[ Saga rubs the side of her face as she takes all of this in and tries to digest it. It's not how she thought things worked. But it's becoming clear to her now that what she thought and what's really the reality of the situation are two very different things. ]

I'm going to be honest with you, that's not at all how I thought this worked. [ Is it possible that Wake's as much a victim of all this as the rest of us are? ]

I never thought of Wake as anything but someone dragging people into his crazy story just because he could, and not even thinking for a second about how he's impacting those people and their lives.

[ It's not until Jesse goes on to talk more about the hostile nature of the Dark Place that Saga's opinion really shifts and changes. ]

So what you're saying is that the last thirteen years haven't been a walk in the park for him. I mean, I didn't really think that, but- I guess I didn't know just how bad it was. And I kind of still don't, but you paint a really grim picture even with the little you've told me.

[ But a smile that wants to become a grin takes Saga's face then. She's not some cold agent who doesn't smile or doesn't like seeing people making connections. Building relationships. If Jesse's doing that with Wake, well, more power to her, really. ]

No, not a problem. I just- Well... It must not be that easy for you, being on this side of things while he's dealing with hostile realities and who knows what else.