"Your Emotions Say Otherwise," Mantis Murmured Softly, Her Empathic Abilities Picking Up On His Turmoil.

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 returned the warm smile, her antennae twitching slightly. "Yes, thank you," she replied with genuine appreciation. "The transition has been smoother than expected, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and it's been rather fascinating learning the ways of humans. The internet has been very useful in learning Earth customs, too so I've been watching a lot of videos on that."

Wanda had her mouth open ready to say something, but the other woman cut her off before she could speak. She laughed and nodded, reaching out for the bubbles. "I was going to ask you how you were doing, but you seem to be doing alright." She blew some herself, before turning a warm smile to Mantis. "Are you, though? Settling in? Everyone being okay?"

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

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?"

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."

hope — my writing

Though she'd only been on Earth for a short time, Mantis had found a number of things she enjoyed. Recently she stumbled upon an intriguing Earthly pastime—rock-paper-scissors. Not realizing it was a game better suited for multiple players, she had started a game by herself. With childlike enthusiasm, Mantis animatedly formed the hand signs of rock, paper, and scissors in various combinations, giggling to herself each time she'd 'won' her one-woman competition, blissfully unaware of anyone and anything.

🤔 for a confused starter for @awclintno

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

"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 ? "