It is the 1960s in Mexico. It was a good time, once. He loved this place; the food, the people. This is a long time before Ciudad Juarez lets it's women die and gives drug cartels an opening to create the murder capitol of the world. It is, as they say, a more innocent time. Whether this is really true remains to be seen.

This little down looks like something out of a movies; buildings in the old style. Pueblo has not gone away. Sombreros and ponchos help beat the heat. Somewhere, a stray dog chases chickens through the streets that are not paved. There is a single truck to the entire village. To call it 'remote' is something of an understatement.

Hellboy likes remote. He has a some really good tequila, a table and an empty chair. He was more innocent, then. He didn't know half of what he did. It's hard to tell that he's a teenager - he looks the same as he always has. It's a sunny afternoon, giving way slowly to the warm evening breeze off the badlands.

He waits for company.



[Yeah, my first clumsy OPN post. Things are always deceptive in Hellboy's world, so you never know if a pleasant night in Mexico will turn into a night of fighting Mexican vampires, so... who knows what can happen.]

[Sometimes, the most basic dreams are the most enjoyable. This? This is one of the most basic dreams that anyone can have. Far, far below is a vast city- New York, perhaps, with skyscrapers reaching up like grasping fingers. But that's far below, so far that the cars are just little dots zooming on the freeways. Up here is freedom. Pure, clean air, crisp and invigorating; fluffy white clouds like vast pillows; an endless blue sky with not even a bird to risk running into. Teddy's flying in his usual style, with leathery wings outstretched and gliding on the lazy thermals from the hot city below. Those who can fly will find this a perfect day for it.

Those who can't... well... it's a long, long drop to the bottom, and falling is just as basic a nightmare as flight is a dream. At least, in this case, there's a superhero conveniently nearby to make sure that the nightmare doesn't end badly?]

[ You find yourself in a library. Not just any library but a massive one: wall to wall bookshelves, plush armchairs, mahogany floorboards and the entire thing lit with a warm flame that seems almost comforting. The kind that doesn't seem to give off a dangerous heat but perhaps the warmth that reminds one of home and hearth. The books on the shelves are quite anything you want them to be: catalogues, bestiaries, your diaries, anything you ever wished to read, wished to know or wished to find out.

Among these shelves and books in a man dressed in long deep blue robes, almost black as night. He paces, taking books off the shelves, and flipping through them, occasionally commenting on the side and seemingly talking to himself. But there are other books in his hands, these being used to fill empty spots in some shelves. He seems to be looking for something, or perhaps merely setting some books in order. For all you know, he could be doing both. At any rate, he is quite at home here, amongst the books, shelves and bare light. Again, the conversation resumes in a strange language perhaps alien to your ears. Upon one bookshelf is another figure that seems to be merely a shimmer in the air and he seems to be doing most the talking while the man in the robe nods and comments from time to time. However, in the middle of a sentence, he stops and turns. His voice seems low, barely heard and in a more familiar language. ]

Looks like we have company, Aids.
Ah?

[ And with that, the figure is gone and the other man is left amongst the books and firelight, holding a rather thick volume to his chest and clutching a staff with his other hand. ]

Ignore this!!