Story: "Hairpins" Part 23
Apr. 11th, 2014 12:13 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, 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, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22. Skip to Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28.
WARNING: Phil suspects that something else is bothering JARVIS, and coaxes him into talking about that unpleasant incident as well. That time in Malibu is harsh in the telling. Think about your mental state before clicking through.
"Hairpins" Part 23
The agitation in his voice made Phil worry more. "JARVIS, is there something else eating at you besides that particular incident?"
"... yes," JARVIS said. "You would not like to hear of it, though, as there is little that can be done beyond our subsequent precautions. The information may prove damaging to a relationship you value. I do not wish to cause distress for no good purpose."
What relationship? Phil wondered desperately. Did one of the other Avengers do something wrong? No, that doesn't make any sense. Tony would know about it, and whoever was at fault, he'd kick them to the curb. Well, maybe not, but he would at least make a scene and demand restitution. Phil rubbed one thumb over the other, lost in thought. Whatever it is, I can't let this slide.
"I appreciate the warning," Phil said. "You're my friend, though, and part of the Avengers. If someone hurt you, then I need to know about that, especially if they might try again. As for my relationship ..." Phil made an unhappy noise. "JARVIS, if somebody's attacking my friends, that relationship is already damaged, I just don't know about it yet. I'd rather find out before it collapses under me in a crisis." He did his best to prepare himself for the bad news.
"After Afghanistan, after Stane, sir and I were still in the process of making the upgrades from the most recent assault when we were compromised again," said JARVIS. "Director Fury broke into the Malibu mansion to confront sir with some information. He used nothing like your finesse -- melted down part of the outer security, including the new locks, shorted out the speaker system to shut me up, not to mention inputting a thoroughly obnoxious virus -- it took us days to repair all the damage, afterwards."
It was HIM? Phil thought. The information hit Phil like a punch in the gut. Even with a warning, it knocked the wind out of him. He had expected a mutual acquaintance, but not from that angle. What the HELL were you thinking, Nick?
Phil had to stop and focus on his breathing for a bit. He had known, of course, that Director Fury made contact with Tony several times on various matters of business. What he had not known was precisely how. Suddenly a number of things became clearer, and that made Phil uneasy. This wasn't the first time that something questionable had come to light. It was difficult for Phil to connect stories like this with his own memories of courage under fire.
Did Fury even know that JARVIS is a person? Phil wondered. No, probably not. He has nowhere near my level of computer skill, Tony would never have told him, and JARVIS hides as well as a spy himself. Besides, I can't imagine that it would have stopped Fury from doing whatever he felt necessary. He's too goal-oriented to let that dissuade him. That hurt all the more, knowing the something which made such a difference to Phil would not to Fury. The Director could be just as callous to people he knew. Phil wrapped his arms around himself, trying to soothe an ache that had no physical cause.
* * *
Notes:
Emotional expression affects voice tone as well as body language, reflected in speech emotion analysis. However, the exact tonal cues are difficult to pin down, as are the emotional states conveyed in speech. Some researchers have tried mapping emotions into three-dimensional space to show relationships in how they effect the sound of a voice. Yet our language shows many words to describe voice tone and feelings. This is a concern in artificial intelligence, where showing emotion could improve user interaction. So it's impressive that JARVIS can pack so much feeling into what he says, when he has to synthesize it all from scratch with different equipment than humans use -- and he has to extrapolate what to do by listening to people, because the technical descriptions are minimal as yet.
As a master spy, Phil is also adept at discerning emotion in people's speech. There are ways to know if a friend is upset. Advice differs for getting a girl or a boy to talk about what's bothering them.
Abuse is often kept secret, but doing so can cause problems. Wanting to protect someone is a common reason, as is feeling that there is little or nothing to be done about the offense, both of which JARVIS touches on. Think about how to distinguish between safe and unsafe secrets. JARVIS is a security system and thus has a lot of experience deciding what to tell or not to tell. But Tony is a lousy example, particularly regarding his own health and demanding that JARVIS keep secrets that were hurtful to keep. JARVIS did so, because he valued their relationship above his own comfort, but it still put him in an awful position. Despite that damage, JARVIS is functional enough to talk about difficult issues now that he's found someone trustworthy.
Sometimes friends do bad things. On the one hand, you want to remember the good they've done. There are terrible impulses in everyone. On the other, it's hard to respond in a loving way. This is especially true if a respected coworker asks you to do something unethical. Phil has to deal with the fact that Fury, whom he likes and admires, has not only done yet another reprehensible thing but wouldn't even care anymore. That's all the more jarring after Phil's recent revelations. There are steps to take when a friend hurts you. It can be worse when your friend hurts other people. What Phil feels is related to the experience of friends and family of child molesters.
Bad friends distinguish themselves in various ways. They may give you awful advice or leave you covering their tracks. They may be pushy, cruel, or untrustworthy. Know how to identify bad friends, along with when and how to end a friendship. There are ways to discourage someone from hanging with the wrong crowd.
Disappointment is a feeling of letdown when circumstances don't meet expectations. Understand the steps for dealing with disappointment and with people who disappoint you. Phil is upset by Fury's behavior -- remember, Phil looks to Steve as his moral compass, and that's a big gap. Of course, Fury's spy skills differ from Phil's to begin with, hence their respective methods of breaking into Tony's territory.
[To be continued in Part 24 ...]
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, 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, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22. Skip to Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28.
WARNING: Phil suspects that something else is bothering JARVIS, and coaxes him into talking about that unpleasant incident as well. That time in Malibu is harsh in the telling. Think about your mental state before clicking through.
"Hairpins" Part 23
The agitation in his voice made Phil worry more. "JARVIS, is there something else eating at you besides that particular incident?"
"... yes," JARVIS said. "You would not like to hear of it, though, as there is little that can be done beyond our subsequent precautions. The information may prove damaging to a relationship you value. I do not wish to cause distress for no good purpose."
What relationship? Phil wondered desperately. Did one of the other Avengers do something wrong? No, that doesn't make any sense. Tony would know about it, and whoever was at fault, he'd kick them to the curb. Well, maybe not, but he would at least make a scene and demand restitution. Phil rubbed one thumb over the other, lost in thought. Whatever it is, I can't let this slide.
"I appreciate the warning," Phil said. "You're my friend, though, and part of the Avengers. If someone hurt you, then I need to know about that, especially if they might try again. As for my relationship ..." Phil made an unhappy noise. "JARVIS, if somebody's attacking my friends, that relationship is already damaged, I just don't know about it yet. I'd rather find out before it collapses under me in a crisis." He did his best to prepare himself for the bad news.
"After Afghanistan, after Stane, sir and I were still in the process of making the upgrades from the most recent assault when we were compromised again," said JARVIS. "Director Fury broke into the Malibu mansion to confront sir with some information. He used nothing like your finesse -- melted down part of the outer security, including the new locks, shorted out the speaker system to shut me up, not to mention inputting a thoroughly obnoxious virus -- it took us days to repair all the damage, afterwards."
It was HIM? Phil thought. The information hit Phil like a punch in the gut. Even with a warning, it knocked the wind out of him. He had expected a mutual acquaintance, but not from that angle. What the HELL were you thinking, Nick?
Phil had to stop and focus on his breathing for a bit. He had known, of course, that Director Fury made contact with Tony several times on various matters of business. What he had not known was precisely how. Suddenly a number of things became clearer, and that made Phil uneasy. This wasn't the first time that something questionable had come to light. It was difficult for Phil to connect stories like this with his own memories of courage under fire.
Did Fury even know that JARVIS is a person? Phil wondered. No, probably not. He has nowhere near my level of computer skill, Tony would never have told him, and JARVIS hides as well as a spy himself. Besides, I can't imagine that it would have stopped Fury from doing whatever he felt necessary. He's too goal-oriented to let that dissuade him. That hurt all the more, knowing the something which made such a difference to Phil would not to Fury. The Director could be just as callous to people he knew. Phil wrapped his arms around himself, trying to soothe an ache that had no physical cause.
* * *
Notes:
Emotional expression affects voice tone as well as body language, reflected in speech emotion analysis. However, the exact tonal cues are difficult to pin down, as are the emotional states conveyed in speech. Some researchers have tried mapping emotions into three-dimensional space to show relationships in how they effect the sound of a voice. Yet our language shows many words to describe voice tone and feelings. This is a concern in artificial intelligence, where showing emotion could improve user interaction. So it's impressive that JARVIS can pack so much feeling into what he says, when he has to synthesize it all from scratch with different equipment than humans use -- and he has to extrapolate what to do by listening to people, because the technical descriptions are minimal as yet.
As a master spy, Phil is also adept at discerning emotion in people's speech. There are ways to know if a friend is upset. Advice differs for getting a girl or a boy to talk about what's bothering them.
Abuse is often kept secret, but doing so can cause problems. Wanting to protect someone is a common reason, as is feeling that there is little or nothing to be done about the offense, both of which JARVIS touches on. Think about how to distinguish between safe and unsafe secrets. JARVIS is a security system and thus has a lot of experience deciding what to tell or not to tell. But Tony is a lousy example, particularly regarding his own health and demanding that JARVIS keep secrets that were hurtful to keep. JARVIS did so, because he valued their relationship above his own comfort, but it still put him in an awful position. Despite that damage, JARVIS is functional enough to talk about difficult issues now that he's found someone trustworthy.
Sometimes friends do bad things. On the one hand, you want to remember the good they've done. There are terrible impulses in everyone. On the other, it's hard to respond in a loving way. This is especially true if a respected coworker asks you to do something unethical. Phil has to deal with the fact that Fury, whom he likes and admires, has not only done yet another reprehensible thing but wouldn't even care anymore. That's all the more jarring after Phil's recent revelations. There are steps to take when a friend hurts you. It can be worse when your friend hurts other people. What Phil feels is related to the experience of friends and family of child molesters.
Bad friends distinguish themselves in various ways. They may give you awful advice or leave you covering their tracks. They may be pushy, cruel, or untrustworthy. Know how to identify bad friends, along with when and how to end a friendship. There are ways to discourage someone from hanging with the wrong crowd.
Disappointment is a feeling of letdown when circumstances don't meet expectations. Understand the steps for dealing with disappointment and with people who disappoint you. Phil is upset by Fury's behavior -- remember, Phil looks to Steve as his moral compass, and that's a big gap. Of course, Fury's spy skills differ from Phil's to begin with, hence their respective methods of breaking into Tony's territory.
[To be continued in Part 24 ...]
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-11 11:59 pm (UTC)Jessica
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-12 01:56 am (UTC)Yes, that means they were experimenting on him. Yes, that means forced EXPERIMENTAL treatment without consent.
Worse, they can't really PREDICT any possible side effects. There just isn't any data to work from.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-14 03:19 pm (UTC)Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-14 04:38 pm (UTC)Don't forget that Natasha was a child raised by the Red Room, which used all kinds of drugs on the children without their knowledge or consent.
There's an entire subplot for "why Phil's not dead" in Agents of Shield that touches on the same kinds of violation.
Really, the only exceptions I can think of are Pepper, not part of the team, Thor, and Clint-- but he's on that side of the equation because movie MCU does not show him with the hearing aids. Nick Fury arranging to have cochlear implants put IN the next time Clint is also under general anesthetic is something I can really, really picture him doing to "improve reliability in the field" or other bull.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-14 05:29 pm (UTC)And Thor was part of Odin's sociology hack. Paging Doctor Skinner.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-14 07:56 pm (UTC)They aren't that good, but useful for inspiration in some regards.
>> And Thor was part of Odin's sociology hack. Paging Doctor Skinner. <<
0_o
Odin's idea of sociology is the kind of thing that ends with a jar full of bent horseshoe nails under the master's bedroom floorboards.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-15 02:15 am (UTC)Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-16 03:57 am (UTC)That matches what I remember. I suspect that Ross was half "let's see what this shit really does" and half "that little pansy is not good enough for my daughter, this ought to get him out of the way for good." Oh, the fail.
>> Thanks for getting the 'almost remember' mental itch going; I'll check into it with both versions. <<
Glad I could help.
>> Don't forget that Natasha was a child raised by the Red Room, which used all kinds of drugs on the children without their knowledge or consent. <<
Yeah, and when Tony eventually loses his shit over what she and Fury did to him, that's going to knock her on her ass.
>> There's an entire subplot for "why Phil's not dead" in Agents of Shield that touches on the same kinds of violation. <<
I've heard about that, although I haven't seen the show.
>> Really, the only exceptions I can think of are Pepper, not part of the team, Thor, and <<
Agreed.
>> Clint-- but he's on that side of the equation because movie MCU does not show him with the hearing aids. <<
I tend to think of Clint in this series as having weak ears, but still able to hear. It doesn't take a lot to put them out of commission for a while, though.
>> Nick Fury arranging to have cochlear implants put IN the next time Clint is also under general anesthetic is something I can really, really picture him doing to "improve reliability in the field" or other bull. <<
Totally in character for Fury. And SHIELD would not even see Clint's tail disappearing into the bush. He would just be gone into some safehouse that nobody knew where it was, leaving Fury to explain to the Avengers why they were permanently minus one archer.
I'm not sure who'd manage to punch Fury in the face first.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-16 04:18 am (UTC)Me.
Well, in my fantasy-deluded mental landscape. But I would in no way be able to resist the urge!
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-17 08:33 am (UTC)With my current body, I'd ask Steve to champion, because he hits harder than I could.
But given a better mount, hell yeah I'd bust Fury in the face. And then in the xyphoid process for good measure.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-17 05:09 pm (UTC)Tsk.
If I managed to land a hit on Nicky, ME, less than five-foot-five in heels, Cerebral Palsy, so nearsighted that MOLES send me pity cards, and more... Yeah, that'd do some serious damage to Nicky's over-inflated EGO.
Back in my early twenties, I learned how to throw ONE punch. I figured that's all I'll ever have time to get in, so I'd best make it flippin' COUNT.
Sadly, since it would probably take Steve HOLDING Fury still for me to land said punch,I just can't REALLY imagine doing so. Daydreaming means catching Nicky by surprise and landing the hit before he's finished taking a breath, which is about as likely as...
Nick apologizing to Tony for holding on to Howard's stuff. Sincerely.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-17 10:31 pm (UTC)Well, yeah. That one would work even at my current size -- which is, ironically, identical to pre-Serum Steve. The difference is that I'm far more ruthless than he ever was. I got picked on, but it was limited by the fact that I was nobody's easy meat.
As Miles Vorkosigan puts it, "If you can't be seven feet tall, be seven feet smart."
>> If I managed to land a hit on Nicky, ME, less than five-foot-five in heels, Cerebral Palsy, so nearsighted that MOLES send me pity cards, and more... Yeah, that'd do some serious damage to Nicky's over-inflated EGO. <<
Yeah, he'd never live that down.
>> Back in my early twenties, I learned how to throw ONE punch. I figured that's all I'll ever have time to get in, so I'd best make it flippin' COUNT. <<
Much my strategy as well. You only need one, if you can put your opponent on the ground.
>> Sadly, since it would probably take Steve HOLDING Fury still for me to land said punch,I just can't REALLY imagine doing so. Daydreaming means catching Nicky by surprise and landing the hit before he's finished taking a breath, which is about as likely as... <<
Well, Steve might not go that far, but Tony sure would -- and he's a blacksmith, so Fury's not getting out of that.
>> Nick apologizing to Tony for holding on to Howard's stuff. Sincerely. <<
Heh. Too true.
Of course, both of us have an ulterior option: "JARVIS, Director Fury is being mean. Please help us get him back."
Next thing you know, Fury is falling asleep on his feet and nursing the headache from hell, because his coffee "somehow" got switched to decaf ...
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-04-20 01:35 am (UTC)why stop there?
Date: 2016-11-08 12:51 am (UTC)And maybe add a bit of polonium, for "flavor"?
Re: why stop there?
Date: 2016-11-08 02:44 am (UTC)I have, however, taken note of various retributions by JARVIS and other folks outraged by his actions. Fury has become one of my favorite squeaky toys, along with Officer RAT. *stomp* *eeeEEEEEeee* :D
Re: why stop there?
Date: 2016-11-08 03:48 am (UTC)Fair point.
>> nobody wins a blurting contest with an irate bard <<
*cackle* ... now *that* stirs up some interesting memories/anecdotes!
Good point about "the devil we know". Doggone it. Sometimes my brain just wants a simple, straightforward solution. Why do things have to be so complicated? Oh yeah, 'cause this is real life. Right.
Hmmm... I wonder if I have enough MCU / movie canon to filk the Echo's Children song "Bested", in a way that fits Director Fury.
*wanders off to ponder lyrics*
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-05-05 04:04 am (UTC)Disturbingly common.
>> Steve was as informed as perhaps the time period allowed (apple, he eats the apple), <<
I got the impression that Dr. Erskine did his level best to inform Steve as much as possible, and Steve just kept saying, "You can do anything you want to me." Steve probably didn't realize that it was a rather creepy thing to do to the good doctor.
>> but Bruce was stressed and violated human trials on his own self. <<
That's one version, another being that General Ross tampered with the process. In the earlier movie, David Banner certainly used himself as a test subject in inadvisable ways.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-05-05 12:58 am (UTC)That's what I figured.
>> Yes, that means they were experimenting on him. Yes, that means forced EXPERIMENTAL treatment without consent. <<
You can imagine how well that's going to go over with Tony's friends if they ever find out. Especially Bruce-and-Hulk.
>> Worse, they can't really PREDICT any possible side effects. There just isn't any data to work from. <<
If they ran animal tests first, they might detect side effects that way. But it's still a huge risk, more likely to go wrong than right, even with superhero physics in play; frex, look at the scattershot effect of the super-soldier serum.
The first thing I thought of was the lithium, which is used in some psychoactive medications but also in batteries. Not really what I'd call a safe thing for someone who is already neurovariant and a cyborg.
Re: thinking
Date: 2014-05-05 12:55 am (UTC)Always wrong. Also they cannot possibly have a complete medical history for Tony, because only two people know that: him and JARVIS. This is pretty obvious from his vehement evasion of doctors and his general paranoia about information getting loose. It's not really plausible that they could have gotten direct information about Tony's condition, but especially with some of Howard's notes in hand, they knew enough about Tony's work to make lucky guesses.
>> but also withholding treatment until it would get him an advantage. I mean, it's highly unlikely SHIELD had just developed a treatment for palladium poisoning the day before Natasha injected Tony. And if they did, then they were experimenting on him, which is also very wrong. <<
My guess is that they developed it, hopefully did some very brief animal testing, and then pounced on Tony. There would not have been time for the kind of rigorous testing that human trials actually require, but SHIELD doesn't care about that. It should still have been Tony's decision. It's very telling that SHIELD views humans as property, as experimental subjects. Not really the kind of folks you want to have in power.