6648/The Date: Dinner and Dancing. Devils Not Included.

The Date: Dinner and Dancing. Devils Not Included.
Date of Scene:	24 February 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Castiel arrives to take Darcy out on a date in continued preparation for his date with the mucher bigger fish, Melinda May. Or Castiel is unexpectedly smooth and it hurts Darcy's brain a little bit.
Cast of Characters:	Castiel, Darcy Lewis

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Castiel has posed:
So, it turned out that Clint Barton and Micah Murphy were correct: A man did need more than one suit. It seemed he'd need at least two of the three they made him purchase.. er.. well, someone paid for them. Castiel wasn't sure who. Clint, he suspected.

Darcy Had made it clear: You show up, dressed to kill, like you would if I were May, and you take me to dinner. Cas was certain there were some implied death threats in there if he failed on any measure, and while Darcy wasn't May, she was intimidating in her own way.. and probably wasn't above telling May that he'd failed in the mission to date her (her being May).

Castiel still has no clue that this isn't a literal mission - an oversight too many are willing to let him run with.. One must admit, it has comedic value.

Luckily, SHIELD was providing a car. Darcy had impressed one didn't just teleport in to pick up your date, nor did one teleport into the restaurant one intended at eating at with your date either. Both were frowned upon, and would likely mean there wouldn't be a repeat performance. While that thought had its own appeal, Castiel decided to play nicely, so at the appointed hour, he arrives, by vehicle, in a neatly pressed suit, with a tie that is done up, and cheeks that are freshly shaven.

There's still the small matter of the trench coat, but he's made an effort.

Stopping at security, he grumbles, "I've come to pick up Agent Lewis. We have a date." Which was likely shocking enough in its own right.. but in a few days time, when he comes to ask May out, tongues might waggle... But that's getting ahead of the game.

Cue security telling Darcy her date is here.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
'6pm. Impress me.' That was the message Darcy sent. It had been very clear, hadn't it, that Castiel was to impress Darcy before being 'allowed' to take May out on HER own date. The implied threat was two words: Impress me. The threat that if he doesn't, Darcy would have words with him and then yes, very likely tell May.

SHIELD was indeed providing the vehicle as Darcy had expensed out a black Bentley, a spa day for herself, and the rental of a way-over-her-pay-grade evening gown of a dark forest green that tucked in and rolled out in all the right ways to make her already curving figure look almost like an extreme hourglass. She'd traded glasses for contacts - clear ones, not the neon pink ones she uses for roller derby - and had her make up professionally done to be subtly but striking. Her hair was tossed up in a loose and messy bun, the waves spilling out having settled into almost curls.

Ready at a quarter till, Darcy sat on the loveseat facing the door of her Triskelion apartment, one leg folded over the other, playing Fishdom on her phone as she waited for, and mentally timed, Castiel's arrival.

6:00pm - Security calls up to Darcy's apartment.

Darcy acknowledges, red lips pulling up into a sly grin. She leans back and finishes that round, taking her time with planning out the match four and match five swaps so she could activate a chain of explosions meant to clear the board. And if it takes five minutes or so, then it does. After all, it's worth waiting on a woman. Something Castiel will need to get used to and fast. Her round done, Darcy pushes to her feet, drops her phone into a sleek handbag that matches her gown, and makes her way down to the Lobby.

Her five inch heels bring her just one inch below Castiel's height. The shoes don't just peep out of the bottom hem of her dress, but are on full display as she walks. Though floor length, the gown has a slit running from toes to upper midthigh, opening and flaring out with each sure step Darcy makes toward her target; one member of the Angel Host: Castiel.

The elevator doors had opened and she locked her gaze on him, focusing like a hawk on him with the help of the nearly invisible corrective lenses on her eyes. Her smile was soft and delicate, almost shy in a way that contradicted the faintly predatory glint of her stare. Her steps slowed as she approached him, one brow lifting ever so slightly in anticipation.

Castiel has posed:
Meanwhile, at security, Castiel stands there, a tightly gripped, elongated triangular bundle held in one hand, the other shoved deeply into the pocket of his trench coat.

While waiting, he paces. Then goes back to the desk to complain, "I do not understand. I am here when I was ordered to be. The car is waiting outside. There is a dinner at the restaurant. Why is she not here? Is this some sort of joke? Is this a date? Why is this part of a date?"

It's a long spate of complaints punctuated by small pauses as he considers leaving the checkpoint to pace more, but has yet another question, so that is it he's wavered back and forth numerous times - either to the amusement, or annoyance, of the poor souls on duty.

They should hope they're not on duty for the next phase of the deal if they think this is bad.

As it happens, he's in the middle of yet another complain, "Did you even contact her - are you sure..." when Darcy pops out of the elevator, giving Castiel pause. This? This was unexpected. She looked..

"You look expensive," he tells her. "You also smell.."

It's a minor miracle, or perhaps a true act of God that Castiel doesn't finish that particular sentence, because while it wasn't going to be '...bad', it was likely going to be an utterance given with his own particular charm, which is to say it probably wasn't going to come across well.

"Are you ready for the date?" Remembering, he thrusts the very obvious flowers at her. "These are yours. They are wildflowers. The lady wanted to know what you were like." A pause. "She said not to eat them and there are thorns."

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Oh. My. God. Castiel's going to come off as the poor sap with Aspergers and too much money that May is using to get into the party. That... might be a good angle to work this. Darcy takes the flowers and ever so daintly brings them to her nose to smell.

"You look nice and you smell amazing, were probably the words you were looking for? But I'll take the trailing speechlessness I left you in," Darcy quips, lips curling into a smirk. She takes one of the vibrant blooms from the bouquet before turning to hand the rest to one of the lower leveled security personnel.

"Will you take this to my room and put it in water, please?" she asks, her tone going from its earlier sarcasm to something much more demure. The bloom she took is threaded up into the mess of waves and curls that dance at her bare shoulders. It's a bright pop of color, contrasting against everything else she's wearing.

"The florist wanted to know what type of flowers I liked? What did you tell her?" Darcy asks, actually sounding curious as she steps in to take Castiel's elbow so he can escourt her out. She'll explain that part in the car. No need to make him seem a moron in front of security. No, she's aiming for They are Jealous that HE is taking HER out instead of THEM taking her out.

Castiel has posed:
"Of course you look nic and smell - wait. You do not bring the flowers? That is all the enjoyment of them?"

Again, security is appealed to, as Castiel has already deciphered that the female of the species may or may not be inscrutible. "They do not enjoy them? I do not understand..."

Darcy, wisely, drags Castiel off before the men (today they're both men) can give him anything more than sympathetic - and amused - looks.

Castiel regards the single bloom as it is tucked into her hair. "I suppose that is better. You could not wear a bouquet. That looks very much.." He pauses. "The dress is very expensive, and you look very nice in it, but the flower is better. It is you."

He falls short of the expansive or flowery language one might hope for. Clearly there were reasons Gabriel got to do all the announcing for the Lord.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Darcy's girlish giggles drift behind them as the pair make their way to the car.

"Into the restaurant, no. Unless you presented them to me there. I enjoyed them, and the tribute they represent. By having them sent to my room means that I'll be able to enjoy them a few days longer, remembering how wonderful you were to me this evening," she explains in a low voice as they reach the doors. Of course, then he comments about the single bloom she picked, on a whim, and Darcy stops to look up at the angel.

Damn. That was smooth. Sure. It wasn't elegent or poetic, but it was simple and direct and rather charming in its own way. Surprise turns into a more genuine smile, Darcy's cheeks blushing faintly.

"That... was a good compliment, Cast. Thank you," she says in a voice that is much more honest and real than she was using in the coy looks and soft smiles from earlier. It's still soft and there is a definite feel of a vulnerability to it that is so rarely present in Darcy's day to day. She turns to look at the doors, waiting quietly, mind still mulling over that compliment and the meaning of it; a single wildflower bloom.

Castiel has posed:
"Oh," Castiel says, brows lifting upwards in understanding. "The flowers will be there when you come home. It will be like remembering the meal, only in a small package you can keep." He nods to himself. "That is much better. I thought they were like the extra forks. To show off to people. I see."

He gives a faintly grunted shrug of a sound and follows along, until she pauses to look up at him. Her blush throwing him off guard - this wasn't in the lessons, and it isn't until she tells him it was a good compliment that he understands the blush is a positive sign.

Then it occurs to him, "Maybe that is why there are flowers, too. To say this is what it is I see." Which gives him pause. "It will not be roses for Agent May. She is not a rose."

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"A little bit of both. Sometimes, they are shown off. Sometimes, they are momentos. I like the momentos, little things, that make it clear you were thinking of me. Most girls like that, knwoing you took time to think of who they are. That's why the florist asked you what my favorite flower was. I'm glass you picked the ones you did. They're really pretty," Darcy replies, looking back up at the angel. She blushes again at his musings and her shoulders tense to keep herself from reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind an ear. The hestiation lasts a moment before she just goes ahead and does it anyway, teeth biting her lower lip too.

"You're good at this.... Only... you're forgetting to get the door," Darcy murmurs the last, eyes falling so demurely to the floor and toward the door. To the outside observer, the two are lingering, flirting, Castiel cahsing Darcy's gaze as she 'plays hard to get'.

Castiel has posed:
"I did not know a flower you liked, but I told her you were a free spirit. That you spoke your mind, and could laugh one moment while threatening to make me regret messing this up the next. She said that you sounded like you would like wildflowers. I picked the blue ones."

Sadly, Darcy is right - he forgot the door, even though he hovered beside it once they'd reached the car. In his defence, they were discussing flowers.. Deftly, he reaches for the handle, and slowly pulls the car door open. Slowly only by virture of asking, "So, when I am dating Agent May, am I to open the door immediately, or if she is having conversation, do I wait? I do not wish her to think I am rushing her." He pauses. "She is not a boilermaker."

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"You were both right. I really do like blue," Darcy admits. It takes a moment, that long quiet in which Cas slowly pulls open that door, for her to refocus from reminding herself that this was work and not a real date and that she needs to make sure that Castiel can hang the way May will need him to. He's just so wonderfully dorky and sweet in this weird sort of unclooth way that tickles. Nope, not going to swoon for real. Just enough to make sure that he knows how to handle it with May swoons at him.

"Umm... No. You're absolutely right. The way you handled it worked. Don't open when she's talking, but slowly while you are, and just wait. And... these shoes are soemtimes hrd to balance on so... hold out your hand so I and she have something to balance on so we don't tip over. Even if she choses sensibile flats to wear, it's still polite to offer your hand."

Castiel has posed:
Castiel takes a moment at this point to consider Darcy's feet. "Originally it was men who wore heels. It was a sign of oppulence and wealth. Though I understand that it is considered to do things to the female posterior and calves. I do not think that they are practical for either walking or engaging with an enemy. Or is that the point?"

There was an angle he hadn't considered: that women wore such things to enforce male protection.

"Is this another of those moments where I show that I am interested in you by protecting you in your poorly designed footwear?"

A pause.

"They do have some appeal." Not that he can quite put his finger on it, other than the possibility of that whole posterior redesign while wearing them. Not that Castiel had really regarded eitehr sex in light of such things before.

"Agent May does not like to be touched. I do not think that it would be wise to offer her a hand." He considers. "She will wear heels, though. It is how it is done, and she does not do things poorly. If we are to have a date, she will wear heels. You have already said she expects the best of me. She is much harsher with herself."

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Or is that the point? Darcy laughs brightly at this particular decoding of one of the reasons heels are worn.

"You caught me. Heels make my ass look fab," she blurts out, waiting still for Castiel to offer that hand before making her way into the open and waiting vehicle. So much like a traditional date, making moony eyes over an open car door. All of what he says, from the question of another of those moments to him stating there is some appeal, has Darcy snickering, enjoying the moment.

"No. No, she really doesn't, but regardless if you think it's wise, you offer it anyway. Offering isn't you touchign her. Offering is you giving /her/ the option to touch YOU. It -means- something, her accepting the hand, the help, the protection, however small and slight that it seems, because yes this is another moment of showing interest and care, as much to her as to those around her," Darcy replies, the snickers having faded to a chuckle.

Castiel has posed:
And there he is, Castiel is still caught up in that entirely all too human pondering of one Agent Darcy Lewis in heels. He's not even entirely aware that he's gotten himself so distracted by both the view, and a consideration of the practicalities of the shoes in other ways than one might expect. Including the very astute thought that if those heels were pointy enough, they could be employed in several agressive ways.

"I am more familiar with people being asses than having fine asses. You did say I am not to use that language with Agent May. Is this an exception, then? If she .. " He stops himself. "No. She does not use such words. It is better to ask if there is a date who is not Agent May and she speaks such words, does that mean I should as well?"

Millenia of existence; thousands of years of human interactions off and on and watching this little blue and green planet produce what it called sentient life, and the angel still couldn't figure them out. He had more than a niggling feeling that this perplexity of his was part of the reason he believed them more complex and worthy of intervention than being allowed to be strictly used as pawns in an eternal and Divine tally in a pointless war.

Then she explains.

"This is like the chair, then. It acknowledges that she may wish to be publically vulnerable. Giving me a chance to display both my attention, and my ability to protect her. It is, as you would say, the measuring of dicks." Totally forgetting the 'not talk like that' business.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
It's adorable, really, watching this Littest Angel chase the halo around. Patiently waiting, Darcy juts a hip out, letting Castiel eye the goods so he can make his ass-ertions.

"Definitely don't use this language with May. Probably ever, but certainly NOT one a date. If you're dating someone else? Well, when in Rome. I cuss as I breathe, so I'm fine with a little off-color word choices being flung my way. But really, isn't something you gotta feel out for yourself. Best bet? Start without and follow her lead. Unlike dancing, which is on the agenda tonight. Fine  dining,some conversation, and slow dancing on an actual dance floor. Because yes, this is totally dick-measuring chairs. Plus, it has the added bonus of making everyone think you're the big baddie, when you and I both know the really scary one is May," Darcy adds, giving a wink and still waiting to get into the car. No hand? No getting in. Thems the rules, man!

Castiel has posed:
"You cuss a very lot," Castiel observes dryly. It would be lying to say otherwise, and impossible to miss. "Wait. We are to dance?"

As it happens, he's not, really, before, but he is a warrior. Has always been a warrior. The body, which came with no memories of dancing other than a vagueness of a darkened, sweat filled room with a thundering beat, did not reassure the angel that dancing was going to be a successful endeavour, however, stranger things had happened, and well, there was a certain fluid elegance to fighting that could possibly transfer over.

One could always hope?

"I will have you know I was one of His finest warriors," Castiel feels obliged to say indignantly, even if May was certainly scarier.

He's been holding the door, but between conversation and checking out her shoes and hindquarters, he'd forgotten the rest, and only just now awkwardly offers his hand for her to take to help get into the vehicle.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Once again, Castiel's naivity draws a bubbling light laughter from Darcy. Anyone walking by could very safely assume that he is eloquent and charming and quick witted. Darcy leans into Castiel's hand as she lowers herself into the backseat of the car, dress opening to give her legs teh room to move. One leg in, the other still on the sidewalk, Darcy looks UP at the angel, as any human might in prayer.

"Yes, we are, and of course you were," she reassures him perhaps in the least reassuring way possible. Coy smile given, Darcy slides herself further into the car, pulling the rest of her inside the darkened interior and then waiting for Castiel to join her.

Castiel has posed:
Darcy safely ensconsed in the vehicle, Castiel remembers he is to close the door and enter from the other side. Once in the vehicle, he asks, "You have made the dinner arrangements? You did not tell me to, so I did not."

He's not sure if where they are going is where he will be expected to take Agent May, but he assumes so. "She will like this meal?"

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"Yes. All of the arrangements for tonights are made. Just like they will be for your real Date Night," Darcy assures the angel, turning a bit to face him in the car and so her arm can reach the privacy glass between them and the driver, upon which she knocks twice to signal that they are ready to go. She settles back as the car rolls forward.

"I'm not sure what's going to be served that night yet, so I can't tell you. If I can figure it out, I'll let you know, otherwise, since you're not really arranging the meal plans, don't stress about it overly much." Darcy pauses, before turning a warm smile on her companion.

"Though, it's really nice of you to be thinking about that. Another showing interest and wanting to protect thing," she assures him, then tilts her head.

"I plan on being in your ear that night, by the way. Listening in on things, offering you advice if things get too far out of your comfort zone. She's really looking for this to go forward without a hitch, you know."

Castiel has posed:
"Agent May is.." Castiel considers the framing of his thoughts on the matter. "She is not the same as I have noticed before, but she is more than acceptable."

Which in Castiel speak translates into he's decided he could be okay with her liking him, and entertaining this notion of dating her. Even if the preparations and rules did seem excessive.

"If I am not to arrange the meal, then I will assume it will be adequate. She would hardly allow herself to be taken to a meal she would not enjoy."

He hasn't yet put together the disparity between him asking her out, but May making the actual date arrangements. Then again, his experience with dates at all is rather lacking - his experience running to a pizza and a movie taken in with one Vampirella, paid for with the money that she'd pulled from the purloined wallet of a cult member they'd felled.

It should be noted that Castiel didn't know it was a date.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Castiel's observation makes Darcy giggle again.

"Okay. I know what you meant by that, but holy shit man does that sound so like a put down. 'She's more than acceptable,'" Darcy mimics Castiel's inflections well enough for anyone, even the angel, to know that Darcy's teasing him more than a little.

"Well, if you want, after this you can pick who you want to take out and then make arrangements for a meal you think they'd like," Darcy suggests, feeling amusedly torn between wanting to see the look on his face adn dreading seeing the look on his face when he learns this was an op. But, if he had known it was work the whole time, he might not have tried so hard. May did say it was super important he be able to pull this off.... This was one of the only ways she could see it working out. The amusement fades on a soft side in which Darcy turns to look out the car window, trying not to frown at her own reflection.