.