>> Phil and Jarvis are working * together * now, fully equal and bringing their A game to --
picking out a pair of jammies. <<
*laugh* Yes, it's ironic for them to start with something so prosaic, and yet the symbolism is really important. These jammmies both need and deserve the A game.
>> I can definitely see Tony casually mentioning, "Hey, my tailor's exclusive, you guys will keep him from being bored," rather than the more practical, and personal, reasons that some of the others would have to actually seek out a tailor. <<
Yes, that's true. But especially this early, it's going to sound like Tony trying to buy affection or just being profligate with money. That's uncomfortable for Clint (who is already traumatized and barely functional), panic-inducing for Bruce (who is barely managing to stay instead of fleeing), and disgusting to Steve (who hates conspicuous consumption and doesn't think he needs special stuff). It's hard for them to parse it as Tony taking care of them. The more they resist, the more things he throws at them in desperation hoping something will work -- and that's probably a key reason why they wound up hiding from each other.
>> Black Widow has some pretty specific needs for her range of movement, Steve and Thor both make off-the-rack look like straitjackets, for example. <<
Yes, that's true. *ponder* I would bet that Natasha is still using whomever Pepper told Natalie about, because they were obviously girltalking. At this stage, Steve is a long way from being ready to shop sensibly.
>> Tony wouldn't see how someone could be uncomfortable with THINGS instead of WORDS-- think about how much of his past experiences involve the other person throwing presents or hobbies at him instead of actually TALKING with him. <<
Yes, exactly. To Tony, things are Safe. Things can't hurt you unless you hurt yourself with them or somebody else uses them against you. They won't yell at you. To Bruce, Steve, and Clint things are argument starters or unreliable variables. You use what you have, but you don't necessarily trust it. Bruce is just frigging indifferent, look at the way he treats his glasses, his clothes, he built lab equipment out of junk and didn't care. He has allll the attachment problems. But at least Lab Is Safe to him, as much as anything can be. Clint feels safe up high, probably doesn't trust anything but his bow and maybe a few other personal weapons. Steve is used to not having things or else they break because they can't stand up to him. Then he feels like crap. So they often balk when Tony want to give them things, which hurts Tony a lot more than he admits, which makes him want to try giving them something different because he's desperate for these people to like him, and by the end of the week they're all hiding in their rooms.
>> It's completely plausible that he has to stop and parse out the differences between why Bruce, Steve and Clint each seem to just pick whatever's handy instead of going for a more personalized (often of necessity, also tailored) wardrobe. <<
That takes a lot of time. You can see it unfolding through the series.
>> "They grew up with way less money than I did," is barely the tip of that particular iceberg. <<
Painfully true.
>> Despite the small details of the scene, and its brevity, I feel the dynamic between Phil and Jarvis is much easier, much more solid on both sides. <<
Yay! I'm glad it worked. You'll get to see more of this as they play out the selection.
>> Phil is definitely more relaxed and has dealt with most of the worry about Jarvis, and Phil's own lingering guilt and shame. <<
Yes. Phil is relatively tranquil by nature. It takes a fair bit to rattle him, and he returns to center quickly most of the time. He's like Steve, that way.
>> It also seems like the story is getting ready to wrap, sadly. <<
I think there are three chapters left after this one.
>> The only thing that keeps that idea from being TERRIBLE, is, of course, that as soon as it ends, I can click the first chapter and re-read straight THROUGH. <<
Hee! And of course, there will be more goodies to follow.
>> Thanks for posting this. Next chapter on Wednesday? <<
Re: Another key point, though subtle
Thank you!
>> Phil and Jarvis are working * together * now, fully equal and bringing their A game to --
picking out a pair of jammies. <<
*laugh* Yes, it's ironic for them to start with something so prosaic, and yet the symbolism is really important. These jammmies both need and deserve the A game.
>> I can definitely see Tony casually mentioning, "Hey, my tailor's exclusive, you guys will keep him from being bored," rather than the more practical, and personal, reasons that some of the others would have to actually seek out a tailor. <<
Yes, that's true. But especially this early, it's going to sound like Tony trying to buy affection or just being profligate with money. That's uncomfortable for Clint (who is already traumatized and barely functional), panic-inducing for Bruce (who is barely managing to stay instead of fleeing), and disgusting to Steve (who hates conspicuous consumption and doesn't think he needs special stuff). It's hard for them to parse it as Tony taking care of them. The more they resist, the more things he throws at them in desperation hoping something will work -- and that's probably a key reason why they wound up hiding from each other.
>> Black Widow has some pretty specific needs for her range of movement, Steve and Thor both make off-the-rack look like straitjackets, for example. <<
Yes, that's true. *ponder* I would bet that Natasha is still using whomever Pepper told Natalie about, because they were obviously girltalking. At this stage, Steve is a long way from being ready to shop sensibly.
>> Tony wouldn't see how someone could be uncomfortable with THINGS instead of WORDS-- think about how much of his past experiences involve the other person throwing presents or hobbies at him instead of actually TALKING with him. <<
Yes, exactly. To Tony, things are Safe. Things can't hurt you unless you hurt yourself with them or somebody else uses them against you. They won't yell at you. To Bruce, Steve, and Clint things are argument starters or unreliable variables. You use what you have, but you don't necessarily trust it. Bruce is just frigging indifferent, look at the way he treats his glasses, his clothes, he built lab equipment out of junk and didn't care. He has allll the attachment problems. But at least Lab Is Safe to him, as much as anything can be. Clint feels safe up high, probably doesn't trust anything but his bow and maybe a few other personal weapons. Steve is used to not having things or else they break because they can't stand up to him. Then he feels like crap. So they often balk when Tony want to give them things, which hurts Tony a lot more than he admits, which makes him want to try giving them something different because he's desperate for these people to like him, and by the end of the week they're all hiding in their rooms.
>> It's completely plausible that he has to stop and parse out the differences between why Bruce, Steve and Clint each seem to just pick whatever's handy instead of going for a more personalized (often of necessity, also tailored) wardrobe. <<
That takes a lot of time. You can see it unfolding through the series.
>> "They grew up with way less money than I did," is barely the tip of that particular iceberg. <<
Painfully true.
>> Despite the small details of the scene, and its brevity, I feel the dynamic between Phil and Jarvis is much easier, much more solid on both sides. <<
Yay! I'm glad it worked. You'll get to see more of this as they play out the selection.
>> Phil is definitely more relaxed and has dealt with most of the worry about Jarvis, and Phil's own lingering guilt and shame. <<
Yes. Phil is relatively tranquil by nature. It takes a fair bit to rattle him, and he returns to center quickly most of the time. He's like Steve, that way.
>> It also seems like the story is getting ready to wrap, sadly. <<
I think there are three chapters left after this one.
>> The only thing that keeps that idea from being TERRIBLE, is, of course, that as soon as it ends, I can click the first chapter and re-read straight THROUGH. <<
Hee! And of course, there will be more goodies to follow.
>> Thanks for posting this. Next chapter on Wednesday? <<
You're welcome. Yes, Wednesday is the plan.