#BEAU AND YASHA FALL IN LOVE

[shadowgasp]

oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god

[wizardnuke]

thinks about the mighty nein. throws up blood

[piratespencil]

Feeling so so emotional about Caleb and Veth's conversation in ep 121... His guilt over talking her into staying with the Nein. Her saying, "I wanted you to talk me into it. I want to be with you... all." Him telling her that he doesn't function without her. The hugs and the I love yous.

Him saying he's afraid they won't survive this. And her saying that she's afraid of what will happen if they do survive, because then it will be goodbye...

[stardustedknuckles]

Trying to work and just cannot think of anything but Yasha kissing each spot where the eyes were. Like what the fuck. That's so romantic. AND it implies that in that quiet space together, Beau actually told her where the other three or four showed up during the fight. That she not only accepted the affection but deepened it herself after being the one to initiate it. They've come so far.

[artistantlers]

Ashley Johnson being the #1 Beau fan is something that means so so much to me.

[h-i-raeth]

Oh shit actually looking at TLOVM the thing I might possibly be most excited about with animated Mighty Nein is actually Baby Nein™

[nellasbookplanet]

Every time a critrole cast member gets blindsided by their character catching romantic feelings the funnier it gets. Taliesin 'my character is irredeemable and will never be happy' veering straight into 'actually he's in love and will get a happy ending whether he wants to or not'. Liam entering c2 set on no romance only for Caleb to fall hopelessly and uselessly in love with first Jester and then Essek. Marisha being set on Beau being a fuckboy with zero attachments only for her to start falling for Yasha in literally the first episode and going on to develop a crush on Jester as well. Ashley creating a character in mourning with zero thoughts on romance who falls SO HARD for Beau. Travis KNOWING going in that Laura would try to romance him, set on not letting her succeed, and then falling headfirst for it anyway. Marisha and Laura both entering c3 like 'best friends!!' only to, at almost the same time, go *surprised pikachu face* 'why am I experiencing jealousy???'

Never change guys

[morequeerbytheyear]

Okay Beau and Yasha are soulmates and watching Essek and Caleb grow and learn to accept love together is so beautiful and Percy and Vex compliment eachother so well and the love that Vax was able to give Keyleth if only for a short while was amazing and Scanlan finally winning Pike over was long overdue and Ashton and Fearne’s flirting is beautiful and I don’t think I’ve ever loved a couple as much as Imogen and Laudna. But all of those fictional relationships pale in comparison to watching Travis fall in love with his wife all over again. Knowing that he didn’t want romance but seeing that she’d made such a lovable character that he couldn’t resist falling in love all over again? That’s good shit

[sparring-spirals]

- yasha saying "i had a really bad dream" and all of us acquainted with her magical.phetic dreams going ?

- yashas dream being about beau falling in love with someone else :(((

- beau saying oh god no you dont have to worry about this

- beau APOLOGIZING for dream beau being an ass. with the tone of people who have discussed this regularly

- yasha complimenting beau's dream partner and calling them hot

- the concept of polyamory is being floated now

- caleb weighs in with the importance of communication in polyam relationships

- oh right, the Weird Moon Shit

[its-your-mind]

Beauregard Lionett walking into a fae’s hut and offering everything - her old family, her new family, her power, herself - to save her friend with a kid who needs his mom. Beau always knew this time with The Mighty Nein wasn’t going to be forever. Her friends have futures, goals, families to go back to… and this joy she’s found with them was never going to last. All she could have really hoped for in the end was for her family to find joy after her. Think about it…

And then, almost before she’s finished sharing what she’s planning to do… Caleb starts walking. He knows misery. His life is one of punishment, and suffering, and he’s not going to let this person who he has grown to love like a sister take this fall for Nott, his closest friend, the one who saved him from himself, and so he’ll just have to come up with something. He’s got hopes, dreams, even a past that could come back and…

Caduceus, too, starts walking. He can take a little misery. His whole family has already left him and his home is dying. All he’s ever wanted was to make a difference and to serve his goddess. Maybe this is why the Wildmother brought these people to him in the first place. He’s been looking for some way he could help Nott, and here it is on a silver platter. All it would cost is…

But Caleb and Caduceus are both stopped in their tracks as the door slams shut in front of them, and the last thing any of The Mighty Nein see is Yasha’s long hair and as it disappears into the witch’s hut.

You were saying you want misery. I have it in spades.

[critcallyobsessed]

Mollymauk Tealeaf is the reason Caleb Widowgast forgave himself and you cannot convince me otherwise.

When Caleb first met the Nien he was so afraid they would clock his criminal past he intentionally self issolated. And if Mollymauk hadn't been such a cocky ass, and literally forced him to open up about his issues he would have abandoned the Nien.

Yeah, they beefed, but you have to think about the weight of the guilt Caleb was carrying around versus Molly’s ‘dont worry be happy’ lifestyle it's honestly impressive they didn't PVP.

Molly comforts Caleb in one of his darkest moments and I believe it is bc Molly has at least a few of Luican’s memories and he can see Caleb’s pain and just cannot let him suffer alone.

But, most importantly, Mollymuck dies. And that really changes Caleb he realizes just how finite life is and I think he's kind of forced to keep Molly’s memory alive. Like, Caleb before Glory Run Road would have wasted 0 time going after Jester, Fjord, and Yasha. But watching Molly fall he is forced to forgive himself in order to “Leave the world better than he left it”.

He and Beau become besties because they're both left to face the reality that the only kindness they had ever known in their life was a conman teifling.

It really pisses me off that Molly died bc I really and truly believe that he and Caleb would have fallen in love.

CALEB MADE A TRANSMUTER STONE WITH THE PLAN TO RESURRECT MOLLY. GUYS! He carried the fucking stone around for at least 80 eps. He was the only one to mention the possibility of Molly being alive he never gave up on them.

I think Fjord saw it… ya know Molly and fjord were rommies and surly they talked bc when Caleb is using The Stone and that crazy spell (I can't recall the name) and it didn't work he comforted Essek. I think he was comforting Essek not bc Caleb wanted Molly back but bc Essek was morning for Caleb like without it having to say it out loud Fjord saw Calebs heartbreak and knew that Essek needed someone to check in.

Like please don't lie to me, Essek Molly and Caleb would have been world shattering

[shorthaltsjester]

if i ever have to see another thought piece on the description of the white picket fence outside of fjord and jester’s place in mighty nein reunited indicating jester’s unhappiness in the relationship i will burn the world to the ground.

a) heteronormativity doesn’t exist in exandria !

b) fjord isn’t your Typical Male Love Interest Guy. if i ever have to read someone say that shit again i’m gonna (correctly) assume they haven’t paid attention at all to campaign 2 and any of fjord’s character arc.

c) perhaps, jester lavorre, woman who was raised on the ideology of romance novels and sexuality as exchange, might just find it uh… not a terrible thing that the white picket fence is falling apart outside since… fjord explicitly does Not feel like those romance novels to her, instead he feels comfortable. the way that a brightly painted but rarely used house might, especially when the couple in question spends most of their time adventuring together… which is an essential part of jester’s motivations throughout the campaign.

d) the reason fjord and jester seem unhappy in the reunion might be because, well, uh, whereas everyone else was getting a “vacation”, jester and fjord’s life together (specifically the fact that Fjord Loves Jester Enough To Risk The World (Momentarily) To Save Her) was the inciting action for an apocalyptic demigod being released - they Were unhappy. who wouldn’t be given those circumstances. jester nearly died, and fjord felt like the god that once saved him had now abandoned him, i am so truly sorry that their romance was not satisfactory for your vision of atypical romance (which, by the way, is literally reinforcing the restrictive romantic tropes you think you’re criticizing, so good job i guess). i would be much, much more concerned if jester and fjord Weren’t clearly dismayed.

e) both fjord and jester are individuals whose entire lives and character are defined by the expectation (both external and internal) that they behave and emote a certain way. that they’re in a relationship with someone who they feel that they can show that they are frustrated with or disagree on the layout of their house with or have different ideas on how to deal with the looming threat of a demigod is incredible. jester and fjord are emblematic of a relationship in which the characters Aren’t meant to be, but they Want to be together and they want to understand and support the other person so they work at it. we wouldn’t have conversations like “you seem disheartened..” “i am very disheartened! you almost died!” if they didn’t take the time and care to communicate with one another.

f) if you want a honeymoon era joyful queer romance, yasha and beau are right there! they are explicitly horny and in love and bright about it! if queerness is your measure of “trope breaking” i am very sorry to tell you that queer people partake in white picket fences, and i’d actually argue that in terms of Lifestyle Metaphor, beauyasha are more adherent to the whitepicket fence, nuclear familyism. this isn’t a detriment to them, just, very literally, beau works a 9-5 where she comes back to her housewife who gardens and cooks dinner and their future includes explicit reference to children. comparatively, fjord wants to address some issues in his past, jester is an artist, and both of them are interested in adventure for the foreseeable future.

g) if you truly think that a single part of laura’s description of the part-time abode of fjord and jester overrides every interaction and choice that both laura and travis make towards fjord and jester caring for each other in a deep and meaningful way that goes beyond the weird fandom constructed Man/Woman characters being portrayed by a married couple i truly, Truly have no idea why you even watch the many hours of content that cr is when you could… play/write your own shit.

[critter-genfic-events]

This week, we have nine (nein) fics that feature Time/Dimension Travel: Other universes, Isekai, time travel (in either direction)! Check them out beneath the cut and if you like them, remember to comment and kudos!

Remember Me in the Intervals by inkedinserendipity (70530,Teen) Warnings: the author doesn't warn for them but canon character backstory elements, major character death (implied) Pairings: The Mighty Nein & Caleb Widogast, Beau/Yasha, Yasha/Zuala, Caleb/Mollymauk

Caleb goes back to fix everyone's backstories instead of his own, basically.

Reccer says: It illustrates very clearly how much Caleb loves the Nein. Listen, this is SUCH a heart-wrenching story, I always cry when I read it BE WARNED! I usually read it twice: first in chapter order and then in chronological order.

In this World or any Other by Amrynth (1907,Teen) Warnings: Major Character Death (Canon) Pairings:

After Mollymauk's death in the Marrow Valley, he wakes up in the library with a burning need: to get back to his friends.

Reccer says: I liked it

The Worlds Between Us by Nellaplanet (159303,Mature) Warnings: graphic depictions of violence Pairings: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, Beauregard Lionett/Yasha Nydoorin, Beauregard Lionett/Jester Lavorre

Or; Caleb and Beau have to rapidly reexamine their worldview upon discovering that magic is not only real, but exists in a world all of its own (and that the people wielding it are unfairly attractive and very, very dangerous).

Reccer says: One of the great isekais in the fandom! I love all of the different elements they were able to weave in

every moment changes lifetimes (even moments we regret) by grayintogreen (789,Teen) Warnings: Major Character Death (time loops) Pairings:

Caleb is in a time loop, staring at the temporal dock

Reccer says: Heartbreaking and an interesting form

Fortune's Favor (Fortune's Fools) by flashhwing (30289,Teen) Warnings: Choose not to warn Pairings: Eventual Shadowgast

In another timeline, the Mighty Nein fall to Lucien. Essek, with Artagan-the-weasel's help, travels back in time to save them.

Reccer says: It's fun to see a late campaign Essek try to wrangle an Early Campaign Mighty Nein

What endures beyond the silent edge by Beleriandings (241985,Teen) Warnings: Choose not to warn Pairings: Canon relationships present

The Ring of Brass fall into the future during the Apogee Solstice. There, they meet the Nein.

Reccer says: It's fun seeing the various parallels and crossovers!

Fall Back by Killbothtwins (4050,Teen) Warnings: No archive warnings apply Pairings: Beauregard Lionett & Caleb Widogast

After the fight at the Malleus Key, mid-C3 Beau and Caleb are shunted not only through space but also through time, arriving back in early Campaign Two to friends who are very surprised by their sudden changes.

Reccer says: A really fun idea and a great way to highlight just how much change all of the Nein have gone through since the beginning of the series. Killbothtwins has a fun writing style and an excellent grasp of the characters' voices, the bantering reads just like what we hear around the table.

The Heart External by BeatriceEagle (3554,Teen) Warnings: CNTW Pairings: Caleb & Beau, Beau & Bren, Caleb & Bren, Caleb & OC, Beau/Yasha, Caleb/Essek

Post-C2. As Beau struggles with the challenges of being a new adoptive parent of a teenager, she receives an SOS from Caleb. She arrives to find him standing over his bound, unconscious younger self—and though Bren should be just an echo, it seems he isn't going anywhere.

Reccer says: A fantastic Caleb & Beau QPR—with all the warmth *and* friction of the original—as well as a nuanced, thoughtfully observed take on what Caleb being brought face-to-face (literally) with his younger self would really mean.

in the times inbetween by jakia (8098,Teen) Warnings: miscarriage, fantasy racism, homophobia (all mild but present) Pairings: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast Una Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast Leofric Ermendrud & Caleb Widogast

Una Ermendrud meets Caleb Widogast for the first time when she is nineteen and pregnant, and he’s passed out in her azaleas.'

Reccer says: It's everything I ever wanted in a 'Caleb actually completes his goal' fic: Una immediately clocks Caleb as the 'weird but sweet and harmless' type of wizard! Caleb makes a tiny paradox happen! Leofric punches Essek in the face (and it was awesome!)

This is one of our weekly communally-generated gen rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. Please note that the summary and content notes are provided by the reccer, and may be different than what the author has provided. Please assume good intentions all around. <3

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, it'll be Storytelling! Whether it be sharing backstories or spinning a brand new yarn, all are welcomed.

Then the weeks after that, it'll be Grog focused stories, Cross-Campaign works, and then Skill/Class Swap fics!

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

Oh! Also! Critter Gen Week is happening! Prompts have been announced, you should check them out.

And hey, if you're looking for some more good gen content, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

[elliesgaymachete]

i would l love to see the Mighty Nein do the trust exercises that Bell’s Hells did, especially the blindfolded instructions. Beau and Nott would be so bad at it and start yelling and cursing as soon as someone fucks up. Also they both would walk in with blind confidence and almost fall so many times, but because they’re both so dexterous they always catch themselves at the last second. Yasha would be very calm but very confused the whole time until she runs into bees and tries to rage and fight the bees. Jester would purposely fuck with whoever was blindfolded not to make them fail just to have fun, but then she accidentally causes someone (fjord) to fall and no one (fjord) allows her to help anymore. Caduceus is very calm and gives instructions easily but also half his instructions are hard to figure out and cryptic for no reason. Caleb gives perfect instructions but his accent starts tripping them up and as soon as there’s a mistake he starts cursing in Zemnian and using phrases they don’t understand. He’s also the most cautious and literally inches down the path and it takes like an hour and at that point everyone is like you did it but at what cost we’re so bored over here. Fjord is only best at it because he can actually understand everyone else and relay the instructions in a clear and concise way, but he’s also the only one that actually failed and falls off the platform

[bloodyshadow1]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Mighty Nein were to start falling apart had Beau left them that day. Because how many of their successes from that point on were due to her being there? Jester was and will always be the Heart, but she was the literal Cobalt SOUL of the team. They wouldn't have even be able to crack the mystery of the Tomb Takers and Cognouza without her. A Mighty Nein with Beau is like a lioness without her roar or her pride.

honestly yeah I could see that happening. I always said something similar about Beau being the soul of the team while Jester is the heart because it's true. I think the nein would fall apart without her, not in a big dramatic way, but in slow sad drift apart because the stable one in their lives is gone and how does life go on. Beau wasn't always the gentlest but she as always there when anyone needed her. It's why she's the best friend of at least 3 members of the nein. She's Fjord's first mate, Jester's best friend, and Caleb's sister. Yasha was in love with her at the time they met the hag so losing her might fully break her, since she lost Zuala, lost Molly, and to lose another woman she fell in love with before it even had a chance to grow might have pushed her over the edge.

[potato-frenzy]

Excuse me while I get emotional about my own damn AU for a minute. Essek reappearing and setting for an arc with him at the side of Bell's Hells is sending my brain abuzz.

In the timeline of the story, Essek is in hiding for max a few months before he's given sanctuary by the Cobalt Soul and is expatriated to the Empire. He is no longer a citizen of the Dynasty and he's dealing with it as best he can, Caleb makes it easier to cope. He lives part time in Rexxentrum with Caleb and the rest of it in Zadash with Beau and Yasha, basically working at the Cobalt Soul as a researcher. This lasts until some circumstances force Caleb to suggest marriage so that he has some protections as a citizen of the Empire.

Essek takes the proposal, very easily accepting it as an arrangement of convenience and necessity. That is until the wedding itself, because Jester insists on planning one. It's modest, much to Essek's relief. Essek suddenly has to confront how they've sort of danced around their affections and the exact nature of their relationship. Essek tells Caleb that he wants this to be more than a marriage of means, he just wish it hadn't happened so soon. Caleb confesses that he had hoped to spend more time courting before this but that he never thought he'd be worthy enough to be anyone's husband. It's a dream come true and to know it's not just an arrangement to Essek makes it easier.

They're married six months before Safira falls into their laps. Essek is asked to accompany a caravan of refugees from a remote part of Xhorhas, I haven't figured out why for the life of me. He spends a great deal of time with a young drow girl who is heavily pregnant and cagey about where she's from. Essek doesn't get time to coax answers out of her before a freak landslide decimates the caravan and he ends up in a pocket with the girl who has gone into labor. He has a concussion and a crushed wrist and his components were torn off him somehow. He can't cast anything to get them out and by the time they're dug out, the girl has bled out and Essek is struggling to stay awake while he clutches the baby to his body.

No one can get the baby away from him, he hisses at those that try. Healers have to tend to him with the baby fussing in his arms. He manages to get debriefed and then immediately books it to get everything together to take care of this little girl. Caleb comes home to find him speaking with their neighbor, who happens to be a midwife. He's confused and hesitant but Essek is so set on keeping her, it's an unspeakably primal urge and it's terrifying but even worse is the idea of letting go of her. Caleb relents and there is a bit of a process to taking custody of an orphan, made easier by the fact that she's a refugee. Caleb makes a few suggestions of names, Deirta among them. Essek names her Safira, a tribute to Jester who was the first to so aggressively pursue his friendship.

They settle into parenthood messily, Caleb's work to undo the Assembly and his teaching career. Essek's work at the Cobalt Soul and the struggles of being a drow in the Empire. There's pain, there's nights where Essek thinks he might've been widowed. Essek almost kills someone for knocking his daughter's pram over in the market one afternoon. He keeps her strapped to his body until she learns to walk.

Things get even more complicated when a town near Zadash is razed by gnolls and Caleb happens to be in town and assisting the survivors when he finds a small human boy around Safira's age, about two by now. A child alone in the husk of a burnt building wrapped around the charred corpses of his parents. Caleb takes him right then and there, bringing him home to Essek and Safira. Another orphan with no relatives that is simple to adopt.

His name is Leonidas, he and Safira get on like eggs on toast. They love each other and see no differences. He learns to call Caleb 'Vati' quickly but can't quite manage the words that Essek tries to teach him but latches onto 'Muti' when Caleb makes the joke. They both call him 'muti' for a few months until Essek tries to teach them 'mother' and Safira lisps it into 'mavver', to which Leonidas insists on 'Mavi'. No one can stop them from chanting 'Mavi' for an hour. Caleb finds Essek weeping that night because of how close it sounds to 'Umavi'. In the eyes of these children he's perfect, no matter what. They get used to 'mavi' and 'muti' being used interchangeably.

Leonidas comes with challenges, between night terrors and the fact that Essek cannot be seen alone with him in public without people thinking he's been kidnapped. Versus Caleb being seen alone with Safira and being asked where he 'bought' her. Or someone implying that he knocked up a nasty 'crick'.

They spend more time in Zadash and Nicodranas when they can. But within their home it is paradise for them, they're a family. And one day Caleb comes home from school to find Essek in the kitchen with the children when they're about four. Stirring a pot of jam with Safira on his hip and Leon on the counter while they sing counting songs. Caleb has only one thought as he embraces his family. "Let's have another one."

Essek makes a hair brained suggestion that Caleb recklessly agrees to and they set things in motion to facilitate having another child purposely that is fully theirs. Essek does not struggle with the long, gruelling process of bringing this about like he expected he would and has much to consider throughout. There is joy to be had in it all as they share it with the Nein. Though telling them that Essek is pregnant is as and involved as you would expect and Beau points out they wanted another kid and were wizards about it.

I include a lot of my own headcanons regarding drow traditions surrounding pregnancy and childbirth and that's a whole post on its own. But eventually they have their son Rua. A little half elf that is both of them. But for whatever reason, maybe due to how he was conceived, he very obviously has albinism and is very frail.

It is not long after that Caleb has to join Beau on the mission surrounding the Malleus Key and then the events of the Solstice and Trent. Caleb returns to Essek long enough to spend a short time with his family before he has to go on another mission. Essek has to keep his family safe, moving them to a safer location. Travelling a ways to do so.

And then Essek receives the request to accompany Bell's Hells.