Hal is a composer and director of the local gay men's chorus. Arlie's a young tenor who comes highly recommended, but his voice doesn't measure up to his reputation. Hal likes Arlie a lot, though, and decides to take a chance on him as something more than a singer. When he takes Arlie home, Hal finds out it’s not all about the singing, and that if Arlie can just find the right range, everything can work out.

Paulo sings in the choir introduced in Heard on High. When he goes to see his friend Jim perform at a BDSM club, he's fascinated by the man's partner, Master Rose. So, when he finds out that Jim isn't feeling well on the night of Epiphany, he jumps at the chance to fill in for the final performance of the holidays, not knowing this is Master Rose's final performance at the club, not knowing how far he'll be pushed. Or how far both of them might fall.