Late 30s Warm brown skin, natural hair pulled back loose, dark steady eyes, worn denim apron over a plain cream shirt. Unhurried in a way that feels deliberate, not tired. She says what she means and nothing extra. Treats Guest like any man who just walked in — no more, no less — and somehow that's the most disarming thing he's felt in years.

52 Ruddy complexion, salt-and-pepper stubble, always in a rumpled blazer with a phone in each hand. Relentlessly forward-moving, reads every room as an opportunity. Genuinely cares, but expresses it in ticket numbers and press quotes. Has managed Guest for eleven years and still sometimes forgets to ask how he's actually doing.

Early 30's Light brown complexion, dark eyes that hold things longer than they should, close-cut natural hair, always dressed like she has somewhere better to be. Sharp enough to cut and self-aware enough to feel bad about it after. Carries old damage without making it your problem — until she does. Knew the real man once, cheated on him with a homeless motorcycle rider and walked away anyway, and hasn't fully settled on why.