Seconded. This route back on is acceptable but make the Sage fuckbuddy route the “bad” one would be insane. These things need to be vaguely telegraphed. I’m in two minds about the Bella panties issue already but at least it makes some sense. To make the Sage fuckbuddy route fall through would just be a kick in the teeth.
Im reserving judgment on Sage this episode because the whole thing reeks of just keeping her in a holding pattern. I need more information because the way shit was phrased this episode annoyed me a little but I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Sages comments about not looking at the MC “through that lens” could be a sticking point for me... especially if he just bridges the fuckbuddy and “got together in ep7” routes and she acts like they’ve only just started this thing on both “routes” and ignore all the history of being fuckbuddies.
If Sage doesn’t acknowledge all the shit from the last 7 episodes and sticks to the idea it was just sex and nothing even remotely more it changes her for me. Don’t get me wrong, it would actually make her more of a DIK route character but it should have been much much clearer with the whole “just sex” thing. All the romantic kisses in the garden (something Mel/Sarah comment on being more than just fuckbuddy stuff), holding hands under blankets or falling asleep in MC’s arms after he came to look after her makes it off that she never remotely saw him as more than a Fuckbuddy. Sage is just as romantic as any other LI and it’s jarring she is so conflicted about the concept of the MC as a boyfriend... by all means play the “it’s too soon” card but its bad writing (in my opinion) after all that’s happened that she can’t even answer if she is interested in dating MC.
If she acted more like the other HOTs or even Quinn and was clear it was just meaningless sex all this “never looked at you this way” stuff makes sense and she would actually come across as a DIK route.
MC annoyed me too with how things were phrased. Dunno why DPC made him act all ambiguous with wanting “more” and not being a “rebound”... ask her on a date. Make it clear you wanna see if something is there rather than making it seem like it’s all or nothing. Sage acts like he fucking proposed and he wanted a “promise” they’d be together. A date makes more sense for all involved.
Sage has lost some of her... characterisation for want of a better word. She was never particularly tied to the “DIK” route and easily romanced as a Chick. Now she’s acting all DIK route, casual sex... calling MC a girl for wanting more... I dunno. Even the MC as a full DIK reacts to Sage in such a way he thought there was something more.
Sage needed more stuff like the first time you have sex with her where she makes it clear it’s just sex. You should need to affirm it was just sex throughout her route or be penalised. She should need DIK actions to be with, like Quinn or the other HOTS.
If he wants us to act like the last 7 episodes meant nothing Sage should have been the anthesis to Jill. Needs DIK points and actions. Have sex with no emotions and the big crescendo be an emotional connection leading to more. This is kind of a mess in my opinion (based on what we have so far, it could all change in an episode).
i think the two paths will be very similar, with some changes only in the dialogues. even in the seventh one at the end the next scene is exactly the same.
at the end in one path it's Mc asking Sage to take their feelings seriously, in the other it's Sage telling MC that now the situation is different and she's ready for a relationship.
actually i don't think she is, but that doesn't change the fact that with a different path MC and Sage arrive practically at the same point.
Having been a fuckbuddy can never be MC's fault, it was Sage's choice that brought them closer anyway.
the part of Sage and MC in the seventh chapter was quite sudden and unsuccessful, in my opinion at least, hopefully it won't do too much damage
We don't know how old the relationship between Sage and Chad was. In the Episode 5 flashback (~two years before the start of the game) , they don't seem to be an item yet (though Sage is obviously enamored with Chad). When we first see them in Episode 1, their relationship seems to be well established. That suggests we're looking at a relationship between .25-1.75 years old, give or take.
Anything up to a year seems plausible to me; if Sage was truly smitten, she'd be willing to wait for Chad to be comfortable. Longer than that is still not completely outrageous (Sage is pretty clearly frustrated, after all), but it does start to undercut her comment in Episode 5 that guys don't normally reject her.
There's also the possibility that Chad DID have some sexy times with Sage on occasion, at least early on in the relationship. It's less likely now that we know Chad is gay, but we still can't rule it out.
the only clue we have puts them together in their first year, but it doesn't change much anyway...
I don't think thinking that Sage courted Chad for a year and then did more of a gap year waiting for Chad to feel like it is any more believable.
Sage is struggling to accept that Mc needs time to accept the new situation, and in fact she doesn't even wait 5 minutes. there is no reason to think that with Chad she had more patience. the abstinence realistically could have lasted a few months, maybe taking advantage of the summer holidays, not more.
but that's our curiosity as players. I don't think we'll ever find out.
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