Story: "Up the Water Spout" Part 18
Oct. 10th, 2014 12:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis story belongs to the series Love Is For Children which includes "Love Is for Children," "Hairpins," "Blended," "Am I Not," "Eggshells," "Dolls and Guys,""Saudades," "Querencia," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," "Touching Moments," "Splash," "Coming Around," "Birthday Girl," "No Winter Lasts Forever," "Hide and Seek," "Kernel Error," "Happy Hour," "Green Eggs and Hulk,""kintsukuroi," and "Little and Broken, but Still Good."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Natasha Romanova, Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Betty Ross, Bucky Barnes.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Mention of human trafficking and nonconsensual drug use. Slightly offstage sexual violence. Dubcon/Noncon.
Summary: Sometimes the Black Widow needs to hunt, and sometimes she needs help settling her personality afterwards. Uncle Phil arranges an extra ageplay session.
Notes: Hurt/comfort. Family. Fluff and angst. BAMF!Black Widow. Black Widow is creepy. Spiders. Coping skills. Asking for help and getting it. Hope. Nonsexual ageplay. Caregiving. Competence. Girl stuff. Toys and games. Gentleness. Trust. #coulsonlives
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17. Skip to Part 20.
"Up the Water Spout" Part 18
That evening Phil put together a playlist of Scooby-Doo, The Great Grape Ape Show, and some Tom & Jerry shorts to go between the longer shows. Then he piled a platter with the Nilla wafers that Clint favored as Scooby snacks and a large bunch of red grapes. He stacked together several different cheeses and lunch meats, cutting them into fun shapes, and then added those to the arrangement. Finally he dressed for the evening and headed for the elevator.
When Uncle Phil arrived, Clint and Natka were already in their jammies, spreading a variety of pillows and comforters on the floor. That looked inviting, although Uncle Phil usually stayed on the couch and left the floor to his littles. He set the platter on the coffee table. Then he went to look at the tarantula, currently perched on her tree stump.
The door opened, admitting Bruce who was also in his jammies -- and Bucky, carrying a big plastic bowl and dressed in a midnight blue bathrobe over a faded Mickey Mouse t-shirt and plaid sleep pants.
"Uncle Buck!" crowed Natka, scampering over to hug him. "What's in the bowl?" She peered into it, but there was a lid.
"Steve made yogurt turtles. Settle down, princess, I brought enough for everyone," said Uncle Buck. "Clint invited me, so I walked Bruce up." In fact Bruce was still clinging to the hand that wasn't occupied with the candy bowl.
Natka burrowed into the nest of blankets. Bruce lay down beside her, which perforce put Clint on the other side since Bruce needed to stay on the outside.
Phil looked at the couch, looked at the nest on the floor, and fingered the edge of his bathrobe. Usually he needed a push, but tonight something was tugging at him. "Since Uncle Buck is here, would anyone mind if I switch down?"
"Switch down?" Uncle Buck echoed.
"Oh right, you haven't met Flip yet," said Clint, reaching up to grab a handful of Scooby snacks.
"Flip is little Phil?" said Uncle Buck.
"Yes," Clint said.
Phil realized that Clint had invited Bucky, or perhaps even Uncle Buck in particular, so that Phil would have the option of switching down if he wished. Because Clint saw everything, and had therefore noticed Phil's faint unease.
"Sure, go ahead," said Uncle Buck. "I can hold down the fort tonight."
Phil shucked off his bathrobe and tossed it on the couch. He closed his eyes and reached for the inward shift that was Flip. It was hard to do by himself, but he thought he could get the hang of it. "Thanks," he said softly. He picked up some of the meat and cheese from the platter, then paused.
"What'sa matter, peewee?" asked Uncle Buck. "You're frownin' all of a sudden."
Flip sighed. "I forgot the chocolate milk."
"I'll get it," said Uncle Buck, and he did.
Flip happily collected his cup and settled down on the floor beside Clint. Then Clint rolled over the top of him. "Hey! Get off me!"
Clint rolled off the other side and nudged Flip over next to Natka. "I am off."
It felt new and a little weird to snuggle on the floor with them, but he thought he liked it. Flip had not had many friends growing up, certainly not enough to make a whole pile with like this. Clint and Natka were warm and quiet on either side of him now. Natka hugged Flip, shoving a pillow a little farther under her chest to prop herself up so she could see the viewscreen better. She seemed lazy and happy. On the far side of her, Bruce was no more than a tuft of dark curls protruding from his blanket.
Flip looked over his shoulder. Uncle Buck sprawled on the couch, his long arms spread across the back of it and his legs stretched out in front, crossed at the ankles. He gave Flip a silent nod and then flicked the remote.
Flip felt safe. He settled down to watch Scooby-Doo as the cartoon started up.
* * *
Notes:
The featured cartoons are Scooby-Doo, The Great Grape Ape Show, and Tom and Jerry.
Nilla wafers are vanilla cookies, popular both as snacks and dessert ingredients. Many of Clint's favorite comfort foods are cheap junk food.
Canape cutters make fun shapes of meat and cheese for children's snacks.
Uncle Buck's outfit includes a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, plaid flannel sleep pants, and a bathrobe.
While I couldn't find a recipe for Yogurt Turtles per se, they may be made from caramel and pecans like regular turtles but replacing the chocolate shell with yogurt coating.
Making a nest of blankets and/or pillows is a good way to recharge, especially when you feel lousy but don't really know why.
Feeling safe is necessary for everyone, but often challenging for abuse survivors and for women. There are tips on how to make your home feel safer. These are less bloody than Black Widow's usual ways of making herself feel safe.
This is the end of the story proper. However, there are two bonus scenes to follow, showing how Agent Coulson negotiated with Daredevil and Spiderman.
[To be continued in Part 19 ...]
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Natasha Romanova, Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Betty Ross, Bucky Barnes.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Mention of human trafficking and nonconsensual drug use. Slightly offstage sexual violence. Dubcon/Noncon.
Summary: Sometimes the Black Widow needs to hunt, and sometimes she needs help settling her personality afterwards. Uncle Phil arranges an extra ageplay session.
Notes: Hurt/comfort. Family. Fluff and angst. BAMF!Black Widow. Black Widow is creepy. Spiders. Coping skills. Asking for help and getting it. Hope. Nonsexual ageplay. Caregiving. Competence. Girl stuff. Toys and games. Gentleness. Trust. #coulsonlives
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17. Skip to Part 20.
"Up the Water Spout" Part 18
That evening Phil put together a playlist of Scooby-Doo, The Great Grape Ape Show, and some Tom & Jerry shorts to go between the longer shows. Then he piled a platter with the Nilla wafers that Clint favored as Scooby snacks and a large bunch of red grapes. He stacked together several different cheeses and lunch meats, cutting them into fun shapes, and then added those to the arrangement. Finally he dressed for the evening and headed for the elevator.
When Uncle Phil arrived, Clint and Natka were already in their jammies, spreading a variety of pillows and comforters on the floor. That looked inviting, although Uncle Phil usually stayed on the couch and left the floor to his littles. He set the platter on the coffee table. Then he went to look at the tarantula, currently perched on her tree stump.
The door opened, admitting Bruce who was also in his jammies -- and Bucky, carrying a big plastic bowl and dressed in a midnight blue bathrobe over a faded Mickey Mouse t-shirt and plaid sleep pants.
"Uncle Buck!" crowed Natka, scampering over to hug him. "What's in the bowl?" She peered into it, but there was a lid.
"Steve made yogurt turtles. Settle down, princess, I brought enough for everyone," said Uncle Buck. "Clint invited me, so I walked Bruce up." In fact Bruce was still clinging to the hand that wasn't occupied with the candy bowl.
Natka burrowed into the nest of blankets. Bruce lay down beside her, which perforce put Clint on the other side since Bruce needed to stay on the outside.
Phil looked at the couch, looked at the nest on the floor, and fingered the edge of his bathrobe. Usually he needed a push, but tonight something was tugging at him. "Since Uncle Buck is here, would anyone mind if I switch down?"
"Switch down?" Uncle Buck echoed.
"Oh right, you haven't met Flip yet," said Clint, reaching up to grab a handful of Scooby snacks.
"Flip is little Phil?" said Uncle Buck.
"Yes," Clint said.
Phil realized that Clint had invited Bucky, or perhaps even Uncle Buck in particular, so that Phil would have the option of switching down if he wished. Because Clint saw everything, and had therefore noticed Phil's faint unease.
"Sure, go ahead," said Uncle Buck. "I can hold down the fort tonight."
Phil shucked off his bathrobe and tossed it on the couch. He closed his eyes and reached for the inward shift that was Flip. It was hard to do by himself, but he thought he could get the hang of it. "Thanks," he said softly. He picked up some of the meat and cheese from the platter, then paused.
"What'sa matter, peewee?" asked Uncle Buck. "You're frownin' all of a sudden."
Flip sighed. "I forgot the chocolate milk."
"I'll get it," said Uncle Buck, and he did.
Flip happily collected his cup and settled down on the floor beside Clint. Then Clint rolled over the top of him. "Hey! Get off me!"
Clint rolled off the other side and nudged Flip over next to Natka. "I am off."
It felt new and a little weird to snuggle on the floor with them, but he thought he liked it. Flip had not had many friends growing up, certainly not enough to make a whole pile with like this. Clint and Natka were warm and quiet on either side of him now. Natka hugged Flip, shoving a pillow a little farther under her chest to prop herself up so she could see the viewscreen better. She seemed lazy and happy. On the far side of her, Bruce was no more than a tuft of dark curls protruding from his blanket.
Flip looked over his shoulder. Uncle Buck sprawled on the couch, his long arms spread across the back of it and his legs stretched out in front, crossed at the ankles. He gave Flip a silent nod and then flicked the remote.
Flip felt safe. He settled down to watch Scooby-Doo as the cartoon started up.
* * *
Notes:
The featured cartoons are Scooby-Doo, The Great Grape Ape Show, and Tom and Jerry.
Nilla wafers are vanilla cookies, popular both as snacks and dessert ingredients. Many of Clint's favorite comfort foods are cheap junk food.
Canape cutters make fun shapes of meat and cheese for children's snacks.
Uncle Buck's outfit includes a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, plaid flannel sleep pants, and a bathrobe.
While I couldn't find a recipe for Yogurt Turtles per se, they may be made from caramel and pecans like regular turtles but replacing the chocolate shell with yogurt coating.
Making a nest of blankets and/or pillows is a good way to recharge, especially when you feel lousy but don't really know why.
Feeling safe is necessary for everyone, but often challenging for abuse survivors and for women. There are tips on how to make your home feel safer. These are less bloody than Black Widow's usual ways of making herself feel safe.
This is the end of the story proper. However, there are two bonus scenes to follow, showing how Agent Coulson negotiated with Daredevil and Spiderman.
[To be continued in Part 19 ...]
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-10 08:17 am (UTC)And, because you always ask: I liked this one. I enjoyed all the different parts of it, both the ones that brought back memories of things I had or did (like Natka & Betty playing "girl games" together) and the ones that brought back memories I things I didn't have or do (like have a pet tarantula; my mom said no). I especially liked see Natka experiencing "kid" things for the first time, and super-controlled Phil dealing with his feelings about Natka's pet. The fic did feel a little disjointed at times, but I think that was mostly because I was reading it as you posted. I need to go back to reading these when they're complete, no matter how much it frustrates to have to wait while you post them.
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-10 08:34 am (UTC)There have been times when Flip has come out, with the team to watch over him, but this is the first that he's been little with them. Bucky is in a unique position with the team, and that makes it feasible for him to stay Big while the others switch down, without feeling that anyone is getting left out. It adds flexibility.
>> That must be such a relief for Phil, to know that he can slide down without making (well, asking, but it would feel the same to him) any of his littles stay big. <<
Sooth. It's still a bit challenging for him to navigate through agespace, but he's getting better at it. This new option helps.
>> And, because you always ask: I liked this one. <<
Thank you!
>> I enjoyed all the different parts of it, both the ones that brought back memories of things I had or did (like Natka & Betty playing "girl games" together) and the ones that brought back memories I things I didn't have or do (like have a pet tarantula; my mom said no). <<
We often resonate with parts of a story that touch our own memories.
>> I especially liked see Natka experiencing "kid" things for the first time, and super-controlled Phil dealing with his feelings about Natka's pet. <<
Those are both examples of how agespace can make someone more malleable and more receptive to emotional processing. What would've taken considerably more work for Phil is a lot easier for Flip.
>> The fic did feel a little disjointed at times, but I think that was mostly because I was reading it as you posted. I need to go back to reading these when they're complete, no matter how much it frustrates to have to wait while you post them. <<
That's understandable. If I post much more than 1000 words at a time, it can hangfire the blog. 500-word installments for shorter stories and 1000-word installments for longer ones is convenient for blogging ... but they're written as whole stories, so yes, the 'chop' effect is real too. Feel free to read them as whole pieces after they're complete. If you want more of my work in the interim, you can always hit the Poetry tag. I post new poetry fairly often too.
Phil!
Date: 2014-10-10 11:35 am (UTC)I want to see your take on both Daredevil and Spiderman!!!
Re: Phil!
Date: 2014-11-04 02:22 am (UTC)Sooth. Fixing things gently is preferable to trying to bash them into shape.
>> Flip will be having fun, getting comfort and contact and /relaxing/, with the tarantula only feet away, completely ignored as unimportant. It's more than just Phil working out a solution to a problem, it's the others helping take care of him, too. <<
They have all discovered that ageplay seems to make them more malleable inside, and thus, makes it easier to fix a lot of issues. But you have to deal with the fact that sometimes this means snuggling on the floor, and other times it means spectacular waterworks like that time Bruce melted down over his shoelaces or the ghastly garage fight between Tony and Bucky.
>> I want to see your take on both Daredevil and Spiderman!!! <<
They are fun scenes.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-10 11:58 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-10 08:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-10 04:08 pm (UTC)I've been enjoying this installment a lot. I like how Betty gives Natka a "sister" figure to play with. And it's fascinating to me how Phil is slowly helping Natasha find healthier ways to channel her darker urges. A tarantula as a pet is perfect for her.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-11 01:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-11 04:06 pm (UTC)>> Bruce needed to stay on the outside <<
I don't get this. His own concerns? Lest Hulk suddenly come out and have nowhere to expand to without crushing someone?
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-11 05:05 pm (UTC)I don't get this. His own concerns? Lest Hulk suddenly come out and have nowhere to expand to without crushing someone? <<
I think it's probably more that it helps him to avoid feeling trapped, as it gives him a direction to go should he need it.
It doesn't really matter that he won't need it here, or that these people would move to let him go. Feelings are what they are.
He may eventually feel safe being surrounded by these people, as trust builds between them, but I don't think he's quite there yet. Being surrounded has generally not been a good thing for him.
Note that I'm talking about Bruce here, I suspect Hulk already trusts them more, and may already be fine with being surrounded by them. However, Bruce wouldn't really know this - he has trouble understanding Hulk - and even if he knew, it might not help. His own feelings matter too, and he's the one in front right now.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-11 05:09 pm (UTC)Thanks, that's what I was missing.
Yes...
Date: 2014-10-13 06:05 am (UTC)Exactly.
>> It doesn't really matter that he won't need it here, or that these people would move to let him go. Feelings are what they are. <<
You feel what you feel, but sometimes feelings lie to you. Bruce's feelings are lying to him a lot, and it is making some things difficult. However, it helps to have people who shift around as needed, who let him out when he needs an out.
>> He may eventually feel safe being surrounded by these people, as trust builds between them, but I don't think he's quite there yet. <<
The positive experiences are gradually adding up. The other Avengers have done a lot of trustbuilding work.
>> Being surrounded has generally not been a good thing for him. <<
Thank you Fury for adding to that bullshit.
>> Note that I'm talking about Bruce here, I suspect Hulk already trusts them more, and may already be fine with being surrounded by them. <<
Hulk likes having people pile onto him. Remember how happy he was when everyone was washing him? While his early memories are as bad as Bruce's, Hulk learns much faster on emotional levels. So Hulk is able to adapt to "Avengers puppy pile = safe" whereas Bruce is still "people touching me on all sides = panic."
>> However, Bruce wouldn't really know this - he has trouble understanding Hulk - and even if he knew, it might not help. His own feelings matter too, and he's the one in front right now. <<
True. Bruce's reception from Hulk is improving but still not great. Whoever is fronting is supposed to make the decisions. The problem is, Bruce never wants to let Hulk have a real turn and the backseat driving undermines Hulk's opportunity to form his own healthy relationships.
Thoughts
Date: 2014-10-13 05:58 am (UTC)Yay! The more fault tolerance they have on the team, the better. Nobody gets stuck in the same role without a break.
>> Bruce needed to stay on the outside
I don't get this. His own concerns? Lest Hulk suddenly come out and have nowhere to expand to without crushing someone? <<
It's a combination of things. Yes, Bruce worries about Hulk appearing without warning and hurting someone, because Bruce is downright paranoid about Hulk even though Hulk has never interrupted an ageplay session. (Hulk knows darn well that he's not welcome accordingly to Bruce, and respects that boundary, even though it's pretty mean of Bruce to shut him in like that.) So there is arguably a safety factor involved.
Bruce is also just plain skittish. He doesn't feel comfortable with anyone holding him down or anything hemming him in. He needs an out, and the physical access to an exit is a tangible reminder of his emotional flightiness too. It's frustrating for Betty and nerve-wracking for Tony. They try to accommodate Bruce's requests anyway.
That is not going to be stable indefinitely though.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-11 07:33 pm (UTC)I like that Flip can come play with the other littles too. I guess Bucky is more of, what in kink is refered to as, a Switch. I look forward to more of that in the future, Uncle Buck & Flip.
I am excited for the bonus scene as well! I just started getting into comics, as I just watched the cartoons and movies before. So the idea of everyone in Marvel being in the same universe is relatively new.
- readera
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-15 06:05 am (UTC)Yay! Yogurt coating can be put on pretty much anything where you'd use chocolate. You could even use fruit yogurt.
>> I like that Flip can come play with the other littles too. <<
Yes, he needs a chance to explore that.
>> I guess Bucky is more of, what in kink is refered to as, a Switch. I look forward to more of that in the future, Uncle Buck & Flip. <<
Actually they can all switch, although they have strong preferences for what they usually do. Most ageplay fans seem to be either Little or Big, not many switches. But the Avengers have different needs and are accustomed to switching between different roles already, so I figure it's not an implausible stretch, just improbable.
>> I am excited for the bonus scene as well! I just started getting into comics, as I just watched the cartoons and movies before. So the idea of everyone in Marvel being in the same universe is relatively new. <<
It's an interesting thing to try. I like some of what they're doing -- love the concept of it -- so I'll forgive the fumbles to a certain extent. I couldn't stomach Agents of SHIELD though; I wanted to like it, but ultimately found the setting abhorrent.
Yay!
Date: 2014-10-13 06:43 pm (UTC)-Kaylin, from AO3
Re: Yay!
Date: 2014-10-15 05:38 am (UTC)Thank you!
>> I'd love to see him interacting more with the other kids - maybe doing something a bit more active, with Steve? That would be awesome! <<
It's possible, but depends on context. Phil doesn't switch down very often, compared to the others, and it's harder for him to do at all. I agree that getting to snuggle or play with other Littles would be good for him, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-18 11:48 pm (UTC)I love Uncle Buck, did I tell you that? And Flip getting to be with friends.
Wonderful story.
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-19 12:36 am (UTC)Thank you! I figure there needed to be some fluff after the various angst.
>> I love Uncle Buck, did I tell you that? And Flip getting to be with friends. <<
Yay! Bucky is just starting to get the hang of ageplay, but he does make a good uncle, with a subtly different tone than the others.
>> Wonderful story. <<
Glad to hear it.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-22 03:59 pm (UTC)Regardless, I'd love to see more of him!
--Kaylin