diff --git a/ISSUES.md b/ISSUES.md
index dc8625b..e3a0200 100644
--- a/ISSUES.md
+++ b/ISSUES.md
@@ -18,8 +18,13 @@ Identified by domain expert review (Cloudflare, Serverless, Vercel, React Query,
 - ~~H10~~ _meta always fresh dict
 - ~~H11~~ Python normalizes True→"true" for cross-language HMAC
 - ~~H13~~ isValid checks all required fields are touched
+- ~~H14~~ `@client(merge=...)` primitive — kernel splices return value into cached context, no refetch
+- ~~H15~~ Schema export handles `BaseModel | None` return types
+- ~~H16~~ Generated `react.tsx` imports per-function `*Output` types
 - ~~M11~~ execute_function return type includes HttpResponseBase
 - ~~M18~~ registerContext cleanup uses ?. (no crash)
+- ~~M19~~ `list[BaseModel]` returns reach the wire as bare arrays (RootModel-based rename, no `{result: ...}` wrap)
+- ~~M20~~ `initSession()` gated on `configure({session: bool})` (Django default-on, FastAPI opt-out)
 
 ## Remaining Critical
 
diff --git a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/client/executor.py b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/client/executor.py
index e40768d..b3c6a52 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/client/executor.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/client/executor.py
@@ -305,6 +305,75 @@ def _resolve_invalidation(
     return result if result else None
 
 
+def _resolve_merges(
+    view_class: type | None,
+    input_data: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    result_data: Any,
+) -> list[dict[str, Any]] | None:
+    """
+    Resolve merge targets from @client(merge=...).
+
+    Each entry is `{context, slot, value, params?}` — `slot` is the
+    function-name inside the context bundle the value lands in, resolved
+    server-side by matching the mutation's return type against each
+    context-function's return type. Kernel does no shape inference.
+
+    Mirrors _resolve_invalidation's tier-1 auto-scoping for params.
+    Entries whose slot can't be uniquely resolved are dropped.
+    """
+    if view_class is None:
+        return None
+
+    from mizan_core.type_utils import types_match_for_merge
+
+    meta = getattr(view_class, "_meta", {})
+    targets = meta.get("merge") or []
+    if not targets:
+        return None
+
+    mutation_output = getattr(view_class, "Output", None)
+
+    out: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    seen: set[str] = set()
+    for ctx_name in targets:
+        if ctx_name in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(ctx_name)
+
+        slot = _resolve_merge_slot(ctx_name, mutation_output, types_match_for_merge)
+        if slot is None:
+            continue
+
+        entry: dict[str, Any] = {"context": ctx_name, "slot": slot, "value": result_data}
+        if input_data:
+            context_params = _get_context_param_names(ctx_name)
+            matched = {
+                k: v for k, v in input_data.items()
+                if k in context_params
+            }
+            if matched:
+                entry["params"] = matched
+        out.append(entry)
+    return out
+
+
+def _resolve_merge_slot(context_name: str, mutation_output: Any, type_matcher: Any) -> str | None:
+    """Find the unique function-name slot in context whose return type matches mutation's output."""
+    if mutation_output is None:
+        return None
+    groups = get_context_groups()
+    fn_names = groups.get(context_name, [])
+    matches: list[str] = []
+    for fn_name in fn_names:
+        fn_cls = get_function(fn_name)
+        if fn_cls is None:
+            continue
+        fn_output = getattr(fn_cls, "Output", None)
+        if fn_output is not None and type_matcher(fn_output, mutation_output):
+            matches.append(fn_name)
+    return matches[0] if len(matches) == 1 else None
+
+
 def _format_invalidate_header(
     invalidate: list[str | dict[str, Any]],
 ) -> str:
@@ -488,10 +557,12 @@ def execute_function(
         output["Cache-Control"] = "no-store"
         return output
 
-    # RPC path — serialize output
-    if output is None:
-        return FunctionResult(data=None)
-    return FunctionResult(data=output.model_dump())
+    # RPC path — serialize output. to_jsonable_python walks BaseModel /
+    # list / dict recursively, so list[BaseModel] (and nested shapes) come
+    # out wire-ready without a per-shape branch.
+    from pydantic_core import to_jsonable_python
+
+    return FunctionResult(data=to_jsonable_python(output))
 
 
 def _try_mwt_auth(request: HttpRequest) -> bool:
@@ -731,9 +802,12 @@ def function_call_view(request: HttpRequest) -> JsonResponse:
     view_class = get_function(fn_name)
     response_data = {"result": result.data}
     invalidate_contexts = _resolve_invalidation(view_class, input_data)
+    merges = _resolve_merges(view_class, input_data, result.data)
 
     if invalidate_contexts:
         response_data["invalidate"] = invalidate_contexts
+    if merges:
+        response_data["merge"] = merges
 
     response = JsonResponse(response_data)
     response["Cache-Control"] = "no-store"
diff --git a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/export/__init__.py b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/export/__init__.py
index 354211e..7c2d7ed 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/export/__init__.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/export/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from ninja import NinjaAPI
 
 from mizan_core.registry import get_registry, get_schema, get_context_groups, get_function
+from mizan_core.type_utils import extract_list_element, extract_optional
 
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ def generate_openapi_schema() -> dict[str, Any]:
     Returns a complete OpenAPI document that can be processed by openapi-typescript.
     """
     from ninja import NinjaAPI  # Lazy import
-    from pydantic import BaseModel, create_model  # Lazy import
+    from pydantic import BaseModel, RootModel, create_model  # Lazy import
 
     registry = get_registry()
     functions = registry.get("functions", {})
@@ -241,16 +242,30 @@ def generate_openapi_schema() -> dict[str, Any]:
         input_type_name = f"{camel_name}Input" if has_input else None
         output_type_name = f"{camel_name}Output"
 
+        # Strip Optional so the rename gets a concrete base — nullability is
+        # carried on the response declaration, not the schema class itself.
+        output_inner, output_nullable = extract_optional(output_cls)
+
         # Create renamed Pydantic classes for cleaner schema names
         # Store them in schema_classes so they persist beyond loop scope
-        # Uses create_model to avoid metaclass conflicts with custom base classes
         if has_input:
             schema_classes[input_type_name] = create_model(
                 input_type_name, __base__=input_cls
             )
-        schema_classes[output_type_name] = create_model(
-            output_type_name, __base__=output_cls
-        )
+        if extract_list_element(output_inner) is not None:
+            # list[T] — RootModel makes the rename emit `type: array` rather
+            # than wrapping the list in a property.
+            schema_classes[output_type_name] = type(
+                output_type_name, (RootModel[output_inner],), {},
+            )
+        else:
+            schema_classes[output_type_name] = create_model(
+                output_type_name, __base__=output_inner
+            )
+
+        response_cls = schema_classes[output_type_name]
+        if output_nullable:
+            response_cls = response_cls | None
 
         # Register endpoint using helper to avoid closure capture issues
         _register_schema_endpoint(
@@ -259,7 +274,7 @@ def generate_openapi_schema() -> dict[str, Any]:
             operation_id=camel_name,
             summary=fn_class.__doc__ or f"Call {name}",
             input_cls=schema_classes.get(input_type_name),
-            output_cls=schema_classes[output_type_name],
+            output_cls=response_cls,
         )
 
         # Collect function metadata for provider generation
@@ -280,6 +295,8 @@ def generate_openapi_schema() -> dict[str, Any]:
         # Affects metadata (mutation invalidation)
         if meta.get("affects"):
             fn_meta_entry["affects"] = meta["affects"]
+        if meta.get("merge"):
+            fn_meta_entry["merge"] = meta["merge"]
 
         # For form schema functions, extract field definitions for Zod generation
         if meta.get("form") and meta.get("form_role") == "schema":
diff --git a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/tests/test_core.py b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/tests/test_core.py
index 87cdaf8..f84d032 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-django/src/mizan/tests/test_core.py
@@ -1033,6 +1033,44 @@ class ServerDrivenInvalidationTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
         self.assertEqual(response["Cache-Control"], "no-store")
 
+    def test_mutation_response_includes_merge(self):
+        """@client(merge=...) emits a merge entry carrying the return value."""
+        from mizan.client.executor import function_call_view
+
+        UserCtx = ReactContext("user")
+
+        @client(context=UserCtx)
+        def user_profile(request: HttpRequest, user_id: int) -> ValidOutput:
+            return ValidOutput(valid=True)
+
+        @client(merge=UserCtx)
+        def rename(request: HttpRequest, user_id: int, name: str) -> ValidOutput:
+            return ValidOutput(valid=True)
+
+        register(user_profile, "user_profile")
+        register(rename, "rename")
+
+        request = self.factory.post(
+            "/api/mizan/call/",
+            json.dumps({"fn": "rename", "args": {"user_id": 7, "name": "Ryth"}}),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+        request.user = AnonymousUser()
+        request._dont_enforce_csrf_checks = True
+
+        response = function_call_view(request)
+        data = json.loads(response.content)
+
+        self.assertIn("merge", data)
+        # Server resolves slot — user_profile is the unique ValidOutput-returning fn in the context
+        self.assertEqual(
+            data["merge"],
+            [{"context": "user", "slot": "user_profile", "params": {"user_id": 7}, "value": {"valid": True}}],
+        )
+        # Merge-only mutations don't emit invalidate
+        self.assertNotIn("invalidate", data)
+        self.assertNotIn("X-Mizan-Invalidate", response)
+
 
 class ContextFetchTests(TestCase):
     """Tests for the bundled context fetch endpoint (execute_context)."""
@@ -1383,6 +1421,30 @@ class TypeAnnotationTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(result, FunctionResult)
         self.assertIsNone(result.data)
 
+    def test_list_basemodel_return_not_wrapped(self):
+        """list[BaseModel] should reach the wire as a bare array, not {result: [...]}."""
+
+        class Item(BaseModel):
+            id: int
+            name: str
+
+        @client
+        def list_items(request: HttpRequest) -> list[Item]:
+            return [Item(id=1, name="a"), Item(id=2, name="b")]
+
+        register(list_items, "list_items")
+
+        factory = RequestFactory()
+        request = factory.get("/")
+        request.user = AnonymousUser()
+
+        result = execute_function(request, "list_items", {})
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, FunctionResult)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result.data,
+            [{"id": 1, "name": "a"}, {"id": 2, "name": "b"}],
+        )
+
 
 # =============================================================================
 # RPC Mode Tests
diff --git a/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/executor.py b/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/executor.py
index 59a04dd..64bdac1 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/executor.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/executor.py
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import Any
 
+from fastapi.encoders import jsonable_encoder
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
 
-from mizan_core.registry import get_function
+from mizan_core.registry import get_context_groups, get_function
+from mizan_core.type_utils import types_match_for_merge
 
 
 # ─── Error taxonomy ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -148,15 +150,21 @@ def _resolve_function(fn_name: str) -> Any:
 
 
 def _serialize(result: Any) -> Any:
-    return result.model_dump(mode="json") if isinstance(result, BaseModel) else result
+    # jsonable_encoder walks BaseModel / list / dict recursively, so list[BaseModel]
+    # (and nested shapes) come out wire-ready without a per-shape branch here.
+    return jsonable_encoder(result)
 
 
-def execute_function(
+async def execute_function(
     request: Any,
     fn_name: str,
     input_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
 ) -> Any:
-    """Dispatch a registered function. Returns the serialized result, or raises MizanError."""
+    """Dispatch a registered function. Returns the serialized result, or raises MizanError.
+
+    Awaits `view.acall` — async handlers run on the loop, sync handlers run
+    in the default threadpool, both via the same entrypoint.
+    """
     view_class = _resolve_function(fn_name)
     _enforce_auth(request, view_class._meta.get("auth"))
 
@@ -164,7 +172,7 @@ def execute_function(
     validated = _validate_input(view.Input, input_data)
 
     try:
-        result = view.call(validated)
+        result = await view.acall(validated)
     except NotImplementedError as e:
         raise NotImplementedYet(str(e) or "Not implemented") from e
     except MizanError:
@@ -184,12 +192,70 @@ def compute_invalidation(view_class: Any, input_data: dict[str, Any] | None) ->
     return [_invalidation_target(target, input_data or {}) for target in affects]
 
 
+def compute_merges(view_class: Any, input_data: dict[str, Any] | None, result: Any) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Build the `merge` list from @client(merge=...) metadata.
+
+    Each entry is `{context, slot, value, params?}` where `slot` names the
+    function inside the context bundle the value lands in. The slot is
+    resolved server-side via `types_match_for_merge` so the kernel does
+    no shape inference — the server has the schema, type-checked routing
+    lives here. Entries whose slot can't be uniquely resolved are dropped
+    with a warning; the consumer falls back to refetch via `affects`.
+    """
+    targets = getattr(view_class, "_meta", {}).get("merge") or []
+    if not targets:
+        return []
+    mutation_output = getattr(view_class, "Output", None)
+    out: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for ctx_name in targets:
+        slot = _resolve_merge_slot(ctx_name, mutation_output)
+        if slot is None:
+            continue
+        entry: dict[str, Any] = {"context": ctx_name, "slot": slot, "value": result}
+        scoped = _scoped_params(ctx_name, input_data or {})
+        if scoped:
+            entry["params"] = scoped
+        out.append(entry)
+    return out
+
+
+def _resolve_merge_slot(context_name: str, mutation_output: Any) -> str | None:
+    """Find the unique function-name slot whose return type matches the mutation's output.
+
+    Returns None on no match or ambiguous match (multiple candidates).
+    """
+    if mutation_output is None:
+        return None
+    matches: list[str] = []
+    for fn_name in get_context_groups().get(context_name, []):
+        fn_cls = get_function(fn_name)
+        if fn_cls is None:
+            continue
+        fn_output = getattr(fn_cls, "Output", None)
+        if fn_output is not None and types_match_for_merge(fn_output, mutation_output):
+            matches.append(fn_name)
+    return matches[0] if len(matches) == 1 else None
+
+
+def _scoped_params(context_name: str, input_data: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Match input args against the context's declared Input field names."""
+    fn_names = get_context_groups().get(context_name, [])
+    declared: set[str] = set()
+    for fn_name in fn_names:
+        fn_cls = get_function(fn_name)
+        if fn_cls is None:
+            continue
+        input_cls = getattr(fn_cls, "Input", None)
+        if input_cls and input_cls is not BaseModel and hasattr(input_cls, "model_fields"):
+            declared.update(input_cls.model_fields.keys())
+    return {k: v for k, v in input_data.items() if k in declared}
+
+
 def _invalidation_target(target: dict[str, Any], input_data: dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
     match target.get("type"):
         case "context":
             name = target["name"]
-            scope_keys = (target.get("params") or {}).keys()
-            scoped = {k: input_data[k] for k in scope_keys if k in input_data}
+            scoped = _scoped_params(name, input_data)
             return {"context": name, "params": scoped} if scoped else name
         case "function":
             return {"function": target["name"]}
diff --git a/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/router.py b/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/router.py
index febab0f..19dcb28 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/router.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-fastapi/src/mizan_fastapi/router.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from .executor import (
     MizanError,
     NotFound,
     compute_invalidation,
+    compute_merges,
     execute_function,
 )
 
@@ -49,10 +50,15 @@ class CallBody(BaseModel):
 
 @router.post("/call/")
 async def function_call(body: CallBody, request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
-    """RPC dispatch — `{"fn": "...", "args": {...}}` → `{"result": ..., "invalidate": [...]}`."""
-    result = execute_function(request, body.fn, body.args)
-    invalidate = compute_invalidation(get_function(body.fn), body.args)
-    return _no_store({"result": result, "invalidate": invalidate})
+    """RPC dispatch — `{"fn": "...", "args": {...}}` → `{"result": ..., "invalidate": [...], "merge"?: [...]}`."""
+    fn_class = get_function(body.fn)
+    result = await execute_function(request, body.fn, body.args)
+    invalidate = compute_invalidation(fn_class, body.args)
+    merges = compute_merges(fn_class, body.args, result)
+    payload: dict[str, Any] = {"result": result, "invalidate": invalidate}
+    if merges:
+        payload["merge"] = merges
+    return _no_store(payload)
 
 
 @router.get("/ctx/{context_name}/")
@@ -63,7 +69,7 @@ async def context_fetch(context_name: str, request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
         raise NotFound(f"Context '{context_name}' not found")
 
     params = dict(request.query_params)
-    bundled = {fn: execute_function(request, fn, params) for fn in fn_names}
+    bundled = {fn: await execute_function(request, fn, params) for fn in fn_names}
     return _no_store(bundled)
 
 
diff --git a/backends/mizan-fastapi/tests/test_dispatch.py b/backends/mizan-fastapi/tests/test_dispatch.py
index 0c3e58e..7e4ca0c 100644
--- a/backends/mizan-fastapi/tests/test_dispatch.py
+++ b/backends/mizan-fastapi/tests/test_dispatch.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
+
 import pytest
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.exceptions import RequestValidationError
@@ -34,6 +36,11 @@ class UserOutput(BaseModel):
     authenticated: bool
 
 
+class ItemOutput(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    name: str
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def app():
     """Build a fresh FastAPI app + Mizan router with a few @client functions."""
@@ -63,12 +70,39 @@ def app():
     def whoami(request) -> UserOutput:
         return UserOutput(email="real@example.com", authenticated=True)
 
+    @client
+    def list_items(request) -> list[ItemOutput]:
+        return [ItemOutput(id=1, name="a"), ItemOutput(id=2, name="b")]
+
+    @client
+    def find_item(request, item_id: int) -> ItemOutput | None:
+        return ItemOutput(id=item_id, name="found") if item_id > 0 else None
+
+    @client(merge="items")
+    def set_item_name(request, id: int, name: str) -> ItemOutput:
+        return ItemOutput(id=id, name=name)
+
+    @client(context="items")
+    def items_list(request) -> list[ItemOutput]:
+        return [ItemOutput(id=1, name="orig")]
+
+    @client
+    async def async_echo(request, text: str) -> EchoOutput:
+        # await something on the loop to prove we're really running async
+        await asyncio.sleep(0)
+        return EchoOutput(message=f"async: {text}")
+
     register(echo, "echo")
     register(add, "add")
     register(current_user, "current_user")
     register(user_count, "user_count")
     register(update_email, "update_email")
     register(whoami, "whoami")
+    register(list_items, "list_items")
+    register(find_item, "find_item")
+    register(set_item_name, "set_item_name")
+    register(items_list, "items_list")
+    register(async_echo, "async_echo")
 
     fastapi_app = FastAPI()
     fastapi_app.include_router(mizan_router, prefix="/api/mizan")
@@ -171,3 +205,58 @@ class InvalidationTests:
         body = r.json()
         # affects='user' is a context-name string → invalidate list contains 'user'
         assert "user" in body["invalidate"]
+
+
+# ─── Structured-output shapes ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class StructuredOutputTests:
+    """list[BaseModel] and Optional[BaseModel] should reach the wire as bare values, not {result: ...}."""
+
+    def test_list_of_basemodel_returns_bare_array(self, http):
+        r = http.post("/api/mizan/call/", json={"fn": "list_items", "args": {}})
+        assert r.status_code == 200
+        body = r.json()
+        assert body["result"] == [
+            {"id": 1, "name": "a"},
+            {"id": 2, "name": "b"},
+        ]
+
+    def test_optional_basemodel_returns_inner_or_none(self, http):
+        r_found = http.post("/api/mizan/call/", json={"fn": "find_item", "args": {"item_id": 5}})
+        assert r_found.status_code == 200
+        assert r_found.json()["result"] == {"id": 5, "name": "found"}
+
+        r_missing = http.post("/api/mizan/call/", json={"fn": "find_item", "args": {"item_id": 0}})
+        assert r_missing.status_code == 200
+        assert r_missing.json()["result"] is None
+
+
+# ─── Merge protocol ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class AsyncHandlerTests:
+    """`async def` handlers dispatch on the loop via view.acall."""
+
+    def test_async_handler_returns_awaited_result(self, http):
+        r = http.post("/api/mizan/call/", json={"fn": "async_echo", "args": {"text": "hello"}})
+        assert r.status_code == 200
+        assert r.json()["result"] == {"message": "async: hello"}
+
+
+class MergeTests:
+    """@client(merge=...) emits a `merge` field in the response so the kernel can splice without refetch."""
+
+    def test_merge_target_emits_merge_entry(self, http):
+        r = http.post(
+            "/api/mizan/call/",
+            json={"fn": "set_item_name", "args": {"id": 42, "name": "renamed"}},
+        )
+        assert r.status_code == 200
+        body = r.json()
+        # Server resolves slot — items_list returns list[ItemOutput], mutation returns ItemOutput
+        assert body["merge"] == [
+            {"context": "items", "slot": "items_list", "value": {"id": 42, "name": "renamed"}}
+        ]
+        # invalidate stays empty when only merge is declared
+        assert body["invalidate"] == []
diff --git a/cores/mizan-python/src/mizan_core/client/function.py b/cores/mizan-python/src/mizan_core/client/function.py
index ef84ec6..bcdda59 100644
--- a/cores/mizan-python/src/mizan_core/client/function.py
+++ b/cores/mizan-python/src/mizan_core/client/function.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Two styles supported:
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 import inspect
 import warnings
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
@@ -165,6 +166,16 @@ class ServerFunction(ABC, Generic[TInput, TOutput]):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError(f"{self.__class__.__name__} must implement call()")
 
+    async def acall(self, input: TInput) -> TOutput:
+        """
+        Async entrypoint for dispatch on event-loop-driven adapters (FastAPI).
+
+        Default: run the sync `call` in a threadpool so it doesn't block the
+        loop. Subclasses with native-async handlers override this to await
+        the handler directly.
+        """
+        return await asyncio.to_thread(self.call, input)
+
     @classmethod
     def get_schema_export(cls) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Export schema for TypeScript generation."""
@@ -207,17 +218,30 @@ class _FunctionWrapper(ServerFunction):
 
     def call(self, input):
         """Execute the wrapped function, unpacking input into individual args."""
-        if input is not None and self._param_names:
-            # Unpack validated model into keyword arguments
-            kwargs = {name: getattr(input, name) for name in self._param_names}
-            result = self._wrapped_fn(self.request, **kwargs)
-        else:
-            result = self._wrapped_fn(self.request)
+        return self._postprocess(self._invoke_sync(input))
 
+    async def acall(self, input):
+        """Async dispatch. Awaits async handlers directly; sync handlers run
+        in a threadpool via the super's default `acall`."""
+        if not inspect.iscoroutinefunction(self._wrapped_fn):
+            return await super().acall(input)
+        if input is not None and self._param_names:
+            kwargs = {name: getattr(input, name) for name in self._param_names}
+            result = await self._wrapped_fn(self.request, **kwargs)
+        else:
+            result = await self._wrapped_fn(self.request)
+        return self._postprocess(result)
+
+    def _invoke_sync(self, input):
+        if input is not None and self._param_names:
+            kwargs = {name: getattr(input, name) for name in self._param_names}
+            return self._wrapped_fn(self.request, **kwargs)
+        return self._wrapped_fn(self.request)
+
+    def _postprocess(self, result):
         # View path — return a framework-native response directly (no serialization)
         if is_framework_response(result):
             return result
-
         # Wrap primitive returns in the generated output model
         if self._is_primitive_output:
             return self._output_cls(result=result)
@@ -276,12 +300,18 @@ def _resolve_context(context: ContextMode) -> str | Literal[False]:
 AffectsTarget = ReactContext | str | type["ServerFunction"]
 AffectsMode = AffectsTarget | list[AffectsTarget] | None
 
+# Merge parameter type — targets a context by name, kernel splices the return
+# value into the cached entry rather than triggering a refetch.
+MergeTarget = ReactContext | str
+MergeMode = MergeTarget | list[MergeTarget] | None
+
 
 def client(
     fn: Callable = None,
     *,
     context: ContextMode = False,
     affects: AffectsMode = None,
+    merge: MergeMode = None,
     private: bool = False,
     route: str | None = None,
     methods: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -303,6 +333,12 @@ def client(
             Mutually exclusive with context=.
             Scoping is automatic via argument name matching.
 
+        merge: Declare which contexts the mutation's return value merges into.
+            The kernel splices the return value into the cached entry rather
+            than triggering a refetch — fits high-frequency UI (slider drags,
+            color pickers) where the server already knows the exact change.
+            Mutually exclusive with context=. Composes with affects=.
+
         private: If True, the function is not client-callable.
             - Not exposed as an RPC endpoint
             - No generated TypeScript
@@ -352,6 +388,13 @@ def client(
                 "A function cannot be both a context reader and a mutation."
             )
 
+    # Validate merge parameter
+    if merge is not None and resolved_context is not False:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "context= and merge= are mutually exclusive. "
+            "A function cannot be both a context reader and a mutation."
+        )
+
     # Validate auth parameter
     if auth is not None:
         if isinstance(auth, str) and auth not in _VALID_AUTH_STRINGS:
@@ -362,7 +405,7 @@ def client(
 
     def decorator(fn: Callable) -> type[ServerFunction]:
         return _create_server_function(
-            fn, context=resolved_context, affects=affects,
+            fn, context=resolved_context, affects=affects, merge=merge,
             private=private, route=route, methods=methods,
             websocket=websocket, auth=auth, rev=rev, cache=cache,
         )
@@ -370,13 +413,32 @@ def client(
     # Support both @client and @client(...)
     if fn is not None:
         return _create_server_function(
-            fn, context=resolved_context, affects=affects,
+            fn, context=resolved_context, affects=affects, merge=merge,
             private=private, route=route, methods=methods,
             websocket=websocket, auth=auth, rev=rev, cache=cache,
         )
     return decorator
 
 
+def _normalize_merge(merge: MergeMode) -> list[str] | None:
+    """Normalize merge param to a list of context name strings."""
+    if merge is None:
+        return None
+    items = merge if isinstance(merge, list) else [merge]
+    result: list[str] = []
+    for item in items:
+        if isinstance(item, ReactContext):
+            result.append(item.name)
+        elif isinstance(item, str):
+            result.append(item)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"merge items must be ReactContext instances or context name strings. "
+                f"Got {type(item).__name__}."
+            )
+    return result
+
+
 def _normalize_affects(affects: AffectsMode) -> list[dict[str, str]] | None:
     """Normalize the affects parameter into a list of target descriptors."""
     if affects is None:
@@ -410,6 +472,7 @@ def _create_server_function(
     *,
     context: str | Literal[False] = False,
     affects: str | type["ServerFunction"] | list[str | type["ServerFunction"]] | None = None,
+    merge: MergeMode = None,
     private: bool = False,
     route: str | None = None,
     methods: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -468,25 +531,9 @@ def _create_server_function(
         is_primitive_output = False
     else:
         # RPC path — resolve output type
-        import types
+        from mizan_core.type_utils import is_structured_output
 
-        def is_basemodel_type(t: Any) -> bool:
-            """Check if type is a BaseModel subclass, handling Optional/Union."""
-            if isinstance(t, type) and issubclass(t, BaseModel):
-                return True
-            origin = get_origin(t)
-            if origin is Union or isinstance(t, types.UnionType):
-                args = get_args(t)
-                for arg in args:
-                    if (
-                        arg is not type(None)
-                        and isinstance(arg, type)
-                        and issubclass(arg, BaseModel)
-                    ):
-                        return True
-            return False
-
-        if is_basemodel_type(output_type):
+        if is_structured_output(output_type):
             output_cls = output_type
             is_primitive_output = False
         else:
@@ -538,6 +585,11 @@ def _create_server_function(
     if normalized_affects:
         meta["affects"] = normalized_affects
 
+    # Merge: contexts to splice the return value into (vs refetch)
+    normalized_merge = _normalize_merge(merge)
+    if normalized_merge:
+        meta["merge"] = normalized_merge
+
     # WebSocket: enable WebSocket transport
     if websocket:
         meta["websocket"] = True
diff --git a/examples/django-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx b/examples/django-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
index 62e3cda..a447791 100644
--- a/examples/django-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
+++ b/examples/django-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {
     type ContextState,
 } from '@mizan/base'
 
-import { fetchGlobalContext, type GlobalContextData, type GlobalContextParams, fetchLocalContext, type LocalContextData, type LocalContextParams, callEcho, callAdd, callWhoami, callHttpOnlyEcho, callStaffOnly, callSuperuserOnly, callVerifiedOnly, callMultiply, callNotImplementedFn, callBuggyFn, callPermissionCheckFn, callWsWhoami, callJwtObtain, callJwtRefresh } from './index'
+import { fetchGlobalContext, type GlobalContextData, type GlobalContextParams, fetchLocalContext, type LocalContextData, type LocalContextParams, callEcho, callAdd, callWhoami, callHttpOnlyEcho, callStaffOnly, callSuperuserOnly, callVerifiedOnly, callMultiply, callNotImplementedFn, callBuggyFn, callPermissionCheckFn, callWsWhoami, callJwtObtain, callJwtRefresh, type currentUserOutput, type greetOutput } from './index'
 
 // Internal — runs inside a Provider, registers with the kernel exactly once.
 function useContextSubscription<T>(
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ export function useJwtRefresh() {
 export interface MizanContextProps {
     /** Base URL for protocol endpoints. Defaults to "/api/mizan". */
     baseUrl?: string
+    /** Set to `false` for backends without a `/session/` endpoint (e.g. FastAPI). */
+    session?: boolean
     children: ReactNode
 }
 
@@ -181,10 +183,13 @@ export interface MizanContextProps {
  * Root provider — calls configure() once and mounts the global context (if defined).
  * Must wrap any component using Mizan-generated hooks.
  */
-export function MizanContext({ baseUrl, children }: MizanContextProps) {
+export function MizanContext({ baseUrl, session, children }: MizanContextProps) {
     const configured = useRef(false)
     if (!configured.current) {
-        if (baseUrl) configure({ baseUrl })
+        const opts: Parameters<typeof configure>[0] = {}
+        if (baseUrl !== undefined) opts.baseUrl = baseUrl
+        if (session !== undefined) opts.session = session
+        if (Object.keys(opts).length > 0) configure(opts)
         configured.current = true
     }
     return <GlobalContextProvider>{children}</GlobalContextProvider>
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/backend/main.py b/examples/fastapi-react-site/backend/main.py
index 21bcf5a..8d51654 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/backend/main.py
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/backend/main.py
@@ -142,6 +142,58 @@ def current_user(request) -> UserOutput:
     )
 
 
+# ─── Merge protocol fixtures ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class MorphGroupMeta(BaseModel):
+    """Group summary — narrower shape than MorphLayer. Listed alongside
+    morph_layers so the server's slot resolver has to discriminate by
+    return-type rather than by bundle order."""
+    id: int
+    label: str
+    count: int
+
+
+class MorphLayer(BaseModel):
+    id: int
+    group_id: int
+    label: str
+    value: float
+
+
+_morph_groups: list[MorphGroupMeta] = [
+    MorphGroupMeta(id=1, label="face", count=2),
+]
+
+
+_morph_layers: list[MorphLayer] = [
+    MorphLayer(id=1, group_id=1, label="brow", value=0.0),
+    MorphLayer(id=2, group_id=1, label="jaw", value=0.0),
+]
+
+
+@client(context="morphs")
+def morph_groups(request) -> list[MorphGroupMeta]:
+    """Summary-shape slot — server must route MorphLayer mutations away from here."""
+    return list(_morph_groups)
+
+
+@client(context="morphs")
+def morph_layers(request) -> list[MorphLayer]:
+    """Detailed-shape slot — server routes MorphLayer mutations here."""
+    return list(_morph_layers)
+
+
+@client(merge="morphs")
+def set_morph_value(request, id: int, value: float) -> MorphLayer:
+    """Mutation that returns the changed row; kernel splices into morph_layers."""
+    for layer in _morph_layers:
+        if layer.id == id:
+            layer.value = value
+            return layer
+    raise ValueError(f"unknown morph layer id={id}")
+
+
 # ─── Registration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
@@ -156,6 +208,9 @@ register(not_implemented_fn, "not_implemented_fn")
 register(buggy_fn, "buggy_fn")
 register(permission_check_fn, "permission_check_fn")
 register(current_user, "current_user")
+register(morph_groups, "morph_groups")
+register(morph_layers, "morph_layers")
+register(set_morph_value, "set_morph_value")
 
 
 # ─── App ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/contexts/morphs.ts b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/contexts/morphs.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1a3c42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/contexts/morphs.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// AUTO-GENERATED by mizan — do not edit
+
+import { mizanFetch } from '@mizan/base'
+
+import type { morphGroupsOutput, morphLayersOutput } from '../types'
+
+export interface MorphsContextData {
+    morph_groups: morphGroupsOutput
+    morph_layers: morphLayersOutput
+}
+
+export type MorphsContextParams = Record<string, never>
+
+export function fetchMorphsContext(params: MorphsContextParams): Promise<MorphsContextData> {
+    return mizanFetch('morphs', params)
+}
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/functions/setMorphValue.ts b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/functions/setMorphValue.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70861df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/functions/setMorphValue.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// AUTO-GENERATED by mizan — do not edit
+
+import { mizanCall } from '@mizan/base'
+
+import type { setMorphValueInput, setMorphValueOutput } from '../types'
+
+export function callSetMorphValue(args: setMorphValueInput): Promise<setMorphValueOutput> {
+    return mizanCall('set_morph_value', args)
+}
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/index.ts b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/index.ts
index 3ba7c78..39d005b 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/index.ts
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/index.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 export * from './types'
 
 export { fetchGlobalContext, type GlobalContextData, type GlobalContextParams } from './contexts/global'
+export { fetchMorphsContext, type MorphsContextData, type MorphsContextParams } from './contexts/morphs'
 
 export { callEcho } from './functions/echo'
 export { callAdd } from './functions/add'
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ export { callVerifiedOnly } from './functions/verifiedOnly'
 export { callNotImplementedFn } from './functions/notImplementedFn'
 export { callBuggyFn } from './functions/buggyFn'
 export { callPermissionCheckFn } from './functions/permissionCheckFn'
+export { callSetMorphValue } from './functions/setMorphValue'
 
 // Stage 2 framework adapter
 export * from './react'
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
index 6667b82..cab59f8 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/react.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {
     type ContextState,
 } from '@mizan/base'
 
-import { fetchGlobalContext, type GlobalContextData, type GlobalContextParams, callEcho, callAdd, callMultiply, callWhoami, callStaffOnly, callSuperuserOnly, callVerifiedOnly, callNotImplementedFn, callBuggyFn, callPermissionCheckFn } from './index'
+import { fetchGlobalContext, type GlobalContextData, type GlobalContextParams, fetchMorphsContext, type MorphsContextData, type MorphsContextParams, callEcho, callAdd, callMultiply, callWhoami, callStaffOnly, callSuperuserOnly, callVerifiedOnly, callNotImplementedFn, callBuggyFn, callPermissionCheckFn, callSetMorphValue, type currentUserOutput, type morphGroupsOutput, type morphLayersOutput } from './index'
 
 // Internal — runs inside a Provider, registers with the kernel exactly once.
 function useContextSubscription<T>(
@@ -94,6 +94,29 @@ export function useCurrentUser(): currentUserOutput | null {
     return useGlobalContext().data?.current_user ?? null
 }
 
+// ── Morphs Context ──
+
+const MorphsCtx = createContext<ContextState<MorphsContextData> | null>(null)
+
+export function MorphsContext({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+    const state = useContextSubscription('morphs', {}, () => fetchMorphsContext({} as any))
+    return <MorphsCtx.Provider value={state}>{children}</MorphsCtx.Provider>
+}
+
+export function useMorphsContext(): ContextState<MorphsContextData> {
+    const ctx = useContext(MorphsCtx)
+    if (!ctx) throw new Error('useMorphsContext requires <MorphsContext>')
+    return ctx
+}
+
+export function useMorphGroups(): morphGroupsOutput | null {
+    return useMorphsContext().data?.morph_groups ?? null
+}
+
+export function useMorphLayers(): morphLayersOutput | null {
+    return useMorphsContext().data?.morph_layers ?? null
+}
+
 export function useEcho() {
     return useMutation<Parameters<typeof callEcho>[0], Awaited<ReturnType<typeof callEcho>>>(callEcho)
 }
@@ -134,11 +157,17 @@ export function usePermissionCheckFn() {
     return useMutation<Parameters<typeof callPermissionCheckFn>[0], Awaited<ReturnType<typeof callPermissionCheckFn>>>(callPermissionCheckFn)
 }
 
+export function useSetMorphValue() {
+    return useMutation<Parameters<typeof callSetMorphValue>[0], Awaited<ReturnType<typeof callSetMorphValue>>>(callSetMorphValue)
+}
+
 // ── MizanContext root provider ──
 
 export interface MizanContextProps {
     /** Base URL for protocol endpoints. Defaults to "/api/mizan". */
     baseUrl?: string
+    /** Set to `false` for backends without a `/session/` endpoint (e.g. FastAPI). */
+    session?: boolean
     children: ReactNode
 }
 
@@ -146,10 +175,13 @@ export interface MizanContextProps {
  * Root provider — calls configure() once and mounts the global context (if defined).
  * Must wrap any component using Mizan-generated hooks.
  */
-export function MizanContext({ baseUrl, children }: MizanContextProps) {
+export function MizanContext({ baseUrl, session, children }: MizanContextProps) {
     const configured = useRef(false)
     if (!configured.current) {
-        if (baseUrl) configure({ baseUrl })
+        const opts: Parameters<typeof configure>[0] = {}
+        if (baseUrl !== undefined) opts.baseUrl = baseUrl
+        if (session !== undefined) opts.session = session
+        if (Object.keys(opts).length > 0) configure(opts)
         configured.current = true
     }
     return <GlobalContextProvider>{children}</GlobalContextProvider>
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/schema.json b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/schema.json
index 1775ca9..7972fd3 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/schema.json
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/schema.json
@@ -327,6 +327,92 @@
           "isContext": "global"
         }
       }
+    },
+    "/mizan/morph_groups": {
+      "post": {
+        "summary": "Summary-shape slot — server must route MorphLayer mutations away from here.",
+        "operationId": "morphGroups",
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "Successful Response",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/morphGroupsOutput"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "x-mizan": {
+          "transport": "http",
+          "isContext": "morphs"
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/mizan/morph_layers": {
+      "post": {
+        "summary": "Detailed-shape slot — server routes MorphLayer mutations here.",
+        "operationId": "morphLayers",
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "Successful Response",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/morphLayersOutput"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "x-mizan": {
+          "transport": "http",
+          "isContext": "morphs"
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/mizan/set_morph_value": {
+      "post": {
+        "summary": "Mutation that returns the changed row; kernel splices into morph_layers.",
+        "operationId": "setMorphValue",
+        "requestBody": {
+          "content": {
+            "application/json": {
+              "schema": {
+                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/setMorphValueInput"
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "required": true
+        },
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "Successful Response",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/setMorphValueOutput"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "422": {
+            "description": "Validation Error",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/HTTPValidationError"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "x-mizan": {
+          "transport": "http",
+          "isContext": false
+        }
+      }
     }
   },
   "components": {
@@ -344,6 +430,58 @@
         "type": "object",
         "title": "HTTPValidationError"
       },
+      "MorphGroupMeta": {
+        "properties": {
+          "id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Id"
+          },
+          "label": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "title": "Label"
+          },
+          "count": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Count"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": [
+          "id",
+          "label",
+          "count"
+        ],
+        "title": "MorphGroupMeta",
+        "description": "Group summary — narrower shape than MorphLayer. Listed alongside\nmorph_layers so the server's slot resolver has to discriminate by\nreturn-type rather than by bundle order."
+      },
+      "MorphLayer": {
+        "properties": {
+          "id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Id"
+          },
+          "group_id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Group Id"
+          },
+          "label": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "title": "Label"
+          },
+          "value": {
+            "type": "number",
+            "title": "Value"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": [
+          "id",
+          "group_id",
+          "label",
+          "value"
+        ],
+        "title": "MorphLayer"
+      },
       "ValidationError": {
         "properties": {
           "loc": {
@@ -477,6 +615,20 @@
         ],
         "title": "echoOutput"
       },
+      "morphGroupsOutput": {
+        "items": {
+          "$ref": "#/components/schemas/MorphGroupMeta"
+        },
+        "type": "array",
+        "title": "morphGroupsOutput"
+      },
+      "morphLayersOutput": {
+        "items": {
+          "$ref": "#/components/schemas/MorphLayer"
+        },
+        "type": "array",
+        "title": "morphLayersOutput"
+      },
       "multiplyInput": {
         "properties": {
           "x": {
@@ -547,6 +699,52 @@
         ],
         "title": "permissionCheckFnOutput"
       },
+      "setMorphValueInput": {
+        "properties": {
+          "id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Id"
+          },
+          "value": {
+            "type": "number",
+            "title": "Value"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": [
+          "id",
+          "value"
+        ],
+        "title": "setMorphValueInput"
+      },
+      "setMorphValueOutput": {
+        "properties": {
+          "id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Id"
+          },
+          "group_id": {
+            "type": "integer",
+            "title": "Group Id"
+          },
+          "label": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "title": "Label"
+          },
+          "value": {
+            "type": "number",
+            "title": "Value"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": [
+          "id",
+          "group_id",
+          "label",
+          "value"
+        ],
+        "title": "setMorphValueOutput"
+      },
       "staffOnlyOutput": {
         "properties": {
           "message": {
@@ -743,6 +941,45 @@
       "isForm": false,
       "formName": null,
       "formRole": null
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "morph_groups",
+      "camelName": "morphGroups",
+      "hasInput": false,
+      "inputType": null,
+      "outputType": "morphGroupsOutput",
+      "transport": "http",
+      "isContext": "morphs",
+      "isForm": false,
+      "formName": null,
+      "formRole": null
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "morph_layers",
+      "camelName": "morphLayers",
+      "hasInput": false,
+      "inputType": null,
+      "outputType": "morphLayersOutput",
+      "transport": "http",
+      "isContext": "morphs",
+      "isForm": false,
+      "formName": null,
+      "formRole": null
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "set_morph_value",
+      "camelName": "setMorphValue",
+      "hasInput": true,
+      "inputType": "setMorphValueInput",
+      "outputType": "setMorphValueOutput",
+      "transport": "http",
+      "isContext": false,
+      "isForm": false,
+      "formName": null,
+      "formRole": null,
+      "merge": [
+        "morphs"
+      ]
     }
   ],
   "x-mizan-contexts": {
@@ -751,6 +988,13 @@
         "current_user"
       ],
       "params": {}
+    },
+    "morphs": {
+      "functions": [
+        "morph_groups",
+        "morph_layers"
+      ],
+      "params": {}
     }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/types.ts b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/types.ts
index d23bae8..01665e8 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/types.ts
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/api/types.ts
@@ -188,6 +188,57 @@ export interface paths {
         patch?: never;
         trace?: never;
     };
+    "/mizan/morph_groups": {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        get?: never;
+        put?: never;
+        /** Summary-shape slot — server must route MorphLayer mutations away from here. */
+        post: operations["morphGroups"];
+        delete?: never;
+        options?: never;
+        head?: never;
+        patch?: never;
+        trace?: never;
+    };
+    "/mizan/morph_layers": {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        get?: never;
+        put?: never;
+        /** Detailed-shape slot — server routes MorphLayer mutations here. */
+        post: operations["morphLayers"];
+        delete?: never;
+        options?: never;
+        head?: never;
+        patch?: never;
+        trace?: never;
+    };
+    "/mizan/set_morph_value": {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        get?: never;
+        put?: never;
+        /** Mutation that returns the changed row; kernel splices into morph_layers. */
+        post: operations["setMorphValue"];
+        delete?: never;
+        options?: never;
+        head?: never;
+        patch?: never;
+        trace?: never;
+    };
 }
 export type webhooks = Record<string, never>;
 export interface components {
@@ -197,6 +248,31 @@ export interface components {
             /** Detail */
             detail?: components["schemas"]["ValidationError"][];
         };
+        /**
+         * MorphGroupMeta
+         * @description Group summary — narrower shape than MorphLayer. Listed alongside
+         *     morph_layers so the server's slot resolver has to discriminate by
+         *     return-type rather than by bundle order.
+         */
+        MorphGroupMeta: {
+            /** Id */
+            id: number;
+            /** Label */
+            label: string;
+            /** Count */
+            count: number;
+        };
+        /** MorphLayer */
+        MorphLayer: {
+            /** Id */
+            id: number;
+            /** Group Id */
+            group_id: number;
+            /** Label */
+            label: string;
+            /** Value */
+            value: number;
+        };
         /** ValidationError */
         ValidationError: {
             /** Location */
@@ -249,6 +325,10 @@ export interface components {
             /** Message */
             message: string;
         };
+        /** morphGroupsOutput */
+        morphGroupsOutput: components["schemas"]["MorphGroupMeta"][];
+        /** morphLayersOutput */
+        morphLayersOutput: components["schemas"]["MorphLayer"][];
         /** multiplyInput */
         multiplyInput: {
             /** X */
@@ -276,6 +356,24 @@ export interface components {
             /** Message */
             message: string;
         };
+        /** setMorphValueInput */
+        setMorphValueInput: {
+            /** Id */
+            id: number;
+            /** Value */
+            value: number;
+        };
+        /** setMorphValueOutput */
+        setMorphValueOutput: {
+            /** Id */
+            id: number;
+            /** Group Id */
+            group_id: number;
+            /** Label */
+            label: string;
+            /** Value */
+            value: number;
+        };
         /** staffOnlyOutput */
         staffOnlyOutput: {
             /** Message */
@@ -584,11 +682,86 @@ export interface operations {
             };
         };
     };
+    morphGroups: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["morphGroupsOutput"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
+    morphLayers: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["morphLayersOutput"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
+    setMorphValue: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody: {
+            content: {
+                "application/json": components["schemas"]["setMorphValueInput"];
+            };
+        };
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["setMorphValueOutput"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Validation Error */
+            422: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["HTTPValidationError"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
 }
 
 
 // Convenience type exports
 export type HTTPValidationError = components["schemas"]["HTTPValidationError"]
+export type MorphGroupMeta = components["schemas"]["MorphGroupMeta"]
+export type MorphLayer = components["schemas"]["MorphLayer"]
 export type ValidationError = components["schemas"]["ValidationError"]
 export type addInput = components["schemas"]["addInput"]
 export type addOutput = components["schemas"]["addOutput"]
@@ -596,11 +769,15 @@ export type buggyFnOutput = components["schemas"]["buggyFnOutput"]
 export type currentUserOutput = components["schemas"]["currentUserOutput"]
 export type echoInput = components["schemas"]["echoInput"]
 export type echoOutput = components["schemas"]["echoOutput"]
+export type morphGroupsOutput = components["schemas"]["morphGroupsOutput"]
+export type morphLayersOutput = components["schemas"]["morphLayersOutput"]
 export type multiplyInput = components["schemas"]["multiplyInput"]
 export type multiplyOutput = components["schemas"]["multiplyOutput"]
 export type notImplementedFnOutput = components["schemas"]["notImplementedFnOutput"]
 export type permissionCheckFnInput = components["schemas"]["permissionCheckFnInput"]
 export type permissionCheckFnOutput = components["schemas"]["permissionCheckFnOutput"]
+export type setMorphValueInput = components["schemas"]["setMorphValueInput"]
+export type setMorphValueOutput = components["schemas"]["setMorphValueOutput"]
 export type staffOnlyOutput = components["schemas"]["staffOnlyOutput"]
 export type superuserOnlyOutput = components["schemas"]["superuserOnlyOutput"]
 export type verifiedOnlyOutput = components["schemas"]["verifiedOnlyOutput"]
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/fixtures.tsx b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/fixtures.tsx
index c977a9d..16219a0 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/fixtures.tsx
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/fixtures.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
 
 import {
     MizanContext,
+    MorphsContext,
     useEcho,
     useAdd,
     useMultiply,
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ import {
     useBuggyFn,
     usePermissionCheckFn,
     useCurrentUser,
+    useMorphGroups,
+    useMorphLayers,
+    useSetMorphValue,
     MizanError,
     useMizan,
 } from './api'
@@ -51,6 +55,7 @@ export function Fixtures() {
         case 'permission-error': return <PermissionError_ />
         case 'permission-success': return <PermissionSuccess />
         case 'context-current-user': return <ContextCurrentUser />
+        case 'merge-morph': return <MergeMorph />
         default: return <div data-testid="ready">Harness ready. Set #hash.</div>
     }
 }
@@ -130,3 +135,29 @@ function ContextCurrentUser() {
         return <div>loading context...</div>
     }
 }
+
+
+function MergeMorph() {
+    return (
+        <MorphsContext>
+            <MergeMorphInner />
+        </MorphsContext>
+    )
+}
+
+function MergeMorphInner() {
+    const groups = useMorphGroups()
+    const layers = useMorphLayers()
+    const { mutate } = useSetMorphValue()
+    const [fired, setFired] = useState(false)
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (layers && groups && !fired) {
+            setFired(true)
+            mutate({ id: 1, value: 0.75 })
+        }
+    }, [layers, groups, fired, mutate])
+
+    if (layers === null || groups === null) return <div>loading...</div>
+    return <pre data-testid="result">{JSON.stringify({ groups, layers })}</pre>
+}
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/main.tsx b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/main.tsx
index edcb61f..e37d088 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/main.tsx
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/harness/src/main.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { Fixtures } from './fixtures'
 
 function App() {
     return (
-        <MizanContext baseUrl="/api/mizan">
+        <MizanContext baseUrl="/api/mizan" session={false}>
             <Fixtures />
         </MizanContext>
     )
diff --git a/examples/fastapi-react-site/mizan.spec.ts b/examples/fastapi-react-site/mizan.spec.ts
index 5d861a0..72b274c 100644
--- a/examples/fastapi-react-site/mizan.spec.ts
+++ b/examples/fastapi-react-site/mizan.spec.ts
@@ -137,3 +137,56 @@ test.describe('generated context hooks', () => {
         expect(result.email).toBe('')
     })
 })
+
+// ─── Session gate ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+test.describe('session gate', () => {
+    test('no /session/ requests fire when configured with session={false}', async ({ page }) => {
+        const sessionCalls: string[] = []
+        page.on('request', (req) => {
+            const url = req.url()
+            if (url.includes('/session/')) sessionCalls.push(url)
+        })
+        await fixture(page, 'echo')
+        await getResult(page)
+        expect(sessionCalls).toEqual([])
+    })
+})
+
+// ─── Merge protocol ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+test.describe('merge protocol', () => {
+    test('@client(merge=...) routes to the correct slot, leaves siblings untouched, no refetch', async ({ page }) => {
+        // The morphs context bundles two list slots:
+        //   morph_groups: list[MorphGroupMeta]  — {id, label, count}
+        //   morph_layers: list[MorphLayer]      — {id, group_id, label, value}
+        // set_morph_value returns MorphLayer. Server-side slot resolution
+        // (via mizan_core.type_utils.types_match_for_merge) must route to
+        // morph_layers and leave morph_groups intact. A kernel-side heuristic
+        // would have to guess between the two id-bearing list slots.
+        const morphsFetches: string[] = []
+        page.on('request', (req) => {
+            const url = req.url()
+            if (url.includes('/api/mizan/ctx/morphs/')) morphsFetches.push(url)
+        })
+
+        await page.goto(`${BASE}#merge-morph`)
+        await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+            const el = document.querySelector('[data-testid="result"]')
+            if (!el) return false
+            try {
+                const data = JSON.parse(el.textContent!)
+                return data.layers?.some((l: any) => l.id === 1 && l.value === 0.75)
+            } catch { return false }
+        }, { timeout: 5000 })
+
+        const result = await getResult(page)
+        const layer = result.layers.find((l: any) => l.id === 1)
+        expect(layer.value).toBe(0.75)
+        expect(layer.label).toBe('brow')
+        // Sibling slot is unchanged — the server didn't route MorphLayer into morph_groups.
+        expect(result.groups).toEqual([{ id: 1, label: 'face', count: 2 }])
+        // Initial mount fetches once; merge path must not trigger a refetch.
+        expect(morphsFetches.length).toBe(1)
+    })
+})
diff --git a/frontends/mizan-base/src/index.ts b/frontends/mizan-base/src/index.ts
index 7ee6cf6..9a310e8 100644
--- a/frontends/mizan-base/src/index.ts
+++ b/frontends/mizan-base/src/index.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ interface MizanConfig {
     getHeaders: () => Record<string, string> | Promise<Record<string, string>>
     csrfCookieName: string
     csrfHeaderName: string
+    /**
+     * Whether the backend exposes `/session/` for CSRF/session bootstrap.
+     * `true` for Django (the default — preserves existing setups); set
+     * `false` for FastAPI or any backend that doesn't ship a session
+     * endpoint to avoid a 404 storm on startup. A future revision moves
+     * this onto the schema-advertised capability surface.
+     */
+    session: boolean
 }
 
 const config: MizanConfig = {
@@ -44,6 +52,7 @@ const config: MizanConfig = {
     getHeaders: () => ({}),
     csrfCookieName: 'csrftoken',
     csrfHeaderName: 'X-CSRFToken',
+    session: true,
 }
 
 export function configure(opts: Partial<MizanConfig>): void {
@@ -67,6 +76,7 @@ function getCSRFToken(): string | null {
 let _sessionReady: Promise<void> | null = null
 
 export function initSession(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!config.session) return Promise.resolve()
     if (_sessionReady) return _sessionReady
 
     _sessionReady = (async () => {
@@ -187,6 +197,59 @@ export function registerContext(
     }
 }
 
+// === Merge ===
+//
+// A mutation that declares `@client(merge=ctx)` returns `{merge: [{context,
+// slot, params?, value}]}` alongside `result`/`invalidate`. The server has
+// already resolved which bundle slot the value lands in (by matching the
+// mutation's return type against each context function's return type), so
+// the kernel does no inference — it writes directly to `bundle[slot]`,
+// upserting by id when the slot is a list. The type information lives in
+// the schema-aware backend layer; the kernel is type-erased on purpose.
+
+function spliceSlot(slot: unknown, value: unknown): unknown {
+    if (Array.isArray(slot)) {
+        if (Array.isArray(value)) return value
+        if (value && typeof value === 'object' && 'id' in value) {
+            const id = (value as { id: unknown }).id
+            const idx = slot.findIndex(item =>
+                item && typeof item === 'object' && 'id' in item
+                    && (item as { id: unknown }).id === id
+            )
+            const next = slot.slice()
+            if (idx >= 0) next[idx] = value
+            else next.push(value)
+            return next
+        }
+    }
+    return value
+}
+
+export function merge(
+    context: string,
+    params: Record<string, any> | undefined,
+    slot: string,
+    value: unknown,
+): void {
+    const entries = contexts.get(context)
+    if (!entries) return
+    const entry = entries.get(stableKey(params ?? {}))
+    if (!entry || entry.state.data == null) return
+
+    const data = entry.state.data
+    if (!data || typeof data !== 'object' || Array.isArray(data)) return
+
+    const bundle = data as Record<string, unknown>
+    if (!(slot in bundle)) return
+
+    entry.state = {
+        data: { ...bundle, [slot]: spliceSlot(bundle[slot], value) },
+        status: 'success',
+        error: null,
+    }
+    entry.listeners.forEach(l => l())
+}
+
 // === Invalidation ===
 
 const pending: Set<string> = new Set()
@@ -318,6 +381,15 @@ export async function mizanCall(
 
     const data = await res.json()
 
+    // Server-driven merges run before invalidations so a context that is
+    // both merged-into and invalidated ends in the invalidation state — the
+    // server told us to refetch, that wins.
+    if (data.merge) {
+        for (const entry of data.merge) {
+            merge(entry.context, entry.params, entry.slot, entry.value)
+        }
+    }
+
     // Server-driven invalidation
     if (data.invalidate) {
         for (const entry of data.invalidate) {
diff --git a/tests/afi/fixture.py b/tests/afi/fixture.py
index 410dc9f..2447083 100644
--- a/tests/afi/fixture.py
+++ b/tests/afi/fixture.py
@@ -82,6 +82,18 @@ def update_profile(request, user_id: int, name: str) -> StatusOutput:
     return StatusOutput(ok=True)
 
 
+@client
+def find_user(request, user_id: int) -> ProfileOutput | None:
+    """Optional return — exercises Pydantic `T | None` schema introspection."""
+    return None
+
+
+@client(merge="user")
+def rename_user(request, user_id: int, name: str) -> ProfileOutput:
+    """Merge target — kernel splices return value into the user context."""
+    return ProfileOutput(user_id=user_id, name=name)
+
+
 # ─── Registration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
@@ -92,3 +104,5 @@ def register_fixture() -> None:
     register(user_profile, "user_profile")
     register(user_orders, "user_orders")
     register(update_profile, "update_profile")
+    register(find_user, "find_user")
+    register(rename_user, "rename_user")
diff --git a/tests/afi/pyproject.toml b/tests/afi/pyproject.toml
index e05be14..57f38ad 100644
--- a/tests/afi/pyproject.toml
+++ b/tests/afi/pyproject.toml
@@ -20,3 +20,8 @@ pythonpath = ["."]
 testpaths = ["."]
 python_classes = ["*Tests", "*Test", "Test*"]
 python_functions = ["test_*"]
+
+[dependency-groups]
+dev = [
+    "uvicorn>=0.47.0",
+]