Margaret
Morgan stood in the playground, not in her costume persay, but her beyond pale skin, scars, and exaggerated stature and build were enough to mark her as a cape. An unfortunate circumstance of her power, made having a secret identity impossible, a similar situation to many other monstrous capes. She didn't wear her costume today because she didn't _want_ to.

She wore a forest green dress, simple in style, and just below her knees. A massive wavy straw hat she wore billowed with her hair in the wind, and her flats had made been burried by the over grown grass, it's maroon red color still poking through in some parts. She her self had a clearly masculine frame and set of features, but her make up and shaving skills were nothing to scoff at, and getting better every day. 

She sighed to herself, taking in another deep breath as she lamented the sorry state of the playground. Maybe she could come by again in more suitable clothes and begin cleaning it up? Would they even appreciate that? She seemed dour at the thought..
Mark
*Harpy often came here, or other places like here, to train her body or to relieve stress. She didn't go to the gym because she feared she'd attract too much attention, and also because she liked to wear clothes that let her feel the breeze of the air. She couldn't exactly train as a cape in a public non-abandoned place, plus she feared she might get recognized. Though her shard didn't make her monstrous all the time, her appearance was incredibly unique even among capes. Anyone with good knowledge of Harpy would be able to recognize her on a good day. She liked to dress as normally as possible to address that, she wore an MIT hoodie sweatshirt and a pair of black running shorts.*

*She was jogging by, until she noticed the person standing in the playground not too far away. At first she ignored them, at least until Harpy got closer in her jogging path. She got a good look on them, the dress and hat, and the skin too. That wasn't normally on a person, even if they were horribly disfigured it wouldn't be like that she thought.* 

"Umm, excuse me? Are you lost?" *Even though Harpy assumed there was some super power at play here, she didn't want to assume. She didn't even want to assume their gender, her younger cousin had scolded her in the past about that. Since then she's being trying to use gender neutral language.*
Margaret
"Guess you could say that" Her deep, gruff voice responded. Morgan turned to face the voice who'd come to check up on her, Mercy's voice. "I'm just wondering why the playground is like this, It doesn't seem right. The city's only ten years old, but already it's letting areas like this waste away. Shouldn't there be more care put into fostering a good community here? And part of that is keeping facilities like this clean."

She let herself sit into the grass, crossing her legs and fanning out her dress a bit. "I was thinking about coming back here some time to do it myself. Get rid of the over growth, cut the grass, repair what I can."

Her expression was still a bit... Dead. Seemed to be a good enough descriptor. Her face upturned to look at Mercy now, head gently tilting to one side, and that blank look turning into something more curious. "I.. You're not upset with my appearance, are you?"
Mark
*Harpy wasn't expecting that voice. Her eyes widened upon hearing Morgue begin speaking, she caught herself and made herself not. The last thing she wanted to be was rude. She listened to her, and she had a point. Maintaining places like this was just as important, if not more important, than all the hero work Vanguard and other capes do. She was pleasantly surprised to see that someone else seemed to acknowledge that. Harpy mainly did cape work because she had the power to, and therefore she had the responsibility to.*

"Hmm.. Not sure if the city would be appreciative of that. Unless you let them know.." *Harpy responded, trailing off in thought as she walked to get closer to Morgue. Now about 15 feet from her, she put her hands in her pockets before looking at the rest of the playground. It would need a lot of work, and one person would take a while to get it done. It would be wonderful for the community though..*

"But, that shouldn't stop you. I think you should, if you think that's best for the community." *Harpy continued, now turning to look at the other girl. When she turned to face her, and she got a better look at her face she felt.. Bad. Not to be mean, but Morgan's facial expression wasn't exactly the most pleasing to look at, but Harpy wasn't interested in appearances, she was already pleased with the content of Morgan's character. At least, the content that she knew of.*

"Not at all. Why would I? Oh, also, I've been making a point to myself to get better at this ever since I got scolded for it. What're yer pronouns? I'm.." *She hesitated for a bit, not sure of which of her names to give to the stranger.* "I'm.. Mercy, she/her."
Margaret
"Morgan, She/her. Morgue is my cape name. No point in hiding it, my power made me this way, mostly. I'm a fairly new hero, or at least I'm trying to be. I'll keep the legality of cleaning up the park in mind, but I have doubts on the system moving faster than molasses." She chuckled a little as she picked a few daisies and started to delicately craft with them.

"Oh and, it's a pleasure to meet you, mercy. For the record, I think you're doing a good job so far, and I and I'm sure many others appreciate the effort. It's better than what the skinheads who passed by not long ago said to me. Not like they were going to do anything. They're cowards."

She was finished after she spoke, the finished product her hulking hands had somehow produced.. Was a flower crown.
Mark
*Harpy nodded in agreement with Morgue's statement, though she was surprised when the gal gave her their cape name. She was unpleasantly surprised at first, her habit of being vigilant beginning to kick in when she heard that. But upon hearing she was a new hero, much like Harpy herself, she relaxed and felt relieved. She dwindled on speaking, but before she could Morgan continued. A smile encroached on Harpy's face when she heard that she was doing a good job, quickly it faded when she heard about Morgan's mistreatment. Her hands visibly balled into fists, but not for longer than a few seconds.*

*Harpy sat down next to Morgan, looking at the flower crown.* "So my hunch was right, you do have a power. That's good, people like us should stick together, and stand up for one another." *Harpy said, taking off her sweatshirt to reveal the white long sleeved sports top underneath. She leaned forward to remove it, so the observant eye would notice two large holes in the back.*

"Would it put you at ease if I transformed?" *She asked, folding her sweatshirt and setting it on the ground next to her.* "Oh, my cape name is Harpy, by the way. I'm also a fairly new hero."
Margaret
Morgan's eyes shot to what little life they had, and she couldn't keep the smile from showing just a bit. "You're a changer? I'd love to see!" She was still smiling, but it fell a little as she thought about where they were, and how loud she was being.

" Well, maybe another time. It's not like I'm uneasy, and this is a public place. Maybe it's not visited often because of the state it's in, but it's not like some teenagers or gang members couldn't show up eventually." 

Morgan raised her arms and gently, she sent the flower crown on top of mercy-, harpy- mercy's head. She worked it out in her head that as long as they were talking in their civilian clothes, civilian names were to be used, even if they knew each other's capes identities now. "I think that looks beautiful on you." She commented with a warm smile. "Since we're both a little new, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to keep in touch. Support each other if things go awry. Would you like to swap contacts?"
Mark
*Mercy was pleased to hear Morgan's enthusiasm, and she was about to transform if not for her later apprehension. She had a point. Her Harpy form wasn't small by any means, that would only help to make the aforementioned issues worse.* 

"You have a point." *Harpy was looking away, thinking to herself and taking in her environment when Morgan placed the flower crown on her. Turning back around to face her was when she noticed it. How sweet.*

"Aww, thank you." *She smiled in return. It was rare for her to receive a gift like that.* "And yeah." *She continued, taking out her phone and opening it to the keypad before giving it to Morgan.* 

"Save your contact however you'd like." *Harpy instructed before turning back to view the world. It was clear that she was thinking about something.*
Margaret
Morgan did much the same, and handed her phone- a slide out keypad one, it was quite fancy- over to Mercy. Once she'd finished punching in her contact info, as Morgan Astrodale, She handed it back. Morgan of course caught the way she watched the world with her mind focused on anything but the scene in front of her, becoming little more than a backdrop for her thoughts. She was observant like that, but it helped that it was a habit that she fell into quiet often herself.

"You seem to be thinking, Mercy. What's got your attention right now?" She picked more daisies from the ground, beginning to fiddle with them again, making another crown for herself as she waiting for a response from her new friend, ever curious of the hero's mind.
Mark
*She put in her phone number and made her contact just her first name, handing it back quickly since she wasn't putting too much attention to it. It wasn't until Morgan spoke up that Mercy snapped back to the present. Facing Morgan, she would ask her question.* 

"Earlier you said that there were people who mistreated you, called you terrible things. You also said they were cowards who wouldn't dare harm you. I was just wondering that.. Since I've never felt an experience like that, I find it easy to protect and defend civilian life.. But why- how can you? Doesn't it bother you that you find the good in your heart to stand up for a heroic cause, and there are those that would rather spit at your shoes than be grateful?" *She asked the other cape. It was clear that she was perplexed just as much as she was astonished. Mercy was glad that they were a hero, but for the longest time she had the assumption that villains were villains because of their mistreatment. No one goes out of their way to harm others without being hurt first, with exceedingly rare exceptions.*

"I don't mean to say you shouldn't be a hero, I'm glad you are. I just figured that if it weren't for my dad and my.. To be honest, coddled childhood.. I'd be no better a villain than the Songbirds." *She wanted to maintain eye contact, so long as Morgan was willing to at least. She wanted to make it as clear as possible that she was being authentic.*
Margaret
Those cold, almost dead eyes. The milky white and grey that blended so well with their skin and hair, broken up only by the colors she _wore_. Harpy could see how plainly her body betrayed her. If she'd not first talked with her, and met the person behind the visage of a deadman, it might have been terrifying. Morgue's smile would have seemed uncanny, creepy, evil. Maybe in a way it was still uneasy, but it was a sign that the question was simple for her.

"Being good, is fulfilling, where many things for me, are not." She finished what she was making, seemingly a crown? But it was bigger actually. She took her hat off for just a moment and threw it over her head, wearing the flower necklace. 

Her hands idly ran through the grass as she looked towards the park it's self, and it's state of disrepair. "Without going into much detail, After gold morning, I ended up becoming so useless. I couldn't continue my pursuit of a career in sports or even be out there, looking out for anyone. Even after I got my powers, I couldn't get into competitive sports! It ruined my transition, It make me look like a monster- and that was pretty depressing! Still.. Still is..."

Her smile hang a bit bitter as she continued, but never dropped entirely. "..Still, I looked at the positives. I was still here, I had my strength back and more, I could start helping people. It wasn't boxing or wrestling, but going toe to toe with villains has been fulfilling, and of course, standing up for the little guy, in more ways than just with my fists. So it doesn't matter how bad the insults and the violence gets. It's validating, being out here to keep the people safe. It's something valuable, noble, something to be proud of, something that I can still get better at, something that I can do to prove I'm not a monster. Maybe not to everyone, but more and more, everyday."
Mark
*Mercy was surprised to hear what she did. Still looking at Morgan, she listened wholly to her statement. It seemed as if they were still good in spite of it all. Morgan was grateful, Harpy thought. Of course, Harpy basically decided to ignore the mentions of Gold Morning, she didn't like to think about that.* 

"Hmph." *Harpy grunted before looking back down at the ground before her. Rubbing her thumb against her lips as she was thinking. Hearing Morgan's story put some things in to question for her.* 

"I might be dumb. But, I always thought being a hero for personal gain was bad. Yet, the way you describe it makes it sound like you do good because it feels good to do good. Which is a good thing.." *It was clear Mercy was trying to wrap her head around it.* 

"Because, I'm a hero because I'm obligated to be one. My dad told me 'Those with the ability to change the lives of others must do so for good, failing that makes you no better than a thief of hopes and dreams.'" *She looked back up, facing forward while talking.* 

"To be honest, I think he was quoting a comic book. 'With great power, comes great responsibility.' It was meaning that this is my burden, I can help people.. So I should help people." *She continued, motioning her hands to show that the line of thought was grave and important.* 

"I don't enjoy being a hero, but I wonder if that's the wrong way to think about it."
Margaret
"Spiderman. Good comic, back in the days where capes never existed. In any case, I could never do heroism because I had to, that sort of methodology makes you cynical, resentful. Maybe it's true in circumstances like behemoth, like what they faced with scion, and the other end bringers on bet, but for everyday villains or disasters, you're just as much of a human being as anyone else. You shouldn't feel like you have to stick your neck out to the guillotine because you can transform. A firefighter, or a doctor are just as much heros we are."

Morgan turned to face Mercy, drawing up her knees and wrapping her arms around them. "Recognize you deserved to be saved or helped just as much as anyone else, remind others of the same. Lest we let ourselves become divided again, as humans, even if there is something more about us. Para-human."
Mark
"Right." *Mercy nodded, she was agreeing but she wasn't fully understanding. That was another thing she had thought about, who saves the saviors. Who's the hero's hero? Is it Vanguard? All thoughts in her head.* 

"I recognize that firefighters and doctors are heroes. I say they're even better heroes than us. It's just that, if I don't stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves they'll be trampled." *Mercy went on, still very hung up on this fact.* 

"I don't know.. I realize that I was fighting because my dad told me something. Which, I don't think is a bad thing, but it explains why I was getting a bit burnt out."

*She turned to face Morgan by the time she was done talking. Her posture relaxed, showing that she felt defeated almost.*
Margaret
"What I'm getting at is we're all in the same boat. Ever single one of us has needed saving before, and still need saving now. Even those who deny it, those who think they are above it, don't think they need it, even those that you might believe don't deserve it." 

She let a deepsigh fall like a hefty gale, before falling back against the grass, flowers, and weeds with a thud. " Even if it is just for a week, a day, or a moment. Take breaks. Take time for yourself. Be someone outside of your duties. Breathe. Be loud and let it out. Or lay back and take it in. Whatever works for you. Fight for yourself, for a change. Fight for your peace. Even if that doesn't look like kicks and blows."

Another deep breath in, and Morgan didn't say anything else, just letting it out slowly, the cold of the winter air making her hot breath look like the warm smoldering steam.
Mark
*'Fight for your peace. Even if that doesn't look like kicks or blows.' Mercy was paying attention to the whole of what Morgan was saying. But, that last bit stuck with her. It resonated in her head, bouncing off the walls of her skull and racking her brain. Seeing Morgan lay down against the grass compelled Mercy to do the same. It was nice, being in contact with the grass and nature.*

*Another thought came to mind.*

"Wanna like, get food?" *She asked, looking at the woman while awaiting a response.* "I'm kinda hungry and wanna thank you for your words. And don't worry, I'll pay." 

*She played with the flower crown on her head, having almost forgotten it was there. She liked it, shown by her smile when she glanced at it and felt it.*
Margaret
Morgan didn't give her a reply yet, her smile was only growing as she closed her eyes and fanned out a little in the grass. She did eventually respond, a slow "Yeaaaaah." She rose a little, letting her arms support her as she turned to mercy "But. I pay. Looks bad if i just let you pay, I'm a hero after all, and you're supposed to be a civilian right now."

She gently rose up, but not before taking a light grasp over mercy and pulling her up with her. It wasn't a long lie down in the grass, but even just moments of peace were enough for Morgan. She got a good hold of mercy and lifted her up to allow her to sit on the hero's shoulder. "Eating is good for me, Just like rest. Helps keep my power strong and capable."
Mark
*Mercy had grabbed her sweatshirt and began putting it on before Morgan lifted her up. Wow, she was strong. Next thing she knew she was sitting on Morgan's shoulders, and being told it would be her that paid.* 

*Harpy contemplated just transforming and flying them to a cafe or something, but she could potentially hurt them with her talons, or surprise them.* 
"Ok, first." *Mercy climbed down from their shoulders before reaching in her pocket for her wallet, bringing out 100£ she handed it to Morgan.* 

"You'll pay with my money. Also where do you wanna go?"
Margaret
A grand smile spread across her face as she accepted the money from Mercy. "You know, actually, theres this nice milkshake place that open up not to far from here, I was thinking-"

She started walking as she trailed off, her new friend and potentiallly new ally, Harpy, Along for the ride. She wouldn't forget about the playground as they left it behind. She was coming back, maybe with harpy's help if she felt so inclined...

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