Michael J. Carter is a supporting and deuteragonist character in Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway. He is a friend of Sydney Harper.
Plot[]
Background[]
Mike is a friend of Sydney from college. There is mention of a certain trip to Oregon that had a lasting impact on Mike's life. It's implied Sydney and Mike had some type of sexual interaction, which left him hopeful for a longer, more involved relationship.
Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway[]
Mike first calls Sydney when she's at her office working overtime. He says he needs her to book a rental cabin under $100 a night, and that he will cover the expenses. Mike and Sydney hastily meet up at the parking lot under her residence and then hit the road. They have some small talk in the car, before reaching Moe's Pizza where they have late lunch.
After eating, Mike takes a break and lets Sydney drive. They reach the rental cabin, where in they put there possessions away, and while looking around, the player is jumpscared by the alleged homeowner, Rick Wilson. He offers to show the duo around the house, but bars them from opening a strange door (leading to a small room) in the basement. He leaves and the duo comments on the man's weird behavior. Upon Mike's suggestion, they go fishing at a nearby lake to catch three carps for an ambitious recipe. While the dish is in the oven, the player can play board games with Mike. If the two play with an Ouija Board, they will eventually get scared by someone dragging stuff around in the locked room.
Once the fish meal is cooked and ready, Mike and Sydney sit together and watch TV. After eating his dinner, Mike goes upstairs to check his emails while Sydney cleans the dishes. After a bit he texts Sydney, telling her about somebody being under his bed. When Sydney enters his room, he jump-scares her, to her utter bemusement. Rather childishly, he offers to play hide and seek, an offer to which Sydney agrees. During that, they once again see the homeowner, pretending of fixing a faucet in the bathroom with a hammer, which leads to Mike stating he never saw someone fixing a faucet with a hammer before. After a discussion, the homeowner leaves the house, with Mike locking the door after him, after which the both go to bed.
At midnight, Mike rudely awakens Sydney and speaks candidly about his feelings for her, while also asking about her feelings for him. The situation turns awkward when Mike reminds Sydney about a trip to Oregon in which they shared an intimate moment after drinking a lot, but their chat is interrupted from a sudden text by Nora, who is stranded in a town several miles away. Mike leaves the house to go get her, letting Sydney get some rest. If the player goes to the front door before Mike leaves to get Nora, he asks for a hug, and the player can reject or accept it. To accept or to decline the hug is the climax of the player's relationship with Mike, and is emblematic of Sydney's mixed feelings.
Mike comes back to the cabin later with Nora and kicks down the door after Sydney not opening the door. (See the broader Fears to Fathom - Woodbury Getaway article for more information).
Personality[]
While good friend to both Sydney and Nora, Mike is socially awkward, explaining his ability to keep his opinions on himself and approach to win the former's heart left much to be desired. His passive aggressive comment when she doesn't hug him and pushy side only highlight the latter. Still, Mike is not without admirable traits. He genuinely cares for well-being of those he cherished, having planned to provide Sydney well-deserved healing with Nora's help considering how stressful her work at consulting firm was and willingly go through the snow to pick Nora up on his own so Sydney won't have to risk herself also. While not the one who trust strangers easily, his suspicions toward the hiker they met at Moe's Pizza and "Rick" proved to be genuine.
Trivia[]
- He is the first character to appear alongside the protagonist for at least over 90% of the game in the Fears to Fathom series.
- Some speculate that during the Oregon trip, Mike may have purposefully intoxicated Sydney to take advantage of her. But this is most likely false since Sydney is aware of what happened. It was most probably one of those "heat of the moment kiss" that leaves one with an unrequited crush on the other.
- His overall personality fits the stereotype of the "nice guy", being a kind person who have his friends' best interest at heart despite his flaws. He also fits to "where my hug at?" type of guy for his persistent yet awkward attempt to woo his crush Sydney.
- He is the first character to accompany the protagonist throughout much parts of the story they featured in. In this case, Sydney and their trip to 241 Woodbury Blvd.
- He shares same voice actor as Hiker from the previous episode, as confirmed through his voice message while contacting Sydney and Nora and later, when he and Nora return to Sydney's rescue.
- We can hear the voice of him (on the office phone) and Nora (voice messages). Proper voice acting was first implemented with chapter 4.
- Mike jumpscares you when you guys play hide and seek. Note : The janitor also serves a role in jumpscaring the player in the Consulting firm bathroom, and the fake Rick also in rental.