InsaneJournal

WHO: Merlin and Lucifer Morningstar
WHAT: Meeting
WHEN: Tonight
WHERE: Lou's
WARNINGS: Nah
STATUS: Closed/Completed Gdoc


Lucifer was rather put out by the fact that he had a daughter in town. Sure, it was a daughter from another dimension, with a different version of him, but it was still strange and he still didn’t like it. He didn’t want to be a parent, partially because he wasn’t excited about the idea of starting Armageddon. And wasn’t that what his kid was supposed to do? He kind of liked the world, and people, and wasn’t really in any hurry to end it. Was that what Sabrina was going to do? He certainly hoped not. She seemed like a nice enough girl, but he hoped that he wasn’t mistaken. If she was going to try to start the Apocalypse in Madison Valley, he was going to have to become an angry father like she’d never seen before. Or, maybe she had. It was probably equally strange for both of them, but Lucifer was still struggling with the whole empathy thing. He much preferred to think about himself and about how things were going to affect him.

These annoying thoughts had led him to Lou’s tonight. Whenever he had to think, he preferred it with his mind a bit intoxicated, even if that took a good bit of alcohol to achieve.

He was now on his second whiskey and he was still perfectly sober. Divinity could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

***

Merlin had become aware of Lucifer being in town and while he knew, from checking the network, that this one was not the being he knew as his father, there had been enough darkness in the past that he did not want to meet him. And so he had been avoiding him, largely. But as with all things in his life, nothing was ever simple. This was something he knew all too well.

So, on one evening, when he turned his head to see how had just sat down near him and saw Lucifer, he was not, truly, surprised. The look he sent upward was scathing, but he sighed and shook his head, order another drink for himself, and one for the very-annoyed, and yet dapper, looking devil who sat two seats down.

Some things, like apocalypses, could be avoided. Some things, like meeting alternate universe versions of your dad? Obviously could not be. So he waited for his drink to be delivered, and then downed his own as Lucifer’s was as well. Right.

Gods, he wished he could get drunk.

***

Lucifer was willing to give a second look to anyone who bought him a drink, and he grinned at the guy before standing and moving a seat closer to him so that they were sitting next to each other. He didn’t know him, but it was only polite to introduce himself after he’d bought him a drink.

“Well, hello,” he said. “I know I’m good looking, but I have a feeling with the way you’re looking at me that isn’t why you bought me a drink.”

He raised an eyebrow and offered a hand.

“Lucifer Morningstar. And you are?”

***

When the man came closer, Merlin nodded, still amused, and he met the hand with his own. “I am Merlin, and in my world, son to that universe’s Lucifer.”

He was amused and he took a long drink of his drink, then ordered another. This was going to e that sort of day. Oh yes.

“Aren’t alternate realities fun?” There was so much sarcasm in his tone, so much.

***

Apparently in this reality, he had several kids. He frowned and raised an eyebrow. “Do you know Sabrina? She’s apparently my daughter. I’m collecting quite the family.” He’d never really wanted a family, not after the one he’d had turned on him and cast him into a fiery pit of sulfur. That had kind of turned him off of family reunions.

“Alternate realities. I wonder how many more children I have in how many different worlds.”

***

“I do, and yes, I told her of you being here. I thought she might need the warning.” Merlin’s grin was utterly shameless. Had he considered warning Lucifer? Yes. Had he done so? Nope.

“I do not know, though the tales were common in my world. I imagine it would depend on what sort of person you were in those worlds.”

***
Lucifer had long ago despaired of any common courtesy being displayed to him, and he was not the least bit surprised. He’d dealt well with Sabrina, he thought. He was even halfway to liking the girl. So it hadn’t been a disaster.

“In my world, I have no children. I’m not actually very fond of them, and I don’t have a glaring need to end the world.”

***

“In my world, the Lucifer there did not care about children so much as attempting to topple heaven and Yahweh’s Plan.” Merlin spread his hands.

“Otherwise, he was genuinely uninterested, as far as I know.”

He chuckled.

“I enjoy children, but that is in the past for me, I think.”

***

“How can you enjoy them? They’re small and messy and sticky and they make very little sense.” He had learned to tolerate Trixie, but only because she was Chloe’s daughter and Chloe had a special place in his heart that he didn’t want to admit right away.

“Do you have offspring, then?”

***

Merlin chuckled. “So are grownups.” He countered this easily, and grinned.

“I have had many children, over the millennia.” he counted in his head then nodded.

“A little over thirty of them.”

He toasted the other man, grinning.

“But if it is not for you, then so be it.”

***

Lucifer blinked, rather horrified by that realization. “You’re telling me that some version of me has over thirty grandchildren out there somewhere?” That was even worse than the thought of being a father. Not that he wasn’t plenty old enough for that, of course. But it was rather terrifying as well.

“It is definitely not for me. I am far too selfish and enjoy having a good time far too much to waste my time with children.”

***

“Oh, aye. Some daughters, some sons, some inbetween.” He nodded, grinning as he spoke. He loved all of his children, whatever their form.

“Some human, some not.”

Merlin chuckled.

“Then I hope you never have to deal with such so long as you will it so.” He nodded to Lucifer.

“So we understand, I make no claims on you, nor have a desire of some sort of… bond. It is not your fault, but your other version’s, but… you look just like him.” He shuddered for a moment.

***

“Very well,” he said. “I am not father material at all, and I’m glad that you don’t want me to be. I think we can be civil to each other, though. Friendly. I don’t see any reason not to be. People think of me as pure evil, but that’s a ridiculous thing to think. I don’t do evil. I punish evil.”

Yes, this was truly how he thought. He didn’t see himself as an evil person - angel - fallen angel - whatever he was.

***

“Of course. I have no doubt of it. You seem like a pleasant enough person.” Merlin nodded, smiling ruefully. “I am glad you are that way. The world can use more people who do such.”

He chuckled again.

“That is in a way what I did most of my life back home. Protect the weak, smite the wicked.”

***

“The world could definitely use more people like me, but I’m glad to be the only one. I get to have all the fun myself.”

He nodded approvingly.

“Following in your father’s footsteps, I see.”

***

“Well, not mine, but yours maybe.” Merlin chuckled. “It was the path I chose, there. Something between the church and the hells. Something just for me.”

He nodded.

“Hopefully, neither of us will need to do such here.”

***

“Hopefully not,” he said with nod, then finished his beer and stood.

“It was nice to meet you. And I don’t say that often.”

***

“I am surprised and pleased to sat the same.” Merlin also rose and offered his hand.

“I hope your stay in this town is a good one. But, if you need my aid, simply call.”

He nodded. This Lucifer he would be glad to help.

***

“I will. And the same to you. I can actually be helpful, you know.” He smiled a little awkwardly, then headed out the door and into the night.