"Invested, huh? I'll keep that in mind. Guess I'll have to come up with something epic then." He winked and gave the kid a cheeky grin. ”No pressure.” He joked. ”Just nothing that’ll get you into trouble mind. .” He didn’t want him blowing his chances with the fire chief before he’d even applied but he knew the boss wouldn’t mind a harmless prank. ”Noted on fitness level. What do you recommend I work on in the gym?" He paused on washing the truck for a moment so he could give Ronan his full attention. ”Cardio and weights. Have you heard of the bleep test? Make it your best friend. You need to reach level 8 for the exam. Weight wise, start working on shoulder press and pull downs. You need to be able to lift 30kg above your head and pull 45kg.” He said, recalling what he’d needed to do when he had taken his test years ago. ”Pulling the prowler will help simulate pulling the weight of a body too. . and get used to heights. You’ll have no time to be scared when you’re racing up a ladder.” He added. Mason liked to boulder and rock climb to hone his skills.

"Oh yeah? Where are you the two of you from? Come here for Uni then?" He went back to washing the truck, moving to start on the front. ”Bakewell, a little town up north by the Peak District. . yeah she didn’t want to go alone so I went with her.” He smiled. His twin was like his left arm, if she hadn’t asked him to come he probably would have offered anyway. "Ah, from down under, Scone. Australia's 'horse capital' as they like to say there and put on all of their signs. Quite different from here, but still nice. Sometimes I miss it, sometimes I don't" He poked his head back around the side of the truck and grinned. ”Thought I recognised an accent. . didn’t want to offend you and call you a kiwi though.” He half smirked, playing on the rivalry of the two countries. "Do we have to do the top of it also?" He finished the front and dropped his sponge into the bucket. ”Nah I’ll just spray it with the hose. . it’s usually pretty clean up there.”

"You know, if you want in on it, I'll allow it." He let out a soft chuckle at the boy’s offer and shook his head. ”Unfortunatley I can’t risk getting fired if it backfires. .but. .I’ll happily lend an ear and steer you in the right direction.” He offered. As much as he loved pulling pranks on his friends at work, there was still a level of professionalism he had to stick too. He knew his friends could take it but he was unsure with the other guys. "Remind me to ask Jamie to put in a request for a bunch of squirmy kittens then when he's scheduling with Sparks Kennels potential adoption animals." He smiled when Ronan took on his idea. ”Now you’re talking.” Payback was a bitch.

"I don't mind...I can help finish the truck. Maybe all of that scrubbing will build up my scrawny body for the calendar." He snorted a laugh and smiled again. ”If you’re looking to build muscle you should hit the station gym in your spare time, we have a decent amount of equipment here.” He said, nodding towards the main building. "So...when I come off of the call and switch boards, does this mean you think I'm cool enough to adopt onto your shift?" He moved to pick up a sponge and tossed it towards Ronan. ”I think you just might be” He grinned then grabbed another sponge to start cleaning the truck.

Mason smiled again as the younger guy sighed as he realised he'd been punked and used. He'd been there himself when he had first joined the crew. Not matter how many decent people worked as a firefighter, there was always at least one asshole in the house. "Yeah, I feel a little stupid that I fell for their antics." He shook his head, feeling a little bad for the kid. "Ah don't be, it happens to all of us." He said with a half shrug, hoping to make him feel better. "Nah, they didn't scare me off. I'll just have to exact my revenge," His smile spread into grin. "That's the spirit." He probably shouldn't have been condoning 'revenge' but hell, he'd do it himself so who was he to judge.

"Maybe if that calendar event happens, I'll get 'em with the hose when they're stripped...er as long as they aren't holding puppies or kittens." He let out a snort at his idea. "I hate to break it to you but that would probably make them look better in the shoot. ." Already shirtless firefighters with water glistening on them was bound to be a hit. His eyes twinkled a little as he came up with an idea. "If i'm right in thinking who put you up to this. .I know for a fact they hate cats. .it'd be such a shame if they were to end up holding one in the shoot." He grinned, a little mischievously. "So...what should we do about the truck?" He glanced back towards the truck with a shrug. "Well. .b-shift have finished so my team will have to finish it. . care to stick around?" He asked, looking back to Ronan.

As Mason surveyed the room, he tried to get a read on people and how they were feeling. It was situations like these when people's flight or fight tended to kick in and he didn't want anyone doing anything stupid. Not until the situation was assessed properly. If the guys just wanted the money, they'd hopefully take it and leave. If they had something to prove then things could get dodgy. He clocked the couple at one of the tables who looked like they were keeping their cool. He noticed the stance of the boyfriend and figured he'd only jump into action if any threat were to come the girlfriends way. Next was a younger girl who looked ready to smack someone over the head with her handbag, not the smartest move but could come in handy to distract them.

His eyes landed on a solo male who seemed to be keeping a low profile from the guys at the counter which was probably best. Not far from him was a woman crouched down taking pictures. Hopefully the guys holding up the shop would be too distracted to notice her. "Can we let the others go, and then I'll give you everything we have." Mason turned his head back to the barista at the sound of his counter offer. "No. You'll do as I say. Open the till, or you'll be meeting your Gods early. Now stand and behave." His grip tightened on the coffee cup as things unfolded in front of him.

He didn't know Ben personally but he'd been served by him enough times to know he was a decent bloke who definitely didn't deserve what was happening to him. His eyes narrowed as he took a few steps forward, unable to stay quiet. "Oi, that's enough. He said he'd give you the money, there's no need for violence." He reasoned. He nodded towards the spectators who had gathered around the window to see what was going on. "The police will already be on the way, just take your money and go."

Mason stifled a yawn and rubbed a hand over his face as he stood in the line at Starbucks. He had no idea why he was tired considering he had only rolled out of bed a couple of hours ago, even after having an early night. The double-shifts and night shifts must have been catching up to him. They usually did. He gas lighted himself every time into thinking he'd be fine but ultimately he was always exhausted after a long run of them. It was his own fault for always volunteering for them. It was mostly the paramedic shifts he was doubling down on since the hospital was stretched thin at the moment and people just loved to call out an ambulance for the slightest of things. That's what 111 was for.

So here he was, grabbing a quick fix before he was due to start a shift at the fire station. He'd drew the short straw with his room/workmates and it was his turn to grab the two of them a coffee on his way in. Reaching the counter, he gave the cashier the order then tapped his phone against the card machine before stepping to the side to wait. His eyes glanced towards the shop door briefly as it opened, not paying much attention to who entered as his name was called by the barista. He took the coffees with a thanks then moved a few feet away to set the coffee down while he grabbed some sugar at the self serve station. "No body fucking move, otherwise someone will get their head caved in or their throat slit. Your choice. Open the til-ll... money in the bag."

He heard the voices as he finished adding sugar to his coffee, causing him to look up with a frown. He took in the three hooded figures at the till a few meters away, noting the knifes and baseball bat in their hands. Judging by the voices, they were young. Fucking youths of today. He pulled out his phone, hiding it behind his leg as he sent a quick text to whatever person was first on his phone. sos starbucks. He slid the phone back in his front pocket and glanced around the cafe to get a vague idea of how many potential hostages there may be before discretely turning his attention back to the three at the counter.