9958/Long Island Evening

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Long Island Evening
Date of Scene: 03 February 2022
Location: Carter-Sousa Home - Long Island
Synopsis: May and Peggy arrive at the Chief's house late in the evening after work to enjoy a meal, a cup of tea, and unwind from the day.
Cast of Characters: Peggy Carter, Melinda May




Peggy Carter has posed:
It's an annoying drive back to the Long Island house. If it wasn't going into a weekend, they wouldn't even really make it. But when traffic isn't bad and there is nothing pressing in the morning, the place has become home again. At least, until the little household finds somewhere closer in Westchester. Peggy and May went in and home together today, because Daniel's been on a special project helping doing the runs into the city. It means Peggy's been happy to let May drive, but the other woman probably isn't aware of Peggy's bad habit... Falling asleep.

Maybe it's just the baby, or the long work hours. Or maybe this really has been her habit since the 50s. She gets her car companion to drive and then nods off in the passenger seat, which she has been since about 30 minutes into the commute. She's currently out cold, face pressed against the window, very faintly snoring as they approach the old fashioned house in the middle of Long Island. The remote still works for the garage door and the automatic flood lights come on to greet them.

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda coasts to a stop inside the garage and turns the engine off. She reaches out to nudge Peggy gently, tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey," she says softly. "We're home."

In the back seat is a small collection of brown takeout bags from a nearby restaurant she stopped at while Peggy continued to snore. Funny thing... the drive through clerk recognized the car and the habit. This amused Melinda greatly.

"You gonna make it into the house, or do you expect me to carry you?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is only so much drive through this close to the house on Long Island, and Daniel's taken her end of the day snoring frame through the lane more than once. It's not a surprise, just an amusement at this point. Peggy really has managed to continue to sleep through the whole ordeal, utterly oblivious to a lovely take out clerk who now knows her habits.

When they are finally stopped and May's gently touching her shoulder, Peggy isn't too impossible to rouse. She jerks herself into sitting straight with an abrupt breath in through her nose. Bleary eyes blink a few moments before she realizes her familiar surroundings. "Oh...hell. Yes. I can make it. I..." She inhales again, the scent of food behind her hitting her mind and stomach, which abruptly growls in response. She is at the insatiable appetite stage of things now. "You got dinner. You...you didn't have to do that. And I'm fully capable of getting into the house, I promise. You should have woken me." She grumbles in gentle embarrassment. She then pops the door open and swings out, just to prove her point. She'll even help carry some of the food.

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda barks a soft laugh. "Neither of us cook," she notes. "And Daniel is still at work. So, yes. I did." Takeout = survival. She learned this long ago.

Sure, Melinda *can* cook. She's not nearly as bad as Andrew liked to pretend she was. But she's no Daniel. Not by a long shot.

She opens the back door to the car and pulls out the paper bags, closing the door with her hip. "You get the house door," she tells her. "I've got this."

When the door to the house is opened for her, she carries everything into the kitchen and puts them down on the counter.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Can do. See? I help." Peggy insists teasingly, even if her help is just unsetting the house alarm, turning the same key she's used for 60 years, and opening the door to the warm, inviting house. The smell of being abandoned and dusty has long disappeared beneath coffee, tea, good meals cooked, paperwork, and the simple happiness of people living inside it. The house smells like a home again. Peggy also has ceased looking in and clearing rooms in paranoia. They are practically comfortable nowadays.

She tosses on the warm overhead lights in the kitchen and immediately walks to the kettle, filling it with hot water. She wants out of these slightly too tight clothes, but she wants tea on first. "Truly... I'm sorry I nodded off. It's incredibly rude."

Melinda May has posed:
"Don't you always?" Melinda actually doesn't know. But Daniel has made the oocasional comment that's led her to believe it's likely. "Don't worry about it." Given she knew Peggy *without* Daniel -- the long days of work followed by evenings curled up with a bottle of Jack's or Haig or whatever was going... She figures this is definitely a step up.

"Go get changed," she suggests. "This stuff won't cool much, and it'll be good to get out of my tacsuit." In other words, she'll go get changed, too. So Peggy doesn't have to worry about not being a good hostess or some such fool thing.

And, indeed, she waits until Peggy preceeds her and then goes to change as well. When she returns to the kitchen, laying out a couple of plates and pulling some cutlery, she's got a light sweater on over a pair of dark jeans and bare feet.

The kettle starts to whistle as she moves the takeout containers to the kitchen table between the plates.

Peggy Carter has posed:
As Melinda points out her usual habit, Peggy just gently smirks in her direction. "Just because I do with my *husband* doesn't mean I should with friends. It is... rude. Daniel knew what he signed up for, mostly. You signed up for captivating conversation, thrilling fights, and the occasional mystery mission." Peggy is mostly teasing there. She knows that May is interested in their friendship beyond the action. She still feels a touch embarrassed. "But...yes. Daniel has spoiled me in being the driver most evenings." She chuffs out quietly.

"We can both change. The kettle won't go that fast. They keep telling me to get one of the fancy fast electric ones but... I like this one." She nods, encouraging Melinda to head back as well. She and Daniel's room is still on the first floor, where it was when they were first married and his wooden leg didn't make the stairs that inviting. So, all she has to do is go down the hall, where she does.

When they are both returning, Peggy is in quite forgiving flannel slacks and one of Daniel's oversized sweaters, a robe loose overtop the whole mismatched ensemble. She looks far more comfortable than she did before, even the few pins out of her hair, though she's brought her little sack of bobby pins out to plop down on the table so she can pin curl her hair up later.

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda snirks softly. "I've never signed up anywhere for captivating conversation." Riiiight. Melinda May. Queen of Silence. Conversation is *so* high on her list, Phil has learned to read entire paragraphs of thought off of a simple arch of her brow. "You know why I like to fly, right?"

As Peggy attends to the tea, once they've returned, she finishes laying out the dinner. As she looks at the spread, she cants her head. "Do you want to eat here?" she asks presently, "or would you prefer the living room?" Some place more casual. It makes no difference to her.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Ah... Living room is fine. Normally it's there or the kitchen table. The dining room table just seems so... Fussy most nights. If you want to put the plates out, I'll get us both the tea and bring the pot in." They're both green tea people this time of night and, while there is some caffeine, she does let herself indulge when May is there. Even Peggy can get tired of ginger after a while.

She pours the tea over the steeping basket, puts the lid onto the pot, and plops it on a tray with two mugs before carrying it all out to the comfortable living area. "And...you didn't sign up to fly JUST so you could avoid talking to people, I'm certain of that."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda smirks. "Maybe not. But it is *definitely* one of the biggest perks." Open sky. Solitude. Freedom. Actually, not having anyone to talk at her was part of the motivation. No question.

She dishes food onto the plates, collects utensils wrapped in paper napkins, and carries the lot out to the living room. Peggy's plate, she sets down near the couch with the well-loved throw. Her own, she sets by the chair she usually occupies -- before she goes to stoke a fire against the chill of the night beyond the walls.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Once the tea is down on the coffee table, Peggy sinks herself down into the couch and grabs that throw. She curls her socked feet up beneath her and pulls her plate of food into her lap, stomach grumbling again. "Goodness, you'd think I hadn't eaten for a week. I swear I had lunch at... some point today." She's pretty certain she did, even if she can't entirely remember it.

"And if silence is truly that important, you know that you can always tell me to be quiet. I... enjoy our conversations. Hell, I've enjoyed you staying here, in truth. This house was always meant for more than just Daniel and I. But you aren't...obliged to keep this old woman company, you know."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda shakes her head lightly, curling onto a hip in her chair and balancing the plate partially on one raised knee. "When I want silence, I know how to get it. Besides, you're hardly a chatterbox. The point is simply that I'm fine if you sleep while I drive."

A smirk as she teases, mirroring some of Peggy's own emotion. "I mean, okay, the snoring might require the occasional poke, but otherwise... if you want to drool on your window, who am I to stop you? You're 100 years old. You've earned the right."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Fair enough. I shall not feel two awfully guilty about my... somewhat habitual nap in the car ride home." A ghost of a warm, nostalgic smile flutters across her lips. While there has been some stress from the office, and worry over May's mental condition, over all being with Peggy is a quite pleasant time for an empath these days. She's full of hope for the future, happier feelings about their family state, and comfortable languishing in old memories from easier days. This is one of those moments. "When we first started SHIELD, we were both working 16 hour days more often than not. Car naps were one of the only ways to stay sane. It's... a habit that has come back with force, all things considered." She momentarily motions to her stomach, before hand picks up her fork and dives back into the food.

Melinda May has posed:
"There's also the fact your body is working overtime these days," Melinda says, feeling, perhaps, more casual about it than she feels a right to be. "Not that I'd know, but..."

Not entirely true. She was pregnant in the Framework, and she remembers it. She remembers choosing to sacrifice the fetus, too. And if doesn't think of it in precisely those terms... it's too much to deal with despite the fact it wasn't real. Thus, she draws deeply on Peggy's nesting contentment and warm nostalgia as a means to soothe old hurts and keep the unreasonable fury she can't release at bay.

"I'm just glad we settled matters with the TVA," she says with a brief shrug. "Not that I remember *how* we did." Yep. Still disgruntled about that. "But we did. That's the main thing."

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy doesn't know much of those old Framework hurts, she's been well avoiding her own pain around it all. The baby has been quite a balm to some of those wounds and after the initial surprise of it all, nesting contentment has been quite a good way to put it. She's not someone who resents being pregnant, or tries to lean into proving she's better and toughter no matter it. She rather enjoys this all and the old feelings it's brought up.

"Mmph... I don't know that 'overtime' is quite the words yet. These are supposed to be the golden months, all the energy, none of the heartburn. For a few more months, at least." Peggy laughs a bit, knowing it's never quite that easy. She grins wide to her friend, taking another few bites of her food as she sinks deeper into her couch.

"We did. I... I have a feeling that it might be another wound that heals over with time, because I'm still only getting scraps and bits back. I... try not to think too much about it. Because then I start... doubting. Then I wonder if... I shouldn't have kept Daniel here. If I'm being selfish. If... all this is a... lie."

Melinda May has posed:
"I don't think you were selfish," Melinda says after a few moments, swallowing a mouthful or two of food before she speaks. "Or, if you were, I don't begrudge you it." The shadow in her eyes belies the wry smile on her lips. "Besides, if you hadn't done it... I'm pretty sure Lily would have. She's been fairly free about meddling in this time, after all."

It's not that Melinda wouldn't have done it -- consequences be damned. Lily had to get the impulse from somewhere. It's simply that Melinda's skills don't lie in the realm of temporal manipulation or chronal displacement. Go figure.

However, Lily is *not* a subject Melinda typically discusses. So, she glosses past it quickly enough. "He's here. He's real. He's not going anywhere. And you've picked up your life where you left off 75 years ago. I'm just glad to see that *sometimes* the universe actually can be kind."

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is silence from Peggy for a few heartbeats, her dark eyes weighing earnestly on Melinda. She's trying to make certain that the woman genuinely believes her words and isn't just trying to appease or pity Peggy. She doesn't see that, but she worries. A softer smile flutters across her mouth, "It's... a little selfish, I know. The safest choice would have been to just... put him back. But we did it and it seems to have... worked out. I'm trying not to worry too much. Just to enjoy this... things I never thought I'd have again." She confesses softly.

There is still a large part of her that worries. The edges of guilt that will always be in her have now found a new place, worry she did something wrong that she can't even remember. But she's been doing good about not drowning in it. "Well, if I did wrong...it's too late now and it's done. I wouldn't change anything for the world. Including having you in my life... and here, you know? Even though it's for the worst reasons. It's been... nice. Having you around."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda gives a small smile in response. She misses having her own space. But she can concede that, if that's not possible, this is a welcome alternative. "I'm just glad you're willing to put up with me." And it's kept her from falling into habits that would be far more destructive and unhealthy.

That doesn't mean she isn't still giving serious thought to liberating Vostokoff and going after Dreykov directly herself. But it does mean she's not rushing off half-cocked to do it.

Is it better that she's taking time to plan it out, instead? She's not sure. Nor does she care.

She tries to block out Peggy's worry and guilt. She can't handle those on top of her own anger and shame. Instead, she focuses on what she knows is Peggy's genuine affection and acceptance. Safer, more welcome emotions. Better to mirror.

Peggy Carter has posed:
While the worry and guilt will always be there, Peggy's emotions are far more contentment, acceptance, enjoyment of Melinda being here. She's a far happier person that Melinda has ever known her to be. It is a comfort and even sometimes a joy to be around her, like sitting next to a radiating, warm fire of contentment and nostalgia. Sure, there's a few crackles inside, but over all the experience is one of reassuring warmth.

"How's it going with Phil... now that he's back? I am certain you two don't want to go run off to a hotel together some weekend but... you could find some mission to do, if you like. He's someone you trust, you work well with in the field. Someone who would know if something is wrong..."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda chuckles softly at the idea of running off to a hotel for a weekend with Phil. "Yeah, that ship sailed a long time ago," she says. There's probably a story there.

"He's fine." A beat. She frowns faintly. "Well. He's... more fine than I am, anyway." But there's something up. She knows there is. She just doesn't know what.

"He's careful. He wants to make sure my head is straight before we go taking any risks in the field." Otherwise, she'd already have him on the Bus and halfway around the world, by now.

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is something behind that frown. Peggy's head tilts to the side, dark eyes narrowing thoughtfully at May's features. "He's... not entirely fine, though, is he? Do you know what's going on? Is it something I should be worried about? I mean... I know we all have our things. Nothing is ever perfect. I trust you and Phil to tell me when whatever is up is too much but... You can talk to me about it too, you know?"

Peggy really isn't being just a Director right now, it's as much about being a friend, if not more so. She's not asking this with boss behind her voice. She's asking it as a friend worried about another friend. "...also curious how that ship sailed, but I have a feeling you REALLY aren't going to tell me that story."

Melinda May has posed:
May flips her hand dismissively about that story, a faint smirk on her lips. "Oh, it was just before my first date Andrew. We flirted. I was interested. But, to be fair, in those days, I was interested in most warm bodies that came my way. I'd had something like 14 first dates -- sometimes one night stands -- in as many weeks." She shrugs mildly, perhaps feeding on Peggy's nostalgia. "We joked about going out for drinks if my date with the stodgy old shrink didn't work out." A soft chuckle. "Turns out it did... For a while, anyway." Her fault, when it didn't. She knows that. She's always known that.

She pushes that train of thought away, turning her focus instead to her lingering concern over Phil. "Phil's... mostly fine," she says slowly. "But something's been off since that assassination attempt against you just after you became Chief. Really, I guess, since Bobbi and Jemma managed to... fix you." She gestures to Peggy's currently healthy glow and youthful appearance.

"Fury asked me to keep my eye on it." Which is totally awkward. "And he's had more moments of distraction lately than I'd like. He'll say things that make him... glitch, for lack of a better word. I don't know why. I just know, deep inside where it doesn't show on the surface, he experiences a moment of something that feels like panic or consternation. And, inevitably, it's accompanied by a sharp spike of determination and curiousity. Which means he's digging into it. Even if I've never seen him do it." She frowns. "I *know* him. He's digging deep."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"...Glitch? That's an... interesting term. I think I noticed it at dinner, just a moment, I figured I was jumping at nothing. But, you're sensing this from him as well, and seeing it on him... that's more than a glitch. Something *is* wrong." Peggy frowns deeper, her worry and care for her people hovering closer to the surface now. "I know you're already keeping an eye on it, but... sending you two on a mission together might even be a better idea. You can keep an eye on him while he's keeping one on you. I'll...think it over."

"Sorry. I... didn't mean to fall into work. It's old habit. Daniel would drive me home, I'd nap in the car, we'd pull out files and work over dinner on this table. Being back here... especially with the baby, god... Some nights it feels like it's 1956 again, honestly. The new house will probably be better for us. A little more modern. We won't fall... entirely into old patterns."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda refrains from saying 'yes, you will.' She knows from experience it's true. New home doesn't really change habits. Only the location.

And they'll be that much closer to work.

"When do we ever not fall into work?" she says instead. "Yes. I'm concerned. Probably in much the same way he is about me. He's being protective." Which chafes. "So am I." They do that.

"But that's why having something other than our distractions to focus on would be helpful. I want to go back into the field. We both do."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Well, then, looks like I need to dig up a mission for the both of you. When I'm in the office tomorrow, I'll see if I can find any of our HYDRA intel that could use some further exploring. A scouting mission shouldn't be TOO stressful and, well... If it turns into a crisis, I trust you both to handle it anyway. Done and done." Peggy seems quite set on this idea. Matchmaking but for intelligence missions, this has been something she's done her entire life.

"And... I know that look. You think Daniel and I are going to be just this bad even in a brand new fancy house in Westchester, don't you?" She asks with a bit wider of a grin. She's teasing over it, mostly.

Melinda May has posed:
"You'll have to prove to me you won't," Melinda counters, mirroring Peggy's grin. Still, she's grateful for the possibility of action -- even if it delays her plans for Vostokoff.

She knows that's actually likely a good thing. But she's sure as hell not taking it off the table.

"Fancy house. New nanny. Agents for babysitters. That just means you'll be able to work with fewer interruptions."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I mean... yes, that is the goal. Do you really think I'd be happy just retiring to be a mum watching Sesame Street and playing with Cherrios all day?" Peggy asks with a bit of a pointed look. "Hell, the way... I should have known something was wrong in the Framework. I'd never stay sane retired. Even with three kids."

Peggy takes one last bite of her food, finally setting it aside, warm and content. She's already getting drowsy again, her belly full and the day having been fairly long. "Not that I'm not... happy. I'm thrilled. Maybe too excited. But... work will always be my life too. It always has been."

Melinda May has posed:
Melinda can see Peggy is fading. She wants to challenge her on the Framework, give voice to her conviction that -- wrong as that world was -- there was some truth to the decisions the matrix drew from their subconsciousness. She knows, given the same or similar situations here in the real world, she'd make the same or similar decisions.

Maybe the difference for Peggy, there, is that her work was taken from her. Here, of course, that's not the case.

Melinda doesn't know. But she does know that she doesn't want to steal Peggy's drowsy happiness by letting her own unruly emotions mar the moment. So, mimicking Peggy's contentment, she gives a simple nod and concedes the point.

She rises, collecting both their plates. "Well. Be that as it may, you're not at work now. So, I've got this. If you want to be useful, get us more tea. Otherwise, go have a bath and give your husband a call to make sure he's survived his latest foray into glory. Work will still be here in the morning."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"...I think a bath and a good night call to Daniel sounds... utterly lovely, if you don't mind. You are too good to me, Melinda. I'll manage dinner tomorrow, I promise." Peggy gives her another tired smile but then rises, moving slow and slightly sore from the day. She is utterly ready for that bed and sleep. She does walk up to May a moment later, though, leaning in and tugging her into a brief hug if the woman permits. It's like being wrapped up in a hearth fire of drowsy contentment. She doesn't let the hug linger too long, but she gives that last good night before disappearing down the hall