* \ CELESTIAL .

SHE HOLDS HIM STEADY.       “ you are such a cute tiny tree, groot. ”       she coos happily.     watching his movements rather adoringly.      “ how have you been? has rocket been taking good care of you? ”       she questions before grinning at his question.     ( her grin still awkward --- stiff --- she was working on it )          “ it is yours. groot. you must try mnms. they are so delicious. ”     * 

TO SAY HE WAS SCARY WAS--- AN UNDERSTATEMENT.       he holds himself as her old master once had.            she recognizes power .... senses it.           antenne perk up in attention as he comes to a pause, and she just watches, or rather .... stares.          ( still not understanding the intricacies of social interactions )          she blinks, bug eyes wide and dark.      “ am i welcome to sit here? ”          mantis speaks up because shes been caught, because he’s looking at her now, and she cowers without the support of her friends.          she wishes they were here.        she wishes she was braver   :     like gamora.      * @shrcpnel

“ DRAX ! ”       she’s in a fit of giggles.         a usual accompaniment within their interactions.       she nearly snorts.             “ you are so funny. tell me again! say the story again. it is too good. ”          she’s clutching her stomach at this point, shaking her head as she eagerly awaits his explanation again.         blinking away what might be tears of laughter she focuses on him, beaming. * @douglasdrax​

                                    from the                                                       guardians of the galaxy !                                                                                                                                                          ❝ we kick names and take ass ! ❞

HER SMILE IS COMFORTING, HOWEVER, MANTIS IS STILL LEARNING HOW TO DO SO PROPERLY.        its as if her facial muscles can never comply, and she’s left twitching liped as she tries to return it to the best of her ability.           however at her statement, mantis gives a obvious grimace.        “ i--- ”        she grips at her hands before her, eyes down, never fully greeting her face. she wasn’t good with eye-contact.           “ i think not. but i am not a terran. i am mantis. can we be friends even if i do not participate in the terran activities? ” *

Mantis: [picks up Rocket and holds him] No take backs!

HIS SMILE WAS THE QUEUE SHE WAS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. she was still learning these queues of course, but each conversation led to the hope she was getting better. she smiles back, nodding in understanding. “ oh! how old are you? eight hundred? one thousand? a million? a trillion? my last master had lived many many lifetimes. ” *

AS GAMORA STEPS AWAY, MANTIS FOLDS HER HANDS BACK IN FRONT OF HER. her usual stance of slumped shoulders and dipped head. at her softness mantis thrives. thinking of her responses carefully with the hopes of not angering her friends. “ you were worried? about me? ” the thought sends words spewing past pale pink lips. “ oh no, gamora. ” eyes fill with panic and she moves in her stance, reaching to touch her in comfort, but stops herself short. she swallows. “ don’t worry. worry is not a good emotion--- i’m fine. ” she assures her, smiling slightly, though its incredibly awkward in her quest to soothe her friend. * 

“ OH YES, YOU WILL LOVE THEM! ” she cheers, excited with the mere thought he--- wants to share--- the glorious mnms with her. happily she begins to lead him towards the mansion, a obvious pep in her step. nerves leaving her more and more as she accompanied her friends. at the nudge she giggles, white teeth gleaming against yellow tinged skin. “ yes! i will learn the ways of the crabby puppy. ” *

“ OH, I AM NOT. ” a small shake of her head, blinking once, twice, even another time as silence is held. “ i am an empath. could that be of any help to you? ” she offers instead, genuinely. “ i do not understand. my friends? ” *

“ BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ” she begins, though despite his usual mood--- she’s beaming. she always welcomes rockets company. she finds him utterly adorable. she looks down to him, big-bug eyes gentle, her smile soft... antenne happily alert. “ it’ll be fun! we can make so many friends. ” *