>> One thing I loved about this story, which has come up in others as well, is the fluid dynamics between characters. Phil comforts JARVIS, JARVIS reassures Phil, Tony, even when little, takes care of Bruce... <<
Yes, that's a key feature of this series. Healthy families trade off like that.
>> I love that there is no strict hierarchy, no fixed rules/roles of who takes care of who, who has power and who is vulnerable. <<
This came up explicitly in "Hide and Seek" too. In an abusive relationship, power only goes one way. In a healthy relationship, it flows back and forth. You earn the right to push someone's boundaries, challenge their poor decisions, or fall apart in front of them by allowing them to do the same to you. Different people will set the thresholds in different places, but it's the reciprocity that matters.
So in this story, Phil and JARVIS are very delicately feeling their way through the process of connection, to figure out how comfortable they feel exchanging more layers of trust and intimacy.
>> It shifts from moment to moment in a beautiful way. I know Turnabout dealt with this as well, in a full role reversal, but I liked this time even more. Lots of little moments of that feeling that everyone is both leaning on and supporting everyone else. <<
I'm glad you enjoyed this so much! I had fun writing it. I like the little details like that.
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dancing_serpent
Thank you!
Date: 2014-04-30 07:13 am (UTC)Awww!
>> One thing I loved about this story, which has come up in others as well, is the fluid dynamics between characters. Phil comforts JARVIS, JARVIS reassures Phil, Tony, even when little, takes care of Bruce... <<
Yes, that's a key feature of this series. Healthy families trade off like that.
>> I love that there is no strict hierarchy, no fixed rules/roles of who takes care of who, who has power and who is vulnerable. <<
This came up explicitly in "Hide and Seek" too. In an abusive relationship, power only goes one way. In a healthy relationship, it flows back and forth. You earn the right to push someone's boundaries, challenge their poor decisions, or fall apart in front of them by allowing them to do the same to you. Different people will set the thresholds in different places, but it's the reciprocity that matters.
So in this story, Phil and JARVIS are very delicately feeling their way through the process of connection, to figure out how comfortable they feel exchanging more layers of trust and intimacy.
>> It shifts from moment to moment in a beautiful way. I know Turnabout dealt with this as well, in a full role reversal, but I liked this time even more. Lots of little moments of that feeling that everyone is both leaning on and supporting everyone else. <<
I'm glad you enjoyed this so much! I had fun writing it. I like the little details like that.