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: 2014-04-20 01:35 am (UTC)