A Scripta

I'm getting irritated with Masonry. I started writing this with an entirely different ending in mind, that Mase would understand "Laughter is the best medicine" and ended up with this. Yes, it's in character. But it bothers me that he won't change.

Masonry tore off the bucket helm and threw it, watching it slam into and through a metal box near the warehouse.

Nate -

They laughed at me!

Which was the purpose!

He looked down at his lime green pants with the blue diamonds. "I can't believe you talked me into this!"

Nate -

"Frosty was uncomfortable with it, he probably thinks I'm going to go get myself a mask next - and...they laughed at me!"

Nate.

"And things are still all fucked up, E's still dying, and you made them all laugh at me."

When we first started the night, E was discussing how he was dying. By the end of the evening, he had a smile on his face, which is better than what we began, don't you think? And Fyre probably found it amusing.

"She would." A pedestrian walking past him stopped to look at him when he spoke. He glared. The woman kept walking.

Nate, is there a difference between your being a punching bag for Fyre or E, or being the butt of a joke?

"Of course there is."

What?

"I can take being hit. I want them to hit me until all their anger and frustration is out. I want them to do everything they want to destroy me."

She'll kill you.

"Don't you think I don't know that? Do you think I care?"

And she won't feel the least bit guilty about it.

Masonry jerked up his head. "What?" he whispered.

You'll be a flicker on her memory and then gone. You've made her hate you *that* much. Masonry walked, not paying attention to the direction, listening to the gentle voice in his mind. I know what you're trying to do, Nate, but not everyone handles stress the way you do. She might not be able to "vent" it. She'll let loose on you and walk away. Then we'll both be dead and for what? How can we help Frosty then? How can we help E?

"E doesn't want our help."

You said the same thing but he still helped you. You owe him that much.

"He's dying."

You know that, he knows that. He doesn't need to be reminded. Don't ignore it, but stop it. Stop goading Fyre. Like Kit said, you hurt Fyre, you hurt E.

He stopped. "I know."

Do you remember what you did to make her happy?

What do I care if she's happy or not?

There was silence in his mind for quite some time before Jack said, You are jealous. You want her to beat you not because you want her to feel better, but so you actually have the chance to kill her.

Yes. All emotion emptied from him, and even Jack couldn't find it for a moment.

If you kill her that's not going to change E's mind for you, in fact, he'll turn entirely on you.

Maybe.

Nate! Think! He's not interested!

It's not that anymore. He looked at his reflection in the window. "He refused me."

He has the r--

Masonry put his head through the window. Then he slammed his head against the wall to silence the squid and knock himself unconscious.