faderift | { OPEN } The mood it changes like the wind

WHO: Ellana and open
WHAT: Getting acclimated to Kirkwall
WHEN: Bloomingtide 4-11
WHERE: Gallows, dock, the city
NOTES: Nope.

{ the gallows }
It doesn't take much convincing for Ellana to take one of the free rooms available for the Inquisition's use. She's grown used to having her privacy and especially a nice bed, so when she comes with the second group in late Cloudreach, she's quick to claim a space. That said, there are times when she's amenable to company, even when not seeking it out, and she leaves the door to her room open so anyone passing can stop in. Sometimes she's reading cross-legged on her bed, other times she's playing her lute, the sounds of a bad note occasionally slipping through followed by a frustrated sigh.

{ the docks }
Ellana sometimes stops by to see friends who don't want to live in the Gallows, or to meander around the stables. Other times, she sits on the edge of the docks with her legs swinging, eating an apple or bit of bread as she watches the boats in the harbor. There's often a thoughtful look on her face and from time to time she'll look up at a passerby to ask: "How far do you think it is to Antiva by sea?" or "Have you ever been to Rivain?"

{ lowtown }
She doesn't expect a warm welcome at the alienage, but she mentions she's a friend of Merrill's and some elves are willing to talk to her. The fact that Ellana doesn't lecture them about how wonderful life would be for them in a clan helps, and when she mentions she's voluntarily left hers, there's a smug satisfaction on the faces of the others. But Ellana just shrugs and moves on, asking them about the city and knowing better than to show any pity for their lot. They make do, and she respects that.

When she leaves, it's still light out, but she has heard of the dangers of Lowtown even during the day. So with a wave of her hand, she sets the stealth spell she created on herself and slips back towards the gates at the docks. Maybe you're making your way back as well, and suddenly the space beside you that you swore was empty a moment ago is occupied by an elf with a smile.

"Hello. Heading back? Mind some company?"

{ for felix }
The Gallows is a big place, but there are some areas that Ellana frequents and it's not too difficult for Felix to find her when he needs her. Like now. She's just left the walled in herb garden and is walking across the expansive courtyard when she sees him after he's already spotted her. Her face brightens and she lifts her hand in a wave, moving to meet him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Smiling, Ellana splits her bread in half, offering the bit she hasn't been nibbling on to Sina. For awhile now, it's been hard to know just where she stands with Sina. There's no doubt she's very traditional in her beliefs, and Ellana has gone almost the completely opposite way. Not as vocal in her disapproval as Twisted Fate has always been, but lately Ellana's never been happier, and that's because she has the freedom of her whole life ahead of her with no clan to return to. There are plenty of ways to be an elf, and Ellana's found hers.

"It's strange, in a way," she admits, taking a glance around them. "A city of stone doesn't seem like a great place. No grass under our feet, for starters. But it has potential." Potential for her plans. The best way to get skilled at something is to practice, and Kirkwall is the perfect location for her training.

If nothing else, her long stint in Skyhold has taught Sina that there are ways to love the People that involve loving others as well, instead of shutting them out entirely. There's still much caution to be exerted, but being friends with Korrin and Araceli, and Jamie, and however many other humans has convinced her that there is common ground to be found. A part of her will always find it tragic that so much of Skyhold's Ashara defected, but based on what she's heard, it's more a fault of the clan than of its individuals.
Perhaps it was just too big.
...and it's about to get bigger.

"Potential," she repeats, a bit shyly, "I suppose so. I don't know anything about building."

"Oh, well that makes two of us," she replies with a soft laugh. "I meant potential with me running around, trying to be stealthy. It's a new thing I'm doing, so I can contribute more with scouting." She never got her feet wet with this sort of thing back with the clan. The furthest she was allowed to wander was just out of earshot of the camp in order to gather firewood. She wasn't like the hunters perched in the trees, spying on hapless shems coming through. All she's learned about stealth, she learned from one of Sister Leliana's scouts, who trained her. And now she's expanded on it with magic.

"A crowded city with narrow paths is perfect to try and get around without being seen."

Sina echoes the laugh, but quiets herself rapidly in favor of listening to Ellana. It's strange, with everything happening between the clans, and Sorrel, and that whole situation, how fascinating Ellana still is to her. Her perfect mouth, her silky honey-colored hair--
"--yes," she says distractedly, after a moment, realizing her mind has been wandering. "...um. Is it?"

"Yes," Ellana says with an amused expression. Sina seems to be a little lost. Maybe Ellana is babbling in her excitement? She'll try to tone it down. "It's perfect because it's a challenge, you see. I'm more likely to be seen or bumped into in a crowded place like Kirkwall, so it's the perfect environment to test out my stealth spells, to see if I can get by them unseen."

"Stealth spells," Sina repeats, sounding impressed, if a bit confused. "What about your flame magic?" It's not that she thinks poorly of Ellana for deviating from her previous specialization, she just... doesn't know what to think about it.

"What do you mean?" she asks with a puzzled smile. After all, learning a new set of spells doesn't erase the previous ones from her mind. And these new spells will go so well alongside her ability to shapeshift. Ellana will be like a phantom, sneaking in and out of places with the information needed and only leaving a sense of unease and confusion behind -- if even that.

"Oh, I just," Sina begins, and realizes she isn't completely certain what she just. Her job is to learn Keeper magic, and that's what she does. All other magic is absorbed into that line of schooling. But Ellana...
...isn't a Keeper in training, despite her heritage, despite her predilections. It's different for her, more like a human mage.
Sina has thought about this before, but never been confronted by it with such obviousness. "...that sounds interesting," she decides, instead of going traditionalist on her friend. This situation doesn't fit her accepted reality, and perhaps that's all right every so often.

Hey, you can blame your future mother-in-law for that one. Ellana would have loved to learn Keeper magic growing up if she'd just been given the opportunity. But no; you make a child feel useless and like she doesn't have a place as a mage and she starts looking elsewhere for opportunities, like outside the clan.

"I'm really excited about it. I've never been the best fighter, but I want to contribute some way. Missions where we don't even have to fight and can just be stealthy might work better for me."

"I'm sure you'll be great at it," Sina replies, her smile broadening ever so slightly, "and I... can't deny I prefer the idea of you in a non-combat role. Based on what people get up to." Based on what she herself has gotten up to, but she tries not to think about that.

"Based on what I have gotten up to in the past," she says with a self-deprecating smile. Ellana bears the scars that show she hasn't made it cleanly out of every skirmish or battle since joining the Inquisition. They're hidden beneath her clothes, but she nearly lost her life once, and had severely broken bones another time.

"Ma serannas for your faith. I'm going to do my very best."

"I know you will," Sina says softly, her smile broadening. She falls silent for several moments, just gazing out at the water, her mind roaming elsewhere. When she speaks again, her tone is uncertain, almost shy.
"I'm going to be bonded," she murmurs, "this month. To Sorrelean Ashara."

Despite Kirkwall being a noisy, busy city, there's something comforting about staring out across the water. For Ellana, she sees freedom and adventure awaiting her just a ship's ride away. Everything is so new and exciting for her, like her life has only really just begun since joining the Inquisition. The world is wide open to her now, and she's going to keep pushing forward to see what she can accomplish.

And so when Sina delivers her news, Ellana's heart sinks. Anything to do with clan life just feels like the world is closing in on you instead. Her first reaction doesn't show on her face at all, but it's pity. Pity for Sina and for Sorrel too. Not because they aren't wonderful people, because they are, but because neither favors the opposite sex. She doesn't think they'll be miserable, but it's a bonding based on the needs of the clan, not on love. Ellana can't help but be glad she's not in their place. It may be a selfish thought, but Ellana is selfish; Beleth told her so straight to her face, and why deny it? Ellana is concerned with her own happiness first and foremost. Besides, what she's doing out in the world for elves by searching ruins will do them more good than her being stuck in the clan miserable all the time.

Her expression is surprised for only an instant as these thoughts of pity run through her head. Then she nods, eyebrows lifting slightly.

"A formal joining of the clans, then?" With Sina and Sorrel proud to do their duty to their clans, prolonging the years a newly combined Dalish clan will stay in isolation while the world moves on around them. "Sorrel is a great person. Very sweet and funny. I wish you both every happiness."

{ OPEN } The mood it changes like the wind

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