{ OPEN } The mood it changes like the wind

[serannas]

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.

Comments

[wontforgetyou]

A brief 'oh' of understanding comes from him, but then she starts gesturing, and a faintly bemused expression winds up crossing his face. He's not quite sure what the shadowed spot has to do with anything, other than getting them out of sight - not a bad notion, if she's going to be playing with magic.

However, he's still curious enough that he's not going to question it too much, and rather than say anything else he winds up following her to where she wants to go. The explanation makes sense, though, and even though his brow's still ever so slightly furrowed, he winds up nodding again, willing to go along with her in order to see what happens.

"Aye, alright. Do...ah, whatever you need to do, then."

[serannas]

With a grin, Ellana nods, then places a finger over her lips for his silence as she disappears in front of him. Only not really. It's a magical disruption that causes the space she occupies to look like the space beyond it to the naked eye. Reaching out, she lightly pokes Jamie on the shoulder.

"Still here," she whispers.

[wontforgetyou]

Even though she's already explained it's a spell, it sure looks like she disappears to him. Despite himself, when she vanishes, his eyes go wide - and when she reaches out to touch him, he rather visibly startles as well before tentatively reaching out to try and touch where he thinks Ellana's hand may still be.

It might not be there, of course, but if he winds up looking foolish, she's the only one there that'll see. He can live with that. Just in case he misses, though, he makes himself whisper back, hoping that she won't decide to take off on him before he can figure out where she's actually gotten off to.

"Och, if I'd not seen it with my own eyes, I'd not have believed it. How long can you keep that up for?"

[serannas]

His hand does end up brushing against hers and she smiles back -- not that he can currently see it. It's fun to see someone so surprised at what she can do. The same happened when she first started showing off her shapeshifter skills.

"About fifteen seconds. That's when the mana runs out." But that's long enough when it comes to slipping out of sight or past a guard. There are occasions in the past when having this spell would have been handy, but at least she has it now.

There's about seven seconds left to her stealth, so she stays in place in the shadowed spot to come back out of it again.

"Pretty useful, don't you think?"

[wontforgetyou]

"Aye, I'll say!"

For all Jamie enjoys living by his wits, he's not daft. Something like that could come in handy - very handy, as a matter of fact. There's at least half a dozen times he can think off of the top of his head since he'd been pulled here where he could've used a bit of magic like that. And back home...

Alright, so it wouldn't have worked there. He knows that. But if there'd been something like that, it'd have been very useful indeed. That's neither here nor there, though, and he scans the shadows until Ellana comes back into view. Once she does, he flicks a glance around to make sure nobody else's turned up before he moves close enough that he can keep his voice low and still be heard.

"So are you going to teach the others here? Seems like the Inquisition could use something like that for the, ah, more stealthy sort of missions."

[serannas]

It's a question she figured she'd be asked, and she already has an answer ready for it. Shaking her head no, she says, "Think of how good all of Leliana's spies are. They're rogues. If I start teaching mages how to become invisible, it would step all over the rogues' territory. They'd be replaced. And plenty of people already don't like mages as it is; think how worst it would be if we all replaced what the rogues are really good at."

No, this is a discipline just for her. She created it, and will continue to tweak it as needed. It's just something she needs to do to be more useful; not something meant to supplant the system already in place.

[wontforgetyou]

That's something he hadn't considered - but she's got a point, and a faint grimace crosses his face.

"Aye, the last thing we need is more people getting angry, even if it'd be useful."

Mages have enough problems as it is, and even though the thought crosses his mind that it could benefit any mages who are a bit roguish like Ellana seems to be, it's likely not worth the trouble. For her, though, it's a handy thing, and the smile turns into a a bit of a crooked grin.

"Even so, you'd think someone'd have come up with that before. Since they've not, I'd say that makes you one of the cleverest lasses I happen to know around here." The other one he's a bit biased about, mind, so he hopes Ellana won't be too put out that he isn't calling her the cleverest. "How're you holding up otherwise, though?"

[serannas]

"I know, but I'm wondering if some mages haven't come up with it and had the same thought as me: that they should keep it a secret." Here she smirks, self-aware. "Well, somewhat secret. You know now, and I've been selectively telling my friends as I see them."

The compliment is well received, because Ellana really isn't known as clever. In fact, plenty of things fly over her head completely or are just too complicated for her to wrap her head around. Doing something that stands out to someone as smart, gives her such a confidence boost that she doesn't even notice that she's one of several. That's quite all right by her.

"I've been all right. I know this move has upset plenty of people, and I'm trying to be supportive while not mentioning that I don't mind it so much. It's closer to plenty of foreign ports, and a city is good practice for my new spells. Supplies can be delivered far easier, and the population can easily see us and what we're doing instead of us out of reach in the mountains. I'm sure some were suspicious of us for that."

[wontforgetyou]

He nods along with her thinking about keeping the spell a secret. Maybe she's right there, at that - and he decides then and there he'll not say a word. She has his promise on that, too, if she wants it. Even if he could explain it in a way that would make sense to someone - which he's fairly sure he can't - Ellana's his friend, and he's not about to betray her confidence.

As for the move...well, he's still not entirely convinced, and despite his best efforts, his skepticism shows through, just a little.

"Aye, well, maybe some of that's true, but I'm no so sure they're any less suspicious of some of us now that we're here." He's seen more than one person eyeing him when they think he's not looking, and not just because of the kilt. Even though he's taken pains to make his shard less visible, the looks still make him wonder. "Think sometimes they're more suspicious, because they're wondering what's going to happen with us in the city."

[serannas]

"That's true, but it'll pass in time. After we've shown we're trustworthy and that they have nothing to worry about, the citizens won't be suspicious anymore." Plus everything else she said is still true. The city is a better location for them, and they still have their mountain base for safety too.

Of course, right now, people aren't sure what to think of them, as several people stare at the pair walking back towards the docks. But perhaps the fear or suspicion coming from them is better than the alternative, which is confrontation. Ellana really isn't in the mood for that sort of nonsense. As a member of the Inquisition, she's not bound to the walls of the alienage at night. She'll go where she pleases.

"So where have you set up to lay your head at night?"

[wontforgetyou]

"Mm, maybe so." Privately, Jamie's still not so sure the citizens will ever get to the point where they won't be suspicious - but it could be that Ellana's got the right of it, and they'll be able to change the local's minds. Or some of them, anyway, which'd be better than nothing. They'll have to see.

For now, unless someone decides to do something other than just stare at them, he's simply not going to worry about the looks. They are what they are for now, and unless someone wants to confront them, it's probably for the best he just leaves that part of things alone, even if he doesn't particularly care for being stared at. Besides, it's nice to talk with Ellana again, even if it only winds up being for a little while. He's missed it.

"Have a place down by the docks, though, where they've set up quarters with the others. It's a bit cramped...er, it was, anyway. Not so much, anymore. But it's no so good as the place I'd fixed up back in Skyhold. Where'd you decide to go?"

[serannas]

"I've got a room in one of the towers," she replies as they get back to the docks. "I've grown far too used to having my own room, and since this was an option, I went for it." With the Inquisition in complete control of the Gallows, she has no fears about staying there. Her history as a mage has been completely removed from the Circles and it's not a place she reviles. It's what works and she'll make things easier for those in charge while quietly recognizing that her experience is far different to other mages.

"They say once the city is more open to us, we might be able to move elsewhere. Do you think you'll stay on the docks or look for another place?"

[wontforgetyou]

"I might do. Depends on where they'd let us go."

He can't quite see them being allowed to have full range of the city, but there'd likely be a few places they could go that he could work with. None of them would be exactly what he'd want in a place of his own - but considering what he'd always wanted for a place of his own is in a world he'll likely never wind up seeing again, he'll have to come up with some way to make it work. He glances around them to make sure nobody's close enough to hear, then lowers his voice some, just to be on the safe side.

"Not sure that the rifters'll be allowed to get too far afield anyway, unless we can finally figure out what to do about these shards. Otherwise I'd see if I could set something up outside the city, if I'd my choice. Maybe a spot where I could grow a few wee things."

[serannas]

Ellana leans in a little, though it's only for show since her elf ears have slightly better hearing than the average human. But she does it to show she's paying attention, and she nods in understanding, keeping her eyes forward but quietly answering back, "I think it's better for you if you're close together. Less pain that way. But I get what you mean about the Inquisition wanting you close. I hope not too close. It's isn't your fault. You should have some room to roam."

[wontforgetyou]

"Suppose that's true enough."

Jamie's been away from some of the others for extended periods of time before - long enough that he's started to feel some of the pain she's mentioned. Closing rifts helps, but it's better when there's other rifters around, and he's never entirely been sure why that is.

He doesn't much care for it, though, especially since it does mean he can't roam, as she puts it, and his mouth tugs off to one side briefly before he gives her a reluctant nod.

"Aye, I'll not argue with you there. Maybe you're right, though. And if being here means we'll finally be able to get some answers...I suppose it's alright enough. Hey, you're not doing any of the research on that part of things, are you?"

[serannas]

"No, I'm afraid not." She always meant to help Galadriel with that, but now Galadriel's gone and Ellana isn't counting it as a priority anymore, no doubt because the ethereal elven woman from another world had had such an impact on her and with her gone, so is Ellana's interest in studying rifts.

"But you could, couldn't you? Who better than one of the people brought in through a rift, right?"

[wontforgetyou]

"Now, I'm no so much one of those scientist types," he points out. That's never really been his sort of thing, in large part because so much of it tends to go right over his head. When it comes to studying a rift, someone with those sort of inclinations might be a better choice, even if there's not really a lot of scientists around Thedas.

But there is the fact that he has come through a rift, and it's not as though he hasn't helped people who like to study things before. He may not always understand what's being said, but he can still lend a hand when it's needed - and when it comes down to it, he would like to figure out what's going on. So while there's a pause after he speaks, it doesn't last long, only long enough to allow him to nod briefly before picking the train of thought back up again.

"But aye, I'd like to know what's going on with these marks before it's too late. I may not be as good as someone who's more clever, but I'll do what I can to help. Although...I'll admit, there's other things I'd not mind doing, if I get the chance. Ones that'll get me out and seeing people, rather than being cooped up poking at marks all day."