Vodka Martinis Without the Olives • East West Affairs

[Vittoria]

It was near dusk and the snow was coming down harder than previously. They sat in a large windowed room near the Kremlin. The building itself was difficult to identify from the inside as they were ushered into it from an entirely different entrance. In actuality they were inside the Duma, but none of them knew that for the time being. In front of the them were notepads, pens and two rather clear beverages in rather tall glasses. One was water while the other was a vodka martini. Nobody really knew what the beverage was just looking at it, but it was asked that alcohol be included for the guests.

In the corner cookies and fresh coffee and tea had been made, but nobody really expected the guests to get up and get it. If anything they'd probably be consumed by the Tsarina's daughters after the meeting.

As the guests all took their seats the Tsarina herself walked in with her oldest daughter. Taking her seat as her daughter poured a cup of coffee for herself and some tea for her mother. The Tsarina began to speak to all the assembled guests, "I thank you for coming here to my home and the home of my assembled people. You sit in the Duma, where the elected bodies of my Tsardom gather. Today it is my understanding we have decided to come together as one so to speak. So without further delay I urge you all to please speak your minds. I open the floor to discussion."

 

[Tyvia]

The High Commissariat was not an office which neglected details, and as such the most meticulous attention to them was paid during the selection process for the delegation of the Commonwealth to what was presumed would be a curt conference. The decision was made by committee, the head of it a subaltern within another committee which was likely a sub-committee of yet another. With their colleagues further up the chain deeming certain individuals to be worthy prior to any actual selection process, the only purpose were background checks. It consisted rather simply of two men, both having served time upon the so-called Eastern Cordon, the frontier between the Commonwealth and the Tsardom.

They wore the simple dark grey uniforms of their office, as officers in the employee of the Presidium, both holding the position but nominally for the duration of the voyage. Representatives of the Presidium were entitled to certain privileges within the Commonwealth, privileges which remained for life - and it gave the individual authority to make any decision or commitment on the part of the Commonwealth so long as they hold the title. It was such not without an immense amount of scrutiny that the title was given, the two men having gone through an intense round of interrogation and examination each. Their backgrounds had been systematically picked apart by committee after committee, intent on finding out whatever secrets the men harbingered. Chevrons and lapels were visible on their tunics, no medals vibrant as neither had come in the honorary dress uniform, rather the much more plain variant of it.

Both Colonel Rodrigo Valicez and his assigned adjutant for the meeting, a Lieutenant within the Aeronautica of fairly nondescript appearance assumed their seats with curt reserve, their caps resting upon their heads, the meticulously polished white griffon upon it being the only indicator of their origin. Valicez was a tall man nonetheless, he was thin- almost unhealthily so, with the typical brown eyes and olive-colored skin of the rest of his kinsmen. Upon closer approach it was discernible that they both smelled faintly of a minty smoke, the northern tradition of sauna implemented in Coronado in the form of smoke-bathing. They cordially drank their offered martini's, a fine vintage bottle of tequila offered as a gift of sorts rather modestly. When it came for their turn to speak, Valicez rose from his seat, his voice laced with a slight accent - speaking his native tongue, trusting the translators to interpret his Coronadic into whatever was necessary.

"Esteemed delegates," He began, his deep brown eyes glazing over the width of the room, taking it all in. "The Commonwealth is most honoured by the invitation put forth by the associated nation-states that are represented here today to participate in this congress-, the Presidium, the people, and the eternal republic are represented here today in the form of myself. It is the hope of the Presidium that a favorable conclusion is reached in this meeting." He would sit upon his rather comfortable chair following his words, taking a sip of his native tequila, munching upon an olive.