Story: "Green Eggs and Hulk" Part 4
Feb. 17th, 2014 12:05 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," and "Happy Hour."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Bruce Banner, Hulk, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanova, Clint Barton.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Canon-typical violence. This story is mostly fluff.
Summary: The Avengers fight some giant birds. After smashing the ones on the ground, Hulk gets bored. Agent Coulson reads him a story.
Notes: Birds. Teamwork. Team as family. Friendship. Multiplicity/Plurality. Communication. Anger management issues. Storytelling. Reading. Books. Hope. Nonsexual ageplay. Love. Bruce Banner needs a hug. Hulk needs a hug. #coulsonlives.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Here ends "Green Eggs and Hulk." 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.
The next planned post will be "Hairpins," about Phil realizing that JARVIS is a person; that's a flashback to the time of "Love Is for Children."
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.
"Green Eggs and Hulk" Part 4
"You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may I say," Agent reads. His voice pulls and coaxes.
Hulk thinks of Bruce again. Hulk and Bruce argue. They must sound like this. Do you ...? No! Would you, could you? NO!
"Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see," Agent says.
Hulk wonders if he can make Bruce try new things more. Maybe Hulk should listen to Bruce more too. Arguments make Hulk sad. They make Bruce worry. Hulk wants inside of their head to feel good. Feelings are important. Hulk knows this. He does not know how to show Bruce though.
Story is almost done when talk-thing squawks. "All clear," it says. "All clear!"
"Iron Man, situation report?" asks Agent.
"All three bogeys down," says Tinman. "I think Hawkeye is right. These look like some kind of weird-ass giant condor. Send somebody to scrape up the bits for Dr. Banner, would you? He'll want to see this. I'm about ten miles north of you, sending coordinates now."
Agent talks to Smith and Jones again. He talks to other suits. Boring.
Hulk sighs. Waiting is hard. He wants to be good for team. Birdie feels warm against his back. Hulk hunkers down like big rock. He waits.
Finally Agent stops talking.
"Finish story?" Hulk asks. "Please?" Hulk is learning magic words.
"All right," Agent says. "I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!"
"That was great, thanks," Birdie says.
Hulk nods. "Story good," he says. "Words sound nice."
"I'm glad to hear that," Agent says. "We can do more reading later. What else did you like about this story?"
"Hulk like new food too," he says.
"Well, we'll see about finding more new things for you to try," Agent says.
Hulk itches. He smells like broken pillows. No good for Bruce, he thinks, shuffling in place. Inside him, Bruce is still napping. Hulk keep Bruce safe.
"What's wrong, buddy?" asks Birdie.
"Hulk itch," he says, scratching himself. "Go home now? Hulk get bath?" After fight with stinky goats, Tony fixed bath place in gym. Now Hulk can wash there too. Hulk wants his rubber duckie and sunshine soap.
Birdie twists around and sniffs at Hulk. "Yeah, you've got blood and feathers all over you, yuck! Definitely time for a bath."
They go to find team. Red is limping. Hulk picks her up. She smacks him on shoulder. "Put me down!" she says.
"No hitting," Hulk says. "Red hurt, Hulk carry."
Red grumbles at him but stops hitting.
"Play nice, get story," Hulk says. He puts Red on seat of team car. "Would you? Could you? In a car?"
Red just frowns at Hulk. He thinks she does not know funny story about green eggs.
Agent closes doors. Inside, Agent turns into Uncle Phil. Change is quiet, not loud like Bruce-and-Hulk, but Hulk knows.
"I am Sam. Sam I am," Agent says in perky voice.
Hulk fingers tap on own leg. One-two-three. Happy-happy-happy.
* * *
Notes:
Trying new things is an important part of life with many benefits. Aim to keep an open mind. It's natural for toddlers to explore, but some are adventurous while others are cautious. Despite Hulk's skittish nature with people, he's open to trying new things. Bruce is more reserved, which is kind of odd for a scientist -- but remember how much trouble his curiosity has caused him. There are tips on helping kids overcome fears and try new foods.
Arguing happens a lot, but is often a waste of time. Understand how to defuse an argument. Sibling rivalry poses special problems. Know how to stop fighting with your sibling and how to stop your children from fighting.
Unhappy families have some common problems. While the household situation is greatly improved, Bruce-and-Hulk are still pretty stressed on the inside. There are building blocks for creating a happy family. Learn how to handle unresolved conflicts in your family.
Patience is a virtue, and it takes practice to develop. This is one area where Bruce is ahead of Hulk.
Young children often need help to figure out the "magic words" of etiquette. Presumably Bruce-and-Hulk didn't get much of this growing up. Hulk seems to be picking it up by osmosis now.
Hulk has a very strong protective instinct. He and Bruce are a tangled sprawl across family tropes such as Big Brother Instinct, Big Brother Bully, and Promotion to Parent. One of the bizarre things about their relationship is that they take turns with all that stuff, because they are kind and cruel, responsible and irresponsible, in different areas. It's not as simple as Bruce being the guy who has to keep Hulk contained.
Touching people without consent -- especially picking them up -- can cause problems. Hulk does not understand yet why Red would find this threatening. There's a lot she hasn't told Bruce-and-Hulk, or anyone else, about her past. Phil and Clint know enough to understand this part, and Bucky was there for some of it, but that's about it. Plus which, Hulk's sense of appropriate boundaries is skewed because he has so little experience with anyone respecting his.
~ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ~
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Bruce Banner, Hulk, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Phil Coulson, Natasha Romanova, Clint Barton.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Canon-typical violence. This story is mostly fluff.
Summary: The Avengers fight some giant birds. After smashing the ones on the ground, Hulk gets bored. Agent Coulson reads him a story.
Notes: Birds. Teamwork. Team as family. Friendship. Multiplicity/Plurality. Communication. Anger management issues. Storytelling. Reading. Books. Hope. Nonsexual ageplay. Love. Bruce Banner needs a hug. Hulk needs a hug. #coulsonlives.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Here ends "Green Eggs and Hulk." 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.
The next planned post will be "Hairpins," about Phil realizing that JARVIS is a person; that's a flashback to the time of "Love Is for Children."
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.
"Green Eggs and Hulk" Part 4
"You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may I say," Agent reads. His voice pulls and coaxes.
Hulk thinks of Bruce again. Hulk and Bruce argue. They must sound like this. Do you ...? No! Would you, could you? NO!
"Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see," Agent says.
Hulk wonders if he can make Bruce try new things more. Maybe Hulk should listen to Bruce more too. Arguments make Hulk sad. They make Bruce worry. Hulk wants inside of their head to feel good. Feelings are important. Hulk knows this. He does not know how to show Bruce though.
Story is almost done when talk-thing squawks. "All clear," it says. "All clear!"
"Iron Man, situation report?" asks Agent.
"All three bogeys down," says Tinman. "I think Hawkeye is right. These look like some kind of weird-ass giant condor. Send somebody to scrape up the bits for Dr. Banner, would you? He'll want to see this. I'm about ten miles north of you, sending coordinates now."
Agent talks to Smith and Jones again. He talks to other suits. Boring.
Hulk sighs. Waiting is hard. He wants to be good for team. Birdie feels warm against his back. Hulk hunkers down like big rock. He waits.
Finally Agent stops talking.
"Finish story?" Hulk asks. "Please?" Hulk is learning magic words.
"All right," Agent says. "I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!"
"That was great, thanks," Birdie says.
Hulk nods. "Story good," he says. "Words sound nice."
"I'm glad to hear that," Agent says. "We can do more reading later. What else did you like about this story?"
"Hulk like new food too," he says.
"Well, we'll see about finding more new things for you to try," Agent says.
Hulk itches. He smells like broken pillows. No good for Bruce, he thinks, shuffling in place. Inside him, Bruce is still napping. Hulk keep Bruce safe.
"What's wrong, buddy?" asks Birdie.
"Hulk itch," he says, scratching himself. "Go home now? Hulk get bath?" After fight with stinky goats, Tony fixed bath place in gym. Now Hulk can wash there too. Hulk wants his rubber duckie and sunshine soap.
Birdie twists around and sniffs at Hulk. "Yeah, you've got blood and feathers all over you, yuck! Definitely time for a bath."
They go to find team. Red is limping. Hulk picks her up. She smacks him on shoulder. "Put me down!" she says.
"No hitting," Hulk says. "Red hurt, Hulk carry."
Red grumbles at him but stops hitting.
"Play nice, get story," Hulk says. He puts Red on seat of team car. "Would you? Could you? In a car?"
Red just frowns at Hulk. He thinks she does not know funny story about green eggs.
Agent closes doors. Inside, Agent turns into Uncle Phil. Change is quiet, not loud like Bruce-and-Hulk, but Hulk knows.
"I am Sam. Sam I am," Agent says in perky voice.
Hulk fingers tap on own leg. One-two-three. Happy-happy-happy.
* * *
Notes:
Trying new things is an important part of life with many benefits. Aim to keep an open mind. It's natural for toddlers to explore, but some are adventurous while others are cautious. Despite Hulk's skittish nature with people, he's open to trying new things. Bruce is more reserved, which is kind of odd for a scientist -- but remember how much trouble his curiosity has caused him. There are tips on helping kids overcome fears and try new foods.
Arguing happens a lot, but is often a waste of time. Understand how to defuse an argument. Sibling rivalry poses special problems. Know how to stop fighting with your sibling and how to stop your children from fighting.
Unhappy families have some common problems. While the household situation is greatly improved, Bruce-and-Hulk are still pretty stressed on the inside. There are building blocks for creating a happy family. Learn how to handle unresolved conflicts in your family.
Patience is a virtue, and it takes practice to develop. This is one area where Bruce is ahead of Hulk.
Young children often need help to figure out the "magic words" of etiquette. Presumably Bruce-and-Hulk didn't get much of this growing up. Hulk seems to be picking it up by osmosis now.
Hulk has a very strong protective instinct. He and Bruce are a tangled sprawl across family tropes such as Big Brother Instinct, Big Brother Bully, and Promotion to Parent. One of the bizarre things about their relationship is that they take turns with all that stuff, because they are kind and cruel, responsible and irresponsible, in different areas. It's not as simple as Bruce being the guy who has to keep Hulk contained.
Touching people without consent -- especially picking them up -- can cause problems. Hulk does not understand yet why Red would find this threatening. There's a lot she hasn't told Bruce-and-Hulk, or anyone else, about her past. Phil and Clint know enough to understand this part, and Bucky was there for some of it, but that's about it. Plus which, Hulk's sense of appropriate boundaries is skewed because he has so little experience with anyone respecting his.
~ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ~
Re: Oh, Nat!
Date: 2014-02-19 06:34 pm (UTC)I just loved this line! <<
Yay!
>> She's gotten much better from being terrified of Hulk. <<
She really has -- enough that her response to being lifted off her feet without warning is one of outrage, not panic and berserk reflexes.
>> Such a great change from Bruce can't play, he gets angry and hits people to HULK reminding Black Widow that she can't hit teammates. :D <<
Sooth. She forgets things like that sometimes.
Hulk has impressive moral agility. Once he found himself in a situation where someone would define rules clearly, and enforce them equally for everyone, he had no trouble following along. For Hulk this is a big improvement over other people mistreating him and then complaining when he hits back.
>> I would grumble too, Natasha, but Hulk will take care of you! <<
Hulk really does need to learn how to ask first before manipulating someone else's body, but in his defense, the Avengers in general are still patchy about this. There have been times when somebody wasn't awake to be asked and people had to extrapolate from prior permissions, or when somebody was picked up and didn't protest. I think Steve and Bucky are pretty good about asking first, but they have more practice.
>> (Hugs Nat then runs) ;) <<
As long as Hulk still has ahold of her, you might survive that maneuver. ;)
Re: Oh, Nat!
Date: 2014-02-19 07:55 pm (UTC)Hulk just treated Red like he wants people to treat him and Bruce. "Bruce is hurt, keep Bruce safe." That seems like a fantastic addition to his protective services. First, Tony and now Natasha, who started the relationship by threatening Bruce? Yes, Hulk learns fast! Genius emotional intelligence, indeed! :)
Yes, since I would hug Hulk at the same time, I thought it might be a survivable maneuver. ;) "Bad guys steal HUGS, Red!?! Steal back!"
Re: Oh, Nat!
Date: 2014-02-19 08:13 pm (UTC)It is exactly that.
>> Phil had just asked "What can I do for you, Hulk?" That wouldn't mean to most people drop on me like a stone, <<
*chuckle* It was what he needed. Besides, Hulk doesn't always understand how big and heavy he is. He kind of has this mental double-vision with part of him thinking in toddler mode (and thus smaller) but part of him thinking "Hulk is strongest!" Notice that Hulk and the other Avengers quickly learned to adapt so that Hulk now turns to Captain America or Iron Man when he's ready to change.
>> but Hulk knew Uncle Phil would take care of him and Bruce, and again, Hulk, never had his boundaries respected, therefore doesn't know anyone else has any either. <<
True. At least now Hulk is copying from decent people.
>> Hulk just treated Red like he wants people to treat him and Bruce. "Bruce is hurt, keep Bruce safe." <<
Yes, exactly. It's a step in the right direction. It also illustrates one of the weaknesses of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," because sometimes people want or need different things.
>> That seems like a fantastic addition to his protective services. First, Tony and now Natasha, who started the relationship by threatening Bruce? Yes, Hulk learns fast! Genius emotional intelligence, indeed! :) <<
Sooth. He can forgive, and make friends.
More subtly, it illustrates Hulk's changing threat-response, in that if someone stops threatening him and Bruce, then Hulk can stop treating them as a threat. He can gauge that Natasha smacking him on the shoulder is no more of a threat to him than a toddler kicking an adult on the shin. And he responds exactly the same way!
>> Yes, since I would hug Hulk at the same time, I thought it might be a survivable maneuver. ;) <<
Good idea.
>> "Bad guys steal HUGS, Red!?! Steal back!" <<
Hulk certainly figured out the core concept of game night quickly: to take back what was taken away.