Just Shy of Greatness

Mason Hill | 38 | Retired Still working my ass off every day for the NHL, it's just not too often I strap on a pair of skates, to do it. Elisabeth Island

[masxnhill]

jcstinhill​:

@masxnhill​

He didn’t know how to process what he had found out tonight. Normally Justin had no problems wrapping his head around things. Always able to make sense of them but there had been an entire sensory overload and he needed someone to bounce it back on. Normally he would go to Olivia with this sort of thing, but he needed someone who could relate. And the only parents he was close to, were Mason and Forrest. Going to Mason with this had been the most obvious choice. Also because Mason was mostly levelheaded and was able to keep him from spiraling should it go there. Getting to Mason’s house, he had forgotten to bring along the extra set of keys that belonged to his home, his mind being an absolute clutter at the moment. So he rang the doorbell three times in a row, looking around the hallway he had just walked through, bouncing on his feet as he waited for his brother to open the door and desperately trying to stay calm so he wouldn’t explode in Mason’s face as soon as he would see him. 

Mason hadn’t had time to react to the first ring of the bell by the time it’d rang two more times. He knew Justin was coming over, but hadn’t bothered to unlock the door to his apartment; Justin had a key and could let himself in, as he usually did. The frantic ringing, however, suggested two things to Mason, however; the first was that it was Justin, anxious, and either not thinking or having forgotten his keys, or the second, that it was someone else entirely, though he had no idea who it could be or what it was they wanted. He was leaning towards the first; Justin hadn’t replied to tell him how he was doing when he asked after dropping the bomb that his ex had come back and asked if it was okay that he was on his way over... it suggested he wasn’t doing great, though from the moment he texted him, he hadn’t suspected that Justin was doing too great. Raising off the cough, he wasn’t sure if the piece of old furniture or his knees put up more of a protest to the change of position, but he made his way over to the door and opened it, presenting a beer to his brother, immediately. “Alright, so, what’s going on?” Mason asked without hesitation, his voice coming out in a half sigh — he didn’t suspect anything good — as he stepped aside to let his brother into the apartment.

[thearrowgifs]

[asherbennett]

@masxnhill

[masxnhill]

📱 Justin & Mason

Justin: Sienna is in town.

Justin: I'm on my way to you now if that's good for you?

Mason: Yeah. You're always good to come over.

Mason: You doing okay?

[masxnhill]

📱 Justin & Mason

Justin: Where are you?

Justin: I really need to talk to you.

Mason: I'm at home.

Mason: What's going on?

[masxnhill]

bcllaricci‌:

          Having only lived on the island for the last five years, Bella wasn’t really used to these bonfires and vigil lanterns. She was intrigued by the tradition and there was something warming about the hope it allowed to bloom in the chests of the worried. It was something that was both good and bad, and the whole of what had happened and there being zero trace within a week’s time is what mostly resonated with her. Bella had pretty much grown up on a boat, called the oceans of the world home in her youth and this repeated vanishing was peculiar to her. Yet in conversations with anyone, especially here at the bonfire, she kept her speculations to herself.

          “Uh, hmm,” some soft chuckling bubbled up her throat and her eyes briefly scanned their surroundings, “I think he found his friends and is running around with them.” Slender shoulders shrugged and a pleased smile was directed at her new and very welcomed company. This was Conrad’s oldest brother and sibling, someone who meant a great deal to him and therefore meant much to her as well. Bella could tell something was off with the way Mason plopped down at her side, it just wasn’t something she felt was entirely out of the ordinary. Most everyone was drinking and doing so beyond their limit, and to top it off she was acutely aware of Mason’s haunt. She’d been keeping a close eye on Conrad, well, up until now since she couldn’t find him. “I’m okay,” extending her hand she briefly squeezed Mason’s forearm, “the worst is over I think. I just couldn’t stand being inside anymore after the hospital and the chamber, so despite Conrad’s protests here we are. Or, well, myself at least.” A soft smile painted onto her visage, appreciating the care though not wanting to further worry anybody. “You don’t have to worry though. He’s been on top of everything, to the point where I’m concerned that I’m interfering with his responsibilities and obligations.” Perhaps this wasn’t the best time to extend conversation into something of a big brother talk, for herself not Mason’s youngest. “How are you doing? You holding up okay through all this?”

Mason smiled when Bella suggested that Conrad had found friends and was running around with them, mostly because it evoked some memory of when his youngest brother was younger, playing with friends on the beaches of the island, Mason lingering in the distance, there if he was needed. Mason, honestly, wouldn’t be surprised if some of the friends he was running around with now weren’t some of the same ones he ran around with back in the day. He easily could have gotten lost in his thoughts but Bella’s hand gently squeezing his forearm pulled him back to the present and his present company. “I think you’re forgetting that I am both a big brother, and a dad... worrying is kind of all I’m good for,” he chuckled gently, but nodded his head. “I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better, though, and glad to see you out and about.” His words and smile were earnest as he directed them towards Bella. He’d gone to visit her when she was in the hospital, and he honestly hadn’t been sure of what to make of the whole situation. He much preferred to see her in her natural setting. Mason’s smile, however, changed, pulling tight around the edges as his shoulders lifted in a shrug. “As well as I can, I suppose,” he answered nodding his head slightly. It wasn’t entirely earnest, but he wasn’t sure how to tell her what he had been avoiding telling his siblings, that he was struggling more with this than he ever could have guessed he would.

[masxnhill]

LOCATION Tortue Cove WHEN Bonfire & Vigil TAGGING @bcllaricci​

Sobriety had long since left Mason. If he was honest, he wasn’t entirely sober when he’d arrived at the bonfire. He wasn’t quite drunk, yet, but he was starting to be aware of the alcohol in coursing through his veins. He’d hoped it would dull the sense of dread that plagued him since the moment the time and date were announced. It didn’t, though, and so he had continued trying to drown out the feeling.

Of course it had been coming; why wouldn’t it? They had one every time someone disappeared at sea; they had one for his father, and for every man lost since... it was just that he hadn’t been around for those since. It was safe to say he didn’t want to be here. Wandering around the beach, he spotted a familiar face seemingly content as she took in the fresh air, spread out on a blanket. “I’m surprised to find you without my brother,” Mason admitted as he hunkered down in the sand beside her blanket with a dull thud as he landed — the somewhat clumsy maneuver the only true showing of just how not sober he was. “How are you feeling? If there’s anything you need, you know to let me know, right? I’ll make sure Conrad takes care of it for you, before he does anything else.” Mason’s tone was light, hiding his true feelings about everything that had gone on, what had brought them there; there was, however, genuine concern and interest on his face as he looked over at Bella. Conrad loved her, and she seemed to love him too; they seemed to make each other happy, and all Mason really wanted for Conrad was love and happiness, so if he could help with that in any way, he was eager to do so.

[masxnhill]

cxnradhill‌:

“I’m an excellent teacher. You are a terrible student.” Conrad bickered with his older brother. This was something that happened more often than not. They had that similar personality where they couldn’t help but clash heads. “If Mack knew it was me, there is no way in hell she’d be coming fast.” He chuckled. “You just have to hit the home button on the GPS and the directions will take you there. It’s simple.” It was interesting to Conrad. In Canada, anyone any age could get their boating license. He got his when he was a kid while his older siblings still didn’t. It was funny because they all had their pilot licenses and he generally thought flying a plane was much more dangerous than driving a boat. “All the channels are listed on the radio. Coast Guard is always channel 1. Fremont Fishers are channel 7. Isabella and her crew are channel 4.” He smirked giving him another rundown once again. Conrad playfully rolled his eyes at Mason before scooping the caught fish on the end of the line with the net. “I am always growing and compared to you, still a boy.” He chuckled, handing the net to Mason. “Congrats, you caught yourself a trout.” 

Mason’s expression went flat as Conrad suggested all he had to do was hit the home button and follow the directions. “That doesn’t tell me how to read where the rocks are! This is why you’re a terrible teacher,” Mason laughed before letting out a light sigh at the rundown that he’d heard at least six times before, mouthing along with the rundown. "Why do you have them listed if you have a photographic memory, exactly?” he teased lightly at his brother. “Hey! Something different, this time,” he declared almost excitedly as he dumped the fish into the cooler.

[masxnhill]

HAND OF GOD (OUTRO) — jon bellion

Your whole life's in the hand of God Tears at a funeral, tears at a funeral, I might break Angry at all the things, angry at all the things I can't change When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith

[masxnhill]

You like to dominate in bed.

Hell, we just got really personal, didn’t we? The truth of the matter is... as far as what I do and don’t like in bed is still a bit of a mystery to me. I haven’t exactly done a lot of experimenting to figure out what it is that gets my jollies going, if you must know.

[masxnhill]

You miss your work and the big city.

The big city? Not in the slightest. My work? If you mean playing hockey, well, definitely true. I love what I do with the league, now, but do I wish I was still playing? You fucking bet.

[masxnhill]

You have a favorite sibling.

“That’s a definite false. Us Hills don’t do favorites. It’s like our company line.”

[stars-bean]

[clementinereddy-deactivated2021]

featuring: @masxnhill

[askboxmemes]

True/False game. Make an assumption about me in my ask and I’ll tell you if its true or false. Go.

[lukas-musings]

     You were a 𝘴𝘶𝘣-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 dad

                                                   but the only one I 𝑯𝑨𝑫

[masxnhill]

jcstinhill‌:

“For being known as the kindest nation, we do like our aggressive sports, don’t we?” Justin snorted, chomping down on a new slice of pizza. He would’ve liked to play normal hockey if it had been a big thing here, he wasn’t much worth on water.. or frozen water for that matter. Nah He would watch ice hockey at a safe distance only. He wouldn’t even dare to go on ice skates for he would fall flat on his face within seconds. Mason got the skills in that area, not him. “All right, all right, you’ve made your point. Normal hockey, no, violent hockey, yes.” He was just going to sum it up that way, because he knew that would bug the crap out of Mason, which was evident with the smirk on his face. He meant it all in a good jest of course, he wasn’t as daft as he liked to come across sometimes. He had brains and he wasn’t afraid to use them. “Don’t you miss it? Being in the thick of it?” 

Mason was ninety percent certain that sometimes... just sometimes, Justin’s main goal was to get under his skin, when it came to the sport he was so passionate about; between remarks about aggressive sports, and it being ‘violent hockey’, this definitely felt like one of those times. Mason wasn’t going to let it ruin his mood, however. Tossing his half-eaten piece of pizza back in the box, he lounged back, shaking his head ever so slightly at his brother. “You do realize I’ve done actual Ted talks about violence in sports and the rate of head injuries in the sport, right?” Sometimes Mason wasn’t sure he was the only one that was forgetful. Sure, Justin was easily the brains in the room, when it came to the pair of them, but sometimes it seemed like he was just as forgetful as Mason could be at times. Still, he nodded his head at the question of missing it and being in the thick of it. “More than I could even put into words. But unless I find a men’s league that’s no contact, and sticks to that rule... it’s not worth the risk.” There was already enough risk, every time he strapped on a pair of skates and took to the ice. Sure, he was good on his feet, but even the best of the best lost an edge sometimes, and if he hit his head just right, who knows where he’d be left.

[camlampinen-deactivated20210306]

[robertoluongo]