A cigarette break

[Morph]

(( open to anybody; risks becoming a rather slow thread, I've warned you ))


Using a break between mail deliveries around the city, Morph was sitting on a bench near the Public Library, smoking. His appearance was changed, as often during his work hours - not even his boss knew what he really looked like. He watched the traffic and the pedestrians, trying to distract his thoughts from the recent murder.

[Pietro Maximoff]

((OOC: Just as I needed a thread, I found one already created. I assume that this remains pre-Wideawake.))

::Magneto had left the mansion. Pietro had discovered that the day prior, to his delight, though it did little to ease the stress for the coming battle. He could sleep once again, and that was a treat on its own. More than that, it left him free to leave the mansion for an hour or two, without worrying about Wanda there alone. He had come to Manhattan, for once, without the need for a supply run; instead it was simply to clear his thoughts. He walked, did not run, through the streets, watching the others on the street, blissfully unaware of the danger which threatened them all.

As he walked, memories drifted through his mind. Memories of how they had used to come to Manhattan often as teenagers; it was their first act of independence. He stopped near the Public Library; Hank used to drag them there. The library in Salem had been painfully small; Uncle's library had more books than it did. As the memories assaulted his thoughts, an odor assaulted his nostrils, cigarette smoke. He turned to find the source, a man sitting on a bench. He watched him for a moment; how anyone would be willing to ruin their health in such a way was beyond him.::

[Morph]

(( it's so ancient, I was this close to linking to it in my signature... ))

Out of the corner of his eyes, Morph noticed somebody looking at him. Turning his head, he saw Pietro, the man he'd met at the Hellfire Club a while back. For a second Kevin considered whether to reveal himself or the fact that he recognized Pietro, or not; the latter could be fun.

"Afternoon, Pietro," he said finally, pulling at the cigarette after that.

[Pietro Maximoff]

((OOC: Now there is no need.))

::Pietro was startled that this stranger knew his identity, surely he had never met him before. He rarely went out, particularly for reasons unrelated to business. When he shopped, he paid cash and never made small talk. Who would possibly know his name? If it were one of Magneto's Brotherhood, he doubted they would be this...playful, although Magneto had his own penchant for the dramatic; more sinisterly, it could be viewed in that context as a cat playing with its prey. He would even suspect the shape-shifter, had he not run to Manhattan, and had he not seen her before he left. He was at a loss.:: "Do I know you?"

[Morph]

"It's hard to say," Morph said. "Depends on your definition of 'know', of course." His own definition didn't include that of physical appearance, although he, too, relied on it.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro's wracked through his memory of anyone that this could possibly be. Certainly not from the mansion, but who else could it possibly be? Where did he go for pleasure? There had only been Rocco's, with Rossignol...and Gambit's tavern. He thought of his most recent encounter, and recognition dawned upon him, making itself known in his features. His thoughts about the shape-shifter had not been mere paranoia. He was fairly certain, though not completely, however, he would not let the name become a question.:: "Kevin."

[Morph]

Morph grinned. He put his cigarette away and threw it out into the nearest trash bin. "It's not often that I get recognized when I'm changed," he said with approval of the other man's perception. Unless there were mutant abilities involved he was not aware of...

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro saw no reason to admit to his lack of social interaction, which made the list of candidates for knowing him relatively small. He walked closer to the bench, so he could lean against the back.:: "People watching?"

[Morph]

"Lunch break at work," Morph replied. His FedEx outfit would convey the rest of information about work, he had never seen much reasons to hide that fact - well, to tell the truth, he had always been bad with hiding, and it was only his shapeshifting abilities that got him away from most of the troubles that caused.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro's eyes wandered to the other man's uniform; that was what he did for a living. It was respectable, and he nodded once in comprehension.:: "Is that appearance part of your uniform?"

[Morph]

"That or another," Morph replied. He entertained himself at work by putting on a new appearance for every new client. His colleagues, of course, saw only one of his faces. "Or maybe it's the real me."

[Pietro Maximoff]

"Perhaps," ::Pietro conceded. He did not know the other man well enough to judge whether or not this was his true appearance. However, from his relative comfort at the tavern, he had his suspicions that the form he had seen not once, but twice before was the true one, and this is another of the other man's games.::

[Morph]

"Do you work?" Kevin asked randomly. It was always interesting to see how fellow mutants managed themselves in the world, and he still had no idea about Pietro's background.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::It was a question Pietro had heard before; it was a valid question. It was also difficult, as he had never drawn a consistent salary. To say that he did not work, would imply that he was idle or studying, neither of which was true. He worked for room and board, and for the protection of his family. When he had other expenses, he could find a job or two quickly. It was as honest as he could be without delving too deeply into his life story.:: "Security, and construction at times."

[Morph]

Morph imagined those were the fields where the other man's speed could be rather useful. "Do your employers know about your powers?" he asked.