Though She'd Only Been On Earth For A Short Time, Mantis Had Found A Number Of Things She Enjoyed. Recently

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Mantis stood perplexed before the colorful mat on the ground before her, her large, almond-shaped eyes evident of her bewilderment at the seemingly arbitrary rules of the game. "Can humans even move like this? They don't seem to be quite that flexible."

🤔 for a confused starter for @isab3lla-mills

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.

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?”

Amidst all the earthly wonders she'd experienced, Mantis found the most joy while partaking in the various playful activities the people had created, such as blowing bubbles. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she sent iridescent spheres floating into the air, each one catching the sunlight in a myriad of colors. "They're so pretty!" she cheered, offering the bottle of bubbles to the other. "Here, you want a turn? I even found a toy that blows bubbles for you. How neat is that?"

😄 for a happy starter for @wmximcffs

Upon reaching the designated training area, Mantis felt a mixture of excitement and curiosity. The sleek, high-tech surroundings of the tower stood in stark contrast to the cosmic landscapes she was accustomed to, and the hum of machinery combined with the faint glow of holographic displays created an atmosphere of anticipation of training with Mighty Thor. While Mantis had learned some fighting skills during her time on Ego's planet, she'd hardly had any kind of formal training. A part of her worried she'd be a disappointment to the team, no matter how much she tried to push those thoughts down they fought to resurface. "So... ready?"

⚔️for our muses to duel / fight for @strongestavengerthor

"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."

Mantis listened intently to Johnny's words, feeling a sense of warmth and understanding wash over her. She appreciated his efforts to comfort her, even if she still struggled to fully grasp the complexities of human emotions. As he stopped walking and held both of her hands in his, she couldn't help but be touched by his sincerity. "Thank you, Johnny," she murmured, her voice soft yet filled with genuine gratitude. "Your words... they help." She offered him a tentative smile, her trust in him growing with each passing moment. "And yes, I understand what you mean," Mantis dropped her gaze momentarily, processing his words. "I'm just glad to know it doesn't mean I'm a bad person... I want to believe Tony is a good person, he's never given me a reason to think otherwise. This was just a lot."

"Yeah. Well, I mean it was kinda the first big thing that happened for you down here," he mused, giving her a small, but reassuring, smile when she finally looked up at him. But then Mantis continued and he stopped walking, the amusement fading and giving way to a more concerned expression. "You should be able to, yeah. But you saw something that scared you and made you have doubt. That's okay, babe." Johnny lifted his his free hand and held both of hers in his own as he came to a stop in front of her. "It's a normal reaction to what happened. And it was freaky as hell. Being worried about it is only human." Johnny wrinkled his nose, almost immediately catching himself. "You know what I mean."

"Thank you, Johnny," she replied, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "I was nervous, but everyone seemed to have a good time." She tilted her head, studying Johnny's expression. "Did you really think it was good? I hope I didn't miss any important Earth party traditions."

"So," he started as he walked into the common area of the Avengers' quarters, bringing breakfast for both of them. "How do you feel after throwing your first party on Earth?" Johnny sat the food down on the table. "You did good." ; @guardianmantisx