7126/Old Flames of Many Colors

Old Flames of Many Colors
Date of Scene:	29 July 2021
Location:	Carter-Sousa Home - Long Island
Synopsis:	In preparation for the military ball, and because he deserves the truth, Peggy lets Daniel know about the relationship between her and Logan. He doesn't take it well.
Cast of Characters:	Daniel Sousa, Peggy Carter

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Daniel Sousa has posed:
The meeting with Lily had turned into a mini vacation of sorts with Peggy and Daniel staying at their old home for a change from the sameness of the Playground. It was nice, and it also gave them a chance to get ready for the regimental ball, searching old wardrobes and closets for what to wear. With the house's late turn as a safehouse a lot of storage had been shuffled in a hurry without thought to being able to find things later. As such it took Daniel a bit of time to track down his old footlocker, but when he did, his class A's were inside well preserved in one of those shrink wrap things, likely the work of the cleaners Peg had employed to keep the place intact all these years. It took a bit for him to get his uniform free but once he did he swiftly took it to the bathroom to try it on, sucking in his gut at first until he realized it still fit, and if anything had to be taken in a couple of places. A couple weeks in the Framework and skipping meals will do that to a person.

Still, when he looked in the mirror he looked very much like the young man from the pictures on the wall, even if his face showed a decade of aging and his eyes were less bright and eager, if still kind, years of war, loss and strangeness his 24 year old self could never imagined having tempered that youthful spark.

Daniel smiles at his reflection, then collecting his cap he opens the door to the bed room, and puts it on his head before calling to Peggy, "So, what do you think?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
The joys of technology is that Peggy was actually able to do almost all of her job completely remote from the Long Island house. Secure video communication channels with people back at the Playground meat even the face to face meetings she needed to have were done over a computer screen, her sitting in the old cherry wood and bookshelf lined office connected to their bedroom in their marriage house. And then the day was over. They had the place to themselves.

Peggy's been digging through old dresses, torn between them and her old SSR uniform which is laid out on the bed. She's done her best not to peek as he's adjusting and settling back into his uniform, wanting to get the whole effect with him being happy with what is in the mirror. So she's forced herself to stare at the bed, piecing through old red and blue gowns or that familiar wool, dark green suit.

When he asks, she finally looks up and turns around, grinning ear to ear as she sees him in that old uniform. They never got to much serve together, and he was always on a crutch when she saw him in it after. Now, standing up straight and solid, she cannot help but flush a little as she steps over to him, "Mm... I didn't know you could get more handsome. It means I should resist peeling you out of it, but... Very nice, soldier. Very nice."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's grin spreads across his lips at Peggy's smile and the little flush that comes to her cheeks at the sight of him. "I don't know, it'd be pretty hard," he boasts with self-depricating chuckle at himself. He's not one for boasts and even joking ones usually came with a bit of a laugh at his own expense. "And save that sort of thinking for /after/ the ball," he says of peeling him out of it, brushing a kiss to Peggy's lips before looking at what she's got laid out on the bed.

"So, figured out which one you're going to go with?" he asks. "Not to tip the scales any but I always did like a gal in uniform."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Right now, she's standing in nothing but a cream slip trimmed with lace at the low v-neck top and bottom. It would fit under any of the outfits she has chosen and, from the yellowing-cream of the satin, was likely something she actually wore under things in the fifties. It has the right bra-cup cut, made for slightly more bulleted bras than the modern era finds so fashionable.

She keeps one arm around his wast, returning the kiss warmly before turning back to face the bed with him, but she's not quite willing to let him go yet. "Mm, well, that does help. I talked to Steve about it all and Logan..." Something pauses her when she says that name, "Uh... Lucky Jim, if you remember him... and there was some concern that s of the old boys will be weirded out to see us all looking young in our uniforms again, but that also might mean they will still recognize us..."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
The slip definitely has Daniel's attention and he smiles, "Well, you could shock the master-at-arms and just go in that, it'd make a helluva impression," he teases as their lips break and he keeps himself close to her as they examine the clothes laid out on the bed, drinking in the closeness as he does.

"I remember him," Daniel says of Jim. "Besides Lily he's just about the only one in our old crowd still around right? We stashed Abcde in his safehouse." Well until it was clear Dottie had the place staked out.

"And right, I was wondering about that, how do any of us answer questions when we're asked? I mean the whole world knows Steve's story, for the rest of us, how we got here looking like we do is a little more classified."

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is definitely a look on Peggy's face about Lucky Jim. She goes a little tense in Daniel's arms, not quite ready to peel him out of that uniform again, but she also doesn't pull away. She tightens her arm at his waist and smirks, "I think the uniform, at least. This... this is for you, after." She teases him in turn, but her mind is somewhere else.

"Oh, it's no matter. They know about Steve. Hell, a few of them know about me. You and Jim are classified and we leave it at that. They understand classified. I think they'll... well, maybe be a bit jealous, but just be happy to see people well."

She then takes in a deep, slow breath and turns away from the bed to look over to him. "Daniel...there's something I need to tell you about Jim..."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel's eyes sparkle with amusement when she tells him the slip is for him for after the ball. He lets out a breath then, "Well that settles it then we're going to need to book a room near the ball, don't think I have the patience for driving you here or Delaware?" his words trailed off sensing her mind was on things other than flirting.

"Peg, are you-" he begins before brings up Jim.

The distraction, the steadying breath all speak volumes, for a moment his mind flashes with possibilities before settling on one. "I know about the blood transfusion," he tells her. "One of the nurses told me when I got back from my nap, you were passed right out, I didn't want to wake you."

Peggy Carter has posed:
A deep breath is quietly drawn in through her nose. Peggy doesn't look exactly scared, but there is an odd discomfort behind her eyes. She shifts a bit more so her hands both rest on the sides of his waist and she's facing him entirely, shoulders squared and even, eye to eye. This is something she needs to face head on, literally and figuratively.

Her lips press together a moment longer, trying to figure out how to phrase this. She shakes her head at his question, "N-no... No. I mean, I'm glad you know, but I figured you wouldn't mind. It might have bought me a... bit of time. He was just trying to help. But no, this... This is about when you were... when we thought you were dead." She draws in another breath, "Logan and I... we... It wasn't exactly a relationship? We never... moved in, never committed, but... we kept each other close... Romantically, off and on for many years. It just sort of happened. We'd known each other so long and... it was a comfort. I did, I mean... I do care for him. He's a big part of my life. He knows you're back. He knows I love you, I wear your ring, I'm so happy to be your wife. No one ever replaced you, but... we were close like that... I just... I thought you should know."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
It's rare to see Peggy nervous about anything let alone speaking to him, so when she finds her words, she has his full attention, even if he ends up wishing he hadn't heard a word of it as soon as his brain makes sense of it all. His expression goes blank and he pulls away to sink down and sit on the edge of the bed, his eyes staring past her to the wall. "Oh," he says as he continues to stare.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As he pulls away from her like that and just sinks down onto the bed, Peggy's stomach drops into her shoes. She's silent for several heartbeats, not daring to intrude on his space while he's just staring. But after another minute passes, she can't just let him dwell in whatever awful thing he's feeling. She sinks down onto her knees in front of him, trying to pull his hands up into his lap, her own wrapping over top as she seeks out his eyes. "Daniel. I love you... I love you madly. I love you like I've never loved anyone. Nothing changes that. I'm so honored to call you my husband and I meant it when I said I'll fight everything to keep you here. But you were *dead*. And he's always been there for me too... I never imagined I...I'd get this chance again."

Daniel Sousa has posed:
Daniel continues in silence for a while longer before he blinks away the tears in his eyes. "You shouldn't have to explain it to me Peg, like you said I was dead and even if you knew I would come back from some magic mirror sixty-five years in the future, sixty-five years is a long time to be alone and I know you never stopped loving me. I get it, I don't have a reason to be angry and it'd be wrong to blame either of you for what happened, but at the same time I really want to be fucking angry about it," he bites out lifting his hand and wiping at his eyes.

" It /hurts/ Peggy, and I'm tired of hurting, I'm tired of the ache of a sixty-five year hole in our life together, tired of having to swallow more loss, more pain, more things I can't do a damn thing to fix. I'm tired Peggy, so yeah I'm not upset at you and Jim or whatever he's calling himself right now, but I wish to hell I could be and not be an ass for doing it, because anger would have to feel a helluva lot better than how I feel right now."

Peggy Carter has posed:
That brings silence from her for a few long, heavy moments. Guilt as well, her eyes slightly dropping as she blinks against a sudden well of tears that she didn't quite expect. She knows she didn't truly do anything wrong but, in this moment, part of her feels she had. She leans over and just gently kisses his knuckles, trying to find some words of reassurance, but she knows she can't. Her lips just linger there, breath against his skin.

"I love you. I love you... so much. And no, it shouldn't... change anything. Maybe I shouldn't have told you. But... He's going to be there, and we... We don't lie to each other." She pauses a second, a slight smirk pulling at her lips, "Well, other than maybe being stubborn about injuries. But... not things like this. I... couldn't let you walk into that night, and see him, and not... Know."

She lets out another slow, long breath before gently unfolding from the floor, still holding his hands. "I... I'm going to go. Maybe I'll sleep downstairs, or... the guest room tonight, if you don't... want me. Take your space. See how... you feel. I love you, nothing is ever going to stop that... and I hope you want me back. But take your time. Take... what you need. I'll be here." Just not *here*, trying to give him his space to feel without the guilt in her eyes. She leans over once more, kissing his forehead of he lets her, before she turns to leave the room. If he doesn't stop her, she walks out quietly to disappear down the hall.

Daniel Sousa has posed:
"No," Daniel says looking up at Peggy, "It's fine you did the right thing telling me, if I found out at the ball..." he doesn't finish the thought but his expression shows what that might have done to him to have learned about all this infront of their few surviving friends and a whole host of strangers. It would have broken him and likely them as well.

When she moves to leave Daniel stands and tries to wrap his arms around her if she'll let him. "You don't have to go, I am not going to sleep tonight anyhow, you stay, I'll grab the couch or the guest room if I do," he tells her, before meeting her eyes. "I love you too Peg, that's never going to change, I just need some space to toss and turn without keeping you up all night. So, go back to bed, I'll find somewhere else in the house."

Peggy Carter has posed:
While she's very tempted to argue with him and he can probably seen the disagreement budding on her face already, Peggy stops herself. Whatever he wants and needs is what she should give right now. The pain in her eyes is clear, but there's no fight from her in this moment. She pauses and turns back to him, leaning up and into the corner of his mouth for a very soft, tentative kiss. "Do... what you need. You know where to find me. I love you." She affirms, squeezing his hand one last time before letting go.

She lets him leave the room before going back to the bed, her knees finally giving way. She collapses down onto the bed, sitting between red dress and green wool. That's the first time she lets those tears actually slip free, for nothing she did truly wrong, but hurting someone -- two men, really -- she cares for deeply. Still, she never dreamt she'd see his shoulders walking out of their bedroom, not knowing when he'd return. Not for something like this. She stifles back a breath of tears, trying not to let him hear her cry.