"Are you not my guardian, for the moment?" Well, that's weird. The tone and cadence of his speech is the same, but his voice is that of a child's, matching his appearance. Pushed to an extreme, that could be downright unsettling. "Will you read to me? Fetch books off a high shelf?"

Don't mind him, he's just being a jackass because he can. He smiles, letting go of Peter's sleeve to push his hands in his pockets. "If I tried to warn people looking like my usual self, no one would believe me, either. My reputation precedes me. But my reputation isn't the point."

"All I mean to suggest is that you consider your assets and how your opponents, whoever they may be, might react to them. You have a look of innocence, and the way you speak reinforces that. And that does not have to be a liability. If you allow your opposition to underestimate you, it gives you an edge."

Granted, he has no idea what Peter's opposition might be, or how physical and dangerous the demands of his work are. He sees a sweet-faced teenager and assumes his worst enemies are school bullies. He's a bit behind the times, and unfamiliar with Spider-Man.

Three steps ahead, and he shimmers again, returning to his previous shape.