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For all you know, maybe I'm 'bad people'.
Locke, Act 1 of Pitstop in Purgatory
Locke Moon is a side character and potential love interest in the game Pitstop in Purgatory.
Stubborn and handsome, he usually tries to avoid getting involved in Astrid's journey at all costs, but ends up giving in to her insistence and charm eventually.
Appearence[]
Locke has dark brown hair with white streaks and small, light brown eyes. He also has a stubble and a mole right under his eye.
He wears a gray shirt, an orange tie, and a black suit on top. There are some surface injuries on his arms and torso, as well as some band-aids. According to Alcinus, the artist responsible for the game, there's no proper reason to it, it just seemed to fit him.[1]
Personality[]
Locke is quite moody and has a hard time trusting people around him. He also has poor self-esteem, a serious problem with alcoholism, and is very irritable.
On the other hand, during the routes we see more of his sensitive side, the result of a long life of suffering and frustration that has accumulated inside him for years, which he tries to hide at all costs. Locke is also bad with words, stuttering when positively surprised.
Before Pitstop in Purgatory[]
When he was alive, he grew up in a very poor household during The Great Depression, with his parents, his younger brother Nicky and his older sister Lara. His father was abusive and had descended into alcoholism from the stress of not being able to provide for his family. Nicky eventually fell ill and died from an unknown disease likely brought on by the family's living conditions. The grief further strained the relationship between Locke's parents, and during a particularly intense fight, his mother accidentally killed his father by hitting him in his head with a frying pan. As a result, Locke and Lara were put in separate foster homes, and they never saw their mother again.
The years went by and Locke, determined to make something of himself, studied very hard and graduated from a prestigious university with high honors. Around this time, his sister managed to find him again, and invited him to stay with her and her family. Upon arriving at their home, Locke was horrified to find them living in squalor, not unlike how he and his sister had grown up themselves. In addition, one of Lara's daughters was very sick, causing Locke to instantly think back to Nicky. Determined to help the family out, Locke decided to take on all the hospital bills by means of his new, well-paying job. Walking home from work late at night after just getting his very first paycheck, he was held up by a robber. Noticing the assailant's nervosity, Locke tried to appeal to him, but was shot in the neck all the same. The robber dropped his gun and started running away. With his dying movements, Locke grabbed the gun and tried to shoot his killer, and somehow hit him. Then, both him and the killer went to Purgatory at the same time.
Pitstop in Purgatory[]
Act 1: Welcome to Paradise.[]
The first time Astrid enters the Ouroboros Bar, Locke is not yet seated at his table. It's only after she returns from her room that he starts to appear.
When the player tries to interact with him early on, he says he's "in the middle of something" and asks to be left alone. The only way to find out his name is to ask The Guide directly, who will tell you that his name is Locke.
"How deliciously predictable."
After discovering this information and interacting with him again, Locke will ask how the player found this out. Regardless of the answer, he confirms the veracity of the information and ends up talking a little. From there he shows a sample of his sarcasm, hatred for The Guide and problem with alcoholism. Astrid asks if he can help her, to which he replies that he can't, as he doesn't plan to stop drinking.
Locke also reveals that Smiley stole something from him, and Astrid decides to get it back to see if it makes him more talkative. When she confronts Smiley about the theft, the shadow simply says that he found a "shiny thing" (a Coin) on the floor and won't return it because there is no evidence that it belonged to Locke. Using a distraction, Astrid manages to take the Coin and return to Locke.
He looks quite surprised when Astrid returns the coin without wanting anything in return. Despite believing that Purgatory is full of liars and cheats, Locke eventually gives in and decides to trust Astrid, even if just a little. After talking a bit, he bids Astrid goodbye as he says he's going to take a nap, which surprises her. Then he explains that yes, it is possible to sleep, although there is no need for it.
After that, Astrid decides to go to sleep, convinced by Locke's words, which leads to her second meeting with the Weird Shadow, and the beggining of Act 2.
Act 2: Modern Bourbon[]
After taking a long nap, Astrid returns to the Ouroboros Bar and discovers, through a conversation with Smiley, that she has slept for 10 years. She feels a bit bummed because no one warned her about setting an alarm, and he shows some compassion for her situation. When she returns to talk to Locke, she complains to him, and he apologizes for not saying anything. But despite the small clash, they go back to talking normally.
When Astrid tries to talk to The Guide about the Weird Shadow and fails, she asks Smiley for help and he says he will help if she gives "his" Coin back. When she asks Locke, he refuses to part with it, and Astrid decides to look for something to convince him.
Searching her bedroom cupboards, she finds a Modern Bourbon. Although the player can offer the drink to other characters[2], its usefulness only comes when Astrid offers it to Locke. Despite his enormous interest and excitement in wanting to try the booze of the future, he says he is unable to exchange it for the Coin. It is at this point that the Annoyed Shadow comes in, saying that if he doesn't want it, she does.
Astrid is wary of giving Ezrebeth the Bourbon and asks Locke if it's a good idea, and he says that although she can't be trusted, she knows a lot of stuff. Astrid ends up handing the Bourbon to Ezrebeth and she tells Astrid to talk to her after finishing talking to Locke.
When they are alone again, Locke apologizes to her for failing to give the Coin. He is truly grateful that she returned the object, and is sorry that he cannot part with it. Astrid says that she believes his words, and he is surprised at how easily she believes him. Astrid says that she doesn't believe he is the bad person he claims to be, and that being in Purgatory can be quite overwhelming and stressful. She can't blame anyone for having a bad attitude, as she's barely holding it together herself. Astrid ends by saying that she would love to know more about Locke, when he's ready to open up. He is speechless. Despite being unable to express himself, he thanks her and says he hopes she finds what she is looking for. Locke ends by advising her to be careful around The Guide, which she says that she will.
With the help of Ezrebeth and the Wishing Well, Astrid turns a Plate into a Fake Coin and manages to trick Smiley. Believing that she managed to anger Locke, the shadow finally gives Astrid the item that will help her talk to Guide.
After managing to speak with him, Astrid is guided back to the room to face Weird Shadow once more. There, she remembers Rahel's words about people being connected and is given the option to think of one of the characters. If the player chooses Locke, he knocks on the door and enters in Astrid's room. At first he seems quite happy, but when she points that out, he frowns awkwardly. She insists that he should smile again and he ends up giving in.
They keep talking. Locke says that he had a feeling and following it he ended up getting there and Astrid explains that she was thinking about him, so maybe that's the cause. He asks again if she found what she was looking for and she admits that she hasn't yet and is about to face a challenge and doesn't want to be alone. Though she feels guilty about it, Locke says that he came of his own free will, so she doesn't need to worry about it.
Then, Astrid starts asking about his life, wanting to feel better. Locke tells the year he died and the manner: shot in the neck in an armed robbery. She feels bad for asking, but he says it's 'old news'. She thanks him for coming and opening up a little more, and he's glad he made her feel better. He also offers help should she need it. She thanks him and after asking her to be careful, he leaves.
Shortly after this dialogue, the Weird Shadow reappears in Astrid's room, and she has a flashback of her life. Faced with such an enigmatic puzzle, she is again compelled to make a decision, which is to continue alone or choose someone to help her. Choosing Locke again, his card appears, announcing Act 3.
Act 3: Too Tired to Live, Too Weary to Die[]
Deciding to ask for Locke's help, Astrid returns to the Ouroboros bar, where she finds Locke arguing with The Guide. He chastises Astrid for attempting to seek outside help without his approval, stating that she should walk this path of discovery on her own. As a compromise, he offers Astrid and Locke, whom The Guide feels has greatly overstayed his welcome in Purgatory, a deal: Astrid helps Locke get out of Purgatory, and in return The Guide will help Astrid find what she seeks. He also reveals that Locke has a secret: He is a murderer. Ultimately, Astrid agrees to The Guide's offer, although Locke is ambivalent about it, requesting that he be left alone for now, following an argument in which he accuses Astrid of thinking less of him after The Guide's revelation.
Astrid finds Smiley in the waiting hall, learning more from him about his and Locke's on-going feud. According to Smiley, they are locked in a conflict in which they both attempt to slight the other by various means, such as taking each other's items. Astrid reveals that she's hoping to help Locke leave Purgatory, which greatly confuses Smiley, but ultimately motivates him to help out by letting Astrid know that there's a certain object in the bar that Locke might want to see. Returning to the Ouroboros bar, Astrid finds that Ezrebeth has the object, a gun, but she refuses to part with it. The Guide appears, threatening Ezrebeth to put her in a mysterious place known as the box, which scares her into giving Astrid the gun.
Returning to Locke in his room, Astrid shows him the gun and is met with a violent reaction as he interprets this to be an accusation. Astrid tries to assure him that it isn't, but is ultimately forced to leave the room. She realizes that the gun is broken and needs to be restored to its original form, which Astrid is able to do by dropping it in the wishing well, a method she learned about earlier from Ezrebeth. Showing the restored gun to Locke, he finally recognizes it as the gun that killed him.
Locke recounts the events of his past, revealing the truth about him to Astrid. He grew up in a very poor household during The Great Depression, with his parents, his younger brother Nicky and his older sister Lara. His father was abusive and had descended into alcoholism from the stress of not being able to provide for his family. Nicky eventually fell ill and died from an unknown disease likely brought on by the family's living conditions. The grief further strained the relationship between Locke's parents, and during a particularly intense fight, his mother accidentally killed his father by hitting him in his head with a frying pan. As a result, Locke and Lara were put in separate foster homes, and they never saw their mother again.
The years went by and Locke, determined to make something of himself, studied very hard and graduated from a prestigious university with high honors. Around this time, his sister managed to find him again, and invited him to stay with her and her family. Upon arriving at their home, Locke was horrified to find them living in squalor, not unlike how he and his sister had grown up themselves. In addition, one of Lara's daughters was very sick, causing Locke to instantly think back to Nicky. Determined to help the family out, Locke decided to take on all the hospital bills by means of his new, well-paying job. Walking home from work late at night after just getting his very first paycheck, he was held up by a robber. Noticing the assailant's nervosity, Locke tried to appeal to him, but was shot in the neck all the same. The robber dropped his gun and started running away. With his dying movements, Locke grabbed the gun and tried to shoot his killer, and somehow hit him. This, Locke explains, is how he became a killer at the same time as he was killed.
Having finished his story, Locke asks Astrid to come with him, as there is something he needs to do. Returning to the waiting hall, the pair find Smiley waiting for them, and it is revealed that Smiley was the man who killed Locke. Smiley explains that he never intended to kill him, but that he was driven to robbing people out of desperation. Locke breaks down and laments the fact that he wasn't able to help his sister, feeling that everything was for nothing. Astrid reassures Locke and tells him that he has to let go, and that to the best of his ability, he has to forgive Smiley. Locke relents, showing forgiveness for the sake of those who believe in him. Smiley, having finally been forgiven, is free to leave Purgatory. Astrid and Locke return to Locke's room where they embrace and share a passionate kiss.
Some time later, The Guide appears, stating that it's time for Locke to leave, but not before giving Astrid her reward for a job well done. In a vision of the past, it is revealed that the shadow is in fact Volumnius, Astrid's boyfriend in life. While this explains who the shadow is, it doesn't explain how Astrid died or why she's unable to leave Purgatory. The Guide slyly remarks that she knows all she needs to know, and that in helping Locke and connecting with him, Astrid has actually found a certain peace in her soul, allowing her to leave with Locke. Disappointed, but still somehow relieved, Astrid accepts things as they are and returns to Locke.
Arriving at the waiting hall, Astrid and Locke get ready to leave through the tunnel. The Guide appears, wishing them farewell while also ominously telling Astrid that they'll meet again. Astrid and Locke take each other's hands and start walking toward the light.
Rahel's route[]
In Rahel's route, the player encounters Locke for the first time in the Waiting Hall instead of the Ouroboros Bar. When interacting with him, Astrid asks what the occasion is for him to be out of there. He says he got bored with drinking and needed time to think. In addition, he also met Rahel, and Astrid asks if that made him sad somehow, and he is surprised that his emotions are showing.
He admits that he overheard the conversation between Rahel and The Guide, and was saddened because he expected Astrid to come after him for help. He understands that it's her choice, but he wanted to be more useful to her, after all she's done for him. Astrid asks him not to take it personally and says she needs Rahel by her side, as well as being dismissive of the fact that, in the end, all really she did was take his coin back. She also says that if he opens his heart more, he will find lots of people who would love to help him.
She reassures him, saying that he's a good man, and he scoffs, muttering that she doesn't need to make fun of him. They stare at each other for a moment until she realizes that this is his default reaction to any kind of compliment, and that despite looking angry, he's just embarrassed. She giggles and says "I'll see you around, Locke", to which he takes a while to respond, but finally says: "I'll be waitin'".[3]
Guide's route[]
In Guide's route, Astrid needs to provoke intense emotions in her friends through conversations in order to use a special item. Each Purgatory character is represented by an item, and Locke's is a painting called the Last Breakfast.
He doesn't seem very excited about answering questions, but eventually relents. Among several questions and answers, Locke reveals a little about himself and his old life: his poor, shabby and violent neighborhood, how he misses his family, and even a memory of him with his brother Nicky. However, the item only truly reacts when Astrid asks if he drank when he was alive, and he says that he did not as much as he does now, and gets irritated because he feels like someone is always meddling in his life, wanting to force him to make decisions that he does not want. He confesses that he doesn't like being who he is, and that when he remembers his family eating together around the table and his father sinking into alcoholism because he felt like a failure, he feels just like him.
When the player uses the item during this confession, something strange happens to Locke: he starts to wonder what he wants to do, and suddenly decides he doesn't want to drink anymore. He also gets fixated on repeating "I'm stayin' sober, stayin' healthy, stayin' myself", ensuring that the item has been used successfully.
If the player doesn't use the item while he's talking, Astrid tries to convince him that he's not a failure, but he doesn't listen and asks them to stop talking about it.
When Astrid returns to her room and tells Guide that she spoke to Locke, she expresses concern at his sudden decision not to drink anymore. The Guide celebrates the flawless victory and praises her for her good work. She doesn't seem very excited, and Guide then asks what's the problem. She says that although she doesn't like to see him constantly depressed, drinking was his choice, and that she didn't want to force him out of anything, even if it ended in something positive. Then, Guide sighs saying she never seems satisfied, and adds: "Poor Mister Moon, visualizing himself back in simpler times depicted in the world of a painting. How he tortured himself constantly, thinking of what could have been if he only got to return one final time...", to which Astrid complements "The Last Breakfast..."
The Guide asks her if it doesn't feel good to save others while also saving yourself, saying that that's his job. Astrid becomes furious, questioning if that's what he thinks he's doing, as he repeatedly said he doesn't care about humans, accusing him of just being there for the fun of torturing those souls. He also gets angry, and admits that despite not caring about humanity, his presence there is not for nothing. And while his job bores him, it has nothing to do with his sense of purpose.
Astrid cannot understand and demands explanations, which The Guide says he will give in due time, taking the object back. She remains frustrated with his dodging ways, but admits the only way to get answers is to play along with him, and goes back to work.
DLC: I'll Remember You[]
In the game's DLC, Astrid regains all her memories, including her life and all the loops she went through in Purgatory. Taking advantage of the fact that she's only going to become a deity that night, she decides (much to The Guide's dismay) to have a party with all her friends. One of the guests is Locke.
He seems more relaxed than usual, despite remaining suspicious of The Guide. He also reveals that he has stopped drinking, and that he spends his days taking naps.
Later, when Astrid interacts with him at the party, she brings the subject again, asking about his new lifestyle. He decides to tell her about these and other things privately at the Ouroboros Bar.
Arriving there, Locke looks at the liquor booth and begins to remember his past. He doesn't know what has changed his stubborn mind since then, but he feels grateful. He also reveals that he started thinking about his father, especially his alcoholic side. He remembers that when he was a kid, his father offered some booze to him and he ended up taking it all at once without even knowing what it was.
Locke didn't like how his father changed when he drank, and initially didn't even like the taste of it. But after the ups and downs of life and death and after finally breaking free from addiction, he feels like he's cheating. Despite having spent his entire life condemning his father, every time he thought about quitting drinking, he couldn't help but think that if his father couldn't, he wouldn't succeed either. Astrid says he's not his father, and he says he knows that. But despite this, he still thinks that it's unfair.
Locke is a little angry at how easily he was able to overcome it, and wonders why his father couldn't. Things could have been so much better that way. Astrid says that things are more complicated than that, and when Locke looks confused by that response, she internally berates herself for nearly spilling the truth.
She brushes it off, changing the conversation's focus, and Locke continues, unconcerned. Astrid feels bad for lying, but she has no choice.
After that, he asks if she has time to listen to him for a little while longer. He wants to tell a dream he had. At first, he fears that she will laugh, but Astrid tells him to stop caring so much about what others think of him and to tell the dream at once.
He begins by describing that in the dream, he was in a large, empty field of grass. He ran as if his life depended on it, but he felt no stress. And for the first time since he arrived in Purgatory, he felt that his life had a purpose.
His mother tells him that everything will be fine. His dad says he believes in him, that there's nothing he can't do, and that he's proud of him. His sister tells him that he is her hero, and that if he keeps running, everything he wishes will come true. And finally, his younger brother, Nicky, yells in the distance, telling him that he's fine, that he's not suffering anymore. And he says everything bad that happens happens for a reason.
Little by little, they disappear, and Locke begins to see a small house at the end of the field. He knocks on the door and on the other side, he finds Astrid.
He admits not knowing the exact meaning of the dream, but he believes it to be something good. The player can choose from a few options to complement the dream's meaning, after which Locke asks Astrid if she has anything else to say.
She admits that she doesn't, and they start laughing. He asks why she's laughing, and she says she doesn't know - it's probably just tiredness. He jokes, asking where the ten years she slept went, and she says it was his fault. He says he can live with that, and she says he can be the worst at times. And finally, Locke laughs, saying it's all in a day's work.
At the end of the conversation, Astrid reflects on him.
"Locke... he's come so far.
From being intimidating, harsh, bitter and cold... to making jokes and talking about his dreams.
I hope that the tunnel leads him someplace where he can show everyone what a wonderful man he really is.
I'm sad that I won't be the one waiting for him in that little house, but... I have my own huge field of grass to run across.
Things I must do to help others, the way I helped Mister Moon."
Later, after the party is over, Astrid meets everyone in the Waiting Hall for a final goodbye. Locke is smiling as she approaches. She finds that reaction strange, and he gives up trying to put a brave face.
He tries to avoid the conversation, saying that maybe he'd better go, and she complains that he's being cold. Locke admits that he's not good with goodbyes, and that knowing he won't see her again only makes it worse.
He says he was like that when alive, but that part died with him. Or at least that's what he thought, until he met her. He sees Astrid like a ray of sunlight in a dark cave and wonders what he is in comparison.
Astrid counters by saying that things seem easy for her, but that she really doesn't know why people like her. She lives doubting herself but tries her best to silence those insecurities because she knows those thoughts are there to scare her and protect her in a way.
She admits that she gets angry when Locke talks about himself in a derogatory tone. She tells him to screw himself for not understanding how amazing he is. She admires him for fighting through all the pain in his life and for having the courage to open up again and forgive others and himself.
Again, he is speechless. She says that everything will be fine, and he asks how she is so sure of that. She says it's her "Astrid intuition" and even though it seems silly, he admits that she hasn't let him down yet, so it's worth believing.
They say goodbye, Astrid saying that she will never forget him, and Locke saying that he will keep looking for that little house, hoping to find her inside.
Other conversations[]
During the party, it is possible to enter the Ouroboros Bar and spy on the conversations of various characters. Here are the conversations Locke participates in.
Locke and Smiley[]
This is one of the most remarkable extra dialogues in the DLC. Smiley starts by trying to ease the tense atmosphere that arises when the two arrive at the bar, but Locke quickly cuts him off and says that since it's their last day in Purgatory, he wants to say a few things. Smiley surprises him by saying that he also has something to say, which makes Locke curious.
Smiley starts to stall, a common thing of his seriousness-averse personality, and Locke cuts him off again and tells him to get to the damn point. The shadow admits that even though it doesn't seem like it, he always felt guilty about what he did, and that the only way he found to deal with it was to continue being an ass. However, after the recent events, he felt something change inside him and he wanted to do something to make things right. So, he used his contacts and found an information that might be of interest to Locke.
Despite Locke's incredulity, Smiley continues, leaving the topic of contacts aside and focusing on the information he's gathered: Some people who have recently passed through Purgatory said to have worked for 'Moon Enterprises'. As the name sounded familiar, Smiley dug deeper and discovered that the company had been founded by a family of the same name.
Two sisters had started the company after one of them nearly died from a childhood illness that had treatment. Thanks to their poverty, she almost didn't get the treatment she needed, but by a miracle, she survived. So that other people wouldn't have to go through the same thing, she and her sister created the Moon Enterprises, a company dedicated to helping the poor in whatever way possible. And although the founders have already died of old age, their descendants continue to carry the project forward.
Locke associates the events with his own life and realizes that the girls Smiley is talking about are actually his nieces.
Smiley tries to explain that he knows nothing he can do will really fix things, but Locke stops him and tells him not to worry. Although Smiley's mistake is irreparable, he is grateful for the information.
The shadow says he's very happy to hear that, and Locke points to the fact that he isn't smiling, which surprises Smiley a little.
Then, Smiley asks what Locke wanted to say, and he dismisses it.
The two go silent for a while, and Smiley asks him if he wants to drink, which Locke ends up accepting. The shadow jokes by suggesting hard alcohol to him, and before Locke can correct him, Smiley says it's a joke and says that he would never share the good stuff with him anyway. Locke tries to scold him, but the dialogue ends.
Locke and Rahel[]
Despite being some of the most recurring characters in Pitstop in Purgatory, this is the first time Rahel and Locke interact directly.
Initially, Locke is taken aback by the strange and difficult words Rahel uses. She translates ambidexter to untrustworthy and he gets annoyed, saying that if she's going to insult someone, do it directly. She corrects him, saying that she didn't mean to insult him, and explains that the word can also mean "unpredictable", a quality that makes things interesting. He tries to move on with the conversation, saying he wanted to ask her something, but when Rahel asks if it's about Nipperkin, he finds himself confused again.
She explains that Nipperkin is Astrid, and finally they seem to be on the same page. He asks if Rahel has also felt that Astrid has changed, and she confirms, saying it's like she has a new glow about her. Locke suspects that Astrid knows something they don't, and Rahel agrees, but admits that it wasn't just her who changed. She and he were released from their negative feelings suddenly, without a tangible cause.
Locke asks Rahel if she thinks Astrid had something to do with it, and she says yes, despite having no idea how it happened. In the end, both are only sure of one thing.
Finally, he thanks the conversation and says it was a better experience than he imagined. Rahel says she feels the same, and they say goodbye.
Locke and Ezrebeth[]
Locke and Ezrebeth meet at the Ouroboros Bar, but he seems quite confused by her presence. She insists on the idea that he knows why she is there, considering all the "signs" he showed during the party. Locke denies that he sent any "signs" at all, and then it's Ezrebeth's turn to be confused.
He denies it again, and apologizes if he was misleading her. Quickly Ezrebeth recovers, leaving the bar, leaving Locke a little surprised. He stops for a moment, wondering if he was really sending signals and after a while he finds the whole situation amusing.
Trivia[]
- He has poliosis, which is the cause of his white locks of hair.
- Interacting with the Books in Astrid's room in his route, you can get the "Just-in-case Book" (for a while, at least).
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ "I also wanted to add some surface injuries to him, for… No proper reason at all. It just seemed to fit him, and now it’s a part of him forever. Well, I guess getting into fights isn’t too out of character for him after all." (Alcinus, in The Art and Character Design of Pitstop in Purgatory.)
- ↑ Oferring to Rahel unlocks the "Nipperkinception" achievement in the Steam version of the game.
- ↑ Doing this unlocks the "I'll be waitin'" achievement in the Steam version of the game.