Ethel

**Ethel** is a side character in The Smoke Room. She is an aging prostitute who works at Saguaro's Hip.

## Appearance

Ethel is an older tiger salamander whose yellow skin is dappled with black markings, most prominently around her eyes and on her hands in a pattern resembling gloves. She has brown eyes and wears a white dress tied with a black sash. She also wears a red ribbon around her neck. According to Cynthia, she wears a supposedly "rose-scented" perfume that bears a greater resemblance to mothballs.

## Personality

Ethel is well-known for being a gossip who greatly enjoys hearing herself talk. She is somewhat sarcastic and judgmental, often telling others things they don't want to hear and seeming to take joy in their discomfort. These factors, as well as her age, have made her less popular among clients, a fact she is well aware of. Though seemingly somewhat bitter, Ethel views her life realistically and is prepared for the potential of being replaced someday.

## Story

### Before The Smoke Room

At some point before the events of the Smoke Room, Ethel was hired by Madam Dora to work as a prostitute at The Hip. Over time, Ethel aged into one of the older prostitutes and began receiving fewer clients as a result, with her only frequent customers being Huxley Greene and James Hendricks III. During appointments with James, Ethel passes on sensitive information she has learned from her clients, coworkers, and surroundings, operating as a "mole" of sorts from within the brothel. This has allowed James to learn more about one of her fellow prostitutes and his clientele.

Ethel is also a heavy smoker.

### Cliff's Route

Ethel appears on Cliff's route immediately after Sam's appointment with James, coming in to inform him that Cliff has arrived with some sort of proposition for him and that the Madam has requested him at once. Ethel makes note that Huxley has missed his appointment with her for the first time ever and laments her advancing age before leaving Sam to get ready.

### William's Route

Ethel first appears on Will's route shortly after Sam returns to The Hip after the revelation that Will's estranged family has come to town. She steps into the powder room for a drink and watches Cynthia and her friends Scarlet and Lucy playing the Levitation Game with disinterest, up until Sam faints. Afterward, she escorts him back to his room to rest and discusses the mysterious trunk full of occult objects that has been found in the powder room. Before she leaves she promises to bring Sam a glass of water, but never does.

Later on, as part of his investigation Will has the option to interview Ethel at the Hip. If Will has talked to Porter prior to this, then he insinuates that he knows Ethel is leaking sensitive information to James, startling her. Regardless, Ethel rudely shoos Will away and refuses to provide him with further insight into the recent mysterious happenings in town.

If Will has spoken to both Porter and Ethel and knows she is the mole, then the next day when he returns to the Hip he and Cynthia discuss Ethel's betrayal of the Hip's confidentiality. Cynthia also shares a note detailing Ethel's duties for the evening; it refers to the fact that her board is overdue and implies that helping to fetch the scotch is her obligation because of this.

## Relationships

### James Hendricks III

James is one of Ethel's frequent clients, and she provides him with intel from inside The Hip for unknown reasons. This makes her somewhat loyal to him, although it is unclear whether she actually enjoys his company or if she assists him for purely pragmatic reasons.

### Huxley Greene

Huxley is another one of Ethel's regular clients, and he is said to never miss an appointment with her.

## Gallery

Concept art for Ethel drawn by Shtarfish.