DO NOT assume that because you see a character's name, that you automatically recognize him as that person. No, they probably aren't going to be walking around with neon signs flashing their names. CHECK THE OTHER CHARACTERS' DESCS, even if it is a close friend or even a celebrity or even someone as infamous as Magneto, CHECK THE DESC before you assume you recognize him/her. They may be in disguise, they may shapechangers whose desc SPECIFICALLY says that it resembles nothing more than a puddle of water. And even if you DO recognize the individual ICly, LEARN TO SEPARATE IC knowledge from OOC knowledge. If you run into Sinister, even if you have read every comic he's been in, chances are your character DOES NOT know his entire background, his history, what team he commands, what he's done, his alternate forms, his resources or any of the information in his +finger.

If two people are wearing trenchcoats and hats, and are sitting in a corner booth with no lighting with their backs to the door in a packed bar, chances are that Underage-Lemming isn't going to automatically spot them as soon as he walks into the doors.... much less know their powers and histories, etc. It sounds like a lot to keep in mind, but it isn't. Not at all, it's a very natural process if you're truly into your character. The only thing that'll complicate this is if you let your OOC thoughts/desires superimpose themselves on your character. The best thing to do is to use common sense and courtesy. If you walk into a room and it looks like something important and/or private is happening, walk past and find something new.. or, if you'd like to join, page one of the participants first. They may be on the verge of establishing something very important to their characters, or they may be out looking for others to have a good time with. It never hurts to ask, but it does hurt to barge in.