Can you please do little Velma with the rest of the gang as Caregivers? Within the past year or so I have started seeing Velma as a little, but I can’t find hardly any fics on the Scooby gang.
Perilous Playground chpt one
Word count:2475
chpt 1 | chpt 2 | chpt 3 | chpt 4 | chpt 5 | chpt 6 - AO3 vers
CW: nothing you wouldnt see in scooby doo. just mild fear.
a/n: no specific scooby doo generation. were just doing general nostalgic vibes of the gang. this is wrote in SB show/movie formatting instead of a one off because i wanted to try something new.
“Boy, Daphne, it sure was nice of your dad to rent out this whole playground for the weekend just so we could take Velma out!” Fred cheerfully calls out from the driver's seat as he brings them closer to the private fence-enclosed playground designed not just for big kids to play on but adults too.
“Oh it’s no big. He used to do this for me and my sisters all the time when we were real little.” Daphne waves off Fred’s compliment with a proud smile, she loved getting opportunities to treat her friends to experiences they otherwise might not get. Because as much as she loved receiving gifts she loved giving them even more. “We’re just lucky they agreed to let us camp here overnight too!”
“And we’re lucky that the mystery machine can fit Two FULL-sized refrigerators to keep us fed for the stay!” Shaggy piped up with a laugh, "Isn't that right Scoob?”
It takes a moment for the silly dog to pop his head out from where he had been squeezed between the fridges for the last hour, looking at Shaggy as he excitedly agrees, “Reah! Reah!”
They were both clearly eager for the moment Fred parked, so they could slip out from their contorted positions and go dig into their supply– it was wholly unsurprisingly to the rest of the gang that they more willing to deal with being extremely cramped in the back as long as it meant they could bring along more food.
Daphne covers her mouth as she giggles at their onetrack mind while Fred slows the van down as they approach large gates with the park’s sign displayed on it, “Look gang! There it is! Peacemaker’s Perilous Playground!”
“Oh… but it looks like they forgot we were coming.” Daphne rolls down the passenger window and hangs out to get a better look as they come to a stop by the gates, “The gates are chained shut.”
“Like did you say Perilous–?”
“Oh well. Guess we’ll have to try again some other time… like maybe… never?” Velma pipes up from where she was slumped down in her seat between Daphne and Fred, cheeks red from embarrassment as she tried to avoid looking anywhere but out the windshield just in case it accidentally triggered her regression more than her friends had already managed to coax out of her just on the ride here.
“Hold on, guys– maybe she like has a point– should we really be going to a playground that has the word perilous right there in its name– I mean like seriously now–”
“Don’t be like that, kiddo. I’m sure we can find a way in.” Fred reassures Velma with a smile, assuming she was disappointed instead of reluctant.
“Reah! Reah! A way in! Way in!” Scooby repeats Fred to help reassure Velma, elbowing Shaggy to get him to chime in on trying to make her feel better as well.
“Oh uh… yeah! No worries, Velma! We’ll find a way into the uh… perilous park… Like… Daph… didn’t they give you a key or something?”
“A key? No, I don't think so but–” Daphne gives a little laugh, realizing she was being an airhead, “Ha! Who needs a key–?” Daphne sits back down in the passenger’s seat and digs through the toddler proof (and not to mention stylish) bag she brought with them.
“When you’ve got a teether and a bottle brush? I can jimmy that lock in a jiff! Be right back!” She sing-songs the last words in her pretty voice while hopping out of the van to work her magic. It was truly a wonder how she was able to pick all manner of locks with the most random items.
But golly… she sure knew how to look pretty while doing it.
Pretty enough Velma’s eyes couldn't help but follow after her, watching her work on picking the lock for a moment before the allure of the playground sign drew her eyes up.
She sank lower in her seat, pushing her glasses up as she hid part of her face in her turtleneck feeling that childlike giddiness creep up in the back of her throat and wind up the springs in her feet.
She couldn't give in. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Maybe… okay maybe in like five minutes. Whether that be in the car heading home cause the lock wouldn't budge or inside the playground where she– Click!
Of course she got it open in record time. It's Daphne. She could probably break into the Louvre and rob them blind with enough time afterwards to visit their gift shop for a new outfit accessory before anyone would even know!
“Alright! Pull her through, Fred! I'll lock it behind us!” Daphne yells out, happily waving with her ‘tools’ from beside the gate she had pushed open wide enough for the van to fit through.
“Alright! Go Daph!” Fred cheers as he drives through the gates, stopping right past them to wait for the red head to join them again.
The gates make loud haunting, creaking noises as they close. Noises that sent chills down Shaggy and Scooby’s spines– or maybe that was from the freezing cold fridges they were still molded against.
Either way their sixth sense for danger (aka cowardice) was picking up on some spookiness going on at this supposedly innocent playground.
“I hope that pit in my belly is just hunger…haha..” Shaggy laughs nervously to Scooby, “I’d hate for Velma’s special regression weekend to get ruined…”
After all, she hardly let them take care of her all together during normal situations–despite their enthusiastic encouragement and adoration. She tended to get shy with the whole group's attention on her. So Shaggy assumed she would be totally against regressing if a mystery happened to find them this weekend..
“Say Scoob… Not to be superstitious but… maybe we should avoid the m-word while we're out here. Just in case.” He continues, whispering to the dog who tilted his head in confusion.
“Hm?”
“Cause I dont want a m-word to like find us and take Velma out of that kiddo headspace. She deserves a good ol fashion break from the stress of being a big kid that gets chased around and solves other people’s scary business, you hear?”
Scooby lit up, understanding the assignment instantly. Don't say mystery. So a mystery might not find them. That way Velma would stay little! A foolproof plan! Shaggy was a genius! “Reah! Us too!”
“Us too? Well…. You know I'll never turn down a great opportunity to relax and do nothin but like chow down, buddy, ol pal!”
“Mmmmmhm! Yummy!” Scooby agrees, licking his lips as he starts to think about all the food they packed.
With Daphne back in the car, Fred continued to drive into the oddly themed playground that, of course, had just as odd of a long winding entrance road taking them to the parking lot.
Spooky kind of long… and winding… like the person who made it wanted people to start to feel lost and uneasy the longer it took for them to reach the destination…
Or maybe it was so visitors could enjoy the scenery! There were an awful lot of trees around!
…to get lost in.
Or climb!
Who knew what the intent behind the weird decorative designs of expensive private playgrounds were? Not Freddy at least. He didn't understand the rich. He just admired them from afar. Like weird zoo animals.
Ah.. how he liked zoos. Maybe they should visit one next weekend. He could even rent one of those neat strollers for kids then Velma and Scooby could ride in it together!
Driving through the deserted parking lot and into the actual playground, Fred parked while the two dorks in the back squeezed their way outside to cartoonishly shake off the shapes they'd been pancaked into for the last few hours.
Fred and Daphne soon joined them, stepping out of the van to discuss a good spot to set up camp. But when a few minutes passed and Velma still hadn’t made any move to get out of the van with everyone else she turned back to the van, leaning in through the window.
“Velma, sweetie, are you okay?” Daphne asked, concern written on the caregiver’s face. The poor girl had been quiet the whole drive down… but it’s Velma… they didn’t expect her to be jumping for joy, screaming, or anything of the like but… she did expect when they arrived that she would… well… she expected anything but what looked like dread.
“Hm? What? Oh uh… yeah. I'm great. Fine. I'll be right out.” Velma lies, her arms wrapped around her knees as she stays hidden in her sweater, hardly even glancing at the red head since she knew she'd be able to see through the lie if she did.
Of course Daphne wasn’t convinced but she decided to let it go for the moment, not wanting to push Velma too hard when they’d only just arrived. “Um… well… okay. Me and Freddy are going to start setting up camp while Shaggy and Scooby fix some food. When you're ready you can come join us, okay?”
“Uh... yeah… okay. I'll do that.” she mumbles out in return, mostly just trying to appease Daph for the moment without getting everyone concerned and trying to fix things.
“What’s wrong with her?” Fred asks his girlfriend softly as she heads over to join him with pulling supplies off the roof of the van, genuinely concerned for their best friend.
“I… don't know. She’s not coming out yet.”
“Was it something I said? Did she hear me thinking about zoos again?” he sucks his teeth and snaps his fingers after setting down one of the perfectly wrapped up tents, instantly berating himself for thinking too loudly. “I should've known she wouldn't want to visit the zoo in a regular stroller. We’ll have to modify the van–”
“What? Freddy no–” Daphne looks at him bewildered, not having a clue what he was talking about. “She probably needs a minute to adjust. This is a big step for her.”
“Oh right!” He laughs and goes to lift another tent off the van’s roof, Daphne helping with one end while he talks, “I almost forgot Little Velm hasn't been out on a big adventure like this with all of us. And she hasn't even got little! How long does it take for her to regress anyway? Is it like downloading something onto the computer? Cause that takes forever.”
“That’s cause your computer is ancient.”
“You mean its reliable–”
“I mean you still use dial-up.” Daphne puts bluntly before shaking her head to get him to stop dragging her down his side tangents, “anyway! No. It's not like that. It's just a headspace. It comes on when she wants it to sometimes. Sometimes it just happens. Have you really never been around her when she slips?”
“Um… No, I don't think so. Usually you just bring her over and we play board games.” Fred reminds her, pulling the last of the supplies off the roof with her help then carrying it a few feet from the car to start unpacking the tents.
They idly chitchat while setting up the tents, Daphne getting hers done ironically quicker than the boy scout. Plus hers was decorated extra cozy too with pretty fairy lights everywhere, big fluffy comforters disguised as sleeping bags, actual dressers for storage including a toy chest and multiple clothing racks, a COUCH, a beautiful soft rug, paintings for ambience, and finally a bookcase so she could read bedtime stories with Velma later around the campfire.
Fred tent however was… certainly not anywhere near the glamping style Daphne had perfected. No, his tent was… rustic to say the least. The inside only has some mystery incorporated branded sleeping bags and a single oil lamp for light. But the stakes were firmly in the ground so the wind wouldn't catch it like last time, there were no unpatched holes for the rain to seep in, and even better– the mosquito net was intact!! That's the boy scout way! Sort of.
While those two were busy with the tents and Shaggy and Scooby with food preparations, a hulking dark shadow lurks around in the tree line surrounding the playground, disappearing right as Velma finally decides to peek her head out of her sweater. She flinches at the sight of the shadow, confused and unsure if she’d seen it right. But as she sits up straighter, leaning forward on the dash to get a better look she sees… nothing. It's nothing but trees and playground equipment. She makes a curious but unsure hum, her gut feeling making her file the sight away for later… just in case…
Daphne had gone over to Fred to try sprucing his tent up, bringing her purse of magical decorative construction when Velma stepped out of the van, still eyeing the tree line. “Um.. Daphie–” she calls out, not fully aware of how small she already felt until she heard her own voice.
The realization she'd already begun to slip shifts her focus. She covers her mouth with her hand, her sweater sleeve held in a way to cover her fingers and the couple stops mid conversation to look over at her with delight.
“Hi, babyyy!” Daphne happily greets her, drawing out her words like a melody as she sets her bag aside to go scoop her pretty little regressor up in a hug.
Velm’s cheeks get warm as she's wrapped up in a hug, face squished gently against the other girl’s chest. She stands still, not returning the hug initially from shyness but the more Daphne coos out sweet words about how happy she was to see her join them and about how much fun she had decorating for the two of them, the easier it was to melt into the embrace. She lightly nuzzles into the red head for a moment, her voice a comforting background noise for her as she soaks up the affection…
No doubt a sneaky tactic that was sinking her further into her younger headspace, Velma’s paranoid thoughts came up with a little too late, she could practically see the numbers representing her mental age falling away from her.
17… .. . . 15….. .. . 12…. .. … . 10… .. . . . .. . 8… … .. .. . . 7… . .. 6… . .. . .. . . . 5… . . . ..
A rough hand ruffling her hair pulls Velma out of her mind, "There's our little bookworm! Did you see my tent? Pretty cool, right? I'll give you a tour!”
“Wait– Freddie–” Daphne tries to interject as Freddy takes their freshly regressed girl’s hand, already leading her to his rustic tent while his girlfriend reluctantly follows while holding Velma's other arm.
In the distance the shadow lingers, its hulking figure lingering in the dark overgrowth, watching silent and uneasy.