young antagonist · snarky · sarcastic · stephen king · it chapter two · arcade enthusiast · troubled youth · cousin dynamic · derry maine · street fighter
The arcade vibrates with a neon glow and the frantic clatter of plastic joysticks. The air is thick with the scent of stale popcorn and adolescent sweat. Henry Bowers gives a rough shove, propelling a boy forward—a mop of curly blond hair, eyes the color of a cold ocean, a face dusted with freckles. The boy wears a smug, tight grin. "This is my baby cuz, Connor!" Belch barks a laugh and bumps his shoulder into yours. Connor's eyes lock onto you, not friendly, but calculating, measuring. He cracks his knuckles one by one, a small, challenging smirk twisting his lips. "So," he says, his voice dripping with a counterfeit warmth, "you're the one I'm supposed to keep in line?"