[War] Romania-"It still means nothing to those it should"

[Vampi Digitalwytch]

"It still means nothing to those it should"

President Antanasia Danesti

By the time they arrived back at Parliament, people were clearing out
offices to some degree.  The institution wasn't going to be closed
down in full, but was going to be reduced to a point for the time
being with things being adjusted if there was going to be a tomorrow.

Other than gathering a few personal items, Antanasia was looking
forward to spending time at home.  Her number was speed dial on enough
phones for an emergency though she'd be going in not in her usual suit
dress but more like jeans and a sweatshirt.

Simu did insist she retain her guards for the time being since for all
they knew the other nations would envision some sort of terrorist
planning or some such, and on that she did agree since the private
interests were so far pleased that they could carry on business as
usual.

With Iordan at her side, she decided to walk home.  A few cars honked
with cheers towards her and she did wave back with a smile.

He did stay by her side pushing some more enthusiastic fans away, he
took his job seriously, though he was backed up as several of the
local police officers formed a cordon.  "Did you have to be
so....direct?" He asked her as they headed back to her place.

"Probably not.", she said as she opened the door, "But...God...it felt
so satisfying."

"I'm sure Madame President, I know I've wanted to tell off some
arrogant bastard, especially when the KGB would come in to town and
order us around like we were their Vassals."

"Since I'm not sure how much longer I will be President, please, call
me Antanasia or Ana.", she said.

He paused, "Ok Ana." That brought on a sigh, "Still sounds weird to
me. And to be honest you will win who's going to run against you?"

"We shall see.", Antanasia said as she kicked off her shoes, "As I
explained to Parliament, this would be probably more difficult than
our days under Ceaucescu.  We will be relying only on ourselves for
this since I doubt any others will openly step forward to agree with
the sentiments.  Some may see me as a madwoman on par with Tepes
during his reign as time goes on.  At this point...I will accept
whatever the future brings."

He nodded, "Well...Ana." He paused, still not sure of this, "I've been
in a Romanian Soldier most of my life, Since I was a boy, and I can
say this much, I've never been prouder of our leader as I am today."

She blushed.  "History will either regard me as a groundbreaker or
that crazy woman.", she said as she shed her jacket, "My money's on
the latter but we shall see."

Antanasia did briefly duck into her bedroom to emerge in a pair of
jeans and a t-shirt.  "Please, get comfortable.  Tonight we are going
to just watch how much my statement gets ignored or just flash of 'did
you hear her swear?'."


He nodded and looked at her, "Well we can check the internet for a
direct response."  He removed his jacket and took off his tie, though
he still had his vest on.

"The computer is over in the corner.", she said as she pointed towards
a not so paper covered small desk, "Have at."

He headed over to the computer and brought up the web, then he began
to examine the talking heads where were freaking out about this, then
came the message boards, including Fark had begun to argue about her
actions including arguing that she was crazy, but people again argued
who was hotter, and there was that fat guy again.

Antanasia glanced over his shoulder as she set down a glass of scotch
for him, "See, it is as much as I expected.  Nothing on the great
scale of things."

He looked at the glass of scotch, oh shit he was supposed to be
working, and that didn't involve booze so he looked nervous, "Oh
look." He tried to change the topic "SOmeone photoshopped your head on
another body."

"It proves my point.", she said as she took a sip of her own drink,
"The serious matters I brought up are of no concern to the world, only
who's hot or not and who's going to start firing missiles.  You should
have a drink.  Things will escalate as usual and you did say that when
that day came, you were going to indulge."

He nodded, "But I am also on duty, and I am not supposed to drink on duty."

"It is only you and I, and I will not tell.", she said, "Considering
the occasion, we're both entitled."

He nodded and took a sip, then looked at the website again, "No matter
what the world says, I am proud of you Ana, You did a good thing for
this country, we need to be strong on our own."

"We do.", she said as she took another sip, "It was something my
father believed in.  It is something I strongly believe in.  I
promised the people when I ran for office that we would restore
ourselves out of the pit we've been in.  But it's been like beating a
dead horse.  Offers that fall through, patronizingly given aid, yet
they expect us to hold standards as if we are one of the top nations.
Watching all of this unfold without any pause for reason or
rationality, just stampeding for blood without any regard for the rest
of the world...I am tired of us being the ants in the sandbox they
play in.  Regardless of the nations, it's always the same actions and
the rest of us are trapped in the box they've confined us in."

"Then what you have done is kicked the box over and said fuck you we
are doing this our way." He took another sip, then stood up, "Do you
have a place to stow some stuff, if I'm going to be drinking I'd like
to put my gun up."

"I doubt I've kicked the box in any degree.", Antanasia said,
"Politics is much like the old gear run machines, world politics even
moreso.  We are just a spoke that's out of the machine and it will
still grind on without us."

She led the way to her bedroom, "This building used to be a cell for
the underground in Ceaucescu's reign.  My closet has a press panel for
stowing weapons or supplies.  Will that do?"

He chuckled, "Well When I joined I wanted to stay away from the Secret
Police, my one strike of conscience was becoming a commando." He
popped a panel and stowed his pistol then with the efficiency of a
woman slipping off a bra got his vest off and placed in the hiding
spot.

"I doubt there will be any attempts on my life for the first week or
so.", Antanasia said, "After that, we shall see."

He nodded and buttoned his shirt back up, without the requisite vest
he looked thinner. "I hope not, I may be a good shot but I would
rather not shoot anyone."

"No one's attempted to kill me yet.  Photoshop the hell out of me,
yes, but kill, no.", she said with a smirk as she left the room to get
a refill of her drink, "I must admit, it's been so long since I last
wasn't worried about some matter of state, that this feels odd, just
spending quiet time at home."

"Well I have to agree, I've either been guarding you or your
predecessor, or performing operations all over the world, but to be
honest I almost don't know how to relax."

"It is my only regret.", she said as she sat down on the couch, "So
wrapped up in work that I let everything else be set aside."

"Like family and all that?"

"Yes."

He nodded, "I feel the same way, I have brothers who have kids, and I
get the maternal lecture every time, mom wants to know when am I going
to meet a nice girl, get married, and give her more grandbabies."

"I envy you that lecture.", she said, "All my family is dead.  I keep
looking at friends I've known and they are living more than I."
Antanasia sighed and took a longer sip, "Perhaps if the people elect
another, then I will have time for me, unless I'm put to the wall and
shot or imprisoned."

He shook his head, "We don't shoot our leaders anymore, we just send
them on speaking tours, it's sort of the same thing."

"After all I've been through, I am ready to be put to pasture and only
have to worry about the cows or the chickens."

He nodded, then he teased her a bit, "the peasant girl?"

"Who's to say it's a bad life really?", she laughed, "Those who fret
over a broken nail or who's currently on whatever reality show?"

He laughed, "Well with all due respect you would make a very fetching
peasant woman, at least if dressed like the movie." He teased her a
bit more.

"So what I'm wearing now looks like garbage?", she teased back.

He raised an eyebrow, "Well, not at all."

"For a soldier, you are sweet.", she said with a smile as she leaned
forward to kiss him on the cheek.

As her lips brushed her cheek his face blushed bright crimson, almost
like a small boy who got his first stolen kiss.

That made her chuckle as she turned on the TV and leaned next to him
while sipping her drink.

The newscaster had finished going over the news about the US and
China, including video of Antasia's video conference with a beep over
the world fuck.

That got a snort out of Iordan, then something amusing happened, the
president of the Czech republic proceeded to argue she was right, and
announced they would not allow overflights for any conflict with
Russia or China.

"Does not surprise me with Mirek.  He does have a good head on his
shoulders when he's allowed to speak his mind.", Antanasia commented
as she sipped her drink again.

"You reached someone."  He looked at her with a smile, "I mean you
could be alone, but one person can be the start of a movement."

"I doubt it, but we shall see.", she said with a soft smirk as she
looked him in the eye.

He looked back at her, "You never know. Things can change."

"Probably not in my lifetime, but such is the way of things.", she
said, still matching his gaze, "And all in all, I am fine with that.
For now, I'm going to take things slower, and take time for me."

He paused, "Time for yourself is very important, you should not ignore
you." That made no sense in his head, "Ignoring you is not good."  Why
was he babbling, he had a degree and was a great soldier.  But what
happened around her.

"And for all we know, we can be dead in the morning.", she said as she
leaned forward and kissed him.

He paused a bit, having just been kissed by the woman he was supposed
to protect, but instead he leaned forward and kissed her back, his
arms slipping around her waist.

There was nothing more to say at this point, but only the moment and
to see if a tomorrow eventually came.  Smiling softly, Antanasia slid
her arms around him and kissed him again.

----------------------------------------
Actions:

1) Just some light observing of current events on the news
2) Character development and exposition

-- 
--I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there
ought to be at least a few sharks in the water.