Sir, Butler and Boy ~ For Starters ~ Page 12
‘I’m old enough to get my trust fund’ probably isn’t the best way to convince someone you’re not a giant brat.
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LOL. Also servants are not slaves and you don’t actually own them… just sayin’.
Yeah, I think James forgot that. And I just love how John established their roles in even *discussing* the play by telling James that he doesn’t get to play power games.
Glad you caught that! :D
What I find funny is I don’t think it’s the show of power that pissed the boy off the most, I think what got to him is the implied ‘I get him and you don’t’ :3c
Yeah I caught that John has already started putting him in his place in the time-honored servant-class way of being utterly polite while taking absolutely no shit, love it.
I think what is pissing off James the most is how flustered he is when he’s supposed to be the one “in charge” here. (also probably making him twice as hot for it too… ;P )
I think he’s flustered because he is painfully curious, turned on by what he saw and confused about it all. I mean, he has to be completely clueless about what he saw right?
I don’t thinks he’s *that* clueless, if he knew absolutely nothing he wouldn’t be blushing he’d just be ??? The blushing means he’s thinking at least some thoughts.
To be fair reasons such us “this is happening during off time so it’s not your business” don’t work in case of servants of the period, especially in case of a position of trust such as a butler. Under normal circumstances this would mark the butlers character as an immoral person making it impossible for the family to retain him in their employment. Though considering of how the families of the period maintained face it’s relatively likely both servants would be let go under some pretext (and with the implication they would not seek employment in the immediate social circles of the family) rather than reported to the authorities. Maybe, if the master was particularly lenient, everyone involved could pretend an assault rather than anything sexual occurred as feigning complete ignorance of and on the matter was one way of handling homosexuality.
I didn’t realize employers had such control of their servants lives back then. Given that, I’d guess that John is either sincere in his declaration James can fire him, or he’s calling James’s bluff. Either way, I think he knows or at least suspects what James wants and is too afraid/embarrased to say.
Just to make it clear firstly the comics gets a pass as fiction, secondly we know that James has his own reasons to not follow the customs of the period in this respect. And yes, I’m pretty sure John is already toying with James.
If we’re talking about the customs of the period though this is nowhere near “such control”, remember that homosexuality was criminal and punishable by incarceration. What James is doing here is literally harbouring criminals but even putting that aside the legal aspect of it remember that people of higher standing were considered inherently more moral and would also be under social obligation to keep those beneath them from straying from the path of virtue to the best of their ability. If a maid dressed scandalously or a gardener got into drunken brawls on their time off that reflected poorly on a family who rewarded them with employment and the privilege of interaction with the world of their betters. While some excuses could be made, for example Irish were considered drunks by nature and if the gardener didn’t cause a scandal that would affect the polite society his drinking could be overlooked if he did a good job otherwise, a butler (and some other high-level serving positions) was a person of deep familial trust and as such needed to be beyond reproach.
I wish I could give out comment cookies because yours are A++
This is all actually helping me with one of my own projects (prose). There are certain differences from this society my fictional society has, but it is very similar to Victorian society, and this is helping me understand the society I want my project to have.
Well the kid went back into brat mode. Also it’s midnight here but I see what you did there.
Man, I’m loving John in this page.
I second this.
Wordy mcword
god yes. a good dom is so sexy.
I mean when you’re right, you’re right.
Totally.
Go, John! I think James needs to be a little more forthcoming about what he really wants from his servants instead of beating around the bush like this.
Beating around the rose bush?
As long as John stops hedging!
but he needs to give the curiosity fertile ground to flourish in.
Reading all these comments makes my day. Plus, it makes my wife laugh, which is awesome!
Too real dialogue:
Older person: Something that implies I think you’re just a kid.
Younger person: Retort that’s intended to assert my maturity but ends up making me sound even more childish!!!
Older person: Short but sharp statement that would shrivel the balls of even the most mature adult.
I love this.
Just wanted to affirm that my last post is a compliment!
Nice – he’s a bit out of line here, nothing wrong with letting him know. And oh my, how sexy John is when he’s being sincerely assertive.
Ugh, I love the balance this page strikes between John being in charge — presaging his role with both Jefferson and the young master in later comics — and John being actually professional. It IS really a boundary misstep on the kid’s part to demand to know private details of his servant’s life, and I love that he’s making those and getting put in his place so early on — bratting already!
Also, it’s super neat to see how the folks in the comic got to where they’re at now — I don’t think I’ve seen a lot of poly-bdsm-couple negotiation when taking on a new parter in fiction before, barring in the Falls Chance Ranch series (which I read at your recommendation, now that I think about it). I loved that series, but I did feel it a little odd/semi-creepy that they basically decided to (SPOILERS) incorporate Dale into their stuff because they were already treating him as part of their shenanigans even when he was a client of theirs. Really looking forward to seeing your take on how these guys navigate the sticky ground of having an existing professional relationship with the young sir, but also accepting and negotiating his role in their dynamic. (Also if you’ve read any other fiction that deals with couples/poly arrangements taking on and negotiating new people’s roles, I’d love to read them!)
Have you read anything by Shirley Meier? Fantasy author whose written several books (a few with co-authors such as S.M. Sterling) set in a post-post apocalypse earth that has dragged itself back up to medieval/almost Renaissance period. ‘Shadow’s Daughter’ is the first one and follows the growing up of a girl in a culture with poly marriages. (TW for rape and violence, but it is a violent world and she is an amazingly strong character). Then “Saber and Shadow”, “The Cage” (which can be read as a stand-alone) and “Shadow’s Son” the last book which has her dealing with new spouses integrating with old.
She’s also got an online story that is nice and long about the heir to a corrupt empire trying to overcome a truly fucked up childhood (TW for torture, rape, and violence- same world different culture) and finding himself capable of love with several people (and working out how they can all get along)
Oooh, I have not! I think I’ve heard her name, but I didn’t realize she wrote fiction with poly couples. I’ll add her to my list! Thanks for the recommendation. :D
quick poke to Tab.
I seem to remember not too long ago being able to access the other chapters of Sir, Butler, and Boy on the sidebar there amongst all the other titles. Now I have to go diving into the archives (and it’s quite the dive) to find them.
Did something change?
It’s ok if it did… I just felt like i was going crackers there for a second :)
ah, I am obviously over tired of late ^,^ I noticed the chapters within the dropdown box. oy ^,^
somedays i swear :)
Thanks anyways and goodnight from Colorado :)
i discovered this like. five minutes ago how am i already up to date and in love with it?!!!