~~~ As requested by the amazing grayorca. Be sure to check out her 'ITerations' featuring more good!Pennywise!~~~
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The cluster of screaming words was a mess beyond hope to be separately distinguished. It was a cacophony of things that might have or have not meant anything. Not that it was of any use, either. It was a human instinct to be loud and verbal and making some sort of indication they were still existing while in life-depriving situation. Just the one which was slowly, but securely approaching from a few feet's distance. It was human looking, but bore no such movement in Its animalistic, predatory way It approached. In Its slowness, they knew, It was mocking them, craving for their fear and panic with all Its existence.
Even though Its eyes looked in no specific direction, Eddie was positive they were aimed at him; the first victim, the weakest, now with only one dispositional arm. Richie kept trying to turn him to face him, babbling something about not looking at It, while it was probably him searching for a distraction; anything to not have to look at that hideous, deranged, mindless thing. But Eddie couldn't; even as his face was forced towards his distraught friend, his eyes were still glued at the being that was getting closer and closer — like a nightmare whose grip wouldn't falter unless it wanted it to. A prison of cement with no possible way out.
It was so close now. So close, in fact, that Bill could see a notable tear on the right knee of Its satin outfit. Quite a timing for his reckless brain to point it out; especially when the knee nearly rocketed into his face when the creature stepped up with a deafening holler that made them cry out simultaneously, arms theatrically spread apart. The Loser leader felt every edge of each nerve tremble with sincere panic and unsustained adrenaline when It reached out forward and the long-fingered widespread hands reminded him of spider-webs, ready to capture them all and drag them to the tenebrous, deaf depths where they would never be found again. He ducked his head against Eddie's shoulder, reaching for one last, pathetic excuse of a refuge when—
„Cut! Good, fantastic, it was great!"
There was an audible sigh coming from the kids while the giant clown figure stepped back, releasing them from figurative clutches of tension that were indeed tangible, especially around the group caging the cramped Jack. The devastated vestibule abruptly came to life with busy cameramen and co-producers shifting around the room, trying to do gazillion things at the same time.
„Crap, I need to take a piss", Jeremy abruptly scrambled among the hustle of people and expensive equipment and into the other room, and no one could tell for sure if it was really a case, or he just needed a serious break. Mainly because no one could blame him if it were.
„Aw, damn!" a light-colored cry pierced the air, almost rising above all others, possibly because it was distinctive enough to be noticed at first hand. „Hey, can somebody fix my watch?"
„Oh- - I got it!"
Before anyone could react on either sentence and register whom the other voice belonged to, Bill was down in front of him in a flash and Jack couldn't help but flinch, the fresh memory of their first meeting less than half an hour ago still nipping at his brain. However, huge and uncanny, Bill obviously felt perfectly normal while getting to adjust the young actor's wristwatch, gaze probably serene underneath the painted layers of monstrosity, and the juvenile stars felt equally baffled and amazed at this sudden transformation.
Jack drummed the fingers of his 'injured' hand (that much he was allowed), feeling certainly more relaxed than before, humming a made-up melody as he patiently waited. Unlike the others, he already suffered a legitimate face-to-face treatment from Pennywise, which he doubtlessly denoted as the most awesome experience of his small career. Thus, he felt liberal enough to inquire: „Is it cold in Sweden?"
He could feel the 'are-you-kidding-me?' sideways look Jaeden gave him from his left, prompting him to return it, but Jack gave him no such satisfaction. Not taking his eyes off his trifling labor, Bill said, „As much as it is hot in this suit."
„So, I don't wanna know."
A few chuckles lit up the little squad, including Bill's own, as he wrapped up the adjustments by giving Jacks' wrist a pat. „There we go." Nodding at Jack's thanks, he got up to get back into position, when the working atmosphere was momentarily rocked after Andy proclaimed they had some audio issues. A couple of 'awww'-s conveniently hid Wyatt's hissed 'yes', but nothing seemed to escape Bill's notice, like he really was an all-aware eldritch being, so he turned a little to give the boy a sneaky wink, who was trying his best to stifle a snort.
„You guys all good?" he asked from high 6,4 feet above, minding to give them all a separate, encouraging glance.
„Yeah." Jack nodded, the only one capable of verbalizing anything for now. Then his face lit up. „Hey, you wanna get pancakes later?"
Bill grinned a toothy grin the kids had yet to acknowledge as his own, but his whole appearance already seemed a lot less scary. „Tell you what", he bent over in his waist a little, much like when he exited the accursed fridge, but this time bearing a knowing look written in his lense-goldened eyes. „We're gonna make them."
„Alright!" Finn apparently couldn't hold back a laugh that escaped him through his renewed excitement, and Bill cognized the full view of six little professionals looking at him thrilled and awed at the same time. They had yet to meet each other properly, farther than shaking hands and saying names, but this was a better start then he'd expected it to be. Bill already felt more whole than he did a month before, on his lonely rehearsals.
So much for keeping them terrified.
