Misfits' Misery

Something about him is off. The Misfits know it. None of them can pinpoint what exactly it is; they have to continue to watch him. It's hard, though, because Mason is just so... Mason. He's wild and unpredictable. Nonetheless, the gang knows their friend - if something is really affecting him, he'll tell them... Right? He always does... Doesn't he?

⟨·~·⟩

"Mason, buddy, you alright?"

The Australian turns to Eric and grins crookedly. "Yeah, cunt. I got hurt jumping into the pool earlier, that's all. I'll be alright."

That's the end of that conversation, Eric realizes, as Mason simply saunters off towards Toby and Matt. He also realizes that that grin was not genuine. However, the possibility that jumping into the pool hurt Mason is genuine. He did jump in butt-naked.

"Yo, Cam, can we talk? Alone?"

Cameron senses the seriousness in Eric's voice and nods. "Of course, man. Let's go to your room." They walk in and Eric closes the door while Cameron sits on the bed. "What's up?"

"I'm worried about Mason."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, man, something's not right with him. I can't figure out what it is. He's acting strange, which is saying a lot considering who we're talking about."

"Now that I think about it, I've kinda noticed that, too. I don't know what it is, either. Have the others noticed anything?"

"Not that I know of." Eric rubs his hands over his face in frustration.

"Let's go ask Toby," Cameron suggests. "She's pretty observant with these kinds of things."

The two leave the bedroom and search for Toby. She's still downstairs with Matt, except Mason isn't with them anymore.

"Where's Mason?" Eric's voice is laced with concern.

"I think he left," Matt replies.

"What? Where'd he go?"

"I don't know, probably the same place he goes every weekend. Why all the questions?"

"We're worried about him." Cameron decides to take over for Eric. "Have you noticed anything off about him? Has he said anything to either of you?"

Toby shrugs. "Him leaving every weekend seems odd, but I don't feel the need to pry."

"Yeah," Matt agrees, "I haven't really noticed anything too striking. Has he said anything to you?"

Cameron and Eric exchange looks. "No, but..."

"But what?"

"Everytime I see him, he's got some new injury. Whether it's visible or not, he keeps getting hurt. Mason is really clumsy, but not that clumsy. I think... Well, this might be quite a stretch, but either he's hurting himself on purpose or someone else is. I mean, we have no idea where he disappears to every Saturday and Sunday. Who knows what's happening to him?"

Toby, Matt, and even Cameron are all thrown off by this. There's no way Eric can be right. Mason? Hurting himself? Even the thought of someone else hurting him is weird. Who would be physically hurting him?

"What... What kind of injuries do you see?" Toby wants- No, Toby has to know what she's been missing.

Eric glances around and whispers, "Maybe we should talk somewhere else... Just in case he walks in. We should get Jay, too."

Everyone agrees so they make their way to Toby's room, fetching Jay in the process. Cameron and Matt sit on the bed, Toby sits in her desk chair, and Eric and Jay stand.