Sensing Talon’s presence reclining beside her, Serpentine shifted her weight ever so slightly broken glass crunching beneath her. A mixture of confusion and contentment clouded her judgment at Talon’s words, and she was worried he might see the inappropriately timed smile growing on her face. Try as she might Serpentine could not think straight in her present state of being. The fear of total darkness, combined with happiness and Talon’s concern for her wellbeing and the seriousness of their quandary all muddled by the toxic gas left her mind more scrambled then the eggs she ate for breakfast. The eagle-hero’s comments about her being cute weren’t helping either. Furrowing her brow Serpentine tried her best to force these conflicting thoughts and feelings from herself in order to focus. Talon was right about the baristriss’ akuma; with the only three combat fit heroes having already utilized their max abilities and with their Miraculous’ clocks ticking, discovering and destroying the villainous barista’s weapon remained a top priority. Forced into a retreat the heroes could be picked off one by one as their Miraculous’ failed, and their suits evaporated like dust on the wind. Shivering at this bleak prospect Serpentine’s foolish grin vanished in an instant and she became serious, running over the many possibilities aloud.

	[color=ed145b]“Any number of things really, especially here at the Lounge. Though if I had to venture a guess I imagine it would be the same as the last guy, his whip was where the Akuma was hidden right.” [/color]Serpentine reasoned, blinking rapidly and jerking her head from side to side. The gas made her feel lightheaded, as if she was exhausted and would like nothing more than to lay down and fall sleep. She resisted the urge through the spasmodic movements, using Talon’s shoulder to push herself onto her unsteady feet. [color=ed145b]“The Baristriss is using spray bottles right, they explode but she always seems to have more… It disobeys so many laws of physics, but so do these suits and powers… She must have a main one that she can use to summon all the others. If we can disarm her she won’t be able to throw any more gas, and we’ll be able to purify her Akuma!”
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	At that moment the ferocious battle between Furrita and Baristriss heated up, with the heroine alone and in trouble of being overwhelmed as yet another gas bomb was primed and ready to throw. Serpentine cast about in mental desperation for something, anything that might change the tide of battle. Underfoot the glass crunched loudly into even smaller pieces. The remains of a shattered window, destroyed by Usagi’s slingshot minutes before. [color=ed145b]“Usagi!” [/color]Serpentine gasped in remembrance, raising her voice to the point where the rabbit hero might hear her. [color=ed145b]“Usagi, disarm the Baristriss with your slingshot!”[/color] Turning to Talon, or to where she thought Talon was Serpentine spoke in a rapid, quiet tone. [color=ed145b]“You’ll have to leave me here. Once Usagi knocks the Baristriss’ Akuma away you’ve got to snatch it, yell when you do and I’ll cast an illusion around you and Furrita. It’ll keep you both covered until you can purify it. Make sure to hold your breath and close your eyes if a grenade goes off, and Talon… Please be careful.”
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