[CLOSED] Now I know I got to play my hand. What the winner don't know, a gambler understands.

[beatupgrass]

Who: Rocket (beatupgrass) & various others
What: A series of closed prompts for stuff Rocket is up to this month.
When: From September 1st to September 13th
Where: Various places.
Warning(s): Some vaguely alluded to cybernetic surgery. Will update as needed



[PROMPTS BELOW.]

Comments

MANTIS } have you seen this bug?

[beatupgrass]

[At some point (and the fact that Rocket doesn't know exactly when tells you exactly what kind of person he is), Mantis and her stuff just quietly left the house. Given she doesn't possess that much stuff, it was fairly easy to brush off as late nights working or something equally normal.

But it's been a few days, and Quill's bound to notice soon, so Rocket takes matters into his own hands through sheer paranoia and a desire to not be the last person who realized Mantis is missing and getting chastised for it.

He figures the first place to stop is the clinic, since they would have seen her last, so he bursts in, looking to start interrogating when he

sees

Mantis.

Just right there, helping people. Like she do.] ...Mantis?

[Is she a clone. Is this another bug lady? What the fuck, Mantis???]

[uglybug]

[It's true: Mantis and her stuff -- what little she has -- had quietly left the house one afternoon and she simply had not come back. She had been told that she had a room here, that she would be welcome here and... well. Here might be more comfortable, for a variety of reasons.

She's speaking softly to a woman near the entrance, giving her a few last instructions on wound care and offering a smile and a gentle touch, when Rocket shows up.

Not just shows up but bursts through the doors, looking for all the world like he's about to start in on someone.

That can't be good.] Rocket? Are you all right? Is someone hurt? Are you hurt?

[beatupgrass]

[He's still kind of open-mouth (like a suffocating fish) staring at her like he can't quite believe what he's seeing. After a few seconds of trying to figure out how to word things so it doesn't look like he was worried, he manages to sputter:] No, but I thought you were. Did you just- did you- ?

[He makes a vague gesture with his hands, trying to word something the way he wants to.] ...Did you ditch us?

[uglybug]

[All she can do for a moment is return the favor: blinking in consternation, half-formed sentences never quite making sense for a few moments until she manages something halfway coherent.]

You thought that I-- [That's sweet, Rocket, but she works here. She's the one who helps other people.] Why would you--

Ditch you? [It takes her a couple of seconds to put together the meaning of that particular phrase, but it still doesn't make sense.] But Rocket, we are worried about you.

[Not about her. They had this conversation, remember?]

[beatupgrass]

[He starts to say that HE'S NOT THE ONE WHO VANISHED FROM THE HOUSE, but she is... right where she should be- at her actual real-life job. If he vanished it would be weirder, since he mostly works from there.

STILL. THE POINT. HER HEAD.] That doesn't mean we can't be, uh... [crap. he doesn't care. he doesn't care. he doesn't caaaa~aaare.] ...concerned that something happened to you. It'd be the same if Quill just moved out randomly.

Also, I feel like there was some talk about communication in that whole discussion... Maybe.

[uglybug]

[Rocket, she's genuinely confused. What do you mean people might be concerned about her? Is it because she didn't clean the place well enough before she left? Was there something you needed her to do?]

They said that I had a place here. I thought it might be better, since it is here-- [you know, where she works?] --and I could still see you and Peter.

I should have told you?

[beatupgrass]

Yes. [He stares at her for a few seconds of stunned silence and then finally:] Quill was worried something happened.

[It's such a huge lie, but at least it's a believable one...] It's just... Nice to know where the people you, uh... The people you like or whatever... are. Just in case of an emergency. Or something.

[Nicely done, Rocket.]

[uglybug]

Oh. [In her experience -- and she knows that her experience is nothing that has prepared her for Real Life -- the only time anyone (read: Ego) had looked for her was when she needed to do something for them. (Or she'd done something wrong.)] I'm sorry. I just-- [She makes a vague gesture and shrugs.] I did not mean to worry anyone.

[You included, Rocket. She's not completely oblivious here.] I was going to bring you and Peter dinner.

[beatupgrass]

[He relaxes somewhat, in simultaneous relief that the matter has been settled and a little bit of unhappiness that he's accepted has to come with anything he says or does in Mantis's presence that isn't wholly positive. If he didn't know any better he'd say the girl radiates something that makes you feel guilt unconsciously.]

Yeah, well... It's fine. We can, uh, still have dinner. Nobody's mad or anything. [He scuffs a bare foot against the floor, claws scratching on the wood, looking for all the world like an embarrassed child. He didn't think this through at all. It's a bit adorable in a very pathetic way.

Mantis doesn't know how to Real Life and he doesn't know how to handle people-ing. What kind of a pair are they?]

[uglybug]

[It's a defense mechanism. If she made herself small and uncertain and radiating guilt in Ego's presence after any (perceived) wrongdoing, he may have been less likely to punish her. Pets are, after all, replaceable.

She frowns; nobody might be angry, but she's made a mistake. This is not how she wants to do this. She kneels, hoping for a little more face to face than talking down at Rocket.] I have only ever lived alone. You and Peter are-- [overwhelming] --good friends. I want to spend time with you.

[beatupgrass]

Heh. That part's debatable, but we try. [Stop lying, Rocket. The bonds of family are intense. The chain will never be broken.]

And I get it- we're, uh... Not exactly easy to live with without Gamora and Drax to balance us out.

[He shifts uncomfortably. This is skating a little too close to vulnerable. Whhhy.]

[uglybug]

You are! [Cue one over-eager smile.] You are both good friends. [Also first friends and therefore sentimental value is attached. Wear it proudly, Rocket.]

It's not that you are... at fault? [Words are hard here. She's trying and probably failing to find the right way to put this.] Roommates are overwhelming. I do not know how to be a good one.

But I can be a good neighbor and friend. I think that will be better.

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket scratches the back of one ear.] Heh. Yeah. I keep forgetting you're not used to all this people-ing, since it was just you and the Epic Douchebag on that planet.

[He drops his hand and nods.] That seems reasonable, Mantis, and you know if you ever need anything... You can ask Quill. [a beat, followed by a grimace] Or me if it requires someone with an actual brain.