Story: "Love Is for Children" (Part 9 of 14)

This story was written for the Asexy Valentines Fest, partly inspired by aceofannwn. It also fills the "game night" square on my card for the trope_bingo fest. This fest features fundamental motifs that will be familiar to most readers. It encourages writers to analyze storylines and characters, then reinterpret them in new ways.

Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Phil Coulson, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanova, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, Nick Fury, JARVIS
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: No standard warnings apply.
Summary: Phil Coulson is SHIELD's best handler for a reason: he can deal with the broken people that nobody else can manage but desperately need anyway. So he comes up with an unusual teambuilding idea to shore up the Avengers.
Notes: Asexual character. Aromantic character. Asexual relationship. Flangst. Dysfunctional dynamics. Mention of past abuse. Incidental self-injury. Non-sexual ageplay. Games. Cuteness. Teambuilding. Personal growth. Howard Stark's A+ parenting. Hurt/comfort. Trust issues. Making up for lost time. Odin's A+ parenting. Teamwork. Family of choice.

Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.  Skip to Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14.

( Read more... )

Crafts

 Spinning and knitting.

Intersex

 Here's an essay about being intersexed.

Read "The Wrong Kind of Snow"

ellenmillion has posted another major piece of the South Meets North storyline in "The Wrong Kind of Snow" over on torn_world.  A winter expedition runs into unexpected and troublesome conditions.

Muse Fusion is open!

The February Muse Fusion is now open over on torn_world.  The current contest is about "travel" so we could especially use prompts for that.  Anything is welcome, though.


What I Have Written

"A Thorny Problem" -- Roses seem different when you become a ranger.

"Leaves in Passage"
From the prompts about citizens and Purists traveling, I got the free-verse poem "Leaves in Passage."  It's about walking in the jungle where there's nobody to ask for your license.
34 lines, Buy It Now = $7.50

"Extant Examples"
From the prompt about the Crystal Desert, I got the free-verse poem "Extant Examples."  A scientist is studying crystal and artifacts whose characteristics do not match predictions.
64 lines, Buy It Now = $16

"The World According to Rai"
From the prompt about an abstract artist came the free-verse poem "The World According to Rai." Even though his vision is very limited, he enjoys painting as a hobby.
36 lines, Buy It Now = $7.50

Profit Over Health

Food companies do intensive research to discover how to hook people into buying food -- even if that food is very harmful to them.  This is the kind of behavior that results from basing a company exclusively on profit, without requiring it to be beneficial or at least harmless to the population.  You're just a meat sack for money.  They don't care if they kill you.

Poem: "A Thorny Problem"

This is the freebie for the February 2013 Muse Fusion over on torn_world.  It was inspired by a text prompt from moonwolf1988 and a picture based on that by ellenmillion.

A Thorny Problem

[1508.05.01]

Before she became a ranger,
Adarla loved roses.
She adored their sweet perfume
and pretty pink or white flowers,
then the tart red hips so delicious in jam.

After she became a ranger,
Adarla hated roses.
She detested their spreading habit
and the way they tangled in the soft coats
of snow-unicorns on the trail.

Surprise General Fund Poll

There's some extra money in the general fund for poetry; you have $27.75 to distribute among open epics.  Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll.  I will leave it open until at least Saturday night.  If there's a clear winner then, I'll close it.  Otherwise I may leave it open a little while longer.  Here are your options ...

"The Mystery of the Worn-Out Slippers" needs $38 to be fully funded.  Fiorenza and Giacinto explore the strange behavior of princesses who go through their shoes amazingly fast.

"The Honeytrap" needs $63.50 to be fully funded.  A succubus finds herself drawn to passion of a different kind in the company of an asexual woman.

[Poll #1898201]