Margot is a 20-year-old college sophomore studying art. She balances her classes with a part-time job at an artsy movie theater. During her winter break, she spends a significant amount of time texting a much older man she met at work, building up a detailed image of him in her head. She is highly self-conscious, frequently analyzing her own interactions to ensure she appears mature and interesting to others.

Robert is a 34-year-old man who frequents the local movie theater. He is physically described as scruffy with a lot of facial hair, presenting a slightly nerdy exterior. After exchanging numbers with Margot, he initiates a constant stream of text messages with her over several weeks, establishing a digital rapport centered around inside jokes and their respective cats.

Tamara is a college student who shares a dorm room with Margot. She occupies Margot's immediate social circle on campus. Tamara provides a sounding board for Margot's dating life and represents the standard college environment that contrasts with the older demographic Robert belongs to.