Taylor
Salen stared at Varis as he spoke, his eye twitching as Varis insulted the Thalmor. He held his tongue, had he not been in the presence of a powerful wizard, he would have struck.
He forced himself to be silent as Varis unveiled all the gruesome ways Salen could gain power. Everyword was anathema to him, these were not talk of small strings being pulled. 
The concepts that Varis presented were enough to have him killed, several times over. And yet, Salen let him continue. Perhaps there would be an easier, less risky powerplay.
Salen knew that was fictional, Varis spoke of the only way to truly get power. Talk was good, oh yes it was. But there was that one little fact about Salen that prevented it from becoming reality.

Salenthrial Jaelinoth, an already decisive figure within the Thalmor, would be the first his superiors would question when elven blood starts to flow. How easy it would be to give them a reason to finally kill him. 
Salen could practically imagine it, painful, slow, probably left out for the crows to pick over. His mother would then be next, and finally her assets could be re-absorbed back into Alinor. To fuel the next generation
Of Thalmor killers. What Varis proposed would work, but only if Salen was not Salen. Still though, A Telvanni wizard of Varis' caliber would be a trump card of epic proportions. 
And the idea of property investments would allow Salen an external income, one that may even get him off this miserable mountain.

Salen chuckled darkly. Finally speaking, A grim smile across his face. "Ah yes, murder. That is always the solution isn't it? Very well, I will take your advice on this matter. Perhaps it will do me some good."
His tone was rather agreeable, but his mind was racing. Once he got Varis his connection with Lady Jaelinoth, he could wiggle his way into some property deeds. So long as he went under an alias he could prevent his superiors
From catching a whiff of his paper trail. Yes. Perhaps there was a way to get back. Money always greased wheels, and if his mother could bribe her way into retaining her power. Then Salen could bribe his way back to the motherland.
So he hoped. 

Salen knew he had to be low-key with it. If he truly matched what Varis was suggesting, he would be punished for his arrogance. Being on the shitlist of the Thalmor was already bad. If he was upfront about his assets it would likely land a dagger in his back. 
Patience, he would have to be patient.
Mitchell
The Wizard watched Salen, watched his anger, the tense of his jaw if it happened, and would offer only a poker face of glee. There was no hesitance or fear in any of his words. Bluntness and cruelty laced his tongue as he spoke, and when he finished, he watched Salen soak it in, and come to a conclusion. 

His eyes narrowed slightly. 

No retorts, immediate disagreement, immediate, childish attempts at retaliation...

Then, when Salen seemed to be content in his focus, Varis lowered his smile into a neutral expression of satisfaction, and approval. 

"Excellent. All good things to those who plan."

Varis nodded his head toward Salen and said, "Your bitten tongue will prove very useful. Whatever your brethren did to you throughout your life to make it so well-tamed..." The sorcerer nodded his head and looked up to Salen's eyes. "I'm surprised you did not swindle them by now. Either you are a criminal, or a mutt. Whatever the case, so long as you succeed in the beginning stages of this plan, you will become exceedingly valuable to me. Should you require asylum, or assistance, after this plan is completed, I will offer it. Good luck."

Varis maintained the spell, but Salen would easily be able to walk through it and leave, lest he had any final words.
Taylor
Salen kept his face impassive as Varis finished speaking to him. As the Dunmer brought up his ideas of what Salens issue might be. There was a twitch amongst the mass of scar tissue, as soon as Varis spoke the word mutt. The warped skin shook as the blind, milky eye stared straight ahead. A reaction, one that Salen, could not suppress. "Loyalty to the Dominion is priority. Loyalty to the cause is priority. It does not further the cause to rise to anger. To deal with the lesser races, one must show that they are of superior quality... At least in public" It was a rule that had been drilled into Salen over the years. How ironic to use it now, when working against the very government Salen had devoted his life to. 

"I will plant your amulet once I return to the embassy. Farewell." Salen uttered with only a marginal amount of distain. He walked away from Varis, pulling his cloak closer to him. Salen disappeared into the crowd quickly. Making his way back to the entrance of the city. 
He would ponder his actions on his hike back to the keep. There was the guilt, there was the shame. But for the first time in a long time, there was an air of hope. A little spark, something to keep him comfort during his long, boring shifts behind a stack of paper.
Mitchell
*Ah, the guess was right!* That glare, that reaction to the sudden prod, Varis provided no shift in his expression. As Salen bid farewell, Varis nodded, knowing that Salen had dared to suggest that *He* Was one of the lesser races. Such amused Varis, but he said nothing as he watched Salen shuffle away into the crowd and toward the exit of the city. 

The Wizard nodded to himself. He had made many gambles with his speech, but he had planted the seeds. Salen was already betraying his country for working with the Telvanni, especially with the collection of Northwatch Prisoners. Varis pondered how much power his merchant's safety held over his head. If he was exposed, how easily would it be for the Thalmor to threaten her? 

Varis had to make her *His*. That merchant was likely powerful, but as well-liked as Salen was. Should any future crimes come into light, and the man's superiors might threaten the woman, Varis would have to have a way to quickly escort her to safety. As such, he would gain both of their gratitude. And in their gratitude, they will prove their worth, through their work. 

The Sorcerer nodded as he placed his hands behind his back, prepared to enchant his two-way mirror, and prepare the runes for transport should it be necessary.