Story: "Up the Water Spout" Part 20
Oct. 15th, 2014 12:17 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, Part 18, Part 19
NOTE: This scene takes place before the first chapter of this story, but it was written later and I don't think the bonus scenes would work as well at the front.
Here ends "Up the Water Spout." Thank you all for sticking with the series this far! I love your input. Final thoughts on the story overall are welcome, in addition to reactions on this specific chapter. I also have a list of favorite photogenic scenes from the whole series for fanartists to consider, partly compiled from audience requests.
Next up will be the poem "The Life of the Dead," on Bucky's experiences.
A note on feedback: While it's not necessary to comment on every post I make, remember that I don't know who reads/likes things if nobody says anything. Particularly on long stories, I've discovered that I get antsy if there's nothing but crickets chirping for several posts. So it helps to give me feedback at least once, even if it's just "I like this" or "This one doesn't grab me." First and last episodes are ideal if you rarely feel inspired to comment in the middle.
"Up the Water Spout" Part 20
Phil knocked politely on the door and waited. When it opened, he said, "Good morning, Mrs. May, I'm wondering if I might speak with Peter for a moment."
"Of course, dear," she said, ushering him into the house. In hushed tones she added, "Anything you can do to keep that boy in bed for a few days would be greatly appreciated."
"That's why I came today," Phil assured her. "Here, these are for you." He handed her the bouquet of daisies. There was no point bringing get-well flowers for Peter, but his aunt loved them and it helped cheer her up when she was worried about him.
"Why, thank you!" said Mrs. May, and bustled away to put them in water.
Phil knocked on Peter's door, waited for the grudging invitation, and let himself in. Peter looked awful. His entire left arm was bandaged, and the left side of his face was black-and-blue except for the brighter red scabs of road rash. "Good morning, Peter, it's nice to see you again."
"Say what you came to say, then go away," Peter grumbled.
"Now, is that any way to talk to a man bearing cookies?" Phil said. He gave the ornamental tin a gentle shake. Inside it, two dozen of Bruce's kitchen-sink cookies made an enticing rustle against their packing paper. The tin itself was embossed with gold and silver swirls over a blue background, the kind of thing that got passed from kitchen to kitchen for years.
Peter wallowed upright in a small mountain of pillows. "Gimme," he said. "Aunt May keeps trying to feed me health food."
Phil expertly rearranged the pillows for Peter, popped the tin open, and set it in the boy's lap. "A little indulgence won't hurt anything. Just don't eat them all at once," Phil said. He didn't mention that the recipe was crammed with nutrients.
Peter ate two, then reluctantly capped the tin and hid it under the pile of pillows. "Is this the part where you lecture me?"
"No, this is the part where I suggest that you trade me Dartmouth so we can get him off the street faster. You'll be laid up for days, and I don't think it's a good idea to let him run loose any longer than necessary," Phil said. "I have several other cases that I think would suit you, which need a little more time to pin down -- particularly a mutant girl picking pockets all around the city, whom we would rather apprehend without injury."
"What about Xavier?" asked Peter.
"Happy to take a young mutant off our hands once we have her, but reluctant to send his people into the kind of neighborhoods where she likes to hide," Phil said.
Peter snorted. "Rich guys. Yeah, okay, I'll trade you Dartmouth for that ... and the Avengers covering my beat for a weekend; there's a thing I want to catch in Boston next month."
"Half and half, Fantastic Four on Saturday and Avengers on Sunday?" Phil bargained. He didn't want to give up game night. New York's heroes were getting fluent at covering for each other, though, so it was no trouble to make up the difference.
"Yeah, that's fine," Peter said.
"Done," Phil said, and brought up the calendar on his Starkphone to seal the deal.
"... and more cookies?" Peter said wistfully.
Phil smiled. "I'll ask Bruce," he promised.
* * *
Notes:
Spider-Man has appeared in multiple films. For the purposes of this series, imagine him played by Tobey Macguire as in the 2002 Spider-Man movie.
Daisies have several meanings such as "cheer" and "I'll never tell."
Cookie tins such as this one are often passed around as food-gifts or repurposed as organizers.
Kitchen Sink Cookies can be quite nutritious.
Prompt healing requires that you take care of yourself, including diet and supplements.
~MISSION ACCOMPLISHED~
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, Part 18, Part 19
NOTE: This scene takes place before the first chapter of this story, but it was written later and I don't think the bonus scenes would work as well at the front.
Here ends "Up the Water Spout." Thank you all for sticking with the series this far! I love your input. Final thoughts on the story overall are welcome, in addition to reactions on this specific chapter. I also have a list of favorite photogenic scenes from the whole series for fanartists to consider, partly compiled from audience requests.
Next up will be the poem "The Life of the Dead," on Bucky's experiences.
A note on feedback: While it's not necessary to comment on every post I make, remember that I don't know who reads/likes things if nobody says anything. Particularly on long stories, I've discovered that I get antsy if there's nothing but crickets chirping for several posts. So it helps to give me feedback at least once, even if it's just "I like this" or "This one doesn't grab me." First and last episodes are ideal if you rarely feel inspired to comment in the middle.
"Up the Water Spout" Part 20
Phil knocked politely on the door and waited. When it opened, he said, "Good morning, Mrs. May, I'm wondering if I might speak with Peter for a moment."
"Of course, dear," she said, ushering him into the house. In hushed tones she added, "Anything you can do to keep that boy in bed for a few days would be greatly appreciated."
"That's why I came today," Phil assured her. "Here, these are for you." He handed her the bouquet of daisies. There was no point bringing get-well flowers for Peter, but his aunt loved them and it helped cheer her up when she was worried about him.
"Why, thank you!" said Mrs. May, and bustled away to put them in water.
Phil knocked on Peter's door, waited for the grudging invitation, and let himself in. Peter looked awful. His entire left arm was bandaged, and the left side of his face was black-and-blue except for the brighter red scabs of road rash. "Good morning, Peter, it's nice to see you again."
"Say what you came to say, then go away," Peter grumbled.
"Now, is that any way to talk to a man bearing cookies?" Phil said. He gave the ornamental tin a gentle shake. Inside it, two dozen of Bruce's kitchen-sink cookies made an enticing rustle against their packing paper. The tin itself was embossed with gold and silver swirls over a blue background, the kind of thing that got passed from kitchen to kitchen for years.
Peter wallowed upright in a small mountain of pillows. "Gimme," he said. "Aunt May keeps trying to feed me health food."
Phil expertly rearranged the pillows for Peter, popped the tin open, and set it in the boy's lap. "A little indulgence won't hurt anything. Just don't eat them all at once," Phil said. He didn't mention that the recipe was crammed with nutrients.
Peter ate two, then reluctantly capped the tin and hid it under the pile of pillows. "Is this the part where you lecture me?"
"No, this is the part where I suggest that you trade me Dartmouth so we can get him off the street faster. You'll be laid up for days, and I don't think it's a good idea to let him run loose any longer than necessary," Phil said. "I have several other cases that I think would suit you, which need a little more time to pin down -- particularly a mutant girl picking pockets all around the city, whom we would rather apprehend without injury."
"What about Xavier?" asked Peter.
"Happy to take a young mutant off our hands once we have her, but reluctant to send his people into the kind of neighborhoods where she likes to hide," Phil said.
Peter snorted. "Rich guys. Yeah, okay, I'll trade you Dartmouth for that ... and the Avengers covering my beat for a weekend; there's a thing I want to catch in Boston next month."
"Half and half, Fantastic Four on Saturday and Avengers on Sunday?" Phil bargained. He didn't want to give up game night. New York's heroes were getting fluent at covering for each other, though, so it was no trouble to make up the difference.
"Yeah, that's fine," Peter said.
"Done," Phil said, and brought up the calendar on his Starkphone to seal the deal.
"... and more cookies?" Peter said wistfully.
Phil smiled. "I'll ask Bruce," he promised.
* * *
Notes:
Spider-Man has appeared in multiple films. For the purposes of this series, imagine him played by Tobey Macguire as in the 2002 Spider-Man movie.
Daisies have several meanings such as "cheer" and "I'll never tell."
Cookie tins such as this one are often passed around as food-gifts or repurposed as organizers.
Kitchen Sink Cookies can be quite nutritious.
Prompt healing requires that you take care of yourself, including diet and supplements.
~MISSION ACCOMPLISHED~
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-15 05:53 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-15 05:56 am (UTC)That's good to hear.
>> The extra scene was great too. I really enjoy mixing hero's together like that. <<
With all the heroes in New York, they ought to at least coordinate activities. Maintream comics are only so-so at doing this. In my fanwork and over in Polychrome Heroics I do a lot more with people matching skills to missions and cooperating to cover all the bases.
>> also now I want cookies! <<
Happens a lot, hence the recipe links.
Works best
Date: 2014-10-15 11:08 am (UTC)But here, it's a light touch, a deft /guidance/ for a young man who still needs more support than one person can supply, and it works perfectly to show Phil's skills in the area. Peter is also adultified, which I think is hard to spot in teens, and giving him /cookies/ is a wonderful foil for that.
I really, really can't say enough good things about the story as a whole (I'm going to be busily re-reading it, LOL!)
Thanks!
Re: Works best
Date: 2014-10-15 07:36 pm (UTC)I'm glad I put it in the right place, then. Sequencing is not my strong suit.
>> But here, it's a light touch, a deft /guidance/ for a young man who still needs more support than one person can supply, and it works perfectly to show Phil's skills in the area. <<
Sooth. I figured that it would make sense for New York's superheroes to coordinate efforts, but actually making that happen is delicate work. Who better to manage that than Earth's Mightiest Handler?
>> Peter is also adultified, which I think is hard to spot in teens, and giving him /cookies/ is a wonderful foil for that. <<
So many heroes are. :( Phil is good at supporting people's need to be themselves, take care, and develop their experiences naturally.
>> I really, really can't say enough good things about the story as a whole (I'm going to be busily re-reading it, LOL!) <<
Yay!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-15 12:03 pm (UTC)I think I actually prefer this bit...I understand where you're going with them switching down, but it's a nice change of pace seeing them outside of game-night etc. Plus while Phil is carefully repairing damaged psyches it's so they can function better as adults, or at least, I think that was the idea, wasn't it? So seeing them actually doing so is sort-of the pay off here.
Besides, while seeing you working with a small cast list and a controlled setting is like watching someone paint a miniature... I can't help wondering how you'd do with the vast canvas of the Marvel universe and it's many varied [and at times very dysfunctional] characters. Not to mention how Phil's avengers would now deal with the likes of Dr Doom for example..
Thoughts
Date: 2014-10-15 07:28 pm (UTC)Thank you!
>> I think I actually prefer this bit...I understand where you're going with them switching down, but it's a nice change of pace seeing them outside of game-night etc. <<
Sooth. From the pattern emerging, game night is about building trust and teamwork collectively. Private sessions are for addressing individual needs and helping the Littles bond with their Big(s).
>> Plus while Phil is carefully repairing damaged psyches it's so they can function better as adults, or at least, I think that was the idea, wasn't it? So seeing them actually doing so is sort-of the pay off here. <<
Yes, exactly. He wants them to be healthier and happier. A lot of what happens later in the series is coming directly out of what happened earlier, as the growth brings up new things.
>> Besides, while seeing you working with a small cast list and a controlled setting is like watching someone paint a miniature... <<
Such a beautiful image, thank you!
>> I can't help wondering how you'd do with the vast canvas of the Marvel universe and it's many varied [and at times very dysfunctional] characters. <<
That's the kind of scope I'm doing with the gigantic sprawl of Polychrome Heroics over on the original side. The structure is actually like a comic publisher putting out multiple titles -- I have some fans making storyline guides at the moment.
>> Not to mention how Phil's avengers would now deal with the likes of Dr Doom for example.. <<
I even have some notes for touching on Dr. Doom in Love Is For Children, if I have a chance to carry the story that far. He and the Fantastic Four have made oblique appearances previously and it's something fun to explore.
Good story
Date: 2014-10-15 12:43 pm (UTC)Re: Good story
Date: 2014-10-15 07:13 pm (UTC)Thank you!
>> Except for the spider but that is just spiders. <<
Fair enough.
>> I really liked the extra scenes, you should do that more often as it adds more world to your stories. <<
I'm amenable to that, whenever it fits.
Re: Good story
Date: 2014-10-17 03:55 am (UTC)Re: Good story
Date: 2014-10-17 03:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-15 01:26 pm (UTC)You're welcome!
Date: 2014-10-15 08:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-15 11:49 pm (UTC)~A
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-16 06:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 01:02 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-16 06:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 01:18 am (UTC)-Dana
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 03:59 am (UTC)I really kind of loathe those Spider-Man movies, and Tobey Macguire's Spidey, so no thanks. But otherwise, love the scene. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 01:24 pm (UTC)I really liked this story. Good job!
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-16 11:33 pm (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed that. It's an important part of his character.
>> I really liked this story. Good job! <<
Yay!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-16 05:07 pm (UTC)(Also, I thought you might like to know, Phil Coulson for me is now forever your Phil Coulson. I was watching a few episodes of the latest Agents of Shield series and going "no, no, no, Phil's a better handler than that, and kinder, too!" ... and then he catches up with one of his agents [Simmons] and is all "no, sit down, you've not been eating properly, you call this food in the fridge? I'm going to cook you supper and then we can consider talking business..." and all was well again. THAT is Phil Coulson, World's Greatest Handler. ^_____^ )
~Anony-Mouse
Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-17 08:55 am (UTC)I'm happy to hear that.
>> I particularly liked that we got to see more of Betty <<
I admire Betty as an equal match for Bruce-and-Hulk, so it made sense she could work with Natka too. And Betty understands what it is like to clean up the fucking mess that abusers have made of your head.
>> and that Phil was so fluent in and willing to participate in the traditionally girl-coded games (which I suspect helped Natka be comfortable with them). There was a lot of nostalgia in that bit. ^_^ <<
It certainly helped Natka to explore. In canon Phil is so mild most of the time, it's easy to forget what a BAMF he really is. Men with that gentle edge are usually in touch with their feminine side, which is something I developed in "Little and Broken, but Still Good."
>> (Also, I thought you might like to know, Phil Coulson for me is now forever your Phil Coulson. <<
Awww! That's so sweet.
>> I was watching a few episodes of the latest Agents of Shield series and going "no, no, no, Phil's a better handler than that, and kinder, too!" ...<<
I wanted to like that series, I really did, but after a handful of episodes I gave up. I just couldn't stomach it, the world was putting me in a rotten mood. It wasn't just the erratic characterization of Phil, it was all the characters being clumsy or nasty to each other. The whole team was stapled together as badly as the Avengers in their movie.
>> and then he catches up with one of his agents [Simmons] and is all "no, sit down, you've not been eating properly, you call this food in the fridge? I'm going to cook you supper and then we can consider talking business..." and all was well again. THAT is Phil Coulson, World's Greatest Handler. ^_____^ ) <<
That's pretty awesome. Part of what threw me was the shift between Phil being gentle with people and being downright shitty. Okay, that's canon because he was waffling like that in Iron Man for example, but still. There are a limited number of reasons why that can happen:
* bad writing
* patchy characterization parameters
* person has erratic personality and shifts without meaning to
* person is so psychotic he puts on a false front deliberately to deceive people
None of those make me happy. >_<
When I found myself sitting down after episodes to write healthy teamwork just to clear my palate, I decided it was time to bail.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-19 01:19 pm (UTC)Phil is far, far too hard-spirited in far, far too many places, IMO. Especially considering, as you said how gentle he can be with people.
I'll come read your healthy teamwork and mild-mannered, gentle and BAMF Phil any day. <3
~Anony-Mouse
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-20 12:31 am (UTC)I just couldn't get past all the horrid things people were doing to each other, on top of plot motifs I found atrocious. I tried to like it, I really did. But ... bleah.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-18 11:43 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-10-19 12:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-23 09:24 pm (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2014-10-24 08:25 am (UTC)Ace-fan
Date: 2014-10-28 11:55 pm (UTC)That Phil switched down for the movie night was a pleasant surprise. Flip is cute, and it's cool that you found another story for him to appear.
I love watching this series develop. Early on there were so many issues laying around like mines, and things blew up and hurt a lot of people. So things were worked through, but it was painful at times. Now they're seeing problems before they get too big, and are dealing with them earlier and in gentle, comforting ways. I'm sure there'll still be bad days ahead, but right now it's warm and peaceful. :) Progress.
I also am glad that you specified Tobey Macguire. I still haven't seen the new Spidey, so he's the one I pictured.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-11-19 07:26 pm (UTC)Wow!
Date: 2014-11-27 08:20 pm (UTC)Best Wishes
Phee
Re: Wow!
Date: 2014-11-27 08:34 pm (UTC)Thank you! I'm glad you like it.
>> I was wondering if you could do something to do with Autism? Aspergers particularly. I suffer from that myself and I really want to see your take on it! Every issue that you put in here is wonderful and your portrayal makes it a lot better than the normal take on it. <<
If you look closely at some of the stories in Love Is For Children, you can see hints of that. I don't think any of the Avengers are quite a perfect fit for autism or Asperger's but several of them are pretty obviously neurovariant and there is overlap of expression, so I use some of the same materials. For instance, Bruce-and-Hulk waffle between touch-averse and touch-seeking; Hulk has communication difficulties; Tony often prefers to play with electronics rather than interact directly with humans and he's terrible at reading emotions. Natasha's training stripped away much of the personal intuition and replaced it with rote learning which creates that flat affect she has when not portraying a cover identity. Bucky has similar damage. Bucky, Tony, Bruce-and-Hulk all share the meltdown tendency.
However, I also have an original series in which a majority of the characters are on the spectrum. See An Army of One: The Autistic Secession in Space. It has been prompted largely by some of my fans who are various flavors of neurovariant and helped me find references outside the not-very-accurate clinical ones. Catch me at any open prompt call and you can ask for more of this, or start something new. Next up will be the December poetry fishbowl on Tuesday 2 with a theme of "games and fun."
>> If you wish to contact me then please use my Ao3 account http://archiveofourown.org/users/FireflyInTheBus <<
It doesn't seem to have a message function. :( I did find your Facebook account through there, so maybe that will connect.