ah yes, then there was the night merlin went downstairs to get his coat, leaving his 'ride home' upstairs to fend for himself. he was a hunky ex-marine type, with tats everywhere and the muscles to prove it. sweet and agreeable he was. and easy on the eyes. the first time merlin saw him that night, there was a coffin in the Versaille Room with two girls in it kissing and hugging and giggling, and this ex-mmmarine (suddering thinking about him) turns to merlin and askes if he can do push ups on the coffin over the girls, holding himself up on the edges of the box with his strong beautiful hands. 'go for it' was all merlin could get out. well that got us all noticed. lol.
so comming back up the stairs rounding the corner and re-entering the Versailles Room, guess who is sitting next to and chatting-up this ex-marine -- to beat the band, as they say. you guessed it, daddy! poor merlin didn't have a chance? so merlin sits next to daddy and listens in to the conversation, as daddy just pumps him for information and obviously enjoying the the conversation. then merlin gets up and moves to other side and sits next to the ex-marine relaxing watching people around the room and listening to daddy chat-up the ex-marine, not trying to interfer or nothing. during a lull in the conversation, the ex-marine turns towards merlin dramatically and asks,'you ready to leave yet?'
the expression on daddy's face was worth the life time of friendship since, daddy had no idea.