This is rather awkward...

[the_white_lady]

I've been here a while now, and not seen another Rohirrim. Wouldn't you know, the first one I meet is... my uncle. Sort of.



Eowyn: *goes off to the market in Gondolin*
Theoden: *on his break, sitting on the edge of a fountain eating his lunch*
Eowyn: *notices him as she walks past; thinks he looks rather familiar*
Another guard walking past: *waves and yells out a 'hey, Theoden!'
Theoden: *waves back*
Eowyn: *freezes when she hears his name*
Theoden: *breaks off a bit of his apple to feed to the koi in the fountain*
Eowyn: *turns to stare at him*
Theoden: *looks up and sees her looking at him and gives a little awkward smile*
Eowyn: *not sure if she should approach him, but... decides to, and smiles back* Hello.
Theoden: hi! *smiles up at her* Can I help you with anything, ma'am?
Eowyn: Er, did that guard call you Theoden?
Theoden: *suddenly wary* Yes. It's my name. It's a common name. *knows it isn't*
Eowyn: *shakes her head* No, it isn't.
Theoden: maybe not in your time.. *squirms*
Eowyn: Are you from the future?
Theoden: of course. No humans look like me from this time
Eowyn: *nods* From Rohan, then?
Theoden: yes...you are too. *squirms* What would you like?
Eowyn: *introduces herself* My name is Eowyn. I'm... we're related.
Theoden: how? I don't know any Eowyns
Eowyn: Well.... um. I'm your niece. You wouldn't know me yet. *this is all rather awkward*
Theoden: *wide eyed* are you sure?
Eowyn: *studies his face - yes, this is definitely the Theoden she knows, only much younger* Yes. I'm sure.
Theoden: *opens his mouth to ask questions, like who her mother is, then stops himself* ...please don't tell me about my future.
Eowyn: Very well.
Theoden: ...sorry. That was rude. Um. Sit with me?
Eowyn: *wary; obviously speaking to him was a bad idea* I don't want to disturb you.
Theoden: please? ...I haven't got any family here and it's lonely
Eowyn: *well, does understand that* Okay... *sits beside him*
Theoden: *offers her an apple*
Eowyn: *takes it* Thanks. So. Um. How long have you been here?
Theoden: a year or so.
Theoden: you?
Eowyn: About 3 months. Very odd to find myself standing in a fountain.
Theoden: I ran into a wall, I was in the stables trying to catch a kitten when I suddenly vanished
Eowyn: I was sitting down to dinner with my husband, all of a sudden I was here.
Theoden: it's not bad here. At least.
Eowyn: No.... not bad. *does miss home*
Theoden: ...but I guess it's harder for you. 'cause you had a husband. And kids? *does a little guess, not good with ages* And grandkids?
Eowyn: *nods* Yes. All of those. I worry about them, with me gone. But still, you must miss your family too.
Theoden: *little nod* a lot. And... that's why I don't want you to tell me. I don't want to find out if they died.
Eowyn: I wouldn't tell you that.
Theoden: it could slip. *fiddling with his braid* what do you do here?
Eowyn: *frowns* I'm a healer.
Theoden: I'm a guard. I guess I just haven't injured myself often enough to have met you yet
Eowyn: There's not a lot of human healers here, so I suppose you'll run into me eventually.
Theoden: well, I mean, I just ran into you.
Eowyn: Yes. I meant as a healer.
Theoden: *kicks his feet* where do you like?
live
Eowyn: I have a little cottage on the south side of the city. They'll let m have it so I could have a garden for growing herbs, for healing.
Theoden: Oh! I was talking with my friend Theodred about getting one of those, since I've lived here long enough to qualify to get out of the apartments
Eowyn: *bites her lip when she hears the name "Theodred"* Yes, those are nice.
Theoden: and it'd give my cat more room to stretched his legs
stretch
Eowyn: That's nice, that you have a pet.
Theoden: you probably won't say nice when you meet him. He's got a definite Gondorian catface
Eowyn: ...when I meet him?
Theoden: yeah. My cat
Eowyn: Ooh. Yes, I see. *didn't think Theo would want to interact with her*
Theoden: he's friendly. Even with the fangs and the claws and we gave him a bath the other night so he's sort of clean now. But he's been rolling around in the dirt to fix that
Eowyn: *smiles a bit* Sounds like a charmer.
Theoden: he broke into my apartment. In that rainstorm a bit back. *snickers* Theodred thought he was a monster and screamed
Eowyn: *just pretends he's not saying Theodred*
Theoden: *obviously warmed up to Eowyn* will you come over tonight?
Eowyn: Er.... I am not sure.
Theoden: oh, why?
Eowyn: I don't think I could promise never to slip. What if I said something accidentally, about the future?
Theoden: ...oh. Um. *sad look, really had wanted some family here* ...we could deal with that. If it happened
Eowyn: *nods* Well. Okay.
Theoden: I just... sorry. I didn't mean to get weird so fast.
Eowyn: Well, it's a weird situation. It's okay.
Theoden: ...I could answer questions for you, though. If you want
Eowyn: *shakes her head, smiling* No, that's okay.
Theoden: okay. I mean, I just, I'm always ready to talk about how cute Wynnie is, or how Sexburg's dad's favourite, or how Noniel's probably trying to figure out if she can dress as a man and take my place
Eowyn: *nods, still smiling; heart aching just a bit* All good stories.
Theoden: ...okay. Actually. I do have a question about the future. *leans in, looking young and worried* are you a niece from my sisters, or from my cousins?
Eowyn: *shortly* Your sister.
Theoden: oh good. My cousins are jerks and my sisters are great
Theoden: so I bet you're pretty good yourself *little smile*
Eowyn: *amused* I rather think so.
Theoden: I do want to be friends
Eowyn: *honestly* I would like that too.
Theoden: besides, I could use an elder around. I've had no one to go to for advice
Theoden: Except Theodred, but he's just a few years older
Eowyn: *rather odd to be older than him* Well, that would be fine.... *does miss her kids*
Theoden: it's been *weird* being on my own.
Eowyn: I bet you are unused to it.
Theoden: yeah. I've always had family around me. And it was nice. Not suffocating like I've seen people claim
Eowyn: I have 6 sons, so it's a noisy family.
Theoden: whoa. And I thought my mom had a lot
Eowyn: *smiles*
Theoden: I'm sorry. That you're separated
Eowyn: I do miss them, and my life there. But.... it's nice to have a friend here.
Theoden: and I'll introduce you to mine!
Eowyn: *smiles* Good. Now where should I come tonight?
Theoden: sure. *rummages through his bag for his notepad, usually for crime stuff but useful also for giving addresses to people*
Eowyn: And what time?
Theoden: I get off shift at five, so six would be good? It gives me time to clean and get food
Eowyn: Okay, can I bring anything?
Theoden: dessert?
Eowyn: I will bring something nice.
Theoden: thanks! I'll invite Dred over too.
Eowyn: Okay. *tries to smile* It will be nice to meet him.
Theoden: He's great. He's a guard too
Eowyn: He's a guard too? Seems like a good job for the Rohirrim.
Theoden: yeah. We're so good at being honest. *awkward look* You know, when we're not lying about not being princes
Eowyn: *grins* There's that.
Theoden: please don't think I'm horrible for that. *offers another bit of food to the koi* I'd be no good at government advising, and I don't want the other guards knowing I grew up as someone who ordered guards around. I had enough trouble making friends with them in Rohan. I never really succeeded
Eowyn: Well, I'll keep your secret.
Theoden: thanks. Is there anything you don't want me telling people?
Eowyn: *thinks* No, I don't think so.
Theoden: *holds out his hand to shake* pleased to meet you
Eowyn: *takes his hand* Pleased to me you too, Theo.