[IC] LYDIA

[Metronome]

"Lady, I don't know how you got in here, but threatening a banker on premises is a felony," Ken said flatly. He was a repo man, after all. He didn't intimidate easily.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Threaten? What have I remotely done that indicates I've threatened you? I'm here for a civilized chat, you're the one jumping to conclusions. Now sit down and zip it, will ya? I'll do the questions around here and you answer 'em." A snap rang out as she used her powers to force him into one of the clients chairs he had set up.

"What's the deal pickin' on Lawrence?"

[Metronome]

"Picking on Lawrence?" Ken echoed incredulously. "Mr. Betelgeuse hasn't paid his mortgage since moving into that house. He signed the contract. This is the consequence of his actions. I don't enjoy repossessing homes, but that is part of my job. Now, if you'll please leave, I have paperwork to fill out."

[Beetlejuice96]

"Not a chance in hell, you little snake. You know what he's going through, he's even called to tell you the payment would be late. Yet instead of giving him some time, you decide to kick him out." Lydia snapped.

"Now this can go one of two ways. One, you realize how much of an asshole you are and give my buddy some time to pay ya back. Or, and I'm hoping you pick this one, I scare the living shit out of you to where you finally agree to give him time. Take your pick."

[Metronome]

Ken hit the security call button under his desk. "Ma'am, this display of your's isn't doing your friend any favors. If you don't leave, I'll have you both charged for attempting to intimidate a financial institution. And, from what our background reports show, Mr. Betelgeuse doesn't have the cleanest record. Perhaps you should do a favor to the both of you, and see yourself out."

[Beetlejuice96]

"They always pick the hard way." Lydia sighed to herself before looking at Ken, her eyes once yellow now a deep crimson. "Maybe I didn't make myself clear. I will make your life a literal living hell till the day you die. Every. Single. Day. You won't be able to sleep, let alone think. I will drive you to insanity. The best part is no one will believe you. So, DO AS I SAY OR THIS IS THE FACE YOU'LL WAKE UP TO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" Lydia shouted, before turning into a horrifying monstrosity of tentacles, eyes and teeth.

[Metronome]

Ken barely blinked. "You clearly haven't seen my wife."

About that time, security busted the door down. Ken stood, taking this as his cue to leave. "The police will be notified of these shenanigans. Perhaps Mr. Betelgeuse can come up with his mortgage payment from jail."

He turned and saw himself out.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Don't you fucking dare!" Lydia roared before grabbing them all, teleporting them to where the Sandworms lived, holding the Breathers over the edge. "Yo, Sandy! Dinner time!" She called out, a loud roar ringing out as Big Sandy appeared. "Leave Lawrence alone or you'll be Sandworm chow."

[Metronome]

This clearly wasn't the first death threat Ken had received. He used to work in Baltimore!

"I would love to, but now he's not only late on his mortgage, he's sending his crazy girlfriend to give the bank death threats. The authorities have already been notified. Nothing you do now will change that."

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia let out an inraged roar, returning them to the bank as she appeared back at the house. "FUCKING DICKHEAD! MOTHER FUCKER!" She raged, almost tearing the house apart.

[Metronome]

Lawrence almost jumped out of skin, but he looked pissed as well. "Lydia, what the fuck did you do?!" He yelled. "They put me on fucking house arrest! I can't go anywhere now!"

He paced the living room floor. He'd dug down too deep. No way was he going to climb back out of this hole!

"I hope you're happy!" He snapped at her, taking his frustration out on the demon. Lawrence stormed up the stairs.

[Beetlejuice96]

"I'm sorry, I tried scaring the shit out of that asshole but he's tougher than a fucking coconut. I tried making things right by giving ya more time." She explained as she followed him.

"What can I do to fix this? There's gotta be something, bud. Ya got any relatives with money? I could have your name put in the will, scare 'em to death and BOOM ya got money!"

[Metronome]

"No!" He yelled angrily. "No more scaring! No more crimes! I'm fucked over enough as it is." He stood in the doorway of his bedroom. "Just...go away!" He slammed the door.

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia stood there in shock for a moment before her temper exploded again. "FINE! See if I care! The only reason I stopped you from offing yourself is you're the only one who's been able to see me in millennia! All I want is for someone to just acknowledge my existence!"

[Metronome]

"Well consider it acknowledged!" Lawrence shouted back through the door. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, face buried in his hands again. This was a mess. He was a mess.

[Beetlejuice96]

"ARRRRGH!" Lydia exclaimed before heading to the attic, throwing things around in her rage. Why did she unintentionally fuck things up without meaning to? She wanted to help the only friend she had.

[Metronome]

The Maitlands were hunkered down in the attic, hiding from the demon downstairs.

"What're we doing, Adam?" Barbara asked her husband. "We're up here, hiding like cowards, with everything else useless and forgotten in this house!"

"We're not useless, Barb," Adam quipped.

"Yes we are! We're letting that demon ruin that poor guy's life. We should be doing something about this."

"Like what?" Adam stood. "She's too powerful."

Barbara opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She poked her head through the door to see Lydia coming. "Now's our chance. Adam, pass me that pool salt. I have an idea."

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia slammed the door open, some of her rage gone but still fueling her. She sighed before sinking to her knees. "Dad was right...I do push people away." She whispered as she closed her eyes. None of this would have happened if her mother was still alive, well, undead.

[Metronome]

Barbara and Adam were ready to pelt the demon with salt. They knew there was some correlation between demons and salt, but they weren't quite sure how to properly use it. However, Barbara stopped, and held her hand up to Adam when Lydia appeared distraught. She couldn't help it; she had to mother everything.

"Oh, honey, no. You don't - well, actually, maybe you do. But it's not something you can't fix!" Barbara dropped the salt and carefully approached the demon.

[Beetlejuice96]

"Yeah? And how do you suppose I change that? I've been messed up since my mom died and my dad remarried." Lydia said bitterly as she looked away from them.