Hookie

Archetype: Barkeeper

The seemingly dim-witted witness who knows exactly what to reveal

Hookie embodies the barkeeper archetype - the witness to all who serves drinks and information - but subverts it by appearing too dumb to dress properly while somehow knowing exactly what secret to reveal to hurt someone without ever understanding why. His apparent simplicity masks a deeper intuition about the currents of power in Horizon City.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Unknown (goes by "Hookie")
• Aliases: None known
• Occupation: Bartender at the Shitcan
• Status: Alive

Physical Description

• Face looks like it had an argument with a vat of acid (and the acid won)
• Rotting teeth and failed dental work
• Speaks with a distinctive accent/dialect
• Poorly dressed

Story Appearances

• Clone: Bartender who serves Richard Johnson and others
• Culture Vulture: Provides Rigby with information about Richard Johnson; recognizes Rigby as "I Hate It Here"
• Deck Jockey: Mentioned as a character who knows about Johnson
• Solo: Continues to serve at the Shitcan, maintaining his position as a fixture of Red level

Connections

• Richard/Richard Johnson: Serves him at the Shitcan; knows details about his business and connections
• Rigby Barclay: Provides him with information about Johnson; continues to serve him after his downfall; has a running joke with him
• Kenji Fujita: Likely knows of his connection to the Yakuza
• Kitty (Katherine): Mentions her to Rigby as "the new boss in town" who "looks like a cat"

Subversion of Archetype

Hookie subverts the barkeeper archetype in several key ways:

1. The "Dumb" Witness Who Knows Too Much: Appears too simple to understand the value of what he knows, yet somehow always reveals the perfect piece of information to cause maximum impact.

2. The Passive Observer Who Actively Shapes Events: By choosing what information to share and with whom, Hookie influences events far more than his position would suggest.

3. The Fixture Who Survives Change: While power players rise and fall around him, Hookie remains constant, suggesting an adaptability and resilience that belies his apparent simplicity.

4. The Seemingly Neutral Party Who Serves Hidden Interests: His pattern of information sharing suggests possible allegiances or manipulations that are never made explicit.

Role in the Corporate Game

Hookie functions as the game board itself - the constant surface on which other pieces move. His bar serves as a neutral ground where information is exchanged, deals are made, and connections are formed. Yet this neutrality is itself a function of the system, providing the illusion of a space outside corporate control while actually serving as a pressure valve and intelligence-gathering point. Hookie's seemingly random revelations may actually serve specific interests, making him potentially a knowing or unknowing agent of larger powers.

Notable Quotes

• "Johnson's da one who says what flies an' what dies." — His revelation to Rigby that sets the entire Culture Vulture plot in motion
• "Not even close. He's a corpse." — Correcting Rigby when he assumes Johnson is a thrasher
• "Wait a tic. I have seen ya before! Yer ah 'ate it 'ere!" — Recognizing Rigby after providing the crucial information
• "Duck an' cover er'one! It's ah 'ate it 'ere!" — His catchphrase when Rigby enters the bar
• "Taint how this works, chum." — To Rigby when he doesn't pay enough for information