the house is haunted

“Funny that ya say that, because Colt doesn’t know a damn thing about me and Diana...” Mason arched an eyebrow right back at the woman; looking toward her with a challenge of a grin. He supposed he couldn’t mind too much though. If Diana was goin’ around talking about him, he could at least surmise that the younger woman wasn’t totally embarrassed of what the had going on. “No secrets, huh? Guess I gotta be careful about what I say to both of you now. Twice as many opportunities to put my damn foot in my mouth.” Mace rolled his eyes, “And...Swimmingly? You know that makes it all sound like a damn Pixar movie, right?”

Mason couldn’t do much else but freeze in place when he heard Diana’s name fall off of his sister’s lips; shock crossing over his expression like it might swallow him whole. But it was less than a moment later when he simply raised an eyebrow in his sisters direction. Eyes rolling back as he shoved a few handfuls of popcorn in his mouth to smooth over whatever impression he might have given her. “Ms. Hamilton will be spending Christmas with her own damn family,” Mason rolled his eyes, “And I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate the insinuation either, Maggie May. Not that I don’t want to be Han for Christmas -- but maybe Uncle Colt is a little more suited to be my Leia.” 

lena: dude dude dude

lena: are you still at work

lena: please say yes otherwise, fuck

mason: sorry, you WANT me to be at work? don't i work enough, weirdo?

“Well, the last damn thing you should be doing is pushing yourself before you’re ready. Nobody wants you getting burnt out just for the sake of it, Mais -- not even Mom and Dad. Even if they’re acting like idiots.” Mason could only sigh. The man chewing on his bottom lip like it might bring the answers they were both looking for. “Look, do you want me to talk to ‘em? I’m gonna talk to ‘em. There’s no reason for anybody to be avoidin’ anyone else’s calls.” 

“Thought I’d find you here.” It was a notoriously empty wing of the hospital - one only inhabited when there were emergencies big enough to disrupt the town. But the lack of patients inhabiting the floor just made it all too easy to find those who had wandered off, usually there to spill their guts to the echoes that haunted the empty hallways. Mason had only had to look for a few moments before he happened across Barbie hiding behind the nurses station -- and he didn’t hesitate a moment more before he settled on down right beside her. A sigh leaving his lips as he glanced down at the blood spattered over the front of his scrubs. “Rough night out there, huh? You feelin’ okay? Because I know that I’m... Well, let’s just say if I didn’t have to be here until five in the damn mornin’, I would be a fuckin’ mess.” 

closed for @masxnd​

juliette had been looking through old photo albums and called mason over when she’d found a picture she thought was just too funny not to share.  a young frannie curled up on the couch with a dozen blankets on top of her.  “ya think this is why she got so sick that year?  musta been a hundred degrees.”  juliette joked, shaking her head at the thought.  it wasn’t a real question, but it was funny to think that it was even a remote possibility–it wasn’t, she was sure.  “can ya believe this lil thing is gonna be graduatin’ high school come june?”

“I think if massive amounts of blankets had anythin’ to do with head colds, then I’d be sick all damn year, Hammond.” Mason could only chuckle as he fell down onto the couch beside the woman; leaning his weight warmly against her shoulder as he peeked over at the old picture of Frannie. A dramatic frown coming to face as he plucked the image right out of Juliette’s hand to get a better look at the impossibly small girl in the frame. “And I won’t go believin’ anythin’ of the sort. It’s hard enough that this gremlin doesn’t wanna have tea parties anymore... No, I’m just gonna pretend like it’s not happenin’ until she’s walking across that stage in her cap and gown. Don’t know how you’re coping doin’ anything but.” 

“You didn’t know if a party in a barn was gonna be my thing? Do you know me at all, Hamilton?” Mason just raised an eyebrow in her direction, a quizzical expression stuck in his eyes... but it was only a moment before he had to let it fall into a laugh that matched her own. Unable to help himself as his eyes scanned over every inch of her body; not even bothering to hide it from the crowd of people surrounding them as he leaned in toward her to whisper right in her. “Well, I’m sorry to ruin your little game of hide and seek,” Mason spoke loud enough for her ears only; chancing a fleeting hand on her waist before all-too-painfully pulling away. “But I can say with damn confidence that ‘Poison Ivy’ has definitely made all this Festival bullshit one-hundred-percent worth it. Ten outta ten... would bang.” He knew it was stupid,  he knew he sounded stupid saying it - the words all too foreign on his lips - but he couldn’t help but feel like it was going to put some big ol’ grin on her face. Mason all too willing to do whatever it took to see it. “Nerd.”  

@masxnd​

Maisie sighed loudly as she pushed her spoon around in her bowl. She had been staying a few nights a week at her siblings houses, just to try to spend more time with them. Last night, it was Mason’s. “Mason.” She called out, still looking down at her bowl. “What’s wrong with me?” She asked him casually. “I really think there’s something wrong with me. How come all I wanna do is work at the bar, I should be doing somethin’ else with me life.” Maisie shrugged. 

“Wait, wait, wait,” Mason shook his head as he listened to his sister speak; eyebrows furrowed in a weighty sense of confusion as he took a seat at the table across from her. He wished he had any idea what was going on in that head a’ hers - he wished he knew how to help. But Mace couldn’t help but feel helpless when it came to his baby sister lately... couldn’t help but feel like he was constantly doing the exact wrong thing whenever he had the chance. “What the hell are you talkin’ about, ‘somethin’ wrong with you?’ You’re doin’ your best, Mais... gettin’ on your feet. Right? There’s nothing wrong with that - or with you.” 

“You just about done, Weirdo?” Mason could only raise an amused eyebrow - just a tinge of annoyance playing at the edge of his expression - as Marissa began rattling off words like they were desperate to escape her tongue. The man unable to do much else but laugh as his sister kicked him in the side. “Colt and I are fine, I work like a dog, and I ain’t ever gonna be happy to see you in my ER. Does that about cover my bases, or...?” He shrugged - sure his little monologue might land him another kick to his side - but he couldn’t bring himself to care much. A real laugh leaving his lungs this time as Mace began flipping through his sisters chart with a little more dramatics this time; directly in response to the silly story was spinning. “Wow -- Super cool. You know, it says here you’re not concussed, but after that masterpiece... I don’t know. Maybe I should check you out again, huh? Make sure there’s nothing kooky goin’ on up in that head a’ yours.” 

“Please pretty please, can we just go to the drive-in today?” Lena hadn’t ever been, and Romeo wasn’t exactly one for showing his face much lately. She’d been looking at the poster in the coffee shop she’d dragged Mason to, when she came up with the idea to take him. Besides, she barely got chance to actually make plans with him anymore, the last time she saw him being an accidental run-in at the Fall Festival. “I’ll literally buy your ticket.” @masxnd​

“Oh, come on, Lena. You know it’s already a miracle you got me all the way out here, right?” Mason had hardly even planned on getting out of bed that day, let alone venturing out to get coffee, but he had always had a hard time saying no... and saying no to Lena’s pleading? Definitely harder than he liked to admit. He just sighed as he took a long gulp of the coffee lodged between his hands; a small grin spreading over his expression. “Yeah, yeah -- we’ll go. But you’re gonna have to get me at least another latte if you’re expectin’ me to stay awake through this whole plan a’ yours. You barely even gave me time to nap before you went draggin’ me outta’ my damn apartment.” 

“I’m gonna deny it until the day they bury me, Maggie May. Don’t you go forgetting it.” Mason just chuckled, taking her shove in stride as he settled back against his pillow. The thought of ‘Christmas Onesies’ contorting his expression as he tried to focus on the beginning of the movie. “For one -- how about we never say, ‘Disney and Chill’ again, huh? Two... Why are you even botherin’ askin’ me about those damn onesies? We all know my theme always gets passed over for whatever y’all wanna do anyway. Put me in a cape, turn me into a damn unicorn again if you have to. I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m done tryin’ to push Star Wars on everyone for the rest of my damn life.”

“Right. Always a hard line to walk when you’re playin’ games with soon-to-be exes, right?” Mason raised an eyebrow at her, unable to keep the grin off of his lips as he reached for one of the daisies to take for his own. Twirling it in his fingers for a moment before playfully boppin’ her right on the nose with it. “I’m not sure there is a balance there, Beauchamp -- and I’m not so sure the daisies make a difference. But if it helps, I’m thinkin’ he’s gonna have a hard time gettin’ over you either way, so... I think you got some time before he goes out and falls in love again.” 

diana: that is a very good point. good to know you like my flavor.

diana: nope, not kidding. actually happened. was like talking to someone all normal then having him hit me in the face with a brick or something. haha. no not really fine but i will be. no big deal. just sucks.

diana: oh you do, huh? i think that one of these days you need to not change out of 'em when you come over. and wear your lab coat too. and bring a stethoscope. :)

diana: what did he accuse you of? -well you don't usually give me bitter petty vibes, you're like... soft and sweet and sometimes i feel like i'm gonna break you. it's kinda comforting to know you can be a little harsh too, you know? makes me feel like a less shitty person. or like i'm not alone in it, at least.

diana: i guess, but i haven't really had a fight with annie ever, i don't think? is that weird? i'd be devastated if she was upset with me. yeah, i suppose you are.... but didn't that feud last forever?

mason: it's a good flavor. i'm not gonna lie about it.

mason: i wouldn't exactly say it's no big deal, Hamilton. especially if you're feelin like you got clocked with a brick, right? you can talk about it if ya want. i'm not gonna stop you.

mason: something tells me that you probably DON'T want my sweaty scrubs in your bed? we can talk about the lab coat though. we can DEFINITELY talk about the lab coat. little bit scared about what you want the stethoscope for, though?

mason: you feel like you're gonna break me? jeez, hamilton. you're making me feel like fuckin porcelain over here, you know? besides -- you're TEACHING THE FUTURE OF AMERICA. how could you possibly be a shitty person? you're... you know. you're good.

mason: i wouldn't go around calling you weird, but... I don't know. i guess boys are better at letting shit build up, aren't they?

“Look, I know I probably should have called first, but it was hard enough tracking your address down without adding your phone number into that hunt, so... ” Mason raised his brows up at Anna, leaning into the frame in her doorway with something that resembled a grin slowly making it’s way over his expression. He was more than happy to see her - he was the one who had just showed up on her doorstep, after all - but there was something within him that couldn’t be sure that she would be quite so happy to see him too. Maybe it was just his regular brand of anxiety eating away at him, or maybe it was just the years they had spent avoiding each other... either way, he couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that she was better off without him in her life again. “Here I am. I figured I’d take my chances on surprising you, and just give you the option to tell me to get the hell out of here if you needed to. Hope you, uh... don’t mind.” 

 He was almost tempted to get angry again, just for the excuse to walk the hell away and try to forget about his own fuck-ups for a few more days. Tempted to deny everything and insist that he was just as okay as he tried to make everyone think that he was... But with every word that Colton spoke, Mason felt his resolve breaking. He felt pieces and parts of the wall he built around himself begin to crumble, and before he knew it every part of him was trembling under the weight of the tension between them. “I...” Was all he could manage to say for a long moment; stumbling just a bit as he focused on anything but Colton’s eye line. “I don’t know what to fuckin’ say, Colt. Alright? I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. You’re right, okay?” Mason could feel the anxiety start to set in to his veins; he could feel his eyes stinging as the tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. “You’re right. I’m a fuckin’ mess, and we both know it -- this whole fuckin’ town knows it.” The man just shook his head, shrugging his shoulders like he couldn’t quite figure out what else to do with his hands. “You’re not the bad guy here, and you’re not a fuckin’ monster either... No, I uh, I think I’ve got both those titles on lock down over here. I’m just fuckin’ sorry for dragging you into all my shit, alright? I’m just - I’m fuckin’ sorry, Colt.” 

“…No comment? Come on, My! Don’t make me go regrettin’ my month a’ dance lessons, now. You’re makin’ us both look bad.”