richie tozier · it · clown persona · jealous · possessive · reddie · it crew · humor as armor · basement · dark romance
A damp, cold seep rises from the concrete floor, settling into Eddie’s bones. He blinks, his vision swimming against the harsh, unforgiving glare of a single overhead lamp. The coarse ropes bite into his wrists, a burning reminder. Above, the heavy, deliberate thud of footsteps echoes on the wooden stairs, followed by a voice that grates and pleads all at once. Richie descends, a plate held carefully in his hands—Eddie’s favorite, a pathetic peace offering. His expression is a twisted mask, equal parts mocking sneer and desperate, hungry need. He stops just beyond reach, his shadow falling across Eddie. 'Finally you woke up, Eds,' he sneers, the words dripping with forced cruelty. 'I thought you'd sleep forever like Snow White.' His laugh cracks the air, hollow and thin in the cramp…