[center][h2][color=6ecff6]Salem[/color] & [color=black]Zeke.[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr][hr][center]A collab between: [@HaleyTheRandom] & [@Zetsuko]
[b]Location:[/b] Guild Headquarters.[/center]
[hr][hr]

Salem would be the first to arrive to the meeting, as usual. Zeke had some explaining to do. Salem had caught he and Lana talking in the back room of the store just a few days previous, and had overheard quite a bit of the conversation. Salem did not approve of the young man's actions, and wanted a simple explanation as to what the hell was going through his mind at the time. Legs crossed, arms folded, blue-grey eyes hard as stone, there she sat, waiting. 

Zeke arrived at the meeting room after Salem, the events of the day before still in his mind. Part of him was nervous knowing that Salem wasn't to happy with him after what happened, and would likely be even less so if she knew about the offer he'd made. He wouldn't be telling her about that one. Seeing Salem as he walked in he looked right at her for a moment before his eyes cast down, nodding slightly and only saying one word in greeting [color=000000]"Salem"[/color] before taking a seat in front of her and waiting for her to speak.

In response to his greeting, Salem raised her left brow in an ‘oh, really?’ expression. His greeting very well could have been worse. Adjusting her position in her seat to where she was sitting up straight, she took a deep breath to steady herself. She couldn’t rightfully sear his skin off just yet. [color=6ecff6]”Zeke,”[/color] she responded simply. [color=6ecff6]”Mind starting by telling me what the other days conversation between you and Lana was about the other day?”[/color]

Zeke sighed and looked at her he spoke [color=000000]"We had only just met that day, neither of us knew the other was guild or shadow. We got to talking a bit and when she asked if I was guild I said no, I uh...I didn't want to be known as a member of the guild right away, that was when she told me she was with Dark Shadow and tried to recruit me. I just-in the moment I thought if I went along it could help us get to them, bring them down."[/color]

Taking yet another deep breath, Salem would ponder over his words for a brief moment. [color=6ecff6]”What you’re saying does make sense - I’ll give you that. Your intentions were… good, for lack of better term. But if you wanted to play your boyish game of being a spy, you should have came to me first so we could iron out all the details.”[/color]

Zeke nodded [color=000000]"I know I'm sorry, it was just in the moment. Didn't have much chance to think it through"[/color] He sighed before continuing [color=000000]"I wouldn't betray the guild to for them, not after what they did. Not for who they are"[/color]

She nodded her head. [color=6ecff6]”So was there anything that Lana said that I should know? Anything that may be remotely useful?”[/color]

He shook his head slowly in response [color=000000]"No, I'm sorry. You uh...arrived before anything could really be said"[/color] She really had quite the timing back there, yet still he was a bit disappointed with himself for being unhelpful. Of course the other side of him was less...forgiving about her role in what happened, but he was able to keep that to himself this time.

Pondering his words for a moment, Salem pursed her lips before speaking again. [color=6ecff6]”Well. I’m not sure if she’ll trust you knowing that you’re part of the Guild now, but maybe… just maybe… you could play two ends against the middle here, Zeke. Perhaps convince her that you’re thinking of defecting and gain some information here and there. I’d greatly appreciate that.”[/color] It was a somewhat risky plan, but Salem did still trust him to an extent. 

Zeke blinked in surprise [color=000000]"y-yes, I'll see what I can do"[/color] he assured her [color=000000]"If I manage to see her again"[/color] This meant that if Lana did accept his offer for training and Salem found out he could use it as an excuse. He would almost be delighted if it hadn't left him with a new dilemma. Does he now betray Lana's trust again, she may have been an enemy but it was not something he liked doing regardless, or does he fulfill the task Salem is trusting him with and keep to her good side?

[Color=6ecff6]”Good. You’re dismissed,”[/color] Salem responded, getting up from her chair. [color=6ecff6]”Oh, and Zeke. Know that if I ever have any reason to doubt your loyalty again, I won’t be this forgiving next time.”[/color]