[IC] Stranger Beetles

[Metronome]

Tina looked bewildered. "I don't know, hun. Did Lawrence send you here?" She couldn't imagine why he'd do that. He seemed to have been pretty attached to this girl to just fling her into the Netherworld by herself.

[Beetlejuice96]

"No, he wouldn't do that to me, especially after what we just went through. He'd never want me to come back here." Lydia replied before sighing. "I just hope he knows how to get me back."

___

"I'm coming with you. We both know how Abaddon can be." Ash argued, folding their arms

[Metronome]

"No way, Ash!" The demons had taken their discussion outside. "Someone has to keep an eye on the breathers. What if this is some ploy to lure us both away? Besides, it's just Abby. I could take him with my eyes closed!"

[Beetlejuice96]

"I don't want to lose you again!" Ash exploded, hot, angry tears falling. "I just got you back after being alone for so long. I don't want to think of an immortal life without you."

[Metronome]

Beetlejuice looked taken aback. He took a step towards them. "Ash...where is this coming from?"

He thought they were over. Like, a long time ago. Did Ash still have feelings for him?

[Beetlejuice96]

"I...I always cared for you when no one else did. Even after we were separated I never stopped thinking about you. When Iggy and I traveled, I always hoped the town we headed to would have you somewhere where I'd find you. I never lost hope our paths would cross and we'd be together like old times." They whispered before looking away.

"I understand if you don't want us back together. I just...I just want to know if you still love me after all this time."

[Metronome]

"I..." He looked stunned. Beetlejuice couldn't take all this in right now. His mind was too bogged down with worry for Lydia, the fact that his mom was gone, and now Ash was professsing their repressed love for him.

"I- uh- I don't know. I mean, er, I don't know if now is a good time to talk about this," he was flushing, "You can come. But we'll have to pick this whole discussion up later."

[Beetlejuice96]

A faint smile appeared on their face before nodding in agreement. "Let's go bring our Lydia back." They said, determined.

___

Lydia shivered as the lights in the office dimmed, staying close to Tina as a figure appeared before them. Her eyes widened in shock. "N-No! You're dead!" She exclaimed as Mrs. Shoggoth stared at her.

"That's what I wanted you to think, you little brat. I warned you not to cross me, now you pay the price. Miss Argentina, get her the required paperwork and make sure she fills it out." Mrs. Shoggoth snapped before walking off, heels clicking on the tiles.

[Metronome]

Tina glared after the woman. "Come on, hun," She took Lydia's hand and led her away. She brought Lydia to a door and, on the other side, was the Netherworld. "Lawrence used to run a road house not too far from here, just a ways up that path. It's been empty for a long time, but it should be safe for you until we get this figured out. Since Miss Shoggoth didn't say what paperwork to fill out, and you aren't technically dead, you're free to go." She winked at her.

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia smiled before giving her a hug. "Thank you, Tina. If Beej comes by let him know I'm safe and waiting for him." She said before heading off for the roadhouse. She didn't talk or look at anyone on her journey and thankfully no one bothered her. Perhaps it was she was just a soul.

Upon arriving at the roadhouse, Lydia snuck her way inside before looking around. It was dirty, but given how Beetlejuice ran it and this was the Netherworld she wasn't too surprised. "I just hope he's already here." She sighed softly.

[Metronome]

The two demons burst into the waiting room. Beetlejuice ran to the desk, scaring the hell out of Tina.

"Tina! We're looking for Lydia, you seen her?"

Miss Argentina took a second to regroup. "She was here a little while ago." She dropped her voice, "I sent her to the roadhouse to hide. She should still be there."

Beetlejuice grinned and leaned into the window to give Miss Argentina a kiss on the cheek. "You're the best, Tina!" She scoffed and smacked him, but hid a smile under her hand.

Beetlejuice grabbed Ash by the arm and hauled them after him as he headed for the old roadhouse.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Darling, slow down! We could just teleport there!" Ash pointed out, causing a few ghosts to glance curiously at them.

Lydia looked up upon hearing voices before quickly hiding behind the bar and holding her breath. Wait, why am I holding my breath? I'm basically a ghost and they don't breathe. She realized but froze as she heard footsteps.

[Metronome]

"Oh yeah." Beetlejuice had gotten so caught up in finding Lydia, he'd forgotten about his powers. Suddenly, they were standing in front of the roadhouse. "Lydia!" BJ hollered, forcing the door open. "Lyds! Ya' in here, kid?"

[Beetlejuice96]

"Beej!" Lydia exclaimed as she ran over, tackling him in a hug. "I knew you'd find me. Do you know why I'm back here as a soul? It was your mother, wasn't it?" She growled.

"Actually, it's Abaddon, a demon able to mimic anyone." Ash explained before looking over at Beetlejuice. "We should make sure she's actually who she says she is."

[Metronome]

Beetlejuice was hugging Lydia tightly when Ash mentioned testing her. He frowned. He knew this was his Lydia. No way Abby could mimic her this well.

"Fine. Lyds, show Ash that you can unsummon me. Abby shouldn't be able to do that!"

[Beetlejuice96]

"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice." Lydia said, smirking as she unsummoned him, proving she was herself. "Why did this Abaddon bring me here?"

[Metronome]

Beetlejuice felt himself pop out of existence, but not really. Because he was in the Netherworld. But it proved his point. "I dunno, Lyds. But let's get you out of here and back to your body. You should just...I dunno, be able to fly back into it, right?"

[Beetlejuice96]

"I don't know anything about being a ghost! I thought you could just bibbidi bobbidi boo me back!" Lydia exclaimed, starting to freak out.

"Now, now, there's no need to panic. I'm sure we'll find a way to get you back." Ash said, trying to keep both of them calm.

[Metronome]

"I'm flattered that you think I know the answer to everything, Lyds, I really am," Beetlejuice said, "But I have no idea how to fix this! This isn't exactly an every day circumstance."

[Beetlejuice96]

"Perhaps we talk to Abby about this. It's his doing after all." Ash suggested. "The only problem is finding him."