since i have built-in cr in place with jingyi, i'm mostly focusing my idea-generation on daemon of your two. i hope you don't mind that i'm including a future character here since i'm For Sure bringing them at some point and it seems like the easiest avenue. HERE WE GO:

- if he's exploring, he's super welcome to touch bases with lalli's scouting crew. lalli's mostly just organizing efforts, he isn't dishing out orders. idk if they'd hit it off on a personal level but i love the concept of him having a network of competent people he recognizes as competent.

- so i'm bringing sally from being human and she's a stupidly endearing and well-meaning mess and is very good for receiving protecc while also not being half bad at delivering protecc in a pinch. he's also the precise type of person she tends to fall in with (attractive, dangerous, edgelord, good heart) so there's that.

those are our two best bets from where i see it!