C:SOD Chapter 32 (+Summary) (Patreon)

”The Truth” Arc

In the past, both Mavis and Rex went to Grandma's as kids, thinking they could pull off a prank. But, an accident happened where only Rex survived.

Frost refused to believe Rex survived, and made up his own stubborn reality that Mavis lived while Rex died in the accident (the first story told to Hermes). This 'false reality' was forced on Rex and he had to pretend to be Mavis to cope with both of their loss. All this pretending made the 'false reality' bleed with child-Rex's reality, and Mavis' memory developed into its own personality. Memory lapses and changes in brain activity had Rex diagnosed with an Identity Disorder.

Frost gives June (the nickname for both Mavis and Rex) control over the Levough and Carvalle since it belonged to Mavis in the first place. But, after losing his kids, Rex came up with a mission to cleanse Carvalle's curse by eliminating anyone who sinned in their eyes.

Frost cannot break loyalty, because Rex can get rid of Mavis, his only family.

The twins cannot back out, because they're gonna be sentenced to death penalty for everything they've done so far, if Frost/Rex exposes their crimes with evidence. 

Au cannot back out, because Rex (specifically the Levough Mafia) supplies him with drugs that can help him cope with his unstable mental health. 

Only Father Daniel can quit because Rex has no hold on him, until they captured Hermes.

THE LEVOUGH MANSION, HERMES’ BEDROOM

"What do you know of the first suicide in Carvalle," Rex says while looking outside the window of Hermes' bedroom, as two maids dress the guest of honor in the best of luxury clothes costing no less than thousands. "The Romeo Incident... named as such because it was more of a horror story than a Shakesperean romance."

A calm and motionless Hermes was only half-listening, the other half was calculating exactly how he can get out of here. He's stuck on a dead-end; he hasn't seen any Equestrian since Father Daniel yesterday. Although, Rex has told him Ray had been begging and selling his kidney to Frost just to see Hermes.

Rex continues while observing the outside, "A tragic tale of a heartbroken man jumping from roof to the entrance of the building. He screamed, 'This school will burn and all of you with it,' and with that, students start to speak of a curse that came with it. A month later, a girl hung herself in the bathroom after being assaulted by a teacher. The teacher got shot by another, the day after."

He adds, "Carvalle closed down for a year. It came back, only to have a teacher having an affair with an underaged student... and led to the student killing the teacher before hanging themselves. Carvalle couldn't handle another loss of millions, so they sucked up the incidents and kept the school open. Every year, something bad would happen... but every day, something terrible is already going on in these walls."

Was the curse true, then? Hermes wonders, but kept silent. The more he listens and looks at this man, the more Mavis fades away from his image. They truly look and sound different, maybe because Mavis was the extension, and not the original. His voice was raspy and breathy, while Rex is deep, healthy, and confident.

"I have to cleanse it," Rex says, walking towards the dresser to lean towards the mirror, before looking back at Hermes. "... for you and my daughters, I will create a paradise as pure as it promised."

Hermes finally spoke in a hard tone, "There are other Carvalle schools, why does it have to be this one?"

"This is Thena's favorite school, my darling. Her pride, her dream... this was supposed to be her school. I was ready to give it to her. President and Principal Thena Quinn... but," Rex turns to smile at him, "That didn't work out. So, I'll give the promised school to my daughters. And for that, you need to help me raise them. They need a mother."

"I'm not anyone's mother."

"Yeah, but you're close." Rex steps towards him, the maids exiting after dressing their Master Quinn in a suit of violet, so dark it almost looked black. His undershirt is black, his tie red. He and Rex are matching, except for the black electric collar designed specifically for human submission. "You are so beautiful..."

When he offers his hand, Hermes doesn't have a choice but to take it. He is brought to the dining room where he meets familiar faces surrounding a feast.

Frost sits beside the head, elegant with his white suit and hair tied up, exposing his strong bone structure. Father Daniel sits beside him, no longer in clergy robes, and is now in a black suit. Beside him, Au with no blazer and a dark blue shirt that is open on the first few buttons, asleep in his seat while listening to music. Sitting in front of Daniel and Au are the twins, who are currently trying to catapult corn onto a sleeping Au's face with a spoon.

Once they entered, all of them noticed only Hermes, groomed and dressed to perfection. Rain had to slap his distracted brother, who then kneels on his seat excitedly.

"He's here! Wow, he's really here! This is the best dinner ever! I'm spoonfeeding him!"

"Behave, you mongrel ape..." Frost scolds him, making Ray pout and hold onto the fork as if preparing to stab any moment. Frost clears his throat, "It's wonderful for him to join us."

Frost isn't looking at him, but Hermes is definitely glaring at the traitor who brought him here after promising to help him get out.

"We haven't had dinner like this in a year..." Rain comments as Rex sits at the head of the table, with Hermes sitting beside him, facing Frost.

So this is what I've been reduced to. A concubine for serial killers... Hermes refuses to meet any of their eyes.

"Gentlemen, this is a celebration of the successful mission accomplished last night. Today, the police are currently searching for missing students they will never find. Tomorrow, the delayed Festival will continue. We shall enjoy ourselves for the occasion, then at the last day..." Rex proposes a toast, "We shall give this country's terrorists credit for what will happen at the closing ceremony."

Hermes takes in a deep breath, knowing for a fact they're planning a mass killing of selected students. For them to pin it on terrorists, it must be a staggering number beyond 20. Either Hermes saves himself by suicide right now, or save those kids. Yet, he doesn't want to end up like Thena, free yet left someone to pay for her sins. I actually want to do something about this.

At the grand dinner table were Chinese chicken mushroom soup for appetizers, and three pepper-garlic roasted chicken for the men with hearty appetites. Candles and carnations were present in the center of the table, representing luxury and sophistication. Even how the napkins are folded rival that of a 5-star hotel.

"It's nice for you to join us, Father Daniel..." Rex says while the twins are trying to piss Au off by throwing vegetables under the table and hitting his legs.

"I'm only here to make sure you won't torture Hermes," the priest replies, making Hermes glance at him.

"Why would I?" Rex amusingly chuckles. "I've never laid hands on a lover before."

Ray was drinking juice and suddenly snorts it out of his nose, his mask stopping it from flying all over. Father Daniel keeps silent because he forgot that Rex has the ability to use everything you say against you. Hermes however, doesn't know what to feel as he doesn't know who to trust. He has to be careful.

"Hermes will come with us to the festival," Rex announces, which shocked their captive teacher. The leader adds, "With 20 students missing, I don't want a teacher added to the list. Hermes, you shall enjoy the Festival with us, on the condition that you keep the collar, and one or two of them with you at all times."

"What? I don't want to go out there in a shock collar," Hermes mutters with gritted teeth, "I'm not your dog."

"My darling, I don't want you chained up here for two weeks. You should enjoy your first Annual festival tomorrow."

"Fine," Hermes sighs and spits out, "But I'm getting out of here no matter what. Either cut this thing off, or cut my head off."

Ray whimpers in fear of Hermes dying, and he definitely won't let that happen. Father Daniel and Frost remain calm, and none of them want to get on Rex's nerves the same way Hermes has right now.

"I know you're smart Hermes, and I know you'll be able to free yourself of the collar and escape Carvalle. I'll even remove it if you ask." With that, all of them except Hermes look at Rex in shock. "I can let you out... but I advise you not to do it."

"Or else what?" Hermes dares him.

"Or else I will have Ray killed." With that emotionless response, Au sits up alert along with everybody except Hermes. Rain stood up in protest but Rex silences him with a finger. "But you don't really care about one of your oppressors, do you, Hermes? You'd just give his life for your freedom."

"Rex, stop playing with my brother's life!" Rain grabs a steak knife and was about to threaten their leader when Frost stands up and faces him with a white pistol, cocked and ready to shoot in order to protect Mavis' host.

Ray is frozen beside Hermes, but the latter can see the Masked twin itching to defend Rain. It's just that Ray is terribly afraid of Rex since seeing him burn his stuffed toy. Rain on the other hand, begs, "Rex, please... not my brother. Hermes will sell him off, barter me instead! Kill me instead!"

Rex calmly observes Hermes' reaction, him just staring at his food and not looking at any of them. However, Hermes flinched at the thought of doing such a selfish act, even if Ray is such a terrible selfish boy. He's trembling beside the teacher, whimpering under his mask because he might lose Rain if Frost decides he's a threat to Mavis' life.

"Au, please wait for Hermes' answer," Rex sighs out a command as if casually ordering tea. Au was a little bit reluctant, but he obediently pulls out his own black pistol and points it at Ray, who squirms in his seat. Now Rain is torn between pointing a knife at the White and Black Knights of Carvalle.

Father Daniel finally says out loud, "Is this really necessary, Rex? Killing off your best assassin just to threaten a man that doesn't care about any of us?"

"We haven't heard from Hermes yet," he casually speaks, patiently at the silent man beside Ray. "I'm sure he'll be glad to get rid of Ray. Won't you? If you want a chance to escape, just tell me and I'll have Au pull the trigger on his friend."

"Rex!" Rain angrily yells out.

Daniel reasons out, "Rex, you need that boy if you want your mission to succeed tomorrow! If Ray dies, Rain will quit!"

The pressure is starting to squeeze Hermes' chest. Rex slightly smiles at this while saying, "Au and Frost can do the job. Rain will get sentenced to the death penalty if he quits us, we still have proof of their crimes. Or, most likely, Rain will commit suicide. So that'll be two boys for the price of your freedom, Hermes."

Ray harassed me, he's not worth it... Hermes wants to be vindictive and selfish. This is his freedom in exchange for a boy that is too insane to understand boundaries. He has always been selfish, he has always used them. What's another sacrifice, for the sake of his freedom? If the twins are gone, there's a chance their plan cannot go through.

"I'll fúcking kill him if Ray dies!" Rain aggressively yells at Frost while pointing the gun at Rex.

"Don't be such an imbecile, you brought a knife to a gunfight," Frost calmly threatens.

"I'll make sure you're dead before I die, you Nazi fúck!"

"Language, Rain—"

Ray already knows Hermes is gonna agree to his death if it means being free. And when he stood up, Ray closes his eyes ready for Au, an old friend, to shoot him in the head.

"I'm going to bed," Hermes quietly says, silencing all of the men with his cold look of indifference. "Enough of this, I don't want anyone dying on the dinner table. Collar me tomorrow, I don't care. You're all a bunch of children."

Father Daniel was stunned, Au and Frost lowered their guns, Ray burst out crying in his seat while Rain goes to calm him down, and Rex raised his eyebrows honoring Hermes' decision. Father Daniel chases after Hermes which Rex allowed because the guest needs a bodyguard at all times, anyway.

Au and Frost aren't sure what to do, as they're only following him. When everyone was seated, Rex happily smiles at the peace. "Meeting adjourned, gentlemen. It was a fun time speaking with all of my boys."

"How did you know Hermes wouldn't sacrifice Ray? You weren't really planning to have Ray dead, were you?" Frost questions in a low voice, making Rain glare at them both while rubbing a crying Ray's back. They were puzzled, because Hermes does not have a reason to save any of them.

"I didn't know," Rex answers with honesty, "All I did was give him a choice. A fair one, and I would've honored his decision either way. A gamble where the outcome is predicted would be such a boring game, wouldn't it?"

Rain scowls at him, but couldn't keep that anger because of what Hermes did for his brother. He now feels very guilty.

Rex yawns out loud, seemingly tired. "I'm heading to bed. If Mavis surfaces out, don't let him interact with Hermes for a while. But, I will try to get this body to rest."

When he exited, Frost and Au are left with the twins. A silent Au walks behind Ray's seat, petting the boy's head as if to apologize. Had Hermes decided to have him killed, Au would have definitely shot a friend to death.

"H-he's gonna kill me... Hermes wants to kill me..."

"He did the opposite of that, Ray," Rain softly tells his brother.

"He should... he should have... I... I've done terrible stuff to him0..." Ray sobs, "He should have..."

While Rain hugs his twin, Au looks toward Frost as if questioning their purpose. Are we really that disposable to you?

Frost looks away from Au, knowing that his heart will always yearn to protect Mavis above everyone, above his friends. He masks his guilt with loyalty.

a little while earlier, Father Daniel catches up with Hermes who is calmly going back to his room knowing he'll be electrocuted if he does something brash.

"Hermes," he calls out to his ex-lover. Then, holds him back by the arm. "Hermes!"

The captive turns to look at him indifferently, as if he's sick of fighting his circumstances and completely gave in to the life of a slave.

Father Daniel asks him, "Why would you save Ray's life like that?"

"Those brats are full of drama, I know Rex is not gonna kill Ray," Hermes mutters before going back on his journey. Father Daniel follows him.

"Rex doesn't bluff, that was a fair game. He really could've had him killed had you said so," Daniel catches up, "So why didn't you? They're the Equestrians, they hurt you."

Hermes stays quiet, entering his room and not giving a fúck that Father Daniel is following. While taking off his stuffy luxurious blazer he says, "I don't want to enable Rex's God complex. By enabling someone's death for the sake of anything, justice or freedom, I get to be officially one of you. That was Thena's mistake."

He turns around, harshly removing his necktie. "I'd rather die than be one of you. I don't want the twins' blood on my hands. And certainly not at the dinner table."

Hermes left Daniel to go shower with steaming hot water on his back, ignoring the burning sensation that felt like he was boiling in hell. Deep inside, he hates the true reason for why he did that. While he did not lie to Daniel, the truth was much more pathetic.

No matter how selfish I try to be... manipulating those men, using them... I can't... bring myself to watch Rain lose a brother. I know how it feels. The twins may deserve that kind of punishment, but I don't want to be a witness to a sibling's death...

Felicity and Ryan Sanders

...again and again.

Hermes underestimated Rex. For it seemed like that man saw through him and used this sentiment against him. It was a fair deal, sure, but Hermes knew why Rex specifically chose Ray instead of Au. Using someone who hasn't done anything bad to Hermes, which he actually cared about, would've guaranteed a win for Rex. But no, he chose Ray, which had significantly hurt Hermes.

Hermes fell asleep in the bathtub for less than an hour, woken up when he witnessed a change in the bathroom when he subconsciously took a peak during his sleep. Why is there a bouquet of pink carnations on the sink?

Taking a towel to dry his hair, Hermes picks up a note that reads,

"How terrible of a handwriting..." Hermes mumbles, before gasping in shock at what was in the middle of the flowers. "My phone?!"

He comes out of the shower in a bathrobe, only to find Ray with his wrists bound by nylon flex cuffs sitting on a chair. Au is leaning against the door, Rain leaning on Ray's chair, and Father Daniel is sitting arms crossed on Hermes' bed watching the trio. "What is this? Why are you here? Why is he tied up?"

"They want to apologize," Father Daniel answers, "And I'm here to make sure they don't step out of line. Ray saw your discarded underwear so I had to cuff him to avoid any stealing."

"I'm sorry, I can't help it! I like you so much! You're my favorite person!" Ray cries out, the mask unable to hide his trembling and pouting lips.

Hermes rolls his eyes, not having the energy to care about their presence. He can't be bothered to act like an innocent damsel anymore, so he coldly goes to the closet to pull out his sleepwear. "Apologize later, I'm gonna get dressed. So get out."

"We're all men, what's the issue?" Rain mumbles as if not intending for Hermes to hear, but he got glared at by Au and the priest.

Hermes turns around and immediately catches Ray staring at his covered bottoms. "The issue is that."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you won't get harassed," Father Daniel sighs, signaling the boys to look the other way.

Hermes is in disbelief. "Really? How hard is it to get out for 20 seconds?"

"Rex doesn't want you alone for 2 seconds, it's our job," Rain says while forcing Ray's head to not peek.

Hermes doesn't have the energy for this. "Au can stay then, but the rest of you get out."

"Nuh uh, Ray will get jealous and will try to spit in Au's mouth when he snores."

"Ugh, I can't believe you guys..." Sick of their shít, Hermes stared at their avoiding eyes as he removes the towel and puts on his pajama bottoms and matching shirt, all new and washed provided by none other than Frost. He then bluntly says, "Okay, I'm done. What happened to my phone and why was it missing and suddenly here?"

They all finally looked at him. Rain points to Ray, which doesn't even surprise Hermes anymore. Father Daniel adds, "The charger port was busted though, you're not allowed to have a phone unless it's the customized phone Rex gave you."

Hermes rolls his eyes. "Ray, get that thing off, you look stupid..."

The boys watch as Hermes takes the teaspoon from the decorative tea set and uses it as leverage to snap Ray's nylon cuff off, the men observing how Hermes stays gentle while handling Ray. Though, his whole personality changed and he went back to his cold and harsh demeanor. They couldn't complain, they did kidnap Hermes.

While he's standing in front of Ray's chair, Rain softly tells him, "I also want to thank you for not selling him out. You could've, and Ray said you should've... but you didn't. You had a chance to get rid of serial killers and you didn't."

I doubt you are, you're just following orders. Hermes questions if they're also worth saving, if ever he decides to save the school from the genocide Rex is planning. For the true evil is in that man, and these boys are merely reluctant pawns.

"I'm not like him," Hermes says, holding Ray's wrists since his circulation was cut off from the cuffs. Despite still not forgiving them, he still cares for the twins who clearly still care about him, too. "I don't have the right to punish anyone with death, and I refuse to. You know what you did wrong, and that's okay for now."

Father Daniel observes that maybe, just maybe, Hermes isn't fully corrupted yet, but he doesn't want to speak too soon.

"Would it be wrong to ask for a kiss, Hermes?" Ray suddenly says, which shocked the rest of them with Au preparing to hold the twin back if ever he impulsively does something worthy of another apology.

"Uhm...?"

"I promise to be a good boy from now on!" Ray happily exclaims.

"You either sound like a dog or a child, none of which I want anything to do with," Hermes coldly mutters. "But, as long as you stop acting as either... fine, one kiss."

He wants to reward Ray for asking, and doing so might encourage him to always ask instead of just doing what he wants with Hermes. Since he gave permission, Ray happily bounces up from his seat and kissed Hermes on the lips, even wrapping his arms around his waist. Au narrows his eyebrows, while Rain and Daniel raised one of theirs in awe.

"This kind of kiss is more mature, right?" Ray says, surprising Hermes with a deep voice that matches Rain more. Ray is usually the childish one, and with that personality comes a voice that's higher pitched. But Hermes hearing this kind of voice is new territory.

"What about me Hermes, can I have one?" Rain butts in, leaning further against the chair where he is closer to Hermes and the other twin.

Father Daniel sighs and rolls his eyes, "What are you idiots doing? Shouldn't you be preparing for tomorrow?"

Au's nose twitches and he slightly pulls Ray by the shoulder to separate him from Hermes. But, Rain took him by the hand instead, gentle and not assertive at all. "I owe Hermes for saving my brother. I'd like to thank him with a kiss, but of course I'd have to ask first, right?"

Hermes is very weirded out. But before he can say anything, his ex-boyfriend appears behind him and puts both hands on his shoulders, as if to protect him from Rain's perversions.

"Hermes still hasn't forgiven you, don't get touchy," Daniel sneers while a confused yet composed Hermes looks back and forth at them. Ray is currently trying to hit the taller Au, but the latter is calmly holding him back.

"Oh yeah? Well, has he forgiven you? Last time I heard, you beat him up," Rain huffs, grabbing Hermes by the arm and pulling him back.

"You and your twin séxually assaulted him," Father Daniel pulls him back yet again.

"But we didn't punch him till his guts bruised!" Rain argues, Hermes now swinging back and forth.

Meanwhile, Ray wants Au to stop holding him back as if he was an aggressive chihuahua. "Au, I'll pee on your juice again if you don't let me go!"

Father Daniel was still fighting with Rain, now putting his arm across Hermes' chest. "I'm old enough to change my ways. You're freshly 18 and are still at the stage of repeating mistakes."

"Get off him Grandpa, shouldn't you be fondling little boys at church?" Rain gets closer to pull on Hermes, causing their little captive to get sandwiched between the Masked twin and the corrupt priest.

"I don't ever plan on fondling Ray, now stop pursuing Hermes. You are too young for him..."

"We are not! Our dícks are 8 inches hard, we're not that young!"

"Rain help, Au is trying to do 50 shades with me! I don't want to get tied up again!" Ray whines from the side, fighting with a calm and silent Au.

"Stop telling lies about your díck size Rain, there is a reason the girls prefer the two of you, one is just small," Father Daniel sneers.

"I'll fúcking whip this 8-inch out right now, imagine if we were Black, I'll fúck you with 9 and a half—"

"ENOUGH! What the fúck!" Hermes had enough of them and tears himself off Rain and Daniel, only to land on the chair Ray was sitting earlier. "Guys seriously, get out! I just want to relax and rest, alright? Now let me go to bed in peace!"

"Relax?" Ray says, "Well, why didn't you say so! We can help you with that! Au has weed."

"You are not giving Hermes that wretched thing," Father Daniel scolds them, but this only triggered Hermes even more.

"What if I want it, Daniel?" Hermes coldly snaps at him, "Don't tell me you intend to control me even after we broke up and you betraying me. At least Rex had the decency to let me choose."

Of course, there is still some bitter resentment over Daniel refusing to help him escape. And seeing him try to dictate what happens to Hermes just made him mad. They're not lovers anymore, Hermes can do anything without Daniel's permission.

Their tension rises when their eyes dare each other. Father Daniel wants to protect him, but Hermes refuses his protection after his betrayal. It took over a minute of them scowling at each other, waiting for one to speak. To spite him, Hermes agreed to the recreational drug.

"I want one too, roll me one Au!" Rain requests, with Ray following behind. While the trio have fun rolling a couple of Marijuana cigarettes, Hermes glares defiantly at Father Daniel. The teacher takes a seat in the chair, keeping his composure in a room full of manic psychos.

"Hermes, this is a very bad idea, I'm trying to protect you."

"You don't do a very good job at that," Hermes replies, referring to Daniel leaving him in chains for the sake of his love. He huffs, "Besides, weed's not that bad. It's just a relaxant."

"That weed is from the Llorona Mafia, their THC is 37%, that is a black market drug and it doesn't just make you sleep," Daniel points out. But, Rain is charismatically offering Hermes a blunt.

"I have nothing to lose. Anything to make me less miserable is better than having to tolerate this existence," Hermes mutters, greatly concerning the priest.

I have nothing to lose. It's just Marijuana.

What could go wrong?

If I'm gonna die any time soon, might as well try what hasn't been done.

I just don't trust these men...

"Whooo, it's fun! Au is basically immune to this because it's his medicine but..." Ray coughs out as he takes a sip, "I'm not—geez, it goes straight to the head!"

"Forget about it—" Daniel tries taking the blunt away from Hermes, but the man raises his legs and stops Daniel from getting any closer, all with a foot to the stomach. Hermes leans back, and in spite, takes a long sip all while keeping eye contact with Daniel.

He had to cough a little because of the sudden warmth and slight coolness fogging his throat, but never broke eye contact. Au mixed it with crushed dried mint so it feels very cool and smells as such. Hermes actually took a liking to it despite the foreign pressure in his temples.

Ray sits on the floor, sharing one with Au as Rain leans on a table with a smirk, casually smoking with his mask lifted up. "Come on Father Daniel, it's fun and safe. Hermes is interested, and Rex said to give him whatever he wants except sharp objects."

"The THC levels are too high. Au was prescribed 12% and Rex gave him more than double," Daniel mutters, keeping watch over Hermes whose head is starting to get a little heavy. He's starting to smirk goofily, too.

Ray says out loud, "You should try Au's cakes, it's nothing like this weed. I accidentally tried his pancake when I was craving waffles... I felt drunk without the headache, I heard music in my head! And I don't even  like classical music!"

That made Hermes laugh, "You act so innocent, but only Au here is so respectful of me. Isn't that right, Autumn?"

Father Daniel facepalms because at three sips, Hermes was already smiling and losing it. He takes a seat in the bed, doing his best not to inhale their leftover smoke. "I'll stay on guard and make sure you don't do anything stupid."

Ray almost sipped from the wrong end if it wasn't for Au flipping the blunt. The happy twin thanks him before blowing on it instead of sipping.

"Like that," Daniel sighs.

"I'm fine with you keeping watch," sighs Hermes, relaxing onto the chair and stroking Ray's head who is sitting on the floor close to him. "As long as you stay watching. That's all you're good for."

He's really pissed, but, Father Daniel can take responsibility and respect Hermes' chosen boundaries. After all, he does belong to Rex and not any of them, no matter how much freedom that man gives them. Daniel intends to supervise them on their recreational use, crossing his arms and leaning on the bedpost.

"Once Au gave Ray normal tobacco and he fúcking acted high as fùck!"

Hermes gasps and laughs, "Really?!"

"Because of that he really attempted to sleep with Mavis too, Frost was waiting there with a gun!"

Ray whines, "Shut up Rain, I drank alcohol that time too! And once... you drank so much you tried making out with Au."

Hermes keeps laughing and clapping his hands in amusement as Rain puts his hand on the chair's armrest to correct his brother, "It was the hair, I thought he was a girl... a-a girl that can carry me up to her broad shoulders."

Au rolls his eyes, rolling another one for himself. Hermes feels so lightheaded and, as they have said, drunk. The correct word may be high, and Hermes couldn't feel the despair and hopelessness anymore. He's just enjoying the twins' stories, and making Father Daniel mad over there.

"And how do you explain trying to make out with me?" Ray questions. Hermes now looks like a seal from all his wheezing and clapping. Ray grumbles, "Thank goodness for these masks, or I would've tasted your garlic breath!"

"When I'm drunk, I just want to fúck any pretty thing I see..." Rain explains to Hermes, as high as the three although Au is still sober after finishing two. Rain's finger flirtatiously runs down a smiling Hermes' lips, "Don't give me alcohol sweetie, 'cause you're the prettiest in the room right now and I might not resist..."

Later on, the second-hand smoke made its way into Daniel's system and caused him to drift into a sleep which he was not aware of. He unknowingly left an intoxicated Hermes in the hands of equally intoxicated young men.

"Hermes, you're so pretty..."

"I am...?"

"And fúcking brave, too... talking back to Rex like that, it was so hot..."

"Watch where you're touching, sweetheart..." I hope my bástard ex stays watching and gets jealous...

"Can I? May I?"

An exhausted Father Daniel could not be made aware of Rain leaning down to kiss Hermes with the mask on, with them too high to care about making out with a mask. It seemed to get a little steamy with Ray now loudly cheering for them, and Au trying to resist Hermes' invite.