jsmn_kinkmeme | ☆ Round Two!

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☆ Round Two!

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

jsmn_kinkmeme!

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■ Only one prompt per post.
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■ Have fun! :)

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■ Would fillers please make sure when posting a fill in multiple parts that they thread their comments by replying to previous parts.

Links:
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☆ Previous Rounds: Round One

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Honeyfoot protested again and again that it was too dangerous, that they did not understand enough of what had been done to free Lady Pole for them to safely try the magic on Segundus and Childermass. He begged his friend to be calm and wait.
Segundus continued to assert that it was far more dangerous for them to go on as they had.
"Who knows what I will say next? What if I do something that I can't reverse? How will I live with myself, Mr Honeyfoot?"
Mr Honeyfoot had no answer.
Childermass slept into the evening and Segundus sat the by the bed for the duration of the day.
Honeyfoot came up to the room with food twice and to take it away again when it was cold since Segundus would not touch it. He comforted the worried servants for Segundus and helped clean the drops of blood leading from the hall to the the bed so that they wouldn't become more concerned.
When Childermass woke, Segundus was still sitting next to his bed. Honeyfoot was asleep in a chair sitting in the corner as he had not wanted to abandon Segundus when he was so upset. When Segundus saw Childermass' eyes open, he held up a notebook displaying a sheet of paper on which he had written:
"I plan to remain silent until you are freed from me."
"Careful," said Childermass. He winced and looked down at his hand and the bloody handkerchief wrapped around it and rolled his eyes as he remembered the injury. "We haven't experimented with the effect your pretty handwriting might have on me."
Segundus dipped his head and looked away. Mr Honeyfoot woke then, straightening himself out in the chair and stretching. Segundus motioned anxiously and Honeyfoot walked to stand next to him.
"Mr Segundus has asked me to be his voice for the time being," he explained. .
"Very well," said Childermass.
Honeyfoot wrung his hands and his brow creased.
"He has planned to do something very foolish when you wake, something very, very foolish. I am strongly opposed-"
Segundus gently grabbed Honeyfoot's arm, shaking his head.
"No, Mr Segundus. No. I have to say it. I don't agree with your plan. I don't agree with you putting yourself and Mr Childermass in danger like this."
Childermass sat up in the bed. He felt sweaty from sleeping through a summer day in his clothes and peeled them away from his skin.
"What plan?"
"He wants to improvise a reversal of the spell he used to free Lady Pole and attempt parting you immediately. He insists you're safer that way."
Childermass and Segundus met eyes and Childermass nodded.
"Yes," he said. "We must try it."
"No!" said Honeyfoot again, looking between them. "Have you no concern for own safety, either of you?"
Segundus signaled to Honeyfoot and Honeyfoot bent so that Segundus could whisper in his ear.
"Mr Segundus says that this is exactly what he is considering. Your safety, Mr Childermass. He...says that any risk to himself he can bear, he only wants you to be well again and to have your old life back."
Childermass gave a sarcastic half bow toward Segundus and Segundus flinched as though physically hurt by it.
"I'm hungry," said Childermass. "Surely this great magical experiment can wait until after I have eaten, especially as this may be my last meal for all we know."
Segundus nodded looked entreatingly to Honeyfoot, who left the room to go bring back something for Childermass to eat. When he had left, Segundus stared down at the floor.
Childermass was content with the silence until Honeyfoot returned with a bowl of cold soup and a chunk of bread in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Childermass gulped the water first and then devoured the food. Honeyfoot set the dishes aside and Childermass turned to Segundus, who was sitting still and quiet with his hands folded in his lap, like a boy in church.
"Well, we are waiting for you, Segundus," said Childermass. "This is your magic."
Segundus stood and walked to the chest of drawers where he had earlier retrieved the handkerchief on Childermass' hand. He opened the top one and after moving several things things around, he pulled out a small box. When Segundus lifted the lid, choppy, metallic music leaked into the room. He pulled from it a worn piece of paper and then shut it and the room was silent again
"Please, reconsider," said Honeyfoot.
Segundus shook his head and walked back to the bed where Childermass was still slumped in a sitting position supported by the wall..
"Mr Childermass," said Honeyfoot. "Convince him, please. He is too distraught to decide on this. As are you."
"I am not distraught," said Childermass.
Honeyfoot threw his hands in the air in frustration and turned back to his friend.
"Me Segundus. Think of those you love. Think of-"
Segundus waved his hands and beckoned Honeyfoot to him. He whispered something that made Honeyfoot frown and then risked meeting eyes with Childermass.
"What?" asked Childermass to Honeyfoot.
"He says, wrongly if I may add, that he is a bachelor and will leave no widow or children and so he will deprive no one if he should fail and perish in the process."
Childermas raised a tired eyebrow.
"Well, Norrell always did say magicians shouldn't marry. Are you ready, Segundus?"
Segundus nodded and unfolded the paper in the his hands. He stared down at it and thought for some time on the words and what happened the day in winter when he had released Lady Pole from her enchantment. He could not say if he had been more scared then or now at the task ahead of him.
Segundus fixed his thoughts on what he wanted to do and in his mind, he moved around the words of the spell.
For some time, nothing happened and he concentrated on his goal with more intensity. He imagined Childermass freed from the constraints that had melded them together and the magic that left him vulnerable to Segundus' every word. He moved the spell again in his mind and supplied some new phrases and he heated this mixture with a force inside of him desperate to undo the wrongs of the last several days.
He felt a sharp pain at his stomach. He opened his eyes in shock and saw that Childermass was hunched over on the bed, clutching at his middle. Segundus nearly stopped but Childermass grimaced and twisted his face to one side in as much of a shaking of his head as he could manage.
Segundus continued and he now gave the magic his regret and hurt and told it that he did not want it any more and those feelings twisted into the spell that Segundus could feel winding its way through him, like plant breaking through the soil. He gave the magic as well his thankfulness that for all that happened, Childermass was still here, in his home, in England, and alive.
His last thought before things went black was of the laugh Childermass had laughed the night before, shortly before Segundus had so carelessly trapped him in the magic. Before things went dark, his most powerful plea was for Childermass to have back that happiness.

When Segundus next woke it was morning, late morning and his face was hot. Perched on the windowsill was a white cat watching him with a titled head. He he watched, the cat mewed and crawled onto a nearby tree branch and disappeared into the leaves. Segundus and his sheets were covered in sweat and a cool cloth was at his forehead. He heard footsteps and turned his head to see Honeyfoot pacing the room.
"Oh, thank goodness," said Honeyfoot when saw Segundus' eyes were open. He scrambled to the bed where he picked up a large glass of water sitting on the floor and offered it to Segundus. "At last, you're both awake."
Segundus lifted his head and took the glass of water from Honeyfoot. In seconds had he had drunk it, some of the water spilling down his face onto his pillow.
"Where is Childermass?" he asked as Honeyfoot poured him another glass. He drank that one too and then lay back down.
"In the other room. He's very weak and cannot walk now, but he is eating you out of house and home, Mr Segundus."
Segundus pushed himself into a sitting position and pushed the his blanket away. He stared down at his stomach like he would see something missing there. But there was nothing. The magic linking them was severed.

Segundus stayed in bed that day, but by evening, was well enough to stand and walk around his room. He found the spell he had used as a template to part him and Childermass dropped and crumpled under the bed and after some thought, put it away where he had kept it after it had freed Lady Pole. Honeyfoot went up and down the stairs all day and back and forth between Segundus and Childermass, bringing food and cloths for their faces and constantly imploring them both to have water. He had thought it best to let the servants have a day free from the odd happenings of Starecross and the house was silent but for the little complaints of the old boards of the house as Honeyfoot went about taking care of them.
"How is he?" asked Segundus. He was tired again and resting with a book. Honeyfoot had just come from Childermass' room and was still balancing his dishes in one arm as he gathered Segundus'.
"He says this is preferable to being shot," answered Honeyfoot wearily. "Though not something he would recommend to pass an afternoon. The man is very insincere at times."
"But is he well?"
"I think he is," said Honeyfoot.
Segundus took that thought with him when he returned to bed that night and considered strongly if his magic was good magic or not.

He had not yet manged to sleep an hour later when he heard the noise of a door opening and a whispering human voice, which was Childermass'.
There was hardly time for him to sit before he heard a thump outside his door and Segudus left his bed and went see what the sound was.
What he found was John Childermass lying on the floor outside his room, his hair stuck to his head with sweat and a slightly too short night shirt similarly plastered to his body.
"Oh, look," said Childermass. "It's John Segundus, the scourge of fairy magic."
Segundus bent down to look Childermass in the eye. His face was red and his eyes not quite focused.
"I think..." He took a deep breath and paused. "You're very warm. Would you allow a cool bath, Childermass?"
Childermass groaned and Segundus did what he thought was best and put an arm around Childermass' shoulder and with great effort, pulled him up.
He got Childermass back into his bed and then ran downstairs. He filled a pitcher with water and grabbed a clean cloth from the closet.
Back in the room where Childermass was lying on his back on the bed, Segundus set the water and the cloth down and removed the soaked night shirt from Childermass. He dipped the cloth in the water and wet Childermass face and neck and shoulders. Childermass gave a small moan but did not ask him to stop. Segundus continued down to his chest and then he went back downstairs to get cooler water. When he returned, Segundus wiped Childermass' chest again then each leg in turn, too frantic to even feel shy about touching Childermass in many areas that nearly bordered on intimate.

awww, my boys <3

I love this so much. and omg. just. yay more.

<3

Thank you!!!

omg, what's happening to Childermass? Really hope he's going to be ok. Poor Segundus, he feels so guilty and miserable, I'm so sorry for him :,(
But anyway, thank you so much! Looking forward to the update!

I am so happy with the response this has gotten! I am so glad people are enjoying this. Thank you!

Segundus rolled Childermass over when he was done bathing his legs and pushed his hair aside to put cool water on the nape of his neck and then his back. Childermass' body felt cooler to the touch now, but Segundus applied the cloth to his shoulder blades again and felt a small shudder under his hands.
"You're going to drown me," said Childermass, lifting his face from the pillow. Segundus drew away and Childermass turned to his side and then let himself fall onto his back. He closed his eyes briefly as if moving even that small amount had cost him a lot of energy and then opened them again
He looked first at Segundus, who was watching him with a gaping mouth, and then down at his naked body and smirked.
"Good. I see you got rid of that night shirt Honeyfoot forced me in to."
Segundus was approaching delirium with the relief he felt. Here in front of him, Chilermass was breathing and speaking and he had given Segundus one of the moments of that let him believe all would be well in the end. He was comforted even by the landmarks on Childermass' body that he had put to heart over the last three mornings and nights. He still tried not to look, but the chest moving with Childermass' breath had the pattern of hair that Segundus knew he would only find on that one man's body and it was a welcome sight. He brushed some hair from his forehead and saw that his hands were shaking and he lowered them with care to avoid Childermass seeing.
"This magic has been very hard on you,” he said. “I don’t understand why I have recovered and you haven’t.”
“Maybe I am being punished for leaving my master,” said Childermass.
This was a hard thought for Segundus to introduce to his mind. He frowned as he as he set the wet rag on the floor.
“Did you know that you left your bed?" Segundus asked.
"Yes," Childermass. "It did not work exactly as planned, but I was looking for you, so I suppose I met my goal."
"What for?"
"To tell you well done. To ease your mind and let you see that your magic had really not killed me. To apologize. I was much more unkind to you than I like to remember."
Segundus opened his mouth to say something, but stopped suddenly, remembering that only one of the two spells over them had been broken.
"You are frightened of yourself still?"
Segundus nodded. He had been kneeling on the floor while he bathed Childermass and got up now and sat on the bed next to him. He allowed his body a bit of respite from the fright of the last several minutes and slowly, his aggressively beating heart resumed a normal rhythm and the shaking in his hands faded.
Segundus turned back to cover up Childermass, who had started shivering a bit from the cold water on his skin and then he rested his head in his hands and let his mind drain of thoughts as much as it would.
Childermass' injured hand dangled from the bed, spots of red making a map of its encounter with the wall on the white. When Segundus noticed, he motioned at it with a nod while looking at Childermass, who nodded back. He took the hand and undid the bandage made from his handkerchief. Using the wet rag, he wiped the crusted blood away and then wrapped it again with the one that was still dry.
"I did not get to say it, Segundus," said Childermass. "Well done. What you did on my behalf, to give back some of my freedom; it did not go unnoticed. It was also very good magic."
"It was..." Segundus could think of no words to finish the sentence how he wanted, how he felt he should. Instead, he used the pitcher he had brought to the bedside to pour Chidermass a glass of water.
"It was as I said. Good magic and a kind act."
Childermass took the water from Segundus' hand and drank it in a desperate gulp that Segundus watched go down his throat. He handed the glass back and Segundus set it on the floor and turned away again. The room was quiet and Segundus considered to himself if it was necessary to stay with Childermass until Honeyfoot woke. Several minutes had passed without speaking when Segundus jumped at the feeling of a hand placed softly on his thigh. His shock at the touch caused Childermass to draw his hand back quickly. By the time Segundus had swiveled to look at him, Childermass had flicked his eyes away.
"Childermass."
"Do not misunderstand me-"
"Childermass," he said again, but he did not think Childermass understood what he was trying to let him know.
In offering, Segundus put one of his hands on the bed next to him. Childermass studied it for a while, like it was something dangerous he must approach with caution, before taking it in his own, loosely at first, fearfully, and when he found no objection, tighter. The hand he used was his injured one, but he did not grimace like action was painful to him.
"I do not understand," said Segundus, watching their hands together. Childermass did not give an answer but not letting go of him and Segundus became fascinated by the feeling of their palms pressed together.
"Segundus-"
"I think-" Segundus' voice got caught in a choke. "I think, confusing as it may be, that we can use each other's Christian names now. The last few days have given us that, at least."
"John, then. There is something I have wondered. And now is the time to ask. Are you- were you- in love with Jonathan Strange?"
"No!"
Segundus could feel himself beginning to blush and thought it odd that this was only just now happening considering that he was holding hands with a nude man whom had he just touched all over his body.
"I admired him. Admire him. But he was a married man. And besides..."
Segundus could feel, even though he had broken eye contact with Childermass, that he was still being watched carefully. He could sense that Childermass was waiting for something from him and so he glanced over for a second to tell him yes to whatever it was.
"When you think of love," asked Childermass. "What is that to you? What does that person look like?"
"I cannot say-"
"Have you never for a moment allowed yourself to imagine happiness?"
"It is very difficult-" Segundus began. He lifted his eyes for a moment and looked over at Childermass and then away again. "To live as a poor man. To be, in your heart, different from others."
"Is that your answer?"
"Yes."
Silence, allowed introduction, grew between them. At first Segundus was not sure what shape the silence would take, but it was soft and kind. He had not known what to expect after he said what he did, but Childermass held his hand still and he was comforted by it.
"It is a fine answer," said Childermass after a time. "Would you consider me? As friend? Or as more?"
"John," he stumbled, caught unaware by what the name sounded like. It was his own name, one he had heard so often but, like the spell that had broken them apart yesterday, had been given sudden new meaning. "John, I did not know, hadn't thought that this was possible-"
Childermass was watching him, trying not smile.
"I did not know," Segundus said again feebly.
Childermass laughed and Segundus thought back to the magic he had done the night before. Unlike when he freed Lady Pole, he could still feel the spell he had done yesterday burrowed in him and it woke now, pulsing.
"All that was required was a yes or no," said Childermass.
And Segundus nodded.
Childermass pulled himself up in the bed and leaned over and kissed him.
The first kiss was soft. The magic inside Segundus stretched happily when their mouths met, as if it liked the closeness of Childermass, or wanted him to know something. He moved closer in the bed since Childermass could not.
The second kiss was much longer and some of the caution was gone between them. John Segundus felt that the magic, the magic that so clearly piqued when Childermass was touching him, would soon burn pin prick holes through his skin. Childermass held Segundus softly at the base of his neck with one hand and laid back on the bed as the kiss continued.
Segundus did not know how to move in a bed with another person but felt a hand at his back leading him closer and then it moved and guided one leg apart until his knees were on either side of Childermass. Their bodies met, pressed together at the hips where Segundus' night shirt had ridden up to. He felt Childermass moving with care underneath him and his body responding to their movements against each other and the meeting of skin. The filled each other's mouths with little moans and those and the occasional, stifled sound of the name John from one of them were all that could be heard in the room for some time.
And then Childermass shivered fiercely and Segundus opened his eyes. He pulled away and studied Childermass looking up at him. The shiver he had felt in Childermass moved again through him and his hairline was beaded with sweat.
"You aren't well, still," he said.
Childermass would not confirm it, but he shook again and shut his eyes for the span of several labored breaths. When he opened them, Segundus was still watching him with concern.
"You know if you were so inclined, you could tell me to be well enough to be with you now and I would be. You could tell me to want you and if I didn't already, I would. If you desired more than a night, you could tell me to love you. I would live in blissful happiness only able to show you that I did."
"I could not," said Segundus. "I could never."
"I would know no difference. You would not even try it for a moment, to see what it was like? I would not even have to remember it. 'Childermass, forget.' That is all you would have to say."
"Why would you say this to me? It's very frightening."
Childermass sighed deeply.
"Only to show you, to tell you, how uncommonly good you are. I am sorry to have frightened you."
Segundus moved his body from on top of Childermass' and sat on the bed next to him. He felt he had to touch him still in some way, could not help but give into the want of it, so he rested his hand on Childermass' chest.
"I don't think, while this spell stands, that I can, that we can, be together in this way," he said. "I think it's both unsafe and unfair to you."
"That you cannot think of yourself even now is both endearing and frustrating to me," said Childermass and he put his hand on top of Segundus'.
"I can't have done all that I have only to be careless with your well-being now."
The nod of affirmation and thanks Childermass gave was barely perceptible, but Segundus saw it.
"Could I at least see this body that you have been hiding from me for days?" Childermass asked.
Segundus was surprised at how little he had to think on this request. In answer, he removed his hand from Childermass’ chest and pulled his night shirt over his head and let himself be studied as knelt on the bed. When Childermass's eyes had not left him for several unbroken seconds, he felt he had to ask.
"What?"
Childermass sighed again. Segundus was beginning to notice that he did this often, but he did not mind.
"You would not believe me if I told you."
Segundus had nothing to weigh the experience against, but he felt that he did not mind being watched by Childermass at all and sat still and comfortable for some time like that.
"Will you dress and leave me?" asked Childermass.
"Not if you don't want it," said Segundus.
"I don't."
Segundus lay down in the bed took Childermass into his arms, absorbing some of the shivers still going through him. Their legs wrapped around each other’s and because his neck was so close, Segundus kissed it.
In minutes, Childermass had fallen asleep again and Segundus told the magic pulling at him for an answer that Childermass would be well and he would not leave him and that it could rest.

Enjoying this very much, especially now Childermass is not so angry (justifiable though it certainly was!). Segundus is a sweetie

Thank you so much for the comment!!
Childermass angry at my precious baby was hard to write, but I agree he was justified. Childermass is a man for whom freedom would be very important, I think.
I wasn't sure how this one turned out. These two have never been truly happy with me writing their sexy times.

Segundus did not sleep that night but stayed awake watching Childermass. He held him close against him, as much of their skin touching as possible.
At first it was just because of the pleasant feeling the Childermass' body. He did not know how many nights of even small physical pleasure he would have and he tried not to feel guilty that this first one came as it did. He reminded himself continuously that he had been invited, both to the bed and into this long embrace .
But then, the longer Segundus was there in the bed trying to memorize how it felt to hold a person as they slept in case it should not happen again, the more the magic began to wake in him. It made inquiries and it nudged at its creator and it strained toward the source of its inspiration; John Childermass. It wanted very much be close to the person for whom it had been created to save and it posed questions to Segundus about him.
Like a patient father, Segundus explained. See this back pressed to my stomach? This arm tucked under mine? There he is. I am here with him. Be still, Segundus told the magic. I won't leave him. And the magic told him it would help.
Soon, Childermass cooled to a normal temperature and his shaking stopped. He made content sighs in his sleep as he slipped closer to health that only the other man in the bed would hear.
Segundus' magic bubbled with happiness at each one and wanted to know if it had done well. The magician told the magic that it had done very well.
Segundus thought that he might risk staying there in the bed exactly as he was. He thought that he did not care who found them and how, only that Childermass was getting better and he did not want to leave.
But Childermass woke on his own when there was a small window of thin darkness before sunrise. His eyes open and the magic filled Segundus with effervescence at the sight of Childermass slowly remembering that Segundus was there and smiling.
Childermass rolled over to where he could see his partner and he realized within a few seconds the absence of pain and the coolness of his skin and strong, even breaths in his chest.
"Did you do this, Segundus?" he asked. .
"I guess," he said, "that I did."
They were facing each other in the bed, noses only inches apart. John Segundus felt his body might overwhelmed at any moment. From the persistent purr of the magic appreciating that Childermass was stroking the small of his back, to the fact that Childermass was doing that; he had never felt so many sensations vying for his attention. And then Childermass moved so that their mouths touching and gave him a soft lazy kiss. He could only shut his eyes briefly and grip at Childermass's shoulders to keep steady as his body decided it had room for one more bit of pleasure.
"You are a wonder,” said Childermass when the kiss ended.
He rolled onto his back and Segundus moved his head to Childermass' chest.
The thin darkness got thinner. Morning threatened to tear through it at any moment.
"I think you were right," said Segundus. "The fairy magic doesn't like that you can leave me and it was doing something to you. But something happened with my own magic. I can't explain it."
Childermass gave a pleased stretch in the bed and yawned.
"Then, for now, don't try to. You can dress and we'll talk about it later."
Yes, thought Segundus. We can do that. We have some time now, you and I.

There was a cold snap in the last days of September and the men named John brought an extra blanket to their bed on the last night it would be theirs before becoming, for a time, John Segundus' alone again.
Neither wanted to leave their bed on the morning that Childermass departed from Starecross, but it was eventually necessary for Childermass to pull himself from his lovers' arms out into the chill of the room.
For the last time for several months at least, Segundus watched him dress. For the last time for several months at least, Childermass returned to the bed before leaving the room and kissed Segundus. Normally they would see each other again in a matter of minutes, but today he took a moment to appreciate the feeling of Segundus’ soft hair between his fingers because it was uncertain when he would again be there to do it
For the last time for several months at least, they had breakfast together, though neither could think of much of anything to say that day.
"You're not a plant, John Segundus. You need more than air and sunlight to subsist on. Eat."
This was the last time for how long neither knew that Childermass would get to chide while Segunds frowned in thought over his tea and let his food get cold.
It would be October the day after tomorrow. By then, John Childermass would be gone and far away.
Throughout the summer, the men had studied and worked to break the spell that gave Segundus power over Childermass. Mr Honeyfoot had come and gone a few times, staying for a week or so and bringing help, new books and ideas, and settling disputes. If he was ever confused at why the men named John were so rarely apart though it was now possible for them to be so, he did not mention it. If he wondered why Childermass had stayed so long once he was free of his link to Segundus, they could not tell.
The men named John had gone away in August for a fortnight in search of a text they thought would help them.
It had not.
It was over three months after the fairy sisters had gifted John Segundus with control over his friend, now his companion in each moment of the day, and they had not been able to break the spell.
Earlier in the month, they had fought for days over whether or not to attempt to summon the oldest of the red haired fairy sisters and had, in the end, decided that Segundus could not risk a meeting with her even if they managed to bring her to him. That had not been a concern to him initially and Segundus was really only convinced of the danger of the task when Childermass pointed out that should the oldest fairy sister think Segundus did not want him that she might follow through with her plan to take him with her.
Because the summer was gone and the spell was not yet broken and there were many things to do, Childermass would today leave on his other business. When he was able, he would return and they would resume their life and their studies. The bed would have two bodies in it again. The mornings would be again be filled with excusing each extra minute together, admiring looks to a body pulling on clothes in the dark, departing kisses, and touches to hair. They would have that until the next time he needed to leave, for the days or weeks they could scrounge.
Segundus followed Childermas back upstairs after breakfast and watched him gather his few possessions while he hovered close by.
"Perhaps, by Christmas," he said.
"I would like that," said Childermass.
"If all the students leave."
"Even if they don't. I will try to be home then."
For as much as he had a home, it was where John Segundus was.
All his things were ready and now, there were really only minutes, an assortment of them falling away with each foot step and word.
Segundus had been hoping for rain. He thought Childermass might not leave if there were rain. There had been clouds when they were at breakfast, but by the time Childermass' things were packed, they had already begun to lift. He frowned at them and wondered briefly if it would be possible to do a weather spell to bring the clouds back and fill them with a downpour that would keep Childermass here.
He was glad when Childermass remembered an important letter that he needed to write. He was even more thankful that halfway through he said it was all wrong and that he needed to start over. Segundus watched Childermass at his writing. The troublesome good weather let in some unlively morning sunlight through the window. Childermass switched from his right to his left hand to finish the letter. It was an action of his that Segundus had long ago put to memory and did not know how he could go off only recollections of it until Childermass was back and writing letters here where he could see him.
When he was done, instead of folding the letter, he stood and left it on the desk.
“Not till I’ve been gone for an hour, John. Promise. “
He did.
Childermass’ departure was now imminent enough that he was putting on his outerwear; his coat and hat a further countdown in the time they had.
Segundus could not help but think that at any moment he wanted, he could stop it. He had the power if he cared to use it, to tell Childermass to take off the coat and the hat and stay. He was always a few words he would never say away from making their life together Childermass’ only thought. The restraint they had both been using for months could be thrown away and he could, they could, take to their bed this very morning as lovers in action as well as name. Childermass would not even need to be compelled to if only Segundus would give in and if only he would not leave. But those thoughts were terrifying to him, especially as he feared that his reluctance to see Childermass go might cause him to blurt out his deepest feelings.
Stay here, he wanted to say. Only he could not because then Childermass would and it would be tainted. Tonight, I will bring a warm bath to the room for us, he wanted to say. Tonight, you can dry my hair with a towel and we can go back to the book we are reading. You like all of those things, but to do them you must stay. It was uncomfortable to know that he could hardly say he what wished Childermass would do without making it so.
Instead he thought of Christmas. Maybe we will break the spell at Christmas. Solstices were auspicious for magic. Maybe he will be back by then, thought Segundus, and we can lift the spell and I can rest knowing that our love is not unequal, knowing that each touch is not wrong of me.
The maid offered to pack Mr Childermass some food for his journey, but Segundus had thanked her and told her that it was not necessary. He did it himself later and at the door, when Childermass’ coat and hat were on, Segundus handed the bundle to him.
It was late morning and he followed Childermass out to the stable while he readied the horse to leave.
"It might be a while, but I will write, as soon as I am able," Childermass told him.
"Good, or I will think you've forgotten me."
"Somehow, I don't think that will happen."
Segundus watched Childermass work lifting on the saddle and fixing it in place and then, when the question he was holding could not wait any more, he spoke.
"Are you sure you're comfortable with this? With leaving with the spell intact?"
"I do not like the spell, but I trust you," said Childermass. He stopped his work and looked to where Segundus was standing with his arms wrapped around himself against the cold. "If I had been given to another person, I would have an eye on them at all times, if I was even free enough to do so. But my will is safe with you until we break the spell.”
“We don’t even know what will happen with you gone from me so long. The fairy’s spell is still very aggressive with you. What if you become ill again?”
“I will make my way back here and you can refresh me with your good magic.”
Childermass walked to the door of the stable and looked out into the yard to see if anyone was around. When he returned, he kissed Segundus, who held on to his coat after. He rested his forehead against Childermass' shoulder for a moment, thinking that under the coat and jacket and all the other clothes was the skin he had slept against for over eighty nights.
"When we break the spell," Segundus said. "We can finally be free with one another."
"I had thought of it," said Childermass. “Much more often than you would think is proper, I’m sure.”
"If you still want me, when that time comes, that is."
"Will you still be John Segundus at that time?"
"Of course."
"Then," said Childermass as he stepped away, "don't worry about that."
Minutes later, John Childermass was a dark haired dot slowing blending into the horizon. And then he was not even that, though it was his lover's hope that soon he would be dark haired dot growing bigger until he was a man he could take in his arms.
John Segundus told the magic rustling awake in him to search out for Childermass that it would not be long and he would be back.

Oh my goodness, you are both cruel and clever in this final chapter -- it's so lovely and angsty. But what was in the letter?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

A!A: Probably a lot of "Don't do something stupid while I'm gone, John Segundus," just said in different ways.

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☆ Round Two!

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 7/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 7/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 7/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 7/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 7/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 8/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 8/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 8/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 9/?)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 10/10)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 10/10)

Re: Childermass/Segundus, Accidental Slave Bond (Fill: Servant Once Again 10/10)