Hi, folks. There's this idea that's been rolling around in my head for a couple of months now, especially after doing a skim-through of the Chronicles. Please bear with me, as I attempt to explain it all in a logical fashion. >.>

Firstly - I am resetting Merlin for milliways_bar to before the start of his main canon, which begins with Trumps of Doom, and ends somewhere in the five short stories Zelazny wrote after Prince of Chaos.

He managed to talk me into skipping most of his canon last time, and I'd really like a chance to torture shepherd Merlin through each of the books. Plus, it'll give me really good fodder for OOMs.

So, to start off with, I'm sticking him at Berkley before he graduates with his computer degree, and possibly fiddling with a few concepts lifted from what he, and other characters, have said in various parts of the series.

Secondly - This means that Merlin will not know your pups, as I'm giving him a clean slate to start over from. If you want to play along and re-introduce your pups to him, or if they want to assume he's finally gone around the bend permanently, that's fine. Whatever is easier for you.

Thirdly - Yes, he has a new PB. This is only important because it's Tom Welling, who plays Clark Kent on "Smallville". Since Clark does frequent the bar, I will mention that they do resemble each other, but Merlin looks younger and is more of a warrior-mage than a nearly impervious alien from Krypton. >.>

Questions or comments, please leave them here. Thanks!

The Munagement.

Julia is dead.

It's my fault. I should have told her who I was, and maybe she wouldn't have become involved in so many sinister imitations of what Magic really is. S has a lot to answer for, and Julia's death is at the top of the list.


My father is still missing.

He won't answer any contact attempt, so he's either dead or doesn't want to be disturbed. I've had exactly one real conversation with him, and it's left me with a longing to know more about the man that changed my life and set me on the road I travel now. I'll find him.

Luke Raynard could be my enemy.

Three people have warned me about him so far; Dan, George and Meg. Of those three, Meg correctly named my titles and background, something no human woman should ever know. Luke is my best friend, and even Frakir does not warn me about him anymore. She hasn't for years. He may, however, bear watching and some contemplation over.

Ghostwheel.

Ghostwheel, my creation, is almost fully complete and definitely operational. If anyone can find my father, Ghost can, no matter what Random says. How can I shut something down that I built? Random has to understand that Ghostwheel won't be a problem for him, but he did raise some interesting points about sentient computers.

Beyond these stairs, I suspect, is my destiny, or the beginning of one. Perhaps on the journey to Ghostwheel's Shadow, I can figure out something that keeps it safe and humors Random at the same time.

- I _____ Merlin.
- Merlin is _____.
- Merlin likes to ______.
- I want to _____ Merlin.
- Merlin can ______.
- Someday Merlin will ______.
- Merlin reminds me of ______.
- Without Merlin, it will be _____.
- Right now, I bet Merlin is thinking about _____.
- Merlin makes me want to _______.
- If I could spend the day with Merlin, I'd _____.
- Merlin is made of _______.
- If I could be Merlin for a day, I'd ______.
- Merlin's alter-ego is __________.
- I want to give Merlin ______.

Merlin's bed is empty this afternoon.

Not that it isn't often empty, but he reluctantly sent Doc away so he could prepare himself for the trial ahead. In the morning he will leave for Amber, and spent at least a day, maybe longer, trying to talk Random into allowing his Queen to return to Milliways to help those being attacked in their dreams. Especially his friends.

Other people matter to him, now moreso than ever.

He glances around the room, noting the court garb carefully hung on a hook near his desk --it always pays to look the part of a noble in Amber-- and checks the spells he has partially hung on a particular piece of jewelry. Because there is every chance that Random will kill him out of hand just for discussing the matter out of hand.

Right. Sleep. Merlin pulls on a pair of sleeping pants before burying himself under several layers of covers and drifts off...


( And Cain did kill Abel... )

He wakes up on the floor of his room, sheets and clothing tangled around his legs and streaked with his own blood. He can barely think through the haze of anguished shock. People. He's got to get to people, if he can stop shivering long enough to pull himself towards the exit.

It takes hours, maybe, or only minutes, he's not quite aware of time in a linear sense right now for him to get (mostly) to his feet and reach the door, clawing at the knob with bloody fingers before managing to get it open.

[warning for torture and violence]

from here...

The door is unlocked, and a quiet voice bids Doc to step inside and close the door behind him.

A large bed dominates the wall across from the doorway, a desk and easel take up the space across from the sleeping area, and a narrow set of shelves for possessions, such as extra paints and other artistic items, balances out the small suite.

A doorway against the far wall leads into a bathing area.

The shape-shifter has apparently decided to take it easy on the bewildered outlaw, for Merlin is decidedly female beneath the trousers and shirt that she still sports.

"Would you like some tea, Doc?"

She approaches the desk in quick, sire steps, carefully moving aside some sketches for an unnamed project, and slides forth a small Oriental tea set, two cups and pot of vaguely flowery design, that she purchased because they are a reminder of a favored uncle.

[ooc: Smut warning - no kiddies please.]

The alleyway is a stark change from the casual (and not quite as loud) comfort of Milliway's main bar area, but Merlin is an expert at adaption and simply steps into the street, glancing up towards the second floor of the building they are loitering next to.

"So which way?"

He's casually lighting a cigarette.

[post this...]

It, unsurprisingly, is morning. Merlin slid out of his bed a little while ago to wash up, and to give Jack a few extra minutes of sleep. He takes the time to shave before showering, and eventually wanders out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, hair damp against his neck.

He's thought about where to take his lover for several days, including a discussion or two with his uncle on this. And then several days turned into one single day, because the last thing Merlin wants to do is get Jack into trouble with physics and being outside of the bar for too long.

Which means the first place they are going is San Francisco, 1986. Which means two pairs of jeans and a couple of shirts. It's heading straight into summer now - so the shirts have short sleeves. He's also conjuring up boxers, socks and loafers. Because he's a multi-service mage.

And, while he's waiting for Jack to wake up, Merlin's going to sort through his trumps and put the ones that might be needed at the top. Including the new one for Texorami.

[ooc: rated NC-17 for smut. No kiddies, please.]

[continued from here...]

Merlin's room is closest, which we'll set down to coincidence today, so that's where Jack gets dragged. Of course, the poor lad had to rummage around his pockets for a moment before he found the key, but that's been located now, so the door gets shoved open and Jack is gently escorted inside.

And then the door is shut, locked, and Jack will probably find himself against it, with Merlin's mouth descending onto his.


[ooc: this thread has been rated 'R'. If you are a minor, don't read it.]

[continued from here...]

'Not hard enough' seems like a challenge, a dare. Merlin's tempted to force him to the ground right then and there, but he's having an inner battle over dominance. The last time he took a lover from the bar, his gentle side won over. Nathan, on the other hand, is nothing so much as temptation for his dark side, and Merlin doesn't know why.

He only knows that the chaos running through his body demands Nathan in order to quiet down, so he's pulling the man roughly against him, his own hips jerking forward even as he moves backward until his back is scraping against tree bark.

"Then show me hard," the halfbreed growls back, ready for whatever the human comes up with.

[ooc: content of the almost-smut kind. Not for readers under 15]

Finding one lone, formerly alive pilot on Christmas day is easier said than done. Since Merlin isn't even sure what room his quarry is in, he spends over an hour wandering the halls and attempting to look casual about doing so, but there is no sign of Jack. Nor is he in the bar proper, or out near the stables (Merlin checks twice, just to be sure) and the woods just bordering the building are predictably void of American pilot.

Mid-afternoon finds the half-breed standing on the sandy lakeshore, staring out at the water. He could be mistaken for a native of the heartland, in jeans and gray sweater, hiking boots keeping the lapping waves away from his feet.

Attention span? Think a three-year-old on a sugar high.

[ obligatory warning: This thread contains content of an adult nature (R/NC-17) and should not be read by minors.]

continued from here ...

Merlin's room could kindly be described as an unusual cross between the sparse decor of a Japanese house just before the turn of the century, and a modern bachelor's pad. A desk and large bed take up most of the wall opposite the door, and an upright easel holds court across from them. The only other door leads into a bathing area.

[ obligatory warning: This thread contains content of an adult nature (R/NC-17) and should not be read by minors.]

The idea came to him while spending a couple days in a more modern shadow. He can't explain it yet, only the vaguest sense of how he's going to go about it. Firstly, however, Merlin needs to find the right shadow. So he picks a direction and starts walking, adding and subtracting things around him as he moves, slipping in and out of universes like a silent ghost.

He stops to rest twice, the first in a cozy little chalet manned by Hitler's family. So proud of their artist son, and the money people pay for his work have kept the little inn running for two generations.

The second break is definitely on the far side of Ygg, where the shadows begin to run wild. He passes through several places that almost match what he needs, but almost isn't good enough. Conditions have to be better than perfect, and on the third day of searching, he finds exactly what he wants. This is where his creation will be born.

Boy is Random going to be surprised.

He'd wanted this.

( Click here for the rambly bits )

"Glass of water, please?" He croaked.