Textbooks and LARPing
Chapter Four: Pushing, in moderation, leads to success
For the last week Castiel has suffered from Dean Winchester's self-appointed mission. Dean has figured out the boy's favorite spot in the library and covered it with strange paraphernalia. Monday was a bunch of pictures of women in shows and movies. Not what they do or anything like that, just pictures of them with their character and actor names. Mostly in odd outfits that reveal a lot. He has no problem with that, as everyone should express themselves freely, he simply does not see how these pictures will make him interested in television.
Tuesday there were pictures of weapons, and their titles, used in different shows. There is a strange screwdriver, called a sonic screwdriver, from a show called Doctor Who. Castiel must admit that one caught his attention. What does a doctor need with a screwdriver? Why is it 'sonic'? Perhaps the show is actually about a world without doctors and this weapon fights any ailments people might have. He ran his thoughts by Sam, who simply smiled at him with a strange fondness and assured him that is not what it is.
Wednesday was men. All kinds of men ranging from rugged and violent to petite and intelligent. Castiel is fairly certain Dean displayed these pictures to show male role models in television, but again they were in odd poses. Needless to say they must deal with a lot of rain and heat in their shows.
Thursday was animals. There were mostly mythical animals, such as werewolves and dragons, but there were still a few dogs and even some cats here and there. That day's pictures were the most pleasant and Castiel in fact kept those pictures rather than throwing them out like the other days. He has a soft spot for animals.
Friday is couples. Various types of couples, to Castiel's surprise. Homosexual, heterosexual, polyamorous, there is even a picture of a man with highly defined cheek bones in a scarf that he assumes represents asexuality. There were also bi-racial, bi-species, and other strange pairings that Castiel had to admit were interesting. His personal favorite were two men with messy hair staring into each other's eyes with a sweet, yet intense, sort of longing. On the labels for that one were 'human and angel'.
Today is Saturday, though, a day free of Dean's random pictures. Yet somehow not free of Dean. Why, you ask?
The man in question is currently in the library. Doing what, you ask?
Talking to a blonde woman and a few men about something.
Why is this bad, you ask?
Firstly, you ask a lot of questions. Which is good, inquisitive minds expand faster than idle ones.
Secondly, because said group of people are so close that if Dean turns his head just right-
Like that angle he is turning it at right now-
Why must heads be able to move to such a(n admittedly slight) degree?
Needless to say, Castiel is seen and Dean is suddenly hovering over the table with some big grin on his face.
"Hello, Dean."
"Hey, Castiel." Dean slides into the chair across from him, "How'd you like those pictures?"
"You have a very good quality printer at home. Not running out of ink after 125 fully colored pictures." Castiel says and Dean laughs.
"I didn't use my own printer, Castiel, don't be ridiculous. I used the libraries."
That's fair, Castiel must admit, they are allowed to print off whatever they need from the library computers. Although colored prints are limited to far less than 125 in a week.
"How did you manage that?" The teen asks, truly curious. Is Dean actually so popular he has ties in the library department? Not even Castiel has those. Of course he has never really tried, so there is that.
"Well," Dean leans over the table to whisper, so Castiel leans forward as well. He will never understand why this surprises Dean so much. Nonetheless, after regaining his composure, Dean continues, "I have a friend who can hack the schools computers. Every day I used 25 different student's accounts to print off 25 colored pictures."
Castiel is impressed, and although he won't say it out loud something in his expression must give it away because Dean is practically beaming with pride now. "You are surprisingly devious, Dean Winchester."
This seemingly surprises Dean, even if it is not necessarily a compliment, making him let out an awkward laugh before flashing Castiel a strange look. "There's a lot about me that's surprising, Castiel Novak."
Castiel lets out a small hum in agreement before sitting back in his chair. "Well, regarding your ill-gotten pictures, they have not convinced me."
"What? But those were the hottest actors, the coolest weapons, the weirdest couples, and the most badass animals! How could you not want to watch those shows now?" Dean asks, horrified that Castiel isn't convinced.
"Dean, if I am to break my cardinal rule about not getting distracted by television, you must provide me with things I do not easily see in advertisements around town. Tell me things about the shows that will intrigue me. If you can do that, if you can truly catch my interest with plots or characters, I will try one show or movie." Castiel relents, "One." He emphasizes.
Yes, he can watch one movie or show. There is not real problem in that, honestly. It will get Dean off his back and ensure that he never gets the odd looks he received from Balthazar while flipping through the photographs of men covered in water or lacking shirts-or both.
"Deal," Dean smirks, making Castiel uneasy, "But under one condition; we watch this show or movie at my place."
"I suppose there is no harm in that." Castiel relents before he gets up to leave.
"I'll step up my game and blow your mind, promise!" The man exclaims and Castiel simply nods.
"I will see you later, Dean." He calls to the man as he heads off, leaving Dean to think.
It takes three days.
Three days of peace and quiet and then suddenly Dean is waking Castiel from a nap in the library. The grin on the man's face is a little endearing, but the large amount of printouts he has are certainly not.
"Dean what is this?"
"My presentation." Dean explains, laying out printed PowerPoints in front of Castiel. "I compiled ones I like the best and then some that are pretty much internationally agreed to be amazing."
The teen looks over the PowerPoints before picking them up and reading them in order. To his surprise it is very well thought out. It seems to favor a show called In the Flesh, and an anime called Attack on Titan the most. At least those seem to have the most diversity that he has seen so far.
They actually sound interesting.
He stares at the power point in horror. This means Dean technically won and he has to watch something with him. Neither of these, though, they are television series and are far too long. There are movies in the list, so he will chose from those. He'll just watch some movie and be done with it.
"I suppose you win." Castiel relents, setting the papers down, "I guess I will watch a movie or something."
Dean smirks, "So what did you in?"
"These." Castiel answers, holding up the PowerPoints for In the Flesh and Attack on Titan.
"Awesome, we can watch one of those, you know!" Dean offers and Castiel shakes his head.
"I am not going to watch a whole series, just give me a movie to watch." He mutters, annoyed that this pushy man won. This will not end well for him, he can already tell.
"Captain America, my house, Saturday." Dean says with a grin. "Dinner and a movie. I'd have a bunch of people over with us, but I'll ease you into socializing."
Castiel sighs, "Can I just watch it at home on my own?"
"The deal was my house, Castiel. It's not fun if I can't see your reactions."
"You are an odd man, Dean Winchester."
Dean scoffs, "I don't wanna hear that from a nerd like you."
Castiel looks through the PowerPoints again, "You certainly like your titles, don't you?" He asks, "I bet you are the type who purposefully only dated the cheerleaders in high school." His eyes gloss over the pages, descriptions like 'cheerleader', 'lesbian', 'nerd', 'jock', 'geek', and various others litter them. It's childish.
Dean of course doesn't understand what he's getting at, and simply puts on the most flirtatious look Castiel has seen on him yet. "Upset I won't date a nerd like you?"
"Quite the contrary, I am elated you will not look at me like that." Castiel admits, "You're annoying enough as it is, I can only imagine the aggravation that would come with being courted by a man like you."
"No, Castiel, by all means, tell me how you really feel." Dean mocks and Castiel rolls his eyes.
"I am not one to use the language that comes to mind when I think of you."
"Wow, some way to talk to your new friend."
Castiel stares at him in awe, "We're…friends?"
Dean grins, "Definitely. I am your aggravating friend. Right?"
"I…guess…" A strange heat comes to Castiel's face and he can't look at Dean for a few minutes after that. It's a childish reaction, but for the second person to ever actually call you a friend it makes sense, right?
Right. It is completely reasonable.
A little sad, but reasonable.
"Holy shit you're blushing!" Dean laughs, "Who blushes at being called a friend? Either you are the most innocent person I have ever met or you want me 'courting' you more than you let on." He teases and Castiel smacks him over the head with the collection of papers Dean brought.
"Do not be rude. It is a completely reasonable reaction."
"Yeah, for nerds." Dean teases, earning another smack.
A/N: I don't know how I feel about this chapter, but I have redone it five times, so I apologize if it sucks. School and work and life are conspiring to fuck me over so this is the best I have for now. I'll do better next time, I promise! I've even got plans written out (that I may or may not have made during my Funeral Law class).