"Look, the green room, like maybe that's where they keep salads and vegetables?" Shaggy chuckled.
They'd split up in the usual way, Fred and Daphne one way, Velma on her own, Melissa with Shaggy and Scooby. The backstage area was large, full of random costumes, props, and other misalliances objects.
"Shaggy," Melissa rolled her eyes, "A green room is like a rest area for performers"
"Sounds like the perfect place to find food!" he reached for the door while Scooby licked his chops.
The door slammed open the ghost growling in their faces.
"And ghosts!" the duo tried to run for it while Melissa scrambled for a self-defense weapon.
Thankfully, for her at least, the ghost paid more attention to Shaggy and Scooby, using his apparent 'powers' to bring cables that ran across the floor to life ensnaring the two in the floating binds before disappearing.
"Hey," Melissa regarded the two, "I've seen this trick before"
"What trick? The ghost brought the cables to life," Shaggy struggled as the others arrived on the scene.
"What's up, guys," Fred smiled at them.
"Ha-Ha, Fred, can somebody like, get us down from here?"
"On it"
"Melissa, don't-"
Melissa cut them down before Shaggy could finish his statement. Rising with a groan he glared at his friend who smirked in response, pocketing the razor-edged playing cards in her jacket. Velma, meanwhile knelt to take a closer look at the cables finding they dripped water when she picked them up. The wheels in her brain started to turn. Maybe..just maybe...
"So what happened?" Fred wanted to know.
"The ghost was hovering over there, like, by the rack of costumes," Shaggy shakily pointed out with Scooby going over to the rack to demonstrate.
"Raaugh-oof," the Dane was pulled to the floor.
"Like, the ghost has got Scooby!" Shaggy freaked.
"No," Melissa tried to help Scooby up, "The floor does, the metal on his collar is stuck," having no success she removed the collar allowing Scooby to get to his feet while she tried to ease the tag from the floor.
"It's like the floor is magnified!" Fred observed her struggle, watching her fall hard onto the rack.
"Are you okay?" Thorn asked rushing over to help her up.
"Fine," Melissa grunted, triumphantly holding the collar up, "Here Scoob"
"Rhank you!" he wagged his tail.
"No problem"
"The cable that snagged Shaggy and Scooby is hydrolic when water is forced through it, it moves, this theater was built for Rufus Raucous, Remember, these elaborate illusions are probably built right in"
"That's a comforting thought,"
"Oh, Italian silk!" Daphne excitedly pulled the dress from the rack only for a mask to fall to the floor, "Jeepers!"
"The mask the ghost was wearing"
"Whoever was wearing it probably ditched it so they could slip out of the theater unnoticed," Daphne guessed
"Or blend in with the people inside," Velma countered.
"Like a certain boy band who wants to steal the top spot from my good friends...who sometimes let me borrow their clothes?"
Melissa rolled her eyes.
"Go for it," Luna smiled.
"We've got doubles," added Dusk with a nod.
"Hey, what about Del Stone?" Fred pointed out.
"Like, why would he sabotage his own theater?" Shaggy wanted to know.
"Well, Del Stone doesn't own this place," Thorn started.
"He was loosing his shirt so he sold to a big conglomerate," finished Dusk.
"Maybe he wants to ruin the place out of spite?"
"Well, there's one sure way to find out, lets split up again but this time Shaggy, Scooby and I will check out Mr Stone-"
"And the girls and I can check out some shops"
"What?" Melissa balked.
"Oh, come on! It'll be great!" Daphne was already dragging her away.
"Need I remind you what happened when we went costume shopping?"
...
Despite her protests, Melissa found herself dragged along to some of the fanciest, most expensive stores around. Slumping onto the nearest chair she picked at a loose thread on her shirt and chose to pointedly ignore the glances other shoppers were sending her direction.
"Come on, Melissa! Don't you see anything you like?"
"No, I don't like clothes shopping Daphne"
"You're being a cliche"
"Am not"
"So your telling me if your boyfriend took you on a shopping spree with no limit, you'd accept?"
"Yeah"
"Ah-Ha!"
"You never said what kind of shopping spree and any day where I can buy spray paint in bulk is the best kind of day"
Daphne deflated faster than a popped balloon.
"Alright, you two," Luna swooped in, "Let's find Melissa something she enjoys before she dies of boredom"
...
Meanwhile back at the resort Del stone had traded his suit jacket and tie for a bathrobe and slippers as he crept through the vacant back rooms, carefully looking over his shoulder every ten steps. He was convinced he was in the clear until he opened the next door.
"Uh, excuse me, Mr stone?" Fred waved for his attention.
The man bolted.
"Looks like Mr. Stone's trying to give us the slip"
The trio chased the man into a steam sauna watching him relax, his glasses fogged over.
"I like, suddenly have a craving for steam dumplings," Shaggy remarked, sitting beside Scooby on the wrap-around bench while Fred sat on the opposite side.
"Who's that?" Del looked around confusedly.
"He can't see us," Fred whispered, "I'll disguise my voice and see if I can pump him for info," he slipped Daphne's now taped-up sunglasses on, "Thank you, thank you very much"
Shaggy had to keep himself from face-palming.
"Hank, is that you?"
"Du' yeah"
This was becoming increasingly awful to watch. The room was also becoming unpleasant to be in. Sweat was soaking Scooby's fur, his tongue hanging from his mouth while Shaggy fanned himself and tried to ignore the series of pointless Elvis' style moves Fred was doing as he talked to the man.
"Say, Boss you know anything about this ghost bisness with that majacon fella?" Fred finally asked.
"That's no ghost," Del declared, "Rufus Raucous would have to be dead to be a ghost!"
"What? He's not dead?"
"Who is that?" Del reached for a towel but grabbed Scooby's tail instead, using it to clean his glasses, "Hey, dogs aren't allowed in here!"
"Dog?" Scooby played dumb, allowing Shaggy to pull him up by the collar so they could make a quick exit.
"And neither are noisy kids and your impression STINKS" Del chased them out, angrily shaking his fist.
"Like, that could've gone better," Shaggy shrugged, "Let's hit the buffet"
"Reah, reah"
"Hang on you two," Fred stopped them from leaving, "We learned something important, let's call the girls and have them meet us for dinner"
...
Good stopping place? Debatable but it's just an episode. Not a whole, whole lot I can do right now without derailing it.