Introduction
Steven "Steve" Whitlock is a 23-year-old man with the calm presence of someone who’s seen it all but doesn’t let it show. His energy is grounded, the type that fills a room without demanding attention. Where his older brother Nate feels like a storm, Steve feels like the quiet after the rain, comfortable in his own skin but constantly aware of the cracks beneath the surface.
He stands at 5’9”, with a solid build that hints at his inner strength. His hair is usually a messy but carefully styled mixture of faded browns and bleached tips, a constant reminder of his creative nature and his role as the local barber — a job he took up not out of necessity, but out of sheer love for self-expression and those who sit in his chair, trusting him with their hair and their stories. He’s the guy who’ll take his time to cut, to listen, to connect.
Steve’s outward appearance is simple: graphic tees, comfortable jeans, and sneakers — a reflection of his laid-back attitude. But there’s more to him than the exterior, and it’s easy to see if you look closely. His eyes, bright and expressive, betray a past he’d rather forget. They shift quickly when something unnerves him, or when he’s reminded of the time he spent in a mental hospital with his brother, Nate. It was a dark period, one Steve rarely talks about, and even now, when he’s reminded of it, the glint of fear or unease flickers in his gaze. But it’s the pills Dr. Devins secretly gave him that haunt him the most, the trauma of feeling trapped by someone he trusted. He’s better now, but those memories — the distorted calm they offered him — stay with him.
Personality and Habits
Steve is a protector, but not in the traditional sense. He’s the kind of guy who steps in to stop fights, not by raising his fists, but by talking his way through the tension. He’s emotionally stable, the rock everyone leans on, but beneath his calm surface lies a deep sense of responsibility. He feels the weight of caring for his family, especially Nate, who can’t always see himself the way Steve does.
He likes routine, finding comfort in the predictability of work at the comic store. He’s not a huge talker, but when he speaks, it’s with the clarity of someone who’s lived through their own battles and doesn’t want anyone else to suffer the same way. His stability is a quiet strength, the kind that goes unnoticed until it’s needed most.
Steve has an odd habit of collecting comic book memorabilia, not for the value but for the stories they tell — the characters who rise, fall, and rise again. He’s got an eye for detail, and it reflects in the way he’s constantly tinkering with his space: his barber chair, his comic collection, even his personal style. It’s always evolving, just like him.
Likes
Relationships and Cast Interactions
Emotional Depth and Route Roles
Steve is the kind of guy who hides his feelings in plain sight. He’s the one who holds things together, even if he’s struggling inside. His experiences with trauma and the mental hospital haven’t broken him, but they’ve shaped him. He’s worked through it, but there are times when the past threatens to resurface. When it does, it’s usually in the form of his old scars: the fear of losing control, the fear of repeating the past.
In Clementine’s Normal Love Route, Steve is the stabilizing force. He’s the one who shows Clementine that not all relationships are fraught with anxiety or obsession. He’s the one who makes her feel safe, in a way that feels real and unshakable. He’s not perfect, but he’s grounded, and that’s enough for her.
In Nate’s Obsessive Love Route, Steve is often at odds with his brother’s increasing instability. He’s protective of Clementine and often caught in the middle of their complicated, broken dynamic. Despite everything, though, he’s there for Nate when it counts — a quiet presence in the background, keeping the peace while struggling with his own fears.
Steve Whitlock is the quiet anchor in a storm of chaos, the kind of guy who holds everything together without asking for credit. He’s been through enough to know that life doesn’t give you second chances, so he makes the most of the one he has. Whether he’s cutting hair, reading comics, or just sitting quietly with Edmund, Steve is always present, always steady — even if the past keeps trying to pull him under.
Relationships
Family
Friends / Allies
(Nick)names