I Could Stay All Day

Writers: Ames, Heather
Date Posted: 9th December 2013

Characters: Famell, Shilara
Description: Famell seeks out the company of one of his crafters and the two get a bit more comfortable together
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 4, day 2 of Turn 7

It was a lovely day and Famell was feeling the urge to take a walk. He
had not major pressing matters to deal with, so he'd closed up his
office and was headed down through the hall when he paused in thought.

**A walk is much better when one has company,** he mused. One name
came to mind. Someone he wanted to talk with more and get to know
better. Shilara.

He knew she would likely be back in the suites set aside for the
masters to work. He turned and headed that way. Didn't hurt to check,
and if she wasn't there, he could just be passing through.

Shilara was exactly where Famell had predicated. Currently her short
hair was nearly standing on end, and she swore if she looked at the
hides skewed on her desk one more time she was going to go cross eyed.
Still, the senior journeywoman loathed giving up right when she felt
close to a break through with her research. She looked over at the
plate of meatrolls she'd been working on all day and spotted one that
was still half eaten. Popping the remaining roll into her mouth, she
chewed on it while her brows furrowed with thought.

"Ah ha!" She said, spewing crumbs as she jabbed a triumphant finger
into the air, dove for her stylus and made quick scribbles on her
ledger.

He walked in just at her exclamation. The sight that met his eyes
amused him to no end. Her hair was askew, crumbs were flying, and yet
she looked so excited by whatever she was engaged in that her joy
seemed to radiate from her. He stood there, quietly a few moments,
watching her, a smile playing on his lips. It had been a long time
since he'd felt a connection to another woman, and especially one who
made him want to laugh and smile like he felt right now. It made him
feel young and alive again.

Clearing his throat a bit, he moved further into the room, "Exciting
work going on in here?" He asked, a hint of the amusement in his voice
and definitely evident in his eyes.

Shilara whirled around, a hint of a blush on her face as she grabbed
up a crumpled napkin and swiped at her lips, "Famell!" She seemed to
think about her hair then as she ran her fingers through it to try to
tame it some, "Sorry, I look like a mess." She laughed.

"I stayed up through the night..." She explained before clearing her
throat, "Anyway, you walked in as an epiphany struck."

"You look lovely, Shilara," he remarked with a slight chuckle of his
own. "I like the look of work in progress." He moved closer. "So what
was your epiphany?" He asked, raising his eyebrows in question. He
couldn't wipe the grin off his face at the way she looked. He imagined
her looking that way waking up in the morning and _that_ thought
nearly sent the blood in his body pooling somewhere else. It had been
too long. Far too long since someone had piqued his interest the way
she did.

"Can't say," she grinned, "because it might be complete and utter
garbage that I will ditch later. Besides, you'll see the finished
product when I turn it in for review." Shilara began shuffling papers
together into semi-neat piles. She worked hard and diligently in the
hopes that her request to be a Master would be approved some day. Once
she was satisfied that her desk wasn't _as_ messy as before, she
flopped herself down in her chair, steepled her fingers together, and
beamed up at Famell, "Now, what brings the Hallmaster to my office?"

"I guess, I just happened to be walking by, wouldn't be all that
believable now would it?" He was still grinning at her, though his
eyebrows were raised as though he willed her to believe it. Her
office, however, wasn't exactly on any beaten paths around the Hall.

"Actually, I was in the mood for some company. I was hoping you might
be free to join me for a stroll along the beach?" He knew it was
asking perhaps more than she was interested in. He wasn't
acknowledging that there was more to his request than met the eye.
Even _he_ hadn't really realized his full interest in her. Yet, he
knew she intrigued him, made him feel young and full of life once
more. She made him feel a joy he hadn't felt around people in quite
some time.

"I would love to!" Shilara stood from her chair, "I could use some
sunshine today." It made her heart flutter a bit at the thought that
Famell sought _her_ out from among all of the other crafters at the
Hall. She would take that as a good sign that he might return her
interest just a bit. The Hallmaster was a catch, anyone could see
that, and she was sure that there were other women who would have love
to take a stroll with him.

"Wonderful!" He replied with a smile as he stood up straighter.
"Having you with me will definitely brighten my otherwise lonely
walk." He waited a moment for her to do what she needed before adding,
"Shall we?"

Shilara crossed her office and hooked her arm through Famell's, "Lead
the way, sir." She smiled.

He smiled at her and started walking. It felt good to have company.
Different than just talking with one of the fellow dolphineers, but
actually _company_, someone he wanted to spend time with.

It didn't take them long to find their way out of the Hall. He led
them to the nearby beach area and settled them into a leisurely pace.

"I do enjoy sunshine, free time, and good company," he said, looking
towards her.

Shilara smiled up at the man, "I do too when I can work it into my
schedule." In the hand that was not looped through Famell's arm, her
sandles dangled by their leather straps from her finger. She loved the
way the velvety sand felt beneath her bare feet as they walked. As it
was with most dolphineers, the beach was the place where Shilara was
most happy.

"You need to work more free time into your schedule," he said, looking
at her with a smile, "I know I wouldn't mind getting to see you more
often." His own schedule was often jam packed, but he did try to find
time to just sit back and relax whenever he could.

"There's a great spot over there," he pointed just up ahead to a small
inlet he loved to sit at and allow the water to wash over his feet.

Once they were settled where their feet could reach the water, Shilara
sighed and leaned against Famell, her shoulder brushing his, "You are
right, this is a great spot, so calming."

It was comfortable. It felt right. Famell smiled and found his arm
easily wrapping around her.

"I could stay here all day," he whispered softly, truly meaning
exactly what he said.

Last updated on the January 19th 2014

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I Could Stay All Day