i-llo

[i-llo]

The Whole Beeing Soulmates Thing

Beetlejuice x OC fic

Chapter 3 and Chapter 5

More information about this fic here

Act 2, Chapter 3: Lost Dreams

Sophie was locking up the shop at night, the last customer had left long ago, and the calmness of the city wrapped her in a familiar peace. The decision to stay behind and finish closing up didn’t bother her. Tracy had a family event and needed to leave early. “If anything happens, just call me, okay? Thanks again for covering for me”, Tracy said as she left. “Enjoy your night, I’ve got everything under control! And send love to your mom” Sophie replied, already moving away, organizing the products on the shelf, feeling comfortable in her space. It was a small, quiet town, almost everyone knew each other, and crime seemed like a distant concept. But that sense of security was deceiving, at least for her. Hours later, as Sophie exited through the back door, she found herself in a narrow, dark alley the dim light from the nearby streetlamp barely lit her path. This area was just a shortcut, which explained the lack of activity around, since this was part of her routine, Sophie paid little attention to the details. She didn’t expect this night to be any different, though a strange chill ran down her spine. She quickly convinced herself it was just the night breeze.

Suddenly, Sophie felt a presence behind her, her senses on high alert. “What was that?” she muttered, the tension in the air growing, as if something unseen was closing in. Turning quickly, she saw a much taller, more muscular woman—someone with a physique that only years of training could build—charging at her. The woman carried a vivid red rope, and panic seized Sophie as she tried to think in a escape route. She was slammed against the wall, the impact rattling her bones, Sophie tried to scream, desperate to understand where such strength was coming from. Soon, the rope tightened around her neck, cutting off her breath, the pain was so intense it burned her throat and made her head spin wildly. Her hands grasped at the air, trying to fend off na attack that felt invisible, as her feet stumbled, fighting to keep balance.

It was the first time something physical had attacked her like this, but deep down, she knew it was tied to the fragmented memories surfacing in her mind. It was as if something was trying to stop her from remembering, from piecing together a puzzle that had been incomplete for centuries. Sophie fought desperately, her hands moved fast to try removing the rope—she had to do anything to survive. With a sudden movement, she knocked over several trash cans, causing a loud crash that echoed through the deserted alley. Her screams escaped in intervals as she managed to loosen the choke during the struggle. The woman, realizing they were drawing too much attention, intensified the attack, growing frantic.

Luckily, the noise alerted a night watchman making his rounds nearby. He quickly approached, flashlight in hand, lighting up the scene. “Who’s there? I hope you’re not causing any trouble”, he shouted. The woman attacking Sophie hesitated, still holding her. “Damn it!” she muttered, standing still for a few seconds before deciding to flee, taking the red rope with her. Sophie, disoriented and terrified, collapsed to her knees, coughing violently, struggling to catch her breath. The edges of her vision blurred into darkness as she trembled, gasping. The watchman crouched beside her, worried, “Oh... Girl, are you okay?” he asked, helping her steady herself.

Sophie barely felt the pain from the fight, focusing on getting her lungs to work properly again, but tears began to stream down her face. After a few moments, she finally managed to speak, her voice hoarse,“I was attacked. I was alone. Locking up the shop. It didn’t feel like a robbery”, she said slowly, her breath labored, as she explained what had happened to the watchman. He immediately escorted her to the police station nearby, so she could file a report. Sophie did her best to detail all the situation, but everything had happened so fast and in the dark. “I don’t know who she was, that damn hood showed nothing! I also don’t know why anyone would want to kill me, but she certainly tried!” Sophie knew she should try to control her words, but she neither had the strength nor the will to do so. The officers listened attentively and promised to investigate the case, doing their best to calm her down, but it was clear to everyone that there were no real leads. With a heavy heart, but relieved to have escaped the attack, Sophie was released after being evaluated and treated. A older officer, wiith a kind face, she remembered his name was Harold, drove her home in a squad car.

When they arrived, she debated whether to call her parents immediately. She decided it was best to do it as soon as possible—she needed the comfort of her family. The conversation was brief but intense; she was trying to spare what was left of her voice. “You need to leave there immediately, sweetheart, you dad will get the car ready to come pick you up. We can be there in a few hours!”. They were in shock and insisted she go to their house in another city, where she would be safer, “What if this person comes back?”. Sophie hesitated, reluctant to leave her home but knowing she had to consider their suggestion. “I need a few days to organize things”, she said, trying to sound calm even though her heart was racing. “I’ve lived here since the graduation, I can’t just abandon my things”. “Your life is worth more than anything you own, dear”, her father replied, he always knew what to say. She wanted to tell them about the bizarre dreams, the feeling of being hunted, but she didn’t want to scare them even more. That could wait. After a bit more conversation, she hung up the phone with the promise to pack her things, and in a few days, her parents would come.

Sophie knew she had to find a way to rest. She felt that if she didn’t do it soon, she would lose her sanity. She started undressing on her way from the living room to the bathroom, throwing her clothes around without caring. The shower was quick. She needed to wash away the feeling of near death, the smell of sweat, the grime from the street after rolling on the ground with that stranger and cleaning her wounds. Everything stung—even the feel of her own fingers on her skin was rough. After about 15 minutes, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, stopping only to brush her teeth quickly. Avoiding the mirror at all costs, “I’m afraid of what I’ll see in there”. Entering her bedroom, she threw on the first thing she found in the closet and layed down, pulling the blanket up to her chin and turning on her side, her back facing the wall, feeling safer that way. Despite what every movie shows, sleep overtook her quickly, she didn’t even notice when she fell asleep, and it was a dreamless night.

Sophie woke up with a throbbing pain in her head, a sensation that seemed to come from deep within her mind, forcing her to relive fragments of something lost to time. She sat on the edge of the bed, pressing her fingers against her temples, as flashes of the previous night returned to her. The cold touch of that woman’s hand, the sound of their labored breaths, the indistinct figure lurking in the shadows... Her eyes narrowed, trying to hold onto these fleeting images, but it was like trying to grasp water with her fingers. Standing up slowly, Sophie walked to the window of her bedroom, hoping something would feel different. But as she stared at her own reflection in the glass, it was like looking at a stranger. There was something in her eyes—a shadow that didn’t belong to the life she remembered, she stood there for a few minutes, absorbing the weight of this realization: she was someone she barely recognized. The silence of the house felt overwhelming, filled only with the sound of her heart pounding.

As she walked through the streets toward work, Sophie noticed that everyone was talking about what had happened. Whispers rose around her, and she could feel the curious and pitying glances directed at her, especially at the bruised neck. It was as if, suddenly, the safety the town had provided her unraveled, and she felt exposed and vulnerable. With a deep sigh, Sophie pressed on, determined to face the day despite the lingering fear. If she was really going to leave, she needed to settle some things first—she couldn’t just hide away. The weight of adult responsibilities loomed over her, with this thought in mind, she found the strength to continue her next steps. She was so lost in her thoughts that it took her a few minutes to realize she was already standing in front of the store where she worked.

[i-llo]

The whole beeing soulmates thing

Beetlejuice × Fem O/C

Click here for more informations about this fic

Chapter 2

Synopsis: Sophie lives a normal and happy life in the 80s, she never worries about things beyond her reality, until weird dreams started to haunt her – flashes of faces and places she didn't recognize, and a strange gothic girl shows up with even more disturbing informations. What she can't figure out is that she's trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, always ate the age of 25, and that her destiny is undeniably connected to Beetlejuice in some way. Centuries before, they should have met, but a cruel tragedy separated them and now the Deetz and the Maitlands, headed by Lydia, are determined to give Beetlejuice a chance of redemption, finding out about Sophie's forgotten past. As they try to reunite these two destined souls, something is trying to prevent this from happening, at all costs. Between ancient secrets, an inexplicable connection and they running out of time, Sophie and Beetlejuice finally have a chance to undo the curse that keeps them separated and trapped in this world.

Notes: Beetlejuice's medias will be mixed up (these works do not belong to me and all rights are reserved), so we'll use a lot of information from the 1988 and 2024 movies, but using the personality of the characters from the Broadway musical. I'm looking for someone to help me with beta reading the English translation.

Act 1, prologue: A Promise in the Shadows

It was a particularly cold night, a deep darkness, as the moon struggled to reveal itself through the thick clouds. The holwing wind made the trees sway, groaning in the gloom. In the open-air cemetery, where the silent witnesses of old times layed, the unease sense was almost palpable, a desolation that seemed to envolve the place with every wind blow.

Sophia, with her heavy dress and silent steps, had just revealed herself in the light of a nearby lamp, leaving a narrow alley, accompanied by a strong and austere man. Sophia's father, Edmund, was influential and feared in the region and was returning home with her after a social event, however, he decided to slightly divert his path for a short round. His concern for his family's property and investments led him to inspect the cemetery, now neglected and disturbingly exposed, three years after the start of the Black Death.

Among the rotting bodies, Beetlejuice moved with disconcerting intensity, searching for anything valuable, as soon as a cart unloaded, he moved to this new location. His carefree and irreverent behavior was evident as he manipulated the corpses with an almost frenzied dexterity. His eyes, darkened like two black spots on his face due to the low light, were an almost savage sight, his actions did't went unnoticed by passersby.

Sophia's father advanced with firm and quick steps, approaching Beetlejuice with an expression of absolute disdain. “Even the lowest scum have learned to respect the dead, what do you think you're doing?” he shouted, his voice resonating with an authority that seemed to fill the cemetery.

The thief, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, slowly turned around, a disdainful smile on his lips. "Me? I like to think that I'm giving a better destination to things that they will certainly no longer use". His voice full of sarcasm, directly challenged the power that Edmund represented.

The tension was palpable. As he continued to make ,threats and try to intimidate Beetlejuice, Sophia, hidden in the shadows, felt a mixture of fear and inexplicable fascination. Despite her father being an imposing figure, the strange young man faced the situation with a confidence that delighted her. Sure, the desecration of the dead made her shudder and the smell was unbearable, but there was something morbidly magnetic about the situation. Beetlejuice showed no signs of submission, instead, he continued to work, completely disregarding the presence of the intruders. Sophia, despite her natural shyness and respect for her father's suffocating presence, couldn't take her eyes off him. The way he challenged the established order was fascinating.

---

In the upcoming weeks, Sophia's life became a silent search. Observing Beetlejuice from distance, through the windows of her residence or during discreet walks, she began to feel a deep curiosity, along with a new kind of anxiety. The way he defied norms and lived freely enchanted her. Every sight of him was a mixture of wonder and desire, a desire to escape the restrictive and controlling life she knew, and he was the representation her feelings, as if all her inappropriate thoughts formed a whole new person. Finally, after the torturous weeks that followed, Sophia decided to act, she could no longer return to the confines of her existense, not after that encounter in the graveyard. She would run away and find Beetlejuice, she intended to confess her feelings and then they could run away, with her dowry's money that she would bring hidden, they could start a new life, just the two of them.

However, what that young woman could never imagine, was that this was also the day of his honeymoon. After meeting and marrying Dolores, an enigmatic and seductive woman, in a matter of days, joining together in a profane celebration, just like them, the moment came for the consummation of the vows. Dolores, however, had planned something dark: poison him to take his soul and ensure her own immortality. Sophia ran hurriedly through the deserted streets, the cold wind hurted her face like small cuts, while the sound of her own footsteps echoed in her nervous mind. Every corner felt like a eternity and every noise from the street seemed amplified in her troubled head, but the confidence in her feelings and her perfectly put together plan drove her forward, with her heart fixed on one person.

When Sophia arrived, she found the most horrific scene, Beetlejuice was dead from poisoning and with an enraged expression due the betrayal. His body was already pale and cold. Rage that resulted in Dolores' brutal death by axe, the woman's body was completely dismembered, causing blood to spread everywhere, soaking all the floor. Sophia then walked over, heartbroken and with eyes full of tears, kneeling beside Beetlejuice and crying over his limp body, the feeling of despair and desolation growing every second, "I love you" she whispered, her voice weak and broken by pain, almost inaudible. “And I promise that I will love you in every other life, we will meet again, and no matter what happens, I will never forget you.” Sophia's lament seemed to echo through the village, the sound of crying and sharp sobs, her promises of love and devotion caught in the darkness of that night.

---

Sophia's father after finding out what had happened, warned by his employees, was furious and decided that the situation needed to be resolved quickly and effectively. To protect the family's honor and avoid any scandal, he arranged a marriage for Sophia with Anthony, a man who was as cruel as rich, known for his brutality and power. Sophia's marriage to Anthony was the realization of her nightmares, he was ruthless and treated her with scorn, isolating and keeping her locked up, away from any possibility of escape and under strong physical violence. Sophia's life alongside Anthony was full of suffering and fear. Anthony, interested only in her wealth, constantly mistreated her. A few months after their wedding, Sophia, now at the age of 25, was brutally murdered by Anthony, who had already completed his goal and no longer needed her. Her life was ended short and filled with abuse, a cruel act that sealed her fate.

After Sophia's death, a heavy air enveloped the room, as if the world was suspended in dark mourning. That seemed to announce the sadness of an unfulfilled promise, in the dim light, the cycle of life and death continued. Time advanced until a baby's cry broke the silence. Her new life began as a child again, eyes opening to a world that was at once so familiar and so new. As the seconds passed fast, memories of her past life began to emerge, like scattered fragments of a distant dream. The love and the promise made to Beetlejuice, the losses and the very curse that now followed her, became clear in her mind. She slowly understood that she was doomed to repeat her story, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation, always seeking to find the one to whom she had promised eternal love, and then she heard “Welcome to the world, Olivia”.

[i-llo]

The Whole Beeing Soulmates Thing

Chapter 2 and Chapter 4

More informations about this fic here

Summary:

Lydia delves deeper into Beetlejuice's mysterious past, uncovering fragmented memories and forgotten details. With the help of the Maitlands, she begins to piece together the connection between Beetlejuice and a mysterious woman from centuries ago, setting the stage for an unexpected revelation.

Act 2, Chapter 2: Distant Memories

The bright sun outside and the blooming flowers in the garden visible through her window didn’t match Lydia’s mood that day, just like most of the times. She watched the beams of light break through the glass, casting rainbows across her room, and reflected on how much had changed in the last six months, since Beetlejuice’s departure. After everything that had happened, she thought moving on would be easier. Life seemed to be getting back on track, but deep down, a part of her missed the chaos he brought into her days. It wasn’t just the adventure, but the bizarre friendship that, in some strange way, had meant something to her. “You deceived him”, Lydia whispered to herself, a small hint of guilt surfacing. Sure, it was really funny how he followed her plan without suspecting a thing, and her new family had helped however they could. She was proud of that, but still, seeing the hurt look on his face as he realized he’d been killed (again) was sad.

Though she knew he hadn’t been a good influence, she missed the distraction he provided from the void that her dead mom had left behind. There was something oddly comforting about his madness. She tricked him to save her family, which felt justified, but something, deep inside, was tolding her there was more to him than she understood, something unresolved that she couldn’t reach. There was an unfinished chapter in Beetlejuice’s story, and Lydia couldn’t hold the feeling that it was her responsibility to help.

Slowly, she made her way downstairs, trying to organize her thoughts. The house was calm and quiet, each resident—living or dead—caught up in their own routines. As she passed the living room, noticeded her father buried in paperwork, probably some new project for the house or business matters that never really interested her. Delia, on the other hand, was busy with her crystals and candles, a constant effort to bring ‘good energy’ into the house.

“Lydia, darling, why don’t you join me for my meditation session today?” Delia asked, not even looking up from her arrangement. “It'll help clear your mind and align your chakras”.

“No, thanks,” Lydia replied, more curtly than she intended. She knew Delia was just trying to help, but lately, nothing seemed to make less sense than ever. Lydia leaned against the doorframe, watching her stepmother for a moment before speaking. “Dad, do you think people are born bad, or do things happen that make them that way?”.

Her father looked up from his papers, clearly surprised by the question. “Well, Lyds... That’s kind of a heavy question out of nowhere, don’t you think? Why do you ask?”.

“You answered my question with another question”, Lydia shot back, slightly impatient. “I was just thinking about Beetlejuice”.

He sighed, putting the papers down. “I thought we were all moving on from that. You’re not responsible for what happened to him”.

“I know that”, Lydia said bluntly, “But I can’t help thinking that he wasn’t always like this. He mentioned someone named Dolores once. Something doesn’t add up, I just want to understand what happened to him. What made him... that way?”

Charles scratched his head, unsure. “Lydia, you’re too young to be carrying that kind of burden. Sometimes, people are just the way they are, and it’s not your job to fix them”.

She let out a quiet laugh, masking her frustration. “I know, Dad. But if I can fix something without marrying him, maybe I should try”. She shrugged. “I just want to understand, if we find out more about his past, maybe we can finally put all this to rest”.

Delia, sensing the shift in the house’s energy, finally lifted her gaze from her crystals. “Darling, maybe I can help, my spirit channeling sessions have been very effective lately. Our energies are much cleaner now”.

Lydia chuckled, her sarcasm barely contained. “Sure, Delia, because cleansing the house of bad vibes is totally going to tell me what happened to Beetlejuice centuries ago”.

“Lydia, dear, you need to re-center yourself”, Delia insisted, holding up a purple crystal. “I’m sure this quartz will do wonders for you”.

“Great. I’ll use it to contact our subject and see what he thinks”, Lydia responded, unable to resist, “Maybe the crystal will make him forget what we did to him, don’t you think?”.

Delia sighed, missing the irony. “Always so skeptical... But energies can be powerful”. Lydia settled for a dismissive smile before leaving the room.

The Maitlands were in the dining room. Since the confrontation with Beetlejuice, they had become more of a presence in the household, even part of the family. Adam tinkered with his model town, while Barbara sat reading. They were the same gentle ghosts as ever, but Lydia sensed something unspoken lingering in the house, like a shadow that everyone pretended not to notice, but one that was impossible to ignore.

“You seem a little worried, Lydia”, Barbara said, closing her book. “Is everything okay?”.

Lydia hesitated, not wanting to worry them but knowing they would understand better than anyone. “I’ve been thinking about him”, she said at once.

Barbara exchanged glances with Adam, the silence that followed saying more than any words. They knew exactly who Lydia was referring to. “It’s normal to miss... things, after everything:, Adam began, struggling to find the right words, “But you know he wasn’t... good for you”.

“I know”, Lydia replied quickly, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty. I tricked him. We tricked him. And somehow, I feel like there’s more to him than we know”.

Barbara tilted her head, curious. “What do you mean by that?”.

“I know he was a jerk, but what if something happened to make him that way? I can’t stop thinking about it, maybe if I knew more about his past, I could really help him. And without marrying him this time”, Lydia admitted, her voice faltering slightly.

Adam frowned, clearly skeptical. “And how do you plan to do that? We’re talking about centuries of trauma here, it’s not so easy to unravel all of that. He’s always been so vague about his past, I doubt he’ll just lay it all out for you”.

“Maybe not”, Lydia agreed. “But he did mention he was betrayed once, maybe he wasn’t always... like this”.

Barbara’s expression darkened with concern. “Are you sure you want to get involved in this again, Lydia? He’s caused so much trouble already”.

Lydia sighed, “I know. But I feel like something’s pulling me back, and it’s not just guilt. I need to find out what really happened to him, maybe even Juno could help. She’s... technically his mother, right?”.

Adam’s eyes widened, “Juno? Are you serious? She’s not exactly the friendliest spirit in the afterlife”.

“I know, but who else could know more about him than his own mother?”. Lydia shrugged, “I know it won’t be easy, but she has to know more than we do”.

Charles, who had followed Lydia into the kitchen, joined the conversation. “Wait a minute, are you really thinking about digging into this again? I thought we’d finally have some peace!”.

“Dad”, Lydia began, her patience wearing thin, “It’s not like I’m inviting Beetlejuice over for tea. I just... feel that I need to finish this. If we learn more about who he was, maybe we can close this chapter for good”.

Delia, overhearding the conversation from a distance, approached as well. “I could hold a spiritual session to find some answers. I can feel the energie of someone in torment, you know”.

Lydia let out a soft laugh, “Thanks, Delia, but I think what we need now is more facts and less... life coaching”.

Barbara stepped in, sensing the tension rising. “Lydia, if you really want to do this, we’ll help. But we need to be careful, Beetlejuice isn’t easy to deal with, and Juno can be... harder”.

“I agree”, Lydia said, determination gleaming in her eyes. “But I need to understand what happened to him. And if he do deserves a second chance, who else could give him that besides us?”.

Adam glanced at Barbara, as if weighing the situation. “Well, if we’re going to speak to Juno, we’ll need a solid reason. She’s not just going to spill everything, we’ll need something concrete, some hint about what to ask”.

Charles crossed his arms, “If you’re all so set on this, just be careful. I don’t want another unexpected trip to the netherworld”.

Lydia relaxed, feeling more confident, “Don’t worry, dad. One step at a time”.

Hours later, back in her room, Lydia started devising a plan, she wondered how she could begin her investigation. Sitting at her desk, she opened the old journal she always used to jot down her thoughts and ideas. The blank page seemed to mock her, but then something clicked, and she began to write everything she had about Beetlejuice so far: she knew he had a life before becoming the Beetlejuice they knew, but the details were hazy; the only clues were fragments of conversations, her own intuitions, and his insistence that he had been tricked before. Maybe he was referring to something—or someone—from his distant past. She pulled her chair closer and started writing furiously, making connections that had seemed insignificant until then. She wrote about the Black Plague, about Dolores, and any detail he had mentioned; the information was fragmented and confusing, but she had to start somewhere. She leaned over the table and reached for an old book she had picked up from the library long ago and never returned. It was a volume about ghost stories and ancient spirits, with accounts of souls trapped in the living world due to unresolved issues.

“Maybe he’s stuck because of something that happened when he was alive?”, she thought out loud, her fingers flipping quickly through the pages, absorbing the information. Some chapters spoke of spirits wandering in search of redemption, while others mentioned curses imposed by past traumas. As she read, her mind drifted back to her conversations with Beetlejuice. He wasn’t just crazy and unpredictable—there was deep pain behind his façade. Lydia could feel it, after all, she had felt the same way once, even if he’d never admit it. Feeling even more determined, Lydia looked over at the shelf filled with books about the supernatural that she had collected over the years. “Maybe there’s something here I haven’t seen yet”. She grabbed another volume, this time the ‘Handbook for the Recently Deceased,’ and began flipping through its pages, her plan was starting to take shape. She would need more than shallow information; she needed to truly understand who Beetlejuice was when he was alive, and that meant contacting Juno. “She may not like me very much, but I have to try”, she muttered to herself, underlining a passage about suffering spirits.

Now, with a list of questions and a clear direction, Lydia knew what she had to do. As she closed the notebook, she felt a chill of excitement. For the first time in months, she was about to uncover something big—something that could change everything. And maybe, just maybe, it would bring peace to Beetlejuice—and, consequently, to herself.

The next morning, after a nearly sleepless night, Lydia walked determinedly down the stairs. She needed help. “Barbara, Adam”, she called, entering the kitchen where the two were.

“Good morning, Lydia,” Barbara said with a soft smile. “You seem much better today”.

“I’ve started researching Beetlejuice’s past”. Lydia announced, with a determination she hadn’t felt since their final confrontation with him. “But you two will be my key players”. Adam raised na eyebrow. “Us? How exactly?”.

“Well, you two are ghosts. You have access to information and places I can’t reach, besides, you can help connect some dots. I think Beetlejuice has been hiding something big about himself, and we’re going to figure out what it is”.

Barbara looked worried. “Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea? Digging into his past might not bring what you’re hoping for”.

Lydia nodded, “I know it’s risky, but I can’t ignore it anymore.”

The couple exchanged a glance, clearly concerned. However, there was something about Lydia’s stance that made them reconsider. “Alright”, Adam sighed. “We’ll help you, but we need to be careful. He isn’t someone to mess with”.

Lydia smiled gratefully, “And that’s why I’m counting on you”.

Now, with the Maitlands’ help, the search for Beetlejuice’s past was finally beginning, and the first clues about Sophie, the missing piece in this story, would soon emerge from the shadows.

[i-llo]

Im gonna be put down for this one...

[i-llo]

Can we talk about how mad, savage and absolutely angry Beetlejuice was to get enough strength to chopp this woman into pieces ALIVE, while himself was dying by poisoning?

[i-llo]

The whole beeing soulmates thing

More informations about this fic here

Chapter 1 and Chapter 3

Summary:

Sophie begins to be haunted by strange dreams, which seem more like memories, but she doesn't feel like they are hers. Your peaceful life starts to be affected, but what does it all mean?

Act 2, chapter 1: Echoes of the Past

Sophie had always taken pride in her simple and stable life. Having lived in a quiet suburban town since birth, everything seemed to follow a calm and predictable rhythm. Her mornings were filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the low hum of the TV in the living room. She had a habit of leaving something playing when she was alone—Sophie didn’t like the solitude of silence. She loved her routine and the security it offered. Her small apartment had everything she needed, and though her friends were few, they were loyal and loving. Her plans were simple, her dreams modest, and that comforted her. Until everything changed overnight—the latest dream made it very clear.

At the beginning, it was just fragments, scattered sensations that faded with the dawn. But as the days passed, they became more vivid. She found herself in places she’d never been before, in times that didn’t make sense. She saw crumbling castles, ancient stone cities, and carriages rolling beneath stormy skies. In her dreams, she could smell something damp and old, almost musty, like she were trapped somewhere long forgotten. And there was always him—a man in the distance, whose presence was constant. He never spoke, but his gaze pierced through her, stirring something between fear and fascination. Every time she tried approaching him, she would woke up abruptly, heart racing and body drenched in sweat. The dreams had started softly, just vague figures, nameless faces. But now… now things were different.

Those visions began to creep into her waking life. The scenes would flash unexpectedly, as if they were etched into her memory rather than mere products of her imagination. The smell of wet earth as she walked past a park reminded her of the streets in the dreams; the sound of wind rustling through the leaves brought back the whispers that sometimes accompanied the mysterious man. Small details, but growing in frequency. Sophie often found herself lost in these recollections, as if living between two worlds.

Then came the first clear vision. It was early evening, and Sophie was returning from a shopping trip, walking the same streets she passed every day when something strange happened. A shiver ran down her spine. She glanced around, and for a brief moment, saw a man standing on the other side of the street. He wore a long, tattered coat, the high collar casting shadows over part of his face. But something about him made her stop. He watched her with a look that was both hostile and calculated, as if he knew something about her that even she didn’t. The air seemed to thicken around him, and her instincts warned her to keep her distance, but curiosity won out. The man smiled—a cold, almost threatening smile, the kind seen on a predator about to pounce. She glanced away for just a second as the traffic light turned red, and when she looked back, he was gone, as if he had never been there. Her heart raced, and a deep sense of danger gripped her thoughts. It was something familiar, but she couldn’t explain it. She walked away, wondering if she had imagined the whole thing.

The following nights brought even more intense, more unsettling dreams, but the mysterious man remained distant. Each time Sophie woke up, the feeling of loss deepened, as if something crucial was slipping through her fingers. Other strange things began to happen, the once subtle feeling of being watched was now constant, she could feel eyes on her, even when she was alone in the apartment. One time, while shopping, she felt a cold breeze pass over her body, despite all the windows being closed. She spun around quickly, but, as always, there was nothing. She started to question if she was becoming paranoid, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to shake off the disturbing thoughts. One other morning, while waiting for the bus to work, the déjà vu feeling intensified. She looked up at the sky and, for a fleeting moment, swore she had lived that exact moment before. The same distant voices, the same clouds, the same cold wind on her face. The sensation was so strong that Sophie had to hold onto a nearby post for support. Her mind whirled, searching for answers. It couldn’t be just coincidence. Something, somewhere, was wrong.

That night, she dreamt of na old, dark wooden house filled with doors and windows covered in dust. She wandered the halls in her dream, feeling the weight of time in the structure, as if the house were waiting for something—or someone. She tried every door, but they were all locked except for maybe one. There was a room at the end of the hall that called to her, a low, muffled sound coming from inside. Sophie couldn’t explain it, but the mere thought of touching the doorknob filled her with dread. It felt as if everything was about to fall apart, yet the door remained, like a promise of na ancient secret. The floor creaked beneath her feet, the sound startling her awake, heart racing too fast for such a cold morning. She woke with the bitter taste of fear in her mouth but also with a strange sense of longing, as if that place held some importance to her. Sophie shook off the remnants of the dream and the unsettling feeling that still clung to her. She had a full day at work ahead and knew she had to focus on her routine, despite these disturbing images becoming more frequent. She dressed quickly and left the house, the cool morning air offering some relief.

On her way to work, the familiar streets passed by, but Sophie couldn’t shake the strange feeling that something was always lurking in the back of her mind. Black-and-white stripes flickered in her peripheral vision, like something moving too fast for her to catch clearly. The color green... for some reason, the green seemed important, as if something very significant was tied to it. Her fingers clenched as she tried to push away the growing anxiety.

At work, Sophie struggled to concentrate. She worked at a small secondhand store, mostly selling books and clothes—a place that usually calmed her with the smell of old pages and the soft murmur of customers chatting. But today, it wasn’t helping. Her coworker, Tracy, was rearranging a shelf of books nearby, muttering about how customers never put them back in the right place. Sophie tried to focus on the task at hand, organizing papers on the counter. “You’re quiet today,” Tracy remarked as she slid a book onto the top shelf. “Everything's okay? Something happen?” she asked. “Yeah... I think so,” Sophie replied hesitantly. For a moment, she considered telling Tracy about the dreams, the strange feeling of being watched, and the colors that appeared in her mind for no reason. But she held back, not wanting to sound delusional. “I’m just having nightmares most most of the nights, but honestly, this mess around here is what’s stressing me out the most!” Tracy gave her a playful smile, suspecting nothing. “Well, I bet you’ll be too tired to even dream tonight!” Sophie nodded, quickly changing the subject. She didn’t want to bring up more questions, feeling that speaking about these things out loud would somehow give them more power.

As the days passed, Sophie found it harder to distinguish between dreams and reality. She woke up with strange marks on her body—scratches she couldn’t explain, bruises that made no sense. One night, while lying in bed, she swore she heard a familiar voice whispering in her ear. “He’s waiting.” Sophie shot up, gasping, but her room was empty. Fear was beginning to take hold of her, but at the same time, an irritating curiosity gnawed at her. Who was he? And how could she stop all this from happening? She didn’t really care about the answers, only about finding a way to get her peace back. Sophie’s once calm and uneventful life was unraveling, each new day bringing more questions, and worst of all, the constant feeling of being followed. Wherever she went, she felt watched—whether by the man from the dreams or something bigger, she couldn’t tell. But the weight of na invisible presence was always with her. Turning a corner, entering a room, lying down to sleep, Sophie knew something was lurking. And every day, she was closer to finding out what it was, or them to find her.

At night, as she tried to relax at home, the TV news barely audible in the background, Sophie lays down, though sleep didn’t come easily. When she finally drifted off, the dreams returned, more vivid than ever. Those eyes... deep-set with dark shadows around them, a strong, guttural laugh echoed somewhere in the depths of her mind. The voice that spoke to her was unmistakable—rough and rasping, but the name remained just out of reach, lost somewhere in her memory. The smile... that distinct smile. It was like everything was hidden in layers of darkness. The next morning, Sophie woke up exhausted, the memory of the man from the night before clinging to her mind. Something was off. She knew it, but still, she didn’t have all the pieces in the puzzle.

[i-llo]

The whole beeing soulmates thing

More informations about this fic here

Chapter 1 and Chapter 3

Summary:

Sophie begins to be haunted by strange dreams, which seem more like memories, but she doesn't feel like they are hers. Your peaceful life starts to be affected, but what does it all mean?

Act 2, chapter 1: Echoes of the Past

Sophie had always taken pride in her simple and stable life. Having lived in a quiet suburban town since birth, everything seemed to follow a calm and predictable rhythm. Her mornings were filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the low hum of the TV in the living room. She had a habit of leaving something playing when she was alone—Sophie didn’t like the solitude of silence. She loved her routine and the security it offered. Her small apartment had everything she needed, and though her friends were few, they were loyal and loving. Her plans were simple, her dreams modest, and that comforted her. Until everything changed overnight—the latest dream made it very clear.

At the beginning, it was just fragments, scattered sensations that faded with the dawn. But as the days passed, they became more vivid. She found herself in places she’d never been before, in times that didn’t make sense. She saw crumbling castles, ancient stone cities, and carriages rolling beneath stormy skies. In her dreams, she could smell something damp and old, almost musty, like she were trapped somewhere long forgotten. And there was always him—a man in the distance, whose presence was constant. He never spoke, but his gaze pierced through her, stirring something between fear and fascination. Every time she tried approaching him, she would woke up abruptly, heart racing and body drenched in sweat. The dreams had started softly, just vague figures, nameless faces. But now… now things were different.

Those visions began to creep into her waking life. The scenes would flash unexpectedly, as if they were etched into her memory rather than mere products of her imagination. The smell of wet earth as she walked past a park reminded her of the streets in the dreams; the sound of wind rustling through the leaves brought back the whispers that sometimes accompanied the mysterious man. Small details, but growing in frequency. Sophie often found herself lost in these recollections, as if living between two worlds.

Then came the first clear vision. It was early evening, and Sophie was returning from a shopping trip, walking the same streets she passed every day when something strange happened. A shiver ran down her spine. She glanced around, and for a brief moment, saw a man standing on the other side of the street. He wore a long, tattered coat, the high collar casting shadows over part of his face. But something about him made her stop. He watched her with a look that was both hostile and calculated, as if he knew something about her that even she didn’t. The air seemed to thicken around him, and her instincts warned her to keep her distance, but curiosity won out. The man smiled—a cold, almost threatening smile, the kind seen on a predator about to pounce. She glanced away for just a second as the traffic light turned red, and when she looked back, he was gone, as if he had never been there. Her heart raced, and a deep sense of danger gripped her thoughts. It was something familiar, but she couldn’t explain it. She walked away, wondering if she had imagined the whole thing.

The following nights brought even more intense, more unsettling dreams, but the mysterious man remained distant. Each time Sophie woke up, the feeling of loss deepened, as if something crucial was slipping through her fingers. Other strange things began to happen, the once subtle feeling of being watched was now constant, she could feel eyes on her, even when she was alone in the apartment. One time, while shopping, she felt a cold breeze pass over her body, despite all the windows being closed. She spun around quickly, but, as always, there was nothing. She started to question if she was becoming paranoid, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to shake off the disturbing thoughts. One other morning, while waiting for the bus to work, the déjà vu feeling intensified. She looked up at the sky and, for a fleeting moment, swore she had lived that exact moment before. The same distant voices, the same clouds, the same cold wind on her face. The sensation was so strong that Sophie had to hold onto a nearby post for support. Her mind whirled, searching for answers. It couldn’t be just coincidence. Something, somewhere, was wrong.

That night, she dreamt of na old, dark wooden house filled with doors and windows covered in dust. She wandered the halls in her dream, feeling the weight of time in the structure, as if the house were waiting for something—or someone. She tried every door, but they were all locked except for maybe one. There was a room at the end of the hall that called to her, a low, muffled sound coming from inside. Sophie couldn’t explain it, but the mere thought of touching the doorknob filled her with dread. It felt as if everything was about to fall apart, yet the door remained, like a promise of na ancient secret. The floor creaked beneath her feet, the sound startling her awake, heart racing too fast for such a cold morning. She woke with the bitter taste of fear in her mouth but also with a strange sense of longing, as if that place held some importance to her. Sophie shook off the remnants of the dream and the unsettling feeling that still clung to her. She had a full day at work ahead and knew she had to focus on her routine, despite these disturbing images becoming more frequent. She dressed quickly and left the house, the cool morning air offering some relief.

On her way to work, the familiar streets passed by, but Sophie couldn’t shake the strange feeling that something was always lurking in the back of her mind. Black-and-white stripes flickered in her peripheral vision, like something moving too fast for her to catch clearly. The color green... for some reason, the green seemed important, as if something very significant was tied to it. Her fingers clenched as she tried to push away the growing anxiety.

At work, Sophie struggled to concentrate. She worked at a small secondhand store, mostly selling books and clothes—a place that usually calmed her with the smell of old pages and the soft murmur of customers chatting. But today, it wasn’t helping. Her coworker, Tracy, was rearranging a shelf of books nearby, muttering about how customers never put them back in the right place. Sophie tried to focus on the task at hand, organizing papers on the counter. “You’re quiet today,” Tracy remarked as she slid a book onto the top shelf. “Everything's okay? Something happen?” she asked. “Yeah... I think so,” Sophie replied hesitantly. For a moment, she considered telling Tracy about the dreams, the strange feeling of being watched, and the colors that appeared in her mind for no reason. But she held back, not wanting to sound delusional. “I’m just having nightmares most most of the nights, but honestly, this mess around here is what’s stressing me out the most!” Tracy gave her a playful smile, suspecting nothing. “Well, I bet you’ll be too tired to even dream tonight!” Sophie nodded, quickly changing the subject. She didn’t want to bring up more questions, feeling that speaking about these things out loud would somehow give them more power.

As the days passed, Sophie found it harder to distinguish between dreams and reality. She woke up with strange marks on her body—scratches she couldn’t explain, bruises that made no sense. One night, while lying in bed, she swore she heard a familiar voice whispering in her ear. “He’s waiting.” Sophie shot up, gasping, but her room was empty. Fear was beginning to take hold of her, but at the same time, an irritating curiosity gnawed at her. Who was he? And how could she stop all this from happening? She didn’t really care about the answers, only about finding a way to get her peace back. Sophie’s once calm and uneventful life was unraveling, each new day bringing more questions, and worst of all, the constant feeling of being followed. Wherever she went, she felt watched—whether by the man from the dreams or something bigger, she couldn’t tell. But the weight of na invisible presence was always with her. Turning a corner, entering a room, lying down to sleep, Sophie knew something was lurking. And every day, she was closer to finding out what it was, or them to find her.

At night, as she tried to relax at home, the TV news barely audible in the background, Sophie lays down, though sleep didn’t come easily. When she finally drifted off, the dreams returned, more vivid than ever. Those eyes... deep-set with dark shadows around them, a strong, guttural laugh echoed somewhere in the depths of her mind. The voice that spoke to her was unmistakable—rough and rasping, but the name remained just out of reach, lost somewhere in her memory. The smile... that distinct smile. It was like everything was hidden in layers of darkness. The next morning, Sophie woke up exhausted, the memory of the man from the night before clinging to her mind. Something was off. She knew it, but still, she didn’t have all the pieces in the puzzle.

[i-llo]

The whole beeing soulmates thing

Beetlejuice × Fem O/C

Click here for more informations about this fic

Chapter 2

Synopsis: Sophie lives a normal and happy life in the 80s, she never worries about things beyond her reality, until weird dreams started to haunt her – flashes of faces and places she didn't recognize, and a strange gothic girl shows up with even more disturbing informations. What she can't figure out is that she's trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, always ate the age of 25, and that her destiny is undeniably connected to Beetlejuice in some way. Centuries before, they should have met, but a cruel tragedy separated them and now the Deetz and the Maitlands, headed by Lydia, are determined to give Beetlejuice a chance of redemption, finding out about Sophie's forgotten past. As they try to reunite these two destined souls, something is trying to prevent this from happening, at all costs. Between ancient secrets, an inexplicable connection and they running out of time, Sophie and Beetlejuice finally have a chance to undo the curse that keeps them separated and trapped in this world.

Notes: Beetlejuice's medias will be mixed up (these works do not belong to me and all rights are reserved), so we'll use a lot of information from the 1988 and 2024 movies, but using the personality of the characters from the Broadway musical. I'm looking for someone to help me with beta reading the English translation.

Act 1, prologue: A Promise in the Shadows

It was a particularly cold night, a deep darkness, as the moon struggled to reveal itself through the thick clouds. The holwing wind made the trees sway, groaning in the gloom. In the open-air cemetery, where the silent witnesses of old times layed, the unease sense was almost palpable, a desolation that seemed to envolve the place with every wind blow.

Sophia, with her heavy dress and silent steps, had just revealed herself in the light of a nearby lamp, leaving a narrow alley, accompanied by a strong and austere man. Sophia's father, Edmund, was influential and feared in the region and was returning home with her after a social event, however, he decided to slightly divert his path for a short round. His concern for his family's property and investments led him to inspect the cemetery, now neglected and disturbingly exposed, three years after the start of the Black Death.

Among the rotting bodies, Beetlejuice moved with disconcerting intensity, searching for anything valuable, as soon as a cart unloaded, he moved to this new location. His carefree and irreverent behavior was evident as he manipulated the corpses with an almost frenzied dexterity. His eyes, darkened like two black spots on his face due to the low light, were an almost savage sight, his actions did't went unnoticed by passersby.

Sophia's father advanced with firm and quick steps, approaching Beetlejuice with an expression of absolute disdain. “Even the lowest scum have learned to respect the dead, what do you think you're doing?” he shouted, his voice resonating with an authority that seemed to fill the cemetery.

The thief, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, slowly turned around, a disdainful smile on his lips. "Me? I like to think that I'm giving a better destination to things that they will certainly no longer use". His voice full of sarcasm, directly challenged the power that Edmund represented.

The tension was palpable. As he continued to make ,threats and try to intimidate Beetlejuice, Sophia, hidden in the shadows, felt a mixture of fear and inexplicable fascination. Despite her father being an imposing figure, the strange young man faced the situation with a confidence that delighted her. Sure, the desecration of the dead made her shudder and the smell was unbearable, but there was something morbidly magnetic about the situation. Beetlejuice showed no signs of submission, instead, he continued to work, completely disregarding the presence of the intruders. Sophia, despite her natural shyness and respect for her father's suffocating presence, couldn't take her eyes off him. The way he challenged the established order was fascinating.

---

In the upcoming weeks, Sophia's life became a silent search. Observing Beetlejuice from distance, through the windows of her residence or during discreet walks, she began to feel a deep curiosity, along with a new kind of anxiety. The way he defied norms and lived freely enchanted her. Every sight of him was a mixture of wonder and desire, a desire to escape the restrictive and controlling life she knew, and he was the representation her feelings, as if all her inappropriate thoughts formed a whole new person. Finally, after the torturous weeks that followed, Sophia decided to act, she could no longer return to the confines of her existense, not after that encounter in the graveyard. She would run away and find Beetlejuice, she intended to confess her feelings and then they could run away, with her dowry's money that she would bring hidden, they could start a new life, just the two of them.

However, what that young woman could never imagine, was that this was also the day of his honeymoon. After meeting and marrying Dolores, an enigmatic and seductive woman, in a matter of days, joining together in a profane celebration, just like them, the moment came for the consummation of the vows. Dolores, however, had planned something dark: poison him to take his soul and ensure her own immortality. Sophia ran hurriedly through the deserted streets, the cold wind hurted her face like small cuts, while the sound of her own footsteps echoed in her nervous mind. Every corner felt like a eternity and every noise from the street seemed amplified in her troubled head, but the confidence in her feelings and her perfectly put together plan drove her forward, with her heart fixed on one person.

When Sophia arrived, she found the most horrific scene, Beetlejuice was dead from poisoning and with an enraged expression due the betrayal. His body was already pale and cold. Rage that resulted in Dolores' brutal death by axe, the woman's body was completely dismembered, causing blood to spread everywhere, soaking all the floor. Sophia then walked over, heartbroken and with eyes full of tears, kneeling beside Beetlejuice and crying over his limp body, the feeling of despair and desolation growing every second, "I love you" she whispered, her voice weak and broken by pain, almost inaudible. “And I promise that I will love you in every other life, we will meet again, and no matter what happens, I will never forget you.” Sophia's lament seemed to echo through the village, the sound of crying and sharp sobs, her promises of love and devotion caught in the darkness of that night.

---

Sophia's father after finding out what had happened, warned by his employees, was furious and decided that the situation needed to be resolved quickly and effectively. To protect the family's honor and avoid any scandal, he arranged a marriage for Sophia with Anthony, a man who was as cruel as rich, known for his brutality and power. Sophia's marriage to Anthony was the realization of her nightmares, he was ruthless and treated her with scorn, isolating and keeping her locked up, away from any possibility of escape and under strong physical violence. Sophia's life alongside Anthony was full of suffering and fear. Anthony, interested only in her wealth, constantly mistreated her. A few months after their wedding, Sophia, now at the age of 25, was brutally murdered by Anthony, who had already completed his goal and no longer needed her. Her life was ended short and filled with abuse, a cruel act that sealed her fate.

After Sophia's death, a heavy air enveloped the room, as if the world was suspended in dark mourning. That seemed to announce the sadness of an unfulfilled promise, in the dim light, the cycle of life and death continued. Time advanced until a baby's cry broke the silence. Her new life began as a child again, eyes opening to a world that was at once so familiar and so new. As the seconds passed fast, memories of her past life began to emerge, like scattered fragments of a distant dream. The love and the promise made to Beetlejuice, the losses and the very curse that now followed her, became clear in her mind. She slowly understood that she was doomed to repeat her story, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation, always seeking to find the one to whom she had promised eternal love, and then she heard “Welcome to the world, Olivia”.

[i-llo]

Oh my daddy isues

[i-llo]

Crazy fics ideas, hear me out:

Beetlejuice shouldn't have married Dolores, destiny was set for him to meet the protagonist, but he was killed before that happened.

Now she dies and comes back every time, trying to find Beetlejuice and save them both.

The Deetz and the Maitlands felt sorry for him after the end and searched for a way to help him, so they end up finding out about this past, which he didn't know about, and want to reunite them.

• Her death was very painful and sad on the first time, that would explain why she was given the chance to come back,

• The family, seeing her fall in love with a grave robber, marries her to a bad man who only wants their money, and he ends up killing her (The Corpse Bride style),

• She may have been the person who found his body and promised to love him and be with him in the afterlife/other lives, that's why the curse began,

• With him killing the leader (Dolores), the cult's followers kill her every time so they don't meet,

• She was supposed to help him improve, as a person, but this didn't happen, that's why he can't make the passing/crossing and got stuck all those years,

• The protagonist has a fixed age to die, like 25 years old, and never manages to go beyond that, making her go through this cycle several times at different times,

• Mix it with the musical, perhaps? I feel like he's more susceptible to love and be loved.

Sorry if anything sounded weird, English is not my first language, but if someone use any of these ideias, please let me know, I would love to read!

[i-llo]

Plz don't talk to me, I'm in my Beetlejuice era

[i-llo]

So, I decided to try writting this story myself, after at least 10 years without doing so. The prologue is ready, but the story is complex and couldn't make it neutral (which means that it has a main character and not just "y/n").

Would you like to read it?

Remembering that english isnt my main language, so I would love if someone helps me beta reading.

Crazy fics ideas, hear me out:

Beetlejuice shouldn't have married Dolores, destiny was set for him to meet the protagonist, but he was killed before that happened.

Now she dies and comes back every time, trying to find Beetlejuice and save them both.

The Deetz and the Maitlands felt sorry for him after the end and searched for a way to help him, so they end up finding out about this past, which he didn't know about, and want to reunite them.

• Her death was very painful and sad on the first time, that would explain why she was given the chance to come back,

• The family, seeing her fall in love with a grave robber, marries her to a bad man who only wants their money, and he ends up killing her (The Corpse Bride style),

• She may have been the person who found his body and promised to love him and be with him in the afterlife/other lives, that's why the curse began,

• With him killing the leader (Dolores), the cult's followers kill her every time so they don't meet,

• She was supposed to help him improve, as a person, but this didn't happen, that's why he can't make the passing/crossing and got stuck all those years,

• The protagonist has a fixed age to die, like 25 years old, and never manages to go beyond that, making her go through this cycle several times at different times,

• Mix it with the musical, perhaps? I feel like he's more susceptible to love and be loved.

Sorry if anything sounded weird, English is not my first language, but if someone use any of these ideias, please let me know, I would love to read!

[i-llo]

You're working with a professional here!

BEETLEJUICE, 1988

[i-llo]

BEETLEJUICE (1988) dir. Tim Burton

[i-llo]

Crazy fics ideas, hear me out:

Posted the fic here!

Beetlejuice shouldn't have married Dolores, destiny was set for him to meet the protagonist, but he was killed before that happened.

Now she dies and comes back every time, trying to find Beetlejuice and save them both.

The Deetz and the Maitlands felt sorry for him after the end and searched for a way to help him, so they end up finding out about this past, which he didn't know about, and want to reunite them.

• Her death was very painful and sad on the first time, that would explain why she was given the chance to come back,

• The family, seeing her fall in love with a grave robber, marries her to a bad man who only wants their money, and he ends up killing her (The Corpse Bride style),

• She may have been the person who found his body and promised to love him and be with him in the afterlife/other lives, that's why the curse began,

• With him killing the leader (Dolores), the cult's followers kill her every time so they don't meet,

• She was supposed to help him improve, as a person, but this didn't happen, that's why he can't make the passing/crossing and got stuck all those years,

• The protagonist has a fixed age to die, like 25 years old, and never manages to go beyond that, making her go through this cycle several times at different times,

• Mix it with the musical, perhaps? I feel like he's more susceptible to love and be loved.

Sorry if anything sounded weird, English is not my first language, but if someone use any of these ideias, please let me know, I would love to read!

[i-llo]

[i-llo]