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>Shrimp mode
You watch with some small disgust as Branwen shows you a scallop (boring) and a pig (nasty — just a sack of goop), but the introduction of the mantis lifts your spirits. "Wow! What does that one do? Is it a shrimp? Or a lobster?"
"Shit if'n I know." She pinches it by its abdomen. Its stalk eyes swivel as it wriggles. "Bugger's a mantis. Lives in rocks, jumps out and beats up crabs and things. Those being the little crabs, not the bigguns. Eats their gooshy insides. Thing'll punch clear through glass, drywall, anything thin. Splinters wood. Breaks bones if'n the person's a stringbean, or leaves a good mark if not. Need to make sure it don't punch you, though."
You're sold. "It won't! I have a *very* good relationship with bugs of all kinds. Especially awesome bugs." The mantis isn't anywhere near as awesome as Annie, but you won't hold that against it. Annie couldn't punch things, after all. "How should I carry it around?"
"Need to watch your fingers. It don't bite, and I got it tied up good, but when you untie it maybe use a towel or something. Critter's feisty. Can't git you if you hold it back here." Branwen flips it over to show her grip. "Also, if you're in the business of seeing a juicy crab or summat, let it at it. Maybe we don't need food anymore, but it does."
"Okay." You decide not to tell her that you'll surely make best friends with the mantis, so you won't need any kind of special holding procedure. "Um, what if something happens to it? Not that I won't take good care of it, but—"
She shrugs. "Got more where it came from. Taking care's 'preciated, but not needed."
Hmm. Well, if/when you make friends with it, you'll defend it with your life anyways. (You don't need a repeat of Annie.) You extend your hand, and Branwen plops the mantis in— its pointy legs poke into your palm. "Hi," you say to it.
Earl claps his hands together. "Good choice! Isn't it a looker? Reminds me of Buster, a little, but he doesn't punch— or if he does I've never seen it! Har-har! I bet they'd be pals if they met, though."
Buster? Oh, his weird pet bug-creature. Gil was playing with it. "Is Buster okay without you?"
"He's a tough little bastard. Probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone. Which is good, because it might be a bit before I can make it back. Hell's a hike!"
Hmm. He hasn't said anything about it, but you want to be sure. "And with your shoulder—"
"Huh? Which one?" Earl pats both shoulders. "Are they funny-looking? There might be a little zazz left in the system."
"Oh. Nevermind." He has no idea what you're talking about, so it really must be fixed. "Are you staying with Branwen, or—?"
Branwen nods curtly. "Got the space."
You guess he'll be close by if you do decide you want his help with anything. "Um, that's cool. Have either of you heard from Felicia? I think she's okay, but I don't know where she went after everything happened."
(1/3)
