Mark told Merlin that before making a decision and listening to what was certainly a wise counsel, he was going to check what his friends were doing. Going up to them was easy as they were looking at racks of different costumes. They were all discussing what sort of costumes to choose and pondering if a group theme woulds help in all being selected and make the pledging easier. Except they could not agree upon the costumes in question, who would be with who and who would get most attractive and interesting parts. Some friends had settled upon disguises but tensions had erupted already over others' wishes to be with one or the other, made harder by the fact that none agreed or they made things difficult if they were three or another off number. By staying together, all had started to bond and by following Merlin, Mark had unwittingly allowed the rest to move on without him. He had become left out and even a pal of his preferred sticking with some pledges that seemed a lot richer, popular and thus more likely to be allowed into the fraternity. Arthur, a rich arrogant pledge, started to pick on Mark, also as to cement his own dominance and ill-intended leadership and the others followed his lead. Even Mark's friend. Arthur laid his eyes on a magnificent centaur costume and thought that it would look excellent so as to impress hot sorority girls. There was a versions with hindquarters on wheels, but they would squeak and certainly look incredibly tacky. Another version was with a second person behind but none of his friends would agree to be the much less noble part. And he could not ask that of them. But the fur was so soft and such a guise would show off his awesome abs to girls! Well, he'd use that Mark dweeb. He asked Mark but of course he refused. Arthur then utilized his influence to pressure Mark to agree by pushing the others to mock him and declare him a nerd and not a team player. It was so easy to get to gang up upon an idiot! The others followed so quickly! He threatened Mark to use his popularity and influence to make sure he never got accepted into the frat and that doing a group costume with him would get him into his rich good graces and he should realize his great luck snd opportunity. That poor moron would only make him shine all the more. And that idiot really did seem to be about to agree. Not that he would do anything for that dweeb. He did not do anything for charity, after all. So he would decide who would do what. As the richest and most popular, it was his natural right. Also, he knew that to make a frat group function, releasing tensions would be primordial and a target was the best and easiest way to go. He smirked. That Mark had definitely proved he was up to that ungrateful job.
In a corner, Merlin observed the dynamics going on without being seen. He had seen enough bullies in his life to know he loved to get them punished. Their comeuppance, with Merlin, was always poetic too. And Mark and his pals did not seem like bad people. They should stop obeying stupid social conventions, even if Mark's friend, Matt, looked a bit too prompt at siding with stronger people that did not radiate friendship at all. Merlin decided to intervene and deal a few punishments. He did not like fraternities that cared solely to party and doing illicit or harmful things. Time to get these young men their just rewards and to inculcate them lessons. They were in college to learn, after all, were they not?