☆ Round Two!

[jsmn_kink]

Welcome to the second round of the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Kink Meme at jsmn_kinkmeme!

Below are some basic guidelines, but please make sure you also check out our complete Rules & Guidelines.

Guidelines:
■ Anonymously comment with your request – a character/pairing/nthsome, and a kink or prompt.
■ Only one prompt per post.
■ Fillers please link your fills in the Fills Post!
■ Have fun! :)

Keep in mind:
■ Any kinks welcomed!
■ The fill/request does not need to be sexual or porny.
■ Multiple fills are allowed.
■ Fills can be any sort of creative work: fic, art, song, photomanip, etc.
■ Beware of spoilers! Prompters and requesters are encouraged to warn for spoilers, but this rule is not enforced.
■ Warning for non-con, dub-con, abuse, slurs/language, and other potentially disturbing subjects is encouraged but be aware we do not enforce this.
■ Would fillers please make sure when posting a fill in multiple parts that they thread their comments by replying to previous parts.

Links:
☆ Mod Post
☆ Tumblr
☆ Tumblr Fill Archive (updated monthly)
☆ Fills Post
☆ Discussion Post
☆ Misfire deletion requests
☆ Previous Rounds: Round One

Comments

Norrell is a good boss when Childermass is hurt

[(Anonymous)]

Norrell reacts differently to Lascelles attacking and cutting Childermass. And by 'differently,' I mean "the way he fucking should have."

Re: Norrell is a good boss when Childermass is hurt

[(Anonymous)]

Oh lord, if there is one scene that needs a cathartic fix-it fic, it's that one.

Sure, in canon, Norrell wouldn't be Norrell if he had actually reacted assertively when Lascelles carved Childermass's face up, but that's what fanfic is for right? Wish fulfillment, even while we know that things would have turned out very differently had Norrell done the right thing at that moment.

Which is my long-winded way of saying seconded. I've been waiting for a ficcish take on this.

Re: Norrell is a good boss when Childermass is hurt

[(Anonymous)]

Thirded!

Re: Norrell is a good boss when Childermass is hurt

[(Anonymous)]

This is amazing!!! Yes yesyesyes please!

Fill: A complication

[(Anonymous)]

Despite being a minor scholar, De Chepe’s Labyrinth always succeeded. It kept Hurtfew’s library free from servants, theoretical magicians, and even those pesky creatures —rats mostly— that rather than wishing to devour the knowledge within its shelves of magical books, simply wanted to eat them. An impenetrable labyrinth was as far as Norrell’s imagination stretched to keep Mr Strange away. If Strange managed to find his way inside the library somehow — well, he’d decide once it came to it.

Searching the library, glancing shelf references not seen in months, Norrell sought Belasis’ Instructions. Ensuring the spell’s correct casting required the text. None of the Abbey’s stones could be left unturned, no wood panel unmoved, and no candle branch without a duplicate.

“My dear Mr Norrell,” Lascelles said, somewhere behind Norrell (who forgot he was supposed to be listening), “What else could it possibly come to? England needs a magical leader—” Norrell stopped pretending to listen.

Flipping the pages, he found de Chepe’s spell. Cautiously, he raised a hand to the library door and began whispering the words aloud as he read. With the labyrinth in place, every person important to Norrell —all two of them— would be safe and protected within these walls.

There was much to read and consider. Beyond Norrell’s palm, on the other side of the door, corridors twisted; the ends and beginnings of hallways shifted and conjoined; dust took the shape of stairwells; sconces threw their light around corners and shadows hung from ceilings like curtains. This kind of magic could entrap anyone, even a magician as powerful as Mr Strange, for eternity.

Due to Hurtfew’s architecture, certain parts of the spell needed repeating. Others, such as those focusing on trees and waterways, were omitted. With eyes tight shut, Norrell whispered the repetitions. He requested the Abbey’s floors and ceilings befriend each other, allowed them to switch places whenever they pleased. Such magic required intense concentration.

Somewhere distant, Norrell thought he heard shouting, and then its echo. He assumed it was the magic taking effect, or stones sliding from where they’d stood for centuries, excited at the chance of being useful in a different way. His suspicion strengthened when the hinges of the door clunked, the walls settled down, and he reached the last line of the spell.

“It is done,” he announced to the others. “We are safe as long as we remain in this room.”

Norrell turned to face Lascelles and Childermass, hoping to see their delight that a great magician had protected them both from all of English magic. Instead, when looking to Lascelles, he found him pacing, a small blade clenched in his fist and a vicious snarl on his lips. Looking to Childermass, he found him hunched against a pillar, clutching a bloodied rag to his cheek.

“Mr Lascelles?” Norrell asked, as if demanding an explanation.

“He called me a thief!” Lascelles spat, pointing at Childermass with the weapon.

“Is that adequate reason to attack my manservant?” Before Lascelles could retort, Norrell cast a hand toward the knife, rendering it useless. The blade softened, dripping small silver puddles upon the stone floor.

Approaching Childermass, Norrell noticed the hand holding the rag to his face —and the sleeve beneath— was drenched in blood. “May I see?” he asked, softly.

Childermass’ lower lip trembled as he removed the rag but he made no sounds of discomfort; he’d always been skilled at disguising pain. The gash, running from his eye to his mouth, looked deep.

“What happened?”

Norrell raised a hand to the wound, avoided touching it. When Childermass reached inside his coat Lascelles approached them, begging to be heard. Norrell ignored him, giving Childermass his full attention. With a gentle movement of his fingers, he began healing the wound with magic.

Childermass gritted his teeth as the spell took effect. Norrell assumed the threads of muscle knitting back together in Childermass’ cheek must feel uncomfortable. This spell had not worked previously, when Norrell tried to heal the bullet wound in Childermass’ shoulder. Now magic was returned to England, the opportunities were endless.

“It will be over soon,” Norrell assured. Then, it was, only a faint scar and the blood in Childermass’ beard proof anything at all had happened.

“Thank you, sir,” Childermass said. Retrieving a box from his pocket —its colour one Norrell could not quite place but recognised— he opened it. “Mr Lascelles stole this.”

Norrell peered inside to discover Lady Pole’s finger atop the silk interior. It looked alive, still flesh coloured and perfect, despite its removal being many years ago. He swallowed.

“Mr Strange wishes me to take it Lady Pole,” Childermass said. “With your permission sir, that is what I will do.”

“Mr Norrell!” Lascelles interrupted. “Do you really wish to insult me in such a manner?” He took Norrell’s arm, forcing him to face him. “You take the word of a mere servant before that of your friend and a gentleman’s?”

“You were not wounded, Mr Lascelles. Surely I should have tended to Childermass’ injury before listening to accounts of your quarrel?”

“There is no quarrel, sir. A quarrel presumes that this—” he waved his towards where Childermass was standing “—person, has equal say to my own. His punishment was well deserved.”

“Regardless of your difference in station,” Norrell replied, “you have no right to punish my servants Mr Lascelles. It should be up to a servant’s master to punish, should it not?” As he looked to Childermass for support, Norrell realised he was no longer standing beside him. “Childermass?”

Childermass was at the library door, the handle in his hand. Looking over his shoulder he said: “I must deliver this box to Mr Strange, as his letter instructed. I will return.”

“You will not find your way through the labyrinth Childermass,” Norrell replied, stepping towards him. “It is much more intricate than the others.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Childermass bowed his head ever so slightly before opening the door. “Goodbye, sir.”

Astounded, Norrell watched him walk out into the dark corridor. The stones formed a pathway beneath Childermass’ feet and candlesticks burst into flame to light his way. Norrell wanted to keep him safe beside him, keep Strange from harming him — would he ever see him again now?

Running past him, Lascelles made for the door. “Get back here!” He sped into the corridor and was sucked into the darkness in an instant.

In a few seconds, the two men Norrell cared about were gone, lost to the labyrinth. He stood in silence as the door closed itself, the sound echoing from the library walls.

He was alone.

Gathering his thoughts, he wondered how long he would need to wait in his library, hidden behind obscurity. There were two options: wait here until his death, or remove the protection spell and fight Mr Strange, alone. Both were terrifying and undesirable.

“Seven people from Norwich in 1124.”

Norrell turned toward the voice.

“Four from Aysgarth in Yorkshire, Christmas 1151.”

It was Mr Strange.

The Gentleman with Thistle-down Hair Post-canon

[(Anonymous)]

I find there to be a depressing lack of the Gentleman fic.

After the events of the book/series, someone (Segundus? Childermass? Segundus AND Childermass??) makes a project of mapping as much of the King's Roads as possible, including stumbling into the ruins of Lost-Hope. It turns out that the Gentleman wasn't quite as dead as everyone believed him to be, although he is so weak that he won't survive staying in Fairy much longer.

Cue the Gentleman's introduction into English society as, more or less, a human being. I want to see him getting frustrated with human things and whining about all the power he lost while also gaining some humanity.

+++ if Segundus ends up being surprisingly patient with him for the purpose of wheedling all his magical knowledge so he can write a book about it.

+++++++ if Childermass *does NOT approve.*

Childermass/Lascelles/Drawlight - non-consensual magical weight gain

[(Anonymous)]

Lascelles and Drawlight have a chubby kink and have fixated on Childermass despite his thinness. They draft in a magician to make a spell or potion to make an individual gain weight. They kidnap and restrain Childermass and then cast the spell/force him to drink the potion.
Childermass feels really unwell and then to his horror his stomach starts to swell.

From then on Lascelles and Drawlight have fun playing with Childermass and humiliating him.

The spell eventually wears off and he returns to his normal size.

Bonus points for Childermass plotting revenge.

Childermass/Norrell in a Fingersmith/The Handmaiden AU

[(Anonymous)]

With Childermass as the poor young thief and Norrell as the wealthy but naive reclusive bachelor. Lascelles as the unscrupulous gentleman who plots to woo and marry Norrell before ensconcing him in an asylum and taking his inheritance for himself (I'm thinking this could be a world where equal marriage is a thing and there is no stigma directed at same-sex couples.)
Lascelles knows Childermass somehow, lets him in on his plan to seduce Norrell and convinces him to pose as Norrell's new personal servant, with a promise of a cut of the profit once Norrell is in the asylum. All Childermass has to do is to help convince his new master to accept Lascelles' proposal. Instead, Childermass falls in love with Norrell. And now he can't go through with the plan...

Re: Childermass/Norrell in a Fingersmith/The Handmaiden AU

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not familiar with Fingersmith or the Handmaiden but I love this pairing any any way they can possibly get together is good with me! Seconded with bells on!

ageplay, anyone/anyone

[(Anonymous)]

I would love to see daddy kink, mommy kink, or other kinds of ageplay explored in this fandom.

I've been thinking a lot about this in the context of Childermass/Norrell, but I would be delighted to see other pairings too!

Re: ageplay, anyone/anyone

[(Anonymous)]

YES! Yes PLEASE!

+1 for Childermass/Norrell ageplay, it's a thing of beauty

Re: ageplay, anyone/anyone

[(Anonymous)]

OP, I have a question! Are you after a younger Childermass when he first joins Mr Norrell's service and an older Mr Norrell? (I'm guesstimating Norrell to be around 10 or 15 years older than Childermass.) Because, I'd be so ready to read that! (I'd be up for reading anything ageplay related tbf.)

I'd love to hear other pairings you feel could work with ageplay too. It's got me thinking about the age ranges of the characters now... Would be interesting to work it out.

Re: ageplay, anyone/anyone

[(Anonymous)]

I am always looking for Norrell prompts, and this one intrigues me. But frankly, I don't know much about ageplay. My own head-canon is that Norrell is only about five years older than Childermass, but the idea that Childermass is emotionally more mature than Norrell is plausible as a starting point.

Norrell is also distinctly older than Strange, again in my head-canon about 15 years older. Yet they get together in the Darkness.

I might be able to write something based on this premise, but I would need a more specific prompt, either Norrell/Childermass or Norrell/Strange. Indeed, I would be most grateful for such a prompt! Even if I don't get such a prompt, I hope someone else fills this one!

FILL: Childermass/Norrell ageplay, pt 1/4

[(Anonymous)]

(Disclaimer: I have no idea if “daddy kink” is period-appropriate. Certainly the word “daddy” came into use in the 1500s, and people have been into perverted shit since the beginning of time, but… ? Oh well, it’s what I’m writing! If you know more than me and want to comment with historical accuracy tips on this, I would be super into it.)

Norrell was still awake when Childermass had finished his last piece of business for the day. Candle-light and a soft glow from the dying fire played across his pinched face, their shadows emphasizing dark half-moons beneath his eyes. His gaze seemed to jump this way and that upon the pages of his book, not resting on any place long enough to absorb its meaning. He had long since put down his quill and stopped taking notes; instead, his right hand rested close to his face so he could absentmindedly chew at his fingernails.

Childermass walked quietly over to place a hand gently on the small man’s shoulder.

“It is late, sir.”

“I still have a great deal of work to do. This spell must be perfect, and I must account for any eventuality.”

“The spell is well within your power, sir. You have done it enough times in your life to know that. The statues will speak whether you stay up all night for the next three days or rest yourself.”

“My magic is none of your concern!”

Childermass nodded his head with a small grunt of acknowledgement and walked quietly out of the library. He stayed gone for a period of time, in which Norrell felt a small flame of victory in his heart. It was not often that he stayed awake past a time Childermass deemed reasonable. When his man-of-business re-entered the room a while later, he looked up from his book with a slight air of alarm about him.

“I’ve drawn a bath for you, sir. It’ll go cold if you wait much longer. Now, go soothe your vexed nerves.”

“I-- I wish to study! It was terribly wasteful of you to draw a bath without my requesting it! Really, Childermass, even if I were to go to bed, I feel as if I would simply lie awake there till the morning when I could return to the library.”

“I see; so you require some assistance, sir? With... going to sleep?” Childermass’ dark eyes regarded him steadily, eyebrows raised in a gesture of loving condescension, as if to remind him that this was clearly the only reasonable option.

A few quick blinks later, a pretty blush rose in Norrell’s cheeks. He did not meet Childermass’ dark eyes with his own as he picked up his book with one arm and extended the other to Childermass. Clutching his book to his chest fiercely like a security blanket, he allowed himself to be led out of the room.

“We shall try your plan Childermass, but I do not suppose it will work.”

Norrell’s room was bright, with a tub resting before the merry fire built high in its hearth. Norrell’s book had carefully been placed on a bedside table where no water could touch it.

“Come now, lad. Let’s get those clothes off of you.”

Childermass had once been Norrell’s valet, and at that time the dressing and undressing of his master had been a silent, perfunctory affair. Now, as Childermass’ practiced hands undressed the small man, he caressed open spots of skin and murmured soft phrases like “ups-a-daisy” and “there you are,” without hardly realizing what he was saying; knowledge built up from years of this strange intimacy between them allowed him to tug Norrell’s pliant hands and legs to where they ought to be. When he was finally naked, Childermass pressed a warm kiss to his forehead. Childermass stepped back and catalogued Norrell’s body with admiring eyes-- some would even call them doting-- noting the gentle curve of his belly and the short brown curls beginning to grow out from his head. He was apparently taking too long at this endeavor though, for Norrell fidgeted with his hands, blushed a deep red, and let out a frustrated huff. “Can I take my bath now, Childermass?”

“Lad, if you want my help with these things, you’re going to have to call me by the proper name. You know that. It is not within my servant-duties to bathe you, nor to cuddle you close and read you to sleep. Now, whose job could that be, m’dear?”

Norrell tried to respond in a tone that communicated his exasperation with Childermass’ distinctions, but his voice came out much quieter than he had been intending and this somewhat ruined the effect. “Fine! … may I get into my bath now, daddy?”

“There’s my bonny boy. Come ‘ere.”

(Childermass did not, in fact, know what a father’s job generally was, as he had not received any fathering himself when he was a child. He supposed that what he described fell more under a mother’s purview, or it might if the child in question were extraordinarily lucky. And the rest of what he did when playing at being Norrell’s “daddy,” of course that had nowt to do with parenting or childhood at all. He was not much bothered by the inaccuracy though, for over the years he’d discovered that playing at being young made Norrell terribly embarrassed, aroused, and more open than usual about his needs, all of which suited Childermass just fine.)

Lascelles/TV!Drawlight - manipulation, humiliation, etc.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm such a horrible person for wanting this, but...

I've seen a fair few prompts to do with book!Drawlight, how about some TV!Drawlight suffering?

Drawlight is hopelessly in love/lust with Lascelles. Lascelles is well aware of this, and so, as a way of keeping Drawlight in thrall to him, allows Drawlight to fuck him every so often. But rather than pretending he's into it, Lascelles goes out of his way to show how not into it he is, whether that's by a lot of bored huffing, cutting remarks about Drawlight's technique (or lack thereof), or even accidentally-on-purpose moaning out someone else's name.

Just give me Lascelles being a complete bastard and poor Drawlight being miserable but unable to give up his only chance of tumbling his dear Henry.

Re: Lascelles/TV!Drawlight - manipulation, humiliation, etc.

[(Anonymous)]

Ooh! It's rare to see TV!Drawlight get a mention here.

This is such a painful prompt. Damn Lascelles for using everyone!

Childermass/Lascelles + carrying

[(Anonymous)]

I have no idea how it could happen but I desperately need Childermass carrying Lascelles.

I don't care if Lascelles protests like mad or the complete opposite (maybe he's fainted, or he's being rescued from Faerie while all feeble and vacant) and I don't care why this happens, or even how the carrying does down (fireman's carry over the shoulder, scooped up in Childermass' arms, thrown over Brewer's saddle), I just, *sigh*, I need this.

Re: Childermass/Lascelles + carrying

[(Anonymous)]

I'm on team Scooped Up In Childermass' Arms, but a piggy back ride would also be hilarious.

Strange/Norrell body-swap humour

[(Anonymous)]

In the Darkness -- sympathetic to both characters

Re: Strange/Norrell body-swap humour

[(Anonymous)]

Hah, I can't believe this hasn't been done yet. Seconded!

Strange/Norrell (or Strange & Norrell) - the vanishing portrait

[(Anonymous)]

In the book, Sir Thomas Lawrence's double portrait of Norrell and Strange "hung in Mr Norrell's library from November 1814 until the summer of the following year when it was removed. It has not been seen since." So who removed it? And why? I'm guessing it was taken down because of the rift between the two magicians. Did Lascelles convince Norrell it would be "impolitic" to keep it, or was it Norrell's own idea, because the image of himself and Strange together was too painful for him?

And the most important question - where did it end up? Thrown straight on the fire, collecting dust in some obscure collection - or was it simply moved to a more private location in Hanover-square (or even Hurtfew Abbey)?

I'm a big fan of the Strange/Norrell pairing, so if you can work it in somehow that'd be awesome, but I'll quite happily take gen, too. I'd just love to see someone's take on this particular little mystery!

Re: Strange/Norrell (or Strange & Norrell) - the vanishing portrait

[(Anonymous)]

This is fascinating. If it did end up accumulating dust in an archive/collection somewhere, it would be worth LOADS after the magicians are swept off the face of the earth!

Emma/Sir Walter - post-resurrection sex

[(Anonymous)]

Entirely because of "Ooh, Walter, I rather like you in black." Overflowing with new life, Emma finds that merely dancing with her fiance isn't quite enough for her. Cue lots of energetic, eager sex.

Maybe Sir Walter's a bit weirded out at first - after all, not half an hour ago she was a corpse - but finds himself getting swept up in the moment, because Emma is so very irresistible like this.

A bit improper, maybe, but it's not the strangest thing to have happened in that bedroom that night!

Emma/Childermass - pegging

[(Anonymous)]

It's hard to say which one of them loves it more when she makes him scream.

Re: Emma/Childermass - pegging

[(Anonymous)]

WOAH. Yes please.

Emma/Childermass/Segundas - magic sensitivity h/c

[(Anonymous)]

Childermass's sensitivity to magic becomes problematic when he's overwhelmed and incapacitated by it somewhere. Fortunately, his lovers are nearby to take care of him.

Norrell + Strange/Grant: accidental voyeurism

[(Anonymous)]

Norrell worries about Jonathan while he's in the Peninsula, so he summons a vision to check in on him, only to find Jonathan getting down and dirty with a certain major. Worse, he's completely unable to look away.

Childermass/Uskglass, How to Shew Your Most Leal Subject Your Affections, rom-com

[(Anonymous)]

Just putting this here in case the meme isn't completely dead...

The Raven King had been paying attention to Childermass for a long time before that day when he revived his book, due to the prophecy, but he only fell in love that day. There's just one problem. Well, three problems.

1. Childermass is completely unaware of his king's affections.
2. The king is aware he has a history of messing up romantically.
3. ...And no one he trusts to give advice (Will Lanchester, adoptive father Obereon, Vinculus) is actually any good at it.

Happy ending preferred.

Crossover/Mythology Gag/Fluffy Hair Bonus: Uskglass, as Obereon's adopted son, has two siblings - the half-human bastard Robin Goodfellow (yes, that Puck) - and fully faerie Jareth, the Goblin King (from Labyrinth). The late Gentleman with the Thisledown Hair having been that-cousin-noone-likes-or-wants-to-invite-to-parties.

TL:DR; The Raven King loves Childermass, but is terrible at courting him. Hijinks ensue.

Re: Childermass/Uskglass, How to Shew Your Most Leal Subject Your Affections, rom-com

[(Anonymous)]

I am so here for any prompt that involves the Raven King being just the biggest disaster and this sounds adorable and hilarious. Seconding!