Post by America on Dec 2, 2013 20:25:04 GMT -5
[Tagged for Russia]
It was hard to look at Alfred and Ivan's relationship now and even consider that they'd been on good terms with each other in the not so distant past. Alfred could hardly lean back and enjoy the flight. Not when even the most benign of sounds on the plane echoed in his throbbing head in an ominous way.
Na. Na. Na. We. Are. Going. To. Die.
"Mr. Jones," a voice stirred him from his musings, "your coffee is ready." Alfred smiled and thanked the attendant, who also presented him with a folder. "Your boss wanted me to give that to you."
The blond sighed as he took the folder, setting it next to him to go over later in the flight. He already knew the crux of the situation, and that negotiations had to be at least underway by the end of this meeting. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. He would refresh himself on the details closer to when they landed. He instead turned his attention to the window.
"Nervous?"
Alfred jolted in his seat a little, not expecting the attendant to still be there. He shook his head at once. "Not at all! Where did you get that idea?"
The attendant merely pointed at Alfred's foot, which was bouncing up and down anxiously. "Oh, that's just a habit of mine."
The attendant chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll do fine at your meeting. What's the worst that could happen?"
Alfred stared at the now retreating back of the flight attendant. What was the worst that could happen? Global thermonuclear war. No pressure or anything. Alfred could not only feel his heart racing in his chest, but could hear it hammering in his ears.
"I'll be fine. I'm a hero and heroes can handle a crisis with ease!" Alfred spoke out loud to no one in particular.
This wasn't just any crisis though. The fate of the world depended on this. If this were a chess game, both players were at a stalemate. One move forward by either player and they would both be in danger. While declaring checkmate on the other player was the optimal goal in chess, it didn't work out so well when you placed yourself in danger in the process. Thus, no moves could be made, and no winners could be declared - that is, unless someone decided to break the rules.
That left negotiations to fix the situation...and Alfred would be lying if he said he knew offhand what directions those would take. Especially when he and Ivan could hardly stand being in the same room as the other. No punches were ever thrown, but glares were shot and jabs were made. It seemed as though the nations could not even look each other in the eye without some attempt to one up the other. One upping the other in this scenario, however, was not an option. The next step was nuclear war, and that was one step Alfred never wanted to take. He could only hope that Ivan felt the same way.
Their meeting was to be on neutral grounds. Alfred refused to step foot on Ivan's land and Ivan did the same. Once the plane landed, Alfred hailed a taxi. He reached his destination and tipped the driver a bit more than he usually would in his distraction.
Alfred finally found himself in the meeting room at long last. He was pleasantly surprised to find that he was the first to arrive - He had every intent to use that as a jab against Russia, a small yet triumphant smile gracing his features. Setting his coffee cup slightly to his side, Alfred took a seat and began looking over the notes Kennedy prepared for him.
It was hard to look at Alfred and Ivan's relationship now and even consider that they'd been on good terms with each other in the not so distant past. Alfred could hardly lean back and enjoy the flight. Not when even the most benign of sounds on the plane echoed in his throbbing head in an ominous way.
Na. Na. Na. We. Are. Going. To. Die.
"Mr. Jones," a voice stirred him from his musings, "your coffee is ready." Alfred smiled and thanked the attendant, who also presented him with a folder. "Your boss wanted me to give that to you."
The blond sighed as he took the folder, setting it next to him to go over later in the flight. He already knew the crux of the situation, and that negotiations had to be at least underway by the end of this meeting. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. He would refresh himself on the details closer to when they landed. He instead turned his attention to the window.
"Nervous?"
Alfred jolted in his seat a little, not expecting the attendant to still be there. He shook his head at once. "Not at all! Where did you get that idea?"
The attendant merely pointed at Alfred's foot, which was bouncing up and down anxiously. "Oh, that's just a habit of mine."
The attendant chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll do fine at your meeting. What's the worst that could happen?"
Alfred stared at the now retreating back of the flight attendant. What was the worst that could happen? Global thermonuclear war. No pressure or anything. Alfred could not only feel his heart racing in his chest, but could hear it hammering in his ears.
"I'll be fine. I'm a hero and heroes can handle a crisis with ease!" Alfred spoke out loud to no one in particular.
This wasn't just any crisis though. The fate of the world depended on this. If this were a chess game, both players were at a stalemate. One move forward by either player and they would both be in danger. While declaring checkmate on the other player was the optimal goal in chess, it didn't work out so well when you placed yourself in danger in the process. Thus, no moves could be made, and no winners could be declared - that is, unless someone decided to break the rules.
That left negotiations to fix the situation...and Alfred would be lying if he said he knew offhand what directions those would take. Especially when he and Ivan could hardly stand being in the same room as the other. No punches were ever thrown, but glares were shot and jabs were made. It seemed as though the nations could not even look each other in the eye without some attempt to one up the other. One upping the other in this scenario, however, was not an option. The next step was nuclear war, and that was one step Alfred never wanted to take. He could only hope that Ivan felt the same way.
Their meeting was to be on neutral grounds. Alfred refused to step foot on Ivan's land and Ivan did the same. Once the plane landed, Alfred hailed a taxi. He reached his destination and tipped the driver a bit more than he usually would in his distraction.
Alfred finally found himself in the meeting room at long last. He was pleasantly surprised to find that he was the first to arrive - He had every intent to use that as a jab against Russia, a small yet triumphant smile gracing his features. Setting his coffee cup slightly to his side, Alfred took a seat and began looking over the notes Kennedy prepared for him.
