video | un: mantis

[uglybug]

Hello. I am Mantis. [With that abrupt greeting comes an equally abrupt (and not at all awkward, really!) smile. She's trying. There's a bit of a pause here, as her smile fades a bit, to be replaced by a genuinely contrite expression.] I apologize. I know I have a hideous face. I will not show it here again. I wanted to meet all of you, though.

[And that means face-to-face, you poor unfortunate souls.]

Some of you have asked such interesting questions. I am afraid that I do not have any to ask of you. I wanted to meet you all and introduce myself. [Cue the friendly awkward smile again. She is getting better at it, at least.] Oh! Perhaps you could tell me something about yourself. [A pause, as she tries and fails to think of a more specific question. Then, a little defeated:] Anything at all will do, I suppose.

[She glances downward for just a short moment, uncomfortable and anxious at the attention she's calling toward herself. But it's just that: a short moment, easily mistaken for wandering attention, perhaps.]

Comments

[uglybug]

[There's enough of a pause to indicate hesitation.]

I do not know how to answer that question. In some ways, I was his pet. In others, a servant. He had the only means of transport and I could not leave. Most of the time, he treated me kindly.

[Or ignored her -- but that might as well count as being treated kindly.]

When the Storm came, I was trying to leave him. [Or, you know, help kill him. It amounts to the same thing.]

[valcurie]

( sounds like a kidnapping in her opinion, as well as some pretty disturbing grooming, things her patients have suffered before. but she wishes to tread gently on such soft, unknown ground. )

I see. That's an unfortunate way to find your freedom, but I hope you may find it here, and some peace.

Is he awake now?

[uglybug]

Perhaps, but it has been found. [Freedom, she means. She's given Mantis a whole new concept for her to think on, and nothing exactly pleasant. Perhaps it's for the best.]

No and it is better that he is not. He would have unleashed something much like this Storm that devoured galaxies.

[valcurie]

I suppose at least it can never be lost. Since there's no going back.

As for him, if he ever wakes up we will make sure to do something about it. People like him, who do such harm, need to be dealt with. Not to sound bloodthirsty as some of us have recently, but if he is going to act like that, he has to be stopped.

[uglybug]

That is what we were trying to do. Stop him, I mean. I suppose, in a way, that was a success, since we are here now.

Or he brought the Storm upon us with his actions. I do now know which it might be.

[valcurie]

Brought it upon us? Do you think this is doing? Or was this some kind of a punishment?

[uglybug]

He had been trying to do something much like the Storm, I think. Perhaps he succeeded.

But then he would not be in the pods? I do not know.

[valcurie]

Well I can't say if he was stopped or not, but I do not think it was him.

Why would the Natha save him then and bring him here if he were their sworn enemy? It seems that whatever is causing the storm is still awake and active. That was the reason our landing was so rough.

[uglybug]

I suppose that it does not matter now, since he is in the pods and we are refugees.

You are right. I am overthinking. I am sorry.

[valcurie]

There's no need to apologise. He is something definitely worth keeping an eye on. There are several people I know who would cause havoc, though nothing on a galactic scale.

But for now, maybe you could try and help people with your abilities?

[uglybug]

I have been trying. I must confess that I have startled a few people with them. I keep forgetting to explain what I can do before touching them.

[valcurie]

Well, you can better about that! Sometimes it's okay to touch people without asking first, but your abilities are so special, I think they might need them explained so they aren't surprised or frightened.

Especially if you hit upon something sensitive. Imagine if someone could easily find out something you're trying to hide?

[uglybug]

I try not to pry. I can also manipulate emotions, to some extant. If someone is discouraged, I can encourage them. If someone is feeling sorrow, I can give them happiness. That is how I tried to help. Many people were feeling discouraged after our rough landing.

I will try to remember to speak to people first before I offer help.

[valcurie]

That's a power that I wish I had, Mantis. Giving people peace and postivity is something that good people strive to do. But you should definitely warn them before doing so! The idea of having your emotions altered is a very hard one to grasp. Especially since so many people believe their emotions are real, they might feel like you are trying to alter them on a personal level.

I am glad. I think it will go a lot better for you in your attempts to help people.

I think you are a good person for wanting to help others in the first place. No matter what anyone else tells you, you are beautiful for that.

[uglybug]

I never thought to warn people before. It did not occur to me that some people might find it alarming.

Thank you. I hope that I live up to your expectations. I want to be a good person.

[valcurie]

Well, as the saying goes, you live and you learn! When I started helping people I couldn't just do it right away. I had to train for many years. But I think it will be easier for you.

Not just for me. You should be a good person if that's what you want to be. You should do things for yourself so you can be proud of yourself.

[uglybug]

I have never heard that saying before. It makes sense, I suppose, that the longer you live, the more you learn. Unless I am mistaken about its meaning?

I want to be better than I was.

[valcurie]

And there is always first time for everything! But, you got it. Sometimes it's not always the case for people. Keeping an open mind is important.

Then I am sure you can be. Though that may be a bit tricky, because you are pretty decent right now.

[uglybug]

[There is a part of her that really just wants to tell this woman that she doesn't know Mantis well at all, doesn't know what she's been part of, and that's as far from 'decent' as can be.

But that's still held close.]

Thank you. Perhaps someday we could meet face to face. I think that I would like that.

[valcurie]

( of course, first impressions can be misleading, but Mercy also would be hard-pressed to believe it's not just Mantis being hard on herself. that seems like something to expect of an empath.)

I am sure we will. If you ever want a check-up, just let me know, I'm available at any time for patients. I also am curious about your powers, if you wouldn't mind showing them to me sometime. I think that they could be very useful if you're ever interested in working someplace that provides medical care.

[uglybug]

I would be happy to demonstrate my abilities to you, if you are willing to experience them. I promise that I will not pry. I cannot know thoughts, only emotion.

Really? I could be useful there?

[valcurie]

I am! I am very interested. And I trust you to not pry, if I asked you to. Though you are welcome to show me the extent of what you can do if you would like to.

No doubt about it! Not only are injured people stressed, often times places where they can go to get healed can complicate treatment because they have many unpleasant associations with them. It's an unfortunate complication of hospitals.