9277/A Christmas Eve Concern

A Christmas Eve Concern
Date of Scene:	24 December 2021
Location:	Carter-Sousa Home - Long Island
Synopsis:	Jonathan Sims comes for a Christmas Eve visit with some very bad news -- the possible destruction of Manhattan is on the horizon.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Jonathan Sims
Tinyplot:	Path of Glory

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Peggy Carter has posed:
When Jon put in that emergency call, Daniel gave Peggy a *look*. They were supposed to be relaxing, enjoying their holidays at home. Therefore, Peggy asked Jon if he'd be willing to come out to Long Island to talk. Then, of course, Daniel ended up getting called away to assist with a 'tree emergency' by one of the next door neighbors, but it's still not the same as going back into the city.

She's made tea already, of course, and there is a plate of left overs covered on the table, just in case the man hasn't eaten. Peggy's still in her dress from the day, a black and red plaid number with black velvet trim. She's trying not to pace in worry but, well, she's definitely pacing in worry.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    The only real reason Jon hasn't made this trip already is that he had his own emergencies over the last few days, but it's serendipitous that he can come to see Peggy with the most information possible at the moment about impending events. He rehearses what he wants to say on the way over so he can try to be certain he gets the /really/ important information out of the way at the start.

    He's learning! This is progress.

    He wears black slacks and a green sweater when he comes over, he's done his best not to look rumpled but he hasn't been sleeping well and it shows in the dark circles under his eyes. He has a wrapped box in his hands as he knocks on the door.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The moment the door knock comes, Peggy straightens from her pacing and scampers over to the door. She pulls it open with a warm smile and a swish of her skirts, Jonathan being greeted by 1950s working class opulance through and through. Truly, looking into their home, with Peggy dressed as she is, it could be a step back in time. "Jonathan. I'm glad you could come, I know it's a bit of a hike from the city. Come in, come in...Sit. You look like you've barely slept or ate. There's left overs. Come."

Peggy motions him back into the little dining room where his still mostly warm plate is waiting. Pot roast with mashed potatoes and greenbeans, all home cooked fresh, probably not by her. She brings the pot of tea to the table and the tea cups as well. "...Sit. You can tell me what's going on while you eat."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "Not that much," Jon replies as he steps in. "I commute from the Trisk into the city nearly every day anyway. This is a much shorter trip." He offers out the gift. "It, uhh... it's from Martin, more than me, but I helped pick the colors. He's... not great with Christmas." He chuckles.

    He eyes the food a moment, then sits down. "Thank you. Ahh. Well, no, I haven't. Some of that's personal, but some of it is..." Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Straight to the point. "Heaven is going to invade Manhattan on January 6th. By Heaven I mean quite literal armies of angels, led by Saint Michael."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The box is accepted, Peggy looking down at it curiously with a warmer smile. "Mm... from *both* of you then. Incredibly sweet." And Peggy is about to start opening it, cutting her elegantly filed red fingernails across a corner of the box, but then she processes what he's actually said. She blinks, setting the box down slowly, unopened. Maybe it will be opened properly on Christmas.

"...Alright. That's quite the... opener. But we also have until January 6th so... there is some time. Back it up, eat some food. There's tea brewed already too. And tell me from the beginning." Peggy grabs a bottle of whiskey from the side bar as well, setting it down near Jonathan, before she settles on the other side as him and pours a simple cup of tea for herself.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon chuckles. "I'm /trying/ to get the pertinent information out at the start. It's hard, I'm a therapist, I'm used to... easing people into things." He picks up the fork and starts in on the pot roast, frowning thoughtfully.

    "I presume you've read about the Papal Killer? I was part of the investigation. The culprit turned out to be an actual angel that was possessing a member of the Justice League Dark." Which is a thing now, evidently. "We captured and bound the angel, and I discovered that it was Michael the Archangel." He makes a face. "I... tortured him for the information. Damaged his wing. He's going to be seeking retribution for that." A sigh. "We tried to exorcise him, but it... backfired. He is free now, and bringing half the Armies of the Host to invade Manhattan."

    He looks up. "This... is /not/ in retaliation for anything we've done. So far as I'm aware, this is the culmination of a plan that's been in place for millenia. It's just that we get to... deal with it. Some sort of test or trial for mortals, to see if the universe can continue as it is or if we need to... have a reset." Yes, he said 'universe.' Oof.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A deep sigh escapes Peggy's lips as she hears the news. She drags one hand back through her hair, not protesting that any of this is impossible, but simply processing it. That says a lot about how much she's seen in her life, that there isn't really even shock on her features. Just a grim acceptance and then the wheels turning about how to fix things.

"Alright. So... annoying. Awful. But glad it wasn't things we did. It'll probably be up to SHIELD and friends to fix it, I wouldn't doubt. And... this angel is still in this body. Is he *leading* the armies so, logically, he's the weak point? If we take him out, we maybe call off the rest of the mess?"

The potroast is excellent. Fork tender, in just a bit of its own gravy, salted perfectly. Daniel is an excellent cook and the meal is home cooking filling and warm, like nothing in the cafeteria manages.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "Actually, the... body is hanging on the Gates of Heaven," Jon says with a frown. "We're going to have to fix that. I have no intention of leaving my friend up there for longer than we must." He sighs. "We cannot /destroy/ Michael. He's fundamental to the underpinnings of reality. I..." He hesitates. "We need to gather more information about his plan. I think he's testing us, and I /know/ there's more going on than we can see. A group of us met the Archangel Uriel while astrally projecting to Heaven, and a friend of mine was visited by Raphael at the same time. There's... wheels within wheels." He shakes his head.

    "I have unexpectedly found myself at the center of this whole business. Leading the charge, as it were. Which is why I'm telling you, and not Agent Pezzini--she's been there for all of it, but I'm taking point, for the Justice League Dark. So consider this not just a report, but an... official request for aid, from an officially sanctioned branch of the Justice League America." He smirks, shakes his head, and focuses on the food for a moment. It seems to help, some. He hasn't been eating well for a few days now.

    Then he says, "In the immediate... I don't know how to get ahold of government officials to warn them this is coming. We will need /everything/ we can muster, and to evacuate civilians as fast as possible, or make other arrangements for their defense. And then, yes, to figure out... I think love and compassion will be the key. When we faced him, no amount of fighting was stopping him. I surrendered, and offered to take the punishment for the others who had bound him. That stopped him, gave us a reprieve. I /think/ this is a test to see if humans are still capable of that sort of thing." He shakes his head. "I thought the point of Christmas and Easter was that we're already supposed to have settled that mess, but then, I stopped believing a couple decades ago so what do I know?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
A quiet groan escapes Peggy's lips as she considers this all, especially the comment about the government connections. She sinks back in her chair, stretching her legs under the table and crossing them at the ankle as she feels a mirroring exhaustion come over to what Jon is feeling, and she's only just heard of it now! "I can... make the contacts. It will take us upwards of 24 hours to evacuate the whole city and there will ALWAYS be hold outs. There always are. So, if you tell me on January 5th that we are clearing the city... we... Will. And it'll be the biggest damned thing to happen in Manhattan in... probbaly my whole life. But we'll do it. But I need that much warning, understood? Or are you telling me now we must, no matter what?"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "They're coming," Jon replies. "I saw the armies. It's..." He shudders. "There are /billions/ of them. Why do they even need so many...?" He shakes his head. "I will check with the others to be certain, I was... distracted being annoyed at Uriel. I'm not particularly happy with my own role in all of this. So maybe they saw something I didn't. But I would quietly call whomever needs calling."

    He sighs. "Martin won't fight them. I don't think he'll have to, of course, he's a medic, but it's been... how do you do it? Working with your spouse like this, facing the end of the world when you can't fight together? Or worse, when you can?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is a quiet, uncomfortable resignation on Peggy's features as she hears that news. There is no putting off the evacuation. Peggy's eyes press shut tightly, doing some mental math on the plans she's made for this city for years. It was always a possibility. This is just the first time she's had to pull those plans out. "...I'll wait until after Christmas. If the firm date is the 6th... we have a bit of breathing room. Give people their holiday, then I'll start the city's evacuation. I'm guessing every borough, Long Island... probably even Jersey City, to be safe. But... I'll make it happen." She hates the thought, but the promise to do it is in her voice.

Then he asks those more personal questions. A bittersweet smile crosses her lips and she gives the smallest of shrugs, "Because it's the right thing. Because we know, if we didn't... we wouldn't be the people each other loves. Because we did it together before we were ever married, or even dating. Hell..." Peggy gives a faint laugh over a sip of her tea, "I nearly bled out on his then-fiance`s couch, once, in LA..." A world and several generations ago. She lets out another slow breath through her nose. "But it's never...easy. And I savor every god damn night I get with him. So, you do the same. And have confidence, especially if this isn't about fighting, he's doing the right thing and he'll be safe."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon sighs heavily, and nods. "I keep reminding myself of that. I already know I'd probably risk the world if it kept Martin safe. I'm trying to learn to think differently. He's busy right now. This is the worst time of year for EMTs, and he doesn't celebrate anyway so he always takes double shifts." It's said fondly. Martin's dedication to doing the right thing is part of why Jon loves him, after all.

    "Oh... ahh... also. I found my successor, as Archivist. She's... in the hands of an enemy, but once I find her I'll probably move her into the Triskelion with us. I can't promise she'll work with SHIELD in the future but I'll do my best to steer her that way." He smiles. "My daughter. It's... a long story, probably for another time. But I thought you should know."

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is a look from Peggy when he says he'd risk the world to keep Martin safe. It's not a pleased one, though it's an understanding one. She gives the slightest shake of her head. "But... you know you can't, Jon. And you know he wouldn't want that, either. Daniel and I go into.. every fight, every crisis, knowing... I might have to pick the world over him. And if he has to the do the same, he will. Hell, a few months ago... I thought we were going to have to. We got lucky. So... damn lucky. But I buried him once already in 1956. I know the risks. We still face them. And you will too. And it's... awful." Peggy confesses quietly.

Then the rest of that comes out. Peggy's eyes shoot wide, shocked and a little more pleased. Also curious. She shakes her head immediately to him, "Oh no, there is still more food here and plenty of tea. If you don't need to outline the end of Manhattan for me any longer, well...you certainly didn't drive all this way to tell me about evac protocol. So... tell me about this girl..."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon's quiet for a moment, pushing food about on the plate. He actually eats some more, thoughtfully. Thinking about those horrible weeks when he thought Martin was dead.

    Then he shakes himself and chuckles. "I'm doing it again, aren't I? I really did /try/ to get everything out all at once." He sighs. "Agnes, she's... I didn't know she was /mine/ until a few weeks ago. Her mother and the man I thought was her father, we were all... there was a cult, the details are hardly important." He waves a hand. "They were trying to create an avatar of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet--and they succeeded. Agnes has a /lot/ of power. She grew up thinking the leader of the cult was her father, but, ahh, one of the groups I'm with, we rescued her from vampires recently and it all came to light again." He frowns. "I'm... honestly not certain what she was doing with the vampires. I intend to find out, when I find her. We lost her again, last night. I don't know exactly what they want her for but it's nothing good."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy takes a long sip of her tea and then stands up, grabbing the small plate of cookies from the sideboard and bringing it to the table as well. Clearly fresh, homemade within the last day or so. Snickerdoodles. She scoops one up and delicately breaks it in half with her red fingernail tipped fingers. Jon doesn't have to eat *completely* alone, and there will be dessert waiting for him once he finishes the plate. She listens to everything with the calm patience of a caring family member, not just a boss. It's how she operates.

"Alright. So... if there is little more you can do to help for the 6th, I suspect you have a plan to go after her a bit quicker? And, if not, do you wish me to divert some resources to help? She's an innocent and she is in trouble. This is what we do."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "I have a plan," Jon says confidently. "I'm taking Martin and Agent Becker and a few others to London... it actually dovetails with finding the Archive. The man who took her, Elias Bouchard, he got his hands on a list of items and their locations. We're going to break into the location that's being kept and get the list and whatever else he has. We've got some of her blood to do some scrying as well, to see if we can't pinpoint her location before we go."

    He sighs. "If she's not there... then we'll track her down to where she /is/. I let go of her once, and she just wound up in Elias' hands. I'm not letting her go again." It's not a new look on him, though one Peggy maybe hasn't seen before. There's a fiercely protective quality when Jon's talking about kids in danger, like he'll move heaven and earth to help them. A dad thing, really.

Peggy Carter has posed:
That seems to be what Peggy needed to hear. Possibly what she expected out of him as well, but still hearing the plan, step by step, and that passion behind his voice definitely helps. She reaches a hand across the table, fingertips resting on his forearm for a handful of heartbeats. "If you need any sort of back up, any at all, you call me immediately. I'll keep my phone on. Daniel and I will be there as fast as a QuinJet can move. It sounds like you have it handled, and you understand more of what is going on than any other agent, so I trust you to handle it. But don't think you need to do this alone. You understand? And I'll be handling the evacuation set up otherwise..."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon nods, and smiles in response to her reassurance. "Knowing someone else is handling that... it helps, honestly. I told Agent Becker about Agnes and that helped... knowing if I, I don't know, got sick or hurt and couldn't handle things, someone else would make sure it's done. So... thank you."

    He sighs. "I really don't know... I'm debating where to live, after we get her back. The Triskelion until this business is done, but I might ask Martin to go back to Chelsea, assuming the building our flat is in stay standing." He glances around the room and then picks up a cookie. "Probably better to raise a child out in the, ahh, normal world, as it were." A smile.

Peggy Carter has posed:
A slightly too understanding smile flickers across her lips as he mentions raising a child in the normal world. "Yes. That is probably... very much for the best. Hell," Peggy flickers a look about the old fashioned dining room where they are sitting, "Daniel and I are talking about moving up to Westchester. So we're closer to the Triskelion and can still go home most nights. We love this house. We'll always keep it. I raised our first here. But that was before SHIELD was all the way up in Salem, and now some nights it's a 3 hour ride just to get home. But I do understand. Having a home for a child is... Important. Some place they *know* is their's and no one else's."

Peggy leans forward, pouring herself out more tea and him some, now that dinner seems to have been mostly consumed. She dips the other half of her snickerdoodle in the fresh, hot cup of tea, eating it in delicate bits. Savoring. "Leave me a full report. If... if things happen, I promise to make certain she's taken care of."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon nods. "Thank you. I mean... if the Archive is attached to SHIELD then so are the Archivists. And that's... I've been doing a lot of study about the whole business. Well. Poking around in my dreams, but it amounts to the same thing. We've always had something larger we were attached to, until the 1800s or so. Usually some religious organization, but..." He shrugs. "The world's changing. The Archive can change with it."

    He smiles. "I'm glad to know that she'll have people who care, though. If anything happens to me... she'll have a /huge/ responsibility thrust on her. I wouldn't wish what I've been going through on anyone, least of all a teenager. It..." He hesitates, taking a bite of the cookie. Savoring. Anything with cinnamon is a good bet, and snickerdoodles are always delicious.

    "Thank you," he repeats finally. Not quite knowing what else to say, maybe. But his tone is... fervent, and grateful.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Of course, Jonathan. You put your trust in us, which means I intend to keep it. SHIELD is... not perfect. I've been here for 70 years and I'll never say it's perfect. But we're as good as any organization run by humans can be, and we always do our best. We take care of our people and those we are sworn to protect. You are both those things." Peggy smiles softer. "Not to say that this is just work. I might be starting to consider you a friend." She gives him a small wink.

"Now... when did you last sleep? Do you wish a nap here, for a little while? There's a comfortable guest bedroom and I can send you back with food for yourself and Martin, for a few days, at least. Daniel always overcooks..."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon considers it for a long moment. Really considers it, while he slowly eats the snickerdoodle. Then he sighs, and shakes his head. "I need to... I'm trying to track where they're going to arrive here. The angels, I mean. I can sort of... feel the energy from that star in the sky, feel it waxing and waning. I'm trying to triangulate where the sensation is the strongest, and I'm /almost/ there. Narrowed it down to a few blocks around Rockefeller Plaza. A couple more hours' work should get me the exact location, and then we'll know where to meet them." A pause. "Thank you for the offer, though."

    He finishes off the cookie. "I've been having trouble /not/ considering my co-workers friends. Contrary to appearances, I /want/ to be friends with most people. So I'm honored to be yours." He smiles. "When this business is over, I'm going to /insist/ Martin come over for dinner. The roast was amazing."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I'll make certain Daniel cooks again. I like you both too much to poison you with my attempts in the kitchen." Peggy smirks, but she's not entirely joking. She then stands, stepping around the galley window into the warmly lit kitchen. She's quickly moving for the rest of the roast, grabbing two things of tupperware to put it in and a third for the mashed potatoes. He's going home with at least two more meals whether he wants it or not.

"Well, if you aren't staying, I should let you on your way. Give Martin my best, make certain you take this, and keep in contact. Once I talk to the Pentagon, I'll confirm for you that the evacuation is set, but I'm not too worried. I have the power to do it. I just... never had to actually use it before." She slips the containers into a bag and holds it out for him.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon stands and takes the containers, expression grave. "Yeah, a few years back... there wasn't exactly /time/." Jon and Martin lived in Manhattan when Loki attacked. Lost their daughter. The memory of it clearly pains him, but he clutches the bags and takes a deep breath.

    "Thank you, Peggy. For... everything." A smile. "And do be certain to open the gift, tomorrow. Martin will want to hear what you both think. Give Daniel my best?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I will. In fact, if Daniel gets home, knowing us we will open them tonight." Peggy grins, something far younger behind her eyes for just a moment. She's a woman who has learned to find bits of joy places. She then leans over, tugging him into a brief, tight hug. Something familial in the embrace. She doesn't let it last too long, though. She lets him go and then escorts him smoothly to the door. "Be safe. I... look forward to having that dinner in the New Year."