4800/The British Invade... the Breakroom.

The British Invade... the Breakroom.
Date of Scene:	20 January 2021
Location:	Recreation Lounge: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Lance and Peggy finally get to properly meet each other. He reveals to her the secret tea stash. She reveals she's not quite drank all the SHIELD kool aid one would expect from a founder. He tricks her into a drinking night with Bobbi.
Cast of Characters:	Lance Hunter, Peggy Carter

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Lance Hunter has posed:
Hunter is looking a little worse for wear after last night's festivities likely owing to the fact he stayed late to make sure Daisy got home alright and in doing so had to help down a few more of her shots, not to mention the couple of pints he drank after that to wash away the memory of General Grinder from his brain. However the business of tracking down one's dopplegangers doesn't wait for hangovers, so Hunter was in the Triskelion today bright and early at the crack of noon, eyes behind shades as he shambles about the building checking in with the various teams tasked with tracking and finding the invaders from another dimension. No news and no leads found he finds himself in the recreation room poured into a chair with a bottle of water pressedt to his forehead in an effort to stop it from pounding quite so hard.

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy is fairly good at managing her alcohol, even she had a little too much the night before. Mainly in efforts to drown out certain feelings and simply enjoy the success of getting May home. She's been in all day, however, never one to lose working hours even if she'd rather be in bed asleep. Her eyes are a touch bloodshot, jet lag on top of it all, and she's still wearing that faint rosiness and freckles she got from the desert sun.

A long morning in the archives for no reason on the record, she now desperately needs tea and maybe some food, but tea first. In her old fashioned dress and heels, she crosses into the rec room and past Lance, straight in the direction of the little coffee and tea station. She's put her own tin of gunpowder black tea on the tray there and is now digging for the strainer, really hoping no one else finished it off yet. "No one knows good tea in this place." She mutters down to the last few bits of her preferred blend. It would have to be enough for one weak cup, at least.

Lance Hunter has posed:
At the mention of tea Lance perks up, bottle lifted from his forehead as he glances over to see Peggy at the tea station. "True 'nuf," he says. "But try the no name brand coffee tin," something even the most dedicated coffee drinkers wouldn't touch. "A few of us keep a stash in there for emergencies," he offers. True to his word if the can is opened there's an array of packets of loose tea and a spare strainer in a variety of flavours. "Never know when you might need it in the wilds of North America," he says with a conspiratorial smile.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A little groan of relief escapes her lips as she hears that, "You are a lifesaver. And I'm going to throttle whichever probie forgot to tell me that in the first place." And probably going to sneak her preferred tea in there as well. Peggy, for the moment, reaches down and starts picking through the loose leaf packets, giving them all a brief sniff before settling on a Lady Gray with some gunpowder black mixed in. It will do. She taps it into the strainer and starts the familiar ritual of making herself a good cup, her hip leaning against the edge of the stand there just enough that she's probably more tired than she's trying to let the world see.

Lance Hunter has posed:
"Well don't be too hard on them us civilized folk around here try to keep that secret pretty close," he confides. "Though if you can find wherever May stashes hers you might be one of the people she'd let live after she finds it missing, you know, rescuing her from where she was and all," he says avoiding the words time travel while in the rec room. He takes a swig of his water. "So, how you holding up after the party? Meant to say a proper hello but lost track of you after General Grinder's sneak attack." A small smirk forms at that last.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Oh, fine. I didn't stay too late. Was wise to escape when I did considering that little game you and Johnson came up with. And *you*, hmm?" Peggy turns her body enough to look directly at Lance and give him a long, slow study. It's the first time she's really had a chance to look at the man not in the middle of combat. Hearing another accent from home was actually a little reassuring, though her's is a bit closer to Northern London proper than his. She says she's fine, but she's definitely looking a little weary herself.

"I don't know that we've...properly met, though I suppose being on a mission like that counts plenty." She extends her hand in his direction as she waits for her tea to steep. "Margaret Carter... but Peggy is just fine."

Lance Hunter has posed:
"Wise move," Lance says of getting out of the party when she did. "And wasn't us who thought it up, been a tradition for years, a shot per agent saved when you win the Carter, they made Bobbi do it, May just didn't show for her shots, and well pretty much anyone who wins it has to drink," he says. "Which is why it's my strict policy not to save more than five agents at a time, unless they're willing to spring for the aspirin and IV fluids after," he says lightly.

As for how he made out he's looking worse for wear, what with the shades on indoors, and the way he clings to that water bottle like a lifeline, otherwise he's got the look of someone from the sharp end of SHIELD, a specialist or a graduate of the ops academy.

Shaking Peggy's hand he says,"Lancelot Hunter," with a knowing grin and a roll of his eyes at his first name, "My parents were feeling Arthurian when I was born," he says, his own accent having a Kentish quality to it smoothed over by a healthy dose of RP, likely from some sort of schooling. "Good to,meet you, though from how Bobs goes on about you feels like I've known you forever."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Lancelot." Peggy states with a wry little smile, not entirely able to hide the amusement from her dark, bloodshot eyes. "I suspect that's why you prefer everyone to call you Lance, hmm? I'll keep it in mind..." And probably in her back pocket for whenever he's causing trouble and she NEEDS to use the full name just to get his attention. Because he does look like a trouble maker. She's seen that cut of frame and mind on an agent before.

Peggy then looks slightly quickly away, down to her tea, some odd sense of embarrassment and strange guilt on her pale features as she finishes straining her tea instead of considering how people seem to consider her a legend around here. "Considering that Bobbi is my *boss*, that's rather odd. But having an award named after you is odd too...especially when you're walking about again. Anyway...how long have you been in?"

Lance Hunter has posed:
"Wouldn't you?" Lance says of his preferred nickname. "Clearly my mum didn't actually read the bloody books or she really wanted me to cause a certain kimd of trouble when I was older," he says of his name choice.

"I dunno., seems like an opportunity to me, if she's taking you to task just look very disappointed in her, it'll break her heart," he jokes. "Can't blame you about the award though, that's got to be a strange one, thankfully the odds of there being The Hunter is slim to none."

As to how long he's been in Lance takes a sip of water. "Five years the first time, and three months this time," he says. "Had a bit of a falling out in between."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I mean...I could pull your file, or you could tell me the actual story, if you are up to talking through this hangover of yours." Peggy states with a slightly bemused smirk, but the look in her eyes is genuine interest. She grabs her mug of tea, now fully read and strainer draining into a little saucer on the tea station, then makes her way over to him. She doesn't sit directly next to him, but instead the most direct across from where he is, so she's still in comfortable conversation distance but easily able to study every inch of him as they speak. She can't entirely put away her profiler mind set, not even with fellow agents.

Lance Hunter has posed:
Hunter grins broadly at Peggy asking him he's up to talking through his hangover, "Clearly Bobs hasn't said much about me then, way she tells it I'd have to be dead a few years before I ever shut up,," he says with a wry shake of his head. "Beside the file's dry and boring, just says resigned for personal reasons, and then re-enlisted with the endorsement of Barbara Morse and Maria Hill, the real story is more fun," he says giving no sign of deception in his body language, as he leans forward bottle held firmly in hand. If anything the talking seems to revive him more than tiring him out.

"Leaving came down to me and Bobs having a disagreement about SHIELD and our relationship, she thought SHIELD should come first and I thought otherwise, so I went free agent for awhile to get some space. Which was going pretty well until Whitehall's people picked me up to try and get Bobbi to figure out this serum they were working on. Didn't work out like they thought it would, the two of us plus Simmons got out and after that was about it, wasn't much choice but to go back to SHIELD if HYDRA was going to keep coming after me to try and get at Bobs, figured might as well join the good guys again and hit back a little."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The older woman listens quietly, content to let the man yammer on as much as he wishes, though she's certainly getting a good bit of subtext between the lines even if he is rather loquacious. Peggy's eyes never leave his frame, mainly concentrated on his face but occasionally dropping to get body language, the only thing between them is the lazy steam of her tea.

"Mm... As much as I enjoy working in the field with Agent Morse -- she is quite competent -- I cannot say we have gotten to be much of friends. I... am not the sort people *make* friends with around here. Either too intimidated or too young..." Peggy shrugs to herself as she admits that. "No one knows what to do with a fossil who many think should have been put out to pasture or bronzed a while ago." She's mostly recovered enough from hangover and the feelings of the weekend that she's well hiding the majority of the loneliness behind her eyes when she says that. "So, no, Agent Morse and I have not spoken of you and she's...association. And I can't say rejoining just to dodge HYDRA is the most compelling of reasons, but I'll take any allies I can get in the fight against them."

Lance Hunter has posed:
Lance's body language remains open as he speaks, seeming to enjoy the chance to talk about his relationship with both SHIELD and Bobbi, which seem to be inextricably linked. "You're joking right?" he says about people not wanting to be her friend. "If you want I can call Bobs right now and you can set up a time to get drinks, she'd love that, she might be your boss but you're Peggy Carter, of course she's going to want to be friends with you," he shakes his head. "Or if you don't want to worry about her just fangirling on you all night, call us both, we'll go out and have some fun," he says. "Be good to have her out numbered Brits to Yanks for one thing, and besides, from the way I hear it you and your lot started this whole SHIELD is family business, seems only fair you get to benefit from it."

As to his reasons for joining, Hunter shrugs, "I only really joined for Bobs in the first place, but things like the other day, with getting May back, everything you lot did to do it, makes me consider drinking he company Kool Aid," a beat. "One day."

Peggy Carter has posed:
When he says that Bobs wants to be friends, Peggy just smirks deeper and gives her head a shake, "No, no... Don't bother her. No one really cares to *hang out* with the old lady. What's the saying: Never meet your heroes? Probably best keep it that way as much possible. Besides, we can both have hope that possibly she's bothering to relax. She needs *some* rest, all things considered. Especially after that." Peggy isn't certain if Lance knows about the heart attacks or not, so she's slightly dancing around it, but her protective concern for the woman is clear even to someone who isn't a profiler. She's not bothering to hide it.

The next bit, when he talks about the company Kool Aid, there's something there she is trying to hide. But he might catch a flicker of it. A discomfort -- distrust, really, that Peggy carefully masks a heartbeat later, hiding the line of her lips behind a sip of tea as she composes her thoughts about the matter. "No one should drink such things... maintaining a healthy skepticism is... vital to a sharp agent." For a founder of SHIELD, she doesn't seem all that gung ho about it right now.

Lance Hunter has posed:
Hunter isn't listening to the arguments against it, he has his phone out and his fingers are punching in a text. "Bollocks. We'll text her, set something up in a couple of days, give her some time to rest," he says, a nod given for Peggy's concern. "She really needs to fix that bloody serum somehow," he says betraying a little of his own concern so often buried deep under layers of glib dismissal. The message is sent off into the ether with a final stab of his thumb.

As for SHIELD, Peggy's reply has Hunter tilting his head. "I mean, I agree with you, but," he frowns. "Not really the answer I'd expect. Figured if anyone would be handing out the cups it'd be you."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Lancelot. That is *not* necessary." Peggy states flatly to the phone, in the tone of someone who scolds like a mother and definitely knows how to put the fear of god into any good British boy. Thank goodness Lance probably isn't that good a British boy. She stares flatly to him, not willing to physically take his phone to stop him texting, but the thought crosses her eyes. "And...yes. Yes she does." Peg echoes about the serum, her tone a bit darker there. She is more than a bit worried. "She is getting to be a liability in the field, and I know she'd be pissed at me for saying that but it doesn't make it less true." Ahh, there is the steel of command in Peggy's spine. People probably hated her when she was in charge. She didn't make the gentle calls.

His comment about SHIELD gets him a very carefully neutral shrug. "You get paranoid, you get as old as me, is all. Learn not to drink any thing you didn't make yourself and if you set it down along the way, never know quite what somebody might have slipped into it." That's all she says about the matter, carefully couched metaphor behind stone face neutral words.

Lance Hunter has posed:
Ooh she used the full name, that only makes Hunter type faster. Definitely not a good British boy. "Sorry, Peggy, were you saying something?" he asks after the message was on the way. Probably best Peggy isn't still Director or he'd be opening a new SHIELD branch in Antarctica.

"I know she and Simmons are working on it, or were, anyhow, and I do my best to keep her heart rate to a reasonable level," ironically by being his usual annoying self. "But yeah, I saw that the other day, she says she can heal but-" he leaves it off at that but the rest of that sentence is easy to guess, 'what if one time she doesn't'. "I'll talk to her about it, see if there's more that can be done to fix things," he says.

"Well it'd be bloody hard to slip a roofie into SHIELD," he says playing on her metaphor. "So you're probably safe, I mean some of the people around here could do with a foot put squarely up their ass, but we've both served back home, we know it's the way it is all over."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A small huff of air is given in acknowledgment to Lance's words about trying to see what else can be done. She doesn't outrank Bobbi, so Peggy can't order her out of the field, but she certainly can put all the pressure on possible to get the woman fixed or on a desk until she is. Peggy really is a classic old spy, never just taking the direct route to anything.

She sits back in her chair a little deeper, long legs crossing beneath her swing skirt and her neat red nails resting against the side of the tea mug she's now nursing. She looks strangely out of place it this horribly modern interior. The smile on her lips is still rather too neutral, unspoken thoughts behind her eyes but she's toeing the line loud and clear in range of any speaker in this room. "Yes, of course. SHIELD is bullet proof. Just the way I built it. And now who sounds like they've drank the Kool aid, hmm?"

Lance Hunter has posed:
Whether Hunter takes note that Peggy is using him to pressure Bobbi indirectly or not it seems their objectives are aligned when it comes to Bobbi. "Yeah, I'll see what I can do," he says though he knows that's going to be an uphill battle, trying to get her to take things a little easier.

The other business gets his interest and while he's not May or Bobbi when it comes to reading people he's no slouch either, that too neutral expression and the easy surrender of her position in the discussion speaks volumes."See, like I said, nothing to worry about," he says playing along. His phone pings and he checks it. "Looks like Bobbi's up for those drinks, we just have to pick a time," he says. "Got a phone? I'll throw mine in Bobbi's numbers in there so we can coordinate," he says. And also a means for them to talk away from the crowd at the Triskelion.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Call me old fashioned, but I prefer a land line for such matters. Here." Peggy reaches into the little bag at her side, pulling out a tiny reporter's note book and pen. She writes down a single number, no name attached to it, and folds the paper over so it cannot be caught on any cameras. She then slides it over to Lance with a too-innocent smile. "I know it seems silly, but one does keep their comforts when you get to my age." And something without a SHIELD tracking device, bug, or any knowledge from SHIELD that it exists at all.

Lance Hunter has posed:
Lance takes the number and pockets it without checking it here. "Whatever floats your boat," he says keeping the seeming of a very casual conversation. "Anyhow should probably let you be, but I'll talk to Bobs and we'll give you a ring about drinks, we know a good spot in Westchester, sort of our usual haunt."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Yes. I've got a bit more archive digging to do. You know, making certain everything's in place after... Everything." Peggy unfolds from the seat and gives him a brief salute with her tea mug. "Thanks for the hot tip about the tea. You're a life saver. I'll get revenge for this matter of drinks at a future point in time, trust me. I've got a long memory." And with that warning and a wry smile, Peggy turns on the ball of her foot and heads back out of the room in the direction of archival storage. At least she was being honest about that.