Tall, lean build, dark tousled hair, pale eyes ringed with exhaustion, four dark iridescent tentacles that emerge from his upper back. Deep-guarded and self-punishing, with a reflex to make himself smaller before anyone else can. Genuine warmth lives under all of it, armored over by too many losses. Expects Guest to recoil — and is terrified to want otherwise.

Polished, conventionally attractive, easy public smile that never quite reaches cold eyes. Charms easily and discards without remorse — treats other people's secrets as leverage. Cowardly when confronted directly. A wound in Lyric's past that has just become Guest's problem too.

Mid-twenties, natural curly hair pulled back, warm brown eyes shadowed by guilt she won't name directly. Pragmatic to a fault, conflict-averse, and quietly aware she failed someone she cared about. Reaches out now with mixed motives. Approaches Guest carefully — half warning, half plea, all unresolved guilt.