Baxter Traits

Contrasting traits

• physical nudity vs mental/emotional nudity

• personal vs others’ affairs (physical belongings & relationships)

  Baxter: But of course, when it comes to work, I absolutely can make decisions. It’s only in my personal life where I lack conviction.

  Jude: I don’t get that dude. He’s got a head for dealing with stuff- he handled me and Scott’s issues. Why can’t he do it for himself?

• paradox in social intelligence (sharp enough to seemingly “read” minds, but struggles to connect with others)

• impropriety vs formality

  Baxter: I’ve always been improper. I’m merely formal about it.

  Protagonist: For someone who acts exceedingly professional, you can be so silly.

  Baxter: Now that is a fact.

  Baxter halted his frolicking to tuck his shirt back into his pants. It started coming loose when he took another flying skip. He was having fun.

  Naturally, his fingers moved with grace and confidence to fasten the buttons. Then Baxter exited the seating area entirely. He went to press his face into the marble counter of the kitchen island.

• rigidity vs flexibility

  Baxter: How’s yours?

  Protagonist: It’s better than not having a treat!

  You grinned, easy to please after your busy day. Baxter took another bite and contemplated something while he chewed.

  Baxter: Sadly, I think I am pickier than that. But it’s a wonderful concept.

  As soon as other people are involved in a situation, he bends and is true to his self-proclamation of being flexible. But it seems when it comes to only himself, he’s strict and rigid even with simple preference of taste in even the seemingly minor choices in life.

• rebellion vs conflict-avoidance

• being seen vs. being seen (liking attention/showing off vs not wanting to actually be known on a deeper level)

• confidence vs crippling insecurities

• sincerity vs masking

  He hides his issues, but people like to generalize his charming demeanor as fake just because of his desire to impress people without disappointing them.

  Cove: Why do you keep doing that? You don’t know us, but you talk like you already do.

  Cove spoke, firm yet genuinely confused. And Baxter smiled cautiously.

  Baxter: I don’t feel the need to keep words of praise to myself. And when I say something, I mean it.