#mantis threads

“Ah yes, you have come!” Mantis says as she opens her door to Natasha and ushers her in. “Yes, come in, come in! I know it was short notice but I did not know who else to ask and I am- nervous.” Mantis says obviously barely holding on to that nervous energy. She was jittery and unable to stand still it seemed. She closed the door behind Natasha and stepped into her living room. “I had not asked if you liked Tea or not but I have made you some in case? I needed something to do while I waited.” She gestured to the cups on her coffee table. “Okay so to why I asked for you.... I am having trouble putting on a costume.” Mantis said suddenly becoming more subdued and shy, she could feel her cheeks heating up feeling ridiculous for asking another over for such a thing, but she truly was having problems accomplishing the task and she wanted someone she felt a little more comfortable with than most assistance for a clothing issue. “I know it is a silly ask, but in my excitement of celebrating a new holiday I got a lovely gown to emulate a princess and Terran folklore and wished to dress up as one. For fun of course! But some of the pieces require tightening and tying I am unfamiliar with.” She explains. “Could you help me Natasha?”

“But you did. You bumped right into it and it fell.” Mantis protested with a confused face as they stood among the crowd. This was when it clicked that maybe she shouldn’t say that as she looked around them and the broken trinket on the ground. This was one of the moments where Mantis was instructed that she was to cover up the fact that something happened that they did so they wouldn’t get in trouble. 

She suddenly felt awful, she had gotten them in trouble like this before, because she still couldn’t read the room properly as Rocket once said. Mantis couldn’t really explain why she always blurted out the first thing that came to mind, she does it with emotions still. Rocket also had a comment about this, apparently she had ‘no filter’. She still doesn’t know what that means. She covers her mouth though, thinking back to the task at hand, and gasps as she moves closer to Peter, “Oh no, am I getting us in trouble again?” She asked nervously. “I’m sorry Quill.”

Having been to many bars in her time with the Guardians she didn’t feel as out of place as she usually would in crowded and unfamiliar settings. She certainly didn’t seem the type to frequent bars, as she was reminded by a few patrons, but she came because... well she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was because she wanted to experience alcohol but she learned quickly it took a lot to get drunk and she didn’t care to spend the time with it. Then she stayed for the conversation, she would still get odd looks for her appearance and often find themself answering a lot of questions which she didn’t mind. Which brought her to the conversation she was in now with a man named Dean, who had taken the seat next to her. And she was trying to convince him of the truth in her words. “But I can! Did you not say you have heard weirder tales?” Mantis inquired. “You can believe I am an alen by looks yes? Is the idea that I can feel the emotions of people through touch truly far out there?” Mantis asked while pouting, even her antenna droopped with her emotions. Most never questioned but asked for a demonstration so to have someone be so doubtful wasn new.

Brushing her hands off with her gloves was rather pointless but it was a sort of habit for Mantis, one she picked up during her more sub serviant time at Ego’s side when she was simply a background character. She was kneading the ground for new plants, then she would trim the plants in the plots that needed it, then move on to watering those that needed it. 

She was working the soil when movement from the side caught her eyes. There weren’t many people working the Gardens or visiting at this time, well not most but a few popped in. One of those being Ellie Willieams, who had been the shadow Mantis has seen. She smiled at the young woman and greeted her, “Hello Ellie,” Mantis greeted with great enthusiasm. “it is good to see you! What brings you to the Gardens at this time?”