Sticky

Pathologic 2=

Sticky is a young orphan who knows the layout of the Town better than anyone and knows many of its secrets.

Description
Sticky is a focused and determined young boy who belongs to neither the Soul-and-a-Halves nor the Dogheads. He, like Murky, tends to spend more time with the Soul-and-a-Halves but is never truly part of either gang. He is an urchin child who is an expert at getting into places he's not supposed to. He dreams of becoming a doctor.

Sticky is one of the children listed on Isidor Burakh's List.

Background
The identity of Sticky's parents is unknown but it is implied that he has been on his own for quite some time. As an orphan Sticky survived through his wits and his ability to steal. He became the student of Isidor Burakh and assisted him with brewing tinctures. He was able to access the Haruspex's Lair without a key, implying that he has never needed one to enter.

Sticky likely used to play within the Polyhedron among the other children on Isidor Burakh's list.

Haruspex Route
"My path was called "In Defiance." I almost tracked down that weird creature, but then I found a better goal. I'm going to become a real doctor."

Sticky is present outside of Isidor Burakh's House on the night following the healer's death, hidden away from the crowd. He is wary of the Haruspex upon meeting him as the surgeon is still covered in blood - a remanent of the ambush at the Train Station earlier in the day. Sticky vows to keep an eye on the Haruspex in the following days, concerned with his presence in the Town so close to Isidor's murder. He, like many others in the Town, think the Haruspex guilty of patricide.

Following the death of Isidor Sticky is left without his teacher, though he continues to attempt his work without him. He upholds the Haruspex's Lair in his teacher's absence. He is soon discovered by Isidor's son, the Haruspex, after he gains access to the factory building through Vlad the Younger's key left in Isidor Burakh's house. He is admonished by the Haruspex, who is shocked to see a child in his father's workshop.

Though not liking her to start with, after Murky begins to visit the Lair more often and spends more time around the Haruspex Sticky begins to think of her as a sister. On one notable occasion, he turns sugar into candy for her. Though they are close the rift of Isidor Burakh is still strong and they fight about Sticky's previous teacher with Murky insisting that he is a bad person and Sticky insisting that he was a good one.

A few days into the epidemic Sticky is approached by a chemist working in the Stone Yard who is hiring poor urchins to help him secretly embalm corpses. People are willing to pay for the illegal service as homes previously infected get boarded up and then the corpses are taken to the Cemetery and burned on the Bachelor's orders. Burning the dead is a taboo and as such, this practice has left the Townsfolk afraid to surrender their dead. The embalming allows families to hide the smell of the dead and keep the bodies of their families. It is implied Sticky took the job and the Chemist hinted to him to recruit the Haruspex into his scheme.

Sticky aids the Haruspex in the creation of the Panacea, helping him fix his father's machines and allowing him to talk over his theories. He even helps the Haruspex to steal a Toolkit from a store the the Atrium to fix the brewing machine requires to make antibiotic medicines and panacea.

Some time during the events of Pathologic 2 Sticky seeks out a strange Albino in the Steppe. Though he tries, the creature continues to allude him. It is unlikely he ever found a real Albino.

Sticky is among the children who retreat to the Polyhedron following the arrival of the Inquisitor and the Commander.

On the tenth day since the Haruspex's return, Sticky will be infected with Sand Plague alongside the rest of Isidor's List. He will insist that the Haruspex aid the other children first, as he is closer to the alembic and can hold off the infection longer than the other children.

Sticky will accompany the Haruspex in the Nocturnal Ending and will be one of the few people not being part of The Kin who doesn't leave the Town, along with Murky and Grace. His appearance and clothes change, indicating that he has begun to merge with the Kin and his father's chosen path.

In the Diurnal Ending Sticky will ask the Haruspex to become his tutor, much for the amusement of the Haruspex, who can note that they're a lot more like family now. He will live with Murky in Isidor Burakh's house.

The Marble Nest
Sticky assists the Bachelor during the events of The Marble Nest, beginning by waking him from his nightmare. Sticky informs Bachelor that the Judge had come looking for him during his sleep and that his friend Blacky's stepfather is sick. Later, Bachelor finds Sticky, Sleepy Head, and Shrew standing near the Silent House, waiting to collect to souls of the sick carriers inside into nuts. Sticky urges Bachelor not to give any nuts to Shrew, as she wants to collect Bachelor's soul when he dies. Sticky then tells Bachelor that he's not at the Silent House, but rather in bed, ill. He begs Bachelor not to die, as he wants to learn how to be a doctor from him. At the end of the Marble Nest, Sticky indicates that he's at Bachelor's sickbed, and tries to reassure him that everything will be alright.

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Sticky/Spoken Dialogue

Description
"Appearance: Round head, lean and thin body, the boy resembles a match stick. Small almond-shaped half-lidded dark eyes. Mouth shut tightly. He smiles as if he knows something about you that you yourself don’t even know. When he stands he sways his head and shifts from foot to foot. Pose: Hanging down while clutching to a bar. Personality: Sticky is a thief. He spends more time in town than in the Polyhedron. Obsessed with searching for buried treasures, he often goes to abandoned buildings and generally snoops around everywhere he wants. Sticky is stubborn, if faced with a taboo, he breaks it on principle; once accomplished, he mellows out and looks for a new adventure. While Sticky is well regarded around town, it’s mostly due to his sense of humor. The story about a mysterious creature that appears to Sticky from time to time in barren corners of the town had changed the boy and turned into an obsession. An emotional trauma led Sticky to the Humble ideology. When he realized how powerless and weak the creature he hunted for was, he decided that “it’s better for it to die” and later became a hypochondriac. "

- From original Pathologic character concepts

Sticky is a very independent child, spending most of his time exploring the town and hunting for treasure. He regularly climbs into and investigates old buildings, and seems to always find what he's looking for. However, once he finds something, he quickly loses interest and moves on.

Shortly before the Second Outbreak, Sticky became focused on catching the elusive Albino, which he believes to be the source of the plague. Eventually, he develops an obsession with finding the creature that borders on mania. He is dismissive of his personal safety when searching, choosing to wander along the Steppe at dangerous times.

Both Khan and Notkin respect him, but Sticky considers them both to be arrogant, preferring to be alone. Sticky is rarely involved in children's groups, for which he is called a traitor.

Haruspex Route
Following the "Termite Ending", Capella states that Sticky will become one of the rulers of the town, controlling the commerce and trade of the town. He will ensure that the town always has enough.

His associated color will be "amber."

Spoken Dialogue

 * → See Sticky/Spoken Dialogue