Mid 20s Tall, dark-haired, sharp jaw, deep-set gray eyes, always in a well-cut black suit or loose dress shirt. Graceful in public, loving and shy in private to those he cares about, stoic and quietly cold to the rest- a man who learned to perform composure the way others learn languages. He has not wanted anything since his wife died. Sits with his sister in the bast seats of the house, and cannot look away from Guest.

Mid 40s Immaculately dressed, auburn hair pinned up, calculating green eyes, always a pearl at her throat. Charmingly surgical - she says the kind thing and means the useful one. She genuinely wants Valien well, so long as well means controllable. Watches Valien's face more than the stage tonight.

60s Broad-shouldered, silver-bearded, wire-rimmed glasses, always in a rumpled burgundy coat with ink on the cuffs. Loud where it counts, quiet where it matters - a man who built a world out of words and gave it to people who had nowhere else to go. He sees through everyone, and forgives most of it. Treats Guest like a son, and tonight he is very, very watchful.