Story: "Birthday Girl" (Part 18 of 18)
May. 10th, 2013 12:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis story is a sequel to "Love Is for Children," "Eggshells," "Dolls and Guys," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," and "Touching Moments," "Splash," and "Coming Around."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanova, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Hulk, Steve Rogers, Betty Ross, JARVIS.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Inferences of past child abuse. Current environment is safe.
Summary: Doombots crash a beautiful spring day in the park. The Avengers clean up the mess. This includes Natasha's rather confused longing for something she never had: a birthday party.
Notes: Asexual character (Clint). Aromantic character (Natasha). Asexual relationship. Teamwork. Canon-typical violence. Friendship. Confusion. Hulk is a genius too. Fluff. Making up for lost time. Birthday. Cultural traditions. Games. Gifts. Cake. The cake is never a lie! Tickling. Trust issues. Safety and security. Non-sexual touching and intimacy. Personal growth. Family of choice.
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.
Here ends "Birthday Girl." If you've been reading this story, it's helpful to leave a comment on the last episode so I have an idea how many readers it has attracted. I'm also interested in feedback on how well this balances the more serious stories in the series. Thank you all for reading, and especially for the feedback you've given on earlier episodes.
Anonymous commenters: You don't have to specify exactly who you are, but it helps to have a first name or a username from some other service, so I have some idea of who's saying which and how many different "Anonymous" folks there are. You can just type some kind of identifier at the end of your comment.
The sequel is "No Winter Lasts Forever."
"Birthday Girl" Part 18
Epilogue
Phil Coulson presented himself to the harried parents at the corner of the pavilion. "We're from the Maria Stark Foundation, here to provide free entertainment for the makeup birthday party," he said. "The Tumbling Twins have been looking forward to this event." Phil gestured to Clint and Natasha, their white-painted faces topped by identical rainbow wigs.
"Yes, of course. The Foundation sent us a whole information packet!" the mother said, beckoning them forward.
Phil could see that the cake had likewise arrived, a towering confection topped with candied rosepetals and a marzipan princess. A Stark Industries bubble machine wafted iridescent spheres into the air through an ever-changing plate of blowholes. The bubbles ranged from marble size to head size. Tinkly party music emerged from a set of speakers.
"All right, everyone, gather around! The acrobats are here," the mother announced.
Children clustered around them, mostly girls in fresh pastel party dresses, piping questions in their high clear voices.
"Are you really twins?"
"Are you really acrobats?"
"What do you think?" Clint and Natasha replied. They sprang apart in graceful cartwheels. The girls applauded. Phil smiled proudly.
The Tumbling Twins twirled and bounced and flipped their way across the grassy park. They climbed over and under each other. They walked on their hands.
Clint and Natasha moved through the small crowd as if they were made of smoke and light. No matter how often the children reached out to try and touch them, they always spun away at the last moment, like an elegant game of tag.
The Tumbling Twins signed the birthday girl's cast in vivid purple ink. It joined the rainbow of care already traced over the white plaster.
Natasha appropriated a handful of butter knives from the table and juggled them. That turned into an impromptu lesson in juggling with colored beanbags from one of the party games. She showed everyone how to toss and catch one-handed, how to juggle two bags and three bags. The beanbags were safer and easier than knives. Natasha could afford to take a deadly skill and turn it into entertainment now.
Clint put his other circus skills to use by twisting balloons into creative shapes. He made an artful array of wiener dogs, swords, flowers, and princess crowns.
To their mutual amusement, the birthday girl requested both a crown and a sword. Clint happily obliged her. Phil smiled, remembering how the mother had attacked a Doombot with a lawn chair. Like mother, like daughter. Besides, Phil approved of self-saving princesses.
And if Clint smuggled home a green wiener dog for a friend, well, nobody minded.
* * *
Notes:
Candied rosepetals are used to decorate cakes and other confections. Yes, they really are edible; roses are related to apples. Candied rosepetals may be bought from suppliers. You can also make your own with a hot or cold recipe. Only use organic roses for cooking, though; ordinary ones can carry toxic chemicals.
Marzipan is an edible sculpture dough made from almonds and sugar. You can buy marzipan as dough or candies, or make your own. There are instructions on shaping it.
Bubble machines make a pretty good cloud of bubbles, but they're notoriously finicky things to operate. Assume that Tony, who is a genius, has produced a design that's actually reliable. Somehow.
Basic juggling is pretty easy to learn with something like beanbags or balls. One-handed juggling and knife juggling are harder. You can find many juggling tricks online.
Balloon modelling appears in many entertainment contexts. There are numerous patterns for balloon animals and other things. See examples of a weiner dog, flower, crown, and sword.
~ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ~
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanova, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Hulk, Steve Rogers, Betty Ross, JARVIS.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Inferences of past child abuse. Current environment is safe.
Summary: Doombots crash a beautiful spring day in the park. The Avengers clean up the mess. This includes Natasha's rather confused longing for something she never had: a birthday party.
Notes: Asexual character (Clint). Aromantic character (Natasha). Asexual relationship. Teamwork. Canon-typical violence. Friendship. Confusion. Hulk is a genius too. Fluff. Making up for lost time. Birthday. Cultural traditions. Games. Gifts. Cake. The cake is never a lie! Tickling. Trust issues. Safety and security. Non-sexual touching and intimacy. Personal growth. Family of choice.
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.
Here ends "Birthday Girl." If you've been reading this story, it's helpful to leave a comment on the last episode so I have an idea how many readers it has attracted. I'm also interested in feedback on how well this balances the more serious stories in the series. Thank you all for reading, and especially for the feedback you've given on earlier episodes.
Anonymous commenters: You don't have to specify exactly who you are, but it helps to have a first name or a username from some other service, so I have some idea of who's saying which and how many different "Anonymous" folks there are. You can just type some kind of identifier at the end of your comment.
The sequel is "No Winter Lasts Forever."
"Birthday Girl" Part 18
Epilogue
Phil Coulson presented himself to the harried parents at the corner of the pavilion. "We're from the Maria Stark Foundation, here to provide free entertainment for the makeup birthday party," he said. "The Tumbling Twins have been looking forward to this event." Phil gestured to Clint and Natasha, their white-painted faces topped by identical rainbow wigs.
"Yes, of course. The Foundation sent us a whole information packet!" the mother said, beckoning them forward.
Phil could see that the cake had likewise arrived, a towering confection topped with candied rosepetals and a marzipan princess. A Stark Industries bubble machine wafted iridescent spheres into the air through an ever-changing plate of blowholes. The bubbles ranged from marble size to head size. Tinkly party music emerged from a set of speakers.
"All right, everyone, gather around! The acrobats are here," the mother announced.
Children clustered around them, mostly girls in fresh pastel party dresses, piping questions in their high clear voices.
"Are you really twins?"
"Are you really acrobats?"
"What do you think?" Clint and Natasha replied. They sprang apart in graceful cartwheels. The girls applauded. Phil smiled proudly.
The Tumbling Twins twirled and bounced and flipped their way across the grassy park. They climbed over and under each other. They walked on their hands.
Clint and Natasha moved through the small crowd as if they were made of smoke and light. No matter how often the children reached out to try and touch them, they always spun away at the last moment, like an elegant game of tag.
The Tumbling Twins signed the birthday girl's cast in vivid purple ink. It joined the rainbow of care already traced over the white plaster.
Natasha appropriated a handful of butter knives from the table and juggled them. That turned into an impromptu lesson in juggling with colored beanbags from one of the party games. She showed everyone how to toss and catch one-handed, how to juggle two bags and three bags. The beanbags were safer and easier than knives. Natasha could afford to take a deadly skill and turn it into entertainment now.
Clint put his other circus skills to use by twisting balloons into creative shapes. He made an artful array of wiener dogs, swords, flowers, and princess crowns.
To their mutual amusement, the birthday girl requested both a crown and a sword. Clint happily obliged her. Phil smiled, remembering how the mother had attacked a Doombot with a lawn chair. Like mother, like daughter. Besides, Phil approved of self-saving princesses.
And if Clint smuggled home a green wiener dog for a friend, well, nobody minded.
* * *
Notes:
Candied rosepetals are used to decorate cakes and other confections. Yes, they really are edible; roses are related to apples. Candied rosepetals may be bought from suppliers. You can also make your own with a hot or cold recipe. Only use organic roses for cooking, though; ordinary ones can carry toxic chemicals.
Marzipan is an edible sculpture dough made from almonds and sugar. You can buy marzipan as dough or candies, or make your own. There are instructions on shaping it.
Bubble machines make a pretty good cloud of bubbles, but they're notoriously finicky things to operate. Assume that Tony, who is a genius, has produced a design that's actually reliable. Somehow.
Basic juggling is pretty easy to learn with something like beanbags or balls. One-handed juggling and knife juggling are harder. You can find many juggling tricks online.
Balloon modelling appears in many entertainment contexts. There are numerous patterns for balloon animals and other things. See examples of a weiner dog, flower, crown, and sword.
~ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ~
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
LOVE IT
Date: 2013-05-10 05:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 05:44 am (UTC)-Wynjara
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-10 06:41 am (UTC)Awww! That would be sweet.
>> I love that Natasha was able to find something joyful from her more hazardous skills. <<
You can't be other than you are, but you can choose to develop yourself in new directions. Your past shapes you but does not define you.
>> Also, balloons :D <<
Balloons are full of win!
<3
Date: 2013-05-10 05:56 am (UTC)(Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go snuggle)
--Siren
Re: <3
Date: 2013-05-10 07:33 pm (UTC)Thank you!
>> (Awwwww they're twin acrobats for kids :D) <<
I like blending their deadly skills into a lighter context. Espionage as acting, as costume, as play ...
>> From start to finish it was the perfect balance of hurt/comfort for Natasha, and I'm glad Bruce is making gradual progress. This has me smiling without pause thank you :D <<
That's good to hear.
>> (Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go snuggle) <<
Yay!
:)
Date: 2013-05-10 07:15 am (UTC)Re: :)
Date: 2013-05-10 06:54 pm (UTC)Yay!
>> So few people write Natasha well. I liked that you admitted she had issues, but didn't make her a total robot. <<
Based on the portrayal in the movie, assorted background from the comics, and a broad understanding of human psychology, I figure that Natasha's emotional growth was stunted by her early training/torture. That's not something that's quick or easy to fix just by escaping the toxic environment.
So she still has some emotions, but they're flattened toward a median, hence the "robotic" effect especially in a crisis. Much of what she feels is subconscious rather than conscious, and she often doesn't know what to do with the little that she does experience consciously. In the current context, she has trustworthy friends and safe space, so that's bringing up a lot of things that were packed down tight. This kind of growth is confusing and distressing, but it's a sign that Natasha is making great progress.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 08:43 am (UTC)dunerowl from tumblr
You're welcome!
Date: 2013-05-10 06:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 09:47 am (UTC)I'm so glad you're writing more of these.
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 06:34 am (UTC)I'm happy that it resonated for you so strongly.
>>I'm so glad you're writing more of these.<<
Yay! The first chapter of "No Winter Lasts Forever" just went up.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 10:00 am (UTC)-Mariposaluna
You're welcome!
Date: 2013-05-11 04:28 am (UTC)Yay!
>> I think the extended lighthearted atmosphere of this one fits right in with the others. We've seen a lot about how they've been hurt in life so we need to see some healing and happiness or it turns into a pity party. <<
That's why I put this one in, so I'm glad it works.
>> I think you're sensitive to the issues and find just the right balance of revealing more with healing. <<
I try to draw the challenges from canon, and later in the series, from what has gone before. Some of the issues are familiar territory from me from other projects, while others are newer, so I do some careful research in effort to get the portrayal right.
>> Thanks for all these, the next title has intrigues me. I can't wait! <<
First chapter goes up soon!
From storylistener
Date: 2013-05-10 11:03 am (UTC)Re: From storylistener
Date: 2013-05-11 06:35 am (UTC)Thank you! I'm happy to hear that.
>> I also love that you basically explain everything to death in the author's notes on the bottum, I'm learning stuff I never even thought about before, like the russian children's game. GOOD JOB! <<
That's the idea. I enjoy sharing tidbits with my audience. The footnotes are really popular in this series, so I'm keeping that up.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 11:54 am (UTC)I love your stories and am bookmarking them all.
You have a wonderful grasp on age play in general and I love the way you have captured each of the characters.
On a side note... I now want some of Natka's birthday cake! :)
Yay!
Date: 2013-05-11 04:47 am (UTC)That's good to hear.
>>I love your stories and am bookmarking them all. <<
I'm glad you enjoy them so much.
>> You have a wonderful grasp on age play in general and I love the way you have captured each of the characters. <<
This series is the first time I've done anything with ageplay so that's especially gratifying.
>> On a side note... I now want some of Natka's birthday cake! :) <<
It is among the most spectacular cake I've ever eaten. I would have linked a recipe if I'd been able to find one.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 12:44 pm (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2013-05-11 02:21 am (UTC)Re: Yay!
From:Re: Yay!
From:Sweet!
Date: 2013-05-10 01:30 pm (UTC)Re: Sweet!
Date: 2013-05-11 08:59 pm (UTC)Yay! I'm glad you liked it.
>> I especially love the relationship Clint and Bruce are building. <<
Clint seems to be the best, after Betty, at understanding and reach out to both halves of Bruce-and-Hulk.
>> I could actually see all three "brothers"--Bruce, Clint, and Tony--getting into mischief together. <<
Hee! I'll have to keep that in mind for future potential.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 01:37 pm (UTC)And, as always, I can't wait for your next story - your fic is something I always look forward to as the last thing I read before I go to bed at night. I wonder if it has to do with a certain best friend returning to a certain captain's life?
Thoughts
Date: 2013-05-11 03:20 am (UTC)Yay!
>> But then, I'm very partial to Natasha in general. ;) It made me happy to see her getting something she's never had before, because there's no feeling like that in the world. <<
Sooth. I like Natasha, but she's a challenge to write because she's so reserved that it's hard to tell what's really going on with her -- until something busts loose like this. I have to watch for these times when things are unfurling based on the progress she's making, because that's what most often catches her off-guard enough to show through.
>> And, as always, I can't wait for your next story - your fic is something I always look forward to as the last thing I read before I go to bed at night. <<
That's always fun to hear.
>> I wonder if it has to do with a certain best friend returning to a certain captain's life? <<
*grin* You're getting warm!
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 01:39 pm (UTC)I love Clint and the balloon animals. Tony and Clint should work together to make a big dog the way they have a big rubber duckie. I think the big kid would like the plushie equivalent of Clifford the Big Red Dog, in a suitable size.
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 09:51 pm (UTC)Yay! I'm glad this worked for you.
>> This is probably the first time Natasha has gone into costume and disguise just for fun and to entertain herself and the children. <<
Probably so. I wonder if they'll keep this cover identity for similar occasions in the future.
>> I love Clint and the balloon animals. Tony and Clint should work together to make a big dog the way they have a big rubber duckie. <<
Well, there are giant balloons ...
>> I think the big kid would like the plushie equivalent of Clifford the Big Red Dog, in a suitable size. <<
*laugh* Now there's an idea.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 03:25 pm (UTC)<3 :-)
Yay!
Date: 2013-05-11 06:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 03:28 pm (UTC)You're welcome!
Date: 2013-05-11 02:40 am (UTC)Yay, I'm glad you liked it!
>> And Clint stealing a green wiener dog (for a green friend ;)!) is fun and very sweet! <<
It's one of an ongoing trickle of signs that people are learning to deal with Bruce-and-Hulk as a collective, not forgetting either half.
>> Thanks for sharing with us your great story and yay for knowing there's a new one coming! <<
Yep, you get to see what happens when you feed plotbunnies after midnight.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 04:29 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-10 06:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 07:07 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-10 07:20 pm (UTC)I'm happy to hear that.
>> And if I sometimes have to get that fluff after some shadow, that's ok, because life is like that too. :) <<
I'm glad the balance is working. Now that I think of it, I'm reminded of the Avengers movie, the way it blended some pretty dark elements with silly comic relief. ("Make a move, Reindeer Games.")
Re: Thank you!
From:Re: Thank you!
From:(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 07:39 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-10 07:43 pm (UTC)I'm happy to hear that.
>> It was good to see Natasha be able to let part of her loose that she didn't even realize she had. <<
Yes, the more she works with the team, the more things will shift from subconscious to conscious awareness, making her more of a whole person.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-10 10:34 pm (UTC)The ending on this was great. Natasha, who almost couldn't bear to even look at the original birthday party, gets to a point where she can participate in the make-up party. I like that you show characters working through their issues, slowly but steadily, rather than just "fixing" them with some hand waving.
I also wanted to mention that I love your habit of providing footnotes.
--Joyce
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 11:10 pm (UTC)I'm glad to hear that.
>> It's nice to have a story to go to where I know that good things will happen and things will be okay in the end. I feel sort of silly for wanting something like that, but it's really comforting. <<
That's okay. I share your taste for stories of that type, although I write other things too. It's rare for me to write totally dark anything, though. I don't like it when bad things happen and there's no turnaround.
>> The ending on this was great. Natasha, who almost couldn't bear to even look at the original birthday party, gets to a point where she can participate in the make-up party. <<
Some problems, if you face them head-on, get easier to deal with. Ramping up slowly can help. And ageplay is really good at fixing problems that started in childhood. Once Natasha's internal landscape is improved a bit, looking at external reminders isn't so nettlesome.
>> I like that you show characters working through their issues, slowly but steadily, rather than just "fixing" them with some hand waving. <<
Yes, that's a perennial preference of mine. I dislike handwaving as a solution. I like stories to have real problems that characters have to figure out somehow. It's more plausible and gratifying for me, and I think it does better for readers practicing their problem-solving thoughts.
>> I also wanted to mention that I love your habit of providing footnotes. <<
I'm happy to hear that. It's very popular in this series, so I'm continuing the practice. Some of my projects run to footnotes, others not. Fiorenza the Wisewoman, Hart's Farm, and Schrodinger's Heroes also have footnotes because they touch on topics unfamiliar to many readers.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-11 12:55 am (UTC)~Aly
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 01:03 am (UTC)I'm happy to hear this.
>> I've liked pretty much everything, but something a little more serious would be great. I've been enjoying all the lighthearted antics a lot though! <<
*cackle* *rub hands together*
Just wait until you see what happens when you feed plotbunnies after midnight...
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-11 01:02 am (UTC)Anyway, as far as balancing more serious stories, I think this is a good one. There's elements of seriousness, but mostly fun fluff. I think it did a good job of it.
I really liked the ending here though. Birthday clown/acrobats Clint and Natasha is cute! Keep up the good work! :)
Yay!
Date: 2013-05-11 08:57 am (UTC)Thanks.
>>Anyway, as far as balancing more serious stories, I think this is a good one. There's elements of seriousness, but mostly fun fluff. I think it did a good job of it.<<
That's good to hear.
>> I really liked the ending here though. Birthday clown/acrobats Clint and Natasha is cute! <<
Hee! I had fun with those. Clint and Natasha are good at doing the unexpected.
>> Keep up the good work! :) <<
New story just launched, "No Winter Lasts Forever."
(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-11 01:07 am (UTC)I've been following this whole series, but you know that. The image of nesting dolls depicting facets of a person's development, personality or both has stuck with me. I like this idea. Hmm hmm.
Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 09:08 am (UTC)It's not possible to prevent all the bad things from happening, but sometimes it's possible to make up the good things that were missed.
>> Self-saving princesses FTW! I agree with Phil. <<
Sooth.
>> And yes, re: rose petals. They're lovely, aren't they? <<
I'm very partial to rose flavor. I like rosewater in wild strawberry ice cream. I also love rose-flavored Turkish delight.
>>I've been following this whole series, but you know that.<<
Yay!
>> The image of nesting dolls depicting facets of a person's development, personality or both has stuck with me. I like this idea. Hmm hmm. <<
I love it when something I write sticks in someone's mind that way.
Next story has opened, "No Winter Lasts Forever."
anonimous me. you are cool
Date: 2013-05-11 01:31 am (UTC)Re: anonimous me. you are cool
Date: 2013-05-11 09:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-11 04:07 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-11 11:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-05-12 04:11 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2013-05-12 04:15 am (UTC)