I need more context to answer your question. Please tell me where this young man appears in the novel, what his role is, what his role is, and what the background and theme of the story are so that I can better answer your questions.
There's also a possibility that he is a secondary character, like a best friend or a relative of the main characters. He might offer advice or support to the couple in the romance novel, or his own story could be a sub - plot within the overall romance narrative.
He could be a key figure in the plot. For instance, if the story is about love and relationships, the 'geisha man' might be the object of someone's affection or a source of conflict. Maybe he has a secret that 'nugent' or other characters are trying to uncover. In a more adventurous plot, he could be guiding 'nugent' through the geisha - related world, showing him all the hidden corners and traditions. Also, he could be a symbol of a certain era or way of life that the author wants to explore through the novel.
Since we don't know the novel, it's difficult to say. He could be a villain, a helper, or just a bystander.
He could be a mentor. For instance, in some stories, the old man has a wealth of knowledge and experience and guides the younger characters.
The old man could be a mentor, guiding the main characters with his wisdom and experience.
Since we have no idea about the content of the 'young girl story', 'bj' could play various roles. It could be a mentor to the young girl, guiding her through difficult times. Or it could be a rival, creating conflict in the story. Maybe it's a sidekick, always there to support the girl in her adventures.
The Nothing Man is a destructive force. It tries to devour Fantastica in the story.
In her best story, the man could play the role of a catalyst. His actions or presence could trigger a series of events that change the course of the story. He might be the one who uncovers a mystery or starts a revolution in the fictional world of the story. His character could be complex, with both positive and negative traits that add depth to the narrative.
Given the lack of information about the story, the man might play a positive role like a helper or a negative role like a thief. He could also be a comical character for some laughs in the story.
He could be a villain. He might be causing trouble for the police, like setting up false leads or interfering with investigations in the shadows where he can't be easily detected.