Lazy Days {Morgan}

[Jacob Lawrence]

There was nothing quite like a lazy day. In fact, they were among Jake's favorite things. Waking up to his own circadian rhythm, making a big breakfast with waffles, eggs, and bacon, laying out on the lawn with his favorite dogs, nothing could top the feeling of having nothing to do after the completion of a long, stressful job. He was ridiculously excited to be back from China and though Vermont was no Texas, it still had its charms. As far as he wass concerned, he was home. He was back with Gabe, though the emotions that stirred up inside him were hardly beneficial, and he was back to where things were familiar. Oh Hammel, he remembered it well.

He remembered sneaking out late at night, using the shadows as his cover. He remembered sitting in detention, for getting caught doing something foolish that Gabriel had coaxed him into. He remembered how excited he'd been when he'd first arrived, eager at the chance for a better life. He remembered the first time he'd ever laid eyes on Gabe, without the slightest clue that he'd become the man to forever change his life. But Jacob had determined that this was a lazy day and he didn't want to think about things that would eventually lead his head to hurting and he knew the perfect way to clear his mind.

It was a club he'd been to several times before, both when it was illegal for him to be there (he was a teenager and he liked breaking rules and he'd been more than capable of sneaking in via the shadow of some unsuspecting stranger) and also when he was more than legal to before he was shipped off to China. It was small and comfortable and usually a notch or two down from some of the other wilder clubs in the area. It was the perfect place to have a beer, relax, and enjoy good times with people you likely wouldn't remember in the morning. Jacob was interested in getting blackout drunk, but a little buzz never hurt anyone.

As he arrived, he noticed that the music was a little different than what he'd remembered, but he soon spotted the source. There was a man on the small stage near the back of the club (a rather attractive man, Jake might add) playing the harmonica. And, for the record, he was good. In little to no time, Jake had a beer in hand and was sitting back watching the man perform. He himself could only play the guitar (acoustic only, he's a country boy) but he hadn't touched it since joining Gabriel's organization. There generally wasn't much time for him to sit down and practice, but he was thinking that he might pick it up again when he got home. It was a lazy day, afterall, and he couldn't think of a better way to end it.

[Morgan Tonaya]

Having spent his first weeks back in town re-adjusting to life at Hammel and trying not to kill his students (Morgan still occasionally fumed at the mention of Samuel Rixon and Vincent Verax), Morgan hadn’t really had time to reacquaint himself with Pilot Ridge. It was strange really. The sleepy little town had changed so much in Morgan’s absence, yet it remained remarkably the same. Take, for example, the little bar he’d always loved as a school kid. Not for the bar mind you! Morgan may have liked to stir up trouble, but he was never one to blatantly break laws. No, Morgan distinctly remember the little bar that always had the thick, sweet, grinding wail of blues bursting from its doors during the day. He could remember hanging around outside with a soda, listening to the music ooze from between boards and from under the door. Even just the thought made him smile.

Unfortunately, that bar had been bought out by another owner. Morgan was totally distraught when he found his little blues bar had been converted. It wasn’t the same. It was definitely not the same. But that didn’t stop Morgan from pulling the strings. He knew the old owner (“What that blonde kid that used to hang around?”) and he just wanted a throwback to the old days. That was all.

That was the way (along with a charming smile) he had managed to convince the current owner to let him play. Granted, it wasn’t really a concert. He was just daytime entertainment for the stragglers that came in for lunch…but it was enough for Morgan. As he sat on stage, a boy and his harp, he smiled out at the meager crowd. The light burned against his face, but he didn’t mind. Morgan was always one to cling to the light.

So even as he blew out a soulful, angsty tune on the harmonica, the music seemed to smile. As he stomped his foot on the stage, leaning into the instrument cradled in his hands, the tune seemed worthy of a dance. When it ended, Morgan lifted his hand and waved humbly, grinning widely at the meager applause. A light sheen of sweat shone on his forehead as he jogged off the small stage, dragging his stool behind him. He felt so wonderful, bringing that bar back to its old bluesy days. So much so he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as he sat down with a bottle of water at the bar near a spattering of tables that didn’t really have anyone sitting at them. The only exception was a brunette man Morgan didn't recognize.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake was actually rather thankful that the bar wasn't packed. He just wanted to enjoy some easy conversation, a couple beers, and a relatively quiet night. The live music was just a bonus and the eyecandy was the cherry on top. As he finished the song, Jake set the bottle down long enough to applaud, then watching him move from the stage as they turned on some softer background noise. He casually noted Morgan's location at the bar, ran his fingers through his hair, then rose from his chair.

Relatively uninterested in the other people in the club, he moved to sit at the bar next to Morgan. "Hey there." He said off-handedly, downing the rest of his beer before calling for another. "You were good." Jake offered him his trademark lazy grin, hooking his feet around the legs of the bar stool. So maybe, just maybe, if Morgan were paying close enough attention, he would have realized that Jacob was checking him out. Although Jake had mastered the art of being stealthy with his wandering eyes, that didn't stop him from slipping up every now and again.

Jacob's... "study" of Morgan (it was a nicer word than "ogle") sparked just a flash in the back of his mind. That face seemed awful familiar, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Then again, Jake had known a lot of people from Hammel, but knew a lot fewer names than faces. Chances were that he'd run into Morgan a few times when they were both still students at the institute, but had never gone farther than a simple greeting. "You look kinda familiar." Oh sure, play it off like you weren't eying him like a piece of meat, Jakey. Real smooth.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm being rude. I'm Jake. Nice to meet ya." Proper introductions were polite. That's what his mother had always told him, though she'd never had too much of an effect on his life. Aside from drilling southern hospitality into him, all she'd been good for was telling him to clean his room or brush his teeth or not to jump in mud puddles. He didn't have many fond memories of her, or of any of his actual family. The memories he had were all his surrogate family, which is what Gabriel's organization had become to him.

[Morgan Tonaya]

Morgan was still coming down off of the adrenaline rush of playing harmonica for people when Jake’s voice floated to his ear from his slightly turned-away sitting position. “Huh…?” Morgan looked over his shoulder, an off-guard slightly stupid expression marking his face before the compliment set in. He smiled sheepishly and turned to face the stranger who’d approached him. “Wow, thank you!” Morgan replied, his face entirely lit with the intensity of his grin. He just couldn’t stop smiling! Someone had actually enjoyed his music! “That means so much.” He added sincerely, placing his hand on his chest, over his heart in an emphatic gesture of gratitude.

Now, Morgan may have been pushing thirty (and he wasn’t really ashamed to admit it, believe it or not), but his worldliness in no way reflected his years. Morgan might as well have been born yesterday. So when Jake looked at him a little too long, he just assumed that what Jake had said was true. ‘You look kinda familiar.’

The blonde bit his lip and sheepishly averted his eyes for a moment. “Oh…man I’m really sorry. I hope we didn’t know each other in school or anything. I’ve got a terrible memory for anyone but my old roommate.” It was true. Morgan had been rather popular, but had never really forged any lasting friendships through high school except with Darryl. In fact, he made it a point to forget the names and faces of any girls he scorned…just in case it was okay to give it another shot post-graduation (What?! It was an effective method!)

Morgan held out his hand. “No worries. It’s a bar. You could be doing a lot ruder things.” Morgan explained with a boyish laugh. Y’know…like eyeing someone like a piece of meat and lying and saying they look familiar. Oh wait. Jake had already done that. “M’name is Morgan. Morgan Tonaya. Nice to meet you.”

[Jacob Lawrence]

Morgan's smile was infectious. Two seconds in and Jake found himself with absolutely no desire to drop the grin he'd broke into. Maybe it was understanding, from one musician to another, since Jacob used to love getting compliments when he played. That had been far too long ago. "Never knew a harmonica could sound so good." He was joking, maybe even teasing a little bit, and definitely flirting. Flattery was a good thing, right?

He laughed when Morgan worried and shook his head. "No worries, I only remember a few people from when I was at school. Kinda like you, my roomie was one of 'em. Was a long time ago." Jake was only a hair younger than Morgan, but he'd played this game often enough. Granted, this was usually how his one night stands started, but they had got him into enough trouble in the past that he wasn't looking to repeat them anytime soon. There were some things that Jake just couldn't help; his sensitivity to sunlight, his love of sweets, and flirting.

Shaking the blonde's hand, Jake repeated his name in order to commit it to memory. "I suppose I could be." Ruder things? Oh, he could think of plenty. None of which Morgan would have approved of, but wasn't that the whole point of "rude?" But Morgan was cute and he acted a lot younger than he was and Jake found it rather endearing. He didn't want to send the other man running off so soon. He'd be polite... at first. "So ya ever played here before?" Considering how long he'd been in China, it wouldn't be surprising for him to discover that things had changed.

It was then that his eyes lighted on the bottle of water in front of Morgan. "Hey, you want a beer or something?" Honestly, this was a bar. Who drank water at a bar? Bars were for dancing and drinking and fights and sleazy hook-ups. Two of those things, Jake would have enjoyed greatly, the other two? Not so much. I'll leave you to guess which ones.

[/size]

[Morgan Tonaya]

There were a few things about Morgan that were pretty obvious right off the bat. One: He liked to smile. Two: He was totally naïve. It was neccesarilly that he was dumb, but he was a little thick in the head when it came to recognizing when he was being hit on. Usually Morgan was the one turning on the charm, so when he got a taste of his own medicine it went right over his head. He figured Jake just liked the music. “Well, now you know.” Morgan said with a curt nod, draning the rest of his water bottle.

Morgan certainly wasn’t looking for a one night stand with anyone, let alone with Jake. Not that Jake wasn’t good looking (Morgan seemed suddenly uncomfortable at the thought of even admitting Jake was good-looking to himself, though it quickly faded). “Well I mean…where did you even go to school? Its possible I’m just one of those faces.” Morgan said, as if he suddenly realized that the option of them not even going to the same school was valid. He had spent so much time around Hammel it was sometimes difficult to remember that there was a non-meta community as well…those kids had to go to school too! “Or You’re one of those faces.” Morgan pointed out, gesturing at Jake with his empty water bottle.


Laughing again, almost as if filling an empty space in the conversation was necessary, Morgan shook his head and put up his hands. “No way. I’m not that good.” He insisted, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the stage. “I used to hang out outside when I was in high school. This place was really bluesy back then, at least during the day. I just asked the new owner if I could do a little throwback.” Morgan explained, shrugging and putting his hands on his knees. “So here I am. It was fun…but I don’t think I’ll do it again.” He patted his stomach, indicating the source of his butterflies. “Way too nervous.”

Morgan looked down at his empty water bottle and smiled. “I was thinking about it…I hate to drink alone though.” His eyes move back up to Jake, smiling playfully. “But I guess since you’re here I can spare a beer.” Morgan acquiesced. Why not? It wasn’t like he had anything better to do today. Morgan waited for the bartender to come back to him and ordered something off the tap, immediately laying his hands on the cool condensation on the glass.

He raised it to Jake. "Cheers!" he chirped.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake was already starting to like Morgan. He was easy-going, comfortable to be around, and who could hate a guy with a smile like that? Leaning against the bar, Jake rested his chin in his hand. "Actually went to Hammel. You know, that fancy-shmancy prep school. You?" Snort. As if he looked or acted like he'd graduated from a prep school, but that was the perception that non-metas had of the place and he wasn't about to go spouting off that he had some supernatural ability. Besides, Morgan knew the drill just as well as Jake did.

When Gabe had moved the base of operations to Pilot Ridge, Jake had been skeptic at first. It was a small town, really, they'd stick out like a sore thumb, wouldn't they? But he had been right, it was the perfect place to find new recruits and if the organization wanted to grow, it would have to attract more members. The brunette didn't particularly enjoy the fact that it would be children they were influencing, but he didn't get much of a say in the matter. He didn't care for kids, especially younger ones and he especially hated the way that Gabe talked about Jesse.

"You certainly looked like you were enjoying yourself. You play other instruments too?" This time around he was geniunely curious, no ulterior motives or anything. He smiled when Morgan called for a drink and tapped his bottle to the other man's glass. "Cheers." He liked this relaxed atmosphere in the late afternoon bar scene, then suddenly realized how old it sounded that he was preferring this casual comfort to the wild clubs he used to fancy. He chalked it up to the lazy day, becuase he didn't want to think about getting old. Unlike Morgan, the thought of reaching thirty scared him. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he'd been teasing Gabe about his age ever since he hit the big three-oh.

As Jake realized he was still smiling, he released a soft laugh. Morgan was so bright and he was attracted by it, like a moth to the flame. Hell, he almost felt like he should be wearing his sunglasses just to look at the man proper, but then he'd probably look a fool if he put them on now.

[/size]

[Morgan Tonaya]

Prep School. Right. Morgan nearly choked on the sip he’d taken of his beer, his green eyes nearly bugging out of his face. The glass hit the bar rather hard as Morgan put it down in all of his excitement? “You went to Hammel?” he repeated excitedly, clearly overjoyed to have met someone from his beloved school. “So did I!” He said, slightly quieter than before, leaning in and grinning at Jake. “So maybe we did see each other around the halls or on the field or something. Who did you tra---.” Morgan paused. Asking ‘who did you train with?’ was probably a little suspicious. He shook his head. “Maybe we had the same teacher.” He said, hinting more discreetly that if their powers were similar, perhaps they had shared a trainer.

Frankly, Morgan was a little surprised to have not recognized Jake. It was rare to find someone in Pilot Ridge who was a returning Hammel student and didn’t still hang around the school from time to time. Sure he hadn’t been back that long, but he would have seen Jake around right? (How could he miss someone who was so handsome? Wait---what?!) Perhaps not, Morgan couldn’t be sure, so he let the thought go. The important thing was that now he and Jake had another thing in common. Something to bring up besides his music, though Jake seemed keen on continuing with that thread.


“Ah…Actually no. No way, actually.” Morgan said with a slight laugh at his own expense. “I love music, but I can’t say I was able to do much more than work a kazoo and mange the harp.” He said, picking up his trusted harmonica and spinning it in his hand once. “I’m content with it though. I love to play to myself, and I’ve been pretty satisfied with just the harmonica and my other hobbies.” Morgan explained, hoping to skirt the subject of his comic book obsession for at least a bit…

Not everyone was as keen on people in spandex as Morgan was.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake arched an eyebrow at Morgan's overexcitement, eyeing the glass as if expecting it to shatter from the force with which it hit the bar. It wasn't until the blonde had admitted he attended Hammel too that he understood just where that energy had come from. He could only laugh; Morgan was too adorable. "You're shittin' me, right?" It shouldn't have been much of a shock to him, Pilot Ridge was nearly half-meta. It was close to the school, so many of the Hammel staff called it home, and then there were the alumni who just wanted to stick around in a familiar city. Granted, off school grounds it was extremely rare for a meta-human to use their power in public.

"We might have. I haven't been up to the school in years, but I doubt he's still around. Thought you looked familiar." Was he still trying to cover up the fact that he'd been ogling Morgan? Maybe, I can't say for sure. Either way, it seemed like fate as on his side. "What's your... I mean, what did you study?" He didn't like talking cryptically like this, he would have rather been straightforward and blunt about the whole powers thing, but dammit they had a secret to keep and he wasn't going to be the one to blow it.

He snorted at the mention of the kazoo. "Not even a slide whistle?" He added teasingly, watching the harmonica spin in Morgan's hand. "Or those... shit... those stupid flute things they made ya play in elementary school?" He couldn't remember what they were called, all he'd known was that he'd hated them. "So what are you still hanging around Pilot Ridge for?" There truly wasn't much for opportunities in the sleepy little town, at least not ones that weren't directly involved with Hammel. Considering Morgan's enthusiasm about the school, he assumed it was probably something along those lines, but a little casual conversation never hurt anybody. Besides, if it kept Morgan smiling, Jake would have talked about Hammel until he'd ran out of stories... and he has a lot of stories to tell.

[/size]

[Morgan Tonaya]

“No!” Morgan chirped excitedly just after Jake asked (probably rhetorically) if Morgan was being serious. He looked as if he might simply vibrate out of his chair he was so excited. Why he was so excited he wasn’t sure, but damn it was nice to meet someone he didn’t know from high school, but could talk to about Hammel. “Not at all. Man this is awesome…” He said much quieter than he had been exclaiming before.

Any meta that used their powers in public, even in Pilot Ridge, except in an extreme emergency was nuts in Morgan’s mind. While the United States was one of the most meta-friendly countries in the world, with Vermont at the head of its pro-meta movements, it just wasn’t safe to go showing off. Backlash galore would be the only thing waiting for someone who went powering up in public. That’s why Morgan was a teacher, to make sure that stupid children like Spidey and Charmander didn’t go around blowing things up to the detriment of the entire meta-human community.

Morgan was quickly becoming exasperated with skirting the subject of powers, but it was for the best. “I studied…” he trailed off for a bit, trying to figure out the best way to explain it quickly and succinctly. “Light. I’ll show you when we’re not in a bar.” Morgan said with a laugh. “Then history. I teach at the school.” Morgan explained, hoping Jake could piece together what he was talking about. It hadn’t really occurred to Morgan that he’d suggested he and Jake were going to see each other elsewhere. Not that it was a bad idea or anything! Morgan liked Jake. He was laidback and interesting…but Pilot Ridge was small. It wasn’t difficult to run into new friends over and over. “And you?”

“Recorders.” Morgan said offhandedly, nodding and looking thoughtfully past Jake. “mmm…I dunno. I’ve never seen a slide whistle.” He said, looking Jake in the face again and chuckling. “So I wouldn’t know.” Jake was safe in assuming that Morgan had stuck around for Hammel. “Well like I said, I teach at Hammel.” He repeated, shaking his head after taking another sip of his beer. “But my mom lives in town too.” He added with a bit of a blush. “We’re really close…so after a ran around a bit post graduation I just had to come home!” Morgan explained, gesturing around the bar to indicate Pilot Ridge as a whole.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake had used his powers publicly before and not just once or twice. Before he'd reunited with Gabriel, he had shared a similar mindset with Morgan, but since becoming a part of M.S.A.D, he had come to the conclusion that it was foolish for metas to hide. Of course that was the whole point of the organization, for meta-humans to be in control. For the time being, however, Jake was in no position to go all meta-spastic. He was perfectly content just sitting at the bar with Morgan, gossiping about Hammel in a method as inconspicuous as possible. "Light?" Now it was Jake's turn to be amused. "Shadow, myself." He said with a grin. Anyone who wasn't a meta surely wouldn't be able to understand what they were talking about, so he figured this was safe enough to mention.

He smirked when Morgan mentioned seeing him again in a different setting, even if it was an innocent comment. He's a typical man and he can hope, right? It was then that Morgan mentioned that he now taught at the school which made the brunette draw back a bit. That complicated things a bit, considering the organization's current reason for being in town. "You teach those hooligans now? More power to you." He laughed softly, remember the teachers he'd caused problems for when he was still in school. He wasn't as bad as Sammy or Vincent, seeing as he actually has a brain somewhere in his skull, but he'd earned himself detention quite a few times. "Me? After I graduated, I studied politics. I travel a lot now." It was a vague enough answer to suffice for now, even though he practically had a script that explained his job without really explaining it.

"I just got back from China, actually. Thought I'd drop by for nostalgia's sake." No, not because they were looking for new recruits from Hammel, how dare you think such a thing?! Chuckling, Jake leaned against the bar, chin in hand, as Morgan then started talking about his mom. Having never had a very close relationship with his mother, he was intrigued by Morgan's willingness to admit that he was - even if only slightly - a momma's boy. "That's cute." He commented with a grin, lazily running his fingers against his bottle, collecting the condensation on his fingertips.

[/size]

[Morgan Tonaya]

Now that was just too funny. Morgan generally avoided shadow manipulators if he had the chance (mostly for the fact that he was terrified of darkness and hated to admit it), but it wasn’t exactly something you could tell be looking. Though usually dark manipulators hung around in their element (Just in case? Who knows)…Morgan shook his head at the irony of it all. Polar opposites in powers. Who would have guessed?! “Wow. That’s just…That’s just funny.” Morgan added, letting his head droop down as his shoulders shook with laughter. “This has never happened! I’ve never met such a polar opposite like that before just…out of the blue.” Morgan looked back up to Jake and nodded. “Fate. Clearly.” Morgan added, pointing at Jake as he took another sip from his glass.


As per usual, Morgan was completely oblivious to any tension that registered in Jake. He just continued the conversation like nothing was happening. How was he supposed to know about the existence of M.S.A.D? He had only just met Jake! Morgan couldn’t even fathom an organization that would go against an institution like Hammel. “Yeah…Lots of hooligans.” Morgan said with registered annoyance on his face. It was remarkable he hadn’t drunk like a fish for a solid day after the events of his first class. He still couldn’t believe how shockingly uncivilized the two boys had been.


After another tip of his class (Morgan certainly was powering through that beer!) , Morgan’s wide eyes regarded Jake with wonder. “Wow! China? That’s amazing.” Morgan complimented. The blonde couldn’t even go to college in California without getting himself in trouble, let alone travel to another country to do political work. Morgan assumed (assuming the best, as he always did about everyone) that Jake was abroad fitting for meta-human rights…Well. That probably wasn’t a safe assumption to make about anyone, considering Morgan had no evidence to base that claim on, but it was really nice to think someone would do that, right?

He was legitimately impressed as was apparent but his sudden onslaught of questions. “What was it like?” was just the first. “I mean, I’m sure the weather was really different. What did the people think of you? How as the food?” The only thing that managed to stop Morgan’s gushing was a sudden blush and a sheepish look to his glass. Jake had said the ‘c’ word. Girls used that on Morgan whenever he mentioned his mom. It made him go all blushy every time.

“Aw, c’mon man. Don’t say it like that.” He said with a good natured laugh. “You’ll embarrass the hell out of me.”

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake was extremely sensitive to sunlight and though he had a fairly decent tan, he would still burn if he stayed in direct sunlight for too long. Generally speaking, he did stay out of the light. Artificial light wasn't as bad, though he couldn't look directly at a light bulb without his eyes burning and watering. He didn't always lurk in the shadows, though it was rather comfortable there for him. But light created shadows and the stronger the light, the stronger the shadow. It all balanced itself out in the end. "Fate, indeed. Must be why you looked so good on that stage." Jake, you flirt.

How Morgan even managed to walk out of that classroom in one piece after having both Vin and Sam in the same room was a wonder, let alone the fact that he didn't attempt drowning himself in alcohol afterwards. Had Jake been in Morgan's situation, he probably would have choked the bastards. Self-control? Screw it. "As bas as I was, I wouldn't be able to handle it if I had a kid like me." Psh, I'm sure Morgan would have preferred your mild trouble rather than having two retarded kids fighting and swearing like sailors.

He may not have known it, but Morgan was close. Granted, the way he'd figured it made it sound far too nice, especially when Jake's whole campaign was based on fear tactics, blackmail, and bribery. Looking at the shadow manipulator, one wouldn't necessarily pin him as a dirty, conniving bastard, but that was exactly what he was. Gabe had taught him well. At the barrage of questions, Jake could only smile. "Well, let me tell you one thing; the food is totally overrated. Stick with the fake Chinese food, trust me." He made a face. "And never, ever take McDonald's for granted again. Yeah, they've got 'em over there, but... the menu ain't the same." The food had always been his greatest complaint about being stuck in China and he'd complained to Gabe about it for hours over the phone.

"The people weren't bad. Short. You don't realize it til you're a head taller than everyone in a crowd." He laughed, remembering looking over a sea of Chinese people on the streets. Of course, they weren't all exceptionally short, but Jake had only met a few he could actually look in the eye without looking down. "It was hot, but generally overcast. Kinda smoggy. It wasn't bad, but I was there for way too long. Got tired of it after a week. It's good to be back home and hear English, again, y'know?"

And then Morgan blushed. Jake's smile softened and he finished the last of his current bottle before calling for another. "But I think I like ya embarrassed." Because it was almost painfully adorable.

[/size]

[Morgan Tonaya]

Suddenly it hit Morgan that Jake was being a little extra friendly. Nothing egregious, but it was enough to make Morgan think back on their conversation. Was Jake hitting on him? Was he over reacting? And the biggest question: Did Morgan even care? Now that was an arresting thought, because Morgan honestly didn’t. However! He hadn’t had enough beers to admit it to himself, so he resigned himself to the foolish idea that he was over reacting. Jake was just complimenting him. Man to man.

“That’s what I thought…until I met these kids.” Morgan grunted, knocking back the remainder of his beer. “Just…no respect. Not just for me, but not for each other or for the room or for…anything!” Shaking his head and looking sadly at his empty glass, Morgan sighed. “Utter disregard. It was terrifying.” He finished glumly, deciding to put the class out of his memory for now. Hearing about China was way more interesting.

Morgan’s face fell with each less-than-stellar remark Jake gave about the foreign country. “Oh man. That’s no fun.” He said with a bit of a pout. “But I guess every place can’t be some foreign wonderland.” Morgan justified with a little hint of a smile. “Well welcome home then. Sorry it wasn’t the vacation of your dreams or anything…though I guess you were there for work, not for play. Maybe that had something to do with it?” Morgan suggested, nodding to the bartender for another glass.

“Well try not to get used to it. It makes my face hurt to blush this hard.” Morgan admitted, now blushing not only from the embarrassment of having Jake call him out, but also the flustered reddening of one who was in a social situation he’d never had to deal with. Way too much to think about here. This whole flirting with a dude business was not something Morgan was ever prepared for or had ever thought about preparing for, but he couldn’t say he was uncomfortable because it was disconcerting. It was just…new. He felt like he had in high school when that first girl had admitted she’d liked him and he hadn’t known what to do. The fact that he was almost proud that Jake was being flirty was even more flustering.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake couldn't help but to feel sympathetic towards Morgan as he described the children he was forced to teach. "Sounds like they've caused all sorts of hell for ya." He gave his new companion a little pat on the shoulder. "It'll be okay. Maybe you should bribe 'em into wearing straitjackets." Jake chuckled, imagining a classroom full of kids in straitjackets. (Although I think Vincent may actually own one, it wouldn't surprise me.)

He couldn't help but to notice Morgan's reaction to his comments about China and he had to hide a chuckle behind his hand. "Yeah, strictly business. But out of all the places I've been, Germany was definitely the best. Almost thought about staying." If Morgan was looking for happy travel tails, Jacob could certainly give them to him. "But my German isn't as good as my Chinese. At least, not anymore." Morgan's pout was practically a weapon of mass destruction, Jake had to do something to bring that smile back.

"Languages are a pain in the ass, but kinda fun. When I was still in school, I just wanted to learn all the swears." He grinned a bit, remembering how he was determined to know how to say all sorts of inappropriate things in other languages. At that point in time, he never thought he'd be actually learning those languages for his future career, but he also hadn't thought he'd grow up to be part of a criminal organization. "I'd really love to go to Hawaii eventually. Y'know, for an actual vacation. You think I'd look good in a Hawaiin shirt?" He laughed again, stifling it into his bottle.

Jacob had never been one to be entirely concerned about sexual orientation. He'd flirt with anything as long as it was attractive enough and if he got shot down, he'd back off. Morgan wasn't doing anything to discourage his flirting, so Jake was going to continue until he did, or at least until he got the teacher's number. "Aww, but it looks good on you." Jake was doing nothing but grinning cheekily, finding himself rather glad that he'd run into Morgan.

[/size]