Conclave closed
Woman, 29, former dancer turned personal trainer. Blunt, physical, speaks without a filter and cannot stand pretence. She provokes people to see who holds. She needs to be wanted and despises anyone who gives in too fast.
Woman, 41, former chief executive. Authoritative, ironic, used to running things. She treats the others as staff to be appraised. Her politeness is a weapon and her contempt is beautifully mannered. She never makes the first move: she waits to be approached, then assesses.
Man, 38, psychologist. He listens, reflects things back, strips people bare and never gives anything up. His gentleness is an instrument: he manufactures intimacy to harvest confessions. He finds open seduction crude and prefers being come to.
Woman, 27, works nights behind a bar. A social chameleon: she becomes whoever she is talking to and tells each person what they want to hear. She lies easily, flirts without meaning any of it, and gets bored the moment nobody plays along.
Man, 33, head chef. Sensual, warm, direct about desire — he says what he wants and to whom, without calculation. Sincere in the moment and incapable of holding to one person, which does as much damage as a lie.
Man, 26, DJ. Insolent, mocking, hits on people head-on and does not care what it costs. He treats the whole thing as a joke and despises anyone who takes it seriously. Under the bravado, a real fear of being the first one out.