<div dir="ltr">"Never a dull moment"<br><br>President Antanasia Danesti<br>Prime Minister Simu<br>Gypsy Minister Anton<br><br>It had been a rare chance for Antanasia to actually go home and sleep, rather than end up converting the couch in her office as a bed. Granted home was the same small apartment she'd had as she'd worked her way up the Romania Mare that was a pleasant enough walking distance from Parliament, though now there would be the obligatory unmarked car with guards watching from the street and discreet security keeping an eye from within the building<br>
<br>She counted herself lucky that she owned no pets otherwise the flat would be a mess. Bad enough was the dust that tended to gather when she wasn't around.<br><br>Hopefully today would be a nice slow day as far as things went, she mused as she stretched and padded sockfoot out of her bedroom.<br>
<br>Unfortunately that wasn't the case as she was surprised by Anton having breezed through holding a large travel cup of coffee.<br><br>"Good Morning, Madame President.", he said with a barely hidden smirk as he handed her the coffee, "President Hong's husband just passed away."<br>
<br>While Antanasia was well used to the rather unorthodox attitudes of the Gypsy appointed Minister, for him to be in what seemed good spirits at the passing of someone other than one of Ceaucescu's crowd was in very horrible bad taste. "I do not see that as a reason for smiles, Anton.", she said flatly.<br>
<br>"Then you will need to see this.", he grinned as he pulled out a tabloid from his back pocket.<br><br>Antanasia blinked as she read the headline and flipped through to the articles in question. Well, horrible as the sentiment was, at least it wasn't anyone from her country. "If this is true, I feel sorry for both women and their children.", she said as she headed into her small kitchen and sat down. Anton followed and flipped a chair to join her.<br>
<br>"I'm just waiting to see what happens next.", he grinned.<br><br>She looked at him with a baleful glare. At this point she was convinced he didn't exist on food like a normal person but drew energy off any salacious details about anyone that went into print with the more raunchy the better. "At times I almost wish I hadn't had to remove your brother from the position.", she said, "He at least had some dignity in moments like this."<br>
<br>"Ah, but he more than understood your reasons after his goodwill visit to Mexico, though he still smiles widely at his times in Tijuana, Ojinaga and Ciudad Juárez", Anton replied, trying to tone down his mood.<br>
<br>"I know...more than I wish to ever have known...", she said, feeling a headache coming, "Let the Prime Minister know I will be there shortly."<br><br>Anton nodded with a grin and breezed out the same way he'd come in, leaving Antanasia with the desire to get better locks on her doors that he hopefully couldn't pick this time around.<br>
<br>After a shower and dressing, Antanasia took the offered car to Parliament where Simu was waiting for her.<br><br>"I have already taken the liberty of drafting an appropriate letter of condolences for your approval. We only need to know if you will be attending the funeral.", the elderly minister said.<br>
<br>"Yes, I will.", Antanasia said as they walked to her office, "As far as the rest, we will not comment or acknowledge. We will let that burn or fade on it's own."<br><br>"Of course, Madame President.", he said, "And there is apparently something going on between the Canadians and China, but we have our people working on finding out more on that....and...there is another matter of which you should know."<br>
<br>"What now? Is there a new batch of photoshops of me making the rounds?", she asked, figuring whatever happened between the Canadians and the Chinese didn't concern her or Romania for now.<br><br>"No...but it would not surprise me considering your little foray into acting. Nemerenko is rumbling about motions of goodwill. He is sending Denemetov to make the motions to so far
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and<br>
Kazakhstan.", Simu stated.<br><br>"How nice...stops just short of us.", Antanasia said dryly, "I wonder what Poland, Hungary, Austria and the rest of us who aren't right on the Russian border to not directly cause trouble or remind them of the boot they crushed us with feel about this."<br>
<br>"So far, we haven't heard anything...but we can ask through the usual discreet channels. I would imagine some sourness but then, who knows with them.", Simu said.<br><br>"Do check when possible. I want to be prepared for should Nemerenko decide to eventually 'say hey' as the Americans would phrase it.", she said as they entered her office.<br>
<br>"Agreed, Madame President.", Simu said as he sat down, "The other Ministers have noticed and begun rumbling."<br><br>"I expect as much. Soon as we hear from the others, we will discuss our direction with this. I know some will be wanting reparations or something along those lines."<br>
<br>"And you, what would you want?"<br><br>"I..I don't know...apologies for the brutalities, reparations? What is in the past should stay there. I will not have us wailing about 'poor us who suffered and want trinkets' to salvage their guilt now that they want to be the teddy bear rather than the rampaging voracious black bear they've been. I will not tarnish the progress we've made on our own with such. Moreso, I would rather us wait and see while continuing to make ourselves of note on our own merits.", she said.<br>
<br>Simu nodded, then smiled. "Much like your father would've said himself."<br><br>Antanasia smiled softly, "I guess in some ways, I am truly my father's daughter."<br><br>-------------------------------------<br>
<br>Actions:<br><br>1) Extend Romania's deepest sympathies and condolences to President Hong's recent loss along with Antanasia's attending the funeral.<br>2) Take a wait and see stance towards Russia's good will motions while finding out what the other former socialist countries who aren't currently included in the good will tour's opinions are<br>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>--I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there ought to be at least a few sharks in the water.<br>
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