Mantis looked up, startled by Clint's unexpected approach. Her large, expressive eyes widened in surprise, but the curiosity quickly replaced any sense of bewilderment and a bright smile spread across her face as she eagerly accepted the invitation. With a nod of agreement, she gestured for Clint to take his stance, her enthusiasm undiminished. "Alright, but I'll have you know I've gotten pretty good at this."
Clint watched her for a good few minutes. He was the kind of person who always kept his eyes moving, who took in every detail. So he didn't miss the utter, completely sincere glee this woman had during her game. He walked over, smiling gently. "You know, it's even more fun with two people," he said, holding out his hands, ready to play. "C'mon, show me what you're made of," he joked brightly.
"Of course, I can help you navigate this maze of a tower! It can be quite overwhelming at first." Mantis smiled warmly, her empathic abilities already sensing the other's unease. "You're not alone in feeling lost here. Many of us felt the same when we first arrived. But don't worry, you'll find your way around in no time. Where are you trying to get to?"
anna marie was used to being around big groups of people , at least other mutants , but joining a new superhero team has her feeling all sorts of uneasy . avengers hq was completely different to xavier's mansion , she's already lost after wandering the corridors for so long . so she's grateful when she turns the corner and is greeted by a fairly familiar face .
" hey , y'all got a big place here . wont'cha help a girl out ? "
Mantis tentatively stepped closer, her large, empathetic eyes studying Pietro. "Sometimes, being alone isn't the best way to heal," she said softly, her antennae twitching slightly. "I can feel your sadness, your pain. You don't have to carry it all by yourself." She hesitated, then added, "I didn't mean to intrude. I just want to help."
Pietro heard the voice from behind him and turned with a scowl. "Who invited you up here?" he asked, looking back to the cityscape. There were plenty of balconies in the tower, but this particular section of rooftop was a little harder to get to, more out of the way. Still, maybe she had just stumbled on him by accident, and she'd leave as quick as she'd shown up. "I'm fine. I'm not hurt." Not physically anyway. "I just wanted to be alone."
Mantis paused in her cleaning, contemplating Ella's question. "The weather here is⦠different," she replied thoughtfully, her antennae twitching slightly as she recalled her experiences on various planets. "I have been to a few planets, and each of their climates and atmospheres its own beauty and challenges." She resumed her task, a serene expression crossing her face as she continued to tidy the room. "But there is something tranquil about the gentle warmth of this planet, a sense of harmony in the air." Mantis glanced out of the window, observing the vibrant colors of spring beginning to emerge. "It is quite pleasant."
Ella nodded with a smile, glad that it seemed to resonate with Mantis so well. "It is isn't it?" She grinned, finishing up what she was wiping down. "This is probably my favorite time of year. With all the flowers blooming and the weather getting nice but not too hot yet." Speaking somewhat mindlessly. "How do you like the weather here? I bet you've experienced a lot of different types on other planets right?"
Mantis nodded slowly, her expression a mixture of vulnerability and gratitude as she squeezed Johnny's hand back, drawing comfort from his reassuring touch. "Yes," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was⦠unsettling." Her gaze drifted to the ground for a moment before she met Johnny's eyes again. "But I'm glad we made it out alright. It was still very odd to see the Iron Man suits attack people like that. What if it happens again?" She bit her lip, pausing briefly. "Not to mention it's made me doubt Tony a bit, and I hate that feeling the most. He's a teammate, I should be able to trust him."
Johnny gave her a mock pout when she hesitated, but took her hand when she did reciprocate and gave it reassuring squeeze. "It's fine if you're not," he said, easily, fingers lacing around hers as he led her out. "No one's fine all the time." Johnny looked over at her. "Is it because of what just happened?"
Mantis tilted her head slightly, her eyes fixated on Eddie. "No, can't say I know the meaning of LOL," she admitted, her antennae twitching in curiosity. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she observed Eddie's amused expression with genuine interest. The feeling washed over her, a smile of her own tugging at her own lip. "Is it perhaps a human expression for joy or amusement? Because that's all I can sense right now."
Eddie glanced back at her, a light scratch on his temple before his arm wrapped back around his knee. "You don't know what LOL means?" He lightly chuckled, relaxing a little on the floor as he talked with Mantis, he liked her. "Lucky you, I ain't going to tell you as I don't want our texts being filled with them."
Mantis nodded thoughtfully, her eyes following April's movements. "I think you're right, April. When I first arrived on Earth, everything felt so strange and unfamiliar. I kept comparing it to what I knew, trying to understand it through the lens of my past. But now... I just let myself experience things as they come." She took another sip of her tea, her expression serene. "Accepting who I am now and embracing this new life has brought me so much joy. And having friends like you makes it even better." Mantis glanced at the vegetables April was gathering, scratching her cat behind its ears as he jumped up into her lap. "Are you going to feed your turtles now? Can I come with you? I love watching them eat. They always look so content, and I think Rocket likes them, too."
"Yeah? Well, that's good." April smiled at her, happy to see her friend finally feeling one hundred percent settled into life on earth. She took a sip of her coffee and sat it on the table, before going over to the fridge. "I think you just stopped overthinking it all too, you know?" She pulled out some carrots and various vegetables to bring to her turtles. "Like, once you just accepted this was who you are now and not putting too much thought into it, you settled more." She smiled back at Mantis again. "And you seem alot happier now, too."
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emotions
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plot-themed
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muse
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"Absolutely, I can give you a tour!" Mantis' eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Let's start with the basics. The briefing room is where we gather for mission debriefs and strategy meetings. It's just down this hall and to the right. The training facilities are on the lower levelβlots of space for honing your powers. And the medical bay is two floors up, very important to know just in case." She paused, glancing at Rogue with a friendly expression. "And if you ever need a quiet place, the garden area is perfect for some peace and quiet. Do you have any particular places youβre most interested in?"
" thanks sugah , i really appreciate the help ." the brunette tilts her head a little to one side , a smile forming on the corners of her lips . she feels a little better to know that everyone found this place overwhelming once , that one day , she'd work her way around it too . " honestly , i'da need a run down of all the most important places . wudn't wanna get lost when there is an important mission ."
Mantis blinked in confusion, her head tilting slightly. "Inside her head?" she questioned, trying to imagine what the inside of the giant green lady might look like, which only made her wonder if it was rude to be wandering inside of the lady to begin with. Peyton's question about fostering animals pulled Mantis from her thoughts, her heart fluttering with warmth at the idea. "Oh, I've been thinking about it a lot, actually. A cousin for Leia and Luke would be wonderful. I can sense their longing for more family," she mused, her empathic nature attuned to creatures as she reached over to pet them. "Maybe we can fit that into today's plans too, although I did ask Johnny if he wanted to come when I decided... But nothing says I have to decide today! We're just looking."
"Yep." She agreed with a nod, sitting Leia down beside her brother so they could eat the pancake together. "I don't actually know yet, but it's not top secret unless they tell me. And they didn't tell me. So..." Peyton looked up at her and smiled, before snorting at what she said next. "Yes, we can go get a giant pretzel. And go to the Statue of Liberty. You can walk inside her head." She nodded at her. "So, did you think about fostering an animal anymore? I think they could totally use a cousin."
With how badly she was craving ice cream now, there was no way she would let anybody stand in their way. As Johnny looked around cautiously, Mantis poked her head around the corner, observing the surroundings with heightened awareness and anticipation. "The path is clear for now," she whispered. "We can make a run for it! Come on, Johnny! Ice cream awaits!" Mantis didn't hesitate to take the lead, darting towards the door, her movements quick and agile. As they reached the exit, she shot a mischievous grin at Johnny before slipping through. "Freedom tastes as sweet as ice cream," she remarked with a satisfied smile, happily twirling in the sunshine. "We make a great team, you know. This was a very successful mission, and we've definitely earned our treat. I think I might get rocky road..." Although she was never really sure what flavor she was getting until she was in front of it. "Oh, by the way! I've decided it's time for me to get a pet of my own. Peyton has cats at home, and I really enjoy their company. Plus, having a pet is all part of the human experience, right? That's what I'm here for!"
"Right? They're the best kind of missions. Super spy mission." Johnny smirked when she got down and made herself as small as possible, only trailing after her when she gave him the green light to do so. "Mhmm. Safe zone is totally the ice cream shop. And everyone here is our enemy because they're going to keep us at work and from going to the ice cream shop." Johnny looked to the door and back again. The path was clear. He knew the place was full of cameras, but whatever. The safe zone was calling. He'd deal with it later if someone caught them and actually thought it was worth it to raise hell about. 'We can make a run for it?" Johnny looked back at Mantis, completely serious. "Think we should risk it?"