Writing guide
This page is still in the beginning stages.
I made this page because writing all fancy is not in my element. Also, he confuses me. I can’t readily predict his behavior.
Speech
He has a wordy speaking style and extensive vocabulary. At Step 3, this is very emphasized. By Step 4, he speaks more casually, but still more formal than the average person. He knows how to use “whom.” I don’t.
Sarcasm
Though Baxter hates conflict, when forced to face something he doesn’t want to, he resorts to seething sarcasm.
Baxter shot daggers at you without ever dropping his sparkling customer service smile. That only made it more intimidating.
Baxter: Oh, wonderful. Clearly, the two of you will be marvelous friends.
Baxter: Ah, [Protagonist.] What a stunning coincidence stumbling into you here, and right when I happened to be taking a bit of time off work.
You’d finally got him talking and it was pure sarcasm.
Baxter: Though as ever, I’m here paying an absolute premium for a ‘perk’ I do not even want. This stunning seaside view.
Which is really funny considering he says this at Step 3.
Baxter: Careful. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, and all that. Anyway…
Voicelines
Usage of these words can help evoke his voice in writing.
- honestly/truthfully
- you know
- excellent
- absolutely/certainly
- I can do that
- does that sound alright?
- what do you think?
- glad to hear it
- goodbye for today/see you
- no, thank you
Habits
-
pulling at his collar (by the center)
Baxter nervously tugged at the collar of his shirt.
-
tilting his head
Baxter noticed Cove’s discomfort and smiled with a soft tilt of the head.
His head tilted slightly to the side as he studied your visage.
Baxter’s head angled squarely at Terry; it was at a playful tilt.
Baxter’s head tilted gradually like he was waiting for some kind of follow up. But you didn’t have one to make.
-
running his hand through his hair
He instinctively brushed a few strands of dyed hair, smiling all the while.
Baxter ran his fingers through his hair to swipe his bangs, and they fell exactly back into place after.
He nervously ran a hand through his hair before a semblance of his Baxter Ward-patented confidence returned to his features.
-
putting his arm behind his chair
-
resting his cheek on his fist
Baxter was already leaning on the table with his elbows propped up on the counter. Now, he lazily rested his chin on one of his fists.
Propping an elbow on the arm rest, Baxter leaned his cheek against a fist like the definition of nonchalance.
-
slapping his hand on a table
His hand dropped onto the table and the glasses rattled softly.
Baxter’s palms cracked against the tabletop. He abruptly stood, almost knocking the chair over.
-
snorting (though you must’ve already known that)
-
covering his mouth when laughing
He used one hand to hold the top of the couch. The other was slapped over his mouth. He was completely cracking up.
Baxter covered his mouth with a hand, realizing belatedly that his behavior was not quite gentlemanly.
-
(Step 3) laying a hand on his chest/grasping his shirt
Baxter laid a hand across his heart and his lips curled into a smirk.
Bewildered, he slid a step backwards and grasped the fabric across his chest.
Behavior
Cat
He’s pretty catlike in personality, movement, and agility. It may help to write with this in mind.
The resultant change in Baxter’s demeanor was extraordinary. His eyes lit up, his cheeks dimpled, and you thought you could almost see his ears tweak. It was like watching a kitten.
He grinned like a Cheshire Cat, self-satisfied and smug. His eyes glittered with amusement.
Were tree bridges really that common? Did he often climb onto things without thinking it through? That thought brought to mind a cat, casually wandering into hazardous places just because they could.
Cats seem simultaneously dignified and a mess. They can be up at odd hours of the night too. And of course, it’s like they like to mess with people.
Reactions to compliments
Baxter’s unfazed by all sorts of compliments. He’s used to them. Not that he doesn’t appreciate them, it’s just customary to his background. “Make sure to find something positive to comment on.” “Be flattering.” Etiquette. Strategy, in a way, likely according to his parents. The usual motions of socializing.
What does fluster him are things you won’t find in normal social etiquette teachings. They’re special, after all. And things he doesn’t expect after baring his flaws. “I love you.”
There’s of course, compliments to his perceived flaws that fluster him as well: in my guess, his eyes. Though maybe he won’t go so far as to hate them or really admit them to be flaws, they weren’t meshing with his monochrome goal of a style. He could dye his hair, but changing eye color would require contact lenses. Anyway, his unique reaction to his eyes being complimented tell me it’s a tender topic to him somehow. He might have a similar reaction to a compliment to his grey hair if he ever decides to pause dyeing.
Compliments to his appearance when he dresses up for an occasion do get him especially happy though. Which makes sense since he does want his efforts to shine through when he puts his mind to it.
Unfazed
Baxter is generally less prone to being fazed. He takes everything in stride, doesn’t really bat an eye at most things that might get a reaction out others. The only times I remember him being surprised are when it’s about his intimacy/self-worth issues or sudden loud noises out of nowhere like when Terry exclaimed about fireworks. Oh, and if you tell him your first crush is Cliff or Kyra BAHAHAH (when it comes to Gregorio though I think he’s just like whatever)
Insecurities
Baxter is known as that confident guy, but we eventually learn him to be a mess with a heap of self-worth issues. He’s confident about seemingly everything, but it’s not everything.
Mornings
For whatever reason, Baxter seems especially insecure about his inability to function in the morning. If you play Mountain before Drinks, he goes so far as to lie about it:
Baxter’s lips pressed together into a line as he looked away, lids falling with a sort of shame. He spoke out of the corner of his mouth after clearing his throat.
Baxter: My appearance requires some… strict maintenance, and I take some time to get ready in the mornings. I can’t force you to wait for me.
He nervously ran a hand through his hair before a semblance of his Baxter Ward-patented confidence returned to his features.
And of course, for some reason he brings it up as one of the many weird reasons why he believes he doesn’t deserve to be the protagonist’s partner. Quite excessive over such a strangely specific thing, if you ask me. But maybe that’s only because I’m “nocturnal” myself.
Spicy stuff
He wiggles.
…his legs and his hips and his torso shifting in an unconscious dance.
I think this guy is touch starved despite dating, flings, and hookups. I mean. Just look at this.
Baxter crushed his lips into yours again. It pressed you deep against the plush backing of the couch. Your stomach dipped and you clasped his shoulders for support. You slipped your arms around his back. Baxter let that pull him in. He lowered his body again, closer than before, until you were flush against each other.
Famished behavior.
Appearance
The sprites of this visual novel are cut off at around the thighs, but during Step 3 he is described to wear sleek black shoes with slight heels and white socks. His jeans also have tattered edges.
One by one, Baxter removed his sleek black shoes and gently set them on his towel. You noticed they had a slight heel to them. Next, Baxter peeled off his crisp white socks and stuffed them inside the shoes. Finally, he rolled the tattered edge of his jeans up to his calves.
During the epilogue he is described by text to wear black socks and shoes.
Baxter lifted a leg to remove one black shoe and the matching black sock. He repeated the process with his other side.
In case you missed it, he has another mole. Do with this information as you will.
You felt the blood rush to your face as your eyes zeroed in on a second mole of Baxter’s, one which you had never seen before. It was on the rear side of his left thigh. Very high up.
In case you missed it, he also has dimples.
His suggestion came as a joke, Baxter’s smile tucking into the dimple in his cheek.
His eyes lit up, his cheeks dimpled, and you thought you could almost see his ears tweak.
Random Baxter lines
He talks funny. I need to study it.
Step 3
I’m patently against stepping on anyone’s toes.
Perish the thought.
I didn’t bring my wallet. When I got dressed, I did not recall to take my wallet off the nightstand!
This is unlikely to work. But I do admire the friend’s effort.
What matters is that when we’re together it’s for the pleasant parts of existence. The less ideal shades of life can be managed separately.
Step 4
Oh, forgive me for the surprise interruption.
Well, I’ve done it about as long as I can remember. It made the game more enjoyable in my youth. The petty types of decisions that were best suited to be decided with randomness mattered little to me. It was far more amusing to see who would use the advantage they had to win and who would be willing to take the loss, and why they seemed to do so. At bare minimum I’m not that much of a brat any longer.
Now, I won’t belabor my objections on your taste in men. That’s not what you want to hear.
I suppose that is the true story of my life: me not understanding a thing and getting it all wrong at every turn.
I was never sorry that I knew you. Rather, I felt privileged that my path led to where you were for a short time. What inspired this scattered train of thought, at least in the current moment, was mentioning how I wished for a dance partner. One I could be with time after time instead of a string of strangers. By all accounts, I shouldn’t be asking for anything from anyone-especially you. But, is it too selfish of me to want to?
I take it you’re still partial to the ocean? Well, I should confess, I am fairly tired of having so many regrets. Especially ones as difficult to avoid as seventy percent of the planet’s surface. And doing so in California, no less.