@toxichem said: Send to 10 other bloggers you think are wonderful. Keep this going to make someone smile. ☆♥
Lily!!! When I say this made my night … I swear. I mean I did actually tell you the second I saw it in my inbox but still! You're much too kind and I really do appreciate this. I'm happy to have made such an impression on you at all and I hope I can continue to. It's really been such a blast getting to interact and chat with you in dms despite my being shy and all. I seriously, genuinely enjoy reading your writing all the time whenever I see it on the dash. The way you write is so fascinating to me and it's really easy to picture everything you describe in your narrative that makes it such an interesting little excerpt from a thrilling novel. In other words, you're a delight!
@toxichem asked : [ FIVE CALLS ] send for five times the receiver nearly calls the sender and the one time they do. ( for sage? she owns my heart )
𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗦. 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆.
ONE.
perhaps it had been the BOREDOM that had begotten the HEALER : left to her own devices with the others having gone to missions , some home , some just --- away . ( HER being one of them . you hate it . truly , that of all the presence to NOTICE missing , it's hers . it's always her . circle the drain and follow the WINDING paths all you want , but it's her . it always comes back to her , doesn't it ? and you know it shouldn't , disgusting feeling of shame to crawl up the back of your THROAT like bile does when you're feeling sick . you're sick : to keep her in your THOUGHTS when she'd no less you rather scrub her out of it , like trying to scrub wine stain out of CARPET . ) eyebrows knit together as a SMARMY , sheepish little SMILE to appear on chapped lips ; shaky jade orb having formed a lopsided geometric shape --- three circular CONES that decrease in size as it gets taller . a christmas tree .
( the room is ODDLY bustling , cheer set around the protocol if only given by the twinkling lights that brimstone had GOTTEN HANDS ON : read , stolen , from his older house , snow falling GENTLY outside . never really been one for this kind of closeness : shared only by the burning fire in the common ROOM and gentle laughter coming from the OTHERS in the protocol , and then there's you . amalgamation of woman , looking at the others , twisting your hands together AWKWARDLY , like it'd somehow alleviate this tightness in your chest at seeing the other's so freely enjoy the company of each other .
the monestary is something more of the PAST , wrapping hand around your throat ; idea of such materialistic things to allow yourself partake in seems ... sacrelige . erase it all you want , scrub it from your BONES , but you'll never get rid of it . not truly .
hand on SMALL of your back is all too FAMILIAR : and even now , you flex into her touch subconciously . " you're going to miss the openings of the presents , wei , " voice is soft , and warmth lingers in depth of the voice . you'd recognize it ANYWHERE , and a small , shy smile makes its way onto your features . " we wouldn't want to miss that , now WOULD we ? "
laughter falls from your LIPS : hearty , and quietly , and you don't think you've ever felt more at home . " no , i suppose not . " )
eyes linger on her cellphone that buzzes with texts from the GROUPCHAT ; healer hesitating over it while setting shaky , poorly made jade christmas tree on the table . CONTACT photo of the other pops up : find her pressing it and thumb hovering over the video call option , biting down on her LIP , and as she MOVES her legs to sit cross her legs --- but bumps the table ever so gently , and even that's enough to make the lopsided , jade , christmas tree fracture and crack . sage looks to the phone , where sabine's contact lies , and SIGHS , sets the phone down on the table .
TWO.
the steel chair of the police interrogation room is cold beneath her THIGHS : a regrettable moment for her to have decided to wear a pair of SHORTS while undercover . this entire situation : a regrettable MOMENT in her history . if only her previous peers could see her NOW , monk all but turned felon in just a NIGHT . i told you that you weren't made for undercover , sage .
( how ANNOYING : for your voice of reason to come in the form of the one that would all but hate and scoff at you if given opportunity , sneer at your childishness , all but find you downright DEPLORABLE for something that was seemed to be inevitable . it's always her . it's always BEEN her , for some reason , you'll never admit it , even now , but it's because what she gives you . the same feeling of relief flooding your system , even with mirage of her VOICE to try and comfort you in times of STRESS . it's always her . it's always been her . when you loved her , it was her . and even when you hate her , it's her . it'll always be her : as much as you hate to think of IT , as much as you scrub her from your body , from every memory , it'll always be her . how do you unlearn the person you had loved ? the one you trusted with your life ? the one you called friend ? '
how do you unlove the one you'll never forget ? )
" as you know , being in this situation grants you certain rights , including your right to a PHONE CALL . i'd use it WISELY , as no other lawyer has been called for you at this moment . " those calls are recorded , wei . voice reverberates in the HEALER'S head as she crosses one leg over the other politely , eyes fluttering closed as head POUNDS with oncoming migraine ; the inevitably of it being just another annoyance on top of EVERYTHING . " wei , did you hear me ? "
a gentle sigh , " yes , officer . i would like to have my phone call , now . "
" alright . i'll be just outside . i'll come back when your time is up . " the door clinks quietly behind him , and sage doesn't move for a FEW moments , almost just basking in the PAIN as she exhales , rubbing at her temples with annoyance simmering just under the pulsating pain . the chair makes a loud , abhorrent sound against cement floor , but she takes the phone of the RECIEVER and waits , and WAITS .
( " you know my number by heart ? " bewilderment lingers in viper's voice at your concession , and you LAUGH with a shrug , sheepish and SHY . she shakes her head from BEHIND the teacup , bewilderment still lingering on her FEATURES as she takes a sip .
" i mean , i just call it a lot so , i do not ... and you are ... my friend and i --- " feel the heat coming up your CHEEKS as you futilely attempt to sink deeper and deeper into the couch , " you were the first i memorized ! i am in the process of learning sova's ... " sabine laughs at your reaction , hearty and DEEP , and you feel yourself freeze and your chest tighten .
" your brain works in mysterious ways , but ... i respect it , " she says with a SMILE , and you cant stop the smile forming on your own . )
so ? who are you going to call ? sage's finger hovers over the numpad , and she hesitates . a moment . two . stop wasting time , sage . the officer will be coming back any minute . and like clockwork , she punches in the NUMBER .
" ah brimstone , thank you for picking up . remember how we talked about the possible paths the mission could take ? well ... "
THREE.
TO BE FAIR --- omen had done a pretty good job in ... attempting to pry the WINE from her hands , but there's not much . much he can do . she's an ADULT , by all means , even if she doesn't look like one , all SWADDLED up in the blanket and three and a half bottles deep into a cheap branded wine , a medical drama that she knows is not at all ACCURATE , face red with ... something . rage . sadness . or FROM drinking the wine with next to no water .
PITY lingers in his gaze as he watches his comrade angrily grumble at the soap OPERA , sipping from wine glass that seems to be running LOW , an alarming rate considering that it had just been full at the beginning of the episode . he's never seen her quite so ... out of SORTS , but the concerns raise when she reaches for her CELLPHONE . " sage , it's best we keep this away from you , " he reaches for her phone , but drunk healer moves faster and she snatches it JUST from his fingers , no less ghost of an item passing through his fingers . " sage , please . you are inebriated . "
" so ? it is of no impor --- importance to you , " she snaps , opening the PHONE with facial ID , and heart SINKS at seeing what opens . a text message thread .
( you're pathetic . it seeps into your BODY and into your marrow faster than the WINE can get into your head and leave you lightheaded and nauseated as you swallow down every text message you had SENT to her , paragraphs on PARAGRAPHS , severity and content ranging depending on context to be met with silence or one word ANSWERS : you're still chasing after a ghost of a woman who's forever stopped caring about you . you know it , you know it , but you wouldn't be you if you didn't try . you need to TRY .
and so you try , and you try , and you get nothing , minced words and minced meat for a woman who does nothing but leave you CRUMBS , and you hate it , you hate it . call yourself ALOOF , call yourself a part , call yourself cold , but you're not . not with her . never with her . as much as you'd like to , but you can't . you can't hate her . try to , fail , and fail AGAIN . somehow , you never ever learn . )
" sage . " omen looks at the other , hand to rest GENTLY on her shoulder , watching as she lingers on sabine's contact information . " she is on a mission . calling her would do nothing for either of you NOW . "
" she was my best friend , " voice is quiet , small , eyes water but tears never to FALL . bites down on her bottom lip and sets the WINE glass down on coffee table in front of the two of them , and tries not to remember , but remembers anyways : days in which the person sat next to her would not be amalgamation of a MAN but the woman in the screen , but even the alcohol cannot let her mistake omen for sabine . she hovers , still CONTINUES to hover and linger , as if still remembering how the OTHER laughs , and instead , flops against the other . " fine . "
FOUR.
IT'S NOT A FIRST TIME tradition for the protocol , something coming from brimstone's own family : christmas mass . it's a bit of an odd feeling , that rests in SAGE'S chest , even in the very back line of pews , she finds herself looking around at the OTHERS that surround them . the families , the grandchildren , the grandparents , the SINGLE SOULS that seem to look up to christ for some kind of repetence , some kind of savior , and then her gaze falls on the protocol . ( anywhere that isn't ... the large , statue that LOOMS over all of you . scrub the love that whatever god or gods have given you every time you step foot into the SHOWER , but it doesn't leave . not truly . you're mad at them . at him . at whoever lingers up there , to have left you with a gift that ONLY seems to make you doubt in them even more so . so you avoid the gaze of god , and religion , and try to scrub it out from yourself , and leave it down the drain , but it doesn't leave . not truly . )
she can count them all , even the ones who don't want to be there , as they look down at their PHONES . but she's still not here . said something about an EXPERIMENT and didn't even look as brimstone pleaded , as they all departed from her laboratory , as the doors slammed shut . somehow found herself exception to the suggestion the number one in charge gives out like COMMANDS . IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME WE STARTED ACTING LIKE FAMILY . a frown comes to her LIPS , and eyes flicker off newest recruit who's MOUTHED something to her in mother tongue , ( what is this shitshow , 大姐 ? ) enough to make her shake her head , and smile at him , small roll of her eyes , before they land on the PREACHER .
THAT uncomfortable feeling swells up in her chest again , and her body moves before her brain can process , and she exits the CHURCH , and shivers beneath the long COAT as cool winter air hits her face . SNOW falls gently , and organ and preacher sounds so quiet behind the doors that shut and all she can do is just stand there , and watch as the SNOW falls around her and dusts and coats the church and sidewalk and bushes around her .
( " you didn't have to come , you know ? brimstone would have understood if you said no , " sabine laughs , and you almost choke on the CIGARETTE AIR that escapes your lungs and mouth , as you drop it on the sidewalk , smothering it out under your SHOE , before leaning on the side of the CHURCH the two of you had escaped to . " i also didn't know you smoked . "
you pinch the bridge of your NOSE , " i ... picked it up after i had left the monestary , " you admit , " i tried not to do it , but ... admittedly , i understand why the FDA has ... regulations against these things . " and it's more like a middle finger to the god who gifted you things you had never wanted , and so you try not to do it , but you are still , irrevocably human , and the taste of alcohol and the buzz of nicotine reminds you of it , so you partake it . " and perhaps i did not have to come . " but you smile at her , and you see her freeze . you're not sure what that means , but there's a small smile that appears on her lips as you continue , " but we owe it to the ones we love to try , do we not ? "
she smirks . " something like that . " )
PHONE buzzes in her pocket , which is enough to grab ATTENTION from the falling snow from the sky , and heart sinks at seeing who it is : iso texting her something about how boring the service is , which is ENOUGH to make bastion laugh and shake her head as she reads it . what does catch her eye , is the notification pop up at top of her screen : text tone and vibration she could recognize anywhere . and knows she should call the OTHER . say something . say anything . it’s christmas , after all . she’d be worser for wear to at least not wish the other a happy holiday , especially since , despite it all , sabine manages to worm out one of her own to the protocol , including to sage herself .
but younger woman in her laughs with scorn , still too hurt by the past to be kind to someone who has seemed to lost all of it for her , so instead pockets her cellphone and exhales : watches cloud of condensation as she digs around in her long , beige coat pocket for familiar box that shakes and rattles in protest when she pulls it out . left hand digs around in other pocket for stainless steel lighter , which she flips open . she brings up a cigarette to her lips , and feels the familiar , muted buzz and vibrate that she’s so keen on recognizing . a scoff falls from sage's lips , before lighting the stick , snapping the zippo close , and taking a drag from the cigarette .
FIVE.
" what do you think of me , sabine ? " voice is shaky , and quiet , barely above a WHISPER as she sits with back against wooden window frame of the site : stairs in her view DOUBLING as exhale makes sharp pain in her SIDE grow . the feeling of her own warmth bleed out from between her fingers is more scary than the LARGE slice that runs across her abdomen , more scary than her pain that pulsates and never breaks , more scary than the gods she calls out to for her comrades becoming eerily silent . the liquid slick , warm and thick , bleeds out and onto her garments , stains beautiful white a horrid dark red - brown , and it’s almost enough to make her vomit .
cheek and shoulder pinch her cellphone against her ear , as distress from small healer is minimized by her biting on the inside of her own cheek . a broken up sigh comes from tinny speaker , and she can practically hear the frustration on chemist’s tongue , lackadaisical , obviously distracted by some papers she can hear rustling around in the background , heels of the other clicking on the white marble floor . " sage , please , it’s late and you’re supposed to be on a solo mission — "
" sabine , please , " desperate beg as she winces , thrumming , pulsating pain of open abdomen wound , feeling her fingers touch musculature , it’s almost enough to make her pass out on the spot . more clicking , more page turning , and an UNFAMILIAR noise runs in her ear ( the rolling of a lab chair ? ) , and a sigh escapes the other's lips from OVER the phone .
( " killjoy said it's a bit morbid to have to write these things , " she'll mention offhandedly , but still continues to TYPE hers out , and you listen to the ... anxious ? rolling back and forth of her chair as she taps out at her own computer , wine glass lingering near her COMPUTER . you're on your second one .
" perhaps . but it needs to be DONE , " you say , distracted by the words on the SCREEN , " i will not always be there to save everyone , and i cannot , unfortunately , turn the tides for myself . so , in worst case scenario , it is best to have these written out , no ? " you take a sip of wine from your GLASS , something about of sound mind to cross your BRAIN but you pay it no mind . you set it down , and make no move to stop your typing . besides , a rough draft is better than anything else .
the typing towards the other's area stops , but you pay no MIND as you continue to type out your own . " well , i don't plan on dying anytime soon , and neither should you . "
" ideally , none of us die --- "
" wei , that's not what i'm saying . " you pause , and look at the other's expression , that leaves nothing for you to INTERPRET before she swallows , and she almost looks ... nervous . you pause , and shake your head , returning to your own WILL . )
ANOTHER SIGH falls over the tinny speaker , and more paperwork RUSTLES in the background , " i don't have time for this , wei . look , we can speak more when you're back . "
SHE'S FRIGID cold , and grip on her abdomen loosens , even as the BLOOD continues to bleed out of her , vision blurring as her hand falls . " okay , sabine , " and it sounds correct in her ears , but everything is RINGING in a heaven , and closing her eyes seems more viable than trying to figure out how to not slur her words .
not even a goodbye , nothing but the dial tone to comfort sage as the cellphone falls from between her head and shoulder . eyes FLUTTER shut as both hands soaked in her own blood fall from her ABDOMEN and phone clunks on the wooden floor of the sniper's nest .
and it all goes dark .
( " dying is never the plan , sabine . "
" but if you were to , wei . "
" what would you have me do ? call you on my death bed ? please , be realistic . " you snort at the silliness of it all , and she SITS back in her chair , seemingly satisfied with the provided answer , takes a sip from her own glass .
"I'd appreciate a little space." Helena turned to glare the moment she saw the other woman approach just a bit too close out of the corner of her eye. The surrounding temperature practically plummets for the split second that the Norwegian is caught off guard, the frost seemingly lingering around her even when things return to normal.
✩ ° . * . @toxichem , viper comforts jett in the aftermath of a nightmare , nonverbal prompts.
viper didn’t exactly give off the maternal instincts vibe, but jett was running low on resources. out of everyone, it was more likely that the poisons expert would be awake. without actively asking viper for comfort, just being in the same room as someone else would keep her off the horrific images plaguing her mind. how did you escape a nightmare when it was your real life?
❛ yo vipes, ❜ jett hops onto a stool, feet dangling off the edge. a finger taps on a sickly green vial, bright blue hues peering into it with curious admiration. ❛ whatcha workin’ on? something dangerous? can i help? ❜
"Believe it or not, Sabine, I was a young man once without a clue how to use a razor. Not my proudest moment but this little dink is nothing compared to that." The urgency that comes with the injury is almost lost to him, staring at it with a smile he isn't sure what to do with. He knows her sighs carry weight, and her words hold concern she isn't willing to say to him directly. Despite the cold demeanor, Liam wasn't convinced that's who she really was.
"Fight as you might, I know you care about them." There's something taunting about the tone that sentence is dressed in, surprisingly in good spirits for someone that became a pin cushion for a stray bullet just hours ago. Old memories resurfaced to remind him of days when this was commonplace for him. Every day bore the risk of injuries like this or something far worse. Military experience made him resilient but Sabine most likely took said resilience for recklessness. Maybe the habits of that bright-eyed kid twenty-something years ago were still getting him in trouble.
Her head cants to the side while a brow raises to inspect the chemist with a tinge of disbelief. There wasn't anything reassuring about the other's body language to convince Tala that her words were anything other than fabricated. Although she stays mute even after coming to that conclusion. It isn't as if she isn't worried about the chemist but she doubts there's much she can say to convince her that working tirelessly like this was clearly doing her more harm than good. Having sat around with both Viper and Killjoy while they tested and altered the dysfunctional portal for hours, she could safely say a break wouldn't kill her.
Brown eyes fall on the table in front of her, then back to the other agent chained to it. She doesn't need a definite 'yes' to know the answer to her question, instead turning on her heels wordlessly to do something about it rather than risk irritating her further. Minutes pass before careful footsteps return and approach Sabine with a bottled water, gently sat on the table. "I wasn't sure if you liked tea," is the only thing Tala utters, then turning her attention to the bottles thrown about and quietly tasking herself with cleaning up.
@toxichem asked : i'm sorry, but i don't believe you. ( for sage? )
𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀. 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴!!
HEALER PAUSES in front of locker . expression is near unreadable as she peels off braces on her wrist , protective gear , and strips down to her BLACK top and leggings with a practiced EASE , not a spare glance towards the chemist . still has hints of gunpowder mixed with her SWEAT , something AMENDED with unlabeled bottle of spray towards her UNDERARMS and all other spots that need attention . ( smells like baby powder and artificial roses . )
sage closes the LOCKER with some finality , eyes finally flickering up to meet the other's gaze , but lips are pursed : glassy gaze of her OWN to help mull over how to respond ; crosses arms over her CHEST , leans into the locker . ( there's a part of you that misses her . even now . it's an odd kind of feeling : for your heart that forgives too easily to lock horns with your brain that has lived far too long for someone so young . you hate her . you so easily breathe out how much you despise her to yourself , that you hate her for GIVING everyone chance after chance but the rope she has around your neck so easily to have run out at the first sight of your inability to be better .
like you chose to disappoint her . like you didn't spend hours, weeks , months of your life GRIEVING in your bed , sobbing into the abyss of darkness , waiting , waiting for your friend to take you back . like you were a monster . you hate her . you HATE her . she gets to spit in your direction every chance she gets and you are GENTLE SAGE to a fault , that you must practice civility , that you must be the BETTER PERSON , rise above whatever petty squabble you two have had like you're not watching the one person you thought you could trust hate you more and more with every passing day . so you hate sabine . you hate her . you decide that you hate her and you whisper that to yourself so you stop crying over a woman who you still remember but no longer know . you hate her , you tell yourself .
and then you look at her , and it all goes away . EVERY SINGLE drop of boiled blood to come to a calm simmer as chest tugs and aches in pain , a dull kind of ache that doesn't go away , no matter how much you sleep , no matter how much wine you drink , no matter how much tylonel you take --- it doesn't ever go away . you want so desperately to hate the OTHER , tell yourself it'd be easier that way , but your body still remembers . still remembers golden laughter against laboratory walls and gentle SMILES with secrets held just between the two of you , mugs of lukewarm coffee from afternoon to be exchanged for red wine in the evenings as you tell tales of the people you used to be . you can scrub it from your body and brain as much as you want , but your body will never forget someone it used to love . )
cooled tone , soft , and FIRM , not an inkling of hatred or irritation lingers in the sentinel's voice : more like tired mother would speak to their CHILD . ❛ you do not need to believe me , viper . i have long since passed my days trying to convince you of anything . either you go on the mission , or you do not . you read the brief . do what you'd like . ❜ and with that , she picks up the water bottle on bench in front of her : ignores aching in her chest , and slips past viper .
@toxichem said: “ lights out ” ( hmm, whoever this would be most fun with. i just adore your writing ♥ )
Send "lights out" for your muse to collapse on mine because of exhaustion, injury, etc. || Accepting || This meme is so fucking old but ya know what sure
It's a push and pull between two sides that results in countless scrapes and plenty of wounds both Sage and Skye would have a field day patching up. That doesn't account for the three bodies sacrificed to the fray and the five others they laid out for the sake of defusing a bomb destined to tear this place to pieces. Kunai spin along her finger as if she hadn't even broken a sweat in the midst of battle, blood oozing down the side of her temple and bruises throbbed along her torso but otherwise she felt relatively pleased she was so used to evading she could manage to avoid giving Sage another body to worry about.
Places like this are always so much quieter after everything's said and done that it's crazy to imagine this was the same place full of gunfire and bloodshed just a couple minutes ago. If it weren't for the grotesque, crimson paint jobs sprayed on the walls and the lifeless bodies on the ground, it could have fooled her into believing this was just an ordinary place. Never mind the very personal reminder floating within the sky forever suspended due to the actions of her double years ago, and the very mark of the day her life was permanently ruined. Despite never verbally admitting to her issue with it, the pain is always carried with a sense of determined vengeance she always falls short of. A rage no one else could ever really understand, not that she would ever allow them to when she always sought to mask every detail of her emotional turmoil under smiles, jokes and ego.
"Phew, that's all of them." Sunwoo lets out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, finally giving herself a chance to relax while she let Sabine collect the now defused spike until the vulture could collect them. It's that aforementioned smile that she flashes the other out of habit. "Not a bad run, right? We make a pretty good team. I jump in and pick them off and you clean up whatever's leftover." There's the ego. They walk and Sunwoo's too focused on hiding her own bruised pride to notice something's incredibly unusual. Something she would have otherwise noticed had she not been so wrapped up in her own depressed thoughts. A stark contrast from the usual snark and wit from Sabine is minimal commentary with no curt attitude to indicate it's anything of Sunwoo's own doing. Distracted, she continues.
"I guess I take back what I said before because they did put up a decent fight but we also ended up crushing them in the end, so it evens out." There's a pain she's grown used to enduring after missions like this. The physical pain was never quite as bad as the emotional hits that she's taking at the moment, especially now that the corridor reveals the sky carrying every piece of Venice that was directly affected by her double. It's easier to spot from the vulture and with no enemies to worry about it always made the most sense to step out into plain sight.
A whistle is what she entertains them with next, daring to have a peek at the height that they were at in the first place. "Try not to-" her warning is only meant in jest despite not being able to finish it. Sunwoo throws her gaze over her shoulder expecting an upright Sabine but is greeted with a wobbling body far too close to the edge for comfort. In an instant the pattern on her forearms reveal her plans as they glow, a gust of wind is enough to catch the falling Sabine in her arms but her hasty movements barely accounted for balance and the drastic difference in height probably had something to do with it. Letting the other's gun clamor to the ground she can finally acknowledge the wound that may have been the reason for the unusual amount of silence on Sabine's end of their very one-sided conversation she now realizes they were having.
As they tumble back Sunwoo tries to break their fall with another gust of wind, stronger than the last to account for the extra weight and gently guide them to the ground. Cradling Sabine in her arms she makes note of the bullet lodged in her side, and the blood now literally within her own hands. "Shit," is all she can say, now completely pulled from her own thoughts back into reality for the first time since they landed. Slowly she lowers her to the ground, trying to remember where to start. She's done this before, so why the hell was she struggling so much to recall this basic information? Hands pat around her waist in search of something to slow the bleeding and the only thing of use is her sash that she quickly unties to press against it. "Okay, I know I was talking your ear off a couple minutes ago but I could really use a game plan here, Viper." Her frustration has nothing to do with the urgency of the situation and more to do with herself, as per usual but it's also a plea for Viper to remain conscious, even if she doesn't directly state it.
