[Video]

[histruename]

[The six hour cart ride from shore left Hellboy with a crick in his neck and a bad taste in his mouth. Not much surprises him anymore, and after spending who the hell knows how long being hunted by the Baba Yaga, he was glad to be out of her reach, even if he knew he was nowhere near familiar ground.

The guys who fished him out of the ocean had no problem telling him where he was or how he got there, but after a few moments of conversation, Hellboy realized that he just didn't give a crap. Wherever this "In Between" was, he knew it couldn't be good. It was only a matter of time before the real reason he was here reared its ugly head.

Until then...]

Anyone know where a guy can get a drink around here?

[He looks like utter crap, every inch of him cut and bruised, his hair falling out of its knot at the base of his neck, and his jacket blood-soaked and tattered to pieces, but looking presentable is obviously the last thing on his mind.]

Comments

1/idk maybe 3 or 4?????

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Is that...]

2/idk maybe 3 or 4?????

[memoriesinsmoke]

[No.

No no no it can't be him it's not him.

He's gone. He's been gone for years and she hasn't seen him since she left for Agartha.]

3/probably 4

[memoriesinsmoke]

[He left and everything went to hell.

And then he shows up here. Here, instead of home with the B.P.R.D.

He ends up here instead of where he should be.

Where they should be.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Eventually, Liz just settles for a brief acknowledgement.]

What the hell are you doing here?

[video]

[histruename]

[You get a long, golden-eyed stare.]

...


...


...Liz?

[This can't be real. He's hallucinating again.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[This is too much. Just... keep it cool, Sherman.]

That's right.




... It's been a while.

[video]

[histruename]

[Just. Staring.]

Yeah.

[Blink.]

How've you been?

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Yeah, you're getting a look, HB.]

Since I've been here or since you left?

[video]

[histruename]

[He can't snap himself out of it. This can't be Liz. Something horrible is going to happen. He's just waiting for it.

Instead of answering, he just frowns. That's what this is. His conscious come to bite him in the ass.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Yeah, okay, Liz is getting real tired of the staring.]

I'm not talking to you just so you can look at me, Hellboy.

[His consciousness isn't the one biting him in the ass. That's all Liz.]

[video]

[histruename]

Yeah? You got something to say to me, go ahead and say it.

[Tell him what a mistake he made leaving the Bureau.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

Roger's dead. [May as well start with the hardest one.]

[video]

[histruename]

Crap.

[That's all he has to say about that. Just goddamn crap.]

Abe?

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

He's still around. So is Kate.

Ben and Johann are there, but they came around after you left. So I guess you wouldn't know them.

[video]

[histruename]

...It's good to see you, Liz.

[He's finally believes you're real.]

You look like crap. [But he says it with the slightest twist of the mouth, well aware of the irony.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

Yeah, I know. [...]

Where are you? I can come find you. [She knows the area better than he does, after all.]

[video]

[histruename]

Earth Sector. Sign on the door says EA-1B. Hope you know where that is, because I sure as hell don't.

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[... So he's close enough to be a neighbour. Good to know.]

I'll be there in a few minutes. [And true to her word, she knocks on Hellboy's door a few minutes later.]

Hellboy?

[histruename]

[He opens the door, still leaning slightly on the doorframe as he takes in the sight of her. His coat is off, and most of his upper torso is covered in white bandages that have been bled through in patches. A cigarette hangs limply from his mouth.]

Hey.

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

Hey. [The sight of him injured is worrisome, but at least he's had that tended to.

... Though he'll probably need to change those bandages sooner rather than later.]

It's good to see you. [To really see him, and not just see him on some screen.]

[video]

[histruename]

[Aw, hell with it. He reaches for her with his normal arm and pulls her into a half-hug, paying no attention to his wounds.]

You too, kid. You too.

[Then he releases her, but stays close. He's still half afraid he'll wake up from the dream soon and she'll be gone.]

You wouldn't believe the crap I've been through.

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[The hug is appreciated. It's another reminder that, yes, he's really here.]

With everything that happened back home, I probably could.

[video]

[histruename]

[His expression turns grave again.]

I've been living in the middle of the ocean for the last two years. I haven't got a damn clue what's going on.

[Part of him doesn't even want to know.]

[video]

[memoriesinsmoke]

Trouble getting to Africa? [Poor attempt at humour. But... yeah.]

A lot has happened since you left.

[video]

[histruename]

I guess swimming there wasn't my best idea. [So much deadpan humor. So much.]

[He searches her face, that familiar stab of guilt expanding in his chest.]

You should come in.

[He moves out of the doorway to let her through.]