Rereading the Lumiere myth to gather my thoughts on Xavier’s lore. And that kindled scene alone sends me somewhere between giggles and ache. He jokes, flirts, lets MC wipe the ‘dirt’ from his face - but the truth is, he’s just hoping she sees the real him underneath. Not Lumiere. Not the performer. Just Xavier, who’s tired, rain-soaked, charming, and full of trivia. And maybe, just maybe, when he says ‘now both kittens are clean,’ he’s really saying: ‘thank you for looking past the mask.’ He walks that line between confused and flirty, sincere and teasing, flustered and focused, like it’s the only way he knows how to exist. It’s also the only way Xavier knows how to ask: will you love me when I’m not playing anyone at all?
Like, when he asks, “Who else were you expecting to see?” later on. That’s not mere curiosity, not with that vulnerable and soft tone.
It only shows that Xavier cares so much beneath the surface. Even the way he questions MC carries the quiet ache of wanting to be enough. Not as a silent guardian, not as a myth, but simply as himself.
