#I went back and forth on what Asheera's favorite books would be

[optiwashere]

A.5 Asheera and Shadowheart? i wouldn't know who would be gushing to who about the book though. SH has an obvious choice but what would Asheera read and be passionate about? Asheera must have some good reads!

Thank you so much for requesting this one, Bear! 💜 You're right, Shadowheart's enjoyment of books has been brought up a few times in my fics before, so why not...

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A5. Character A gushes about their favorite book with Character B

"You can't be serious? These are your favorites?"

Shadowheart flicked through the pages of a rebound collection of poems that Asheera had taken with them from Baldur's Gate after they met with her parents. The years weren't kind to the original binding, and Asheera missed the poems within the one Shadowheart held. Tales of lost loves and longing were especially poignant when told by Asheera's favorite wordsmith of them all.

The books, collections of poetry and technical manuals of forges, now rested on a meager shelf in the sitting room of their cottage far away from the ravages of the past. Their home away from the hurt of the past.

"What's wrong with them?" asked Asheera. "They're beautiful."

"This one compares a woman's eyes to glowing blue orbs. And this one?" Shadowheart showed her the flowing script of one of Asheera's favorites. "Isn't the darkness imagery laid on a bit thick?"

"It is, but that's what's so good about it. Mournsoul really touched my heart with these poems," Asheera explained, carefully taking the book from Shadowheart's hands. "And laid on thick? There are so many comments I could make on that, but I'll spare you."

"Don't spare me anything. What kinds of comments?"

"Well, to start, one of us was a Sharran. And it certainly wasn't me."

"And?"

"It's a bit like the pot calling the kettle black?"

Shadowheart grimaced. "Fine, I suppose I have to give you that one. But the orbs? What's your stalwart defense of that, love?"

"Oh, but it's not so terrible in context, is it?"

"What possible context could there be to describe eyes like that?" Shadowheart asked with a short laugh.

Such an earnest little noise. It was joined by a smile that creased the scar on her cheek and showed off the laugh lines on her face.

Asheera countered, "The subject of the poem is a stunning enchantress. Don't wizards like magical orbs?"

Shadowheart laughed again, this time openly and louder until her eyes shone with the humor. It was a precious thing. Such a beautiful look on her face and Asheera couldn't look away.

She placed her hands on the backs of Asheera's and closed the book Asheera held. She stared up at Asheera with that smile still ghosting her face.

"If you ever compare my eyes to orbs," she whispered, "I'll really struggle not to drudge up some old Sharran interrogation techniques."

Even hearing her joke about something that sat unwell with her for years was its own beauty.

"Oh? Think you'll be able to hold me down long enough?" asked Asheera, setting the book down wherever she could. She didn't take her eyes off Shadowheart. "I've been known to overpower you, you know."

"I'll manage." Shadowheart still smiled, but a different light was in her eyes. "Unless you think you can stop me?"

Asheera settled her hands on Shadowheart's waist, broad palms covering so much of her body. Felt perfect underneath her hands like that. Shadowheart's found her hips, and they both dug in with insistent fingers.

"Shall we see?" breathed Asheera.

A particularly strong grip drew a gasp from Shadowheart, whose eyelids drooped to a lidded stare focused on Asheera.

As Asheera walked them back away from the sitting room and towards their bedroom, Shadowheart muttered, "Lead the way then, my Lady paladin."