Who: Shawn Hunter and Tauriel What: Matchup Where: The woods When: before age plot Warnings: probably not Status: complete gdoc
Things were slowing down a little at the studio, which Shawn expected given the time of year. He figured that they’d pick up again next month with parents wanting school pictures. And then it would be holiday time. Of course, now that Ash was gone, he was going to need to see if he could find another part time assistant to help out when things got busy. For now, he could handle it.
Since he didn’t have any appointments today, he decided to head out to the woods and take some new nature shots for his portfolio. It would be good to plan ahead in case people wanted to order prints as holiday presents.
A slight rustling alerted him that someone was nearby. “Hello,” he called. “I’m just taking some photos.”
*** Tauriel found she enjoyed her job, teaching others archery was more rewarding than she had ever thought it would be. Jobs were not really a thing in Middle Earth, not in the same sense they were here anyway. Her job as Captain of the Guard had been more of a purpose and an honour. Not something she needed to do in order to earn money to survive, that had been a rather large learning curve. But thankfully herself and Kili wanted very little therefore they had managed to live well here.
Today she was not teaching so had returned to the woods she found so peaceful, practicing on the targets others had set up before. When she heard the call she moved forward to see who was speaking, “I am glad you said, had my shooting gone astray I would have regretting putting an arrow in you” she told him but with a small smile to show she wasn’t serious. Her aim would never be that terrible.
***
Shawn would have also regretted that despite having a girlfriend who’d be able to magically heal him if he was seriously injured. “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he said. “I had some free time and wanted to spend a little time outside.” He missed traveling all over the world even though he loved the life he had here in Madison Valley.
***
“Not at all” Tauriel replied shaking her head, “Spending time outside is something I encourage all to do. Especially in surroundings such as these” she gestured to the trees. “You were taking pictures?” she asked, recognising the machine he was carrying even if she didn’t know how to work it.
***
“Yes,” Shawn said with a nod. “I own the photo studio in town, but I also take pictures of different places and things and sell the prints to anyone who’s interested.” There were a lot of artists in town, but a serious dearth of art coming in, so he felt like he was providing a valuable service.
He paused for a moment before continuing. “Would you be willing to let me photograph you while you’re shooting your bow?”
***
“Oh, I have seen things like that. It is impressive, we have nothing like it where I am from” she told him with a smile before raising her eyebrows, “Me? I certainly have no objections if you are sure it would be interesting to you” She couldn’t imagine why he would want to see her shooting but she was willing. Perhaps she could get him interested in archery.
***
People liked action shots and she was an intriguing subject. Shawn grinned. “Thanks,” he said. “I’m Shawn Hunter.” If he was going to take her picture, he probably should introduce himself. That was only polite. “I’ve been in town for almost two years.”
***
“You are welcome” she smiled, inclining her head, “I am Tauriel, it is nice to meet you. I have been here around eight months. Two years is a long time, did it take you long to settle?” she asked curiously.
***
“Not really,” Shawn admitted. “I showed up here at the same time as my niece and her best friend and having to be responsible for them made me settle pretty quickly.” And he’d gotten lucky with Cory and Topanga showing up not long after that, even though they weren’t here anymore.
Now Maya was his daughter and he had Liz. The only thing that could make his life better would be for Cory to return. “Have you settled in okay?”
*** “I’m sorry to hear it was so hard for you” Tauriel said, “I am still adjusting. This world is very different from my home. Currency, jobs, even the town is not something I am used to” she admitted, as they walked towards the targets that were set up for the archers in Madison who wished to practice. “But I am lucky that my beloved Kili is here with me, it has made things better”
***
It had been hard, but Shawn wouldn’t change anything. “It is easier when you have someone from home,” he agreed. Especially if things were completely different he suspected. That was one of the things he was grateful for; this town was pretty comparable to a lot of the places he’d visited in terms of technology and customs. Sure, he missed New York, but it wasn’t like he’d never been to small town America before.
“Okay, are you ready?” he asked, changing the lens on his camera to something more suitable for shooting action shots.
***
Tauriel certainly appreciated having Kili around and while this world was unlike anything she had seen before she was not one to back down from a challenge.
“I am” she replied with a smile before raising her bow and focusing on releasing the arrows to hit their targets.