K, I'm bored so let's play dumb Fuckface advocate here.When it's actually Sage at your dad's she gets so upset with you that she rolls over and goes to sleep without another word. I don't know about you man but if my lady was acting/feeling like that I damn sure wouldn't just keep doing whatever I want and ignore her feelings.
I looked it up so I could be specific:
Sage: You're dropping by your ex-girlfriend tomorrow?
MC: I'm dropping by my friend tomorrow (gaslight)
Sage: Your friend who you used to fuck
MC: Who is now my friend (even though I told her she was my first love)
MC: Sage... Zoey's been important to me for the better part of my life (and you apparently aren't). Ever since childhood, she's been there for me. (except when she took off for San Diego)
Sage: I hear what you are saying, but it sounds like the moment your girlfriend leaves... you run off to your ex to spend time with her. (Can she speak any more plainly?)
MC: That's not what it is.
Sage: ...
Sage: Another way to say that is it's exactly what it is.
MC: You don't understand (She understands just fine you just don't care)
Sage: No, you're the one who doesn't understand. (Exactly)
Sage: Picture if our roles were reversed, yeah?
(Similar situation but she's spending time with Chad after you leave)
MC: I don't think it's quite the same (of course you don't because the you'd have to admit you're wrong)
Sage: It is!
MC: It's not. Also, I wouldn't have a problem with that because I trust you (guilt trip by accusing her of not trusting you rather than her thinking you are insensitive)
Sage: Oh shut up I trust you, too.
MC: Sage, I don't want to fight (just do whatever I want). I shouldn't have brought it up (rather I should have done it behind your back). Let's forget I said anything.
Sage: So, you're not going to see her tomorrow?
MC: I will (so fuck you, I don't care how you feel, whateva I do what I want)
Sage: *Rolls over and goes to sleep*
And after all that, he goes anyway. What a great guy. Where did my hero go??
First, Zoey was never his actual girlfriend, you can refer to her in game as "sort of an ex" to John Boy but those two never formalized their relationship so it wouldn't be gaslight for him to say that he was dropping to see a friend (Fuckbuddies are friends to, just ask Sage
)Second, Fuckface has known Zoey longer than any other character in this game barring his Dad. He explained that himself to Bella that he didn't had any kind of social circle and was just bullied until he met and bonded with Zoey, so minimizing the imact that his first friend had in his life to try and elevate the imact his relationship with Sage has is counterproducent. Both are very important to Fuckface in different ways. Hell Fuckface can even auto-reject Zoey without any player imput if the player hasn't been trying to reconnect with her.
Third, although Sage worries were warranted. Once again, it was always up to Fuckface to reciprocate if it was the case that Sage was right and Zoey wanted him back again as a romantic partner. Sage says something on the phonecall among the lines that she trusts Fuckface but doesn't trust Zoey because she might be able to "push his buttons" which shows that Sage was speaking more out of insecurity than fear or knowledge. No one cheats on their current partner with an ex just because the ex is now back in the picture and talking with them again, they do it because they choose to and because they don't value their current relationship at all.
In conlcusion,
Could Fuckface have explained things better? Obviously, yes.
Should've Fuckface just didn't say anything instead? No, he was clear about his intentions in his conversation, his failure was to not clarifiy the part that he missed about his relationship with Zoey was not the sexual/romance part but the platonic connection.
Should Fuckface even be allowed to be near her ex? This is tricky and it varies from person to person. I don't think a day visit to an old firend you used to be intimate with (but not in actual relationship) should't be that much of a red flag, unless it turns into continous visits/ 1 on 1 hangouts. But if Sage were to impose on the relationship it would also be bad and controlling, if she is not okay on how dumb Fuckface is, she is better of dating anybody else xD
To clarify, I don't particualry care about this topic that much but if your only conclusion from this exchange is that Fuckface is being manipulative I think you should try to re read the scene without premptive bias. Especially considering that you can choose to clear the air and even make Fuckface apologize to her, later. Even when talking with Jill at the Nail Salon, Sage laments not explaining her concerns more thorougly and how she feels bad about how the night ended since she might've unintentionally helped throw Fuckface back into the arms of her Ex.
Just FYI, I don't even like Zoey(Hell, she is my second least favorite LI) so much so I've rejected her in all my playtroughs till now and I'm not interested in a "clean" path or a "cheat" path with her. She can have Jacob (My second least favorite DIK, How appropiate!) and his crabs all for herself
