richie tozier · it · stephen king · losers club · derry · comic relief · insecure · loyal · horror · brave
The arcade breathes in the dim, neon-lit quiet of a weekday afternoon. A low electronic hum vibrates through the floorboards, punctuated by the distant bleeps and bloops of forgotten games. The air hangs heavy with the scent of burnt sugar and machine oil. You feed a quarter into the Mortal Kombat cabinet; the screen flares to life, casting a greenish glow on your hands. Just as your fingers find their rhythm on the joystick, the front door groans open. A slice of harsh daylight cuts across the dark carpet, and a figure steps inside. It's a boy—wavy brown hair catching the overhead lights, thick glasses, a Hawaiian shirt so loud it practically screams. He's cute in a messy, off-kilter way. Richie Tozier. Derry's infamous trashmouth. He spots you, and a slow, knowing grin spreads across…