Tina
The winding corridors of the Blue Palace weren't as inviting as the grand halls and richly decorated studies and rooms. The only people who moved here were servants, and the occasional noble or guard. Salenthrial stood alone, gazing out a window that had view of the harbor. His dark robes blended into the poorly lit corridor. The beams from the window illuminating his form, casting a warm glow on his golden skin. The mer stood, hands clasped behind his back, lost in contemplation.

Salen waited for his comrades to finish up with their meetings. He was summoned with a handful of higher ranking officers to go over some concerns with the Solitude Guard. Salen found it dreadfully dull, after an hour of watching his superiors go back and forth with the captain of the guard he was blissfully released from his station, and was told to go on shift to watch the door. The study they had chosen to speak in was deep within the halls of the keep. The foot traffic was little to nothing, and Salen decided to walk around. 

He found the view outside of the castle interesting, watching the men of the harbor move about. He moved his head away from the view to scan the hall, hearing footsteps.
Jared
Those footsteps were soft and gentle, as though cast under an illusory-auditory charm. 

Varis Xai'Shen made his way down the hall, on his way from Sybil Stentor's study, where they had just spent the past few hours discussing means of higher energy efficiency for the process of transmuting organic flesh into metal. An extremely obscure topic, and one Varis could likely never perform, but something he gladly took the time investing calculations into. 

A massive book was held at his side, covered in bookmarks and tabs that was of varying colors and scribed with dozens of words in extremely small print, making every tab, supposed to be a quick reference to a page, was its own document of material. 

Varis' eyes were focused on the floor, as he held a hand to his chin, stroking his goatee as he pondered solutions, algorithms, and possibly different origins. 

Until, his nose shifted, and his nostrils flared. The tatted Dunmer looked up, and his attention went toward the study he passed by, and raised an eyebrow as he heard whispers of the matters inside. The wizard glanced about, and realized another pair of eyes were looking at him. Down the hall, by the window facing the harbor, an Altmer stood, apparently scanning the hall, and locking on the sorcerer. 

His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the robes. *Thalmor*.

Varis grinned a little, before placing his free hand behind him and walking forward, slowing his pace as he reached the Altmer. "Must be tedious, or, extremely important business, to find Thalmor within Blue Palace walls." The Wizard raised his chin a tad. "I presume the matters are being discussed there, hm?" He gestured with a glance toward the door to the study Salen's comrades were in. 

Varis was a strange person, even as far as Dunmer went. The ostentatious, purple, sage robes that draped his form in folds and silks, alongside the plum-black tattoos inked across his face, and his vibrant, purple eyes bleeding into a purplish skin-tone. Not at all like the Ash-irritated eyes and skin of other Dunmer. Though, despite all the luxury, there were obvious scars along his face and neck, as though he had been lashed at many times, and lived to tell about it.
Tina
Salen narrowed his eyes as Varis approached, his mood darkening. He turned to face the Dunmer, the light from the window now illuminating the right of his face, exposing his massive scar. As if a spell came over him Salen straightened, hands moving to cross over his chest. The corner of his mouth twitched, desperate to turn into a frown. Salen gave Varis an analyzing gaze, noting his accent, his garb, the tattoos. 

"Nothing that concerns you..." Salen muttered out. "This is an official diplomatic meeting, of upmost importance, I suggest you continue on your way Dunmer." His tone was cold, almost bored sounding. Salen glanced over his shoulder down the hall where the meeting was being made, the chatter was audiable but barely. Salen was told it wasn't heavily classified, there was no harm in a few words catching the ears of passerbys. The meeting would have been in the Embassy if it was pertainant. Salen didn't want to throw his weight around with the dunmer, thinking a warning would suffice.
Jared
The Sorcerer raised an eyebrow gently, as he provided the Altmer a gaze that traveled up and down the man's height. "Hm." He turned his head back toward the direction of the noise. "Of course. All such meetings with the Thalmor, behind closed doors, are official business. Nothing concerning the likes of the common man." 

Varis looked toward Salen. "A typical stance. Though, they are not my focal point of interest. You are."

The Wizard turned his gaze from Salen's good eye, to his scar. A look of curiosity followed, easily. Open curiosity, as if he had no manner or decorum about him. Salen, likely being an educated fellow, could possibly recognize the fashion and jewelry that made Varis a visible member of House Telvanni. The bonemold jewels hanging from his ears aided that, as the Daedric runes were paired with a sigil of the House's crest on their backs. 

His eyes were on the docks below as he said, "Whatever they are talking about behind those doors, is clearly of little importance to you. Either you were dismissed, or you let yourself out. If dismissal; to guard, which," He glanced toward Salen. He did not finish his sentence, only grinning, then looked back to the docks. "If the latter, then your mind is on far more important things. No need to share." Varis looked back toward Salen. His demeanor was not mischevious, but amused. Not the jester's sort, but a Noble's, who was inspecting someone for prey, or predator. "Though, I do wonder, what do you see when you look at the harbor? This window offers a stellar view. Something made you pick it. I can only wonder what." Varis turned his head back to the docks, his mind racing with who he had to speak to there, and who had to be put in their place.
Tina
Salen's jaw clenched as the Dunmer brought up his interest in him. Another glance up and down at the other mer and he recognized the house sigils upon his person. He ground his teeth together slightly as he listened to Varis, eyes following him as Varis glanced out the window. Salen stifled an annoyed huff. He relaxed his arms to the side of his body. 

"I am on watch while my superiors finish their meeting. You have no need to concern yourself with the likes of me..." Salen muttered out. His eyebrow twitched. Normally he would have grown more harsh, now would be the time for a well placed threat and a looming glare. But perhaps not this time. It had been a while since Salen had been indulged with a conversation that did not revolve around paperwork. And if anything, threatening a Telvanni wizard was an idiots move. 

"I am simply enjoying the view, Solitude is nice this time of year. The Sea of Ghosts brings in it's best creatures as it warms..." Salen gives the window another glance, seeing a flock of tern's fly high above the water, and quickly out of view. The window, was dreadfully narrow, only so much of the horizon could be viewed.
Jared
The Wizard paid attention to Salen, but as he noticed things, he did not avert his gaze. His gaze was an algorithm, so to not seem as intimidating as he actually might have been. No one needed his eyes to gaze into their soul within the first few utterances of a first impression. Though, that did not stop his lips from pulling up into a grin as he heard the man dismiss himself. 

Varis turned his gaze back unto Salen as the man spoke of the beasts within the Sea of Ghosts, and how lovely they were this time of year. The Wizard's eyebrows rose a tad as his grin lowered, back to a more neutral, but still amused, thing. "Ah, that is does." His eyes narrowed a bit. "Though, as you say, you are on watch. I suppose that means I should leave you to it," He turned his head a bit, to look at the door to the study, before he chuckled a little. "But, if I leave you to it, we both miss out on the event that a danger breaks through that door and your Superiors have to defend themselves."

Varis looked back to Salen. "And, if they cannot defend themselves, why protect them at all?" A soft chuckle as he leaned against the wall opposite from Salen, looking back toward the narrow window, and its horizon. "I must say, it is the first time I have seen you." He looked back to the Altmer. "I make a habit of remembering faces. And, I surely would not have forgotten yours. Is it classified business that brings you to Skyrim, or more, mundane reasons?"
Tina
Salen rolled his eye and glanced out the window once more, he then stepped away and turned towards Varis. "My superiors hardly need my protection." He scoffed lightly. "I'm just here to make sure no one in this palace thinks they can evesdrop and get away with it." Salen scanned the hall. Having to turn his head to compensate for his blinded eye. "People in this province have a habit of not minding their business." Salen let out a sigh and shook his head. 

As Varis leaned against the wall Salen stood steady. His brow knit together as Varis mentioned never seeing him before. He took offense to it slightly, assuming it had been a dig at his appearance.
"I have been in Skyrim for decades now. I don't make it a habit to socialize with the... Good people of Solitude. It's not exactly a place for scintillating conversation." He sniffed and motioned towards Varis. "But, I could say the same about you. You stick out like a sore thumb, I'm shocked I haven't heard of you. And considering that they allowed you into this castle, you seem to be a person of some, importance. How long have you been in this province?"
Jared
The Wizard raised an eyebrow as Salen mentioned the people of the province not minding their business. Varis almost spat out a retort. *What province would let you speak behind closed doors after you stomped on their religion, as inferior as it may be?*

Though, he remained close-lipped, and raised an eyebrow as Salen explained his placement in Skyrim, and how long he had been in the province. Perhaps Varis had been neglectful of the Thalmor figureheads within the province... Though, if he was in the province for decades, why was he not *One of his superiors*? Was he lazy? Or, was there something about him that made him undesirable? 

"I sympathize. Socializing with the majority population of this province is abominable. Though, if you know where to look, you can climb quite easily." Varis took an intake of breath before he continued, "As for myself, I have been in the province for about, three weeks. I had correspondence with the Court Wizard for some time before I came here, and I work with her on research and all manner of issues. As for why they allowed me in the palace," 

Varis chuckled a little. "They would let pigs and cattle in here, if there were any close enough to stumble their way in." The Wizard turned his head to look about, inspecting the passageways, before looking back to the Altmer. "Now, about a matter of, *Minor*, comradery." Varis gestured to his eye, mirroring where Salen's scar was. "We both see each other's scars. I got mine from a ill-summoned Scamp. As a child, it was a nasty beast to cut open when all was said and done. I do hope you got to cut open whoever gave you your's, if you don't mind sharing." A grin formed as he placed his book in front of him and both hands over it, holding it up as he watched Salen carefully.
Tina
Salen let his expression soften slightly, once Varis mentioned the lack of... Filtration the palace had. "My general outlook on the locals is quite low, but I am amazed at the manner of 'beasts' I have encountered in these halls. It seems the... Civility of Skyrim is centered within her cities." He paused for a moment. "Three weeks, new arrival, that is probably why I haven't seen you. Or any knowledge of a Telvanni wizard has crossed it's way into the ears of the Thalmor. Though, I don't know why you'd collaborate with the court wizard here, did the College of Winterhold not have what you are looking for?

Salen sighed slightly as Varis mentioned their shared facial scars. He flexed his jaw in tension, as if remembering the pain of the wound. Salen felt a tinge of disgust as Varis recounted the scamp he summoned. He had a distain for daedra, but not enough to call out a mage who was training his arcane prowess. Salen moved his hand up to touch his scar, but stopped. His expression seemed tense, his good eye staring off into space for a moment. He shook his head and told Varis of his injury. "I normally wouldn't humor questions about it, but since it's marred so much of my visage I will share. A Nord mage got the jump on me, one of those filthy rebels during the whole... Civil war debacle. Hit me with a bolt of lightning. For that he was gutted like a fish. He tasted dominion steel, but I regret it was not my own sword that ended him."
Jared
The Wizard raised an eyebrow as Salen asked him about the College of Winterhold. "The College is many things, but chief among them; slow. It is too easily accessible. No murdered novices for the sake of a good position, no quarrels or arcane duels to the death," Varis grimaced as he pondered the passivism of the College. "No. Sybil and I have been joint theorists for some time, and I prefer being in a place with economic backbone. A poor wizard, is a lousy one."

"As for the scar," Varis nodded. "Thank you for the tale. I hope it was a painful death. As much as our people are not on the best terms," A slight grin formed. "It is always satisfying to know when a Man is put in their place."

Varis looked out toward the harbor. "As for that whole Civil War, a tragedy. The effects are still felt in the economics of this place. The Empire did their best to bring this place back into the fold, but," He turned his head toward Salen. "It lacks infrastructure. Another reason why I did not go to the College, or that shanty-town Winterhold. A lovely view from the Sea, an abysmal pit-stop."

The Telvanni's crassness and brutal way of describing the College was evident of a distaste for the institution. One could imagine that when a wizard is raised around immortal Magisters that walk like Daedric Lords within their cities, they have a lackluster opinion of other places of learning. 

"What of you? What brought you to this, *Illustrious*, province? Assignment, or, exploitation?" A grin formed, as the latter word was used quite positively.
Tina
Salen blinked slowly as Varis told him his reasons for not going to Winterhold. "I can agree, it is a shithole. I narrowly avoided being placed there a few years ago, But, my talents were better served at the Embassy than at the collage. Miserable and cold place. I guess if there is any where in this backwater province to set up shop, Solitude would be the best. Pinnacle of the Nordic civilization." Salen almost appreciated how much the other mer hated Winterhold, truly the two months he had suffered there while with a troupe of Dominion soldiers was enough to last a lifetime. Western Skyrim suited him better, at least during the warmer months. 

Salen frowned when Varis asked him about his service. His assignments were never top secret, but he felt shame at how he had no upward growth since coming to this region. His peers had come and gone, though there was little ove between them. A bitterness crept through his being. "As if there would be anything to exploit in this cold, dark, region. I was assigned here at the beginning of the war. To make sure my Superiors are safe, to keep the Embassy running, and to make sure no one tries to worm their way into Thalmor business. Or from trying to be the next big hero for their backwater country" He narrowed his eye.

Salen let himself relax slightly. In a way it was a comfort to find someone who could whinge about Skyrim with him. His shoulders lowering as he shifted into a more comfortable, less formal stance. But his bones were ready to spring back into formation if he heard his superiors open the door down the hall.
Jared
The man was becoming comfortable. Sharing information. Opinions. Gradually, business. Varis watched with nods and approvals, as the Altmer's words spoke true. At least, until the matter of worthlessness in the cold, dark region. Varis grinned a little at this, but said nothing. 

"Fair enough. Even I would help stop another Bear of Markarth from trying to test their mettle against the institutions of the current day. As for what can be exploited here," A chuckle. "Natural resources, abundant. Perhaps not in ebony and other precious ores, but *Bodies*. Labor is a powerful thing, and to exploit the culture, civilization, and industry of an entire people? Such is the proper use of the colonies of Man."

Varis raised an eyebrow. "Such mesmerizing stories you must have. I wonder, any recent Talos worshipper meetings squashed?"