Jesse Andrews serves as the deuteragonist and primary love interest, a round and dynamic character whose motivations are rooted in a powerful, albeit sometimes misguided, sense of integrity. As the lead designer for Nephilim Studios, he is Viola’s professional peer and rival. However, his defining trait is his steadfast commitment to respecting what he believes are Viola’s personal boundaries. This commitment, born from a misinterpretation of their first meeting six years prior, is the obstacle to be overcome in the development of their romantic relationship. 

Viola perceives him as cold, indifferent, and hostile, but the narrative gradually reveals that his behavior is a performance of respect. He believes that Viola explicitly warned him to stay away, and he honors this perceived request for years, even though it causes him personal pain and professional friction. He would rather be misunderstood and disliked than make someone uncomfortable, a conviction that highlights his fundamentally considerate nature. This internal conflict is only resolved when the truth of their misunderstanding comes to light, with Jesse admitting, “I thought it was what you wanted” (102).

Jesse’s character is also defined by his passion for his work, which directly parallels Viola’s. He has a profound understanding and love for The Limerence Saga, a shared interest that ultimately becomes the bridge between them. This connection demonstrates the theme of Fandom as a Bridge Between the Personal and Professional. His well-worn copy of the book is the first clue Viola receives about his true nature, and their identical vision for the game solidifies their alliance. He demonstrates strong leadership and a fierce protective streak for the integrity of the project and Viola herself. When he believes members of his own team plan to sabotage the collaboration, he publicly and forcefully shuts them down. His character arc involves moving from adherence to a course of action based on misunderstanding to actively seeking clarity and pursuing what he truly wants. As the truth is revealed, he sheds his reserved facade and allows his warmth, passion, and long-held affection for Viola to come to the surface, transforming from a perceived antagonist into a devoted partner in both a professional and personal capacity.

Mike is the CEO of FlyButter Studios and functions as a catalyst for the plot. He is a static, flat character whose actions are driven by pragmatism and the financial needs of his mid-sized studio. It is his decision to pursue the collaboration with Nephilim that forces the two rival teams together at the mountain lodge, setting the stage for the novella’s conflicts and resolutions. 

While he is a relaxed and easygoing boss, he is not above manipulation, as seen when he pressures Viola into riding with the Nephilim team. His character is given a layer of complexity through his long-standing, on-again, off-again relationship with Otto, the head of Nephilim. This romantic subplot mirrors the main story’s themes of miscommunication and unresolved tension, providing a secondary example of how professional and personal lives intertwine within their small industry. Ultimately, Mike proves to be a supportive leader who backs Viola and Jesse’s unified vision for the game, prioritizing the project’s success and his team’s security.

Otto, the head of Nephilim Studios, serves as Mike’s professional rival and romantic counterpart. He is a static character characterized by his clipped British accent and a perpetually gruff, seemingly indifferent demeanor. He is “known in the industry for his general lack of warmth” (28), a reputation he actively maintains. However, this abrasive exterior conceals a deep loyalty to his lead designer, Jesse, and a complicated but sincere affection for Mike. While he appears to be the more aloof partner in his relationship with Mike, it is revealed that he is just as invested, even attempting to learn Spanish to impress Mike’s family. 

In his professional capacity, he is a hands-off leader who trusts Jesse’s creative instincts completely. When Jesse and Viola present a united front, Otto quickly falls in line, demonstrating that his primary motivation is the success of his studio and the project, even if it requires him to tolerate his rivals. His character shows how surface-level antagonism can mask deeper, more complex motivations.

Ethan is Viola’s best friend and a fellow game designer at FlyButter. As a static and flat character, his primary role is to act as a loyal confidant and sounding board for Viola. His personal history with Nephilim, having quit the studio over its poor working conditions, helps establish the basis for the deep-seated animosity between the two companies. 

He is fiercely loyal to Viola, and for much of the novella, their close friendship is misinterpreted by others, including Jesse, as a romantic relationship. This misunderstanding becomes a key plot device when Jesse confronts Ethan for supposedly cheating on Viola with Shannon. The ensuing conversation is the catalyst that unravels years of misperceptions, forcing Jesse to reconsider everything he thought he knew about Viola’s personal life and his own relationship with her. His secret romance with Shannon provides a minor romantic subplot that runs parallel to the main one.

Shannon, a character artist at FlyButter, embodies the overt hostility that exists between the two studios at the start of the novella. A static character, her immediate and vehement opposition to the collaboration with Nephilim, where she “bursts out of her chair as if intending to flee the premises” (5), represents the emotional and historical baggage carried by the FlyButter team. Her past includes a physical fight with a Nephilim employee, making her a symbol of the unprofessional “pretty-feuding” that has defined the studios’ relationship. Her character develops slightly as she follows Viola and Ethan’s lead in attempting to bridge the divide during the retreat. Her secret relationship with Ethan also adds a layer to the office dynamics, showing that personal connections can form even in a climate of professional pressure.

John, a 3D artist at Nephilim, serves as a minor antagonist. He is a flat, static character who represents the most cynical and destructive aspects of the rivalry between the studios. As Mila’s ex-fiancé, his professional animosity is fueled by personal history. He orchestrates a plan to subtly sabotage the collaboration, believing that Nephilim can win the Limerence project outright if the partnership fails. His scheme creates a direct obstacle for Viola and Jesse, forcing them to step into their leadership roles and unite their teams against his divisive influence. His public reprimand by Jesse marks a significant turning point in the retreat, signaling the definitive shift away from petty rivalry toward a genuine collaborative effort.

Ashley is a developer at Nephilim who initially functions as a red herring. Viola perceives her as a potential romantic rival due to her close friendship and shared interests with Jesse, a misinterpretation that feeds Viola’s insecurities and feelings of exclusion. This perception is another example of the novella’s exploration of the cost of misperception in building relationships. Ashley is quickly revealed to be a loyal friend to Jesse and a dedicated team member, not a romantic threat. Her character, though minor and static, plays a key role in demonstrating how Viola’s assumptions are often incorrect, pushing the protagonist to eventually seek clarity rather than relying on her own flawed interpretations of events.