The Next Morning, Dawkins said his goodbyes to Dennis and his folks for now, then walked back home. He felt so much happier than before, confessing his feelings for Dennis and being accepted by him. He headed inside to greet his family. “I’m bac—” he suddenly got a water balloon filled with green paint flung from a slingshot into his face “....peachy.” he said, unamused.
Dimitri 1 laughed with his two bros beside him. “Headshot! Hohohohahahahahahah!”
Dimitris 2 and 3 were laughing too, high fiving each other.
Dylan was standing close behind them. “Ahem.”
All 3 Dimitris: “....Awwwwww, dog damnit….”
Dylan looked at Dawkins. “Try not to get the paint in your nose, it’s bad for you.”
Dawkins: “Right.” he walked upstairs. “If you’ll excuse me, I need a shower, then talk to mum. Maybe if three good brothers clean my room while I’m doing that, I might not tell her.”
Dimitri 1: “Step on it, bros!” They rushed upstairs to Dawkins’s bedroom.
After his shower, Dawkins walked out, wrapped in a towel, and saw DJ walk up to him. “How was your night with Dennis, dude?” he smiled.
Dawkins: “Oh, it was swimmingly…you know, after I ran off and said I wanted to die. But we won’t talk about that ever again.”
The Dimitris walked out of his room after cleaning it.
Dawkins: “Can we take this into my room? I have to change.”
DJ: “Sure thing.”
Later, the two went into Dawkins’s room, where he told more about Dennis. “You see, after all of that drama, we….kissed at the park.” he blushed a bit.
DJ: “Really? That’s awesome!” he playfully punched his shoulder.
Dawkins chuckled, rubbing his arm. “Thanks. Anyway, after that, we sort of did normal sleepover things, and went to bed together….in the same bed.” he blushed redder.
DJ: “Only one bed, huh? Way to go.”
Dawkins: “Yes, it was…..exhilarating!” he made a sort of loving sigh as he daydreamed a little.
DJ: “You can tell us about him sometime if you want.”
Dawkins: “I will, dear brother. Right now, I need to talk to mother about something private. Where is she?”
DJ: “In bed, reading a book.”
Dawkins: “Good, tata for now.” he walked past DJ, but looked back. “Oh, happy early birthday. I know it’s not for another week, but you know.” he walked out.
DJ smiled. “Thanks, man. You too.”
Dawkins walked up to his parents’ bedroom, knocking on the door.
Delilah: “Yes?”
Dawkins: “Hey, mother. It’s me. Can I come in?”
Delilah: “Of course, sweetie.” she smiled warmly.
Dawkins walked into the room, shut the door behind him, and rubbed his arm nervously.
Delilah: “You okay?”
Dawkins: “Yeah. I’m just…..remember when I sat outside the hotel room after all that…stuff I thought was weird went on?”
Delilah: “What about it?”
Dawkins: “Well….you said to come to you if I wanted some things explained, or…to try it. I sort of want to take you up on it, if it’s okay.” he blushed again, looking down a bit. He sat on the bed next to her. “Well, I sort of told Dennis about it.”
Delilah: “Oh, you like his feet?”
Dawkins: “I’m not sure. That’s why I wanted to do it or discuss it with someone I’ve known for my whole life. I’m just….I’m just confused and emotional right now, mum. Will you help me?” he looked at her.
Delilah: “Honey, you know I will.” she hugged him gently. “How can I help?”
Dawkins began to ask her about what makes feet fun to play with, and what her and her husband’s first time was like. After an hour or so, Dawkins thanked his mom for her advice and emotional support before taking his leave. As he stepped out the door, Doug walked right in. “Heya, honey!”
Delilah: “Hello.”
Doug: “I have some good news for DJ’s birthday party next week. I still can’t believe he’s turning 13.” His voice cracked as if he was about to cry and he sat on the bed.
Delilah let out a big happy sigh. “Our special little guy.”
Doug: “I mean, Dawkins and Da Vinci have the same birthday as him, but Dawkins doesn’t really like birthday celebrations that much, and Da Vinci doesn’t mind sharing one with DJ.”
Delilah: “That is true.”
Doug: “Anyway, you remember his favorite band in the world, right?”
Delilah: “Gorillaz, yep.”
Doug: “Well…..” he grinned. “They’re coming to Camden Town the day before his birthday, doing a concert before they go on a tour in North America. I got DJ backstage passes!” He held up the passes.
Delilah gasped. “Oh, Doug, thank you! He’s gonna love it!”
Doug: “Heh heh heh. Well, nothing better. He’ll get to meet his favorite band.”
Meanwhile, DJ was watching Da Vinci paint on a canvas while listening to some Gorillaz.
After a little while, Da Vinci was now wearing a boot that would help her walk. She still limped, but now she could walk and stand without feeling much pain, feeling much happier as she was painting DJ an early birthday present, a painting of the Gorillaz. “It’s almost done. I should have it finished by your birthday.”
DJ: “Thank you, Da Vinci.” he smiled. “Seriously.”
She smiled, turning to him. “Of course. Anything for you.” she smiled, then turned back to the painting. “These guys seem pretty…..grungy.”
DJ: “And weird, I’ll give you that.” he chuckled.
Da Vinci: “But I can see why you like them. Those songs you had me listen to? They’re marvelous!” her eyes sparkled.
DJ: “It’s unique, surreal….” he sighed happily.
Da Vinci: “I wonder what they look like in real life.”
Dolly walked by “Those ARE what they look like.” she walked off.
Da Vinci: “Wha- for real?”
DJ: “Mmmhm.”
Da Vinci: “And all the stuff you told me about them, their backstories, that’s all real?”
DJ: “Bingo.”
Da Vinci was dumbstruck. “Woah……I don’t know if that’s really cool or really creepy.” She continued painting.
Doug knocked on their door. “Hi, you two. Mind if I come in?”
DJ: “Come in.”
Doug walked in, a big grin on his face, holding something behind his back.
DJ: “Wow, you sure seem happy….”
Doug: “Oh I am, my boy. My special little birthday man.” he said, not even trying to be subtle about it.
Doug: “Dad, my birthday isn't ‘til….daaaad?” he smirked.
Doug giggled giddily.
DJ: “What are you hiding?”
Doug: “Well….” he held up the backstage passes. “Guess who just got backstage passes for you, me, and your mother to meet your most favorite band of all time! That’s right, I-”
He couldn’t finish, because DJ immediately hugged him to the ground. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you!” he said with a beaming smile.
Doug hugged him back, picking him up in the hug. “Aww, my little boy! Hahahaha!”
Da Vinci: “Dad, how in the world did you get those?!” she asked, amazed.
Doug: “Let’s just say our old pal Fergus the Fox owed me a favor.”
DJ: “Really? What did you do?”
Doug: “….weeeeeell….”
The scene cut to a flashback of Doug kicking the crap out of Fergus.
Doug: “You tried to make my eldest son into a rogue?! You owe me big time!”
Fergus: “Aaah! Ow! Ow! Ok! Ok!”
The scene cut back to the present.
Doug: “It’s a secret.”
DJ: “Oh okay then.” he held up the tickets. “Ahhhh….” he looked at Da Vinci. “Wanna come with?”
Da Vinci: “Ohhhh I’d love to, but I think I’ll stay. Mum doesn’t get to spend much time with you often. Plus, I leave no painting unfinifhed!”
DJ: “Yeah, I agree.” he admitted, a little sad for Da Vinci’s sake, but contempt.
We jump forward to the night before DJ’s birthday. Doug and the kids were walking towards the roundhouse, where the Gorillaz were gonna play. “It’s just up ahead!” he walked up to the ticket booth. “Hello, three backstage passes to the show.” he held him the tickets.
The human ticket man could only hear barks from Doug, but he took the passes anyway. “Awesome sauce! Enjoy the show.”
They headed into the building and went to the third row, in the middle section.
Delilah: “Woah, nice seats!”
The lights around them started turning different colors, signaling the show was about to start.
DJ was clinging to his seat and let out a squeal.
Doug rubbed his head. Suddenly, the lights turned to bright white lights, blocking the view of the stage. The lights soon dimmed down, and emerging from the shadows came the Gorillaz.
Murdoc was in the front, holding his bass, with a toothpick in his mouth.
2-D was standing ahead, holding onto his mic stand, his pitch black eyes staring ahead.
Russel was sitting at his drum set, turning his cap forward.
Noddle was a little to the left in the back, tuning her guitar.
Murdoc moved his head to 2-D’s mic. “‘Ello there, Camden Town! How are ya doin’?”
DJ and the whole crowd cheered, as well as Delilah and Doug.
Murdoc: “It’s great to be back in our old home of London, goin’ on tour again! We thought we’d send ourselves off with a right good concert here. Ain’t that right, fellas?” The other three nodded and pumped a fist up.
2-D: “Like he said, it’s great to be back again. Especially since it’s a special night for a special little puppy ‘ere.”
DJ gasped in shock. “You told them about me?” he whispered to Doug.
Doug grinned: “Maaaaaybe?”
Delilah smiled at Doug. “You sly dog!”
2-D looked around the crowd “Ah, there he is. Someone get a spotlight on him.” the spotlight shined right on DJ.
DJ was absolutely speechless. He was beaming with excitement, but deep down, he was extremely nervous.
Murdoc: “Oh yeah, mate. Everyone, this here is DJ Dalmatian. You mighta heard a’ that family. Well, we heard through the grapevine he’s turnin’ 13 tomorrow. So why not make it extra special, eh?”
Noodle: “Konichiwa, DJ!”
Russel: “Yo.”
DJ blushed like a tomato, smiling shyly. “Hi, guys.”
Murdoc: “Now, let’s start this off with our first smash hit, eh?”
2-D: “Hell yeah, lights!” the lights suddenly went out as the screen behind them started showing the graveyard from their song “Clint Eastwood.” Fog machines we added for effect.
Most of the crowd was taken aback by the thunder and lightning sounds.
As the song started, 2-D began singing. “I ain’t happy….I’m feeling glad. I got sunshine….in a bag. I’m useless.…but not for long. The future….is coming on.”
DJ was lip-syncing with 2-D’s rather haunting vocals while faintly singing in a low voice.
Suddenly, the ghost of Del the Funky Homosapian emerged from Russel’s head and began the rap verse.
Delilah: “This sure is a wild party!”
DJ was standing on his seat. “I love you, 2-D!!!” Listening to their songs is one thing, but hearing them live in concert was new and enchanting for the musical pup.
2-D started slowly headbanging as he repeated the first lines.
Delilah put an arm around DJ as he sat down again when the song entered its third repeating verse from 2-D as the lights started swirling around the concert hall. “Happy birthday, sweetie.”
DJ: “Thanks, mom.”
Soon, the song ended and the crowd cheered again.
DJ whistled as hard as he could.
Murdoc: “Thank ya, thank ya! Now calm down, we’re just getting started. Now, how about a little mood to feel good?” he smirked at DJ.
DJ: “Ohhhhh I know what you mean.” he winked.
Murdoc: “Oh do you? Well then, humor me, what was I gonna say?”
DJ: “Feel Good Inc.!”
Murdoc: “Bingo! But I was gonna ask ya-”
2-D: “I got this.” he took the mic “He was gonna ask….you wanna come sing the rap parts of the song?”
DJ’s jaw instantly dropped. “Are you s-serious?!”
Murdoc: “Alright, get on up here, ya bugger!”
DJ hopped on stage and grabbed a second mic. He gestured for Murdoc to lean down to him before whispering in his ear.
Murdoc grinned: “Ohhhh great.” he then spoke into the mic. “DJ here’s gonna sing his own lyrics for this performance.”
Delilah and Doug looked at each other with big smiles.
Murdoc: “Alright, lads.” he did the signature laugh from the song before the beat hit extremely hard.
DJ tapped his toes as the song played from the speakers.
The song kept playing until the windmill lines were being sung by 2-D, who looked down at DJ. As he strummed on his bass, Murdoc also looked at DJ and nodded.
DJ sweated nervously, hoping he wouldn’t screw up. As his part came, he took a deep breath, gathered all his courage, and rapped.
“No sweat, it’s a dog’s world, like a pack of wolves.
Loads upon loads of love we give.
We’re a rowdy crowd here in Camden Town.
But that’s the way we wanna live.
Come visit 101 Dalmatian Street.
99 puppies that you just can’t beat.
Plus two parents, we’re on the prowl, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
But when a vile witch comes as we’re making messes,
She tries to turn us into high-class dresses.
She wants to play? We’ll make her pay.
She’ll be horribly mangled from across the bay.
London beware, if you dare,
‘Cause we’re the Dalmatian Family.
Everybody, give a great big howl, awooooooooo!”
2-D continued to repeat “Feel Good.”
Noddle ran up next to him and played her heart out.
DJ wiped the sweat from his forehead, so glad he actually nailed it. When the song ended, DJ howled while Murdoc did the signature laugh a final time.
2-D held his mic stand like a guitar, holding the mic up to his mouth.
Noodle held up DJ’s hand.
Murdock spun his bass around and held up his finger while wiggling his demon tongue out.
Russel held his hands up with his drumsticks pointed in the air.
The crowd, once again, went completely ballistic.
DJ gave a thumbs up to Delilah and Doug
Doug jumped up from his seat, pumping his fists in the air, shouting. “That’s my boy!!!”
Delilah jumped from her seat as well, clapping super loudly. “Wooooo!!!”
Murdoc then lifted DJ up, putting him on his shoulders. “Give a round for DJ!”
The blushing DJ wrapped his legs around Murdoc and shot his arms up, giving the rock symbol.
Half of the crowd was chanting his name while the other continued to go ballistic for the musical dog. Eventually the next song would come around. More songs came around until the show was over.
Murdoc waved to the crowd. “Thank you, Camden Town! We’re Gorillaz! Stay in school, don’t do crack, go fuck yerselves!”
As the band walked off stage into the back, he gave a middle finger, but a playful one.
Eventually, the four walked to the green room as the roundhouse quieted down.
There was a human guard outside the green room as the three Dalmatians approached.
Doug: “Is it alright if we come in?” he asked his son.
DJ: “Yeah, I don’t mind.”
Murdoc sat on a chair, about to open a bottle of rum.
2-D was looking at himself in the mirror, checking his eyes out.
Russel was eating a burger.
Noodle was sitting on the table, legs crossed, playing on her phone.
Suddenly, the three dogs stepped through the door to greet the band.
DJ: “Hey, guys!” he smiled.
The four members proudly greeted him back.
DJ sat on a couch close to Noodle. “So….where do you guys plan on visiting in North America?”
Murdoc cracked open his bottle. “Oh, all around, mate. California, D.C., Florida, Mexico, even Canada. 30 cities in 15 days.”
2-D: “Which I still say is physically impossible with our piece of shit bus.” he pulled down his bottom eyelid, looking further into his black eye.
Murdoc agreed and shrugged. “Why did I ever sell the Geep? That baby could get us going much much faster.” he told himself.
DJ: “Well, you guys should travel a bit slower in order to rest and catch all the sites and such.” he admitted. “Maybe….30 cities in 30 days?”
Murdoc: “Yeah, that’s true, DJ. Heh. Noodle’d be pissed if I didn’t stop by Universal in Orlando.”
Noodle: “I’d have to cut off your nut sack!” she made a scissors motion with her fingers.
Delilah: “Oh my…..”
Murdoc took a big swig of rum. "Aaah....say, how many instruments do you play, DJ? Keyboard? Turntables?"
DJ: "Both. I'm a master as them."
Murdoc smirked. "Well...." he sat up. "How would you like to be an honorary member of the Gorillaz, and join us on tour?"
DJ, surprised by that offer, rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. I mean, I have a large family at home."
Murdoc: "Ah, come on, DJ. I'm sure they'd want ya to join us. Besides, being an official Gorilla means you get a fair cut of the payday from each concert."
Russel: "And those 3 triplets of yours won't be the ONLY famous pups in the family." he winked.
Noodle: "Come on, DJ! You just gotta!" she said cutely.
2-D: "For us?"
DJ laughed "Oh, how can I say no to my favorite band?!"
Murdoc stood up laughing as well. "Right! Welcome to the band, DJ. We gotsa celebrate before we leave London."
Russel: "I know a sweet slam poetry cafe down the block from here."
DJ looked up at his parents. "I suppose...I should pack my things when I get home huh?"
Doug: "Yeah...I'll miss you terribly while you're gone."
Delilah leaned down and gave him a big hug. "Promise me you'll call us every day."
2-D: "Ey now, who says you can't come? Wouldn't mind having a couple roadies. Besides, these three are like my family. Yes, even Murdoc."
Doug: “Thanks guys, but I have some big shifts at the fire department coming up.”
Delilah: "Hmmm…..I guess my human partner Dave can handle patients without me.” she put an arm on DJ’s shoulder. “I’ll come too.”
Murdoc: "Then it’s settled." he looked at DJ. "Don't worry. We'll do a whole month of concerts, afterwards, we'll fly you back home, no problems at all. It's the least we can do, after the shit yer family's been through." he put a hand on his arm. "That psycho bitch, she is."
DJ: "Hehehe you're right, Murdoc. Nothing to worry about."
Doug: “Ummm, would it be alright if Dylan took my place and came with you? I just think someone more mature can keep you all in order.”
Murdoc: “Eh, why not? You go home and get things ready. We’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
DJ walked out with his folks. “I’ll see you then!” he waved.
Murdoc: “Too right! We’ll rock the USA all month!”
The next morning, Dylan got his stuff ready as well as DJ. He let out a wuff to get everyone's attention.
The whole family came downstairs, sitting on the stairs and hallway furniture.
Dolly: "What's up, bro?" she crossed her arms.
Dylan: "I have an announcment. To celebrate DJ's birthday, mom and dad took him to a Gorillaz concert. He even got him backstage passes. Last night, DJ told me that he and mom are going on a 1-month tour of North America. I will also be going with them.
Dolly: "A tour?!"
Diesel: "A whole month?!"
Dylan nodded. "We're really gonna miss you all." he looked at Dolly. "Dolly, I'm trusting you to look after everyone. And PLEASE try not to be too reckless with your fun this time."
Dolly: "Aye aye, Captain Safetypants!" she saluted.
Da Vinci looked at her leg and sighed. "I wish my leg wasn't still broken so I could come with." she said sadly.
DJ: "Awww come here, sis." he gave her a big, brotherly hug. "I'll call you guys everyday I'm out. I promise."
Dylan gave Dolly a big hug too, since he's never gone through so long without seeing her before, and now, it's happening.
Dolly happily hugged him back, almost squeezing him.
DJ put his hand on the scanner then stepped out the front door. "Alright, Gorillaz. Let's rocket!"
Murdoc was standing on the sidewalk with the tour bus behind him. "Alright, DJ, we're takin' this rig to the airport. Much faster that way."
Noodle poked her head out the window. "Hello again, DJ! Come on!" she smiled.
DJ hopped right into the van, Dylan and Delilah following close behind.
With that, the bus drove off. Everyone waved to the other Dalmatians until they were no longer in sight.
Russel was the one driving the bus.
2-D grabbed a couple of sodas "You guys want a drink?"
DJ: "Yes please."
2-D tosses three soda cans towards the Dalmatians "Catch!"
DJ caught his flawlessly.
Dylan's slipped off his fingers but he caught it before it hit the floor.
Delilah caught hers with her teeth.
Murdoc: "Bit of a butterfingers, eh?"
Dylan: "You can say that." he giggled.
Murdoc patted his back. "Say, how old are you? You look way more mature than your family."
Dylan: "17, almost 18."
Murdoc: "Eeeey, that means you're closer to bein' able to drink! Good on ya." he cracked open another rum bottle. "I'm tellin' ya, it's perfect." he started chugging it.
Dylan: "Noooo thank you. I've heard what drinking can do to you behavior." he said, sipping his Zero Sugar Coca-Cola.
Murdoc: "I ain't telling ya to get fuckin' smashed, mate. I'm just sayin' when you get to the right age, you gotta live a little more."
Dylan: "Yeah I know I know." he looked over at 2-D. "How about you?"
2-D: "Eh, it's alright. It helps ease the pain."
Dylan: "What pain?"
2-D: "With these." he showed him his creepy black eyeballs.
Dylan was taken aback by them. "Ohhhhh right. Well if it helps, I won't stop you."
2-D: "It's alright to ask me about them, Dylan. I can feel it in your soul. Deep down."
This made Noodle giggle.
Dylan: "How did that happen anyway?" he referred to 2-D's eyes.
2-D gave a glaring look at Murdoc. "Well, that bloke over there drove his car right through a music shop I was working at, and the fender hit me right in the face, took my eye out, my two front teeth too, and made me catatonic."
Dylan was absolutely shocked by that. "OUCH!"
2-D: "I know, right? His punishment was taking care of me the rest of my life...lo and behold, he crashed his car AGAIN. I went flying out the windshield, hitting my head on the pavement, lost my other eye, but I woke up like normal again. That's why I'm called 2-D, because of the two "dents" in my eyes."
Dylan: "That's good I guess. Wouldn't know what to do if I was an empty husk."
Delilah was a little horrified by that story. "I got some ointment for those eyes if you want, 2-D."
Noodle: "So what's it like living with 98 siblings, DJ?"
DJ chuckled. "It's not easy, but we manage it well."
Dylan intervened. "Me and Dolly take charge of everything while mom and dad are away."
Russel: "Wait, your parents leave you in charge of all of them? Ha! Wow. Lucky you guys don't live where I come from. It's MADNESS there!"
DJ: "He's talking about New York City."
Delilah: "Oh I agree!"
Russel: "Well, we're almost at the airport."
Murdoc: "Alright, just drive us into the cargo hold when we get there."
DJ was getting giddy as they approached.
Russel drove the bus into the cargo of the plane. The plane took a bit of time to take off.
Murdoc: "Dis is how we travel."
DJ: "Oh my dog....." he shook a little in excitement.
The area around them rumbled as the plane eventually took flight. The bus tilted upwards along with it. Luckily the bus's wheels were in park.
Murdoc held onto a pipe on the ceiling
Noodle simply slid across the seat, playing a game on her phone.
Delilah held onto DJ and Dylan as they held onto their seat. "You feeling alright?"
Dylan: "Yeah I'm okay."
The plane then flew forward, nothing but smooth flying from here on out.
Murdoc: "Well, I'm headin' for a nap. Wake me when we're landing." he walked into the back room of the bus
2-D: "Me too." he followed Murdoc before shutting the door.
DJ was too excited to nap. He just looked around the bus as he sat, the only lights being shown were in the cargo hold, illuminating through the windows.
Noodle was sitting next to the musical pup as Delilah eventually went to sleep in another part of the bus, with Russel asleep at the wheel, and Dylan stayed awake with his brother and Noodle.
