#c1e65

[mysterious old man flips tarot card revealing a woman who looks exactly like Vex sticking her tongue down the throat of a white-haired nerd with glasses]

So... as the title suggests, I've realized upon several rewatches of Beau and Yasha’s amazing first date that it actually has unintentional parallels to the moment where Keyleth confessed her feelings to Vax. Bear with me as I take the time to share as many of the parallels as I can recall off the top of my head.

#1: Taking place in the midst of THE first big world-changing arc of the campaign, full of so many things at stake.

The Chroma Conclave arc.

vs.

The Somnovem arc.

#2: Still in mourning over the loss of a friend.

Vax and Keyleth mourning the death of Tiberius.

vs.

Beau and Yasha still mourning the loss of Mollymauk.

#3: Mutual wingmen supporting them in their coming together.

Keyleth: "I had an interesting talk with Pike here recently, and she said something that really stood out to me, and that was that some people just have more of themselves to give."

vs.

Beau: "I told Caleb, since I wanted to start over, I wanted to start over. So my request was a little bit of a walkthrough of places we’ve been and some of our favorite hiding spots."

#4: Grateful for any reason to be together... but even so, a declaration leading to a love confession. A declaration that has that feeling of, "Yeah, I know. You said your piece, now let me say mine because I'm done hiding."

Vax: "It doesn't matter to me what this is. What we call it. If you are willing to spend some time, any time, with me, then I will simply count myself lucky to have it. You're very dear to me."

Keyleth: "You're talking too much".

vs.

Beau: "I just want you to know, just before we continue this... whatever this night is, that I have no expectations and... at the end of all this, if it just... you have the reassurance of knowing that I'm somebody that you can come and talk to, if you need to, and that's... that's enough for me."

Yasha: "I feel the same way... but at the same time..."

#5: Regrets about being distant... and no more hiding.

Vax: "I know with all that's happened, between my new patron and my sister pretending to gag literally every time we attempt to share a word together, and mostly my own being fucked up in the head for weeks now, that I've pushed all of you away. You most of all. Because I've been afraid you would-- I'm sorry. And you didn't deserve any of that."

Keyleth: "For the longest time, I was terrified that I was going to lose you. First to death and then to the Raven Queen, which is still kind of like death, and then ultimately to yourself. [Then the aforementioned recollection of Pike.] And I realized this whole time that I was afraid of losing you to a future that ultimately has not yet been written, which is stupid."

vs.

Beau: "When I was in Kamordah, that fear of losing this family? I almost sabotaged it. Just so I wouldn't have to deal with the angst and the anguish of wondering if and when and how this family will fall apart. Like ripping off a band-aid that was never there, or I guess over a wound that was never there. Just trying to rip it off for the pain and nothing else."

Yasha: "I've been trying to keep my distance from you when I found out that he was listening and they were watching, but... I've had a lot of people in my head and I don't want to give them you. I don't want them to know that I care about you, because I don't know if they're going to use that in some way. But... fuck it, I guess."

#6: Confessions that catch the other off-guard, or even the one confessing is taken aback, and then the mutual reciprocation that acts as a balm of relief.

Liam actually answered in an AMA that he was taken by surprise but in-character and out when Keyleth confessed to Vax. Keyleth, however, was very much done with hiding. Vax’s response happens when the dust settles and he fully processes what he had just heard:

Keyleth: “But you're ultimately right. We have nothing to lose. I love you, Vax. And I'm sorry for being me, that it took me this long to say it.“

Vax: “(laughs) I’m sorry.

Keyleth: ”Yeah. Me too.”

Vax: “I love you. That's pretty fucking great.”

Keyleth: “That is pretty great, yeah!”

vs.

Yasha surprises HERSELF as she blurts out when she fell in love with Beau, who is also a little taken aback. And Yasha didn't intend to let it all out like that.

Beau’s response happens long after the (glittering) dust settles and they’re in the hot tub:

Yasha: “Things really changed for me when we went to Kamordah. And I saw you with your family and I got a glimpse into how your world was growing up and... (sigh) I fell in love with you in Kamordah.”

(later on, in the Steam’s Respite recreation)

Beau: “Hey.”

Yasha: “Hey.”

Beau: “I love you, too.”

Yasha: “That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.”

#7: Wings, of course. Also... Liam, Ashley, and Marisha: all three of them having an effect on both pairings.

Vax has wings. Yasha has wings.

And both are love interests of Marisha's PCs.

Pike through her everlit heart and empathy helping Keyleth and Vax overcome their fears and eventually come together.

vs.

Caleb through his love language of magic helping Beau and Yasha find a moment of happiness and safety so they can overcome their fears and eventually come together.

#8: A mutual embrace of love that transitions to the end of a scene.

Vax tackles Keyleth onto his bed, they no doubt cuddle well into the night among other things to cement their newfound bond as lovers... and the "pan to the fireplace".

vs.

Beau holds Yasha close, they enjoy the show of fireworks before later "reflecting" on their newfound bond as lovers... and the steam covering the camera.