Clifford Tibbits

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— Samuel Ayers

**Clifford "Cliff" Tibbits** (real name **Cornelis van Houwelinck**) is one of the love interests in The Smoke Room. He is an anthropology student who comes to Echo in order to research the Meseta tribe.

## Appearance

Cliff is a small, lean stoat with average muscle. He is covered in brown fur with a lighter shade on his eyebrows and front, with the darker brown fading to dull white when his winter coat sets in. His eyes are blue and usually covered by a pair of glasses with circular lenses and gold-colored rims. He is dressed in a dapper manner, wearing black dress pants and a tan vest over a button-up shirt, accentuated with a red bow tie.

Cliff enjoys using perfume, and is often described as smelling distinctly of mint.

## Personality

Cliff is high-spirited, passionate, and very talkative. He has difficulty reading a room or modulating his expressiveness around others, which leads to him coming across as quite energetic. This is not helped by his flirtatious tendencies, and he openly shows attraction to both Murdoch and Samuel in most routes; or even Cynthia in a couple of the routes. Cliff is prim and fastidious, and quite sensitive to slights made against him. He is also something of a skeptic, and is hesitant to attribute the unusual happenings in Echo to the supernatural.

Cliff is studious and determined; he travels all the way to Echo to organize a research expedition, and remains committed to his mission despite the danger he faces. He also has an independent and rebellious streak, and wishes to travel the world rather than return home and settle down like his parents expect him to. Because of his stifling past, he is very concerned with the idea of obscuring his old life and reinventing himself in a new place, even if it means being less than forthright with those around him.

### Early Life

Clifford Tibbits was born Cornelis van Houwelinck on September 14th, 1892 in Schippersburg, Batavia. He grew up in a wealthy mercantile family and is a skilled dancer, fencer, and artist. His mother passed away when he was thirteen years old. His family are devout Catholics, but Cliff himself has become agnostic by adulthood.

Cliff's grandfather Anthonie was a renowned painter who cultivated a young Cliff's interest in the arts, and the two often painted together in his studio. Anthonie also introduced Cliff to the Meseta, eventually leading to Cliff's fascination with the tribe. Cliff was directed away from art and towards more 'practical' pursuits by his business-minded father. He went on to study anthropology at Wensleydale, a university elsewhere in Europa, while his father and younger sister Marie remained in Batavia. At the start of the story, Cliff has not been back home in five years.

Cliff comes to Echo to study the Meseta for his thesis, but also to escape into a new more outgoing identity far away from the expectations of his old life. As is gradually revealed during his and Will's routes, Cliff's research is funded by James Hendricks, a business associate of his father, but Cliff has been instructed to keep this a secret.

Cliff is bisexual, and has sexual experience with women but very little or none whatsoever with men.

### Prologue

Soon after arriving in Echo, Cliff finds Cynthia and tries to get her to open up about her early life in the nearby Meseta settlement, which he intends to visit, but she is reluctant to go into detail about her past.

Cliff first appears to Samuel in the bar of Saguaro's Hip. He enters and is immediately enthralled by the atmosphere of an 'authentic' western saloon and, after obliviously making his presence known to every other patron, is directed by Cynthia to a seat beside Sam.

Cliff indiscreetly identifies Sam as a sex worker, and explains that he was referred to a mountain lion matching Sam's description. Sam, attempting to keep a low profile, denies this and tries his best to ignore him. Harlan sternly corrects Cliff by directing him towards the female prostitutes, but Cliff makes it clear that he is interested in getting to know Sam more. Two drunken patrons, Huxley and Reed, overhear this and roughly usher Cliff outside, over his attempts to resolve the situation diplomatically. Sam follows with plans to defend Cliff, only to watch the stoat saucily insult Huxley and Reed. They beat him soundly in response, until they spot Sheriff William Adler approaching and abscond. Sam helps Cliff up and quickly kisses him, to ease his pain and likely also secure him as a potential client. Sam is then distracted by a commotion in the town square, and Cliff sneaks away while he is distracted.

Later that night, Cliff encounters Sam again in the Hip's brothel. Cynthia offers Cliff her company, but he seems more interested in spending time with Sam who explains that another client has already booked him for the evening. Cliff offers to double Sam's usual rate, but Sam is wary of how passionately Cliff seems drawn to him and opts to check the status of his other client before agreeing to anything. The brothel is then put on lockdown as a group of angry miners begin protesting in the streets outside.

### Cliff's Route

#### Chapter 1

Cliff is flustered and delighted if accepted as a client, and acts very complimentary towards Sam. In Sam's bedroom he expresses his frustration about the intolerance he has experienced in Echo so far, and tells Sam about his home country. The two have sex and spend the night together, and in the morning Cliff attentively takes care of Sam after awakening him from a vivid nightmare. Sam finds some of Cliff's sketches, and Cliff explains that he is a hobby artist and has come to Echo to do ethnographic research. For Sam's time, Cliff pays four times the usual rate instead of double.

That night, as recounted later, Cliff accompanies Murdoch to The Stag, a bar on the outskirts of Echo where gay men can socialize with each other more openly. Determined not to let the hostility he experienced at the Hip discourage him, Cliff meets and dances with Jebediah. Jeb is a skilled outdoorsman and guide, and Cliff hires him for a research expedition to the Meseta settlement located two days' trek from Echo. At some point, Murdoch visits Cliff's apartment to deliver some supplies for the journey and they have sex.

The next day, Cliff returns to the Hip and hires Sam for the expedition as well, as a porter and bodyguard. Cliff and Sam leave the Hip together and overhear William questioning Reed about the disappearance of Huxley, then letting him go free despite his violence towards Cliff. When Will learns about the expedition plans, he disparages Cliff's academic aspirations and advises against leaving town, since beyond Echo's borders he cannot guarantee Cliff's protection. Cliff is outraged by what he perceives as infantilization, as well as Will's 'fraternizing' with Reed, and the disagreement escalates until it ends with Cliff calling Will a brute and Will slurring Cliff's sexuality.

Cliff is badly shaken by the argument, and later in his apartment he anxiously spills the tea he serves Sam. He asserts that he did not hire Sam for sexual reasons, but rather because Sam has been one of the few in Echo to treat him with respect, and the two dance together. Cliff sleeps on the couch and insists that Sam take his bed.

#### Chapter 2

Cliff and Sam convene with Jeb and Murdoch at dawn and the party sets off for their first stop, a scenic overlook above Echo Canyon. As they pack up Jeb's wagon, Cliff mentions to Sam that his expedition has been funded by a sponsor, although he is not allowed to reveal that his 'gracious donor' is James Hendricks III. At this point, Cliff does not yet know that an implicit goal of the journey is to further James' plans to build a railroad through Meseta land and convince the tribe to serve as manpower in its construction. Cliff remains optimistic that his thesis, a study on creating a unified workforce by crossing cultural boundaries through labor, will change the way native populations are viewed across the world.

As the group approaches Echo Canyon, they discuss the ghost stories surrounding the spot; Cliff remains resolutely skeptical of ghosts, but admits he finds something special about the unexplainable. Cliff is fidgety and anxious throughout the trek, and remains preoccupied with making sure the trip goes as perfectly as possible, but he is able to relax in Sam's company and falls asleep on him at the overlook.

The group sets up camp in a forested area that night and Murdoch tells scary stories around the fire, but Cliff asserts that he is more afraid of men than ghosts. After the others go to sleep, Cliff stays up with Sam and laments that even on the frontier he cannot be free to love whoever he wants. Sam confesses that he has been using the expedition as a way to get away from Echo and was planning to split off from the group as soon as possible, but then promises Cliff that he will stay until they reach the Meseta reservation.

Cliff is thrilled, but the moment is interrupted by a roaring, screaming sound and soon the group comes under attack by a mysterious monster, which kills one of Jeb's donkeys and chases off the other. Sam is knocked out as well, and Cliff and the others decide to get him to safety rather than try to protect their supplies, then Cliff gives him first aid. As they regroup, Cliff mentions that the monster looked like a rat, and the members of the expedition realize that it appeared in a different form to each of them. With their supplies ransacked and pack animals gone, Jeb says they need to turn back. Cliff suggests that Murdoch begin marking trees for navigation, but it soon becomes clear that their path through the forest is looping back on itself. Jeb tries to take the lead with no success, and a frustrated Cliff undermines his expertise by saying that he himself could be a better guide. Cliff then realizes Jeb has been drinking heavily, which leads to an argument that Murdoch has to break up.

Murdoch proposes more honesty among the group, and Cliff admits that he has been using the trip as an opportunity for him to reinvent himself, and that he wants to see it through as long as possible. Sam may admit to Murdoch that he is fleeing Echo, and if he does then Murdoch opens up about his own dependency on drugs. In response to Murdoch's fears about facing sobriety if his stash runs out, Cliff promises to get the group through the woods.

Shortly after, the party encounters Avery, Tsela, and Yiska, who are recovering from their own encounter with the same monster and the loss of a companion named Shilah. Cliff is distraught to the point of tears because his research notes have been destroyed with the rest of the supplies, but Avery calms him down and invites him to his parents' home to recover. Cliff perks up immediately, and is ecstatic at the prospect of visiting an 'authentic' Meseta hogan. Once there, Avery's mother Manaba permits Cliff and the others to assist her in making pottery, but in response to Cliff's continuous questions about the nature of what she is creating, she assigns him the largest share of work in the hopes that he can learn more by doing than speaking.

That night, Cliff catches Sam stealing his pack in order to abandon the expedition and flee Echo. Cliff is confused and deeply hurt, especially after Sam's previous promise, and Sam ultimately confesses to the murder of Jack to explain his desperation to escape. Cliff calls him a good man and assures Sam that whether or not he decides to leave his secret will be safe, and they kiss. Cliff then notices that Sam was considering stealing an antique map that Avery's father Gad previously used to show them many generations of Meseta settlements in the region. Cliff gives Sam another chance to go through with taking it, and promises not to tell anyone if he does. Inwardly, Sam wonders why Cliff has seemingly endorsed a theft that would represent a significant cultural loss for Avery's family, and wonders if it is simply a sign of Cliff's devotion to him, but the stoat's expression is inscrutable.

The group sets out again at dawn, and even though Cliff is extremely curious about the Meseta settlement, Tsela treats him tersely and refuses to answer his questions. Before long, it becomes apparent that the forest is again unnaturally redirecting their progress, but Cliff remains incredulous and unconvinced. When a mysterious log cabin appears on their path, Cliff is excited to investigate and rushes inside. If Sam declines to follow, Cliff is miffed at his unhelpfulness. When they reach their previous campsite in order to recover some supplies, Cliff is devastated to see that most of his research notes cannot be salvaged. He suppresses his distress in order to help Jeb bury his beloved donkey, however, and prays when they place her in the grave.

That evening, Cliff and Sam, and possibly Murdoch depending on Sam's preference, sneak away to have sex at a hot spring near their campsite. In the afterglow of the threesome, Cliff talks about his desire to escape the pressures placed on him by his family, especially the expectation to return and get married or risk being disowned. He also admits that due to his aristocratic upbringing he has never had real friends who see him for more than his money.

Back around the campfire the group meets a traveler named Ed, who shares his belief that the land around Echo is cursed. Cliff brushes this off, and proposes that the strange things he and the others have witnessed are simply the product of a shared hallucination. Murdoch then performs a song, and Cliff and Sam dance together.

#### Chapter 3

In the morning, if Murdoch joined Sam and Cliff at the spring the previous night, Cliff may choose to request that he and Murdoch remain strictly on professional terms, which leaves Murdoch dejected.

Once he arrives at the Meseta reservation, Cliff sets off alone to try and make connections in the community, including with his prearranged contact, the stern and imposing Reverend Caldwell. To Cliff's shock, Caldwell chastises him for arriving at the settlement two whole weeks after leaving Echo, even though from his own perspective the journey only took a few days. Caldwell also explains Cliff's true mission: he is expected to use his anthropological expertise to convince the Meseta to build James Hendricks' planned railroad to Echo. Cliff quickly grows annoyed by Caldwell's haughtiness and is skeptical of his plans for the settlement and its residents, especially after the Reverend instructs him not to go anywhere near the local boarding school after dark.

Cliff visits Tsela and Yiska to gauge their attitude about the potential railroad, attempting to broker a compromise between his desire to do right by the Meseta and his obligation to work for James Hendricks' interests. Tsela tries to close the door on him but Cliff insists that he only wants to open a channel of communication between them. Tsela points out that such discussions are often deeply unequal and result in the information given out by the Meseta being used against them, and also categorically opposes the railroad, but Yiska is much more open to it, citing the opportunities for trade and travel that it could bring to the community.

If Cliff chooses to be forthright about the fact that the railroad is intended to connect the Meseta settlement to Echo, however, then Yiska and Tsela are both horrified and deeply against it. In this case, Cliff explains that since Caldwell seems to be closely involved with the development of the railroad, finding any evidence of his misconduct could jeopardize the whole plan. Tsela is reluctant to volunteer any assistance, but Yiska readily agrees to gather information about the reverend and shakes Cliff's hand to seal the deal.

Outside, Cliff bumps into Jeb, who muses that it is unusual for a priest like Caldwell to be speaking to local officials on Cliff's behalf, since the Church forbids direct involvement in government. Cliff asks Jeb for directions to the local general store, and when he arrives he meets a shopkeeper and her daughter. She tells him that hers is the only store in the settlement because commercial activity is tightly controlled and, if prompted by Cliff, she may suppose that she would welcome a railroad in the community if it would allow the residents to do more business and grant them a way to visit relatives elsewhere. She also warns Cliff that nobody drinks from the nearby well, since it makes people sick, and mentions that the lights at the school are always on after dark but nobody goes out to see why, since the town is under strict curfew.

Cliff then joins Sam and Murdoch at the local inn, and immediately begins scheduling a detailed itinerary for the rest of their stay. Sam brings up his desire to escape on his own as soon as possible, and Cliff urges him to reconsider, but also tells him they'll remain friends even if Sam leaves. Jeb arrives, and Cliff tries to fire him as a guide because of their late arrival at the settlement, but Jeb and Murdoch both point out that the strange setbacks they experienced cannot be blamed on Jeb, and may well have truly been supernatural in nature. Jeb refuses to be dismissed and tells Cliff he will see him again in a week when it is time to leave for Echo, before storming out. In the aftermath, Murdoch and Sam try to help Cliff see Jeb's side of the argument. Cliff then leaves to compose himself, and Sam later sees him participating with Yiska and Tsela in a funeral procession held by the community in honor of Shilah. The chant goes through the night, and the experience of finally feeling truly immersed among the Meseta gives Cliff a satisfied sense that all of his troubles have been worth it. He stays with Yiska and the rest of the participants instead of returning to the inn.

In the morning, Cliff follows Yiska to the settlement's school so Caldwell can give him a tour. On the way, Cliff apologizes for his intrusive presence, but Yiska explains that other anthropologists have been visiting the settlement for decades, and says some have even been accepted into Meseta society. Cliff seems heartened by this, although Yiska makes it clear that even those outsiders are primarily considered necessary peculiarities rather than fully integrated members of the community.

Caldwell arrives and scolds Cliff for being late once again, then leads him through the school. Cliff notes that it seems comparable to a school in Batavia except for the total silence, and the lack of even minor disruptions from any of the students.

Caldwell then leads the way to the apiary behind the school, and departs after explaining that the students are expected to work as well as learn. Cliff is delighted at the idyllic sight of the busy bees, and eagerly listens as Yiska demonstrates how smoke sedates the bees so their honey can be collected. When asked his experiences as a student at the reservation's school, Yiska tells Cliff stoically that both punishments and rewards were handed out depending on whether he was obedient.

After ravenously enjoying some of the honey, Cliff reflects on his observations so far; he may conclude either that life in the settlement is not as bad as he feared and rededicate himself to the railroad project, or he may decide that there are too many concerning implications to brush away so easily.

Tsela appears and has a tense conversation with Yiska in the Meseta language. Cliff asks to be filled in and Tsela gives him a dirty look, but backs down after Yiska glares at him and says Cliff should know. Tsela then leads them to the brutalized remains of a mule in a nearby cornfield, which he explains is one of six pack animals killed the night before. Cliff is able to translate that Tsela then makes an observation that sounds like 'no way out,' possibly indicating that each of the animals killed means one fewer way to leave the settlement.

Suddenly, Caldwell returns and scolds Yiska and Tsela sharply for speaking Meseta, which is forbidden in the settlement. Tsela walks off, but Yiska stays and apologizes on his behalf, becoming immediately contrite and anxious. As Cliff watches in shock Caldwell orders Yiska to scrub his own mouth out with caustic lye soap, and he complies dutifully. Cliff may attempt to intercede, but Caldwell is firm and Yiska dutifully insists on being punished despite the obvious pain. For trying to speak up on his behalf, Yiska looks at Cliff with the first expression of anger Cliff has ever seen from him. Caldwell dismisses Yiska and demands to know what was being said in Meseta, and Cliff tells him about the slaughtered animals.

Caldwell then turns on Cliff, furiously accusing him of bringing misfortune and misbehavior to the settlement, and pushes him into the shed where the beekeeping supplies are kept so that he can return the protective suit he is wearing. Cliff discovers he is locked in and watches helplessly as the reverend suddenly turns and runs off, leaving him trapped in the sweltering shed.

Cliff finds a shovel and tries to dig under the walls to escape, but gradually becomes hot and dehydrated to the point of deliriousness. Some time later, after it begins to grow dark outside, Caldwell finally returns and says he will let Cliff out after an interrogation. Cliff is shocked to hear him theorize that Sam might be responsible for the decapitated pack animals, and denies the possibility.

Caldwell then begins reciting snide comments about Cliff's poor judgment and feeble character that he claims were sent to him from Cliff's father during their business correspondence. Cliff refuses to believe that his father would be so cruel, but finds himself near tears as Caldwell then goes on to ridicule Cliff's new chosen name and his attempts at reinventing himself. As Caldwell insists that Cliff's immaturity and half-formed masculinity attracts cruel gossip wherever he goes, Cliff finds himself worrying which of his friends and peers might be insulting him behind his back. He quickly grows so overwhelmed and overheated that he cannot speak and can barely see.

After soundly rejecting any possibility of a business deal between them, Caldwell says he will let Cliff out on the proviso that he leaves the settlement the very next day. Before he can unlock the door, however, Caldwell is attacked by something that Cliff cannot see, presumably the same beast from the forest. He sees nothing but hears the reverend's screams and a tearing noise, followed by slow breathing and something that sounds similar to the bees from the apiary, or possibly the beeflies that he observed swarming the carcass of the mangled mule. The beast makes no attempt to get to Cliff inside the shed.

With Caldwell mortally wounded outside, Cliff is trapped once more. Avery comes upon the dying reverend and placidly observes his final moments, but runs off after Cliff startles him by banging the shovel to get his attention. Alone, hitting his shovel feebly against the door in case someone hears, Cliff worries that his grave will say Cornelis and wonders if he is a 'mistake,' equally ill-suited to both the life he left behind in Batavia and the new life he tried to find for himself in the West.

Sam and Murdoch eventually manage to find Cliff, still too dehydrated to speak, and unlock the door with Caldwell's keys. They bring him back to the inn to recover and, if they had a threesome previously and Cliff has encouraged Murdoch's affections, give him a bath as well.

Cliff explains that Caldwell is dead and was likely killed by the thing stalking them, but just then Jeb arrives and announces that the Meseta caught a huge boar in the act of goring the reverend the night before and have killed it. Shocked that the monster could have been something so mundane, Cliff insists on seeing it for himself, even though Jeb cautions that the carnage might be overwhelming for him. Before leaving, Cliff stays behind with Sam for a moment to give him a kiss in gratitude.

Outside, Yiska and Tsela are sitting beside what truly seems to be a massive boar lying dead next to Caldwell's body. Before Cliff and the others can investigate further, however, an automobile arrives at the settlement and James Hendricks and William step out.

### Murdoch's Route

#### Chapter 1

If Sam accepts Murdoch's wager, Cliff is disappointed and fretful, but Cynthia quickly intervenes to offer him her company instead. Cliff instantly and eagerly accepts, although he is primarily interested in asking Cynthia about her Meseta heritage; seemingly oblivious to the fact that it is a sensitive subject for her.

#### Chapter 2

Sam is shocked to next bump into Cliff at the Picture Day picnic on the grounds of Echo School. Cliff explains that he is excited to partake in the picnic since it is an Echo tradition. Dahlia, who has been enjoying her day discussing ideas with Cliff, mentions that her brother Murdoch is handling the day's photography and Cliff is thrilled at the prospect of finding a professional photographer to document his planned anthropological expedition to a Meseta settlement. He follows Sam into the school auditorium to ask Murdoch to join him on his trip, but Ralph steps in and insultingly refuses the offer on Murdoch's behalf. Cliff leaves with a whimper, and Murdoch follows him out to apologize.

On Sunday, Cliff is invited to join the Byrnes family for church, and then for their lunch at the Hip. He is playful flirtatious towards Dahlia and her sister Holly, and is so thrilled by Sam's arrival that he calls him over to their table. Cliff offers to pay for everyone's meal, but Jim declines on the family's behalf. Dahlia then invites Cliff to a meeting of her astronomy club that evening and he is tempted to accept, but instead opts to take up Murdoch's offer to get acquainted with some of the Meseta residents of Echo, as a consolation for the expedition falling through.

Later, Murdoch mentions that he warned Cliff during their outing about the dangerous supernatural forces at work in Echo, and that he even tried to entice Cliff into leaving town by telling him about the many Meseta marketplaces in nearby Camp Rosa.

#### Chapter 3

Cliff pops up again later in the route, when Sam and Murdoch stumble upon him and Dahlia exploring Echo's cemetery one night. While inspecting a section of unmarked graves, Cliff sees an intricately patterned cloth tied to one of the burial markers and theorizes that it indicates the resting place of a member of the Peshlekai family. He further notes that although the cloth seems like it was placed recently, official records say that no one from the Peshlekai family has lived in Echo since the 1870s.

Unable to discern more, he thanks Dahlia for her company and departs to board his train out of Echo, after explaining that he will have to regroup and return with more men if he ever hopes to carry out his planned expedition.

### William's Route

#### Chapter 1

After Samuel's outburst, Cliff tries to downplay the tension in the room by saying the night's excitement is exactly what he hoped to experience in the wild west. He is then led away by Cynthia, but takes one last look back at Sam before going with her.

Cliff reappears later at the poker game in William's office, arriving along with Murdoch much to Will's surprise. Cliff is delighted to see Sam and sits next to him. Will treats Cliff gruffly, and glares at him for asking to play with real money with no thought to the wealth disparity between himself and the others, and Nik in particular.

Things lighten up once the game begins, but the fun is short suddenly by a gunshot, fired from outside by a hired hand named Jimmy Fisher and seemingly meant for Cliff. Murdoch manages to push Cliff out of the way, but is grazed by the bullet. Cliff panics, then helps treat Murdoch after being calmed and comforted by Nik.

#### Chapter 2

When Sam and William arrive at Lake Emma to investigate Murdoch's account that a body has been dumped there, Cliff is waiting for them with a picnic that he and Murdoch have prepared. He stays behind and watches the food while the rest go off to examine what Murdoch witnessed. Cliff greets the others when they return, and spends the rest of the day relaxing with them and drawing. As the picnic disperses, Nik suggests that Cliff should sleep at the station since he is likely still in danger, but Cliff demurs, insisting he can take care of himself. Murdoch offers to watch over him and the two spend the night together.

#### Chapter 3

At some point during the night, Reed Morris comes to Cliff's home and tries to break in, but Cliff repels him by barricading furniture against the door. After Will and his deputy Todd find Huxley Green's body and rule him out as the one who hired Jimmy, they decide to interview Cliff again. He is still on edge when they arrive, but after realizing who they are he lets them in and offers them tea. Cliff explains the incident with Reed, and when pressured by Will he admits that he works as a consultant for James Hendricks, and may therefore be a target for anyone opposing James' business interests.

Will asks Cliff for his official work permit but he can only provide forms from the mining company, instead of anything governmental, but asserts his permit is still in the mail. He supplies transit tickets to the sheriff instead, revealing his birth name. Cliff volunteers to help Will with his investigation if Will keeps his true identity a secret, and they shake hands. Cliff wakes Murdoch and sends him home, and then accompanies Will and Todd back to the station.

While Will goes out to investigate, Cliff remains at the police station with Sam and Todd. He tries to put on some music for them to dance to, only to realize with horror that Will locks his record cabinet. At some point Cliff departs the station while Sam and Will are away, but not before he convinces Todd to let him tidy up Will's office. Cliff neatly stacks Will's paperwork and leaves a poem behind on his desk. When Will returns to the station, he is distressed to discover that Cliff has left police protection, as well as concerned that he may have potentially accessed sensitive information while organizing the files.

The next day, Cliff reappears in the doorway of the Hip's bathroom and cheerfully announces his presence to Will and Cynthia, interrupting a tense conversation between them.

### Nikolai's Route

#### Chapter 1

Cliff gets his hopes up when he hears Samuel decline Murdoch's bet, and so he follows Sam to the Hip's deserted saloon despite Cynthia's best efforts to keep him distracted. Sam is so startled by Cliff's pursuit that he spits in his drink, and Cliff offers to buy or make him another. Cliff regrets that he seems to only be causing people trouble, then begins to proposition Sam but is interrupted by Nik's arrival. Cliff indiscreetly asks if Nik is looking for a prostitute and Nik feigns outrage at the accusation, but Sam smooths things over.

Nik and Cliff converse briefly about their home countries before Sam asks Cliff to return to Cynthia's company. Cliff seems to realize that Nik is in fact Sam's client for the evening, and departs ruefully to the powder room.

The next day, Cliff catches Sam on the street. He expresses interest in the Meseta and asks how to get in touch with Cynthia, and Sam agrees to try and arrange an appointment with her for him.

## Relationships

### Samuel

Cliff demonstrates a keen infatuation with Sam, which initially appears to be purely out of an excited curiosity about Sam's striking appearance and the services he can offer. Cliff seems truly interested in getting to know Sam as a person when given the chance, however, and comes to value him as a genuine companion after they spend time together.

In Cliff's route, he is grateful to Sam for treating him with respect, unlike so many of Echo's other citizens, and tells him they are kindred spirits. He also admires Sam's quiet composure in the face of adversity.

### Murdoch

Cliff and Murdoch have a casual, flirtatious relationship, and seem to develop an almost spontaneous mutual attraction in both Cliff and William's routes.

The chemistry between the two is explored most deeply in Cliff's route, in which they may pursue a polyamorous arrangement with Sam. Murdoch and Cliff banter happily as they travel together, and seem to bond during the journey as a result of their newfound freedom from the normal familial expectations they both struggle to live up to. When Cliff becomes agitated, such as when he argues with Jeb because of the setbacks they face during the journey, Murdoch often steps in to calm him down, and helps Cliff to understand how his actions are impacting others.

### William

Cliff is highly sensitive to the patronizing treatment he receives from William, and resents when Will disparages him for his mannerisms or acts like he is a child in need of constant protection.

### Nikolai

Cliff and Nik do not interact much but appear to get along, and in Will's route a panicked Cliff is successfully calmed down by Nik's levelheaded support. The gulf between Cliff's wealth and Nik's poverty causes some awkwardness between them, but in Nik's route they find common ground as immigrants to Echo.

### Cynthia

Cliff can be insensitive in his inquiries about Cynthia's heritage, which is a complex topic for her, and he falls into the bad habit of seeing Cynthia (like other Meseta people he meets) as a subject for his research rather than an individual.

### Jebediah

Cliff and Jeb drink and dance together at The Stag the first time they meet, and so they know from the outset that they share the predicament of being relative outcasts in Echo because of their sexuality. Likely because of this, Jeb is said to be the only one willing to guide Cliff's expedition to the Meseta reservation.

Cliff's high expectations for the expedition mean that he quickly grows frustrated when things don't go to plan, however, and he tends to take this out on Jeb, especially once Jeb starts drinking heavily, even though the supernatural impediments the group faces are out of his control. The two clash in the forest, and then again at the Meseta settlement, over what Cliff perceives to be lapses in Jeb's judgment.

### Caldwell

Cliff is infuriated by Caldwell's air of smug superiority and his supercilious disinterest in Meseta culture. Cliff immediately sees through Caldwell's pretense of benevolence and suspects his haughtiness hides ulterior motives. Due to their business arrangement Cliff remains polite and composed in the Reverend's presence, but as Caldwell grows increasingly cruel towards Cliff and disdainful of his mannerisms their relationship quickly breaks down.

### Dahlia

In Murdoch's route, Cliff and Dahlia strike up a fast friendship over their shared academic inclinations. Cliff is delighted by Dahlia's like-minded company, treating her with gentlemanly affection, and seems to enjoy hearing about Echo's history from a local resident.

### Ralph

Cliff and Ralph have a somewhat negative relationship, as during Murdoch's route the rat coldly tells Cliff that Murdoch is not interested in accompanying the stoat's expedition.

## Trivia

* Cliff's route is the only major storyline in The Smoke Room or its sequels to take place primarily outside of the town of Echo.
* During certain moments, Cliff's appearances are accompanied by the musical piece "Pop Goes the Weasel."
* Cliff is bisexual, making him the only love interest in the Smoke Room to identify this way.
* Cliff's favorite book is *The Turn of the Screw*.
* Cliff uses they/them pronouns in the seasonal specials set in a modern-day alternate universe, but also accepts he/him.
* In sufficiently cold weather, Cliff's fur turns white. This can be also be seen in the AU Christmas and fall specials.
* Cliff is the ancestor of Duke, a character who appears in Echo. Duke's dialogue during Echo implies that Cliff was his grandfather.
* Batavia is the Echo universe's equivalent of the Netherlands. A futuristic alternate-continuity version of Cliff's hometown of Schippersburg, a stand-in for Amsterdam, serves as the setting for the visual novel Glory Hounds.
* Cliff shares his last name with Fenna van Houwelinck, another Batavian stoat and a character in Glory Hounds, but since their respective games occur in different continuities their relationship to one another is not clear.

## References

1. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat
2. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat
3. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat