#vysper

Vysper (Vyse x Viper) - 7/10

Vyse needs to be reminded of her humanity in a similar way that Viper does—and that makes them very compatible in that they understand each other well, yes, but it also takes away an element of complexity and depth. Relationships (regardless of nature) are best when there's an element of contrast/conflict, and Vyse and Viper lack any real level of contrast aside from Vyse's non-human status and Vyse's slightly more social nature. They're both scientists, they're both confident and egotistical, they're both reluctant to be vulnerable; because of this, they match well, but they don't really interact in an extremely meaningful way to me. The idea of them taking solace in one another and mutually dropping their guard is appealing, and they also strike me as the type to just...not really acknowledge the progression of their relationship, which can sometimes be fun, but overall it's just not my favorite kind of dynamic. Their shared past adds a level of depth and intrigue for sure, and the idea of exploring that and thinking about how it affects their current interactions in the VP is definitely fun, but in my mind they're more like identical puzzle pieces than ones that fit together.

That being said, the way she needs to be reminded of this, unlike in the case of Vysper, is very different in comparison to Viper. Sage views herself as a tool and resource; Viper views herself as a monster. The end goal is the same, but they need to go through very different journeys to get there, and they're each uniquely suited to aid the other in said journeys. Where Sage lacks a level of agency for herself and is too focused on others, Viper has thrown everything else aside in favor of pursuing her own intensely-personal goals, and has been (trying to) focus on only herself as a result. Where Viper believes herself to be a corrupted/distorted version of her former self and genuinely thinks she is irredeemable and monstrous to an extent, Sage not only knew her prior to her transformation into "Viper" (thus allowing her to prove to Viper how much she really hasn't changed), but is also a very compassionate yet principled person who can remind Viper of and amplify her better, softer qualities while grounding/minimizing her less stable and morally bankrupt ones. My point is: their core issues are complimentary and intertwined, but not the same. They have a lot to provide each other in that way.

Sagebean (Viper x Sage) - 10/10

These two are, in my brain, the best of both worlds. Like Vyse and Viper, there is a level of similar nature here. But unlike Vyse, Sage offers parallelism and a foil of sorts in relation to Viper rather than a mirror. Sage is a very obviously caring person, and on a surface level, Viper may seem more apathetic, but that isn't really the case—something we know both because of Viper's behavior in the In My Zone MV and Why We Fight Back MV as well as in-game lore bits (her bet with Brimstone in which she bet in favor of the team's survival, her support for removing the anti-fraternization policy, Omen's voiceline about her healing others in the past, Vyse saying they've saved the world together before, etc.). Viper cares about others just as much as Sage does, the only difference is that she actively suppresses that inclination in herself and doesn't express it nearly as openly. Sage also, as I mentioned before, needs to be reminded of her humanity; same as Viper and Vyse.

On a surface level, they also have a similar level of contrast to Reyge—Sage is more outgoing, Viper is more reserved and self-isolating; Sage is openly affectionate and encouraging, Viper disguises her affection and her praise is hard-won; Sage is mostly averse to violence, Viper revels in it; Sage is naturally soft-spoken and pleasant, Viper's demeanor commands attention and she leans toward being standoffish: Sage's abilities focus on protection and healing, Viper's focus on suffocation and direct damage; I could go on. All of this in addition to their rocky shared past and pre-existing tension as a result makes their interactions consistently interesting and complex. As I like to put it: their dynamic has the sauce. 🤌

Bonus:

Sabyna (Reyna x Viper) - 7.5/10