NationStates Jolt Archive

The Danaan Foreign Minister, Abraham Goldfarb, settled down in his chair, frowning slightly at what he had written on the screen. While hardly the most unpleasant, he always found these letters the hardest to word appropriately. How did you write to your counterpart in another liberal democracy to request the kind of normalized relations that were theoretically standard between civilized states? Similar letters often read as though they were letters of introduction between peoples who had not previously known one another. However, Goldfarb could not help but find that somewhat disingenousness. It wasn't as if he had been unaware Midlonia existed until now. Nor could he write the letter as though it represented a move forward for world peace, a convention he had always found pretentious. There was no conflict between the Resurgent Dream and Midlonia that he was working to overcome. Normal relations just happened not to be established yet. Still, simply stating that, even in the most formal diplomatic terms, seemed rather trite. Trying to avoid all these problems, Goldfarb had written a letter which he found rather awkward. Oh, well. It would be gone over by Ministry employees whose primary job was style and semantics before the Midlonians saw it.

Thrid Floor office, Ministry of Foreign and Economic Affairs, Swadlincote.

Clunk, clack, clunk, clack The old Grandfather Clock continued to crunch away the minutes and hours as it had for many years before. Jason Willoughby sighed and began to thumb through various data slate files and scrolls of paper that always cluttered his large heavy desk, it wouldn’t be long now, he thought, before he was replaced by the new Foreign and Economics affairs Minister, at that thought, in stepped a man in his later 30’s, tall with slender features he nodded to Jason and then stood, hands clasped behind his back, hidden behind the dark Navy blue business suit he was wearing.
“Ah, my replacement.” Smiled the aged Jason, “Your name is… George, correct?”
“Yes Mr Willoughby, that is my name, George Hillcrest.” Replied the figure in a clipped, yet neutral, Midlonian accent.
Jason nodded and yawned, he then stood up rather creakily and stretched a little, before reaching for a cane that lent against his desk. “I’ve been doing this job for too bloody long.” He muttered.
Jason shook hands with George, the silk smooth and unruffled skin of George’s hands were a stark contrast to the wrinkled pads of flesh and bone that made up Jason’s, he then turned to go.
“Oh, er, Mr Willoughby? We need you to go to Burton Albion football grounds on Saturday.”
Jason merely nodded and left, the door clicked gently closed behind him.

George looked around the room, an aged and wood-panelled room, with a small coal fire in one corner, a Grandfather clock in the other and a window that opened right out onto a view of Swadlincote, quite a sight.

He sat down at the cluttered desk and immediately set to work, he stacked the Data slates into one corner, and the scrolls of paper into the other, he then picked up the first slate, then a roll of paper after that. At the third reach for a slate he noticed the letter from The Resurgent Dream, he skim read it, marked it to be seen by some diplomats immediately and recommended a course of action.

Ground Floor Office, The Same location

The Screen binged and a slowly ageing hand reached for it, the juvenant process that he had bought from a ZMI cosmetic surgery store worked wonders, he had looked at least ten years younger than he had done. Daniel Dyer sipped his cup of boiling hot tea and read the contents in detail, he sighed and peered over at Bratcher, his personal security guard was slumped in a chair and dozing rather loudly. Dyer simply chuckled and began to type.

Completed he printed the letter out, rolled it up and fed it into a tube, before sending it up a pneumatic tube by the side of his workstation, this was opened in a blank room, where a blob of wax and a seal of the Foreign Office was added, this was then sent immediately onto an express Air Mail destined for their counter-part in The Resurgent Dream.

The actual establishment of embassies was a matter of course. Midlonia was assigned Maile Hampton, a youngish but promising ambassador with connections in both the Green and Emancipation Parties. She was passionate and idealistic, the type of woman who would do well in a job that mostly involved making her country look good and did not yet involve many conflicting interests.

Of absolutely no official import but likely much more interest to Midlonian officials, inquiries were made by the Viscountess Kirias, former Prime Minister and soon to be sworn in Minister for Foreign Affairs, as a private citizen, as to the best place to go to the beach this time of year on Midlonian soil.

View for a Viscountess

It was, of course, still winter in the Greater Kingdom, and snow covered an awful lot of the land, except New Birchester, which sat in the Southern Hemisphere, so right now it was Summer-time and alot of the High-n-mighty of Midlonia had retreated there for the Winter and their Summer Houses. The suggestion that the Viscountess should perhaps Rent a Summer Mansion there for a while, preferably close to the coastline, for the good of the sea air, they didn't however mention that the Mansions closer to the coast were also sligtly more expensive than those further inland and simply a train trip to the coast away.

Ambassadors, Troubadours and, um... Doors?

The Building itself was made from solid, well polished granite, it looked a little like a greek temple from the outside, it had been finished in the Neo-Grecian style, columns and all. Inbetween each column, a White-cloaked figure for every two columns stood to rigid attention, a blue cloaked figure, similar to the others escourted the few arrivals inside.
The Heavy Midlonian Oak doors kept the cold out, after they banged shut another man in a white suit led them down to yet another pair of doors, in here were tables, and a stage, where some local musicians played on Clavicords, Lutes, and any other instrument they had with them.

"Ambassador Hampton?" Spoke a man in a Blue suit, his blond hair now slicked back, his eyes bright and happy to see the main guest to the little teté a teté had arrived, "Not too cold outside I take it? How was your journey?"

Viscountess Kirias, better known as Minerva Karamanlis, arranged to Rent a summer mansion near the coast. While she could afford it, it did remind her of the slightly unpleasant fact that she would be expected to appear in society while on vacation. As far as she could tell, Midlonian nobles were in the habit of dressing fairly comfortably when on holiday and had no taboo against wearing bathing suits to swim at the beach. That alone put it far above other possible destinations, like Pantocratoria. She had the arrangements taken care of.
...
Maile shrugged lightly at the man's question. "It is summer back home. The adjustment always feels rather strange when crossing the equator by plane. Still, it is a rather lovely winter here and my journey was quite pleasant." She extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr..."

View for a Viscountess

The Mansion was in the neo-colonial style, made of limestone with various Balconies and many windows, it stamped itself in the ground in the shape of a Giant H, less than a mile from another large mansion in the shape of a Giant I, so from a certain height you could see a giant “HI” stamped in the ground, something that was put on many postcards and sold for just a few pence down at the piers.
When the Viscountess arrived at the mansion, by either private car, or by Horse Drawn Carriage, whichever she preferred she was greeted by her butler, a man in shorts and a T-shirt with insanely white teeth in an incredibly stark contrast to his darker skin.
“I welcome you to Spaeton House Viscountess, my name is Jamar and I am you appointed Butler and Tour guide” he grinned again, his shiny white teeth blindingly bright in the hot and high sun. “As you can see there are approximately 30 acres of land around the mansion itself, your private beach is a two minute walk away, or if you prefer some crowds and nightlife, the railway station is around a 5 minute walk away with trains leaving every hour for New Birchester City, the trains also go to Mount Huwe, where you can get some rather refreshing cream teas.” He bowed after his little speech “May I take your bags to you rooms?”

Troubadours and Ambassadors

“Oh, how silly of me not to introduce myself,” he chortled and changed the flute glass to his other hand with a lightning quick movement, “George Hillcrest, Minister for Foreign and Economic affairs.” He bowed a little. “You may find our way of diplomacy a little more relaxed than you may have been taught, more often or not it usually devolves to people yelling or talking for hours on end, I’d prefer a much more dinner party-ish atmosphere, I find you seem to make more headway.” He motioned to a small round table. “Please, have a seat, have you eaten at all? We have some rather nice food available if you’re hungry.” He smiled rather re-assuringly.

Haven

Being a modern lady, the Viscountess arrived by car. She was dressed in an elegant black pantsuit and carried herself with the confident air of a lady used to authority. "It is more impressive than I'd imagined..." she said quietly to herself before looking back to the butler. "Yes, please, I'd appreciate it."

Government Building

"It's nice to meet you." Hampton said, sitting. "I'd love something to eat."

View for a Viscountess

Jamar bowed low and went to the rear of the state-car to remove the cases to be taken up to the Viscountess’ rooms. After a few minutes of stacking and juggling he turned again to the Viscountess.
“If you could please go into the entrance hall and take a seat I shall be back shortly to show you to your state rooms, and where everything is.” He half spoke, half grunted as he moved past and into the house itself.

Awaiting the Viscountess inside was the cavernous entrance hall, which could quite easily swallow up the smaller houses of the lower class in one gulp and still have room to spare. Giant vases of Blue John and portraits of landscapes dotted the entrance hall, and a crystal chandelier illuminated the hall. Dotted around various parts of the entrance hall were various ornate, yet comfortable sofas and chairs.

Ambassadors and Troubadours

Hillcrest motioned for one of the waiters to come over to get an order of some kind, he then flitted back the notebook and scuttled away to have the food sorted out for the Daanan diplomat.
“So, what exactly is the Daanan Kingdom interested in, with Midlonia, Economical, political or other ties?” he asked as he lent in a little and took a sip from his glass, which was then placed on the delicate tablecloth with a clink.

View for a Viscountess

The Viscountess stepped inside, looking around with quiet appreciation. She crossed her hands lightly behind her back and, instead of sitting down, she quietly walked around the room, surveying the portraits with a somewhat practiced eye. Smiling faintly, she reflected that Kostas would have liked more than one of them. It wasn't the first time since she set off from Tarana that she'd wondered if she made the right decision to vacation alone this time. It was the first time since her marriage that she'd travelled without her family.

Ambassadors and Troubadours

Hampton arched a brow slightly at the wording of the question and took a rather long moment to consider. "We are, of course, always interested in trade as well as with the establishment of normal diplomatic relations between all states."

View for a Viscountess

"I have left your bags in your room Viscountess." bowed Jamar as he re-entered the room.
"Ah, I see you're looking at some of our Houses' paintings. Spaeton House has nearly 500 different paintings, originals or copies, we're quite proud of it, largest collection in all the summer houses here in Birchester. We even have part of the Eastern Wing devoted completely to a Gallery. What would you prefer to do now Viscountess? Oh, I almost forgot, what time would you like Dinner to be?"

Troubadours and Ambassadors

"Excellent, just what we needed to hear" smiled Hillcrest. "Trade and normal relations is just what Midlonia needs, greater contact with the international community, we've kept to quite a close few for far too long, its begginning to make us suffer slightly." Hilcrest nodded and took another sip from his flute glass.

View for a Viscountess

"I'll actually be dining out tonight." Kairis said. "I don't normally eat alone. As for right now, I suppose I should call upon the local society. I had a new set of calling cards made just recently." She smiled slightly.

Troubadours and Ambassadors

Hampton nodded. "The Foreign Ministry back home has always been frustrated by the trouble which seems to be involved simply in forming normal relations, which the Resurgent Dream has always assumed to be the default relationship between nations. Of course, part of that is simply a reaction to how many nations there are in the modern world. Maintaining an embassy to every recognized sovereign state now in existence would be quite expensive and many of the smaller nations seem to only appear on the world stage for a month or so."

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Of course, I cannot officially commit to anything before I have had my credentials from His Most Esteemed High Majesty formally accepted according to the Midlonian protocols on such matters."