☆ 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
☆ Fills Post
☆ Discussion Post
☆ Misfire deletion requests
☆ Previous Rounds: Round One

Comments

Norrell/Childermass

[(Anonymous)]

Everybody knows Norrell hates Miss Radcliffe's novel.

But nobody knows that Norrell bought every single Miss Radcliffe's book and could recite her poems by heart. He anonymously criticized Miss Radcliffe's book on newspaper. What will happen if Childermass found out this guilty pleasure of Norrell

[(Anonymous)]

Now is the 20th century.
Give me a TV series about the court of the Raven King and the Aureate magicians. It could be like Merlin or it could be filled with sex, violence and scandals, something like the Tudors or those films that speculated on whether Queen Elizabeth remained a virgin (she did not).

Norrell/Strange - first time, frantic sex

[(Anonymous)]

I've read a fair amount of fic about Norrell being shy and inhibited when it comes to sex, and I love it all, but what I'd love to see now is a Norrell who has been so hopelessly in love with Jonathan for so long, that the minute he gets him in the bedroom (or whatever setting you fancy), all his pent-up longing bubbles right over and he's all over Jonathan like a rash. Gimme all the frantic, handsy sex with Norrell desperate to touch as much as humanly possible at any one time, and Strange, naturally, loving it.

Bonus points if this leads to top!Norrell!

FILL: "Pursed Lips" 1/1

[(Anonymous)]

This has taken quite a while. I hope the OP has not given up hope of ever seeing a fill. The fic is posted on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16663180

The prompt suggested an explicit fic, which I was happy to provide. Enjoy!

Segundus/Childermass--Magical sensitivity

[(Anonymous)]

A few real good fics for these two have touched on their magical sensitivity in a sexual context, but being scholars and magicians, I'd love to see them experimenting and seeing if either/both can get off just by casting harmless spells on/near each other.

Re: Segundus/Childermass--Magical sensitivity

[(Anonymous)]

really good prompt

Segundus/Honeyfoot The best remedy

[(Anonymous)]

Poor Segundus has a very persistent headache going on, the best way to deal with that is a quiet, dark room, and resting with your head in your dear friends lap.

Re: Segundus/Honeyfoot The best remedy

[(Anonymous)]

this is so adorable it's bringing a tear to my eye

Childermass & Norrell - Loyalty (tw: violence)

[(Anonymous)]

When Lascelles threatened to "teach Childermass some manners" and cut his face, Norrell didn't seem to have much to say about it despite Childers having previously taken a bullet for him *and* been a good servant for quite some time.

What about a different scenario, where things reach a boiling point between Childers and Lascelles a little earlier, and Lascelles connives his way into having Childermass either attacked by hired thugs or actually charged with a crime and/or flogged, and somewhere in the middle of it Norrell's put in a position of deciding whether to actually show his servant some loyalty?

...mostly I'm just looking for some hurt!Childermass and a bit of angsty, non-shipping relationship exploration between them?

( I know Childers isn't exactly helpless by any definition, so it might be interesting to look at whether this is something he has to, for his own agenda, choose to allow, or if he's simply overpowered...that's up to whomever :D )

Hurt!Childermass - Norrell comforts the wrong hurt ( tw: implied/offscreen noncon )

[(Anonymous)]

During the early days of Childermass's working for Mr. Norrell, Childermass is attacked- perhaps by someone who knew him 'before', or someone wanting to 'teach him his place', or even someone who simply has a grudge against Norrell himself. In any case, young Childermass is left in a bad way.

He manages to get himself home and tries not to let on that anything's wrong ( possibly out of fear of losing his job? ) but, despite his attempts and Norrell's seeming obliviousness, Norrell eventually notices that something isn't right with his servant and proceeds to ask him what's happened.

Despite Childermass's relative honesty, Norrell completely misunderstands and things Childermass just needs some reassurance that he's doing a good job and will soon make for an entirely respectable servant. He then awkwardly attempts to provide that reassurance, while Childermass quietly determines not to correct him.

Just something sad and soft? Preferably with the actual noncon not being explicit, and the focus on the aftermath?

tw: implied rape, implied/referenced child abuse

[(Anonymous)]

It was his grandfather that Childermass met on the road back from Ripon, in a tavern that he should have known better than to stop at.

His veins are full of dirt, the dirt of the tomb. His heart is a grave. It is a good thing that Childermass stopped crying years ago. He thinks only of the clopping of the hooves beneath him, the feel of the bridle in his hands, the moments passing 'til he will be alone, with no responsibilities, and this day will – please, God – be over.

Despite every promise Childermass made to himself – it happened again. He is a man now, not a lad, with a core of stone (and some would say, a top layer of stone as well) – so much rougher and cleverer and harder to kill – and it happened again nevertheless. The shock was the worst part, the old man's sudden appearance blotting out speech, a flood of memories pressing against that hard-built dam in the back of his mind. And there is another memory, now. This is what he brings to Hurtfew Abbey: an old copy of Curiouse Observations on the Anatomie of Faeries by Hogarth and Pickle, for Mr. Norrell's library, and an unwelcome new record for the library he never asked for.

Childermass says nothing of the matter when he arrives at Hurtfew. These things do not happen to gentlemen and so a gentleman could never understand. A difficult servant is a servant let go, and he is broken, exhausted. He cannot do any more. In general Norrell notices very little, a fact which alternately relieves and frustrates him, but somehow tonight Norrell notices his state. In the candlelight his employer's face looks like a mask of itself, a theater mask's mouth curving with emotion.

“Oh! Hogarth and Pickle! You do have it – that is, you do have the 1750 printing, do you not, Childermass? Do you not? I was quite in agonies waiting for you to return. All day I have done nothing but study Ormskirk, and you know how tiresome he becomes after too long.”

Agonies. “Yes, Mr. Norrell. I have it here.”

“Dear me, Childermass, are you quite well? You look pale. You may have some claret if you wish.”

“It was a rough road, sir. Had some trouble coming back.”

Norrell makes a scornful face. “Of course! The roads grow worse and worse each year – I could never do such a thing, could not risk my possessions and person at the knives of bandits, and drunkards, and beggars, and people of – of low repute – but do not fret, Childermass. You have done well. Certainly, I have been looking for the Observations for years! And all things considered, you were quicker than I expected. I have no doubt should you continue in this way, in a few years you will make a perfectly respectable servant.”
Norrell smiles in what he likely thinks is a comforting manner, and Childermass feels like crying. A spike of pain lances through the top of his skull. He feels the muscles of his face lying heavy on the bone, and with the skill of long practice he forces them into what, from the outside, looks like calm.

“Thank you, sir. That means a great deal to me.”

“Of course. Go, now – practice Belasis's Scopus before you sleep. Good night, Childermass.”

He is still getting used to his new name. He never had a father, and it was intolerable to use the name that his grandfather gave. Magic drew him in for many reasons – was what he liked best for many reasons – but one of them was that, as they put it, “prudent magicians are generally reluctant to allow the world to know their true names”. Childermass was the commemoration of the murdered innocents. As a lad he had felt so, so sad for those dead babies – but he knows himself well enough to see that he was actually feeling sorry for himself. For a dirty urchin that nobody cried over, a three-legged cat of a boy who knew what it was long before he knew what it was called. For all these years he forced and tricked his way up the ranks of the world, determined that he should never be brought so low again.

Yet he was brought low, in the exact same way. And this is his consolation: that a man in a powdered wig should reassure him that he would be a perfectly respectable servant soon. As though servants were ever safe in the homes of their masters.

Childermass's headache has become much worse, and the glass of water he pours is welcome. With effort he resists choking while he drinks, and then coughs into his arm once, twice, again and again.

Later he lies in his attic bed and whispers the words of the Scopus, watching the little light spark and spin around the glass. The water looks grey when he holds it up, catching the peeling grey paint of the walls. Deep inside, beneath his breastbone, he feels the brightness, the shift of magic, like strange shores moving with strange tides.

There is no-one who can take this from him.
--
Feel free to leave concrit :)

Childermass/female charcter (Arabella?) - Cunnilingus

[(Anonymous)]

I just need some good ol' het with Childermass giving a lady oral pleasure and loving every minute of it. Would prefer it be Arabella somehow (hand-waving, etc).

(I was very happy to get a notification that someone had added something to this meme!)

Lascelles tries to cut out Childermass' tongue (tw: violence)

[(Anonymous)]

Either as a canon-divergence of the library scene, or at any other point, Lascelles gets the idea to punish Childermass for his 'insolence', and instead of just slashing his face, makes a serious attempt to cut out his tongue.

Whether Lascelles is successful or not, how much of a fight it is, is up to Anyone. I'd mostly just like to see him try, with some mouth injury!Childermass afterward, and maybe Norrell's reactions whether he's present for the whole thing or walks in during/after?

Re: Lascelles tries to cut out Childermass' tongue (tw: violence)

[(Anonymous)]

thank you for the idea of mouth injury!Childermass

The Raven King + Childermass - Cleaning

[(Anonymous)]

I saw an excerpt from the book which described The Raven King as touching Childermass' face in a manner like a parent cleaning their child and now all i can think is:

while Childermass is Still and Quiet, the Raven King gently dabbing at the blood still on his face from where Lascelles cut him in the library, maybe swiping at some smudged dirt, pushing back stray hair, and then turning his attention to Childer's hands and working on them a bit too.

All with Childermass at least partially aware and confused that this is going on.

(Nothing Overtly sexual, but The Raven King might go so far as to give him a forehead or top-of-the-head kiss before up and leaving/unfreezing him for a little additional confusion, and Childermass has precious little time to process this before Vinculus is wakes up, too)

Re: The Raven King + Childermass - Cleaning

[(Anonymous)]

this is lovely, I may attempt it.

so nothing sexual, but can it be a little bit romantic? or would you like a more familial feeling?

also would you prefer show!Raven King or book!Raven King (more pretty and well-dressed)?

Re: The Raven King + Childermass - Cleaning

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you!

I was thinking either something kind of ambiguous, or else leaning toward familial? As for book or series, either one would be great! I've not read the book just yet, but have been interested in Raven King content in pretty much any form it'll come! :D

Fill: Written on the Forehead

[(Anonymous)]

Childermass stands motionless under the branches of the hawthorn tree, which rise like many black arms in his peripheral vision. He might be able to move if he wanted to, but it doesn't occur to him to move. Much later, he will dwell on this- whether or not it is part of the magic.

The young man in fine black clothes moves amongst the branches. Childermass's eyes can't always tell where the man ends and the tree begins, or where the branches end and the sky starts.

The man's face is pale like the grey sky, but his cheeks are pink enough to look alive.

---

John Uskglass moves from the body of his book to that of his servant.

They have met before.

The King raises his hand to release Childermass's body to his own power.

He hesitates.

His hand hangs in the air.

---

Childermass slightly has the appearance of having been dragged down the road. There is congealed blood on his face, and underneath his sleeve there is blood dripping from his arm and down off his hand. His hair and clothes are dirty and ragged. His frame, though strong, carries the marks and aches of a life of labour. This is the usual state of Childermass's person, but John Uskglass feels an impulse to change this state of nature- to heal him and to wash him. The Raven King is long out of the habit of interacting with humans, but he has grown fond of Childermass and can't think of a reason to deny himself.

He begins with the face.

The King's hands move gently through the air around Childermass as he goes, to give him a little warning. Childermass probably won't remember this, but that isn't why he does it. He wants to moderate Childermass's suffering in the moment. Because it pleases him to do so.

Over Childermass's face he casts a spell to protect his skin and lips from the cold wind. He closes the cut on his cheek and dries the blood so that it falls away from his cheek easily, like ashes.

Childermass's hazel eyes staring ahead catch the light from the grey sky and shine like murky agate. As the King gently takes him by the chin, the sweat and dust of the road vanish from his skin. A fleck of dry grass falls from his brow.

The underside of Childermass's hair is tangled autumn brush into which John Uskglass sinks his fingers. It falls from his hands free of knots, dark and waving over Childermass's shoulders.

He closes the cut on Childermass's arm where he had tried to carve a part of the book, and Childermass's sleeve falls free from where it was stuck to his arm with blood.

His hands are scarred and dry from his work. They are dirty too, because he is a man of business, and a man who has made a home for himself in this world of distances, times, weights, and quantities, while slowly building himself a lifeline to the world suffused by magic.

The King takes Childermass by the hands and little cuts disappear. The wind pulls earth from under his nails.

The magic travels up Childermass's arms. It feels like subtle currents of temperature change moving across his body- almost without sensation. He feels it on his chest where the bullet went in, and in his leg where a horse once kicked him.

The King feels a break in Childermass's ankle, long since healed, and he pulls the gnarled re-fused bone apart. It wants to come back together, and he holds it apart until its longing to be whole pulls it snap-! back together like a china cup reuniting its pieces without seams. He pulls knots from Childermass's back, which Childermass feels as his spine lifting up and muscles spreading out and releasing tension as though he's set a burden down.

Childermass feels weightless and tall and young. Glorious. Pain flies from his temples like doves. Magic grips the insteps of his feet and he knows if he could speak or make a sound he would sigh out loud for happiness. On his skin, he almost feels like he's underwater, but the water is warm. Unlike coming out of warm water, he doesn't feel a chill on his skin when the magic moves away. His body is accustomed to the air right away. Later he will think he should have felt afraid, for he could not move, but in the moment he feels completely safe, somehow like a child, being protected by this familiar stranger.

Before he goes, the King fills Childermass's belly with sustenance and fills his mind with rest. He licks his fingers and puts his intent and his love on them, and writes a sigil in Childermass's palm. He brushes them across Childermass's eyelids and mouth. He kisses him softly on the forehead like he's saying goodnight, and then he waves his arm in a flicker of black sleeve and Childermass can move.

whoosh-!

Childermass's blood rushes to his head, Vinculus is waking up and wheezing, and he stumbles over. In staring at Vinculus's red face and bloodshot eyes, he doesn't notice anything that's changed about his own body. It's only later, as he rides behind Vinculus (now red with wine), that he suddenly understands that he feels wonderful. He feels like he could walk the rest of the way to town, so he does. He hops off of his horse and walks by his side, half-expecting flowers to spring up where he steps.

---

Once the giddiness wears off, bits and pieces come back to him in slow and deep waves.

Something invisible, and not dirty but not clean either. Something here nor there, something that touches you without touching.

He feels an energy, and a peace he's never known- the assurance that he was doing right and would continue to do so, because his king has given him his fate.

Childermass + Anyone - Friend fic!

[(Anonymous)]

I've seen a few good gen stories with post-canon friendships (the Childermass and Emma prank war one comes to mind) but I'd like to see more of our lovable-yet-gruff man of business being an amiable companion.

Does he have enjoyable discussions with Segundus on the future of magic? Does he help Hannah find new employment? Does he bond with Emma over airheaded gentlemen? Does Lucas find a job in Scotland and become a dear penpal? Do he an Arabella fall into the habit of sketching together?

Re: Childermass + Anyone - Friend fic!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh gosh, gen fic is my JAM. I'm a very slow writer, but i'd love to write something for this prompt one day. I'll do my best.

Unrequited Norrell/Childermass

[(Anonymous)]

I love the idea that Norrell has deeply, deeply repressed his attraction to men, and he spends a great deal of time with, and being taken care of by, that handsome devil Childermass. On top of his internalized homophobia there's also his issues with the class difference between them. I would love to see something (whether from Childermass's perspective or Norrell's) where they interact and Norrell is struggling to hide his feelings for Childermass. ESPECIALLY if Childermass has to touch him for some reason (his coat needs to be fixed? his wig?) and Norrell is super affected by it while Childermass is 100% professional.

Childermass/Arabella, post-canon romance

[(Anonymous)]

I was just really struck, on finishing watching the series, with how much I wanted to see these two together in the aftermath? Since they were each the closest person to one or other of the two vanished magicians, I really wanted to see them bonding over the loss and uncertainty. (Although I'd prefer it if the Childermass/Norrell side of things wasn't romantic, exactly, I don't mind too much either way.)

I just want some very domestic hurt/comfort and moments of tenderness that turn into falling in love.

(Bonus points if Arabella ends up picking up (or just revealing that she actually already has) a bit of art magic, and Childermass is very appreciative of this)

Pride and Prejudice crossover

[(Anonymous)]

I was so disappointed to see that there weren't ANY P&P and JSaMN crossovers on Ao3! I don't even care what sort of crossover, I just really want to see the two sets of characters thrown together.

Maybe Childermass was once sent to acquire books of or about magic from Mr Darcy's extensive library? Or maybe there's even more scandal about the Bennet sisters because their father was letting them learn magic? Or maybe Georgiana goes to Starecross to learn magic? Maybe one of the Bennet sisters gets abducted by the Gentleman with the Thistle-Down Hair as well? Maybe Mr and Mrs Gardiner have very different opinions on magic and the Raven King (given that Mrs Gardiner is from the North)? Maybe Lady Pole could befriend Anne de Burgh? Maybe Wickham encountered Jonathan during the war?

Those are just a handful of ideas off the top of my head, I don't really care what sort of crossover it is, I just want to see these two worlds smashed together XD

Re: Pride and Prejudice crossover

[(Anonymous)]

Have you read these, OP? They might be relevant to your interests ;)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6093445

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5026900

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13096416

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6853546

I've been studying astrology and hear me out: aloof!Segundus meets touchy!Childermass

[(Anonymous)]

It's very fitting that Segundus and Childermass are portrayed as foils in the miniseries because Edward Hogg and Enzo Cilenti are astrological opposites: Ed is an Aquarius and Enzo is a Leo. In matters of love and sex, Aquarians are detached, cerebral, and unconventional. Leos are warm, passionate, touchy, and jealous.

Fandom convention typically puts Childermass in the role of the bodice-ripping hero and Segundus in that of the blushing virgin, but I think their dynamic would be a lot more equal and complex. Give me a cerebral Segundus who's most turned on when keeping his lover at a slight distance (e.g. sex only with clothes on, wanting Childermass to talk to him while he masturbates, etc). Childermass is kinda hurt by this, though of course he's too proud to admit to feeling insecure. Inside, though, he thinks Segundus just sees him as some prop in his sexual fantasies. Does Segundus even like him? Does he think he's special? Does he even CARE? Cue sulking, withdrawing, or passive-aggressive comments that confuse Segundus or go over his head.

Give me total miscommunication! Besotted Segundus compliments Childermass on being so unusual and unconventional! Prideful Childermass uncharitably interprets this as Segundus wanting a bit of rough. Segundus keeps coming up with new kinks like a mad scientist. Childermass privately just wants a passionate, worshipful lovemaking session with maybe a back massage and a bit of flattery. Segundus is absolutely head over heels over the moon. Childermass is like... what are we :/

Bonus: Childermass tries to pick a fight to at least get SOME sparks flying. Segundus turns it into a polite philosophical debate. Childermass is like :| Segundus is more turned on than he's ever been in his life.