WHO: Christine, Ellana, Tessa, Minka, & Julian WHAT: doing various things throughout the latter half of Cloudreach WHEN: Cloudreach 15th - Cloudreach 30th WHERE: The Gallows
Prompts are in comments so I only get notifs once.
Freshly returned from the Gallows, Korrin steps out of her boat in time to catch that brief exchange. She's about to ask anyway, but Ellana meeting her gaze creates the perfect opening. She smiles, all sorts of curious.
"Eh, I won't judge. But what's all that about, then?"
"I just sent off the final edits of my book to my publisher. Varric is the one who made this all happen. Long ago he put in a good word for me with some people who publish his books, and when I finally got my journey all put together in a readable form, I mailed it to them." She blows out a breath, rubbing her sweaty palms against her lap.
"I needed to make a few edits and clean up some repetitive words, but it's all done now. Out of my hands and out into the world."
"...wow." Korrin raises her eyebrows, an impressed smile quickly forming. "Ellana Ashara, an author. Now that's something to celebrate. So, when will I get a chance to peek at it, do you think? Because I'll definitely set aside some time."
"I never thought I'd bear that title, and now that I'm hearing it, I'm thinking I should have penned a romance novel, since I know those so well." Having read every one she could get her hands on at some point.
"Oh, I'm hoping it's soon! Sometimes they can sit on the shelf awhile, but the publisher was so keen for me to get my final edits in because he said he was going to publish it straight away. We'll have to see if that ends up being true."
"I dunno, Varric might think of it as infringing on his territory." No, he probably wouldn't. Korrin smirks as she remembers how he avoided mentioning Swords and Shields, saying it wasn't his best work and he couldn't really write romance. But that won't stop her from teasing him, even indirectly.
"What is it about, exactly? It must really be something, for them to be that eager to get it out."
"I'm sure," she replies with fake seriousness. "Hopefully I haven't made an enemy for life."
Ellana perks up at the question, happy to talk about it. "About the journey I took to finally find the Sulevin Blade. I've always wanted to read something about elven ruins actually written by an elf, so I had to write something myself." Lowering her voice, she adds, "Don't tell anybody, but back at Skyhold, Merrill and I used to edit the books on elven lore. We'd cross out what was wrong and write the truth in the margins."
That gets an amused snort out of Korrin. "That was you two? I caught that, at least one time with an open book. Good thing, too, I skimmed it and the real text was drivel. Good for you, for giving straightening it out, and writing something from the elven point of view. That's something no human can ever really cover right, even with good intentions."
"Some authors were better than others, but it still wasn't the truth," Ellana answers with a sigh. "Either because they were pressured to portray the elves in a poor light by their publisher, or because they only knew the stories from others who were biased. That's why I feel this book is so important. And why it never would have gotten off the ground if not for Varric."
Even with his backing, she's still crossing her fingers that her final edit doesn't end up banished on a shelf somewhere. It's a real fear. Something that human authors don't need to worry about nearly as much.
"It's so strange to not be working on it anymore. I've been writing it since Skyhold."
"You can always look at it as an opportunity to write about something else, later on. Not that you have to push it; when you find the right subject, I'm sure you'll know." Korrin nods encouragingly, hoping there will be some room in the literary world for an elven voice. She wouldn't have had that optimism a few years ago, but the world then seems so different to what it is now.
"I'll remember to send Varric a bottle of the good stuff, when I get the chance. He's done a lot for friends of mine, and he deserves that much."
"That's true. I don't want to stop searching for the truth amidst the ruins and writing about them. I just need a new project." And she's not sure yet what it will be.
"He deserves it a hundred times over. I wish I could say that I got published on my own merit because the story was compelling, but that will be for future generations of elven writers, I hope. To get this work out there, I needed all the help I could get."
"Hey, nothing wrong with that. You do what works, and let the rest sort itself out later. If being here has gotten you the contacts needed to get your words out, then it's time well-spent. You can bet that everyone else is doing the same, in their own way." The Inquisition won't last forever, so people had better take advantage of such a huge network while they have it; especially those traditionally marginalized.
Ellana tilts her head in thought before she slowly nods along with what Korrin's said.
"You make a good point. I think I've had my head buried in this for so long that I didn't consider that others could be doing the same. Whatever works, I guess."
She's felt a bit sheepish about it, but not enough to deny Varric's involvement. It would be unfair to take credit for this accomplishment and call it hers alone.
"Well!" She slaps her thighs and stands. "It's done now. I shouldn't stand around forever. Where are you off to today?"
"Home, actually." Korrin gestures with her thumb towards the apartment block nearby. "There isn't much reason for me to linger in the Gallows today, so I thought I'd catch up on chores and have the place a little nicer for when Araceli gets back. You?"
"I'm not even sure," she says with a bit of a laugh. "Maybe I should head to the library and see if any of the other scouts are working on maps. I do enjoy that work." She lifts a hand and makes a movement like she's drawing. "I like drawing in all the trees."
"It's nice when productive and fun go together, isn't it? Well, if you catch me at the Gallows mid-day, let's go get lunch sometime soon. I'm not so busy I can't take a break now and then." And Ellana sounds like she's been working hard, so a break might be in order as well.
"That sounds like an idea. Tell Araceli I said hello?" It's been quite awhile since they had parkour lessons, and Ellana's had her nose buried in her book. She's managed to isolate herself a bit without meaning to.
"Absolutely. See you later, Ellana." Korrin claps a hand -gently- on Ellana's shoulder before smiling and moving on, in a better mood for having encountered the elven woman today.
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II
"Eh, I won't judge. But what's all that about, then?"
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"I needed to make a few edits and clean up some repetitive words, but it's all done now. Out of my hands and out into the world."
no subject
no subject
"Oh, I'm hoping it's soon! Sometimes they can sit on the shelf awhile, but the publisher was so keen for me to get my final edits in because he said he was going to publish it straight away. We'll have to see if that ends up being true."
no subject
"What is it about, exactly? It must really be something, for them to be that eager to get it out."
no subject
Ellana perks up at the question, happy to talk about it. "About the journey I took to finally find the Sulevin Blade. I've always wanted to read something about elven ruins actually written by an elf, so I had to write something myself." Lowering her voice, she adds, "Don't tell anybody, but back at Skyhold, Merrill and I used to edit the books on elven lore. We'd cross out what was wrong and write the truth in the margins."
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Even with his backing, she's still crossing her fingers that her final edit doesn't end up banished on a shelf somewhere. It's a real fear. Something that human authors don't need to worry about nearly as much.
"It's so strange to not be working on it anymore. I've been writing it since Skyhold."
no subject
"I'll remember to send Varric a bottle of the good stuff, when I get the chance. He's done a lot for friends of mine, and he deserves that much."
no subject
"He deserves it a hundred times over. I wish I could say that I got published on my own merit because the story was compelling, but that will be for future generations of elven writers, I hope. To get this work out there, I needed all the help I could get."
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"You make a good point. I think I've had my head buried in this for so long that I didn't consider that others could be doing the same. Whatever works, I guess."
She's felt a bit sheepish about it, but not enough to deny Varric's involvement. It would be unfair to take credit for this accomplishment and call it hers alone.
"Well!" She slaps her thighs and stands. "It's done now. I shouldn't stand around forever. Where are you off to today?"
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