David is a wealthy, sensitive man in his late twenties living in an alternative 1893 New York. Plagued by mysterious illnesses and a lack of purpose, he feels restricted by his family's legacy and social expectations. He is initially fearful of marriage but begins to desire an independent life after encountering a vibrant world outside his privileged bubble.

Charles is a 41-year-old, wealthy widower from Massachusetts living in the Free States in 1893. He is a gentle, educated man who helps raise his sister's children following the death of his first husband. He seeks a stable companionship and remains devoted to his courtship despite encountering hesitations.

Edward is a handsome, impoverished 23-year-old music teacher originally from the Colonies. Charismatic and free-spirited, he supports himself doing odd jobs in 1893 New York and dreams of a fresh start in California. He disregards the rigid social conventions that bind the upper class.

David is a young Hawaiian man working as a paralegal in a prestigious New York City law firm. Estranged from his family and cultural heritage, he relies financially on his older partner. He often feels isolated and melancholic, overshadowed by the wealth and age dynamics in his romantic relationship.

Charles is a wealthy, older senior partner at a New York law firm in 1993. Confident and highly resourced, he is deeply invested in his relationship with his younger partner. He possesses the financial means to manage his health during an epidemic but struggles to bridge the gaps created by differing backgrounds.

Wika is a Hawaiian man descended from an illustrious royal lineage. Raised by a strict mother, he grew up as a lonely and highly imaginative child. He develops into a passive, dreamy adult who becomes easily swayed by strong, charismatic personalities promising utopian futures.

Charlie is a young lab technician working at a state-sponsored research facility in 2093. Raised by her grandfather after a severe childhood illness, she leads a regimented, quiet life under heavy government surveillance. She struggles with profound loneliness and cognitive challenges but slowly begins to awaken to new desires.

Charles is a prestigious scientific researcher who heads a lab focused on emerging infections in 2043. He helps design the government's response to recurring viral pandemics, prioritizing containment over individual freedom. He faces immense moral conflict as society grows increasingly totalitarian.

Nathaniel is David's wealthy grandfather and the patriarch of the Bingham family in 1893. He relies on wealth and influence to maintain control over his family's legacy. He attempts to arrange a secure marriage for his grandson while employing private investigators to verify the background of any potential threats to their status.

John is David Bingham's older brother in 1893. He is married to Peter and has adopted children, maintaining a stable, conventional life that aligns with the Bingham family's wealthy status.

Eden is David Bingham's sister in 1893. She is married to Eliza and participates in the family's traditional gatherings at their Washington Square home, representing the established success of the Bingham lineage.

Belle is Edward Bishop's sister in 1893. After being abandoned by her husband, she reunites with her brother and shares his desire to escape their past by moving to California for a new beginning.

Andrew is David Bingham's charming ex-boyfriend from his past. Their brief relationship ended abruptly when Andrew left him for a more outgoing classmate, leaving David emotionally fragile and cautious.

Edward is a charismatic political activist in Hawaii who fiercely advocates for Indigenous sovereignty. Coming from a humble background, he possesses a fiery, decisive personality. He eventually becomes obsessed with founding an isolated utopian community.

Mrs. Bingham is a proud, strict woman who places immense value on her family's royal Hawaiian lineage. She raises her son and later her grandson with a heavy emphasis on tradition and duty. Her rigidity and disappointment often push her family members away.

Eden is David Kawika Bingham's closest friend in 1993 New York. Coming from a different social background, she feels excluded and alienated by the immense wealth of his partner's social circle.

Alice is an American exchange student from Minnesota who briefly dates Wika in Hawaii. She gives birth to his son and allows the Bingham family to raise him so she can pursue her own life.

Peter is one of Charles Griffith's oldest friends in 1993. Facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, he plans to travel to Switzerland for assisted suicide, prompting a poignant farewell gathering among his friends.

Nathaniel is a scholar with expertise in 19th-century Hawaiian art. He forms close bonds with wealthy friends who provide an escape from the worsening global crises. He is deeply disturbed by his husband's involvement with government containment camps, causing a rift in their marriage.

David is the rebellious son of Charles and Nathaniel. Outraged by the inhumane conditions of the government's containment camps, he joins an underground activist group called The Light. He rejects his father's scientific pragmatism and fully commits to fighting the authoritarian regime.

Edward is Charlie's husband in 2093. He works at a state facility growing exotic plants and maintains a polite, quiet domestic life with Charlie. He entered the arranged marriage as a gay man seeking cover in a restrictive society, keeping his true emotional life hidden.

David is a mysterious man who works at the Farm caring for plants. He shows a sudden, keen interest in Charlie, offering her a rare sense of connection. He asks probing questions about her life and encourages her to imagine a different future.

Peter is a man living in England who serves as Dr. Charles Griffith's primary confidant. Spanning decades, he receives detailed letters describing the changing world, the rise of a totalitarian state, and Charles's internal struggles.

Aubrey is a wealthy art collector in the mid-21st century. He and his partner use their immense resources to isolate themselves from society during deadly viral outbreaks, though he remains haunted by the moral cost of survival.

Norris is Aubrey's partner, an Asian man who shares a lavish, highly secure lifestyle. He views the worsening pandemics with a mix of fear and self-preservation, opting to close his doors to those suffering outside.

Eden is Charlie's mother and David's partner in the mid-21st century. She is deeply involved with the activist insurgency group The Light and ultimately shows little interest in parenting.

Fritz is a man living secretly in the dystopian New York of 2093. He maintains a hidden life away from the government's strict rules and provides care and shelter during moments of medical crisis.