Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“You did say that you liked to stay consistent.”</span> Anna added, smiling to herself.
<span class="mu-b">“Yeah, I guess I walked right into that one.”</span> Abe admitted.
<span class="mu-g">“And, to answer your question, yes, this one is an empath.”</span>
Abe blinked in surprise.
<span class="mu-b">“But I didn’t-”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Ask the question yet? No, but you wanted to.”</span> Mantis finished, giving him a nonchalant shrug. <span class="mu-g">“We’re also a biopath. We had a feeling that you wanted to ask something like that.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Whoa. So…you can feel me feeling you.”</span> Abe concluded, not bothering to pay attention to his phrasing.
<span class="mu-g">“Yes! This one could feel you projecting from the Avengers mansion.”</span> she said, turning to accept a torta from Anna. The rest of what she said was unfortunately lost in a muffled mouthful of fried chicken, but you were pretty sure you made out the words: <span class="mu-g">“This is pretty good!”</span>
Behind Mantis, you could see Chef Ameyama urgently pointing at the green woman and mouthing the words: <span class="mu-r">“She’s an Avenger!?”[/ed]
Abe gave her a “so-so” hand gesture.
Anna silently pumped her fist into the air, not at all bothered by Mantis’ status as temp Avenger.
“Is that why you came here, or were you just hoping to join in on the festivities?” you asked. “We’ve always got a spot open if you want to play with the others.”
Mantis’ eyes brightened, changing from a muted gray color to a pleasant pink.
<span class="mu-g">“Ooh! What’re we playing?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Basketball! It’s <span class="mu-i">super</span> fun.”</span> Joy offered. <span class="mu-s">“I just won my first game!”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Oh, congratulations!”</span>
The two women then proceeded to hold each other's hands and jump up and down excitedly.
When did these two get so close?
<span class="mu-g">“This one would love to play with you. We only came here to check on a few things, like the plant creatures, and the odd astral signature emanating from this park.”</span>
Was she talking about the fairy flowers? Was that something that she could sense?
“Yeah, but…what was that you were saying before? About me being dead, I mean.” you asked.
<span class="mu-g">“This is really good! What’s in this?”</span> Mantis said, her and Joy’s attention almost exclusively reserved for Anna and her tortas.
Chef Ameyama looked somewhat uncomfortable as she cleared her throat.
“I’ll tell you, but you should…probably tell him why he’s supposed to be dead.”
Mantis waved a hand impassively.
<span class="mu-g">“Oh, he’ll probably be fine. This iteration is pretty different from what we’re used to seeing.”</span> she said in what she probably thought was a reassuring tone. <span class="mu-g">“But…just to be safe, you should probably stay away from wrestling matches, remember to lock your doors at night, and cut back on your nighttime strolls.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Does that include night time swinging?”</span> Abe put in.
(Cont.)</span>
