Story: "Happy Hour" Part 5
Jan. 15th, 2014 02:06 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," "Turnabout Is Fair Play," and "Touching Moments," "Splash," "Coming Around," "Birthday Girl," "No Winter Lasts Forever," "Hide and Seek," and "Kernel Error."
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Happy Hogan, Tony Stark, JARVIS.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Workplace violence, cross-class tension, problem drinking, false friends, misunderstandings, hangover, Happy!whump, Tony!whump.
Summary: Tony rescues Happy from an abusive employer. Happy rescues Tony from himself. But of course it's never really that simple ...
Notes: Angst. Hurt/Comfort. Fear of loss. Friendship. Confusion. Caregiving. Artificial intelligence. Communication. Feels. Tony Stark Has a Heart.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Skip to Part 5, Part 8, Part 9.
"Happy Hour" Part 5
"Bed," Mr. Stark said with a vague wave that might have been intended as direction but was entirely unhelpful.
"This way, sir," said the voice, and hall lighting turned on by itself.
Happy took a tentative step in that direction, and another light turned on farther down the hall. All right, fine, that was a little weird but he could work with it. Happy followed the lights to a door that opened on a luxurious bedroom. He lowered Mr. Stark onto the bed, arranging him on his side. The fancy clothes bunched around his body. That didn't look very comfortable. Happy frowned.
No doubt the man would throw a fit if he woke up without his clothes. Happy compromised by unbuttoning the cuffs and collar of the costly tailored shirt, and after a moment's hesitation, the trousers as well. Then he pulled off the shoes and set them beside the bed.
"He's going to want aspirin in the morning," Happy muttered, still uncomfortably stuck between 'friend' and 'servant' modes.
The room light dimmed, leaving a bright crack of light showing beneath another door. Curious, Happy opened the door and found the bathroom. From there it was easy to locate the bottle of aspirin, then fill one of the crystal glasses and pop the matching cover on it. He left those on the nightstand beside the bed.
Then Happy noticed the bathroom light was still on. He went to turn it off, only to have a spotlight hit the louvered door of the linen closet. Obligingly he opened that door too -- and smiled when he saw the spare blankets. Happy picked one up and draped it over Mr. Stark.
A touch on his face startled him. "What --?"
"Ashhole," Mr. Stark said, tracing the bruise at the corner of Happy's mouth. The touch was overly familiar, but it felt concerned rather than lascivious. Happy had forgotten about getting hit earlier. "Doesh'n desherve you."
"As you say, sir," Happy said. Rich people tended to stay amiable as long as you agreed with whatever they said.
"Shtay," Mr. Stark said. He let his hand drop, but the brown eyes gleamed as they watched for Happy's reaction. "Hire you inna morning."
Happy felt a pang of temptation. He knew better than to put any faith in drunken promises, though. "I need to return the car," he said gently as he pulled away.
Mr. Stark rolled over then, turning his back on Happy. The chauffeur heaved a sigh of relief at this clear dismissal. He let himself out of the house, closing all the doors carefully behind him even though he couldn't lock any of them. Then he drove the limousine back to its parking spot.
Happy went home, of course. He wasn't stupid. He knew that Mr. Stark couldn't possibly have offered him a job for real. Things like that just didn't happen, even if Mr. Stark had rescued him from an abusive employer, even if Happy had later driven him home and more-or-less tucked him into bed. The man needed someone to make sure he got home safely.
This wasn't a fairy tale. Happy knew better. Really he did.
* * *
Notes:
Happy knows how to anticipate and treat a hangover. Rest, water, and painkillers top the recommended care list. Also it's inadvisable to leave a drunken person alone, but Happy already feels self-conscious about how far he's stepped outside the formal boundaries of their relationship at this stage. Having heard JARVIS, Happy thinks there's another servant somewhere nearby. JARVIS could call an ambulance if necessary, but he doesn't have hands of his own; in cases like that this, it can be a nerve-wracking limitation.
JARVIS uses light to point things out, the way a human would use their hands. Tony has thoughtfully designed the space to accommodate that, mindful of the building as a body for JARVIS. Articulated devices include fully mobile spotlights and partially mobile recessed lights that JARVIS can control. Happy doesn't really understand what's going on with the lighting in the mansion.
Alcohol impairs thought and lowers inhibitions, so sometimes drunken people say things they don't mean, or mean but would not normally say aloud. This creates confusion over whether or not people really mean what they say while drunk. Generally speaking, don't trust drunken promises, but drunken revelations are worth checking further. Happy is right to be dubious in case it's the bottle talking.
[To be continued in Part 6 ...]
Fandom: The Avengers
Characters: Happy Hogan, Tony Stark, JARVIS.
Medium: Fiction
Warnings: Workplace violence, cross-class tension, problem drinking, false friends, misunderstandings, hangover, Happy!whump, Tony!whump.
Summary: Tony rescues Happy from an abusive employer. Happy rescues Tony from himself. But of course it's never really that simple ...
Notes: Angst. Hurt/Comfort. Fear of loss. Friendship. Confusion. Caregiving. Artificial intelligence. Communication. Feels. Tony Stark Has a Heart.
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Skip to Part 5, Part 8, Part 9.
"Happy Hour" Part 5
"Bed," Mr. Stark said with a vague wave that might have been intended as direction but was entirely unhelpful.
"This way, sir," said the voice, and hall lighting turned on by itself.
Happy took a tentative step in that direction, and another light turned on farther down the hall. All right, fine, that was a little weird but he could work with it. Happy followed the lights to a door that opened on a luxurious bedroom. He lowered Mr. Stark onto the bed, arranging him on his side. The fancy clothes bunched around his body. That didn't look very comfortable. Happy frowned.
No doubt the man would throw a fit if he woke up without his clothes. Happy compromised by unbuttoning the cuffs and collar of the costly tailored shirt, and after a moment's hesitation, the trousers as well. Then he pulled off the shoes and set them beside the bed.
"He's going to want aspirin in the morning," Happy muttered, still uncomfortably stuck between 'friend' and 'servant' modes.
The room light dimmed, leaving a bright crack of light showing beneath another door. Curious, Happy opened the door and found the bathroom. From there it was easy to locate the bottle of aspirin, then fill one of the crystal glasses and pop the matching cover on it. He left those on the nightstand beside the bed.
Then Happy noticed the bathroom light was still on. He went to turn it off, only to have a spotlight hit the louvered door of the linen closet. Obligingly he opened that door too -- and smiled when he saw the spare blankets. Happy picked one up and draped it over Mr. Stark.
A touch on his face startled him. "What --?"
"Ashhole," Mr. Stark said, tracing the bruise at the corner of Happy's mouth. The touch was overly familiar, but it felt concerned rather than lascivious. Happy had forgotten about getting hit earlier. "Doesh'n desherve you."
"As you say, sir," Happy said. Rich people tended to stay amiable as long as you agreed with whatever they said.
"Shtay," Mr. Stark said. He let his hand drop, but the brown eyes gleamed as they watched for Happy's reaction. "Hire you inna morning."
Happy felt a pang of temptation. He knew better than to put any faith in drunken promises, though. "I need to return the car," he said gently as he pulled away.
Mr. Stark rolled over then, turning his back on Happy. The chauffeur heaved a sigh of relief at this clear dismissal. He let himself out of the house, closing all the doors carefully behind him even though he couldn't lock any of them. Then he drove the limousine back to its parking spot.
Happy went home, of course. He wasn't stupid. He knew that Mr. Stark couldn't possibly have offered him a job for real. Things like that just didn't happen, even if Mr. Stark had rescued him from an abusive employer, even if Happy had later driven him home and more-or-less tucked him into bed. The man needed someone to make sure he got home safely.
This wasn't a fairy tale. Happy knew better. Really he did.
* * *
Notes:
Happy knows how to anticipate and treat a hangover. Rest, water, and painkillers top the recommended care list. Also it's inadvisable to leave a drunken person alone, but Happy already feels self-conscious about how far he's stepped outside the formal boundaries of their relationship at this stage. Having heard JARVIS, Happy thinks there's another servant somewhere nearby. JARVIS could call an ambulance if necessary, but he doesn't have hands of his own; in cases like that this, it can be a nerve-wracking limitation.
JARVIS uses light to point things out, the way a human would use their hands. Tony has thoughtfully designed the space to accommodate that, mindful of the building as a body for JARVIS. Articulated devices include fully mobile spotlights and partially mobile recessed lights that JARVIS can control. Happy doesn't really understand what's going on with the lighting in the mansion.
Alcohol impairs thought and lowers inhibitions, so sometimes drunken people say things they don't mean, or mean but would not normally say aloud. This creates confusion over whether or not people really mean what they say while drunk. Generally speaking, don't trust drunken promises, but drunken revelations are worth checking further. Happy is right to be dubious in case it's the bottle talking.
[To be continued in Part 6 ...]
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 09:50 am (UTC)-Wynjara
Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-15 09:57 am (UTC)I figure it's part innate personality and part training.
>> Definitely the kind of attitude necessary to deal with Tony on a regular basis. <<
That pretty much has to be job qualification #1 for Tony's people. No wonder Natalie had such a hard time with him: she's not easily spooked, but she's not what I'd call flexible either.
>> Also love how Tony's still a good guy when falling-down drunk, and observant enough to evaluate the situation. <<
*chuckle* He may not be all together at the time, but he is together enough. Tony's high functionality when drunk is canon.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 10:03 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-28 06:52 am (UTC)I'm happy to hear that. Tony is one of my favorites too.
>> I just want to wrap him up in a big hug cause he is adorable <<
Poor guy, he needs all the hugs he can get.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 01:30 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-28 06:51 am (UTC)I think Happy must be one of the reasons that Tony is still alive and functional. I wanted to explore that deeper than the little hints in the movies.
Checking In
Date: 2014-01-15 02:28 pm (UTC)Re: Checking In
Date: 2014-01-28 06:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 04:06 pm (UTC)It's very cool in a cinematic sort of way to visualize it happening, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 08:19 pm (UTC)And visualizing: exactly! I found myself doing that as I read it.
Thoughts
Date: 2014-01-17 06:41 am (UTC)Happy isn't altogether certain what's going on, but yes, his best guess is that a servant is speaking and controlling things from elsewhere in the mansion. At least he has successfully clocked JARVIS as a person -- and by profession -- even if he's gotten the species wrong.
>> And visualizing: exactly! I found myself doing that as I read it. <<
Yay! I'm glad my description works so well. In recent years I've started dabbling with scripts. So when I'm working with cinematic material, that overlaps my innate knack for description and tends to make the visual elements of the story stronger.
Yes...
Date: 2014-01-17 07:02 am (UTC)It does eventually have that effect on him. JARVIS is still young here, and doesn't always realize how his natural behavior will feel to humans -- especially since his main input, Tony, is not a typical human.
>> It's very cool in a cinematic sort of way to visualize it happening, though. <<
Yay! I'm glad that worked for you. I like it when I manage to convey a cinematic air with these stories.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-15 04:53 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-17 06:48 am (UTC)Yay!
>> It is weirdly compelling to me as I usually don't read the "issue" stories. But you do such an amazing job of making your characters vulnerable while showing their strong places! <<
I'm glad that works so well for you. It's exactly what I wanted to do with this series. Canon lays out so much angst -- almost all the mental/physical problems are either direct from canon or very closely derived from it -- but does almost nothing to help the characters recover from the damage. This series suggests some ways they might take care of each other and themselves better.
>> Great to see how Happy came on board and how solicitous Stark is for a guy he's seen only once. HE notices "the help" and cares about them. This is definitely a redeeming quality. <<
I believe that Tony always had the heart of a hero, just took a while to find examples and motivation for what to do with it. He had crappy examples growing up; that's confusing. But he doesn't like seeing people get smacked around; that will rouse him to action. I also suspect that Tony has a knack for spotting competence and for hiring excellent help; he found Pepper, after all.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-17 10:31 pm (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-18 02:10 am (UTC)I think it's because the only person who both cared about him and was there all the time, was Edwin Jarvis. Tony can play along with rich people because he was raised in that culture ... but I don't think he actually likes them, anymore than he likes himself. He just fakes it convincingly. It's harder for him to pass as belowstairs but he can manage if he's careful not to flash his privilege. You can see glimpses of this in canon where he does things that a rich person just does not get taught how to do. Hand-forging metal? Jesus fuck no, rich people don't do things that make them sweat unless it's sex or sports. Certainly not work. Individuals maybe, but not as a class skill. So Tony must have gone to other people for input -- probably in his teens to provoke his father.
>> He didn't like seeing them treated like less than that then, so he does what he can. That it pisses people off, gravy. <<
Exactly. What most people won't realize is how much Jarvis played into Tony's ability as an engineer. An expert servant has to know how things are done and it's not as obvious as it looks. There's physics and timing in a lot of the tasks. So that's there when Tony is trying to teach a robot how to pick things up and carry them, because he's seen Jarvis teach a new server how to handle a tray. It's there when Tony is contemplating employees, because he's seen what happens when they're quality (like Jarvis) or crap (like the nannies).
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-18 03:07 am (UTC)But yes, Tony probably did watch how Jarvis carried things, AND how he trained others, because he was driving himself nuts with one of the bots and then took a step back. One of my pieces has Tony as a boy explaining one of the on a cable bots to Peggy.
Yeah, that self-hatred is a feature of Tony. He tends to dance through it until his piano roll sticks.
Tony must have gotten in the early part of the smithing like before he was 17 if he got to tweak Howard with it. Just who had Howard pissed off enough to risk dealing with his boy?
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-28 07:35 am (UTC)It's possible. That seems more early Howard than late Howard, though. I suspect that the main focus was to keep Tony out from underfoot, and the easiest ways to do that aren't very good for any children, let alone a baby genius.
>> But yes, Tony probably did watch how Jarvis carried things, AND how he trained others, because he was driving himself nuts with one of the bots and then took a step back. <<
Tony is good at figuring things out, if the first attempt doesn't work right. I want to explore how his current situation will impact his relationship with DUM-E as well as JARVIS.
>> One of my pieces has Tony as a boy explaining one of the on a cable bots to Peggy. <<
That's cute.
>> Yeah, that self-hatred is a feature of Tony. He tends to dance through it until his piano roll sticks. <<
Too true. Most of the Avengers have that problem in some degree.
>> Tony must have gotten in the early part of the smithing like before he was 17 if he got to tweak Howard with it. Just who had Howard pissed off enough to risk dealing with his boy? <<
I don't think Howard even knew the blacksmith. I think Tony wanted to piss off his father as much as possible, so he took a summer job -- as teenagers often do -- but looked for the sweatiest, dirtiest, most hands-on jobs that would still somehow be useful to himself. What he found was smithcraft, and it saved his life later. The skills Tony showed in IM1 are not things even a genius could pull out of nowhere. He needed time and a teacher, but given that, Tony could probably learn a large portion of the craft in just a few months. *chuckle* And what smith worth his anvil would have any respect for a man who barged in and tried to discourage his son from honest work?
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-11-19 04:50 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-11-19 05:28 am (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-11-19 05:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-16 07:58 pm (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2014-01-17 07:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-20 11:46 am (UTC)One great example recently is one who's been working with me for about 9 months and we've got on wonderfully but she's only here for 1 year so she's going back to her home country soon. My flatmate has clicked well with her too and one day when we were all chatting at the end of a shift she said something that implied that my flatmate and the carer read each other's Facebook pages - it made me realise that I had very specifically *not* looked for her Facebook page because I am her employer. The power differential makes me feel like I shouldn't even ask because I am not 100% sure that she would feel Ok to say "no" to me when I sign her paycheques. But since she's leaving, Facebook is a handy way to stay connected ... because it seemed so appropriate at that moment I mentioned that I hadn't asked because I'm her employer and she straight away offered and it was all good, but it was definitely the first moment I thought of when I read Happy being "stuck uncomfortably between servant and friend"! Nice to see that issue being relevant - it's not common in fiction!
Thoughts
Date: 2014-01-21 06:39 am (UTC)Yay! I think it's something that comes up in any relationship that mixes business and pleasure. The more intimate the relationship, the more of a challenge it can be. Tony trusts his life to Happy, and later, his suit -- after the horrible betrayal by Obie. That's intimate. This story is an early peek at the groundwork for that.
>> My personal carers are definitely not servants but they help me with similar tasks - cooking, housework, looking after myself, etc. and they work one-on-one with me for hours per week. With those I get on well with (most but not all...) it can end up with us both stuck oddly between a working relationship and a friendship relationship... <<
Yeah, it can get really awkward. But it's better than hiring people you hate.
>> One great example recently is one who's been working with me for about 9 months and we've got on wonderfully but she's only here for 1 year so she's going back to her home country soon. <<
It's nice that you get along.
>> My flatmate has clicked well with her too and one day when we were all chatting at the end of a shift she said something that implied that my flatmate and the carer read each other's Facebook pages - it made me realise that I had very specifically *not* looked for her Facebook page because I am her employer. The power differential makes me feel like I shouldn't even ask because I am not 100% sure that she would feel Ok to say "no" to me when I sign her paycheques. <<
You get a big gold star for respecting that boundary, and another for realizing that sometimes people don't feel comfortable saying "no." This at a time when many employers are violating their workers' rights as if that were perfectly okay. Thank you.
>> But since she's leaving, Facebook is a handy way to stay connected ... because it seemed so appropriate at that moment I mentioned that I hadn't asked because I'm her employer and she straight away offered and it was all good, but it was definitely the first moment I thought of when I read Happy being "stuck uncomfortably between servant and friend"! <<
That was an elegant way of handling the situation.
>> Nice to see that issue being relevant - it's not common in fiction! <<
It doesn't come up often in my writing. However, I do have a couple of situations where employer/employee relationships are salient to the plot. Victor and Igor in Frankenstein's Family (which you can find via the Serial Poetry page are having an awkward time shifting from "employment" to "family" model. Igor is still thinking employment, whereas Victor is really thinking family but doesn't know how to broach the topic. Maryam Smith in The Steamsmith has several servants who show up in the poems, and she is very conscious of the dynamics although she handles them atypically because she is half-class herself. I want people to handle this stuff more gracefully than often happens, so I watch for opportunities to address it.