Other
Chartreux
Considering Baxter’s similarities to cats, the Chartreux breed fits his natural appearance and his “probably” distant French origin well.
The Chartreux is a rare breed of cat from France…They are known for their blue (silver-grey) water-resistant short hair double coats…and orange or copper-coloured eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their “smile”; due to the structure of their heads and their tapered muzzles, they often appear to be smiling.
Mythology
Cupid and Psyche
I like this myth and I think he’s a bit like Cupid: never wanting to be truly known, departs dramatically once he’s getting more known. He comes back though. 👍
Hymenaios
The god of weddings and marriage, one of the Erotes, which “may appear in Roman art in the alternate form of multiple Cupids or Cupids and Psyches,” are sometimes regarded as manifestations of Cupid, and are often associated with same-sex desire. “Stories of the Erotes’ mischief or pranks were a popular theme in Hellenistic culture.” The name Hymenaios is derived from a root that means “’to sew together,’ hence, ‘joiner.’”
Hymen is supposed to attend every wedding. If he did not, the marriage would supposedly prove disastrous and so the Greeks would run about calling his name aloud. He presided over many of the weddings in Greek mythology, for all the deities and their children.
At least since the Italian Renaissance, Hymen was generally represented in art as a young man wearing a garland of flowers and holding a burning torch in one hand.
Hawthorn
In Floriography by Jessica Roux, the Hawthorn flower means hope in love. This was the flower Hymenaios carried, considered sacred, in a flaming torch. Ancient Greek brides wore these flowers in their hair and used them for their bouquets, creating the meaning.
Pairing with Camellia means hope for the return of a lost love. With orange blossom, it indicates hope in returned affections.
Hebe
Relatable to the protagonist in Baxter’s route rather than Baxter himself, Hebe was worshipped in Sicyon as the goddess of forgiveness or mercy. She is the patron of brides and is responsible for immortality, which I like to relate as the opposite of Baxter’s fear of certain “deaths” i.e. of relationships. She completes this responsibility by offering a cup–a drink.
The protagonist offers drinks to further understand Baxter, a promise of unending care. A sort of “You will not die by my hands, I grant you life that never ends. The death–the ending you fear will never come.”
Baxter’s life/death motif is expanded upon in Themes.