[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/tC2m2rwL/Zast.webp[/img]	 
[h1][color=78d15a]Interviews & Consequences[/color][/h1]
[hr][b]Interacts with:[/b] Silvestri [@Force and Fury][hr][/center]
[hider=The Interview]
Upon seeing all the valuables stored in the Forked Tower, ones he could only lightly loot in the revolution, he was filled with the sudden altruistic desire to become a teacher for the good of the children here. But before he could be given the keys to the castle, he needed the job. Putting his best foot forward, he was only lightly intoxicated as he entered with his Dark magic godsweave suit. 

The was a bit of awkward climbing as he climbed the human sized seat. But he played it off cool by assuming a relaxed position. "The pleasure is mine." He replied to nothing in particular as he picked at the food on display. He did not have good table manners; he displayed a particular lack of caution in regards to his diseased hands and the finger food.

"Ah, I see you eat like a disgusting slob!" High Zeno Silvestri replied. "Refreshingly honest. The food is delicious." He circled round and clapped Cawuio-Zast lightly on the shoulder. "One shouldn't stand on ceremony." Neutralizing the effects of the mana disease with his chemical and binding magics, he nonchalantly took a bite of some focaccia. "Now, why the sudden moral awakening, Mister Zast? I'd been led to believe you were quite the mercenary sort."

[color=78d15a]"I take no offense, Mister Silvestri."[/color] Concluding his fit of recklessly engorging himself on finger food, Zast politely cleaned his hands with Chemical magic and adjusted his suit.

[color=78d15a]"The answer is quite simple really. The mercenary way of life has its costs. I've found myself with a sudden urge to help the children of this school as a way of justifying to Dami-Zept the purity of my character."[/color] He lied through his teeth. [color=78d15a]"Plus the wages are nothing to scoff at."[/color]

Giancarlo smiled. "One could even say... an epiphany, even." He nodded thoughtfully. "I have heard of people who've had those experiences. Why, did you know, in the temple of Ahn-Khamun in Torragon, just such a man is buried?" He continued to circle, skewering an eyeball-sized bocconcini and swallowing it. "Emperor Az-Mahur." He waved the bit of trivia away. "So, you would consider yourself something of a religious fellow, then?"

Zast had no clue what he was talking about. [color=78d15a]"Doesn't seem to ring a bell. I'm not completely foreign to your profession, but I kept my business more on the procurement sides of things."[/color] He did wonder about the weight of gold the archeologist would have taken from such a tomb.

[color=78d15a]"As far as prayers go, I like to keep them light. I never had much interest in servitude, but it takes a very blind man not to realise who holds the cards."[/color]

"Mr. Zast, I must say, you've impressed me." The High Zeno gestured around the room, to take in his various artifacts: those that were still in the process of being analyzed, catalogued, and placed in their proper context. "Though some have told me that I am easily impressed. So, I bring to you an offer: this very moment, you may walk out of here with either of those two -" One was a golden sculpture of the Xochi Sky Serpent and the second was an ancient sirrahi artifact of simple steel and complex manufacture. "Or you may stay and take your chances with this job. What do you say?"

Zast very visibly licked his lips upon looking at the two artefacts. But managed to restrain himself and grinned instead. "Now you are speaking business, Silvestri. I've always thought that our chosen professions were one and the same. You'd see them every so often in An Zenui, a bunch of Constantian 'archaeologists' who would go into the temples and just so happen to consider all the valuable items of 'great historical import' then they would whisk the jewels away back home. Not that I particularly mind; I respect the grift."

Realizing he had gotten away from himself, Zast straighten back up and continued. [color=78d15a]"But no, Silvestri. You'll find I can't be easily bought like that. I will take my chances on the job..." [i]I'll be back. I'll be back and I'll be excavating them both out of your hands[/i][/color]

[color=78d15a]"Also, you might want to check up on that snake statue ya got there. I bought a similar one just last week in Mudville."[/color] Zast reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out what appeared to be an identical statue, which he let drop to the ground. Of course, the statue was much larger than Zast's coat pocket to a comical degree as well.

Giancarlo tilted his head to the side, unreadable for a moment. "An interesting take on the field of archaeology," he admitted. "So perhaps you can answer a question for me." He poured a cup of lemon water for himself and for his guest. "A student brings to you a piece, recently acquired, that she claims to be of immense cultural value. It is, incidentally, of significant monetary value as well. However, you can tell that it is a high-quality reproduction. Most others, of course, would not be able to do so. What is your approach to the situation?"

Zast grinned widely and leaned back in his chair at the question. [color=78d15a]"Counterfeiting is a terrible thing, Silvestri. Makes a bad name for honest businessmen like me."[/color]

[color=78d15a]"But that's an interesting situation. If you let her go, who knows if she could get better? Maybe one day, you'll come across her work and you're no longer able to tell. Suddenly you've found yourself with a crime against history, making the past wrong."[/color]

Zast took a long sip of his lemon juice and pretended to look contemplative. [color=78d15a]"I would give her a job. Teach her about artefacts and things. I wouldn't let her slip away. Who knows, she might even pick up a respect for history and give up on her ways."[/color]

"[i]High Zeno[/i] Silvestri," the head of the department corrected. Once was an oversight. Twice was intentional. "I worked hard for this qualification." He waved the concern away, however. "Teach her what and teach her [i]how[/i]?" The High Zeno seemed suddenly quite interested. "What are your specialties and what are your methods?" His eyes narrowed. "What would you do with the false artifact?"

[color=78d15a]"Sure, I don't mind what you all like to call yourselves. I'll keep it in mind"[/color] Zast spoke callously and quickly shifted to the question at hand. [color=78d15a]"You'd teach her history. With a book, presumably. Seems you have a girl with an eye for quality, enough to replicate the things you're looking for. That's a talent you can use to actually [i]find[/i] what you want instead of being used to try and scam you."[/color] He left a pause on that.

[color=78d15a]"As for my talents..."[/color] Zast said but interupted himself. [color=78d15a]"Say [i]High Zeeno[/i], you wouldn't happen to smoke would ya."[/color] He reached around in his coat pocket to pull out two cigars. But instead, he pulled out the ever-expanding marshmellow and a big, red stick of dynamite labeled 'ACME'.

The High Zeno arched an eyebrow. "That marshmallow," he pointed out with the barest touch of alarm, "you'll need to eat it right now or it will grow and it won't stop."

Zast frowned at what he had conjured up, these were not cigars. But no use crying over spilt milk when the situation could still be recovered.

Not knowing what the marshmallow is, Zast tossed it over to Silvestri. [color=78d15a]"No, you can eat it. I meant it as a gift."[/color] He tried his best to do a kind smile; his face was not predisposed to such an action. Then he pocketed the TNT. [color=78d15a]"This one's for me. I'll be keeping it for later."[/color]

The High Zeno tossed it over his shoulder, into an ornate vase in the Cheffylan style. For a moment, the eyes painted on it glowed green and it seemed to grin. Then, the marshmallow was gone. For a moment... did one of the tattoos on Silvestri's arm glow as well? "Well, Mr. Zast, it appears we're about finished here," he concluded, standing and smiling. "We'll contact you if you've made it to the final stage. In the meantime, do use that explosive responsibly, hmm?"

[color=78d15a]"Thank you Silvestri, High Zeno Silvestri at that. It's been a pleasure."[/color] He hopped off the chair, landed on his feet, and adjusted his suit. For a moment, he considered the statue he conjured. [color=78d15a]"Feel free to keep that. Have a look at it when you consider my application."[/color] He began walking out of the room but spoke one final thing on the way out. [color=78d15a]"It isn't in the girl's best interest for her to get the job, but yours."[/color]

The High Zeno worked his jaw about, considering a response but delivering none. Then, the small cazenax was gone. He walked over to the false statue, picked it up, and fed it into the pot.
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[hr]
Cawuio-Zast would later find out that he did not, in fact, get the job. Zast gave Silvestri his options, he communicated the consequences of the High Zeno's actions, and he still chose wrong (and called Zast a girl). There would be costs to such a choice, there were always costs to any choice. And while Silvestri may not see those consequences in his lifetime, or be seen in his grandchildren's lifetime, they would arrive regardless.

[hider=Consequences]
[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/7YZYDKcK/ancient-aliens-s16-2048x1152-promo-16x9-1.jpg[/img]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAnHitoPD-8[/youtube][/center]

Announcer: In various dig sites across the early Avincian Empire, artefacts were found that revealed a truth. One that many historians refuse to accept and one fewer have been allowed to know.

[i]Panning graphic of an early Avincian map with red dots popping up in completely random places[/i]

Announcer: Evidence of a history in plain view has eluded the world for years. Could it be that aliens shaped the world we know today?

[i]Fake image of Hugo Hunghorasz shaking hands with a floating robed Cazenax[/i]

Expert 1: The aliens that visited our world were actually early ancestors of the Cazenax. You can see the resemblance in the evidence.

[i]Fake image of a UFO flying over the Forked Tower[/i]

Announcer: Across the Avincian empire, statues of creatures resembling Cazenax could be found in countless dig sites, despite the Cazenax civilization being on the other side of the world. This could be the work of something otherworldly, something extraterrestrial...

Expert 2: By looking at the statue, the resemblance to the Cazenax is really quite obvious. In fact, the only difference is that these aliens were really quite...

[i]Image of the statue 'evidence' which depicts a very well-endowed Cazenax[/i]

Expert 2: ...hung.

[i]Expert 2, who actually has a degree in history, looks depressed.[/i]

Announcer: Tune in to another episode of Avincian Aliens as we come on step closer to the truth. Only on the Silvestri channel.

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