Explaining Boundaries to a Demon is Hard | 👻 A Beetlelands story 👻

When the First Try at Explanation Doesn't Go Well

They sat Beetlejuice down in the living room at a time when the Deetzes were all there and waiting. What better way was there than to have the whole family there together to discuss boundaries?

Adam and Barbara sat themselves down on the black and white striped couch on either side of Beetlejuice; whereas Charles, Delia and Lydia sat down on the couch on the opposite side of the room. Beetlejuice's hair was shifting through a myriad of different colors, not bothering to stop on any one until it settled on a shade of purplish-bluish-gray.

For what seemed like an elongated but brief while, not one of the six of them seemed to say anything. A deafening silence remained prevalent until an unconcerned Barbara, turning her attention towards Beetlejuice, spoke up.

"Bug, can we—" She opted to continue, but paused when the demon made a low, guttural growling—like noise in response. Followed by the onset of a deafening silence.

Beetlejuice's eyes were locked on the floor of the living room, rather than on the others.

Barbara looked away for a brief few moments, then let out a quiet, soft sigh as she turned back to Beetlejuice. Reaching out a hand and resting it on the demon's shoulder, Barbara smiled softly as Beetlejuice's attention snapped to her. It didn't seem to help, however, when the demon's hair remained the same color as it had been. Nor did it change when Barbara moved to run one of her hands through Beetlejuice's hair.

Adam looked puzzled, but nodded all the same as he, too, reached out and rested a hand in Beetlejuice's hair. But, like before, it didn't seem to even change its color.

Not to pink. Not to neon green. Not even to a sunny yellow. It just remained that same exact shade of purplish-bluish-gray. Adam and Barbara shifted closer to Beetlejuice, but kept their distance altogether. As another silence had befallen the room, Barbara broke it the next time she spoke up.

"Beetlejuice, do you mind if we talk to you? About boundaries now?"

"Sure. Go ahead, I don't care," the demon spoke, in a monotonous tone, one that the rest of the family hadn't ever heard from him. In turn, his hair color darkened in shade, and that only served to make the others even more worried than they had been.

"That seemed... a little too troubling..." Adam mouthed to Barbara. She nodded in response and looked back at Beetlejuice. Adam continued. "You think maybe we should—"

"Wait till later?" Barbara asked, sounding confused. "Adam, I'm not too sure—"

"Guys," Lydia pointed out, turning the Maitlands' attention onto her. "I'd hate to interrupt but Beetlejuice appears to have teleported out of the room."

Adam and Barbara's attention focused on the now empty spot in between them. Lydia was right about one thing: Beetlejuice had, in fact, teleported out of the living room. Barbara and Adam's eyes focused and locked on one another, similar looks showing on their faces and similar thoughts popped into their minds.

'You don't think he went straight back up to the roof, do you?' 

At once, their eyes focused on the Deetzes; all of whom seemed to be showing similar looks of confusion to the Maitlands. But from the looks on the Maitlands' faces alone, as confusion shifted to determination, the Deetzes already knew what they were going to say.

"You guys can ahead," Charles spoke up, the first of the living to do so in a while, turning his head to glance out a window. "Though it's nearing dinnertime. I'd maybe wait until it became evening to go up and check on him if I were you. And that's only if he has, in fact, teleported himself back up to the roof."

Adam and Barbara looked at one another. A moment passed before they turned and focused their attention back to the Deetzes. Barbara spoke up first.

"Actually, yeah. Maybe waiting until after dinner is a better idea."

And that's exactly what they did. Come evening time, the Maitlands clambered back out to the roof to find a once again purple haired Beetlejuice sat on its edge and peering down at the ground below.

A concerned Barbara stepped forwards first, followed by an equally as concerned Adam.

"Beetlejuice???"