Notes: Follow-up to "Two-Bit", as suggested by RedHood001. Won't be the last one, I'm sure. Because why not explore 1990 It's perspective a bit?
And because Tim Curry's the man.
"Old School"
K
This kid took himself far too seriously.
That was the gidst of it.
One could argue he had cause. To be so on-edge, every minute of every day. After all, how easy could it be, playing sheepdog to a gang of eight brats who had somehow made the do-not-eat list?
Goodness knew our original It had no such duties to attend to back in his own dimension. Nor had he ever pretended to.
Pretend.
This 'younger' (and certainly dumber) version of himself did a lot more socializing besides what was required. That is, too much. Any socializing whatsoever was to be considered, in itself, a lot more. All because, what, besides their fear and their flesh, humanity also had hugs, kisses, and scratches to offer?
Guh-ross.
Therefore, It would have liked nothing better at the moment than to visibly retch.
But, here in close company, that would be too obvious.
So instead, he smirked at the yarn being spun before him, and rested his cheek on his fist.
"You're kiddin'."
"Nyh uh, nope," the boy - this universe's equivilant of Georgie Denbrough - shook his head vigorously. Sitting beside him at the kitchen table, the kid's feet swung, back and forth, toes barely scraping the floor. "That's what really happened."
"Like love at first sight?"
"Sorta," Georgie pulled a half-scrunched-up face, like he couldn't decide whether to be disgusted or convinced first. "But we don't- "
Chuckling warmly, It dealt the kid a soft, harmless punch to the shoulder. "Didn't mean it that way, kiddo."
Pop.
Then there was the sound of bells, striding their way.
"Something I'm miSsing?"
Aaand right on cue.
It raised a penciled-on eyebrow.
"Easy, Mama Bear, we're just talkin'."
Still, a protective arm threaded its way between them, a gloved hand catching Georgie's bicep.
Two weeks, on and off, and you keep actin' like I'm eyin' this one up the most.
Already had mine, thanks. You can keep yours.
"AboUt...?"
Oblivious to the newly-arrived tension, or simply chosing to ignore it, Denbrough glanced between them, radiant smile returning. "The day we met, Penny. D'you remember?"
"Yes."
Oop. Don't think I didn't see that little eye twitch, bucko.
Despite the sheer unnatural nature of this 'friendship', it was strangely adorable to see just how invested this Being had become in one puny mortal.
Even if it was only a passing fancy.
Even if, in Its neck of the woods, things had gone quite differently.
But here and now, it was not wise to bring that up. No, sir.
"I especially liked the part where you scared him, now that was good stuff."
"Where I scared him?"
"Yeah, I'mean, did you even know? Where your boat landed once it went down the drain? Or him, lookin' up, wonderin', 'Now, what's that noise I hear'? Bam! Nailed him right between the eyes, had to've. Laid him out like a rug."
Insert anvil-crashing sound effect here.
"I waSn't scared," Pennywise retorted, as flatly as flat could be.
But the resulting deadpan expression and tone had the desired effect.
Georgie took one look at his gangly guardian, pictured the scene as described, and went into a snickering fit, face held in his hands.
Again, was he amused or ashamed? Who could tell?
"She didn't hit you there, did she, Penny?"
"No, GeorGie. Our buddy here jusT likes to... embeliSh."
"Now, there you go with your five-dollar words again," It remarked, tapping a random sequence of gloved fingertips against the table, if only in pseudo-thought. With the same hand, he gestured at the silvery form that was so totally-opposite to his own. "Are you tryin' to turn into Ben, or is that happenin' all on its own?"
Sniping was just as good at this level as it was from on high.
With the added perk of a third party. Then it was just friendly competition.
Like snapping a wishbone.
Which being would earn the bigger half of Georgie's confidance with this story?
Even if it was only being done to pass the time, to get this version of Itself so riled up was worth the price of admission alone.
If only he'd stop being such a sore loser...
He may see the fun in it for himself.
Just as It predicted, Pennywise gave a noncommital huff and full-body twitch, a mental reset masquerading as an unconscious tic. Perhaps that was why he fancied bells. The delightful tinging did wonders for counterpointing an angry utterance or violent motion.
How wonderful, in how contrived it was.
"Make up yoUr own mind on that, oLd man. We both knOw whatever I say, you'll just twiSt it to suit you."
Oh, you sulky imitation peppermint. Like you aren't guilty of that, too.
"What can I say? Nature of the beast, kid."
Georgie gaped, as if the once-conventional expression were a whole new, fascinating animal. "What does that mean?"
"What it is to be stucK in your ways, GeorgIe."
"Easy, bucko. I'm not meanin' to bash any ears. While you were busy pilin' up Zs, little Denny and I got caught up."
Gasp!
"You were sleeping, Penny?" Georgie glanced between them. To his credit, his eyes didn't get bigger. If anything, they narrowed in newfound contemplation. "You never sleep."
Just because you haven't seen him do it doesn't mean it don't happen, kid.
"I wasn't."
Aand there we have the painfully-predictable retort. Seriously, I could write a checklist for every reaction I've ever gotten out of you. And then a behavior manual to abide by, according to that.
In lieu of pouring more salt on that wound, It raised a prompting eyebrow, glancing up through the tops of his sky-blue eyes.
Two months, and counting... You catnap once, that's how it starts.
"I wasn't."
"What kept you, then?" It grumbled, drumming his fingers upon his cheekbone for effect, feigning a bored restlessness, in spite of the other's dismissiveness. "From the sound of your message, I thought you meant to talk today, not next Tuesday."
Pennywise scowled, lip curling, but it softened as he turned back to his charge.
"GeorgIe, can you... excUse us, for a moment?"
The kid actually gasped.
"That was good, Penny! I should tell Stan."
It snorted with repressed laughter, covering his eyes with one hand, as the kid sprang from the chair and raced out of the room.
"Honestly? They're gradin' you on manners. Oh-ho-ho, that is just as good."
Both palms hit the table with a slam. Dust rose into the air.
"WhaT do you waNt, old timer?"
Grinning, It peeked out from between his fingers.
"Lighten up already, and I might tell you."
Brow furrowing, Pennywise bared his fangs and leaned in close.
"You'Ll tell me anyway."
"All right, all right, but I'm tellin' you before anyone else does, you fit right in with this whole instant-gratification generation."
Pennywise huffed and drew back, crossing his frilled arms.
"This isN't the fifties. Of courSe I do."
"Pft. Well, then, I'm not breakin' any new ground." It gestured with an open palm toward the empty seat. "So climb down off your high horse and let's jaw."
The taller Being's lip curled back in another mute snarl. The challenge in the older entity's motion was as obvious as the nose on his face.
With another twitch, he glanced away.
"On second thought, maYbe I don't wanT to know."
"That about confirms it. You're just as juvenile as your little buddies."
Eyes brightening to a livid orange, Pennywise's outraged stare was the picture of say-that-again.
Deciding they had arrived at the actually-serious topic he had intended, It rose to his feet, hands poised on the table. "I mean it, one of these times, you gonna get into a situation you can't control with them. Through no fault of your own other than you don't know when - to - back - off."
Maybe the talking-with-your-hands and finger-jabbing-for-emphasis were a bit much.
But hey, cosmic-entity-clowns gotta clown sometimes, right?
"I told you befoRe, I don't neEd your help."
"And I'm not here to offer it again to only get snapped at. I just meant to say my piece. I know I can't go a more than a day in my realm without tormentin' somebody over somethin'. You need to loosen up."
He stepped around the table's corner, closed the distance. His gaze was just as intense as his unwilling-'understudy's', regardless of their sheer contrast in height.
"Starvin' yourself from humor can be just as bad for your health as anythin' else, bucko. Jus' remember that. Happy trails."
Vanishing from the immediate scene, with a noise that was less a pop than a crackling snap, It lingered long enough to eavesdrop from outside a kitchen window.
He didn't need to hear what came next.
Georgie Denbrough trotted back into the room, took one look at his grumpy-faced guardian, and bounded over to deliver a side-on hug. The height difference was even more apparent between them, as the boy could barely reach around Pennywise's skirted hip.
The sulky look instantly melted away, as Pennywise belatedly remembered to pat Georgie on the head, smiling that dopey, bucktoothed smile that said all's-well.
Giggling, Georgie grabbed for said hand with both of his own, and led his gangly caretaker back out of the kitchen.
It smirked, tapped his chin in thought.
Well, for better or worse, he had said his piece.
What could be the harm in sticking around a while longer, see how things shook out?
Kid was a kid.
Finding his way.
In his own way.
Meanwhile, he could still use all the help he could get.