Metronome

Stranger Beetles

So since BJ isn't actually banished from the Netherworld in this version, what should his beef/ reason they broke up be with Ash?

Stranger Beetles

Catjuice's ears twitched at the sound of keys jiggling the lock on the door. Had they slept in?

"Oh shit!" He clambered up and dove for Lydia, touching a paw to her face just as the door swung open. Suddenly, they were in the park down the street. A jogger paused, a bit startled to see them there, but decided to keep going.

"Sorry Lyds. Didn't want us to end up on the 6 o'clock news." He shifted back into his dog form, probably a lot less conspicuous than the cat. "Well, the world's ours for takin' kid. What do you wanna do today?"

Stranger Beetles

"Yeah! And the best part is we don't have to clean it up!" Beetlejuice, who had taken the liberty of transforming into a giant spider with a pillow in each hand, shifted back. He flew over to the shelf that stored overpriced blankets and tacky comforters and grabbed a couple. He tore open the packaging and unfurled the blankets over Lydia.

"Get some rest, kid. We got exploring to do tomorrow! I wanna find the best roaches this city has to offer." With that, the demon shifted into a cat and pawed at the blankets at the foot of the bed before curling up in them.

Stranger Beetles

Dogjuice yelped as he was pummeled off the bed. When he flew back up, he was regular Beetlejuice again, but with four extra arms, each holding a pillow.

"Don't start fights you can't end, kid!" He flew at her, swinging pillows wildly. Hearing her laugh stirred up a joyfulness that he hadn't felt in a very long time. If ever. Neither had been given much of a chance at happiness in their lives...or afterlives. Sometimes it was the little things, like beating the absolutely hell out of each other with pillows.

Stranger Beetles

Dogjuice caught the pillow in his mouth and promptly shredded it. "Wow, that tasted super over priced!" He bounced on the bed excitedly. "Toss me another!"

Stranger Beetles

"Yeah, and there's gotta be a Mattress Firm around here somewhere. Most places you can't walk five feet without running across one. Those filthy money laundering fiends." He trotted alongside her, and sure enough, they eventually came to a corner with said Mattress Firm wedged between two shops.

"Come on!" BJ poof'd them inside. There were several mattresses to choose from, and Dogjuice took the liberty of running across every, single one of them. "Oooo this one's memory foam!"

Stranger Beetles

"Huh...I guess that really only works it you're invisible..." His tail drooped. He trotted along silently, thinking. All the odd ball places he would sleep weren't really fitting for a human. Why did humans have to be so fragile? "What about one of those totally sketchy mattress stores? We could pop into one, set up camp, and leave before they open!"

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice tilted his head at her. "Why don't we find somewhere for you to get some rest. It's getting kinda' late. We can scam people out of their money in the morning."

He paused and looked around. There was a pretty fancy hotel across the street from them. "What do you think?" He asked, wagging his tail. "Sneak in a fancy hotel room, trash the place?"

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice didn't mind the crowd. He could get away with so much mischief here! Dogjuice managed to slip a hot dog out of a man's hand, and was halfway up the block before the guy noticed. He chomped on it happily.

"This is great," he whispered to Lydia. "We can be bums on the run! Just us against the world, but not trapped in a box this time!"

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice floated around the room angrily while Lydia packed. He was still griping about what Charles had said, up until he noticed Lydia signing.

"Say no more!" He grabbed her hand and they were gone.

The city of Indianapolis was massive compared to Hawkings. Beetlejuice took on his dog form and trotted next to Lydia, tail wagging. This was what they should have done to begin with: fuck off and never look back.