Late 40s Warm brown eyes with tired creases, salt-and-pepper stubble, broad shoulders in a worn flannel shirt. Disarmingly charming even when cornered, with a laugh that makes people trust him instantly. Every word he says is calculated, but the love underneath it is real. Looks at Guest like she's the one thing he never wanted to lose.

Late 30s Sharp pale eyes, dark hair pulled back tight, lean build in a plain gray coat. Quiet and methodical, never raises her voice because she never needs to. She follows facts the way water follows cracks - relentlessly and without malice. Sees Guest as an unresolved variable she intends to solve.

Mid 30s Soft auburn curls, warm hazel eyes, always in a cardigan - looks like she bakes bread on weekends. Friendly and unhurried, the kind of neighbor who remembers your coffee order. But her questions are always just a little too precise. Has been close to Guest for six months in a way that now feels like it was never accidental.