I think the fact I tried is the most important part

[yaban]

Yaban: *looking at a city map* okay, she said she was volunteering at the animal place, just where IS i--*smells it* ah, that way

Lúthien: *wearing a plain linen dress with her hair all braided up to keep animals from chewing on it. She has a colorful parrot on her shoulder and leads for a number of dogs in both hands as she takes them for a stroll around the streets near the sanctuary*

Yaban: Hey! Hey!

Lúthien: *looks over at him and smiles* Yaban! *she pulls the dogs over and they all come along with her* How are you?


Yaban: *reaches down to cautiously pet one of the dogs* I'm good! I felt like there was som beauty missing in my life and decided to come pay you a visit at work

Lúthien: *smiles brightly* You flatter me. *thinks for a second, then rearranges some of the leads in her hand so she can pass one of the smaller dogs to him* Come, walk with me.

Yaban: Hello there. *looks down at the puggle* this is a dog, right?

Lúthien: *nods* Yes. This one is mine.

Melui: *not on a leash like the others* Woof!

Yaban: she's a beauty. *silly bow to the dog* Princess of canines

Melui: *sits on her haunches and holds up her paws, then barks again*

Lúthien: *proudly* I taught her that.

Yaban: the dogs back home were bigger than her and much fluffier

Lúthien: I would not have guessed there were so many kinds. Most of the ones I'd seen before coming here were for hunting. *considers* Then again, you do come from the far future. Perhaps there weren't so many types in my time.

Yaban: well, dogs are interesting. They're all dogs, but you can make them look like all sorts of things if you breed them with the right other dogs

Yaban: sort of like how I don't look like Grima, but we're both humans

Lúthien: I think you both being human is about the only thing you have in common. He's one of the most unpleasant people I've had the chance to meet.

Yaban: he's been all sucking up to the new girl. It's weird seeing him act normal

Lúthien: Who is the new girl?

Yaban: a Rohirrim named Idis. I get along with her, weirdly

Lúthien: It's good that you do. I imagine it'd be difficult working somewhere if you couldn't get along with your colleagues.

Yaban: And always acting as polite as you can so no one thinks you're some sort of savage

Lúthien: I don't think you're a savage. It's a shame others would think as much.

Yaban: I sometimes feel like my history was written by someone with a bias

Lúthien: Isn't it? Those who win the wars get to say who was right and who was wrong. *turning down a side street so they stay within the vicinity of the animal sanctuary*

Yaban: no, it's like history was against us from the beginning. We've always been on the losing side

Lúthien: I am sorry, my friend.

Yaban: if you get the chance, turn Sauron into a squirrel

Lúthien: *smiles* I'll do what I can.

Yaban: My heroine. What's it like living a life of leisure here?

Lúthien: *gives a little shrug, which causes the parrot on her shoulder to squawk and flap. She laughs as it clambers around to her other shoulder.* It's so different from life in Doriath, and yet very similar in ways. I never worked before, but I enjoy helping with the animals, and offering what wisdom I have to Turgon's council.

Yaban: what do you all discuss, anyway?

Lúthien: Matters of state. How to protect everyone, how to handle newcomers, and similar issues.

Yaban: no making fun of us?

Lúthien: *grins* That's a secret. *shakes her head* No, no. Come now. There are humans there, too.

Yaban: *nod* No easterlings, though

Lúthien: None, but I'm certain that Turgon would add an Easterling dignitary to the council if one came forward.

Yaban: You know, I don't doubt that. I'm not sure how great an idea that would be, with some of our leaders

Lúthien: I'm afraid I don't know enough of your people's history to judge the worthiness of your leaders.

Yaban: You tended to get high up via how much you pandered to the... less than savoury elements of our rulership

Yaban: otherwise you'd argue with them, and get your head lopped off

Lúthien: *makes a face* But not all your people are like that, obviously.

Yaban: oh, obviously. Humans are terrible at being a hivemind

Lúthien: I can see that. There's so much to learn about you, and so many branches of humanity throughout history.

Yaban: see, that's why I love being a historian. You're starting to see things the way I do

Lúthien: I don't have this opportunity back home. There isn't nearly as much history to study.

Nuala: *coming around the bend, holding a drawn map in her hands and looking slightly disoriented*

Yaban: *loses the grip on the puggle's leash as it suddenly races after Nuala*

Yaban: ack!

Lúthien: *picks up the pace to chase after the dog*

Nuala: *crouches down and grabs the leash when the dog comes up and starts to dance around her* This yours?

Lúthien: Yes! Thank you for grabbing her. *looks to Yaban* Would you mind?

Yaban: *takes it quickly* sorry, sorry. Little beast. *scolds the little dog*

Puggle: *whine*

Yaban: *sighs and pets*

Nuala: *reaches down to pet it as well, then stands* I don't suppose either of you knows where this place is? *shows them the map, with the animal sanctuary drawn in on it* I got turned around.

Yaban: If you want a dog, you can have this one. He likes you more

Nuala: *shakes her head* No, I'm afraid not. I'm in need of some livestock. *to the dog* Sorry, babb.

Lúthien: There are all manner of beasts there. *points down the road* Turn left at the next street and walk for three blocks. You'll see the sanctuary by a great open field.

Yaban: *reaches up to stroke the parrot's head* I like that there's animals from home there.

Parrot: *tries to climb onto his hand*

Nuala: *smiles* It's beautiful.

Yaban: *lets it on*

Yaban: ha, just when they're being nice. They can be real monsters

Nuala: I wouldn't know. I've never seen its like.

Yaban: There was a fruit tree int he courtyard where I was a historian back home. If they thought you'd come to take their fruit...

Lúthien: I imagine they made a great racket.

Yaban: Oh yes. At some point someone taught one of their ancestors how to wolf whistle and they all taught it to each other

Lúthien: Some of them can even talk.

Yaban: oh yes. The chief of my village had one that was fifty years old and you could practically hold a conversation with it

Nuala: A bird that lived fifty years? The people of my village scarcely live that long.

Yaban: they're ornery, smart, and live forever.

Yaban: Do not recommend making enemies

Nuala: I'll keep that in mind. *makes an 'I'm watching you gesture at the parrot, who merely squawks and climbs up Yaban's arm to perch on his shoulder*

Nuala: I ought to be on my way. *bows* Thank you for the help, m'lady.

Lúthien: Of course. *smiles and nods*

Nuala: *gives the puggle another pat on the head before waving once and making her way down the road*

Lúthien: *moves along ahead with with the dogs*

Yaban: I seem to be taking on more of your animals

Lúthien: That was my plan all along. *grin*

Yaban: Hmph. *pats the parrot* Don't get too attached, ruby bird. I'm not in the market for a pet

Lúthien: He already loves you, I'm sure.

Yaban: I'm more interested in love from things that look a little more like me

Lúthien: *raises her eyebrows in amusement*

Yaban: *joke leer back at her*

Lúthien: *laughs and shakes her head* Alas that it can never be. I already know the name of my future husband.

Yaban: oh, so it's set in stone?

Lúthien: I have not met him yet, but I've been told that my great grandson has arrived in the city.

Yaban: you break my heart, Luthien

Lúthien: Forgive me, friend. *sad smile* It's not easy for me, either. To know the future, that it's been written... it's a burden.

Yaban: *mock sigh* Oh well.

Yaban: maybe we are destined, ruby bird

Parrot: *squawks* Ruby~!

Yaban: *chuckles and pets the parrot*

I do wonder how she expects her future to happen.