5541/1950: The Day Before the Big Day

1950: The Day Before the Big Day
Date of Scene:	11 March 2021
Location:	1950 SHIELD HQ, NYC
Synopsis:	Daniel slips out of his bachelor party to come find Peggy at the office, they deal with their nerves about the looming big day in various ways, some wiser than others.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Daniel Sousa

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Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy would never admit that she'd run out of work -- she'd insist that SHIELD always has work -- she had. The various agents had been slowly taking things off her desk, reassigning other cases, doing everything in their power to make certain the bosses could *actually* not just get married, but take their honeymoon. Even Howard was in the office for two weeks, he promised. But somehow, she hadn't been able to bring herself to leave the office.

Nearly 9 pm, most women would be out at a bachelorette or stag and doe party, Peggy is still behind her desk. She's now got this week's analysis reports on her desk open in front of her, going through the grunt work of junior agents who are taught how to screen and anaylze police reports between their various assignments. She has a cold cup of tea, her suit jacket off, and her shoes on the floor. It's not serious work, but she's still doing it. She told him to go home hours ago or, more accurately, to go out with the boys. Celebrate some! Have his last night of freedom! She trusted he was doing that...

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel had done what he was told, dutifully following Thompson, Dougan, Jones, Morita and Howard down to the Swordfish along with a few of his own war buddies from the SSR Volunteers and the 28th Infantry, but when he broke away from the party to check in on Peggy with a call home and it rang and rang and rang, he knew where she'd be. So, excusing himself to the head he slipped out the back and hailed a cab to take him back to Chelsea and headquarters.

Stepping out of the elevator he smiles to see the light on in Peggy's office as he winds his way through the bullpen to knock briefly on the door and step inside. "Missing a helluva party," he remarks from the doorway.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Looking up from her desk, Peggy's eyes go a little wide as she sees him, still slightly smelling the cigars of the bar on his suit (but then she's often loved a good cigar, for celebrations.) "Daniel!" She huffs out, both a little touched and a little offended he is here. Dugan assured her that they'd be partying half the night away. "...That's your party. Rose brought in cake earlier. I'm not...quite one for a rousing night at the pub, and if I show up bleary eyed and mussy faced tomorrow, everyone will know! If you do, well...they'll know you appreciated your last night of *freedom*, or whatever the rot they say is."

She pulls her feet down off of her desk, moving to shut the folders so he can't quite see whatever drivel she was doing her best to distract herself with reading. Most people would not pick up the nerves, but he might see them. The slight hiccup of her hands, tension in her shoulders, a too-brightness behind her eyes.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"Freedom is overrated," Daniel says with a warm smile, made a little warmer by the flush of his cheeks that suggests he at least had a little fun at the party. "Besides Howard got the Rockettes to show up, the guys won't miss me," he says stepping in and closing the door. "And when I called home to check in and didn't get an answer I figured you'd be here," even though he doesn't mention it the gentle concern in his eyes suggests he spotted that bit of nerves. "Big case?" he asks of the files not quite broaching the topic of the big day and any nerves just yet.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A gentle clearing of her throat comes and Peggy shakes her head. It's late enough in a very long day that her curls have fallen mostly flat and there's no scent of food in the room so chances are she didn't get dinner sent to the office. She's just been working. A smile warms more on her lips, though, and she shifts her feet back into her pumps so she can stand up without snagging her stockings on the wooden floor. It was mostly smooth, but sometimes there were always edges. She walks around to lean up and give him a quick, warm kiss, content to see him, despite her protests.

"Ah...just making certain we aren't missing anything coming down the line by going next week. I still think...maybe a year or two off would have been wiser." Even though it's been oddly, blessedly quiet, as if the universe were giving them this.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel smiles as she comes over gladly returning the kiss smelling of cigars and good whiskey. When it breaks he is still smiling, leaning heavily on his cane from a long day and a good party in equal measure.

There's a gentle snort of amusement, "Yeah, but like we said, in two years we'd just be thinking the same thing. Better to jump now and trust the world will hold together long enough to have a little time to ourselves," he says. "Besides we can always tear ourselves away if a real crisis pops up," he reasons, gently touching the wood of the door frame to make sure he didn't just jinx them.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The taste of whiskey and cigars on him is a little more than tempting. While Peggy had planned a brief, good-evening kiss and then to send him back off to his fun, her fingertips come up to curl into his tie and she drags him just a little closer to herself. Another kiss is taken, this one longer, somewhat more hungry and definitely with promises of things they've never done in the office... Yet. She finally lets herself break away, but she doesn't move far, breath on his lips as she speaks.

"mm... I know. I know. It will never... truly be a good time. But... I just worry. I'm making certain I'm not missing things, is all. I... really should shoo you back to your party, you know." She murmurs, never having let go of his tie.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel is more than happy to return the kiss, his hands clutching her waist those unspoken promises are tempting and he makes no effort to pull away and even when they stop, like Peggy he doesn't move, and wouldn't even if she weren't still holding onto his tie. "Hmm, I'm good right here, besides kinda liked where things were going there," he admits, his usual reserve weakened by shots of good whiskey and his own nervousness demanding some sort of outlet. Though he adds, "You know it's going to be alright Peg," meaning the big day looming ahead of them both rather than the prospect of a little bit of fun in the office.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Her other hand creeps up slowly, starting to undo his tie with a few smooth, tempting pulls. Peg begins to lead him backwards, going slow as she's ever careful of his leg, but the intended destination is clearly the big leather couch in her office where she's slept more than once. A new heat has slipped into her cheeks, clearly tempted. Maybe that's just what they needed to take their mind off things.

She starts to kiss down the side of his throat, leaving a little trail of lipstick that is still somehow lingering from the day in her wake. If he does make it back to the party, at least none of the boys will be complaining now. She's just about at his collarbone that he's bared when he offers that reassurance that is nothing about enjoying themselves on the couch. She sighs slightly, nose resting against his throat. "...I know. I'm marrying you. We...made it. That's all I've wanted. You're my partner and this is... a formality at best."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel drops his cane as he's guided back towards the couch his hands busy with her clothes as she busies hers with his own. The pause though has his eyes opening, but smiling wryly. "Really got in my own way with that huh?" he says of that assurance before he nods. "That's all I wanted too, us doing what we do for the rest of our lives, the only thing that changes tomorrow is on paper," he says, before adding. "Still nervous about it for some reason, but I definitely don't have any doubts."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The woman gently pushes him back down to the couch, still in her suit skirt, blouse, stockings and shoes, but her hair definitely has that mussed look as she kicks one leg over to straddle his hips. Peggy looks down at him, breathing a little more shallowly as she considers the debate between genuinely talking this out, or tossing worries aside and enjoying herself. The sight of his shirt mostly open leans heavily towards the second.

"Then... it's fine. It'll all be fine. The worst someone can do is...try and interrupt. And they might. And we'll fight back and manage as we always do... It'll be fine. Right?" She asks him, resting against his hips now, maybe having cooled her own hot streak but she needs to see it in his eyes.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
That mussed look and Peggy straddling him definitely has him leaning towards that second option as well. Though her words have him looking up and meeting her eyes with his own. "It'll be fine," he promises. "Like we said the night we got engaged, it's like we cheated the universe how good we've got it, and if we can do it once we can do it again and again as many times as we need to," he leans up and kisses sweetly on the lips. "We deserve this win."

Peggy Carter has posed:
He's the only one in the world who can truly calm her nerves -- possibly because he's one of the only people in the world she dares show them. But his words clearly help, her smile coming a bit more soft and not the forced awake, chipper bit she was trying before. Peggy leans down into that kiss, still hovering over him, so she doesn't make him work too hard for it. Her hand rests against his chest, under the fabric of his shirt. Across his heart. "We do... And it won't always be wins. We... we should just take this one..." She mutters into his mouth.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
The power to calm Peggy's nerves is one he treasures and all the more for how rarely she shows those feelings to anyone else. He smiles as she does, leaning into the touch over his heart, savouring the kiss before lingering with her lips almost touching. "No, it won't," he agrees they knew that much to be sure, wins were never assured. "Sounds like a plan," he agrees of taking this win, before reaching up to cup her face as he closes the tiny distance between them as he claims another, deeper, kiss.

Peggy Carter has posed:
That kiss is as reassuring as the words are, really, and Peggy leans deeper into it. Her fingertips reach down, now working at the button of his slacks and the fly. No one but the front desk is in the office, and she's all the way across the bullpen. They aren't supposed to be here, no one is going to be calling on Peggy this time of night. It's an evening to be daring. She smiles, pulling away just enough she can get his shirt fully off and start untucking that undershirt before she remembers, "...oh bollocks... I don't have a johnny." She huffs, staring down at him. Debating it. It's not something they've ever really doubted using before. But tonight, she's on the edge and tempted...

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's hands busy themselves with Peggy's blouse as she works his button and fly, nimbly undoing the buttons until the question of the johnny arises and he leans his head back and chuckles. "Yeah, me neither," he says, before looking back up at her again. "Do we want to chance it?" he asks, booze, desire and nerves pushing him to throw his usual caution into the wind. Even so there's a hint of concern in his eyes, as if his pratical side was fighting to get past all the rest.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A whimper of a breath that is edging on a curse, but she doesn't quite give voice to the words, escapes her lips the moment he confirms he doesn't have one either. Peggy gives a little groan, half collapsing against him as she catches her breath, tries to calm her heart, and considers their situation. "...this is how every teenager in the world gets into trouble." Peggy mutters into his hair, still perfectly sober herself. But also still not getting up. Or more dressed. Or even moving one inch as her fingertips idly stretch across his ribs. "...guess I can feel better knowing Howard or Dugan didn't give you one at the top of the night 'just in case'..."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's eyes shift to the ceiling as Peggy collapses against him and he wraps his arms around her, as he tries to get a handle on his own thoughts. "Yeah, and about half the GIs during the Liberation," he adds, though like Peggy he's not moving, his hand behind her resting under her blouse against the skin of her back.

That last comment has him coughing and flushing. "Wow, yeah definitely not something they'd have needed to give me." he says before adding. "Though right now, sort of wish they had," he says, slipping a hand free to brush through Peggy's hair. "I want to, badly, but a kid right now?" he says. "We should at least try to make it home."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Another faint whimper escapes her lips and Peggy turns her head, pressing one more, long kiss against his throat. "You're right. I...hate it when you're right." She mutters in the most teasing of fashions. She breathes in quite deep of his scent, keeping it in her mind, his blood up and the edges of whiskey with cigars? It'd be a heady memory she'll keep with her for a long time. "Come on...let's get you back to the bar and we can guilt Howard into sending us in a limo home... pre-celebrations all around, then." She nips one last kiss at his neck before forcing herself up to put herself back together.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
She's not the only one whimpering his breath coming in a ragged regretful sigh she can feel in his throat when she kisses him there. He chuckles. "I know and it happens so often," he teases back about being right hoping humour would cut through a little bit of the other things pounding through his brain right now. He kisses her neck in turn before she pulls away to get herself together and he takes a moment to catch his breath. "Sounds like a plan," he says about the limo. He does up his pants before pushing up off the couch to get to his feet. "And just remember, one more day and then our honeymoon." As long as the world doesn't try and end while they're away anyhow. Recovering his cane, he moves to Peggy again and steals another kiss. "Shall we?" he says before leading the way back to the bar, the party and slightly better choices than they'd have made otherwise.