He poked his mun gently but insistently until she made this account :|

[coulsonlives]

Thanks for listening, Ms. Mun. And if I may speak candidly, I don't think you should be as concerned about being "up to playing me" as you are. Your assignment in this case is very straightforward: at the end of the day, I'm quite a simple guy. I do my job, I encourage others to do their jobs, and my bottom line is the greater good. My methods are by necessity unsavory or intrusive at times, and I genuinely regret that, but I believe in my mission and I trust my superiors.

[His phone rings]

Excuse me, I have to take this.

[He turns partway away.]

Yes sir?

I'm fine sir. Thank you for asking. Dead? No, I'm not dead. I'm on the Internet.

[He chats for a few more moments, then hangs up.]

As I was saying...just do the research, do the work, and let's see this to completion. There are people who need to see me, and people who need my help. Neither of us want to disappoint them, now do we? I didn't think so.

Comments

[likeamonster]

Don't regret it for a moment, sir. All that matters is that the job gets done. Everything else is secondary.

[coulsonlives]

Captain Blonsky. [As always he is unfailingly polite, and offers his hand.] You're looking well.

I always regret collateral damage. Property can be rebuilt, belongings replaced. But the human cost is something I always have to calculate.

[likeamonster]

[A curt handshake in return.] 'Course. I had assistance in that.

Thinking over every single death is just wasting time. Most aren't worth the time to ponder.

[coulsonlives]

I admit. I'm not a soldier. My own job allows a lot more leeway for non-lethal action. [He's a realist. He only regrets the trouble he has caused personally. That and not shooting Loki in the back.]

I assume that the General hasn't contacted you lately.

[likeamonster]

Stick to that, then. It works for you.

[Have a sneer, Coulson, just shy of disrespectful. Followed by a curious head tilt at the next statement.]

It's possible. Why?

[coulsonlives]

[He gets a pleasant, bland, completely untroubled smile in return.] Yes, yes it does.

[A polite cough.] General Ross has been compromised, Captain. In plain terms, he's currently pursuing a career of alcohol intoxication and obsessing over his losses. Any intelligence you receive from him should be considered unreliable. At best.

[likeamonster]

[Oh he his absolutely going to laugh at that bit of news.]

Glad I didn't kill the old bastard, then. Let him rot.

[thestarspangledman]

[--And Steve? He's just grinning.] Agent Coulson. It's real good to see you again, sir.

[coulsonlives]

[This is Phil Coulson's version of squeeface. He walks over and offers a hand.]

Captain Rogers. It's a pleasure to see you again. So. How'd we do?

[thestarspangledman]

We won. [And he shakes that hand.] Stark ended up saving Manhattan.

[coulsonlives]

[Coulson tilts his head slightly.]

He did, did he? Well. I've always believed he had it in him. He just had to find it.

[thestarspangledman]

Well, he found it. [There's a little pause.]

I think I owe you a few autographs, don't I?

[coulsonlives]

That would be very nice. Though apparently I'll need to have those cards replaced. Much better than the alternative, however.

Have you seen any baseball games since you woke up?

[thestarspangledman]

--I...yeah, I guess ya will.

Not quite yet, but I did hear about the Dodgers.

[canfindrope]

People who need you... where?

[coulsonlives]

Well, Miss, I don't entirely know yet. There apparently is a space issue. But I'm a patient man. I have confidence that the situation will get sorted out.

[canfindrope]

...What do you mean?

[thoreal]

You're looking surprisingly well, Son of Coul.

[coulsonlives]

Never better. I haven't been fully briefed yet, but rumor has it that we won.

[greenisnteasy]

Agent Coulson. [He awkwardly nods enough that it looks like a nod of greeting at some point.] You're looking... lively.

[His unease breaks into a more sincere smile.] Congratulations.

[coulsonlives]

Dr. Banner. Yes, well, it's been an unusual month. I assume that you are doing well?

[greenisnteasy]

Is that the SHIELD-approved term for what happened? I like it. [He opens his hands in something of a shrug.]

I'm as well as I ever am. So is it back for work to you? You really get off the ground running, don't you?

[coulsonlives]

It's my term for what happened after...what happened. [His smile thins slightly.]

I'm afraid I'm on a desk job for the time being until I get a clean bill of health. Advanced rescusitation techniques don't do much to shorten healing time.

[greenisnteasy]

Yeah, that would put a damper on things. So -- how are you feeling? It was a case of being nearly dead, right? Please don't tell me SHIELD is bringing people back from the dead now. I have enough reasons to mistrust Big Brother without worrying about a zombie outbreak.

[forgothowtomiss]

Heyyy. Had us going for a little while there. Welcome back.

[He tries to do the professional thing. He does. But...naaah he's grinning instead. Carefully; it's relief too, because that whole...incident? Kind of at least partly his fault. Not that Loki wouldn't have gotten out anyway, but he DID help with the distraction. ...and help clear rooms. And just...

IT'S GOOD THAT YOU'RE NOT DEAD, COULSON. So good.]

[coulsonlives]

Agent Barton. How are you doing? [He steps forward, offering a hand, looking as relaxed as if he just returned after a vacation.]

Any other casualties?

[forgothowtomiss]

Good, all things considered. Wiping the cobwebs off. My writer found me a place where you're actually running the show now, believe it or not.

[A smirk and a hint of a chuckle, and he might start off with just a handshake, but there's a hand clapped on Coulson's opposite shoulder too. You might be super stiff about things, Phil, but that's not really Clint's thing.]

A few. [Yeah, that might be a little guilt in there.] Team's still in one piece though. We figured it out eventually.

[coulsonlives]

[His eyebrows go up.] That's very impressive. Though I have always been satisfied with being a field agent.

I heard. To be honest I'd like to celebrate. I'm not sure I can manage a box at the new stadium, but I'm tossing around the idea of a baseball game with everyone.

As for me, I'm settling in. My Mun has three different ideas for how I survived, the first of which I prefer because it's plausible and scientifically achievable using today's technology.

[savedhisheart]

Phil! [No this isn't a Pepper glad to hear that the news of his death was mistaken! She does refrain herself from giving him a hug though because that would just be inappropriate.]

[coulsonlives]

Hi Pepper. [Have one of his rare genuine smiles.] How are you? How is our boy doing?

[savedhisheart]

I'm great, glad to see you back on your feet. [Damn it have a hug anyway, no she wasn't worried about him at all]

He's good. I think having Dr. Banner around has started to settle him down some. [At least until there's something new to play with so sorry for Bruce]

[coulsonlives]

[He hugs back, because Pepper, then steps back politely.]

I imagine that they are able to engage each other on a level the rest of us cannot. [Yes. He believes in the Science Broship.]

Although I am curious as to what a joint effort would even look like.

[savedhisheart]

I need JARVIS to translate more than ever when I try to check in with them. [She is amused by the Broship]

Pretty sure that it'll be something. That is if Tony doesn't anger Bruce too much. I'd rather not deal with the cleanup with Hulk rampaging.

[lastincident]

Not dead, on the internet.

[ W-well then. Okay, Coulson. ]

I think that applies to many of us around here. I'm sure you'll be in good company, agent.

[coulsonlives]

I suppose so, Dr. Banner. By the way, you can relax. I'm not here on official business.

[lastincident]

I don't think anybody comes here on 'official' business.

[coulsonlives]

Fair enough. I heard the good news. Saving the world from a violent conquest is quite an accomplishment to have under one's belt.

[lastincident]

Can't take all the credit.

[ Or any of it, really. Banner's-- still of mixed feelings about the whole mess. But it was nice to turn his condition into something less... frustrating. ]

[howling_dumdum]

Good to see all that training was for something.

[coulsonlives]

[Woops, it's one of his superiors.]

Assistant Director Dugan! It's good to see you again. Is this an official visit, or were you simply in the neighborhood.

[howling_dumdum]

At ease agent, we're off duty here. Though if Fury asks, I never said a thing.

[Coulson's response would bring a tear to Dum Dum's eyes if he were a sentimental man.]

[coulsonlives]

Of course not, sir. I am unfortunately on desk duty for the next month or so, or I would be assisting with the restructuring more. [The corner of his eye twitches slightly, which is Coulson for "They have me stuffed into a cube doing paperwork sir, send help" or something similar.]

[therealgenius]

Greater good my ass.

[JUSTIN DOESN'T LIKE SHIELD. GUESS WHY.]

/keyword

[coulsonlives]

I see that prison time hasn't improved your social skills any. [The corner of his mouth keeps twitching up as he squelches a minor urge to laugh.]

keywords

[therealgenius]

I see that taking the pointed end of a scepter to the lung hasn't killed you.

[coulsonlives]

Amazing what modern medicine can do. [His smile becomes juuust a bit mysterious.]

[therealgenius]

Oh no. Did you make a deal with a magical alien god to bring you back? Is that what this is? Making deals with psychopaths, mm, doesn't usually work out in the end.