oorah | ( OPEN ) Frank Castle

i didn't say i was disappointed [ it's quite the opposite really ]

[ there's definitely some trauma behind that but that comment made her feel... better about herself somehow? so she'll try to return the favor instead. ]

then i guess that makes us both pleasantly surprised with each other

i like the sound of that

ill see you soon

[ yeah she absolutely is dipping out after making a somewhat sweet comment she's such a fucking child ]

doors unlocked

[ and after some time she'll be walking through said door with a bottle in her hand, peering into the apartment. she's hit with the smell of his cooking almost immediately and finds him in the kitchen, tending to his meal. ]

Here.

[ like... yeah she's here obviously, but that's not what she means. she holds out the bottle she has to him. ] Pinot Noir. Guy at the store said it pairs best with red sauce.

[ she may or may not be looking over his shoulder to see if he actually... made red sauce. ]

[ he's just turning off the stove as she strolls in and he turns the full brunt of his bright smile on her. his eyes scan her face, a few fading bruises and scratches left behind but he looks almost normal again. frank moves to take the bottle, calloused fingers brushing hers as he shakes his head. wine always reminds him of the liebermans, but pinot noir is a far cry from sarah's rosé. his lips turn down, still smiling but a more private, grateful smile now before frank turns from her and back to his work. he's wearing a t-shirt and jeans and still looks damp from a shower. he vaguely smells like soap (which is better than he usually smells, so.) ]

Thank you. [ he sets down the bottle and gestures to the drawer close to his right arm. ] Corkscrew's in there if you wanna-

[ he gets down two shallow bowls from the cupboard above him, his shirt riding up a little to expose the healing patchwork at his side. no longer a broken unit, just a slightly discolored one. ]

How hungry are you?

Can I taste it before I make a decision?

[ she's smirking at him if he turns to see if she's serious. taking off her jacket she places it by the door and then returns to him at the kitchen. she's wearing pretty much the same thing as last time, with a blank tank top instead of gray. ]

I haven't eaten in awhile, so. Whatever you wanna do with that.

[ she walks towards where he motioned for the bottle opener and pulls it out and starts to work away at the bottle. ]

You got any glasses?

Just short ones.

[ ones he'd usually fill with bourbon or whiskey when beer wasn't cutting it. he's not really a wine guy, not enough to have real glasses for it anyway. it seems so... normal. it strikes him for a moment, even as his gaze runs over her shoulder and down her arm - distracted before he remembers himself. he goes to get them out and plunks them down on the counter for her with a sheepish smile.

while she's doing that he'll scoop up some of the sauce with his wooden spoon, catching her eyes before moving it in close to her mouth, his hand cupped underneath. ]

Go on, be brutal.

I'd be content with a coffee mug.

[ it all feels foreign to her. wine, like... she can't even remember the last time she had wine. never by choice, at least. she has to remember how to even use a bottle opener before finally popping the cork out of the top.

when he sets the glasses down she wastes no time pouring, not really sure what the right portion size was. middle of the glass? that sounded good. can she go to the top with hers?

she turns with both hands on the glasses to hand them over when she catches him making his way over to her with the spoon. there's a small laugh that breaks past her lips and she stares at him like... you serious?

but she indulges this anyway, putting a little bit of the spoon in her mouth and tasting it, moving a thumb up to wipe away the access. ]

You did good, Castle. And I don't impress easy, especially when it comes to food.

[ she says that with a smirk, handing him his glass. ]

I've got plenty of those.

[ most of them have cheesy patterns, too. no two the same. his favorite has a big chip in it and declares Go Indiana Hoosiers! but he has quite the random collection (what even is a hoosier?) the way she indulges his silliness doesn't go unnoticed either and he bites into his lips as his eyes track down to her mouth automatically to watch her tongue dart across. his tummy flutters, fighting back the urge to lean in and taste the sauce off her lips himself. ]

Did you just admit I impress you?

[ a teasing challenge as his fingers brush hers against his glass as he immediately takes a sip to hide how affected he is. ]

Go on, go sit down. I'll bring everything over.

Your cooking, at least. Everything else is still up for debate.

[ she's been taking a note of all his touches, trying to decide what to do with that. it makes her feel silly, that simple things like that even get her excited, which is why she doesn't really do anything with it.

her eyes fall on the table and she laughs when he says that because god this is so corny. bringing a hand up to her mouth she shakes her head a bit before turning her attention back to his direction. ]

Come on, this is dumb. [ she says that, but that big smile hasn't gone off her face as she backs herself in the direction of the table. ] If anyone should be doing all the work its me. [ she gives a small little head tilt to her arms. ] Super hero, and all.

[ god, she's... gorgeous when she smiles like that. radiant even. his expression turns softer than ever as he takes another sip before moving to deposit his wine across from her at the rickety table. ]

Oh, you're a superhero now? Gonna apply for the A-team?

[ he shakes his head as he spins to plate their dinners, a heaping portion on each since he hasn't eaten himself today either and a part of him is curious to see if she'll eat it all. fresh parmesan and bread he warmed a few minutes joins everything, and he whips up a quick bowl of olive oil and garlic for it before finally sitting his ass down. it feels like the first time today, even if technically he'd been on a stakeout earlier. that was work. this is— as yet undefined.

frank smiles at her a final time before picking his fork back up and shifting the flowers on his table out of the way so he can watch her instead. this time it's just a few peach-colored peonies, they're much fresher than the last bouquet was even though it's a sparse sampling. ]

I'm thinking about starting my own team, actually. Wanna join?

[ she says this while raising a brow and her glass up to her lips, taking a big sip before looking at his preparations in front of her. it's the nicest and freshest thing she's eaten in... god, who knows how long. it actually looks really good, and she wants to ask him about it and where he got his cooking skills from but she doesn't really want the conversation to have the potential to sour. ]

Great benefits to working for me, too. [ she's trying to maintain this confidence, but his stupid smile makes her smile again and she shakes her head one last time while setting down her wine glass and picking up her fork. bless her heart, she's trying so hard to swallow her pride and enjoy this but she's so out of her comfort zone right now--being cooked for, waited on. she doesn't need any of this, but... when she looks up and sees his smile again, suddenly everything doesn't feel so out of place. she might not need it, but that doesn't mean she can't try to enjoy it.

after a few jabs into the noodles she takes a bite, savoring the warm and homemade food. there's a 'mmm' sound she makes in between chewing, and she waits until most of her food is swallowed before saying anything about it. ]

It could be because I haven't had anything that hasn't been delivered to my door in months, but this? Incredible, I don't even care if I'm giving you a compliment. Take it.

[ who needs pride when you have pasta? she goes in for another bite. ]

No one wants me on their team. Besides, I don't have cool powers.

[ he sounds really amused, forgetting to eat as he gets caught up watching her instead. it's obvious she's enjoying her meal already and then she says as much. it shocks him enough that the barest hint of color rises on his cheeks. ]

I'll cherish it. [ frank sounds glib, but he's serious, taking a long drink of wine to hide how much her praise is getting to him. once he puts it down, he'll finally go for his own plate, the fork scraping against the bottom of it as he stabs noodles aggressively and pops them into his mouth. then he's sprinkling some more cheese on before going for another bite and offering the container to jessica in question. ] I haven't made anything in a while either, it was due.

[ and making this for her is even sweeter. ]

Mm, I don't think I'd ask you to be on my team if I didn't want you on my team.

[ after she swallows she takes another drink of her wine. the second sip really makes her miss her whiskey. ]

So its just some big coincidence that I happen to be coming over the night you make food? Lucky me.

[ she takes the container and thinks that the food doesn't really need it, but she does anyway, caught up in the moment. picking up her fork again she mixed the food a little bit before taking another bite. safe to say she'll probably finish this bowl.]

Well, in that case... I graciously accept.

[ how could he not, right? frank takes a long drink of the wine, seeming to appreciate it for what it is moreso than her. he goes for a piece of bread and starts to scoop sauce and veggies onto it. ]

You texted me on accident. Even I'm not that good.

[ he had no way to know she'd accept his invite too... right? ]

[ that response gives him a brow raise and a slight head tilt, too busy putting another bite in her mouth to really respond. it isn't until she's had a few more chews and she goes down to stick her fork back in the pasta that she pauses and looks back up at him. ]

Did you ever think about it? Texting me, I mean.

[ he freezes mid swallow to meet her eyes, a bit of a deer caught in the headlights though he's quickly bringing lucidity back to his gaze by force. how honest here is too honest? likely any degree will just make him sound pathetic and he's not inclined to lie to her as it is so... here goes almost nothing. ]

Of course I thought about it. I just didn't think you wanted me to.

[ his voice is clear and even, it's obvious there's no deception or hesitation here. ]

That's fair.

[ it's spoken softly, because she expected as much. she's not good with people and feelings, so mix the two of them together and it's basically a recipe for disaster with her. running away and ignoring her problems is kind of her thing.

she gives him a small deflated smile before following in his previous actions by grabbing a piece of bread and dipping it into her own sauce. ]

For what it's worth I thought about it, too.

[ oh. that gets a tiny smile that he quickly hides behind another sip and by the time he takes another bite the mirth is only reflecting in his eyes. ]

Guess I should thank Nelson for needing your expertise.

I think the bottle of Teacher's deserves most of the credit, but. Be my guest.

[ she's sure they'd all be super interested to hear from him, anyway. she resumes eating, finishing off that piece of bread she just dipped. ]

[ he snorts at that. ] Yeah, that guy deserves a vacation from me. Probably for life.

[ foggy earned that shit, poor boy. ]

Is that what you say about people who spend a lot of time with you?

[ she reaches out and takes another drink but this time it's more of a knock back to wash down her food. she can drink this shit like it's water. she sets it back down, with little liquid remaining.

she has absolutely no class, sorry. ]

Uh, yeah. Pretty much.

[ but he'd been especially hard to handle in that trial, as he well knows. and matt was absolutely 0 help, big surprise there. on the wine front it's okay, he's noticing and getting up to grab the bottle since he's more than halfway down himself. ]

This shit is pretty good. [ frank blinks at the label like it means anything to him before bringing it back over and setting it between them where the flowers used to be and reclaiming his seat. ] I've got this friend, she loves that- the pink wine, rosé. It's not bad either.

[ god that even sounds weird to him in his own voice, enjoy jess. ]

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