#development*

SO THE STORY GOES...

EARLY LIFE

Two weeks after his birth, the Wilders realized their son was certainly not William, and so they began calling him by his middle name: Merrick. 

Merrick is the third and youngest child of the Wilder family, Maggie Mae Lucas being his eldest sister and Bobby his (older, technically) twin brother. 

1978

Over the summer, Merrick began seeing his Low Street flatmate, Wilbert Slinkhard—which complicated things given Bobby also started dating Wendy Slinkhard, Wilbert’s brother. The relationship ended a few months later, sadly. 

1979

In January, Merrick learned he has a son named Otis with Holliday Hawkins, a longtime pal and former friend with benefits. 

Initially, Holliday kept distance between father and son to ensure Merrick was actually serious about being an active and involved parent. Merrick took this hard—very hard. Cue his Reputation Era, where he internalized Holliday’s decision, believing he wasn’t good enough for Otis. 

Eventually, he got his shit together, met his son, and found his groove. 

Merrick managed to graduate with a Herbology degree and got a job bartending at Fainty Wronski. He also started growing his own weed and selling, calling his business The Herb Life. 

He, Bobby, and Otis moved into a flat above a bakery in Puddlemere. 

After casually hooking up sporadically throughout the year, Merrick and Gawain Robards began getting serious in September. 

1980

Early in the year, Holliday’s parents filed for custody of Otis. Thankfully, they weren’t granted custody, and Merrick grew even stronger in his resolve that he’s a good father. 

Merrick fell very hard, and very deeply in love with Gawain, the pair evening vacationing together in France. 

In the autumn, Merrick and Bobby purchased the bakery under their Puddlemere flat and began fixing it up to reopen by early 1981. 

When the Statute fell in autumn, Merrick’s bartending hours were cut drastically, now having to adhere to a curfew. Given that he poured most of his savings into the bakery, he was desperate for cash. Merrick auditioned for a porn film—or, rather, what he thought was porn. For reasons still unknown to him, he managed to snag a job as the weatherman at the WBN. 

By the time winter rolled around, Merrick and Gawain were seeing less and less of one another. Soon after Christmas, the pair decided to end their relationship, feeling they’re in different places. Merrick still loves Gawain deeply, but he doesn’t feel in love with him anymore. 

KISS & TELL

1980

26 September, 1979 - 30 December / Gawain Robards / committed relationship 

1979

1 August / Gawain Robards / one night stand

23 March / Josslyn Janks / one night stand 

1 March / Marlene McKinnon / one night stand 

15 February - 13 May / Emma Vanity / frenemies with benefits 

13 February / Gawain Robards / one night stand

1978

10 September - 17 January, 1979 / Wilbert Slinkhard / committed relationship

June - August / Wilbert Slinkhard / friends with benefits 

You have fight like distance, you have noise like distraction. Put that all down. Listen, listen. You are not weak because you are hurtable. 

–Rebeka Anne

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