ruthless readers

June: Just because I didn’t make tofurkey? Mason: Yeah, just because of that, sweetness. And just because you put wings with a drive chain on my back. And just because you loved and protected and brought up as right you could, a kid that could have been me. But mostly because I was better from the day I met you. You make me better. You make me wanna be a better man. Also, you’re hot as fuck, and you make my dick harder than steel. But other than that, no, there ain’t no reason for me to be this fucking in love with you.

June: You think Razo’s the worst thing that ever happened to me. But I promise you, he’s not. Those fifteen years before everything went to shit are the worst thing, and that’s why I never, ever talk about the time before. Do you understand? Mason: Yeah, I do. I ain’t never had nothing good to miss. Can’t imagine having it, then losing it like you did. I’m sorry that happened to you. June: Me, too.

June: Christmas? Mason: Yeah, it’s coming up. June: Yes, after Halloween…and Thanksgiving. I want to make Jordan a big Thanksgiving meal this year. And you, too…if you plan to be here. Mason: I’ll be here. D’s trying to get me to go to Seattle for Thanksgiving, but his old lady is fucking insane. And by fucking insane I mean vegan. I’ll be damned if I will pass up a home cooked meal for tofurkey or whatever goddamn nonsense she got planned. June: Uh…okay… Then I’ll get us a turkey.

Mason: Is this the real you I’m seeing here, June? The woman who’s been hiding under all that silence—that who I’m talking with right now? June: *Nods.* Mason: Well, fuck me! I’ve sure been waiting a long time to meet you, darlin’!

June: Do you miss him? Your father, I mean. Mason: Yeah, but not the way you might think. It’s… it’s hard not to have somebody to hate. Somebody to direct all your anger at. When that goes away, you have to live your life, and you can’t hide behind what fucked you up anymore. You have to deal with who you are, and the choices you’ve made.

June: Why did you buy me from Razo? Mason: I can’t say for sure. I kind of surprised myself when I did it. June: Do you have slave fantasies? I mean, is this— Mason: No! It ain’t nothing like that. I really don’t know what this is. Can’t explain it. But it ain’t anything to do with slaves. I just…I wanted you, is all. From the moment you stepped in front of me and my gun. And I knew the only way I could convince Razo to give you up was talking to him in a language he would understand: money.

Jordan: Last time Razo hit June…it was real bad. I thought she was going to die. She said she wanted to a couple times. Told me to let her go. But I begged her to stay. That’s probably the only reason she still alive... I should have gotten her out of there. I should have figured a way for us to leave. Mason: Sounds like you kept her out of some dark places, kid. That’s worth something. Giving someone a reason to live counts for a lot more than you might think.

Mason: You know, I been where you’re at, kid. Watched my mom get beat for years. It’s a goddamn mind fuck. Jordan: So you wasn’t always big? You couldn’t protect your mom? Mason: Nope. My size comes from growing up, staying fit, and keeping the promise I made to myself that I’d never let anyone give me a beat down again. Ain’t no such thing as a kid big enough to stop the adults in his life from doing what they gonna do. That shit shouldn’t be up to a kid to handle, anyway.

Mason: You know I’d never hurt June, right? Or you. Jordan: Yeah, I know. Otherwise, I would have stole your wallet a long time ago.