#baxter and august relationship dynamic is precious to me

[meowzilla93]

oh man lets go! what perfectly juicy questions too!

*cracks knuckles* lets go, this is gonna be a lengthy one again

When did your MC fall in love with Baxter? (Which step, was it a conscious thing or something they didn't realize until later?)

August identifies as Demisexual, so for her there is a requirement to have a strong attachment to the person they are with to be romantic/sexual with (though this isnt something that she realises until later in life after Baxter left)

August will admit that she had something of a crush on Baxter since the Summer Soiree when they were 13. The whole scenario just reminded her so much of those tropey teen romance novels of meeting your soulmate randomly and never seeing them again until it the time was right. She is a little romantic at heart, give her a break (p≧w≦q)

So when they meet again when they are 18, those feelings of a crush merely reawakened and started to develop further. Though not really believing in soulmates at this time, she still felt a pull towards him that she never felt with other partners they has been with and wanted to explore this with him.

Even though August knew there was a deadline, she never anticipated that they couldn't stay friends. That broke her heart more than she was willing to admit for a while. And to have a broken heart, one needed to be in love.

August was in love with Baxter from Step 3, if she were to put a moment to it, she recons the day with him in the Mountains, seeing him be free with her, that perfect moment on the log, and then the fireplace, and that kiss. It was the final nail in the coffin for her.

She never stopped loving him, but it was very much put to the back of her mind as she focused on her life and career, tried to date but it never amounted to anything. Her last partner helped her realize that she could be demisexual, and additionally, that perhaps she never got over the feelings over a certain Monochrome Man.

Of course Step 4 happens, those same feelings she had when she first saw him at step 3 slapped her in the face and it confirmed to her what she kinda already knew; August still loved Baxter.

2. When do you think Baxter really fell in love with your MC? (Which step, did he realize it??)

I think Baxter the moment that it was final for him was the final dance, the after party; Summer Soiree 2.0. Did he know then? No. He was so adamant that this would disappear, he would leave their life and as anticipated, these feelings would disappear.

But of course, they didn't. The heartbreak he felt, the constant sadness when he saw that she messaged him until he muted the notifications. Those treasure memories being bittersweet more than sweet. So he went back to his usual routine of sleeping around again.

And it kinda worked, in a way. Focused on school, getting his needs, he was able to push her to the back of his mind for a bit, trying to get from one day to the next. There was this one night though, little over a year after he left Sunset Bird thoroughly behind, where he met someone at a club, another one night stand, goes back to their apartment and goes through the motions.

But as this person lays down on their bed, the light from the street hits their face, illuminating half their face, and in turn, lighting up their hair as if it was copper in colour and their eye a golden hue.

For a split moment, he thought it was her. His August. And in that split moment he was elated, before the sheer weight of the guilt, sadness, and heartbreak wrecked through him.

This was where he realized he loved her. Loved her since that summer, and still loved her till this day. And that nothing but her would truly make him happy or content. So, he leaves with his apologies and never goes back to that lifestyle. It wasn't what he wanted, anymore.

A certain wedding was both a blessing and a curse; This wasnt how he wanted to see her again, not how he wanted to do this. August deserved better than he could ever give, until he learns that maybe, just maybe they did really accept him as he is.

My Little Bonus: August wanted to open herself up to him again but is so scared about being left behind in the dust that they keep closed off to him until he starts opening up to them first. In the end, it was Baxter confessing his feelings for her that was the catalyst to open up fully to him (though the two idiots are too afraid to admit that they loved each other until a few months down the track) <3

Open MC/Baxter Lore Question!

This kinda stuff is what I live for, and so I'm gonna pose it to the broader OLBA Baxter romance fans. It's a two-parter question, and one I think is super, super interesting!! It really gives others an understanding of who your MC is and how their dynamic is with the Danger Oreo.

When did your MC fall in love with Baxter? (Which step, was it a conscious thing or something they didn't realize until later?)

When do you think Baxter really fell in love with your MC? (Which step, did he realize it??)

Bonus third question, if anyone's keen: If either of them were unaware of their feelings in the moment, when did they realize THAT was the snapshot in time where they became a lost cause?