8299/On the Docket (part Two)

On the Docket (part Two)
Date of Scene:	13 July 2019
Location:	Offices of Nelson and Murdock
Synopsis:	Castiel and Hayal approach Agent May to obtain proper identification for Castiel, and the angel gets more than he bargained for.
Cast of Characters:	Castiel, Exile, Melinda May

---

Castiel has posed:
One thing was made quite clear at the offices of Nelson and Murdock: Castiel needed some actual identification, preferably before his court date. Matt had assured the pair of angels that they could show up to a pre-court date, before a judge, and pay their fines. It was an in-out proceedure, provided they didn't argue with the man (strike one against Castiel), and provided they had actual valid identification - one of the very things Cas was being cited for (strike two, obviously).

The Winchester boys, while a very valid source or all things ID, were not a very good bet for either legal or valid, which left one other reasonable venue for such pieces of paper: SHIELD.

And with SHIELD, that meant Agent May.

Unlike last time Castiel had taken his friend to the Triskelion, this time he teleports them both to justr inside the doors, on the proper side of the security check, and grumbling, presents himself and his 'guest' to security.

"If I we do not do this, she will send me to Siberia. I am told it is very cold there."

Exile has posed:
"It is," says Hayal, solemnly. He offers the desk agent a little smile, patently fake, and slowly goes for the ID he has. No, it isn't SHIELD ID, but it's at least civil *something*. Proof that the system knows about him.

Melinda May has posed:
The security guard seems to accept Hayal and his ID without too much of a fuss, and perhaps a bit surprisingly to Cas, they're through Security and on their way into the building in short order. Amazing what 'following proper procedure' can do.

In her office, May receives a message from Security indicating that consultant Castiel and 'guest' have just arrived -- she put a standing order out to be notified any time Cas enters the building. Because. She acknowledges the notice, then advises Security to direct Cas and 'guest' to the conference room on level 16 and heads that way herself, intending to meet them there.

Castiel has posed:
Castiel even remembered he has a lanyard this time. That might have helped. That, and nobody tried touching him. It certainly reduced the amount of words he had to utter to security and most definitely decreased the odds he'd offend someone.

Then they're through security and ushered on up to May's offic, a place he has to find the old fashioned way, bolstered with a bit of angelic peeking in on her location. It was an odd way to GPS around the Triskelion, but armed with what floor they were heading towards, and the elevator, Cas manages to direct himself and Hayal to the conference room.

Exile has posed:
He has sense enough to be politely mute, following innocently along in Cas's wake. He's washed and in clean, plain clothes. No wings apparent. Even got his hair tied back. But he's frankly gawking like a tourist.

Melinda May has posed:
May is there in the conference room waiting. She doesn't seem in any way perturbed, though for anyone not already familiar with her, that might resemble how she always seems -- calm, aloof, and emotionless. Her eyes flick from Cas to Hayal and back. "Gentlemen. Please, have a seat." She gestures to the conference room table, then sits as well.

Castiel has posed:
Agent May is given a slightly suspicious look by Castiel, who, it seems can't find anything about the woman to suggest she's upset, but if she isn't upset, why is she asking them to sit down? Wasn't that the way most of her 'talks' started?

"I did not bring my guest in by unauthorized means?" he offers, hovering behind a chair, not yet taking it. "Did I not comply?"

He was fairly certain there weren't instructions he'd failed to follow up on. They'd even used the elevator to get up here.

Exile has posed:
Hayal doesn't even ask questions. He settles obediently, turning that guileless blue stare on May. Here's a guy who manages to make Steve Rogers look like a cynical old bastard, doesn't he?

Melinda May has posed:
"You complied precisely, Castiel," May replies calmly. She honestly IS calm this time. Well, not entirely CALM, per se, but she's not in any way upset at the angel for arriving in a manner that would cause anyone in the Triskelion any undue annoyance or upset. That in and of itself is an improvement. Maybe because of that, she's feeling just the tiniest bit generous.

"So. I am guessing that you are both here for a reason? How many I assist you?"

Castiel has posed:
Because some of the finer nicities of humanity are still being worked on by the angel, Castiel blurts out, "My attorney tells me that I am to procure valid personal identification to present in a court of law so that I am not incarcerated. I am to understand that is what happens if you are found in contempt of court."

It's entirely clear that Castiel heard the words without actually finding out what they actually meant, and was delivering a rote speech that someone (likely his attorney) hoped she'd understand.

Exile has posed:
"I have ID," Hayal explains, quietly. "You see...." His gaze flickers. How does he explain this? "We....I was playing in a fountain in the Park, and when the policeman said I couldn't, Castiel argued. We ended up with a lot of papers that relate to the law. I can just pay money and it will be done, but now Castiel has to come, too, and he needs ID."

Melinda May has posed:
May looks back and forth between the two men for a moment, and can't help but wonder how this became her life. But, Cas is doing the right thing by asking about acquiring legal and valid ID instead of either asking the Winchesters for their less than legal assistance or just ignoring the situation all together. It's a step in the right direction, and she's going to encourage it.

She glances off to one side, speaking into the communicator she always has on her person, and those with sharp ears likely hear the acknowledging reply. "Was someone able to explain to you why playing in the fountains in the park is disapproved of?" she asks of Hayal, though not in any accusatory or unkind way.

Castiel has posed:
"He was .." Castiel pauses and considers Hayal, looking meek and mild in the conference room chair. "We were playing in the fountain," the angel lies. "Karen, Karen Page says it is for sanitary reasons. We are not to frolic in the fountain because there are the germs."

He considers, his features knitting in consternation. "We are angels. They do not affect us the same." Well, him. They do not affect him. Hayal might be a different matter, but even if he were, Castiel could heal him. "Maybe it is you know a place where we can go in the water and not receive the citations."

Adding, "Officer Bob was getting ready to yell at Hayal. I did not wish him to be angry with him so I did what the boys would do. I distracted him." To the tune of five citations and a summons.

Exile has posed:
"Yes," Hayal says, docilely. "The officer didn't know we were angels. So, the reasons for humans apply....or he thought they did. It turns out there are special fountains that can be played in, if you know where to look."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods slowly at their explanations. "It sounds like your friend -- Ms. Page? -- missed explaining an important reason why you should not play in the fountain. Human children are, due to how young they are, prone to not considering the full ramifications of the things they do because they are 'fun'. If a child were to see you two playing in the fountain, they might think it's okay do to so for them as well, and then they'd be at risk of contracting infections or diseased from the unclean water or at risk of drowning accidentally.

"As you both resemble human adults, you set examples for others around you as all human adults would. And while, yes, you could save the child from infection or drowning, how can you monitor every fountain everywhere every second of every day?"

She acknowledges Hayal's words with a nod. "The more common name for places with acceptable to play in water fountains is water park. There, the water is specially treated to greatly reduce the chances of infection, and there are frequently adults there employed to watch over others and keep them safe. The only thing I would emphasize for you both, is if you choose to visit a water park, you might want to consider appropriate clothing for such a visit. Most people would not understand why you would want to walk into a fountain fully dressed."

Castiel has posed:
Now there is an argument that Castiel both has not thought of, and surprisingly, hasn't any sassy retort against. It's with surprising understanding that he ansswers her, "We.. I did not think of that. Children are innocents and should be protected."

Hayal is regarded, and then May again.

"I do not know where to find these water parks, and what are appropriate clothing? Are not all clothes appropriate?"

Castiel, it should be noted, has never had occassion to go swimming.

Exile has posed:
"No, not all clothes," says Hayal, helpfully. "Special clothes that aren't hurt by the water, but still cover what a given human culture wants covered. I don't own those kinds of clothes, but they aren't hard to find, especially at this time of year in a place where it gets so warm."

He's looking relieved. "I hadn't thought of that....that there were options where it would be acceptable to play in the water without misleading small humans."

Melinda May has posed:
"Of course it's an option. Playing in water is fun, especially for small children. If you choose to attend a water park, try to remember that you will be setting examples for children while there as if you were human adults, and dress and behave accordingly. And follow any rules the park you choose has posted. They all list their rules very clearly for both the safety of people who visit and for legality reasons."

May glances off to one side as her comm unit pipes up, then she relays to the angels what they likely already heard. "Identification documents are being prepared for you now, Castiel. What name do you want on them?" She's done the facial recognition searches already, and she knows the name that actually goes with the face he's currently wearing.

Castiel has posed:
"There are.. parks.. for playing in water?" Again, this had not occured. This human fascination with places of liesure was not one he'd had much cause or time to explore yet. Angels, as it happened, did not have anything rightly called liesure time. Parks were unheard of, let alone ones dedicated to singular pursuits of pleasure.

One thing is clear, though, Hayal looks and sounds excited by the thought, his hopeful tones not missed.

"Maybe we can find one of these parks so that we do not incur any more citations. We will.. follow the rules." Said in the tones of a man who wasn't sure why he was following rules, but feeling the need to say that regardless.

All of this, however, is thrown out the window when May asks for a name. "I do not understand? What name do I want on them?" And if ever the angel looked lost, now would be that time.

Exile has posed:
"You need to pick a name to be attached to this human identity you're getting. I mean, I don't have a name, really, but humans think I do. So that's the one currently on my identification card and in databases," he explains, blithely. Then, to May, he says, "Name him John Smith."

Back to Castiel, "We will purchase water clothes, and then we will find a water park and learn its rules. Water is nice. No wonder humans like it." A creature old in slaughter, delighted at the idea of accessing a kiddie pool.

Melinda May has posed:
May shakes her head no at the suggestion of John Smith. "So common a name immediately brings up suspicions about its authenticity." She looks at Castiel for a moment as if trying to determine something, and then finally offers, "I'm thinking Castiel James Novak. It's the truth on multiple counts." And just different enough that it might not raise too many flags elsewhere.

She can't help but be inwardly amused at the younger-seeming angel's enthusiasm. It makes her wonder if the majority of angels are more like him, or more like Castiel in demeanor.

Castiel has posed:
There's a moment where Castiel looks to protest. This idea of a human name and human identification, and being pigeonholed into an identity..

And then Agent May says that name, leaving the gruffer angel a sudden gentled hunch of shoulders that carry an air of apology and sorrow that is almost palpable. His usual tense angles of body held with an awkwardness that suggests more of the Celestial than the human, or perhaps more of the human than the Celestial. Maybe only each on their own.

"That is the vessel's name. He bears it in his memories. I do not recall speaking it to you." Not an accusation, more the reliefe of a secret no longer needing to be held. "He has a family."

Exile has posed:
That has Hayal looking to Cas, some of that sunny air fading. The wings, which weren't present, are now....and he curves one protectively around and over the other angel, as if to shelter him. ....is that their version of a hug?

Melinda May has posed:
"It is. Also why I suggested it." And, yes, she was aware that the vessel has a family. "Have you been in contact with Novak's family since," she gestures toward Castiel a bit vaguely.

There is no way she could miss the apparent change in the angel's posture, and her next question is asked in a slightly gentler tone. "Would you want to contact them?"

Castiel has posed:
Castiel swallows, a body memory for certain. A gesture of nervousness and avoidance that is bred in the bone. "What would I say. I am an angel of the Lord and your husband has agreed to allow me to bear his skin rather than peril his mortal soul? That he intended to throw himself from a bridge, but he is well and in here somewhere, waiting?"

His shoulders snap back into that tight line of trench coat, hands a full, firm thrust into his pockets.

"I do not know if he wishes to see them." He hasn't asked. Nor has Novak in those rare but brief touches of mind to mind. Novak still lost in his own sorrows, content to wallow in unending circles of self-hatred and doubt. Even if Castiel thought he wanted this, would that be fair to her? To see the man she loved turned into what Castiel had found and made his deal with?

Exile has posed:
"It is not an explanation a human would find easy to...understand," Hayal agrees, gently. "Or to bear." Still with that wing arched over Castiel, though he doesn't touch him. The blond angel.....he looks sorrowful, but almost peaceful. "Do.....what do they know of where he is now?"

Melinda May has posed:
"Nothing, I suspect, considering there's still an open missing person case for Novak in Pontiac, Illinois," May tells Hayal. She then looks at Cas again, watching him square his shoulders. There's classic avoidance if she's ever seen it. "If you'd rather, Castiel, SHIELD can arrange for Novak's family to be told that he is in protective custody of SHIELD as a material witness to an plausible evil deed or other. This way, they're not left wondering where he is, but there's no expectation that he'll be able to return anytime very soon."

It's a gamble, but one she's willing to arrange if the angel wishes. If not, she'll choose another name for him.

Castiel has posed:
There's an imperceptible movement towards the protective circle of Hayal's wings. Not enough to touch that shelter, but enough that the other angel would be aware that the comfort was not only noticed, but necessary, even if he is still all hard lines and angles of defiance as he, and James, both deal with this matter. It was, truly, the past come to meet them much in the way that sidewalks and roadways were a sudden wall in the face of those who tripped on curbs. Or lies.

Castiel and James had been weaving and living a lie for well over a year now. And all that time, his wife and family had been wondering. Waiting. Worrying. Not, as Castiel had hoped, moving on and casually forgetting that they once had another life, a life that included husband and father.

"She.. they are well?" The question comes with an earnestness that is both broken, and faltering. And between the cracks of that, Castiel's gruffness colouring the tones. The division between words and action rippling the trenchcoat taut and loose as an agitated hand is removed from a pocket and run roughly through his hair. Forehead to nape of neck where fingers and palm cup there. "I.. we.. You would do that? Tell her I am okay?"

There is none of the gruff, just a sad earnest blue of eye searching out Agent May's face, imploring. "Make it so she doesn't look for me anymore? Tell her... tell her to move on. She should be happy."

Exile has posed:
Oh, Castiel. Humans don't do that that easily. But he doesn't explain that aloud. Instead, Hayal gets up from his seat. He moves behind Cas....and the movement after that is very like a hawk mantling over prey. He's not trying to threaten or warn off May, there's no aggression in his posture. Just letting the shadow of his wings fall, protectively, so Cas can be aware of them.

Melinda May has posed:
May regards Castiel for a very serious few moments, recognizing the rather abrupt change in demeanor again, and suspecting -- possibly correctly -- that that is hints of Novak peeking through the angel's personality. "We can definitely tell them that Novak is alive and well." She by no means promising that the family will move on without him, though. That's not her job. Just like world peace isn't James Earl Jones's job.

"So, if we do that, you're willing to accept identification with the name Castiel James Novak?"

Castiel has posed:
What James does or doesn't know doesn't factor into his response, just as what the angel who inhabits him understands or not does not colour this moment. It is nothing more than a few, pure, moments of clarity for the vessel, rising forth to tidy the one loose end he could not in his rash decision first to take his own life, and then to accept Castiel's offer. He did not regret this, but he could regret what it did to her. To his children.

"Tell her, tell her I love her," he says simply. Voice quiet and breaking. The hand that had hovered at the nape of his neck now grabbing the back of a chair, and joined with its partner, knuckles whitening as he holds there, and nods. "Do it. Make it happen."

And then it is nothing more than awkward angles and a tight draw of canvas along the angel's shoulders. A well of moisture rising in those piercing blue eyes that doesn't just threaten, but manages, to escape down his cheeks - a single trickle that trails an impossibly slow path down stubbled cheeks.

"He hasn't forgiven himself yet," Castiel says quietly, the gruff colouring of his sorrow making it clear that James is gone again. "Thank-you Agent May."

Exile has posed:
So, for most of the the time that Hayal's been here, humans have carried handkerchiefs. He does now....and without any self-consciousness or hesitation, he produces one from a pocket. Snowy white in his hand. He wipes Cas's cheek, as tenderly as a mother, as if May weren't there at all.

Melinda May has posed:
If there's one thing May is good at, it's NOT pointing out someone having an emotional moment. "Of course, Castiel. I'll make sure it happens this week." She then speaks into her comm unit briefly.

"The documentation will be ready in two days, if you want to come by at that time to pick it up." She then looks at Hayal. "Is there anything else I can help you both with at this time?"