Castiel watched the people pass by, most in a hurry, none interacting with one another. Sam and Dean had brought him to the local park in an attempt to teach him how to converse freely with others. The boys sat perched on a bench, while Castiel just stood by just gazing upon the humans.
"Cas you wanna sit down?" Dean asked in a baffled tone.
"Why would I wish to do that?" Castiel replied, eyes unwavering from his subjects for study.
"Cause you look like a serial killer just standing around staring at folks." Dean explained bluntly.
"Oh, well then certainly." Castiel took a seat next to Dean and smiled. Well it was what he referred to as a smile.
"Okay Cas," Sam began. "When you first meet someone their are certain topics that are appropriate for discussion, and cetain topics that are not. You have to know which is which."
"How can I determine that?" Cas asked intrigued.
"For starters you can't just waltz up to Joe-Blow yammering about demons and the apocalypse." Dean stated dryly.
"Who is Joe?" Castiel questioned, igniting Dean's reaction of an eye-roll.
"He just means that most people do not know about the supernatural and to bring it up will probably have them thinking you're crazy." Sam tried to explain softly. Castiel nodded, thinking about what else there was to bring up for discussion. He was 'drawing blanks' an expression that alluded to one's temporairly forgetting something of import. Sam noticed Castiel's struggling and offered up some topics. "Like, nice weather we are having, that is a lovely dress, what a cute baby."
"And you have to pretend to give a crap." Dean added.
"Alright...no insouciance." Cas replied slowly. His confidence swelled. He felt with his cerebral and intelligent methods, something as simple as the topics he was being given would induce trouble at all. "When may I apply this?"
"Oh um..." Sam was quiet for a moment, most likely musing. "That old man over there." Sam began, pointing over to a bench just like theirs not 20 feet away. "He is sitting all by himself. He would probably welcome some conversation...and older people usually love the opportunity to talk. Why not try talking to him now?"Castiel nodded once and rose from his seat, determination set in his eyes.
"I'm telling you Sammy...Cas is going to Screw the Pooch on this one." Dean said, leaning back on the bench in a lax pose. Castiel recognised this phrase as Dean used it often. It meant he believed Cas to be about to commit a grievous error. In spite of Dean's opinion Castiel traversed over to the bench, and took the seat next to the man.
"Hello." Castiel said in his gruff voice, startling the man a bit.
"Oh, hi there Sonny." The old man responded, now smiling. Castiel thought it odd that the man believed Cas to be his son but he was elderly for a human so perhaps he was confused as they sometimes got at that age.
"It is moderate to fair weather we are experiancing for this climate yes?" Castiel asked.
"Huh...oh. Yes. Nice weather. I came here from Milwalkee so all this sunshine does good for my old bones." He replied in a shaky, crackled voice; patting his knees and laughing a bit. Castiel looked over to Sam and Dean. Dean seemed to be pouting but Sam stuck his thumbs in the air and gave a reasurring smile.
"You are not wearing a dress." Castiel said next. The man just blinked a few times.
"No...That's right, I'm not."
"If you were, I'd compliment it...and you do not have an infant with you either..." He looked down at his brown penny- loafers, concentrating. "I can not bring up the Angel and Demon War so perhaps I will just let you speak. You are elderly so you might be eager to tell me things that I can feign my interest in." Castiel finally finished in his placid manner with a small smile, turning to face him and appear interested. The old man closed his near toothless mouth, and sat quietly for a moment.
"What are you some sort of wacko, boy?" He finally asked rhetorically before standing to leave his resting place on the bench, and traveling in his slow, elderly stride down the dirt path that led away from Castiel. Cas sat by himself for a time and wondered incredulously at where he had come to fail. Was he too verbose? Everything Sam had said seemed to be demonstrable...why could Castiel not grasp it? Finally Sam and Dean came over to where Cas was seated. Sam placed one of his hands on Castiel's shoulder.
"Don't worry man, that was good practice. We can try again."
Dean crossed his arms and snorted. "Dude, coming to the park was stupid. Cas shouldn't be trying to talk to Geezers..."
"What do you suggest then Dean?" Castiel pried forcefully; giving up on his circumspect approach to learning basic conversational skills.
"I know just where to take you..." Dean stated at last, a manaical smile stretching across his finely tuned features.
