>> LOL. Really, I was picturing almost exactly this scenario for this portion: <<
Well, we have been on the same wavelength for months. I'm pretty sure I remembered to tell you it was likely.
>> Phil doesn't quite have the /experience/ he needs, and this is the first time he's re-framed his 'people skills' as having the equivalent of "weapon of mass destruction" capabilities. <<
Sooth. That can be disconcerting when you realized you've been waving it around.
>> But the other thing I'd imagined was a definite, tangible apology element. <<
It's something almost never shown in canon, except for Tony's pathetic, earnest, hopelessly inept floundering with Pepper. Who is not moved by it. I'd like to see more of people making an honest effort to fix their mistakes -- even if, like here, it doesn't work out.
>> Phil is quite possibly overreaching, but who knows what skills he's ready to take on at fifteen or sixteen better than he does? I love that he's /trying/ so hard. <<
1) Phil has a pretty good grasp of his own abilities. If he finds the material too challenging for his current capacity, he'll set it aside to revisit later.
2) There really are teen crisis lines staffed by teenagers, so young people will have someone to talk with who understands them. Can you imagine a better person for that job than Phil? What, if any, skills is he missing that another teen might plausibly have?
Re: Are you reading my mind?
Well, we have been on the same wavelength for months. I'm pretty sure I remembered to tell you it was likely.
>> Phil doesn't quite have the /experience/ he needs, and this is the first time he's re-framed his 'people skills' as having the equivalent of "weapon of mass destruction" capabilities. <<
Sooth. That can be disconcerting when you realized you've been waving it around.
>> But the other thing I'd imagined was a definite, tangible apology element. <<
It's something almost never shown in canon, except for Tony's pathetic, earnest, hopelessly inept floundering with Pepper. Who is not moved by it. I'd like to see more of people making an honest effort to fix their mistakes -- even if, like here, it doesn't work out.
>> Phil is quite possibly overreaching, but who knows what skills he's ready to take on at fifteen or sixteen better than he does? I love that he's /trying/ so hard. <<
1) Phil has a pretty good grasp of his own abilities. If he finds the material too challenging for his current capacity, he'll set it aside to revisit later.
2) There really are teen crisis lines staffed by teenagers, so young people will have someone to talk with who understands them. Can you imagine a better person for that job than Phil? What, if any, skills is he missing that another teen might plausibly have?