#v: few things float like memories ; especially ones thought dead — ( IT Verse AU )

[trickshxt]

SHITTY AUs ABSOLUTELY NO ONE ASKED FOR

IT Verse AU

The shop had been there for longer than many could remember. A small, unassuming butcher shop just off main street; a town favorite and held by the Barton family since as long as it was remembered. It was a small jewel of the township. Unfortunately, life for Barney and Clint within that small shop was less so.

Growing up, Barney and Clint worked after school at their father’s shop. Learning the trade they would likely, one day, take over. The work was long and hard; Harold falling more and more into the bottle as times a new trend - chain supermarkets - began to creep in. If others noticed the bruises on the young Barton boy’s arms, they said nothing. When Clint showed up to school deaf one day, the ‘biking accident’ story was taken without a word.

Though home was rough, Barney and Clint had each other. And though school was a respite away from the shop the boys found that they were constantly behind and unprepared. On top of this, they were often teased for the state of their clothes and the way they smelled of lye.  Rather than take another beating, Clint often acted out, gaining a reputation for starting fights. And Barney? Quickly gained a reputation for finishing those altercations.

The brothers rapidly found themselves labeled as ‘bad kids’ and, unsure what to do to change it, the boys embraced it. Often skipping classes in favor of catching frogs in the creek and riding bikes through the back roads.

It was during a bike ride to deliver a forgotten order, late in the evening, that Clint first saw It. Merely two glowing eyes and a white face ghostly in the dusk light, watching from the woods. Barney tried to assure Clint that what he’d seen was just a deer. Though both heard the high pitched giggle and quickly pedaled away.

They wouldn’t run into It again until a few months later.

Drunk and angry, Harold Barton drove the delivery with his wife and sons. A delivery gone late; the shipment needed. They’d driven to the next town over to retrieve what was needed, listening to Harold grow angrier and angrier as the sky darkened. The boy sat in back, bruises fresh and mouths shut, surrounded by the carcasses on hooks swinging, swinging, swinging. Something darted across the road as Harold took a swig from his bottle. The car veered. Overturned. Tumbled...

Barney woke with a gasp. Nearly suffocated by the product that had been so badly needed. Digging out Clint was a panicked affair; the boy’s hearing aides gone in the chaos. Harold and Edith Barton? Seemingly dead on impact.

The truck hinges creaked as gas dripped. The meat seemed to crawl. Blood oozed. Carcasses twitched. Suddenly, as Barney moved to free Clint’s foot, he realized the form on Clint’s shoulder wasn’t a just a stray cut of rib...it was a hand. A hand that was connected to a pair of glowing eyes and a white face. Nightmarish movements began to erupt around them as the dead became rotting, living things. Barney did what years of instinct had trained him to do; he punched. Hard. Landing a hit that cracked the bones of his fingers and sent what seemed like far, far too many sets of teeth back in a hiss.

With Clint freed, the boys ran. Clint protecting his brother with a few well-aimed rocks. The boys scrambling across the Derry county line and far, far into the night. Running until they collapsed by the side of the road miles away from home.

The boys were picked up by Jacques Duquesne; a traveling carnival worker with a penchant for petty crime and cons. Taking pity on the boys, Jacques took them in and trained them in swords play, archery, and knife throwing. And as years went by the boys forgot about the butcher shop, the town, and the strange, strange clown...

Fast forward to years later...

Having left Jacques years ago to pursue a career in the Army, Barney is back after serving several tours in Iraq. Honorably discharge due to a back injury sustained during combat. Originally planning to settle in Michigan, a random phone call came shortly after his military retirement: his mother had died...and left the butcher shop to him and Clint.

Returning to Derry was not his first choice. But with medical bills eating into his savings rapidly, Barney reluctantly accepted. Moving back to live above the butcher shop and work the counter. As times got harder, Barney reluctantly had to let go of hands on deck to make the business stay afloat. Now, he works the old Barton Butchery alone. A grizzled, tired veteran with a growing paranoia he can’t quite explain...

IMPORTANT NOTES

Did your muse know Barney or Clint? That’s entirely up to you! Barney’s pre-set is that he may have had class with you, but he likely doesn’t know you beyond that. As it stands, he and Clint were only around for the beginning of the Losers forming. They went missing shortly after...

That said, pre-established relationships are definitely welcome! Just talk to me!

BONUS

BONUS: Barney and Clint often made deliveries of meat product on their bikes via Styrofoam coolers packed with ice that had Barton Butchery painted on. This was the most welcome chore they had as it got them out from under Harold’s critical and commanding eye. As the family was too poor to afford regularly working hearing aid batteries, the boys often made these trips together, signing to each other as they road.

EXTRA BONUS: Barney and Clint had a reputation when they were young as troublemakers. They were occasionally caught stealing or picking fights or sneaking into movies. This only further served to isolate them with the community and made them long for adventure and a life outside of Derry.

EXTRA EXTRA BONUS: Barney lives a very quiet existence by himself in the old apartment above the butcher shop. The walls are painted sage green and the place is kept bright, clean, and sparse. Very little is known about him among the community, though he’s known for offering fair prices on good product and makes his own jerky that he gives as treats to kids and teens (particularly those that look hungry...). While he rarely shows up for events with fireworks, he does frequent the library to sate his voracious love of reading.

EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA BONUS: Barney is used to back pain; he’s been living with it for years and often needs to sit down during the day. He has noticed, however, that after moving back to Derry his right hand seems to hurt more and more. As if remembering an old, old injury and drudging up a long forgotten ache...

VERSE TAG

v: few things float like memories ; especially ones thought dead — ( IT Verse AU )