It’s morning time as Kelsey and Saige carry baskets of clothes from a river nearby Strife Village.
Later on, in another moment, Kelsey and Saige are picking out plants to put in another basket.
Later on, in another moment, Kelsey and Saige are folding laundry as Saige awkwardly folds clothing, while not being sure how to fold clothes properly.
Later on, again, Kelsey and Saige are back in Gregory’s place. Saige sits on his sleeping bag, behind the couch, as Kelsey sits on the couch. Saige then takes out a metal bottle and starts drinking from it. “Whatcha drinking?”, asks Kelsey as she peers over the back of the couch to Saige. “Water. Mai gave it to me. Want some?”, says Saige. “Sure!”, says Kelsey. As Saige extends out the bottle, Kelsey just grabs it and guzzles the water down. “Don’t... ah, nevermind.”, says Saige. “Sorry, was very thirsty.”, says Kelsey.
Mai then barges in with Gregory’s arm over her back and Gregory leaning on Mai for support while drunk. “Oh come on, he’s drunk again?”, says Saige. “Third night in a row.”, says Kelsey. “Ha haa ha *Burps*”, says Gregory. Mai then drops him on the floor. “Like I said, he usually drinks the night away.”, says Mai. “But why? Is the stuff that good?”, asks Saige. “He’s.. lost people. So yeah.”, states Mai. “Like.. during the war?”, asks Saige. “Yeah. It tends to eat him up inside.”, says Mai. “...Damn.”, says Saige.
Cut to later and it’s now nighttime. Everyone appears to be asleep in Gregory’s place, then Gregory wakes up off the floor and heads to the kitchen. Saige also wakes up and notices Gregory awake and decides to also make his way to the kitchen. Saige then catches Gregory in the middle of making a sandwich. “You sure are a weird guy. The booze knocks you out then you wake up in the middle of the night and make a sandwich?”, says Saige. “What’s it to you?”, asks Gregory. “Just observing.”, states Saige. “You’ve been doing good over the past few days, by the way.”, states Gregory. “Really?”, asks Saige. “Yeah. Haven’t complained yet and you get the jobs done.”, says Gregory. “Yeaah.”, says Saige. “So Mai told me your story.”, says Gregory. “She did?”, asks Saige. “Yeah, but don’t interrupt. So what makes you wanna join our cause?”, asks Gregory.
Saige goes silent trying to ponder a reason for him to join the cause in the hunt for Azrael. He then speaks, “I’ll be honest, I didn’t come this way to just join the cause. Mai just said you guys would need my help.”. “Hmph. She did? Then what ‘did’ you come all this way for?”, asks Gregory.
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Saige ponders again before answering. “You know, I’m unsure exactly.”. “But you still wanna join our cause?”, asks Gregory. Saige sits down on a nearby stool next to the kitchen island. “I guess I just wanted to be apart of something.”, says Saige.
Gregory goes silent, but then sits on a nearby stool with him. “Here’s a better idea. You two, being you and Kelsey, stay and get settled in here. You don’t have to join the search for Azrael, just to be a part of here. Mai has good intentions, but maybe she wasn’t thinking straight.”, says Gregory. “So you’ll actually let me stay?”, asks Saige. “As long as you keep doing the work. Sure. I’m not heartless.”, says Gregory. The night ends off on their conversation.
Eventually, it then becomes the next day. Kelsey, Mai and Saige grab baskets and get ready to go out for some work. “Gonna step out. Got a town meeting.”, says Gregory. “Alright.”, says Mai. “Town meeting?”, asks Saige. “It’s when he meets with the heads of the town. Including our settlement leader, “General Richter”.”, states Mai. “Yup. Be back, probably by the afternoon.”, says Gregory. “Okay!”, says Mai. “See ya!”, says Kelsey. Gregory then leaves.
In eventual time, Gregory makes it to the meeting and he sits around a table with nine other individuals. “...And so far, at Azrael’s outpost 0, we haven’t found a trace of him. Azrael has to be hiding somewhere near here, General Richter.”, says Gregory, in a briefing report. “I see. And how’s Saige doing?”, asks General Richter. “Saige? Well...”, says Gregory, right before getting cut off. “I’m surprised you haven’t kicked him out yet. He is a demon, after all.”, says one of the people. Gregory just goes silent as he looks sternly at the person who said that. “Now.. Father Terrance, I know you had your people at Creed Town kick him out, but Gregory and I are handling things differently. So far, he’s been helpful out at manual labour.”, says General Richter.
“That’s because he’s so desperate to find belonging that he doesn’t want to complain and mess it all up for himself.”, says Father Terrance. “Father Terrance...”, says Gregory. “Your stepping abit out of line Father Terrance. We still haven’t heard from Gregory. How has Saige been?”, says General Richter. “Been pretty good. He struggled a bit at folding laundry though, but he knows how to tend to the fields and collect clothing.”, says Gregory. “That’s good. And no incidents?”, asks General Richter. “No.”, says Gregory. “And how do we know he hasn’t made any demon allies outside your village? He could be making deals for all we know against us.”, says Father Terrance.
“Yeah.”, says one of the heads. “He has a point.”, says another head. “Listen, I’ve been getting to know Saige, and he seems like an alright kid. Just runs his mouth sometimes, but that’s it.”, says Gregory. “For our sake, I hope you’re right.”, says General Richter. “Listen, each moment he’s here is a moment where we’re unsafe.”, says Father Terrance. “Hold on now. What of his choice for joining our cause?”, asks General Richter. “He.. isn’t really for it. Seems Mai was talking him into it, saying we could use his help.”, says Gregory. “And what would we need his help for? What a delusion to have.”, says Father Terrance. “You know Terrance, I’ve almost had it. I’m about getting ready to...”, says Gregory, before getting cut off. “Greg. Sorry Father Terrance, he didn’t mean it.”, says General Richter. “That’s what I thought.”, says Father Terrance.
Gregory just sits there, looking at Father Terrance with a stern look. “Now in light of the information shared, it seems not much has changed. Saige, I believe, it would be best for him to stay under your care Greg and we continue the search for Azrael. Okay.”, says General Richter. Everyone then nods and generally agrees. “Meet adjourned.”, says General Richter.