UNAFRAID.

❛  nothing's going to happen to us, right?  ❜ ❛  i'm ... scared.  ❜ ❛  i don't like where this is going.  ❜ ❛  did i ever tell you i'm actually terrified of [the dark / heights / spiders / etc.]?  ❜ ❛  you hear me? we're not going to die today!  ❜ ❛  did you hear that? it sounded like screams.  ❜ ❛  i really, really don't like this.  ❜ ❛  we're completely alone here, nothing's going to happen to us.  ❜ ❛  this place has been abandoned for centuries.  ❜ ❛  whatever happens, keep the lights on.  ❜ ❛  you're not scared, are you?  ❜ ❛  this is like straight out of my worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  do you believe in ghosts?  ❜ ❛  what are you afraid?  ❜ ❛  what was that?!  ❜ ❛  see, i told you there's nothing to be afraid of.  ❜ ❛  go on, no one will hear your screams.  ❜ ❛  it was a foolish idea to come here alone.  ❜ ❛  no one is going to save you now.  ❜ ❛  don't be afraid, i'm not going to hurt you.  ❜ ❛  you really think you can run from me?  ❜ ❛  it's a shame i'll have to kill you when we're done with this.  ❜ ❛  want to make a deal with the devil?  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of you. not anymore.  ❜ ❛  there are figures hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike.  ❜ ❛  this wasn't so bad now, was it?  ❜ ❛  what could possibly go wrong - it's just an old abandoned meaning, it doesn't mean it's haunted, right?  ❜ ❛  face it, we won't make it out of here alive.  ❜ ❛  i'll even give you a choice - it's either you or them. who's going to die tonight?  ❜ ❛  i will haunt you for the rest of your days.  ❜ ❛  don't scream, it will only make this worse.  ❜ ❛  you look so pretty when you're scared of me.  ❜ ❛  i won't kill you ... yet.  ❜ ❛  ghosts and monsters aren't real.  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of anything!  ❜ ❛  you! you're sick! you sent me here to die, didn't you?  ❜ ❛  close your eyes. it'll make it easier if you don't see it coming.  ❜ ❛  no matter where you hide, i'll always find you. so you better give up now.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'm gonna be your worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  it's only over when i say it is.  ❜

Even if IT didn't entirely wish to harm her, not when she was so fun, the distance between them is a wise choice. It gives IT time to clear IT's senses and IT draws in a few unnecessary breaths of the clean night air, shaking IT's head slightly. Hungry hungry hungry why aren't we eating her? Such s easy meal, just one chomp- IT bites IT's inner cheek hard, suckling on the wound, the blood isn't filling but it helps in the moment. IT's focus sharpens once more and IT watches as she walks along the seesaw. Step after step, it reminds IT of IT's own acrobatics, the memories of one Bob Gray, the circus.. IT had been charmed by the spectacle, feats of mystery and illusion, strength and agility. Fear mixing with delight in a heady mix. Was it not the place IT should haunt?

"Aren't I?" IT could hardly bring Itself to be surprised she had worked IT out. IT hadn't tried, or rather wasn't particularly in the headspace to perfect IT's presentation. There had been slips, more than a few and though the gaze IT fixes her with has all the calculation of a stalking predator.. IT isn't inclined to pounce. So far she hadn't shown an inch of fear. Would that change the more of Itself was revealed?

"What am I then? Not animal, not vegetable... Mineral?" IT laughs to Itself, hunkering down in the dirt with increasing mirth. Oh it had been too long since IT had shown Itself like this. There was something satisfying about it, like stretching far enough to make bones crack and snap back into place. IT shakes IT's head again, feeling IT's eyes rattle around in IT's skull as they shift and change, settling on IT's natural burning orange. More and more fangs push through IT's gums, crowding IT's mouth until the sides of IT's mouth stretch then split, following the red lines of the paint high up IT's cheeks.

"No... Not any of those.. Perhaps... Ah yes.."

IT meets her gaze and grins, grotesque in IT's distortion.

" no ... you aren't . " she reaffirms , shaking her head slowly . even the measured response IT gives speaks silent volumes , really . no protest of her assertion , nor incredulous rejection ? lifting her brows , the child turns heel on the seesaw , walking across the length of it once more . eyes fixed on her companion languishing upon the earth , her gaze wary and carefully unbroken .

the way IT's features mangle unpleasantly isn't at all like the cheesy horror movies on the crt back home . there's no explanation for the way fangs split from the clown's painted lips and poke from IT's gums in such toothy excess .

ava's balancing act comes to a decisive stop --- she slants her eyes across at the braced beast , breath quickening , heart fluttering . not pounding . just skipping a beat faster in her chest , the thrum like that of a nervy rabbit .

is she scared ? no t just yet . part of her acknowledges that she most certainly should be .

her expression puckers with apprehension , and a certain dread twists in her chest , but the little girl stands her ground . there are monsters at home , too . they lack the sharp teeth . but they more than make up for it , with bludgeoning fists and unpredictable fits of temper . overpowering strength . sly , provoking , accusatory , before they finally lash out . this interaction doesn't feel like anything she isn't already uncomfortably accustomed to .

" hm . that so ? gosh , jeezum , what big teeth you have , mister pennywise . " all the better to - ! ... well . shouldn't give IT any ideas .

her mind wanders back to the clawed fingers encased in silken gloves . so much capacity for harm in this strange figure . she's only little .

a morbid , inexplicable corner of her mind murmurs with frightening certainty that something will get her . soon enough . she'll die young , it frets . kicking , screaming , clawing and fighting to the very last breath to be sure . sometimes , this intrusive line of thought must be abruptly pushed away . yet here , in the clutches of some clownish horror , that uncanny intuition --- or simple paranoia born of trauma --- is silent . for now .

" i knew it , " ava nods , uncowed . she can always tell when she's pushing her luck --- and she mustn't be , not yet .

her pink bike is only a few feet away ; her retreat will be swift , if necessary . a policeman always comes around when dusk has fallen to shoo off any curfew breakers . not that they're any help most days . there are heavy set branches and bulky rocks all over and though they're not much , they would be a line of self defence if she was cornered . alright .

" i thought monsters liked it better under beds , and in closets , and stuff . you're missing out on some prime bedtime scares . "

what are IT's intentions ? she can't tell . surely if IT wanted to hurt her , it would have by now ... an easy opportunity has been present for their entire stint of time together . but she's no stranger to a false sense of security . ava steps off the seesaw , and squints down at the clown , pacing slightly closer again . bold , though more for appearance's sake .

" is there anything about yourself that you haven't told me ? "

" will you come back to visit me ? "

" what could it mean ? "

" this is not the correct way , and you know it . "

" this is truly a room worth admiring . "

" your obsession borders on creepy . "

" this reflects poorly on your overall personality . "

" maybe this is why everyone left you . "

" are you just sitting around waiting for more dialogue ? "

" no one gets to tell me what to do . "

" everyone thinks you are very powerful . "

" there is nothing in the broom closet . no reason to still be here . "

" you're not even doing anything ! "

" please offer me some explanation here ; i'm genuinely confused . "

" the broom closet ending is my favourite . "

" you're fat and ugly and really , really stupid . "

" you're addicted to drugs and hookers ! "

" that kind of anxiety isn't healthy . "

" i'm not your enemy . really , i'm not . "

" i think perhaps we've gotten off on the wrong foot here . "

" how i wish to destroy you . how i wish to control you . "

" investing your trust in someone is difficult . "

" please , stop trying to make every decision by yourself . "

" this is it . your chance to redeem yourself . "

" i can't believe i've been so mistaken . "

" you and i don't even know each other . we're like strangers . "

" i still don't know you . and you don't know me . "

" you like being alone , don't you ? "

" perhaps you'll see me again , if you can find me . "

" i've escaped from that dull office and pesky narrator . "

" what are you talking about ?! "

" this is so stupid . why are we even doing this ? "

" you've demonstrated such bravery here today . "

" do you have zero consideration for others ?! "

" oh , thank god . you are willing to listen to me . "

" i think i feel ... happy . i actually feel happy . "

" no , wait ... where are you going ? "

" promise me you won't go back there . just - just stay here . "

" you are going to stay here , aren't you ? "

" please , don't take this from me ! "

" nothing good can come from this . "

" we can't be happy if we leave this place . "

" comedic timing is so difficult . i wish i was better at it . "

" it's just a bucket ! it can't think , it can't talk ! "

" i suppose you don't need me anymore . "

" you believe i'm real , don't you ? "

" give it to me ! give me the bucket , i need it ! "

" it's nice to see you again . "

" i'm on your side . we're in this together . "

" obviously the bucket isn't talking to you and telling you to do things . "

" do you see that i really have wanted you to be happy all this time ? "

" are you that convinced i want something bad to happen to you ? "

" that wasn't supposed to be a choice . how did you do that ? "

" can you see ? can you see how much we need one another ? "

" in the vast infiniteness of space , your thoughts and problems are materially insignificant . "

" when every path you can walk has been created for you long in advance , death becomes meaningless , making life the same . "

" although this passageway has the word ' escape ' written on it , the truth is at the end of this hall , you'll meet your violent death . "

Upstairs, there is a heightened sense of adrenaline, a common response to being chased. It is an entirely adult fear, a planning, conniving dread that is mixed with the faintest desire to still win at something. How ironic that Ava often has that same scent. The adult desire for power, to control, to at the very least have dominion over an afternoon. But here in this cramped, broken little room, the smell is smouldering. It is burning, flames licking up like a house fire contained to one bedroom. The simplest blow can help the blaze spread to the rafters, help the whole building burn away.

Not yet, though. There is still time for such things.

The clown is infuriatingly unfazed by her outburst, the unnatural black space IT occupies momentarily looking wider and as if the space where the bedframe meets wall is endless. The gloved hands cup the chin, making the face look round and childish in the dim light as the unnatural white of the skin simply glows. The woman upstairs screams. The man is getting violent, mostly blaming her for it.

To this, the clown pays no mind, orange-yellow eyes flicking back to life the same way a candle does when it jumps over a layer of its wick. There is no pleasure in basking in a fear IT did not help create. The closest IT can think of to equate the feeling to is stolen valor. Indulging in the work of another, taking credit when none is due. Plus, the fear here is created by a man of all things, a miserable creature made of meat and hair. No, he can keep this manufactured horror. Petty things like this are far less interesting. They make for cheap meals too, nothing satisfying.

"---mean? Me? Oh, no, no, no. Mean is in just the other room."

True, the violence is reaching a crescendo. The woman is held up by her neck and against a wall, the man slamming her back there twice. Every now and then, stray words from the conversation can be heard. Things like 'don't I?' and 'bitch', common phrases in this house. Pennywise grins, never leaving IT's unnatural perch in the darkness.

IT observes her the same way her peers idle over their Saturday morning cartoons. Interest, lazy cognition as if waking up from a long sleep. Still, though IT isn't leaving, not reaching for her or dragging her under. Watching, waiting, almost as if IT needs permission. The creature smiles.

( mean is across the hallway . )

" he probably tastes like shit , pennywise . " IT's rare restraint in tormenting her is startling --- almost hopeful . in the dimmest , most tentative way possible , of course . she hugs her knees , breath quickening , as the argument presses in closer . " bitter , like all his beers . or , um , like , burnt , on the inside . from all his ciggies . "

she knows what IT's asking . her young , cynical mind cannot possibly be trusted with such a dire resolution to all of this .

the concept is harrowing , of course . but a twisted thrill at the thought of inflicting cruelty back , for once , makes her shiver . doesn't he deserve it ? that's not for her to say , not at all . she huffs sharply , but before she can answer , reluctant , the handle of her door suddenly t w i s t s . to no avail ; she slid the lock into place . a fist slams against the wood , and ava startles , looking over with wild eyes as it shudders under the force .

' what have i TOLD you about LOCKING THIS DOOR ?! the fuck are you talking to in there ?! you had better open it right now , ava , i swear to god--- '

" N O ! i'm not talking to anybody ! i - i'm just , i'm ... playing , i'm just playing ! leave me ALONE ! "

antagonising this nasty visitor never goes well . but nothing ever goes well , ava considers sourly . even if she was practically cherubic , these men would see fit to slap her around anyway . might as well offer some retaliation . deserve her fate , however marginally . he pounds on the door a little more , and despite herself , the child inches back towards the bed , teeth gritted .

from the potential clutches of an enraged monster , practically into the arms of the grinning , waiting ghoul in the shadows .

talk about a rock and a hard place , jeezum .

her mother screams from downstairs about how she's going to call the police , ruin his life , and that's the only thing to switch his choice of victim back to miss oakley once again . she can hear the man's heavy work boots , as he staggers drunkenly downstairs to confront her mother , roaring in a fit of rage .

ava glances back to pennywise , heart in her throat .

" ... ... ... you're gonna scare the shit out of my mom . if --- if she sees , you do that . to uncle james . "

the logistics of approving IT's cruelty begin to whir in her vindictive little mind . how could she possibly know that IT will really gobble him up ? maybe pennywise will just give him a scare . take a tiny bite . ava doesn't know ! the plausible deniability makes this all feel just a little easier , in a way that brings a small , nasty smile to her lips .

" if you're hungry ... i can't stop you , really . i'm only a li'l girl . "

Even IT finds the line vaguely corny, a little too forced for a child far more astute than her initial appearance suggested. IT could spin a line of bullshit for smaller children, other children. But the ones who had lived hard and lived frightened.. There was a cynicism, it made the conversation more interesting certainly but as for deception. IT chuckles at the enthusiastic shaking of IT's hand, pulling it away after a moment or too. The clown form allowed for laziness, aspects of Itself could be closer to IT's true self, hidden beneath ruffles and silk. Even with IT's gloves, IT's fingers were perhaps a tad too long, curved with hooked claws. IT would never truly be used to casual touch.

"Orrr I just picked it cause it's fancy." IT rubs IT's knuckles against IT's chest, flashing her a quick toothy grin. "I'm pretty fancy, wouldn't you say?"

No, probably not. She was too young to appreciate the intricacies of IT's outfit. Such finely woven silk, poor Bobby had known a thing or two about good fabrics. But alas.. It was all wasted on her. IT focuses IT’s gaze on her, considering as IT straightens up. Who would believe her? She was an outsider, a pariah among her peers. How vicious children could be. It must be taught from a young age, how to spot the ones that didn’t quite fit. The ones that came in wearing the same worn clothes day after day. The ones with odd habits, strange tics. All of it alienating in the rigid society humans imposed upon themselves. To be excluded was a lonely thing. Not quite the death sentence that it would be when she hit her teens. But still devastating in its own way. The girl no one wanted to play with.

“Or. Maybe I don’t have a name at all. Maybe I took this one.”

The obsession with names was odd to IT. After all.. There was only one of Itself. There was no need for a name. Gan had seen fit to give Maturin a name but for Itself? Nothing nothing nothing. Perhaps IT was not worthy of one? Perhaps IT was difficult to name, in either high speech or low speech. Perhaps all that IT was could not be so easily encompassed by a name. Either way IT watches her, tilting IT’s head to one side with unnatural attentiveness.

" mm - mm . i wouldn't say clowns are fancy . your suit sorta looks like it was made out of an old lady's curtains . "

back to scathing honesty , it is , then . hmph . her brows pinch at the feeling of curling claws ghosting lightly over her wrist before the handshake is relinquished . a fairy tale darts over her mind to accompany the remark , almost absently . little red riding hood . a wolf donning grandma's clothes to lull in a naive little girl , who could only think to stand and list off the jarring discrepancies in 'grandma's' appearance .

what big eyes you have . what big t e e t h you have .

" ... i don't know . " she confesses , after a long moment of earnest effort , puzzling IT's query over .

ava picks up her empty polystyrene container and strides a little ways to deposit it into the park's trashcan . instead of returning to the bench , she makes her way to the lonely seesaw --- standing up on the lowered end and beginning to walk across to the other side . arms out to keep her balance . still engaging IT contently enough .

❛  nothing's going to happen to us, right?  ❜ ❛  i'm ... scared.  ❜ ❛  i don't like where this is going.  ❜ ❛  did i ever tell you i'm actually terrified of [the dark / heights / spiders / etc.]?  ❜ ❛  you hear me? we're not going to die today!  ❜ ❛  did you hear that? it sounded like screams.  ❜ ❛  i really, really don't like this.  ❜ ❛  we're completely alone here, nothing's going to happen to us.  ❜ ❛  this place has been abandoned for centuries.  ❜ ❛  whatever happens, keep the lights on.  ❜ ❛  you're not scared, are you?  ❜ ❛  this is like straight out of my worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  do you believe in ghosts?  ❜ ❛  what are you afraid?  ❜ ❛  what was that?!  ❜ ❛  see, i told you there's nothing to be afraid of.  ❜ ❛  go on, no one will hear your screams.  ❜ ❛  it was a foolish idea to come here alone.  ❜ ❛  no one is going to save you now.  ❜ ❛  don't be afraid, i'm not going to hurt you.  ❜ ❛  you really think you can run from me?  ❜ ❛  it's a shame i'll have to kill you when we're done with this.  ❜ ❛  want to make a deal with the devil?  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of you. not anymore.  ❜ ❛  there are figures hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike.  ❜ ❛  this wasn't so bad now, was it?  ❜ ❛  what could possibly go wrong - it's just an old abandoned meaning, it doesn't mean it's haunted, right?  ❜ ❛  face it, we won't make it out of here alive.  ❜ ❛  i'll even give you a choice - it's either you or them. who's going to die tonight?  ❜ ❛  i will haunt you for the rest of your days.  ❜ ❛  don't scream, it will only make this worse.  ❜ ❛  you look so pretty when you're scared of me.  ❜ ❛  i won't kill you ... yet.  ❜ ❛  ghosts and monsters aren't real.  ❜ ❛  i'm not afraid of anything!  ❜ ❛  you! you're sick! you sent me here to die, didn't you?  ❜ ❛  close your eyes. it'll make it easier if you don't see it coming.  ❜ ❛  no matter where you hide, i'll always find you. so you better give up now.  ❜ ❛  i promise i'm gonna be your worst nightmare.  ❜ ❛  it's only over when i say it is.  ❜

Was IT weird? Undoubtedly so, at least to humans. Each of them bound to unspoken rules and expectations, varying from culture to culture, continent to continent. We ignore the beggars and the sick and the needy, we turn our faces away from anything strange and unsettling, we close our ears to that which we do not want to hear. We deny the truth in front of our eyes. Was it any wonder that children were occasionally the hardest to trick? An adult would simply dismiss IT as a madman or a drunk. A child would read the performance for what it was and question it just as she had. A child would be wary, an adult in many cases, would not be.

IT shrugs, one shoulder after the other again and giggles loosely. "Maybe I am, maybe I should be telling you something stupid like wait your turn, be nice. Be good." IT rolls IT's eyes, making a soft disgusted sound as IT leans back, bending a little further back over the bench than should be possible for a man with a functioning spine. "Do you get anything from being good? Behaving? OR is it just a way to control you? Make you do what they want hmm? Who benefits from you being quiet? Unseen? So many questions for poor little.."

IT pauses then laughs aloud in IT's screaming echoing way. They'd had a whole conversation and IT hadn't asked her name once. How rude! How could IT go on? IT springs up from the bench and turns to face her, the bells of IT's suit jingling merrily. "We haven't been introduced! Not properly. I-" IT rests a hand on IT's chest and bows. "Am Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The best performer this side of Maine. And you aaare?"

" i used to try and be good . i wanted people to like me ... i wanted it so , so much . i used my best manners , and i smiled , and i never ever picked fights . honest i didn't . not then . but it was like --- everyone could always tell i wasn't good , no matter what . "

the vocabulary to describe her tumultuous feelings fails her --- eloquence too often evades her . the people of derry always looked at her like they could see right through her most valiant efforts to behave --- as if they could see something rotten within . the apple doesn't fall far from the tree , now , does it ? their adult , scathing disapproval ... the way even other children shrink away , nervy and unsure , forbidden from playing with the oakley girl ...

ava keeps her eyes fixed on the clown . IT's inhuman contortions of posture --- IT's prying , prodding and poking . in a way , she supposes she's examining the stranger closely , too . like when a new uncle comes calling . she's hedgy , unnaturally scrutinising for a girl so little . picking her way through a potential conversational minefield . sussing out IT's nature , mincing around IT gingerly . men are unpredictable , and mean , and dangerous . slimy things . she has to be ready .

yet for all her apprehension ... she continues engaging . feeling seen , and heard , in a way that simultaneously thrills and unsettles her .

" so now --- now i just behave however i want ! they whispered horrible things about me , anyway . i'm not stupid . "

the barking chuckles that waver from IT are almost sinister . on the cusp of off-putting . the merry trilling of bells exacerbates the dichotomy of IT's demeanour , emphasising for just a precious moment how very uncanny this all is . ava glances to the gloved hand extended , then back up to the clown looming over her .

a pause .

feel free to change words and pronouns as needed.

“If you’re my friend, why are you hiding in the dark?”

“You’re not my friend. You’re scary.”

“Well, you feel like you could just about die.”

“I feel very relieved to be here with you guys.”

“We don’t owe this town shit!”

“But you know what they say about (place). No one who dies here ever really dies!”

“Alone? Oh, you’ve always been alone.”

“It’s your fault what happened, isn’t it?”

“You think this is some sort of game, huh? Well fuck you, alright?!”

“You’re braver than you think.”

“Yeah, I gotta be honest, man. All due respect, this is fucking stupid, alright?”

“Oh, did it work, (name)? Did it work? Tell them why your silly little ritual didn’t work!”

“Are you fucking kidding me, (name)?”

“Oh my God, what happened to you?”

“Nothing. I’m fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“Yeah, splitting up would be dumb, man. We gotta go together, alright?”

“I know what you are. That’s why I’m not afraid.”

“I know your secret! Your dirty little secret! Oh, I know your secret! Your DIRTY little secret! Should I tell them, (name)?”

“Look at you… you’re all grown up.”

“Hey, fuck face! You wanna play Truth or Dare? Here’s the truth: you’re a sloppy bitch!”

“You should cut that fucking mullet, it’s been like thirty years, man!”

“I love what he’s done with the place.”

“I know your every move, you little bitch.”

“I’m a Loser. And I’ll always be a fucking Loser.”

“Yeah, man. That’s what we were supposed to do, asshole.”

“Close your eyes if you don’t believe. Close them and see.”

“He’s alright, he’s just hurt. We gotta get him out of here. He’s just hurt.”

Perhaps this form was more disarming to her than IT had first assumed. Now one curiosity was satisfied, IT turns IT's attention back on her fully. Left alone, out by herself. She was the perfect meal, Gan, she might not even be reported as missing for a few days if IT's assumptions about her mother were correct. But a part of IT had already filed her away into a different category. Call it boredom, it was as good of an explanation as any. IT's many whims were ever changing, tomorrow IT might decide to bite her head off. Until then, IT had time to kill.

Well... That wasn't strictly true. The twisting in IT's stomach was a reminder. Not an endless amount of time, but time enough. IT wasn't quite reduced to a drooling beast. Not yet anyway. Even so IT's voice is thick, slightly slurred as IT drags IT's tongue over the fangs lining IT's throat. So very hungry..

"She spends all her time with strangers and leaves you out in the cold. Why.. You're no better than a mutt. And even they get kicked every once in a while. What do you get?"

Ha! To be called an old man?! Oh the audacity! IT laughs then, even if the sound is strange and warped. IT had considered tormenting an office in the quieter moments of IT's cycle. Adult fears were more complicated than those of children. Some might occasionally fear the movie monsters and slasher villains, good solid forms for IT to mimic. But most were abstract, bills, sickness, eviction. Difficult to conceptualise, harder to scare with. But all working adults had a fear in common. Middle Management.

"Oh I could try. We could practise." IT wheezes out the words through chuckles, straightening up and cocking IT's head to one side, suddenly prim and attentive. "I have so many skills Mr. Bossman. I can do handstands, I can juggle, I even make balloon animals! When can I start?"

Despite the frivolity there was no missing the sudden shift in tone, the hesitation in the words. Alone... Oh she was so very alone. IT clicks IT's tongue thoughtfully then grins, showing the smallest hint of fangs.

" wh--- i am not ! a mutt , i mean . that's not nice . " an affronted look darts over her expression , features crinkling with childish indignation . she scoffs at the prospect of being hurt --- a quick flash of bravado that almost brings into question the idea that she even could be . slender fingers pull at her secondhand sweater's sleeves to ensure any bruising , any glimpse of vulnerability , is adequately concealed as their conversation continues .

she's almost nettled enough to storm off in a huff --- too easily worked up , but IT lulls her back in slightly with a playful suggestion that makes her grin .

" pfffff . cool . but that stuff isn't any good to mr. bossman ! you've gotta be able to answer the phones , or stack the shelves , or somethin' boring like that . "

ava makes a show of pretending to adjust an imaginary tie around her neck , clearing her throat lowly like an important businessman . she waves a dismissive hand , brusque and scolding !

" so . no start day for you , mister . get outta my face ! back to the unemployment line . shoo , shoo ! leave me , while i count my million bucks again . "

the jarring advice makes her head tilt . the tips of IT's strange , sharp teeth catch her eye , and something twists in her stomach . there is a chilling sense she should really be going . ava doesn't balk , doesn't move . merely squints .