Baxter

Baxter Ward is a character and one of the love interests in Our Life: Beginnings & Always and a character in Our Life: Now & Forever. He first appeared in Step 2 of the former (depending on your choices), with a guaranteed appearance in Step 3 of the former, and Step 1 of the latter.
== Appearance ==
Baxter has black-and-white hair, dark brown eyes, and peachy skin. He has a small birthmark on the right side of his neck.
=== Step 1 (N&F) ===
Baxter wears a beige patterned button-up sweater over a brown shirt. He wears black pants, and a blue beanie hat. He keeps his hair medium length.
=== Step 2 ===
In Our Life: Beginnings & Always Step 2, Baxter wears a grey suit jacket and pants, with a lighter vest underneath, and a white dress shirt underneath that, as well as a black tie.
In Our Life: Now & Forever Step 2, Baxter wears a black knit sweater, and white pants. He wears a black band on his right index finger, and a white band on his left index finger.
=== Step 3 ===
In Step 3, he wears a half-black-half-white shirt patterned with a bunch of small gray eye symbols. He has a black belt with a silver buckle partnered with a pair of ripped gradient denim jeans. He wears black bands on both index fingers and both ring fingers.
=== Step 4 ===
In Step 4, he wears a purple dress shirt, with a darker purple suit jacket over it. He wears a black belt and dark purple suit pants.
=== Wedding ===
In the Wedding DLC, his appearance is identical to Step 4.
Spoiler
 
It is revealed in his DLC that black is not the actual color of his hair. Rather, he dyes his gray hair black since he was 14.
== Personality ==
If there is one word to describe Baxter's personality, it would be "smooth". The main character notes that from the way he presents himself to the way he talks, even if done loudly, he retains his suave aura. He has a tendency to say compliments that sound like pick-up lines. This is especially the case when he first meets Cove where he seemingly flirts with him and the main character. However, he states that it is not his intention to make his words sound romantic and only wants to make friends with them. It is also shown how he is more interested in seeing other people pleased watching the fireworks rather than being happy at the fireworks show itself in "Hang". He is also considerate of them, as he drives carefully while the group is riding in his car even if the main character notes that there are almost no other cars in the parking lot.
He can also be described as confident and forward. He is the first to approach the main character if they attend the soiree without Cove and are looking for a dance partner. He also directly offers his number in "Hang", telling the group to give him a call if they need someone to drive them somewhere.
The developers described him as "preppy and posh", but that he also hates conflict. This is evident when he backs off and tries to explain to Cove that he does not mean more than what he says when he notices Cove's discomfort with his praises. Even if the main character is hostile or dismissive towards him, he remains polite and civil towards them. However, even though he hates conflict, he tries to rebel as much as he is allowed to, especially in regards to his hair and clothes.https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/188261488986/whats-baxters-personality-like-is-he-like-a
He is shown to be passionate and skilled in ballroom dancing. He notes that one of the upsides of joining his parents in the summer soiree is that he gets to dance. He is able to adjust to the main character's skill level in "Soiree" and guides them. They note how it is possible that he took dance lessons for a long time based from what they observed while dancing with him. At the start of Step 3, he also offers to teach them and Cove ballroom dancing to which the latter declines.
However, under his seemingly easy-going and polite personality lays a young man with deep insecurities and loneliness. He has hard time connecting with people and making friends, automatically deeming himself unworthy of company unless he has something to give. This results him considering every person in his life as just a passer-by and not meant to stay. By his own words, he wants to be liked but he can't be someone important. He states in his DLC that before he met his friends as a child he looked down on everyone and thought that anyone spending time with him was lucky, which changed after he noticed how his friends were genuinely happy to just be around him and weren't friends with him because he was rich.
== Background ==
Baxter was born and raised in Golden Grove. He does not miss his hometown much, but appreciates it for what it is.
During Step 3, Baxter attends college in Virginia, studying for a Business Administration and Management Degree. For the summer, he stays at the condominium previously rented by the Donnells, who were dubbed as "the mean grandparents" by the main character, Elizabeth, and Cove. It was rented for him by his parents, so he would be able to have a place to live in while he is not staying at a dormitory near his college.
Baxter's family is rich with his parents specifically being members of The Cypress. During Step 2, they joined the summer soiree to make connections with the other members. If the main character is alone and wants to dance, they can meet him in "Soiree" where he asks them to be his dance partner. He remembers them in Step 3 if they chose to dance with him.
== Relationships ==
=== Main Character (OL B&A) ===
It is possible for the main character to first meet him in "Soiree," either by going alone or by inviting Derek.
1. If Soiree is played without Cove or Derek also coming to Soiree: He walks up to them to ask them to be his dance partner while they are looking for one. They can choose to accept his offer, look for another dance partner, or tell him off. If they rejected him or told him off, he will simply apologize and be on his way. While dancing, if the main character has taken dancing classes, he will be pleased. Otherwise, he will take the lead and adjust to them. Afterwards, he will tell them that they have nice legs.
2. If Derek is at the Soiree too: He makes his appearance when MC and Derek half accidentally end up crashing Baxter's party at the Soiree. He'll chat them a while, amused, until MC and Derek have to escape the party.
Years later, at the start of Step 3, he will move into the condominium previously rented by the Donnells. There, he will be greeted by the main character and Cove. If the main character chose to dance with him or met them while they were crashing his party, he will remember them. If they complimented him for his skills and they took dance classes, he will return the compliment. If they brought up the comment about their legs from "Soiree", he easily says that he still thinks that way.
He appreciates the main character if they reach out to him and will feel the same if they tell him that they did end up as good friends. Otherwise, he is still polite towards them.
If the player has Baxter's DLC, Baxter suggests dating which MC can either accept or decline. If they date, MC can show affection towards him which he happily accepts. Despite them having great time together during the course of the summer, he will end their budding relationship during the epilogue of Step 3. They can separate either in good terms or bad terms.
Next time Baxter meets MC is during the Step 4 if the player chooses to play Baxter's epilogue. If they parted in bad terms and were romantically involved, he initially tries to seem unaffected; as if nothing special happened between them. Eventually he learns to express his feelings more and deeply apologizes his behavior 5 years ago, regretting ever leaving. The two rekindle their relationship, whether it is romantic or just friendship. Though Baxter doesn't understand what the MC sees in him, he openly admits he doesn't want to lose them again and is deeply affected and surprised when MC says the same thing to him.
If the player after the break up with Baxter chooses to play Cove's epilogue instead, ends up engaging him and plays the Wedding DLC after that, Baxter meets MC again as their wedding planner. He instantly recognizes them, commenting on how it is unfortunate they meet again after he promised to never bother MC again. He'll show signs of regret how he left 5 years ago but is genuinely happy for them and Cove.
If he and MC never dated, they regardless meet again in the Wedding DLC.
=== Cove ===
Baxter considers Cove and the main character as "attractive and intriguing people". However, his presence unintentionally makes Cove uncomfortable. When Baxter first met Cove, the former would unintentionally say things that sound flirty which Cove does not appreciate. Baxter, however, will notice Cove's uneasiness with his playful comments and apologizes to him; promising that he will keep his compliments to a minimum. Despite Cove's blatant attempt to avoid him, he still tries to be polite towards him and will often greet him. If the main character and Cove are dating, he supports them and hopes they never break up. Later on, readily accepts Cove's offer of friendship during the Wedding DLC or his epilogue.
=== Terry ===
When Terry approached him in "Hang", he was more than ready to offer a ride back to Cove's car to him and his friends. Since Terry is sociable and Baxter is personable, they both seem to get along well. However, there would be some instances when Terry's loudness would startle Baxter. Other than that, he does happily oblige Terry's whims like going to the park or seeing the fireworks and making him the group's source of transportation.
If they meet again during Baxter's epilogue they'll end up being rather good friends. Baxter is supportive of his and Miranda's relationship saying it wasn't a surprise, blatantly stating that his crush was "obvious" even 5 years ago when they met first time.
=== Miranda ===
Baxter happily lends a hand regarding to her surprise birthday party planning. He refuses to stay for actual party, stating that she should be able to celebrate with her friends and family, considering himself way too unimportant despite Miranda inviting him to celebrate.
He thinks she is sweet. If they meet again during Baxter's epilogue, they eventually grow to be actual friends. He is fully supportive of her and Terry's relationship.
=== Baxter's Parents ===
During Step 3 it is revealed that his parents are rich and rather busy. He doesn't talk about them much. In his epilogue he comments how he doesn't keep in touch with them anymore because, according to him, they are mean and selfish and if he wasn't their son, they would hate him. He thinks it is unfair how they think other people outside of family are not entitled to their kindness, acceptance and forgiveness. He also states that his proneness to perfectionism and underlying self-criticism stems from their strict expectations regarding him.
=== Main Character (OL N&F) ===
Baxter is amicable to the MC, he will be polite to them but will be completely neutral on if they become friends since he is satisfied being friends with Qiu and Darren.
=== Qiu ===
Baxter and Qiu were a part of the same boys club as kids. Baxter is also implied to have had a crush on Qiu at around age twelve. This has been confirmed by GB Patch.https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/681838518142713856/did-baxter-date-anyone-before-the-ol1-mc
== Gallery ==
Baxter 01.png|Baxter's first appearance in Step 3
Baxter 02.png|Baxter introducing himself
Baxter 04.png|Baxter after being informed that the main character and Cove are dating
Baxter 07.png|The inside of Baxter's rented car
Baxter 03.jpg|A Previous Design of Step 3 Baxter with a Step 4 Baxter Sneak Peek https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/189152830706/and-now-weve-got-a-sprite-preview-of-the-other
Baxter 05.jpg|Blushing Baxter Preview https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/187246671531/i-thought-cove-was-the-only-precious-boi-for-me
Baxter 06.png|Early sketches for Baxter's first CG https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/626367236968513536/baxter-is-finally-coming-to-town-you-can-see
Baxter Step 4 02 (B&A).png|On a date with Baxter
== Trivia ==
*Baxter is pansexual.https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/188498588366/if-all-the-characters-were-designed-with-a
*He used to wear a neckerchief in his previous design for Step 3.
*It is revealed in "Hang" that he listens to hard rock, punk, and screamo.
*His Step 3 voice actor is James Tafaroji.https://gb-patch.tumblr.com/post/630545011645333504/our-life-cast-list-update
*His favorite colors are black and white, which matches his initials, B.A.W.
*Baxter's birthday is his DLC's release date, May 19th. It was confirmed on the GB Patch Patreon.
**As Baxter was 19 when Step 3 took place in Summer 2016, it can be surmised Baxter was born on May 19, 1997.
*He is afraid of swimming in ocean.
*He is not a morning person. In Step 3, he oversleeps and remains drowsy during his and the MC’s first coffee date together. 
*GB Patch stated he has a preference for people in well tailored suits, who have long painted nails, and heavy eye makeup. 
*GB Patch also stated that he prefers to have no kids but if his partner wanted children, he’d prefer two because he was envious of the MC and Lizzie’s close sibling relationship. He was an only child and often felt lonely. 
*If you confess that Baxter was your first crush while reminiscing about the Soirée dance at Step 2, and state you are attracted to him now, he’ll back out of asking you to date him for the summer. This is because he’s afraid of setting expectations for the MC and disappointing them. 
== References ==
Category:Characters in Our Life: Beginnings & Always
Category:Characters in Our Life: Now & Forever
Category:Love Interests