Is this a realistic piece? Mason sighed in frustration, balling another pair of grass-stained socks into his fist. His duffel bag was overflowing with various jerseys and underwear, his only ticket to safe night on a cracked linoleum floor. The soulless yellow lights of the laundromat had become a companion in the night, with the hum of a washing machine spinning in his brain. Just as he had flung his locker door closed , and eased himself down onto his bag, wresting with the haphazard zipper, Victor flew around the corner. "Hey Mace , I can't stop and talk , have to train the guys and drive through bloody traffic to get there" . He spoke in a blurred rush of distraction as he grabbed a shirt from his locker. "Yo Vic, hello to you too..." Mason sighed again, his exasperation growing at the lack of greeting. "Sorry Mace, know , Ivy League commitments, I just , it never slows up. See you later." Mason didn't even look up from his overstuffed problem, the duffels teeth caught on a jersey sleeve, jarring the zip. "Ah hell , this is all so -". Exhaling in defeat Mason slammed his back against a random lock and started a phrase that wouldn't reach any ears but his own . "hey VIC , could I crash your place tonight-" . Victors eyes sailed past Mason's in a frenzied blur. "Gotta go buddy, stay safe , have fun out there , catch you later" And with that Victor was gone, tugging his shirt over his back as he rounded the corner at lightning speed. "Yeah, that guy really needs to slow down ." Mason was alone again, gazing down in despondency at his laundry and his subsequent evening of drifting . As he resigned himself to the realities of his night, Ethan came sauntering round the corner, noticing Mason's presence, he stopped and offered a hand. "Mason? You need help with that? " Mason gazed up from his bag, relieved at the sound of acknowledgment. "Hey Eth, yeah if you could just hold that end down while I zip this sanded thing up" Ethan's eyes were sunken , as he held down the fabric as Mason yanked the zipper closed. "Thanks man, so what's up?" . Ethan , sinking down onto the uneven duffel bag , shrugged with exhaustion. "Not much, was needing to talk to Vic but , can't chase that guy down these days" Mason sighed yet again, concern passing through his stare . "Yeah I worry about him sometimes . He'll have an aneurism yet." Ethan laughed , fatigued showing in in lack-lustre demeanour . "He means well , Mace , but yeah he bites off more than he can chew , then spits it all over ya" Mason grinned back , shaking his head with agreement. "Yeah , poor ol' Victory boy . Anyway , I need to ask you a favour " Ethan rested his head on his fist , seemingly unfazed by the prospect . "Sure , hit me. " Mason paused in hesitation, glaring into the light just above Ethan's head as he framed the predicament, not even having a starting point . "I know you have treatments , probably tonight yeah?" . Ethan ran an exhausted hand through his hair and nodded "Yeah, I'm doing a four hour stint , not looking forward to it, why?" . Mason leaned in closer , meeting Ethan's tired eyes "any chance I can crash at your place , I'll have a decent meal ready when you get back , I'm trying to avoid my roommate because , well it's complicated-" Ethan stared back , his gaze softened with understanding. "It's fine .we could both use the food . I'll see you around nine ?" Mason , still musing the weight of the bag and his hunger levels , nodded amicably. "It's a plan Eth, I can throw together a mean plate of nachos, maybe a few mission style burritos. Your stomach will love me " . Ethan's laugh was filled with amusement, as he laced one of Mason's bag handles through his knuckles . "Oh , I'll be looking forward to that bro, you can do wicked things with tortilla chips .. and hospital food is garbage . Thanks , and don't hesitate to stay at mine whenever ." Mason rose and hauled the remaining strap off the floor groaning as he alleviated Ethan of the other . "This thing must contain every piece of clothing I own, I'll have to do some laundry at your's first , then I'll show your hot plate who's boss ." Ethan stepped backwards, his lean frame unbalanced by the sudden removal of the weight from his grip . "I really need to get back into training.." Mason's palm came down on Ethan's shoulder with a centred thump. "Well, you look like hell at the moment but, maybe you could talk to your doc about it later huh? I know Vic misses you as corner, he's been whooping Logan's ass a little too hard out of frustration." Laughing in response , Ethan shook his head "yeah , he's not about to accept the loss of my razor sharp skills huh?" They both stared at Mason's loaded shoulder , a silent moment of shared memories encompassing them. "Yeah, we all want you back out there , Ethan. But for now , let me at least lend your sofa a nice imprint of my ass ". Ethan , snorting in approval, clapped Mason over the back as they staggered out of the locker room and went their seperate ways .

Do Mason and Ethan seem to be close friends

Is their way of way of speaking realistic

Is it clear who's speaking

But is the dialogue itself effective

It's an excerpt so context isn't needed for the reader

Please highlight some effective dialogue

Any more ?

Any other ones?

So they seem like typical young men

Is the humour good ? Like the joke about masons imprint ?

So they share their feeling while maintaining masculinity

How about in this passage : Victor gazed at Ethan intently , registering the gravity as he leaned in closer from his recline against his unopened locker, whispering in a low tone . "So the transfusion was a failed match, and that led to ..". As his eyes filled with detachment , Ethan nodded , his voice rough with a bitter tinge that he bit back as he spoke . "Yeah .. my kidneys just never recovered. The head injury caused ...all of this." His voice, broken by the rasp in his throat , shook as a humourless laugh escaped him. " One lousy second and it all changed , I messed up the game , and I nearly bled out." His fingers, hovering at his temple , followed his voice as it trailed into silence , laying cold against the afternoon sunlight. Victor sank down even further against his locker , his voice chasing a faint whisper . "Thanks for trusting me with this , Eth." With a fistful of hair clutched amongst his knuckles, Ethan inhaled as his voice tore to shreds. But you kept me alive out there, when I needed help to breathe. When I was convulsing , and my jaw locked , I thought I'd die , Vic" Ethan gazed out into open space , not quite forming his next sentence, as it bled into the spaces between the streams of light that painted his features with shadows . "And maybe I really should have . . ". His bitter sigh , followed by the distant sound of a stray football rolling down the empty hallway, settled icily in the air. At first , neither of them shifted from their position , the unease slicing through the placating sunshine and leaving a sharp chill in its wake . Then, as if unthawing from his thoughts , Victor feathered his grip in his dark hair , tilting backwards against the wall, a dazed expression overtaking his pupils. "Wait , Ethan , I had no idea you felt this way ..". Gazing at Ethan with a disoriented expression, he maintained distance , seeking purchase from the locker-lined wall behind him, disengaging his eyes. As he did so, the accosting white light of the ceiling barred his irises with an imperceptible glow. "When I nearly lost you out on the field , your head in my lap, it broke me. Please don't talk like that, Eth". Victor glanced away in devastation , his voice trembling as it dissipated and he hung his head in a resigned silence . Ethan , failing to elevate his stare from where it had fallen to the floor, said nothing, as if words had no literal meaning any longer. The disconcerting thud of the football coming to a stop in the hall caused Ethan to embrace his knees tighter, numbed by the silence of its absence. Finally , as the shock of his own admission melted into regret , the metal walled room seemed to encompass him in despair. "I apologise for laying this on you Vic, I know it's a lot ..." Victor leaned forward with a protective instinct, wrapping his arm around Ethan's shoulder as he pulled him inwards . As their shoulders touched , Victor's open palm landed with a solid thump on Ethan's back, expressing both camaraderie and a silent promise of support. "It's a lot but, don't you dare think you're alone, Eth, you just take care of yourself, alright? Sure your health has changed but you're the guy who drove me out of town when I needed an escape that time . " Ethan's nod of disagreement spoke volumes as he sank to the ground , his spine dragging to the locker room floor as he balanced his head between his knees. "But it's easy enough for you to tell me to take care of this broken body , not sure it's worth saving these days...." .The fabric of his jeans muffled his voice as he took refuge behind his slanted thighs, though Victor honed in on every word , his gaze piercing into Ethan's as he crouched down at his side. " You must be going through hell right now , but if I'm honest, that night you drove me into oblivion in your Volkswagen changed my life , I had to stop living in your backseat . Had to get the apartment . Had to find a new corner when you went down on the field the following summer and , Logan is solid but.. he's not you Ethan. You're still my best friend, the one who saved my ass. "Through a haze of disillusionment, Ethan's vision blurred with scathing tears he blinked away. "But I'm a shadow of who I used to be , Vic. I don't know who I am anymore . Am I still that same guy.. I'm not quite so sure ". Victor's shoulders draped over the bench behind him , his eyes confronting the harsh fluorescent lighting as he lamented lost freedoms. Not invading Ethan's stare into the distance, his gaze danced with the gleam from the sallow light above. The haunting months he'd spent in that car seemed all too close, yet all too far away. "Of course you are Ethan , and I won't let you forget it. I know it's hard , but you're not alone in that . And you're still that escape driving bad-ass." Not moving from the ground as he closed his eyes , Ethan evaded Victor in hesitation, his shoulders slumping with uncertainty . "Yeah , I did drive you away from that bastard..." Ethan's shoulders tensed with conflict as he gripped his worn jeans in frustration. In no state for heroics, his breath hitched as he addressed the wall in front of him . "But anyone would have done the same . You weren't safe that night-It was nothing. I had to protect you , and I'd do it again. " Ethan, choking back tears in defiance, interred his reddened eyes into his jeans for a moment, reeling in confusion , his vision scathing with the heat of his retinas . Victor's unwavering stare gently argued with Ethan's deflection , causing Ethan to gaze upwards in acknowledgment of his friends silent gratitude . Ethan's hand , massaging reassurance into his neck as he continued, kept him from collapsing as he met Victors waiting stare . "And yeah, I'd drive you to Diego again if I could . You know it. ". Ethan ran his hands through his disheveled hair as his chest lightened for a fleeting moment , his gaze falling away as he sighed into his lap. Victor closed his weathered hazel eyes before opening them again , blinking away exhaustion. "I do Ethan , and that's why I'll be damned if we sit alone in here all afternoon. C'mon. We'll come through this together. I never once did what anyone would do, I kept you breathing because I had no other choice." Victor then took a moment to clear his gravelled throat, and helped Ethan to his feet , easing him into an unaided stance. Grabbing his bag and heading for the door , he released his grip on Ethan's shoulder and sent him a wordless nod which Ethan returned, along with a crooked smirk. As he let Ethan find balance and stretch his rigid legs, Victor hoisted his bag higher over his shoulder . "I have to run the team through drills, but I'll see you tonight, whenever Mace gets his ass together and drives you over to mine. " Ethan hoisted his own duffel bag over his frame , gathering his shattered bearings as he followed behind, the mild November sun caressing his face as he avoided the field , heading for the parking lot. "Yeah, later Vic, kick their asses , bro" . As Victor's figure broke into a wearied jog and headed towards his teammates, Ethan released a heavy sigh and staggered across the parking lot to a bus shelter , preparing himself for the brief ride back to the hospital to receive treatment . His cannulated arm burned from his invasive dialysis procedures, which he now dread. His fingers ran along his hairline, tracing the scar from his ruptured laceration, and he cursed under his breath, poised to spit . Maybe it was self indulgent, he shrugged as his hatred flew from his mouth , caring little for the bitter taste as his bus rattled into view. Only eight minutes had passed and he was already death warming up, shaking his head at the way his body betrayed him . How it never endured more than a few hours out for a spin before careening into a ditch. He hailed the cold headlights and stumbled onto the bus, sinking an against the cracked, lime green cushion of the seat, watching his reflection in the passing scenery. As trees flew by in his devoid stare , his hands turned out his lighter free pockets in habitual dismay. All blurring into each other, the impeccable kept houses and pavements only served as a temporary backdrop of his walks home after practice. The stench of perspiration in the late afternoon clouding his head as his light jog pumped fresh air into his lungs . His arms wrapped around his chest , as he sought warmth in the air condoned evening . Before he could fall asleep , the bus lurched to a halt , depositing him at his destination. Or so he thought, as a familiar silhouette boarded the bus and swung down into the seat behind him. "Mason? Bro how've you been?" . Ethan bumped Mason's fist in greeting , as Mason wore his infallible trademark smile, lopsided but that night masking concern. "Ethan? What's up? You don't look too good, you on your way to a dialysis stint? " . Ethan , nodding without the strength to deny it, slung an arm over the back of his seat , his darkened eyes filtering some light from the fluorescent marquee flashing the next destinations of the route. "Hospital's three more stops , I was on my way to meet this friend of a friend but , I think we need to catch up , Ethan." Mason absorbed Ethan's angular features, and hollowed eye sockets with unease and surprise, that he laced with his causal demeanour. "Yeah, if you have four hours, I'll just be strapped in a bed.. having this impure blood cleaned" Ethan muttered with a dark chuckle, more to himself than anyone else. A moment later, he slapped his fist over the stop button, groaning at the traction of the bus grinding to a halt . Jolted forward, Mason haphazardly pulled himself out of his seat and slid his hands into his pockets . "I'll give you some hours , buddy, you look like you could use the company in there". As the two friends upheld each other, stumbling into the street, Ethan scaled the hospital with his reluctant eyes, and glanced at Mason before shivering in his thin jacket. "Are you sure you want to see this.." Mason offered a deep shrug, smiling with an unfazed warmth. "I don't care about trivial crap like blood. Or swab tests. Bring on the cardboard cafeteria food , I bet the pizza is half decent tonight" . Mason delivered a swift nudge to Ethan's ribs as he laughed in spite of his depleted mental state. "God, it's good to see you , Mace. I was only thinking about that trip upstate , last night. Those were some good times" "Hell yeah, and those won't be the last of 'em" Mason ambled along the sidewalk , ramming his arm against Ethan's in jest , but also with an air of genuine honesty. "Oh cmon , I can't drive the Cabriolet anymore, I miss her..." Ethan confessed as he trudged toward the hospital elevator, with Mason following behind. "And you'll drive her again.. where is she anyway?". Ethan's hand flew instinctively to his back pocket and he turned out the key to the ignition, and flipped it around his thumb, the jangle soothing him. "Rooftop, some nights when I can't sleep , I rest on her bonnet and just .. ah it's stupid, wishful thinking I suppose." . Mason , raising his eyebrows , his blue eyes sparkling , protested . "Nah , you're gonna drive that car again , man , I'll see to it that you do, alright? I already told you months ago didn't I ? Now let's go get that artificial kidney into you huh?" . The sobering jolt of the elevator arriving at the renal floor caused Ethan to groan. "Ah yeah, I'm actually feeling like garbage and I need this session badly." Mason gently clasped a hand over Ethan's shoulder, "I know this is your fourth week, and you're looking a lot worse than we caught up last Friday . How are you holding up ?" . His face full of concern, Mason slid into a waiting room chair and shed his jacket , settling in beside a bed as Ethan dragged off his shirt, revealing his access line. "It's been .. hard Mace, I feel like I've lost so much in what? Seven measly days.. this month has just evaporated..." Mason , resting his chin on his knuckles , leant forward in the harsh lighting, his own fatigue showing in indentations under his eyes. "I know, I apologise for disappearing after that night at Vic's place. I had a few weeks worth of rent I couldn't pay.. I don't want to bore you with my problems though.." Mason's stiffened hands were gripping the chair as he released a low whistle of disdain. Ethan lay back as a nurse plugged in his lines and punched numbers idly into his machine and then drew his curtain to leave him and Mason to themselves , the steading thrumming of the dialysis unit blanketing them both in a stark routine. "Yeah, I worry about you Mace, get some rest while you're here if you need it. " The atmosphere in the room was suffocating as Ethan's dialysis session began, the rhythmic sound of the machine providing a backdrop to their conversation. Mason's concern lingered, and he sighed, "It means a lot , Ethan, I might get some rest here a bit later if I can . Life's been a rollercoaster lately, but I'm here for you too. We'll figure this out together." A comfortable silence passed between them before Ethan sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "Thanks Mace, for coming here , for being so blase about this mundane crap. I saw Victor earlier , you'd better get the Cadillac revved up later, he wants both our assess over there later tonight. Probably for an actual, grease laden pizza and mindless video gaming Not that it's ever just a game with him". Mason's grin responded with appreciation. "Ah , always the big brother looking out for us , gotta love him. Poor guy.." Ethan's smile , almost reaching his lifeless eyes , ended the lilt of their conversation as he drifted off , with Mason observing Ethan's slumber in silence as he closed his own eyes , an ability to sleep anywhere claiming him. As soon as the calm of sleep had subdued his posture against the wall, his eyes snapped open , blaring with accusation as he scanned the room. "Who's there...Don't touch me " he snarled into the reverberation of his own chest, startling himself into full consciousness. His panicked expression came to rest upon Ethan's sleeping outline, mildly relieved by the familiar rising and falling of his friends outline in the moonlight. Mason's forearms gripped his chair with force as the shocks of terror finally stilled and his adrenaline fuelled pulse crashed against his veins . He released a steady breath into his clasped hands , warming himself up from the cold sweat he was covered in. "God , Mace, pull yourself together ..." he whispered, unheard as he measured Ethan's wakefulness and deemed him good as dead as he readjusted his eyes to the dim lit room. "Don't fall asleep this time " came his own warning as he snaked his arms around his chest in a self berating motion. It had only been half an hour before he felt the insidious lure of sleep tugging at the edges of his psyche yet again, and he coughed roughly , a twinge of guilt coursing through him as he cased Ethan to flutter open his eyes . "Hell , my session is nearly done, I haven't slept like this is forever" he noticed , his sunken eyes bearing a restored shine. "I told you last time Mace, it's the only thing this place is any good for, maximum security level protection. " The vibrancy in his blue eyes, refreshed like a refilled glass of water , gleamed mischievous thoughts. "Already scheming huh? " Ethan's stab wasn't far off as Mason raised his hands and stretched his elbows behind his head, leaning on the wall . "I think we could take a walk to the rooftop, find the Cabriolet and see what this bad boy here can do" . Ethan's face , mirroring Mason' with unidentified edge , flashed with a worn pleasure. "I'm so damned tired but , I could use some air " . And in no mood to wait, Mason snatched up the keys from Ethan's pocket, the vivid life in his irises an irresistible force to reckon with: ""c'mon Eth, I think we both need a little time outside."