#olba derek

- Generally active and likes to get out, so he will do just about anything with you. Take him out to run errands, he’ll get your bags. Wanna walk around the neighborhood or get boba? Sure, let him grab what he needs. Will even wait with you at the doctor’s office or at the mechanic and keep you entertained.

- Y’all go on a double date with Miranda and Terry one night, and Miranda attempts to explain the butterfly effect to Cove. Cove never knew there was a name for what he’s pondered a lot over the years. The night carries on, the topic changes, but it doesn’t leave Cove’s head. He glances at you when you burst out laughing at one of Terry’s jokes, and he can’t imagine being around anyone else this long, let alone loving them! Needless to say, he tells you this when your friends leave, rambling that his childhood and therefore his life could’ve been terrible if Cliff had moved elsewhere. Who else would he have gone ghost hunting with, or gone to see the redwoods with?- Aaaaaand now he’s crying, because he loves you so much and can’t believe that the love of his life just… fell into his lap at 8 years old.

- Loves loves LOVES the domestic life. Thinks that to himself very often. The nights you spend watching a show, snuggled up in a tangle of limbs on the couch. The vacation fund jar that sits on the kitchen counter, slowly filling. The idle chatter that evolves into revelations about life. Signing up to volunteer together. Lying on the floor, playing Hangman when it’s too hot. All those moments are so natural, yet so sacred.

- Cove really struggled with “growing up” at 18, weighed down by the reality of responsibilities and maybe distance. He had dreaded the thought that he couldn’t just cross a street and be near you at any time; that summer would never be the same. He’s still nostalgic for those childhood summers! They’re all so special to him. He’s over the existential dread now, and focuses that past energy worrying on enjoying the moment and planning future adventures together.

- Cove wants to do anything, everything and nothing by your side. <3

Receiving: gifts

- Hear me out on this one…

- Your boyfriend is a sentimental baby and whenever he’s given something that reminds him of your relationship, he will BAWL. Or at least get misty eyed. There’s just something about having a tangible piece of your love that just does him in.

- Literally the best person to buy gifts for, btw. His reactions are so good! He’ll gape, then laugh in delight at getting something he’s been wanting for months, immediately going to your side to hug or kiss you.

- And no gift has to be over the top, expensive, or anything like that. Cove couldn’t care less about that. The fact that you thought of him is what makes him feel so cared for.

- Take him out for lunch, Venmo him some sweet treat money or come home with a bouquet of white poppies and watch your sweet boy’s face LIGHT UP.

- Cove will absolutely treasure anything that took time and effort for you to put together. A photo album or scrapbook, art of any kind, even a handwritten note is kept as pristine as possible and displayed proudly.

- I think he’s also partial to jewelry, whether it’s made or bought. You always pick out something he ends up loving. Oh, and he LOVES matching jewelry. Matching bracelets you make together or lockets you buy get worn all the time.

- Come home wearing a new anklet. That’s a nice surprise.

- Always keeps mementos of trips and the like. Cove always drags you to a photo booth (aka makes puppy eyes until you agree) and keeps the strips on the fridge. There’s a Polaroid of you two in his phone case, and another in his wallet. The shell he loved as a kid, gifted to him from you, sits proudly on his nightstand. He’s a bit of a trinket guy!

- And tying back to how he expresses love… gift him time together. Wake up early to hit the beach at dawn, or stay up late when you visit home to catch fireflies. His life with you is the greatest gift of all.

Derek

Giving: acts of service

- Are we surprised? “Mr. Let Me Get That For You” has and will continue to get things for you, unprompted and relentlessly.

- Derek can of course overdo it, but his adult self is more comfortable in his skin and has a better time managing his feelings of inadequacy. What Derek does now is out of love rather than any idea of being “good enough.”

- Getting your wallet to pay for your lunch? Sorry, he gave his card to the server already! Whatever chore you absolutely despise, he’s on it. After a rough day at your job, be prepared for your favorite takeout, or a binge watch of your comfort show, or a back rub… or all of the above. Oh, and good luck trying to touch a door handle with your boyfriend around.

- While he’s not much of a decorator, Derek does keep a clean and tidy home. This extends to you as well. Whether you’re a neat freak or not, he will unconsciously tidy after you - he’s very observant and will notice your patterns. If you rushed out the door that morning and left your side of the sink a mess, he knows where every item should go. If your coffee station always ends up cluttered, Derek’s got a plan and will come up with a practical solution in the name of making your ritual as pleasant as possible.

- This gets plenty of teasing and gentle chiding from those close to him, but Derek is a caretaker through and through. He doesn’t harbor any resentment or keep score; to Derek, you’re an incredible person who deserves to be loved, seen and supported, on good days and bad.

- He loves to help and/or provide, and will absolutely dote on you if you allow it. Just seeing you sigh in relief or smile is worth it.

Receiving: acts of service + physical touch

Derek gets an extra because 1.) I didn’t want his whole segment to be the same and 2.) I love him

- Now, continuing where we left off… it’s only right to repay the favor! While he’d never turn away sweet words, actions mean a LOT more to this one. He’s more observant than some give him credit for.

- Derek has already lamented the passage of time in the game - he still wrestles with feeling like he’s wasted so much of his, and there’s plenty days he returns home feeling like all the day’s minutes slipped through his fingers. Oh, and he still has to eat dinner, and put away the dry groceries from this morning, and-

- Coming home to see a left mess cleaned, or some food waiting (it doesn’t have to be fancy, Derek isn’t picky LOL) is enough to relax his shoulders… and then he’s immediately trying to find you so he can thank you and cover your face in kisses.

- You’re a team, and you look out for each other. He’s known that since you both were thirteen, but knowing that you’ll do what you can to make his day run smoothly, or to ease his never-ending mental load, will always leave him feeling soft and wanting to cozy up to you.

- Speaking of which…

- Derek has been dreaming of being with you for TEN YEARS. Now that the dream is reality, he will soak up allllll the perks of being a boyfriend. You spent so many years apart, after all! Whatever you’re comfortable giving in terms of physical affection, he will accept with flushed cheeks and a beaming smile.

- Pro tip… your boyfriend loooooves showing off for you. In his eyes, it’s the best use for his muscles! Ask him to lift you, or carry you. Trust me, he can do it and he wants to (but is a lil shy, God love him.) Oh, and feel up the muscles as much as you’d like. Imagine feeling up those biceps. Siiiiiiiiigh. That’s a dreamy sigh, not a Jeremy one LOL

- Big Things for Derek: cheek kisses and hand holding. I know, tooth rotting levels of sweet. He’s got you trained; when he approaches you after time apart, you’re tilting your head to the side! He’s kissing you when he gets home, when you get home, when announcing anything to friends or family - hell, he could’ve just gotten a promotion and he’s trotting over to kiss your cheek like you’re announcing marriage and it’s SO CUTE. Now, hand holding is a natural instinct whenever you’re in big crowds, but if you really love it he always keeps a hand free. Also, if you just hold his hand out of nowhere, he might be reminded of that first boardwalk trip or the Father’s Day fiasco and get sentimental.

- He also would like showering together; that can be completely innocent if you want. He just likes being close. Now he just needs a shower that’ll fit 2 people.

Baxter

Giving: words of affirmation

- First of all: Baxter IS a flirt and he IS a smooth talker, but he is NOT a liar. You’ve torn down his lines of defense time and time again; Baxter doesn’t offer empty platitudes anymore. He rarely did to begin with! He’s forward, but he can find a compliment for (almost) anybody and mean it. And if his flushed cheeks and glinting eyes show anything, he’s got lots to say about you!

- Oh, and he’s not shy about it either, LOL. He is in looove and there’s no reason for him to hold his tongue unless you tell him to rein it in.

- Always, ALWAYS notices any change you make to your look and is quick to compliment you. (Or help out in the event of unruly hair strands, stubborn zippers and the like.) Baxter always notices the details, and will point out how your new haircut perfectly suits your face shape or how that top is the perfect color for your undertones. Loves to see any new piercings, tattoos, and/or nail sets too!!

- Building off that, will absolutely tell you how beautiful you are… or handsome, or stunning, or whatever word you inspire in Baxter that day. In game Baxter is very perceptive of your comfort with your body, and that’s no different here - he will actually dial it back if drawing attention to your physical appearance is uncomfortable. When it’s a weird topic for you, he’ll pick his moments carefully - he sincerely does want to tell you how he feels, after all - and he’s much less forward than usual. However, if you do enjoy the shameless flirting, he’ll shower you in compliments… whether that be how cute your blush is, the shape of your nose, or your “nice legs” which he will forever mention.

- Of course he has to gush about your winning personality too… that’s what makes you you, and what he fell in love with. After the melodrama he created, he just thinks you’re the kindest, most generous, most patient person on Earth. He saw that in Sunset Bird, and his younger self may have envied your light as well as craved it. Now, it’s something he gets to cherish.

- In sorta the same vein, he never fails to tell you how proud he is of you. Your life has way more value than just your achievements, and Baxter will remind you of that too… and will still light up when you come home with news of a promotion, or sale, or feature, or any number of good things. “Congratulations, darling! Of course you could do it. You’ve worked so hard, and I’m so, so proud of you.”

- Will always say “thank you,” no matter how small the favor is. He doesn’t expect the same towards himself; that’s part bad habit and part - well, he doesn’t have to have acknowledgement all the time. BUT he will give that to you, because he loves you, and his way of showing it is just thanking you for everything. (The amount of times he thanks MC in his route? For literally just being themselves, or hanging out with him? Yeaaah.)

Receiving: quality time

- This might be a surprise to anyone except you and Baxter, considering that he’s spent too much of his adult years trying to remain a pleasant, blurry memory in the lives of others. But the fact that you saw him, refused to let him alienate himself among your Sunset Bird friends - that was the catalyst for him to fall for you in the first place.

- That kindness stuck with him after he said his goodbyes. There’s plenty of other traits of yours he loves, but the feeling of belonging, however brief, was a memory that lingered during the worst times. Baxter would glance at the souvenir from Sunset Bird now and then, on nights spent with hollow loneliness, and wonder if he made a huge mistake.

- Adult Baxter is learning to be different. He’s firmly stated that he won’t be shallow company. It’s impossible to miss how he reacts to your presence alone! Enter his space and watch his posture straighten, watch his eyes light up as his crooked grin meets you. Assuming he isn’t doing something important or being rude to someone else, whatever had his attention is pushed to the sidelines.

- ASK HIM TO DANCE!! It can be a romantic waltz in public, a tango in the office after hours, a wine-drunk sway in his kitchen - the moment you offer, he’s kissing your hand with stars in his eyes before drawing you closer. Baxter appreciates the effort to engage him in something he loves, regardless if you’re good at dancing or not.

- This might be a bit off topic but I think it still fits… Baxter is the BESTTT to binge watch shows with. Give him the opportunity to laze around in bed or on the couch with you for hours at a time and he will pounce on it. He’s intentional about putting the phone/laptop away during your quality time and depending on what you watch gives hilarious commentary. (And his head will also hog your shoulder or your lap.)

- Baxter just can’t believe his luck sometimes. You waltzed into his life two times (or three, if you met at the summer soiree) and managed to upend parts of himself he swore were unmovable. The suitor for a season, with all his difficulties and pessimistic views on relationships, fell in love and is loved in turn. The voice in his head that screams he’s unlovable, that he’s better suited as a piece of scenery, loses its strength with time. It may never leave entirely, but there’s mental space now for better things - the dinner you treated him to this week, the movie he’s going to see with you and your shared friends, the delirious phone call the two of you has the other night.

- Your boyfriend is independent, don’t get me wrong. It’s something he prides after cutting ties with his parents. But being in your presence is something he wants, treasures and guards fiercely. Something he will always look forward to.