Story: "Hairpins" Part 6
Mar. 3rd, 2014 12:02 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," "Eggshells," "Dolls and Guys,""Saudades," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," "Touching Moments," "Splash," "Coming Around," "Birthday Girl," "No Winter Lasts Forever," "Hide and Seek," "Kernel Error," "Happy Hour," and "Green Eggs and Hulk."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, JARVIS, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanova, Bruce Banner.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: This story is mostly fluff, but it has some intense scenes in the middle. Highlight for details. These include dubious consent as Phil and JARVIS discuss what really happened when Agent Coulson hacked his way into Stark Tower, over which Phil has something between a flashback and a panic attack. They also discuss some of the bad things that have happened to Avengers in the past, including various flavors of abuse. If these are sensitive topics for you, please think carefully before deciding whether to read onward.
Summary: Uncle Phil needs to pick out pajamas for game night. He gets help from an unexpected direction.
Notes: Service. Shopping. Gifts. Artificial intelligence. Computers. Teamwork. Team as family. Friendship. Communication. Hope. Apologies. Forgiveness. Nonsexual ageplay. Nonsexual intimacy. Love. Tony Stark needs a hug. Bruce Banner needs a hug. #coulsonlives.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5. Skip to Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11.
"Hairpins" Part 6
The next day, there came a call to assemble. The Avengers spent four hours outside in the miserable weather, fighting Russian mobsters who had somehow gotten their hands on superpowered weaponry. The battle smashed through a mega-mall where outraged shoppers yelled at villains and heroes alike.
Welcome to New York, now go the fuck home, Phil thought sourly. Sometimes the city's legendary rudeness got on his nerves. Phil preferred a much more genteel mode of interaction, even with enemies. Just because you might need to kill someone didn't mean you had to be crude about it.
After containing the mobsters, the Avengers debriefed at SHIELD. Director Fury was barely more appreciative than the civilians, even though casualties were minor, because the damage estimates already rang up high. Finally the exhausted heroes dragged themselves home.
"It's raining snot," Clint said as they finally made it indoors. "How is this my life?"
Tony giggled. "Just lucky, I guess."
Phil couldn't blame them. What the weather forecast called 'wintry mix' had varied from rain to snow to ice pellets and then back to rain throughout the day. Steve still limped on an ankle that he'd twisted on an icy street. Currently the sky was releasing gooey translucent blobs that clung to whatever they hit and then slowly dripped onto the ground. Phil was no stranger to slush, of course, but it usually arrived in the form of snow and then melted down. This is just ... well, what Clint said, thought Phil.
Phil trudged into his apartment and toweled the slush out of his hair. The air felt warm, almost hot, against his wind-burned cheeks. He shucked off his wet clothes and changed into dry fleece from his workout drawer. A delectable odor tickled his nose.
"Do I smell coffee ...?" Phil wondered. He followed it into the kitchen. Sure enough, the coffee maker trickled rich brown liquid into a waiting cup. "I guess Tony must have turned it on remotely. That was surprisingly thoughtful of him." Phil took an appreciate sip and recognized the Yirgacheffe. Nothing could compete with the gourmet coffee in Tony's tower. Phil had sat down with Arabian oil barons and drunk coffee that tasted like ditchwater in comparison. "God, I needed that."
His stomach growled. Phil dumped a can of clam chowder into a pot. Then he put the pot on the stove and set a timer. He settled himself on the couch. The soft, familiar comfort of it helped him begin to relax after the long hard day.
The Starkpad bumped against his thigh where Phil had abandoned it earlier. He picked it up. I suppose that I should get back to work on this, he thought. I need something positive to focus on right now. He opened his saved project. The screen lit with the logo of the company that made Natka's jammies, and the beginning of Phil's notes for Tony.
From the kitchen, Phil could hear the occasional ping of metal as the stove and pot heated up. Then too, he heard the sound of music in the living room, very faint. Classical, not Tony's obnoxious rock ... I must have left the music on, Phil mused, although he could not recall having done so.
* * *
Notes:
New York is famously considered the rudest state and city. However, people in crowded places need to tighten their social barriers, and that creates much of what is perceived as rudeness. Sometimes people are nice to the Avengers, and other times local custom wins out. When part of the city is getting wrecked again? People can get bitchy about that.
Wintry mix can consist of rain and snow together, or other combinations. I just let Clint borrow my description of something I've seen once before. It seems to be a rare effect, but it's real.
JARVIS is pulling out the stops to take care of Phil after a hard day. There are tips for self care, helping a friend manage stress, and relaxing after work. The Avengers aren't meshed enough at this stage to come together and look after each other -- or even themselves -- so JARVIS has more weight to pull.
Coffee comes from Arabia originally, and some of the best still does. I looked up some of the world's best coffee to see what kinds Tony might stock in the tower. This is the Yirgacheffe.
Music is good for reducing stress, especially soft classical. You can listen to piano or mixed instruments online.
[To be continued in Part 7 ...]
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, JARVIS, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanova, Bruce Banner.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: This story is mostly fluff, but it has some intense scenes in the middle. Highlight for details. These include dubious consent as Phil and JARVIS discuss what really happened when Agent Coulson hacked his way into Stark Tower, over which Phil has something between a flashback and a panic attack. They also discuss some of the bad things that have happened to Avengers in the past, including various flavors of abuse. If these are sensitive topics for you, please think carefully before deciding whether to read onward.
Summary: Uncle Phil needs to pick out pajamas for game night. He gets help from an unexpected direction.
Notes: Service. Shopping. Gifts. Artificial intelligence. Computers. Teamwork. Team as family. Friendship. Communication. Hope. Apologies. Forgiveness. Nonsexual ageplay. Nonsexual intimacy. Love. Tony Stark needs a hug. Bruce Banner needs a hug. #coulsonlives.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5. Skip to Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11.
"Hairpins" Part 6
The next day, there came a call to assemble. The Avengers spent four hours outside in the miserable weather, fighting Russian mobsters who had somehow gotten their hands on superpowered weaponry. The battle smashed through a mega-mall where outraged shoppers yelled at villains and heroes alike.
Welcome to New York, now go the fuck home, Phil thought sourly. Sometimes the city's legendary rudeness got on his nerves. Phil preferred a much more genteel mode of interaction, even with enemies. Just because you might need to kill someone didn't mean you had to be crude about it.
After containing the mobsters, the Avengers debriefed at SHIELD. Director Fury was barely more appreciative than the civilians, even though casualties were minor, because the damage estimates already rang up high. Finally the exhausted heroes dragged themselves home.
"It's raining snot," Clint said as they finally made it indoors. "How is this my life?"
Tony giggled. "Just lucky, I guess."
Phil couldn't blame them. What the weather forecast called 'wintry mix' had varied from rain to snow to ice pellets and then back to rain throughout the day. Steve still limped on an ankle that he'd twisted on an icy street. Currently the sky was releasing gooey translucent blobs that clung to whatever they hit and then slowly dripped onto the ground. Phil was no stranger to slush, of course, but it usually arrived in the form of snow and then melted down. This is just ... well, what Clint said, thought Phil.
Phil trudged into his apartment and toweled the slush out of his hair. The air felt warm, almost hot, against his wind-burned cheeks. He shucked off his wet clothes and changed into dry fleece from his workout drawer. A delectable odor tickled his nose.
"Do I smell coffee ...?" Phil wondered. He followed it into the kitchen. Sure enough, the coffee maker trickled rich brown liquid into a waiting cup. "I guess Tony must have turned it on remotely. That was surprisingly thoughtful of him." Phil took an appreciate sip and recognized the Yirgacheffe. Nothing could compete with the gourmet coffee in Tony's tower. Phil had sat down with Arabian oil barons and drunk coffee that tasted like ditchwater in comparison. "God, I needed that."
His stomach growled. Phil dumped a can of clam chowder into a pot. Then he put the pot on the stove and set a timer. He settled himself on the couch. The soft, familiar comfort of it helped him begin to relax after the long hard day.
The Starkpad bumped against his thigh where Phil had abandoned it earlier. He picked it up. I suppose that I should get back to work on this, he thought. I need something positive to focus on right now. He opened his saved project. The screen lit with the logo of the company that made Natka's jammies, and the beginning of Phil's notes for Tony.
From the kitchen, Phil could hear the occasional ping of metal as the stove and pot heated up. Then too, he heard the sound of music in the living room, very faint. Classical, not Tony's obnoxious rock ... I must have left the music on, Phil mused, although he could not recall having done so.
* * *
Notes:
New York is famously considered the rudest state and city. However, people in crowded places need to tighten their social barriers, and that creates much of what is perceived as rudeness. Sometimes people are nice to the Avengers, and other times local custom wins out. When part of the city is getting wrecked again? People can get bitchy about that.
Wintry mix can consist of rain and snow together, or other combinations. I just let Clint borrow my description of something I've seen once before. It seems to be a rare effect, but it's real.
JARVIS is pulling out the stops to take care of Phil after a hard day. There are tips for self care, helping a friend manage stress, and relaxing after work. The Avengers aren't meshed enough at this stage to come together and look after each other -- or even themselves -- so JARVIS has more weight to pull.
Coffee comes from Arabia originally, and some of the best still does. I looked up some of the world's best coffee to see what kinds Tony might stock in the tower. This is the Yirgacheffe.
Music is good for reducing stress, especially soft classical. You can listen to piano or mixed instruments online.
[To be continued in Part 7 ...]
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-03 07:45 am (UTC)Damn straight it is! - says the longtime New Yorker. :-)
Yes...
Date: 2014-03-16 08:39 pm (UTC)I use music variously to cover background noise, manage my mood, and generate energy.
Re: Yes...
Date: 2014-03-17 05:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-03 09:27 am (UTC)Still enjoying!
Meg
Yes...
Date: 2014-03-03 09:31 am (UTC):) We're getting there.
>> Still enjoying! <<
Yay!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-03 11:37 am (UTC)I can't speak to the state's rudeness; I've never lived anywhere else.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-07 05:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-07 05:57 pm (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2014-03-07 07:30 pm (UTC)An interesting counterpoint is the way that New Yorkers sometimes pull together when one of them is attacked, beautifully rendered in Spiderman with, "This is New York! You mess with one of us, you mess with ALL of us!" Because even a supervillain may find himself outmatched at the business end of an angry mob.
Yes...
Date: 2014-03-07 08:11 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-03-16 08:41 pm (UTC)I really appreciate that confirmation. Since my example was from Illinois, I figured it was plausible elsewhere, but I didn't have specific verification.
>> I had a friend who called it slain - snow, sleet, ice, and rain, in one unpleasant combination. <<
0_o
>> I can't speak to the state's rudeness; I've never lived anywhere else. <<
I suspect that most of what's considered rudeness is an effect of the local customs differing from other people's customs. Within the context of state and city, it seems to work pretty well for people.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-03-17 02:59 pm (UTC)Just came across my dash (source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.412105155555917.1073741825.182441741855594&type=3 ) and seemed appropriate ;-)
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-03-17 09:47 pm (UTC)There actually are glimpses of that side of New York in this series, as when Bruce-and-Hulk go shrooming in the woods with a friend of Tony's. There is a farmer's market in the city too.
Yay, classical music!
Date: 2014-03-03 02:40 pm (UTC)Yes, I love this, ysabetwordsmith! :)
Re: Yay, classical music!
Date: 2014-03-10 06:58 am (UTC)That is adorable. Thanks for letting me know! I'm really flattered.
Automated homes can do some amazing stuff. It's been an interest of mine for ages.
I used to have a computer program that played a selection of startup and shutdown sound files. My favorite startup said, "Greetings, Master. How may I serve you?" It reminded me of a wizard's magic mirror. And it was a warm, happy voice rather than a creepy or sullen one.
>> Yes, I love this, ysabetwordsmith! :) <<
That's good to hear.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-03 04:08 pm (UTC)JARVIS is doing a great job here. I wonder how one would offer care to him, in turn..
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-04 02:05 am (UTC)Well...
Date: 2014-03-08 03:30 am (UTC)Not at first. The realization of JARVIS as a person comes first, and Phil thinks it's kind of cool. Only later does Phil realize the implications of certain past actions on his part.
And then he freaks the fuck out.
Yes...
Date: 2014-03-10 06:36 am (UTC)That will indeed be fun.
>> JARVIS is doing a great job here. I wonder how one would offer care to him, in turn.. <<
Within the scope of this story, that mainly involves subtle changes in how Phil interacts with JARVIS, and helps JARVIS take care of the other Avengers. Later on, as Phil comes to know JARVIS better, more personal support emerges. "Hide and Seek" has the most salient examples of that so far. It's something I want to follow through the series.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-03 09:11 pm (UTC)(At this stage, at least. I could see the Tony in a later story making coffee for everyone, maybe.)
Well...
Date: 2014-03-07 05:47 am (UTC)Phil has been trying to encourage team bonding. This is the kind of thing he would like to be true.
>> (At this stage, at least. I could see the Tony in a later story making coffee for everyone, maybe.) <<
Of course. Tony isn't all the way there yet.
Re: Well...
Date: 2022-06-26 08:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-04 05:35 am (UTC)Loving this.
-kellyc
Yes...
Date: 2014-03-05 07:01 am (UTC)Exactly.
>> because he knows Phil will be helping take care of Tony, so... <<
That, and because JARVIS just likes to pamper his people. Especially if they are less resistant to the process than Tony sometimes is.
>> I am just so curious to see how you'll show us a Jarvis-clue that Phil can't explain away, as others have said. <<
There are some serious clues, although part of it is just the mass effect.
>> Oh, Phil, how will you make amends when you realize just what and who Jarvis really is? What could Phil do for Jarvis, other than offer care to Tony and Pepper and the rest of the team-family, when Jarvis himself is so hard to make an impact on, being a non-corporeal/organic person? <<
This is a long-term process. Phil has a couple of good ideas early on, but much of this is what you see playing out during the rest of the series.
>> Loving this. <<
Yay! I'm happy to hear that.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-05 01:59 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-03-07 06:58 am (UTC)Yay! I'm glad you liked it.
>> And I agree with the previous commenter that commented on Phil thinking it more likely for Tony to think to start coffee remotely at this stage (pre any of the ageplay nights when their teamwork started getting better) than the supercomputer he KNOWS runs the place (whether he thinks it's sentient or not) being the real cause. <<
JARVIS can be subtle when he wants to. People don't see what they don't expect to see. Phil wants Tony to be in better shape than Tony is ready to be yet.
>> Phil is obviously off his game, though given the situation it's understandable. <<
A little, yes. Plus he doesn't know people as well currently as he comes to later.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-07 01:00 am (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2014-03-07 06:17 am (UTC)I'm happy to hear that. Do point them at that review site: the 94+ page had a range of gourmet coffees from just a few dollars a pound on up to hundreds.
>> Keep up the excellent work - I'm looking forward to JARVIS and Phil joining forces at long last. <<
That's good to hear. I just posted the new chapter, where Phil is trying to sort through PJ fabric for Tony.
About the links
Date: 2014-03-30 08:05 pm (UTC)The coffee links, however, require a special, lovely thank you. My younger son is an incredible fan of the stuff, and I've begun doing some systematic research to find his next birthday and holiday presents. Thank you, thank you!
-Sarah-
Re: About the links
Date: 2014-03-30 11:00 pm (UTC)Yay! I'm glad to hear that.
>> The coffee links, however, require a special, lovely thank you. My younger son is an incredible fan of the stuff, and I've begun doing some systematic research to find his next birthday and holiday presents. Thank you, thank you! <<
You're welcome, and happy birthday to him whenever it rolls around. I was amazed that the best list of gourmet coffees had prices ranging from over $1000 to under $10.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-04-09 07:09 pm (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2014-04-09 07:36 pm (UTC)It would, if someone were doing it for the purpose of distorting his perceptions for malicious ends. That is definitely a trick a that JARVIS can play, but he doesn't deploy it against his family. It can drive people right up a wall.
>> Of course, it's different if Phil is just jumping to conclusions and JARVIS would own up to it if asked. <<
Exactly. All Phil has to do is ask. JARVIS would answer honestly. So would Tony.
JARVIS is tweaking the tower environment to make people more comfortable. He's different from an automated smart-building system in that he is self-aware and intuitive. He's different from another human doing the same things because you don't see him physically moving through a room to turn things on. But JARVIS works on the same principles of efficiency and comfort; he's working for people's benefit rather than for their harm.
Compare this to "Happy Hour" where Happy was kind of freaked by how the house behaved. JARVIS has learned more about human perceptions and expectations. He's supportive, but he's more discreet now. Much of what he does can be passed off as automation, someone human initiating them, or just forgetting what was on or off.
When JARVIS gets to know people better, he can use their user profile to make more educated guesses, so he's more inclined to make offers aloud. The more the team members get to know him in return, the more conversational they get too, asking him to do things -- or occasionally if he has done things.
Re: Yes...
Date: 2014-04-09 07:39 pm (UTC)Re: Yes...
Date: 2014-04-09 08:00 pm (UTC)I thought it was amusing that JARVIS didn't realize he was parsing as a haunted house, because so much of his socialization was with Tony who thinks that kind of stuff is normal.