For Dawg & Grackene

For Dawg & Grackene

Crais Mandroid -- Crais wonders off to find Grack

Finding her finishing up a dance with Louis, he politely taps the vampire on the shoulder. "May I cut in?" he asks softly.

Louis nods politely and leaves to return to the party.

Crais takes Grack's hands and leads her over to a small balcony. "Wait here." he tells her.

He leaves a very curious Grack staring after him as he hurries off. Sighing, she leans on the blacony and waits. A few minutes later, Crais appears in the garden beneath.

"What are you doing?" she laughs. "How am I supposed to dance with you if you're down there and I'm up here?"

"We'll dance later." he promises. "Rae informs me you'll be leaving shortly, so I thought I'd see you off in high style."

Without another word, Crais launches into song. Valuing music as she does, Rae has of course given him a fine set of vocal cords and extensive voice training. His voice surpases any human voice. His serenade is enough to stop activity inside, but everyone leaves the two in privacy.

When tears are in your eyes

When times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

When you're down and out

When you're on the street

When evening falls so hard

And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water

(here's the important verse, Grack)

Sail on Silver Girl,

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

If you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

We'll miss you Grack! Have fun!

((((((((((((Grack))))))))))))

JilaCosa -- Having missed her chance to....

ask her "husband" for a dance, Jila grabs a handful of m&m's from the jar on the coffee table. She pulls out an assortment of colors and types; plain, peanut, peanut butter (Jila throws the Crunchy ones back 'cause she doesn't care for those much).

"You have to keep the ones you take." kay says as she sneaks back up to the Roof Garden for a break from her packing. She laughs at the look of guilt that flashes across Jila's face. "Hey, don't worry about it. They aren't paying any attention." kay points toward the pool where everybody there is paying attention to the singing drifting in from outside.

After throwing back the crunchies, Jila places the rest the m&m's on the table and sorts them by color.

"What're you doing?"

"uh, sorting?" Jila grins and shrugs slightly. "It's a childhood habit that shows itself every now and then."

"Oh yeah!" kay says, giggling and grabbing her own handful of m&m's. She carefully places them on the coffee table in front of herself. "I thought I was the only who did that."

"My brother used to love the red ones." Jila tells kay, eating only certain colors to balance the numbers in each color pile evenly. "He'd trade his other colors for more reds when he could. I don't remember what color I preferred."

"I'll give you these four green for your four blues." kay says pushing her green group out from the rest. "The blues are my favorites."

"No thanks." Jila chuckles pulling her reds out. "But I'll let you have these reds for those greens."

As the bargaining goes on Crais' voice continues to drift through the windows...............

Grackene -- *Grack listens intently

*with a sigh and a tear she listens to crais sing his way into her heart! Even if he is married (she says quitley to herself) :)

what a voice! WHat a bod! What a heart!

oh Rae thank you for this gift!! :)

Grack leans on the railing listening in a wonderful trance. (It's good to know I won't be alone on my journey)

kayde -- Kay giggles

as Jila darts to grab a green M&M that rolls towards the tables edge. Munching happily on her couple blue, and her newly aquired red M&Ms, and sipping at her third pina colada, Kay decides that she is now ready to dance. Thanks to Rae everyone is such pretty colors now.

Kay yells out to Dawg to save her a dance. And, then giggles again. She thinks at this point she would be floating, more than dancing. What a great party.

BethS -- Beth’s tears are making her colors run

"Oh, I just love that song!" she sobs, as Crais finishes serenading Grack.

Sh runs up to Grackene and gives her a great big hug

((((Grackene)))) "Thank you for inviting me to the party.

I had a great time", she gushed between sobs. "But this is the final goodbye until your return. I'm loading up my car, trying to sleep, and heading out to Cincy for ScaperCon"

Grack wishes she coud go, too. . .

"Maybe next year, hey?" Beth asked.

Then she turned and bowed awkwardly to the partyers.

"Thanks for letting me crash the party. I had a wonderful time"

As the tears threaten to gush again, Mouse proffers a huge box of Kleenex, hoping it'll be enough. . .

"Bye all! - See you in 5 months Grack!!"

Before she can turn completely maudlin, she pulls herself together and walks out the door.

A moment later, she re-enters, <clears throat> "closet"

She walks sheepishly through the party and uses the exit this time. . .

Mouse2000 -- “Great” Mouse sighs.

Now that the dawg AND BethS are both gone to ScaperCon, will MOuse EVER hear the story? Or will she have to wait a week? No! She can't wait! Someone PLEASE tell me about the Crisco Kid...

And btw, thanks for the colors Rae. Can you believe I own nothing tie-dyed? And Now I AM tie-dyed! How cool. Does this stuff wash off??

Grackene -- Goodbye BethS and Dawg!!

As Grack yells out the door to the two driving away! Crais climbs up the banister with a single rose in his mouth.

"THis is for you my dear"

"Shall we dance now?"

"Crais leads her out to the dance floor and leads her in a dance"

as they dance they turn all different colors.

I have always been partial to purple",Grack says,"What's your favorite color Crais?"

Raven-Kat -- “Wash off?”

As Rae drifts back down to the floor, she looks sheepish. "Well..."

Everyone stares at her, some horrified, others a little miffed.

Rae burst into gales of laughter. "Don't worry. It'll fade in a few hours." To Mouse, she adds, "Tie-dye suits you." She helps herself to another Page 103 before pulling off her clothes and sinking into the hot-tub. "Oh, gods, what a week..." she groans.

The confettii swirls around in the water, making Rae look like a very bizzare (even more so than usual) alien. Her skin, hair, and feathers are soon streaked with color, and her face is bathed in a red glow from the drink in her hand.

Ah... I love Scoob parties. I just wish that there were more guys around...

Crais Mandroid -- “My favorite color, Grack?”

Crais stares thoughtfully into her eyes for a few minutes. "Definitely blue." he announces firmly. "One more dance, hmm?"

We'll miss you Grack, but we'll be there in spirit.

ps, I hope I got the eye-color right this time...

Sweetiepie Parrot -- “This stuff had BETTER fade!”

Sweetiepie said. "Like I'm not colorful enough. I'm a parrot!"

Sweetiepie flew down to Mouse's shoulder.

"Wanna dance Mouse? Grack danced with me."

"Sure." Mouse laughed. She danced around the room with Sweetiepie on her shoulder.

Then the song on the jukebox changed. These Are The Times To Remember by Billy Joel.

These are the times to remember

Cause they will not last forever

These are the timest to hold on to

Cause we won't although we want to

But times are going to change

You've given me the best of you

But now I need the rest of you

Here's to friendship. *clink*

Grackene -- Yes Crais, Blue

Tie Dye Dancing I have never done before.

Grack is not upset turning different colors. She used to be a hippie durring that whole grunge era!!

Let's dance another Crais they are playing Billy Joel? was it?

kayde -- To Friendship

Kay said, holding up her glass to Mouse's toast. And, smiling a little misty eyed, she thought what great friends these Scoobs were.

Then, because she was on her third drink, she giggled, and looked down at her own swirling colors. "Hey Jila!" We are live fire lizards!" :-)

\~/ To the Scoobs and all our Scaper Friends! Friendship!

Raven-Kat -- “I think you look great, Sweetie...”

Rae informs the bird casually, effectively cutting off his griping.

"Really?" Sweetie preens his feathers.

"Yup." Rae finishes her third Page 103. "You look very handsome."

She over-hears Kay's toast and jumps out of the hot-tub. Not even bothering to grab a towel or robe, she runs over to the bar to find another drink so that she can take part in the toast.

She picks of pitcher with the rest of the Page 103s and holds it aloft like a glass.

"Here's to some of the best friends in this dimension and any other! Raegun! A song!" she calls.

Raegun -- Dedicated to the Scoobs

"Raegun!" Rae calls. "A song!"

"A song." Raegun says. "To friendship?"

Raegun laughs and makes a mental request of Rae. Abruptly, more of the sparkling confetti is falling from the ceiling. The lights dim and take on a thousand different hues, each more pleasing to the eye than the last. Rae grabs the nearest Scoobs in a bear-hug as the music begins and rocks them in time.

Raegun begins warbling. Rae quickly joins in, and Crais drags Grack back from the balcony to listen. When he sings, it is only for her. Rae and Raegun sing for all of thier new and not-so-new friends who have made the last two (not so great) years seem like some of the best decades imaginable.

(Forgive the handful of minor changes we've made and the resulting bad grammer)

Why are there so many songs about rainbows,

And what's on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,

And rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we've been told and some choose to believe it,

We know they're wrong, wait and see.

Someday they'll find it, the rainbow connection,

The lovers, the dreamers and we.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered,

When wished on the morning star?

Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,

And look what it's done so far.

What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing

And what do we think we might see?

Someday they'll find it, the rainbow connection,

The lovers, the dreamers, and we.

All of us are under its spell,

We know that it's probably magic ............

Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices?

We've heard them calling our names.

Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?

That voice might be one and the same.

We've heard it too many times to ignore it,

It's something we're not s'posed to be .......

But someday they'll find it, the rainbow connection,

The lovers, the dreamers, and we .........

Sweetiepie Parrot -- With a sigh, Sweetie looked around....

his usually quiet rooftop lodge. Naked Scoobies covered with paint and glitter danced around. Paint was over all the furniture and popcorn was ground into the carpet. The bar was awash with spilled liquor and half the water from the jacuzzi was soaking into the rug.

"Oh well, I suppose I should just go with the flow." Sweetiepie whispered to himself. "But I hope they help clean all this up."

"Cheer up bird!" Rae announced. "This is a PAR-TAY!!!"

Grackene -- Well last post!!!

*Grack takes Crais and leads him to Jila*

"This is where you should be"

*Crais gives Grack a peck on the hand and says goodbye*

*Grack goes around the room hugging everyone on her way out the door!!!

*Grack turns around for one last look! Tears fall

With a wave she is gone!!

Mouse2000 -- Mouse hugs Grackene

hard and whispers in her ear, "Come back soon. We'll be thnking of you. Have fun!!"

Mouse releases Grackene to say goodbye to her other friends, then sees a shadowy figure around the bar. "Crais, who's that?" she asks but the figure seems to melt away. "Ow well, hope that ScoobyScaper had a good time..."

JilaCosa -- With Dawg gone, and Grackene on her way

Jila sees that the party is definitely slowing down.

*Damn* she thinks as she sneaks up to the upper floor of the Attic Lodge to find the phone. There is a phone up here though nobody has ever heard it ring. After searching through a few of the upper rooms Jila finally finds it. She turns the phone on its side and finds that the ringer has been turned off. *Yup, thought so* She dials the phone, waits for an answer, and places her order. She then places the phone back in its hiding place and goes back down to the living area where the other Scoobs are talking quietly.

There's a knock on the door and Jila opens the door wide.

"Ok all, I know I haven't been in a party mood lately but I would like a Little help celebrating my birthday." Jila points to a table by the bar where the cake is to be placed. "Crais darlin', if you wouldn't mind mixing me a Large birthday drink? Not a page 103,okay? We won't get the burn marks from Rae's drink out of the bar top as it is."

Chryse74 -- Chryse bursts into the roof garden

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILA!

geez, what a party you guys had for dawg and Grackene! Sorry i missed them. But I'll bet Dawg had a great time in Cincy and Grackene will be back before we know it!

((((((((((((((Scoobies)))))))))))))))))

Pass the margaritas!

Crais Mandroid -- “Happy Birthday, Jila!”

Crais places a drink in front of Jila that looks substantially more benign than Rae's Page 103s. "A PK Colada for the birthday girl, and a margirita for Chryse." He slides the drink down the bar. "As long as at least a few of us remain about, there's no need for the party to come to an end. Don't suppose I could interest you in a game of Twister?"

Mouse2000 -- A lump under the Twister mat

moves and Chyrse gives a small shriek. "Not so loud, please." The lump says, and Mouse appears from under the mat. She smiles and hugs Chyrse, then Jila and hands over the mat.

"Have fun, I think I'll watch this one and try to get rid of this... hey! Are those margaritas??"

Chryse74 -- Mouse! What are you doing under there?

You nearly scared me to death!

<sigh> it's good to be back. Crais, give Mousie a margarita too would ya? And I'm up for a game of twister. Who else is playing?

JilaCosa -- “I’m in!”

"As long as it's Not strip Twister!" Jila chuckles

Crais delivers Mouse's Margarita with a smile and a bow.

"So what's wrong with strip Twister?" Sweetiepie asks as he lands on Jila's shoulder.

Jila gives Sweetie a sideways glance and rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "I'd have to be Really drunk to do that. And contrary to popular birthday behavior, I'm not going to."

"mumble, mumble, mumble"

"What was that Sweetie?" Jila heard him but making him say it louder was going to be fun.

"Nothing." Sweetie says with a shrug.

"No, I know you said something I just didn't catch what it was."

"I didn't say anything." Sweetiepie says tightening his grip on Jila's shoulder as if to say *Knock it off. I'm not repeating it.*

"That's not going to work Sweetie." Jila winces and grins with the pain of Sweetie's talons poking into her shoulder. "What did you say?"

"All right!" Sweetie squawks loudly and loosens his grip, "I said Happy Birthday Toots. Are you satisfied?" and in a huff he flies off to land beside Rae while Jila laughs at his indignation.

"You shouldn't do things like that." Rae says softly

"Like what?" Sweetiepie ruffles his feathers in annoyance.

"Wish people a Happy Birthday." Rae answers "It makes them think you're just an old softie."

Sweetiepie humphs as only a bird can and begins preening his feathers.

Raven-Kat -- “Watch out, ladies.”

Rae advises, planting herself on the couch next to Mouse to watch the fun. "He's really quite good. In fact, I'd even be willing to lay a small wager on him winning."

"What kind of wager?" Jila asks, curiously.

"Mmm... He wins, you three ladies help me recatolog my entire collection of medicinal herbs. One of you wins, I do some similarly tedious chore for each of you. Deal?"

"What do you know that we don't?" Mouse whispers, grinning.

"Um... let's just say that I've seen him get his body into positions that no human can." She smiles innocently.