Latest Posts by guardianmantisx - Page 2

Sensing the confusion and fear in the air, Mantis focused her abilities, attempting to calm those around her, hoping to get them out of the crossfire. With delicate gestures and soothing words, she directed people to safety, her gentle touch providing a sense of reassurance amidst the turmoil. "Follow me, quickly, this way leads to the emergency exits. We must evacuate the premises immediately." After getting the small group she was escorting to the exit, Mantis turned back to the ballroom in search of more people to help. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, coming up behind another guest. "Come on, we have to get you out of here, it's not safe."

@cxylers

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 listened attentively as Loki explained his hesitance, her empathic senses attuned to the nuances of his emotions underlying his words, though she didn't push for more details. She nodded understandingly, offering him a warm smile of reassurance. "It's perfectly alright, Loki," she murmured softly, her gentle voice a calming presence in the room. He'd been patient with her opening up regarding her past, the least she could do was offer him the same kindness and not pry. Though as he elaborated on his abilities, Mantis's eyes sparkled with interest. "Your mastery over magic is truly impressive," she remarked, genuine admiration coloring her tone. When he mentioned his ability to manipulate ice, she tilted her head curiously. "Is there a reason you aren't as well versed in that magic?"

"Oh, it's not you, darling," he shook his head, seeing her reaction. "It's just a weird thing for me." Loki leaned back in his seat and continued, "It's a long story." He tilted his head to the side, humming at her response, "That's a useful skill, though." With a shrug, he replied, "My mother was raised by witches, so she's very skilled in magic and taught me what she knew. Shape-shifting, spell-casting, telekinesis, that sort of thing." He paused for a moment, before adding, "I can conjure and manipulate ice too, but I haven't really expanded much on that ability."

Mantis stepped through the door of their shared apartment, a wide grin on her face as she cradled her new feline companion in her arms. The excitement bubbled within her, eager to share the joy of her latest addition to the household with her roommate. Yet, amidst her enthusiasm, a subtle unease lingered at the periphery of her thoughts, a nagging whisper urging caution, although she wasn't sure what she should be showing caution towards or for. Brushing it aside for the moment, Mantis cuddled the cat to her face, her eagerness to reveal her new furry friend to her roommate overwhelming any sense of foreboding even as it tightened its grip on her subconscious. "Peyton!" She called out, hoping that the other wasn't still in bed. "I have someone I want you to meet!"

@stvrlcrd

Mantis carefully listened to Ella's explanation of spring cleaning, her large eyes blinking slowly as she absorbed the information. She found the concept intriguing, a ritual of renewal and purification. With a nod, Mantis picked up a cloth and began wiping down the surfaces of the room. Dust particles danced in the sunlight streaming through the windows as she worked methodically, her movements precise and deliberate. As she cleaned, Mantis couldn't help but ponder the idea of getting rid of things one no longer needed. It struck a chord within her as she thought of her journey of self-discovery. She'd gotten rid of things that no longer served her, and it had in fact enriched her life in ways she never expected. "Interesting... shedding the old to embrace the new," Mantis murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "a beautiful analogy for growth."

Ella didn't mind cleaning, she found it a good way to distract herself from other things going on with her life. At the sudden question though, she paused. "Oh we still clean in between! But Spring cleaning is supposed to be like a big deep clean. Where you might get areas you don't usually clean or you even get rid of stuff in your house that you don't need anymore."

Mantis withdrew her hand respectfully as Loki reassured her, a hint of embarrassment washing over her. Had she overstepped? Pulling her hand back, she tucked her hair behind her ear, nodding at his explanation. "Oh, I see... well, please let me know if I can help in any way. As for my powers," she began, her gaze shifting momentarily as she contemplated how best to articulate her abilities. "To put it simply, I'm an empath, I can sense and to an extant manipulate the emotions of others." Mantis knew how that sounded, her face skewed slightly as she searched for a better explanation. "I can feel what others feel, understand their innermost thoughts and desires, and in some cases influence their emotions. Like with Ego, he would often ask me to clear his mind, make it to where he could sleep." Mantis paused, her eyes meeting Loki's with a gentle intensity, glad to finally have the sort of connection she'd been craving her entire life. "And what of you, Loki? What abilities do you possess?"

"Hm?" Loki glanced up when he saw her reach up. "Oh. No." But he put a gentle, genuine smile on his face a moment later. Loki did like her and it wasn't her. He'd been weird with anything like that ever since Thanos. "I'm fine, darling. I think it's going to be ever present, unfortunately. Thanks to the vast majority of people in this tower." He smirked and reached over for his coffee. "What are your powers exactly? I never asked and now I'm curious."

"Your emotions say otherwise," Mantis murmured softly, her empathic abilities picking up on his turmoil. "I can alleviate some of your discomfort, if you'd like?" She gently reached out a hand towards Loki's forehead, intending to use her empathic touch to ease his headache. "As for the idiocy of others, unfortunately my powers can't help with that."

Loki didn't realize his hand was on his head until he caught the other looking. "I'm fine. Headache." he dropped it, nodding to the case in front of them. "Because apparently everyone collectively decided to be idiots this week."

As Wanda finished her explanation, Mantis tilted her head slightly, her large eyes blinking inquisitively. "Oh, I see," she said, her gentle voice carrying a note of understanding, glad that nothing had actually happened between the two. "Hopefully the two of them stay out of trouble though, it would be horrible if they weren't allowed to work together ever." Ensuring that she was set for the evening, Mantis glanced around the area, the night seemingly quiet for now. Well, as quiet as New York got, anyway. "Shall we?"

🕸️ for our muses to patrol the city; @guardianmantisx

"My brother was going to be your patrol partner," Wanda started, as she approached the other woman. "But he bullied me into letting him switch with me -- he didn't really bully me," she added, knowing Mantis was too pure for her own good sometimes and would take that literally. She stopped fidgeting with her earpiece and explained, "He wanted to go with Johnny. They're not allowed to go together during actual missions because Pietro's an actual idiot. So anyway," she smirked. "You're stuck with me."

"Hey, Carol," Mantis began with a smile, her large eyes sparkling brightly. She'd found the other woman fascinating and fun to talk to; Mantis always felt slightly more elated than usual after an interaction with Carol. "How about we take a break from saving the universe for one night and go grab a drink? Maybe even off-world? You know, just, 'hang out' as they say."

@higherfurtherfasterr

The bustling sounds of the city outside were an annoyance to some, but Mantis found some comfort from the noise as she diligently tackled the task of spring cleaning. It was rather odd that humans only cleaned once a year, but it was a tradition she was willing to embrace. Thankfully, she'd have help understanding what was quite possibly the most boring holiday that humans had come up with. "So what do you do in between spring cleanings? What if everything becomes too dirty to wait until the next cleaning? Do you just suffer with the dust?"

@isab3lla-mills

@guardianmantisx @darcylewisx @frostqueenhelax @micahrambeaux

symbol meme under the cut. remember to send some if you reblog. please only engage with this post if you're a member of variance hq.

spring themed

🌸 our muses go flower picking together

🧼 for my muse helps yours do spring cleaning

🚴‍♀️ our muses go on a bike ride

🍦 our muses get ice cream

🌱 for our muses to plant a garden together

🌷 for our muses go on a picnic in the park

🚶‍♂️ for our muses take a leisurely stroll through a garden

🏞️ for our muses to go on a nature hike together

🎡 for our muses to go to an amusement park

🕯️for our muses to go on a date

plot themed

🕵️‍♂️ for our muses to unravel a mystery together

💔 for my muse comforts yours after a heartbreak

🏰 for our muses to embark on a dangerous quest

🛸 for our muses embark on an intergalactic adventure

⚔️ for our muses to team up with each other

🌌 for my character to help yours master their superpowers

💪 for our muses to train together

🕸️ for our muses to patrol the city

🧙‍♂️ for our characters to navigate themselves through mystical realms

🤖 for our muses to face off against a horde of robotic foes

🎭 for one of our characters/both to disguises themselves on a mission

🏛️ for one of or characters to have legal issues

💀 for one or both of our characters to grapple with past actions

👀 for my muse to catch yours in a shady situation

emotions

😊 for a happy starter

🤬 for an angry starter

😭 for a sad starter

🥰 for a fluffy starter

😠 for an angsty starter

🤗 for my muse to comfort yours

👐 for your muse to comfort mine

🥞 for an early morning starter

🦉 for a late night starter

👻 for a scared starter

💢 to start a fight with my muse

💚 for a jealous starter

Mantis's smile grew tense at the mention of splitting up siblings, the comment having stirred up her mixed emotions about helping Ego with his mission to find a Celestial heir and what he'd done to those that didn't share his abilities. "Siblings are important, I'd never break them up if it could be avoided," she replied, doing her best to keep her emotions from bubbling over onto him. The sadness Ego brought upon her was the last thing she'd wish on anyone. "And don't tempt me with the zoo idea! The zoo is amazing, I'd live there if I could. Animals have such interesting emotions, and their feelings are much simpler to understand sometimes. It sounds like a dream, honestly."

He snorted softly and leaned his head against hers as they walked. "You can justify it if there's a sibling pair. Can't split up siblings." Johnny tilted his head enough to look down at her and smirked, only lifting it completely when they got to the ice cream shop. Reaching out to open the door for her, he continued, "Seriously, though. I'm excited for you. I think it'll be really good. And look, if this whole superhero thing doesn't work out for either of us, I'm totally down for opening our own zoo."

Wrapping her arm around his, she rested her temple against his shoulder. The thought of walking out with twelve animals sounded like a dream, like those videos she'd seen of famous people playing with an entire litter of puppies while they answered questions. Mantis had only watched those videos for the puppies, of course; she had no idea who the people were, but they looked quite happy. "I think we'll start with one and see what happens with that. Maybe two..." she paused, biting back a smirk. "Okay, three tops! But really, I can't go too crazy."

Johnny laughed and grabbed her hand, running alongside her as if they actually were running from someone, and not just skipping out on a mandatory meeting. "Mission accomplished. Good job, agent." He smirked and gave her a wink as he dropped her hand, holding his arm out for her to take instead. "Oh yeah?" Johnny led her across the street, in the direction of the ice cream shop. "I think it'll be really good for you. Well, maybe," he added, teasingly. "You might come out with twelve instead of one."

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?"

With a serene expression, she joined Peyton on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest while she contemplated the advice Peyton had given. "You make a point," Mantis said softly, thinking about how much of her life had already been dictated by a man. She had vowed as part of her experience here that she would do what she wanted. "I do really like their donuts... especially their cheesecake donut. I have no clue where'd I'd find something like it." Her focus shifted to the cats and their discarded leashes. "Did you want me to calm them down for you?"

Peyton made a scrunched up face -- both in distaste at the whole catcalling situation and her actual cats who decided to mutiny against her apparently. She gave up on the cat leashes and looked up at her friend. "Or," she said, sitting crosslegged on the floor. "You could keep going to your favorite donut spot and ignore them. Give them like a big screw you." She shook her head, "Babycakes, if you let gross guys dictate where you go in life, you'll literally never go anywhere."

Thankfully, in her experience at least, men had been an upstanding sort, though most of her human interaction up until this point had been with the Avengers and a few SHIELD agents here and there. She'd been venturing out into the human world more and more as of late however, which opened her up to a whole new world of human interaction. "Sadly, they're located right in front of my favorite donut shop, so I'll have to go without those while they're working. Oh! We should go find a new donut spot to go to!"

"Oh. Yeah." Peyton set Leia down beside her brother when she started squirming and walked over to her roommate, cat leashes that both cats were ignoring still in hand. "It's 'cause men are assholes." She knelt down to their level and made a face when Luke started resisting the leash again. Letting out a breath, Peyton looked up at Mantis, clarifying before she could question her on the asshole comment, "They're gross. Have no moral center. No decency. Most of them anyway."

Mantis tilted her head in confusion, her large eyes fixed on the floor while she processed Klara's explanation. "Ah, I see... Metaphorical expressions can be perplexing. The intricacies of Earth's languages continue to elude me," she admitted with a laugh, her expression reflecting a mix of curiosity and bemusement. "But congratulations on the revelation of your impending parenthood! I sense a complex array of emotions within you, and it's truly fascinating. If you ever need assistance, I am here to help in any way I can." Mantis extended her hand, offering a warm and reassuring smile.

Admittedly, Klara should have known that using the phrase cat's out of the bag in reference to everyone now knowing about her pregnancy would be a problem for an alien that's been on Earth for maybe three weeks. After all, there were still some phrases that frazzled her own mind. "No, no don't worry! There are no cats in bags involved!" she shook her head. "It just means that a secret's out. I'm not sure why Midgardians use that phrase but I can't really judge," she chuckled.

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."

"Oh, a stealth mission! I love those," Mantis giggled softly. As they crept into the hallway, she lowered into a crouching position to appear as small as possible. She couldn't contain her excitement, her antennae twitching with anticipation. With each step, she moved as silently as she could, eyes wide and scanning the surroundings. So far it seemed as though the hallways were deserted, making the game all too easy. Pausing at a corner, Mantis poked her head carefully to ensure nobody was in their path. "Coast is clear," she whispered, motioning for Johnny to follow as she pushed forward, excitement building as their chances of winning looked better with every step. She so hoped they won this game. "Where are we headed when we get out of here? Where's the safe zone? Oooh, is it the ice cream shop? That would be the best prize!"

Johnny opened his mouth to mention the door was going to slam, but Mantis caught it before he could. He snorted softly when she tiptoed over to him, tilting his head to look at her. He glanced back at the door, and then to her again, before answering, in a quiet voice, "Everyone who isn't us is it." He smirked and took her hand, tugging her back towards the door. Cracking it open and nodding into the seemingly empty hallway, Johnny continued, "And we have to get out quietly and quickly before anyone sees or hears us."

Mantis blinked at the other, confusion etched on her face. "I don’t know what that means..."

Mantis had gathered that the whistles and cheers from a bunch of construction workers while she was out for her walk earlier wasn't entirely meant as a friendly greeting although it seemed positive, and Peyton's reaction to the story only proved her assumption right. Still, she shook her head, although she appreciated the offer. "No, it's okay, but thank you. But that was what you call 'catcalling,' yes? I haven't experienced it yet... Can't say I enjoyed it."

“Wait, they said what to you?” Peyton asked, pulling a face. “Do you want me to take care of it?”

Mantis quickly caught the door before it slammed shut behind her, making sure to ease it closed before tiptoeing over to him. "So, we're playing hide and seek? I love this game!" She found a spot that was out of view should anyone else open the door, hand covering her mouth to stifle her giggles. "Who's it?"

"If you're coming in here, be quiet about it. Because I'm definitely not hiding from a mandatory meeting."

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."

Mantis giggled at Peyton's playful smirk, appreciating her roommate's understanding nature. "Exactly! Taste is the most important," she agreed with a nod. As Luke demanded attention and affectionately rubbed against her arm, Mantis chuckled, scratching the cat behind the ears. "I'm getting you food, don't you worry," she cooed, putting the first pancake to the side and pouring the next one into the pan. She started cutting up the finished pancake for the cats to share, nodding eagerly at the invitation. "I'd love to come to the lab with you!" she exclaimed, enthusiasm bubbling over. Not that she really understood much of what they worked on, but it was fascinating to watch. "What are you working on? Anything you can talk about or is it a secret project? Oh! And when we go to the city, can we get one of those giant pretzels?"

"I can absolutely see that, yes." She looked at Mantis with a smirk, rolling her eyes fondly at the other's antics. Peyton pressed a kiss to the top of Luke's head. "That's all that matters, babes. How it tastes, not how it looks. I don't gotta look at it when I eat it." She let Luke go so he could walk over to Mantis and rub his head against her arm, insistently against her arm, obviously wanting food of his own. "Nah," she replied to her roommate's question, hopping off the counter so she could go and pluck Luke's sister off the bookshelf before she could knock a plant over. Once Leia was secure in her arms, she walked back over to Mantis. "Well, I need to head to the lab and finish something I was working on if you want to tag along. We could head to the city after."

She couldn't help but chuckle at Peyton's sleepy protest. "Sorry for the early ruckus. But you see, pancakes wait for no one!" Mantis grinned, her eyes sparkling with joy. As Peyton scooped up her curious cat, Mantis's smile widened. "Hello, Luke! Would you like some breakfast too?" she asked, her voice filled with warmth. Peyton's compliment about the smell made Mantis's heart flutter with pride, even if the appearance of her breakfast creation was a tad unconventional. "Thank you! I promise they taste better than they look," Mantis assured her with a playful wink. At least she hoped it did. "And there's coffee too! You know, this cooking thing is pretty easy once you get the hang of it." Mantis paused to take a bite of her toast, leaning against the counter while waiting to flip the pancake. "So, any plans for the day?"

Peyton padded into the kitchen, making a noncommittal noise when she heard her roommate already moving around like it was a normal hour of the day. "Bruh. It's 8 am. It's basically illegal to be this awake at 8 am." She pouted a little, about to say something else, but one of her cats was on their way over to the pancake mix. She scooped them up -- Luke, she realized once he was in her arms -- and returned the other girl's smile. It was annoyingly infectious. "Hi. It smells good." She hopped up onto the counter, Luke on her lap. "Lowkey looks kinda weird, but smells good."

"Crack the eggs, crack the eggs!" Mantis happily sang to herself, attempting to avoid making a mess as she cracked open the shells. Unfortunately, she missed the bowl and she left a yolky mess on the counter as her attention shifted to the toast popping up from the toaster. "Oh, yay! Toast!" she cheered, smothering her overdone toast with butter before turning back to her abandoned attempt at pancakes. "Okay... so now I stir this and pour it into the pan." Mantis carefully dipped her mixing bowl over the skillet, dumping a rather large amount of clumpy batter into the center. Her attention was drawn away once again as her roommate joined her, a bright smile crossed the alien's face as she greeted the other warmly. "Hi! I'm making breakfast!"

@stvrlcrd

Mantis, with her multifaceted eyes flickering in shades of green, considered Ella's proposal. "Electronic games could be intriguing, but I have observed that the tactile nature of card games has a unique charm. And I've heard of so many games that can be played with a single set of cards. I'm curious to know how that works."

Ella thought for a moment, "Do you want to play something electronic? Or like a card game?" She asked the other woman, thinking of all the different possibilities. Plus she was sure there were a ton of games she didn't even know about. That was just on Earth! She couldn't even imagine what sort of things aliens did to pass the time.

"No, I am not from here either," she replied softly, her voice carrying a soft lilt. "I come from a distant planet known as Ego, and trust me when I say it's quite unlike anything you have likely seen here." She tilted her head, studying Klara with a gentle intensity. "But I find Earth fascinating. There is so much diversity, so many different beings coexisting in this vibrant tapestry of life." A gentle smile graced her lips as she spoke, her demeanor serene yet filled with an unspoken wonder. "And even with all there is to experience here, I can't seem to pull myself away from this thing." She gestured to her phone as she spoke, swiping up to the next video.

Growing up on Asgard for her entire life, Klara understood the excitement over Midgardian technology all too well. She'd only been living on Earth for three years and there were still so many things she had to explore. "Oh that is very cute," she agreed with a bright smile. "I take it you're also not from here?" Klara asked after a few moments.

Mantis smiled, giggling softly at Carol's response. She hadn't really chosen the name for that particular reason, but she enjoyed the reaction she got either way. Her expression became puzzled when Carol said she was going to be a bad influence, from what Mantis could tell she was a very vibrant personality, the kind she couldn't help but be drawn towards. "I don't see how that's possible, but I'd be more than happy to be shown around. There's so much of the city I haven't seen yet. You've been away though?" That comment definitely intrigued her, especially paired with the term 'earthside.' "Where were you traveling?"

"I love it. Of course, I love any species that decapitates the males after they're done with them," she said, with a wicked grin on her face. But it softened as Mantis continued. There was something very sweet about her. "You know, I'm going to be a very bad influence on you. But if you're okay with that, I would love to show you around a little. Not just here, but the city too. I've... been away a long time. Just got back earthside myself. So we can check it out together, take in the sights."

Mantis cocked her head to the side, her antennae twitching with curiosity. Her large, dark eyes sparkled with interest as she considered Ella's invitation. "It sounds like it could be quite amusing," she replied, her slender fingers twirling the stick of the spinner. "Maybe we can play this another time, and for now maybe you can show me other games and things people do to pass the time?" From her observations so far, it seemed as though humans never ran out of ways to keep entertained.

Ella smiled at that, enjoying to know that different species had things in common. "Yeah! That's totally a part of the fun- wondering when someone's gonna fall over!" She was glad that Mantis seemed to understand. "I mostly only know humans so I can't really speak on other species but it's cool how that can be funny for everyone. Do you think you want to try playing or maybe another time?"