12/26

[creepyoldguy]

 [It's the day after Christmas.  And there's a new face on camera, beaming at everyone from their mirrors.   A teenage girl!

...of sorts.  She's not winning any beauty pageants, that's a given.  She looks "off", for lack of a better term, but, for what she lacks in normalcy she makes up for in enthusiasm.]

HI GUYS!

[A cheerful "princess" wave.]

I am sooooooo happy to meet all of you!  I'm Betty!   I can't wait to be your new friend, TEE-HEE.

Tell me all the things!  Y'know gossip and shit....stuff. I mean.

[She tilted her head and let a messy ponytail flop to the side with the gesture, still smiling much, much, too broadly.]  

Comments

[connie_maheswaran]

Were you really THAT into making up information for people in this world?

Ah. I mean, we can still do that. I think we can all agree we deserve a little down time.

[creepyoldguy]

Depends on the group I have. And how into it they get.

[He waved a bored hand.]

Eh, sure, sure, but! Sometimes they only way to get invited is to be a girl. Also? I'm holding out hope on breaking at least one guy's brain.

[connie_maheswaran]

To be a fly on the wall....

That totally sounds like you. Well, get a little better at it and I'm sure you'll be able to fool more than one guy in no time.

[creepyoldguy]

Oh, no, no. It's not just the fooling, it's watching someone's brain melt.

[connie_maheswaran]

I kinda thought that was implied already.

[creepyoldguy]

You'd be shocked by the number of people who disapprove of causing someone to have a complete mental breakdown.

Now me, I operate under the idea that trauma is funniest when it's happening to someone else.

[connie_maheswaran]

I don't think I would, actually.

There's already a term for that, Schadenfreude. That is more geared toward other people's misery.

[creepyoldguy]

It surprises me!

It’s nicer than “sadistic”.

[connie_maheswaran]

People generally try not be so...intense. They exist, but tend to be the minority.

[One hoped anyway].

It does sound better, for one thing.

[creepyoldguy]

What's the point in being a wallflower milquetoast? Be intense!

[Beetlejuice nodded]

That's why we're supposed to call newly deads "recently deceased" and not "fresh meat".

[connie_maheswaran]

I can take you in doses, BJ. If everyone were like you, not only would the world be chaotic, it would take away the specialness of you being you.

I'm sure the newly deads very much appreciate that. I know I would.

[creepyoldguy]

[He deflated a bit at the "doses" comment. Connie managed to hit him in his most vulnerable spot.]

Oh...yeah....that's, hey, that's more than most people can take.

[Beetlejuice tried to straighten up a bit, roll with it, but, there was a purple tinge creeping into his hair.]

"If you want people to follow you into hell, it's best not to offend them right off the bat."That's from the training manual for Guides.

[connie_maheswaran]

[Speaking of offending...]

Beetlejuice, I didn't mean that I can't stand you or anything. I kind of HAVE to take people in doses: I give myself way too much busy work most of the time, it feels good to talk and hang out with someone who'd not afraid to cut loose. But I like that you're one of the few people who do that in only the way you can. Most people here are fairly polite...when they're not insulting you or punching you of course.

[She could at least joke about it now]

That's just sound advice, really...into hell, huh?

[creepyoldguy]

[There were times when he hated his hair. But, he wasn't able to articulate to anyone outside of Lydia, just how messed up being utterly alone and literally invisible had made him. So, he'd brush it off and eat a Zagnut, and forget about it. ]

S'all fine, kid. Don't worry about it.

[Ah, now that was a valid question.]

Not in the fire-and-brimstone sense. Just another word for the Netherworld. It's boring, dull, lonely, pretty colorless---

[connie_maheswaran]

Of course I'm going to worry about it. I don't want you thinking that I'm just "putting" up with you. You're my friend. Heck, you're probably the person I talk to the most around here, and I have a roommate!

That sounds like it could be a kind of hell, honestly.

[creepyoldguy]

It ain’t your fault I’m—seriously?

[He tilted his head.]

You gotta get out more, Nerdling! I’m flattered, and you’re not gonna find anyone more interesting or anything, but still!

[If you feed a demon’s ego, he’s likely to forget his feelings were momentarily hurt.]

[connie_maheswaran]

[Connie blew a raspberry, shaking her head. Boy, demons were definitely strange].

I don't know, there are a LOT of interesting things around here. But you're right about one thing: I DO need to go out a little more.

[creepyoldguy]

I’m the most interesting.

[The demon commented as he filed his fangs with an emery board, before eating it.]

But, I’m glad you agree.

[connie_maheswaran]

Got me there!

Next time you drag, let's see if we can really customize your look!

[creepyoldguy]

Still gonna be dead.

Just a dead gal instead of a dead guy. And a demon. What I might lack in aesthetics, I like to think I make up for in personality.

[connie_maheswaran]

That is pretty evident.

Well sure. You're fun to be around no matter what.

[creepyoldguy]

I'm a freaking delight!

[His ego is fed on the merest scraps.]

[connie_maheswaran]

Yes, you definitely are.

[On that they could both agree].