Overlook Hotel
Executive Conference Room
Natal, New Kjeldor Province
"What's the point of foldin' the damn napkins in a fan anyway? Not like they're goin' leave 'em that way moment they sit down."
Vonn's coworker looked up from the table, where he was meticulously shaping red and blue napkins to be positioned on immaculate white plates. For a moment it seemed that the question had failed to register, but then the man simply shrugged.
"None, eh?" Vonn interpreted the gesture. "Suppose it makes for a good show at least. Probably couple comments on how nice they look."
He paused for a moment to see if the other man would reply. He didn't. Perhaps the man just wasn't talkative. Maybe he just didn't care to talk to such a new employee. Whatever the case, Vonn decided it wasn't worth pressing the issue.
Wearing a pair of clean gloves, Vonn was carefully laying out plates and silverware at twelve places on a table. The dinner setting being prepared would not see use until that evening, but the occasion seemed to be important enough to ensure that everything was ready well ahead of time. He had gathered that it was some sort of diplomatic meeting with visitors from Lamoni, and a small display at the center of the stunning ebony table with both the Lamoni flag and the Imperial tricolor seemed to confirm that.
To his surprise, Vonn had been asked to help with setup. Being the most prestigious hotel in the province, he had expected the Overlook to have more experienced people on staff for events like this. He had only worked there for four months, since returning home from five years in Bolsom, but apparently his time at an a well-frequented conference hotel made him better prepared than most of the Overlooks employees. It had made him think. When he considered how much more informal life was here, how much more 'provincial' Natal felt than the large metropolises far to the west, it started to make sense. It wasn't every day that the occassion called for fan-folded napkins.
Overlook Hotel
Room 1001
Natal, New Kjeldor Province
Three hours. Everything ready? Yes. Wait. Hopefully. Yes. Good to go. Suit here. Worried. Was late from drycleaner. Airport detail? Check. Leaving soon. Very important. Guest rooms? All ready. Dinner? Room set. Food preparing. Will be ready.
A hundred thoughts flew through Eric Hillstrom's mind, all of them seemingly of the utmost importance. Sure, some were seemingly just formalities, but then formalities mattered the most in situations like this. In a few hours time, the Foreign Minister of Lamoni would touch down at Urak-Natal International Airport and shortly thereafter arrive at the Overlook on a high cliff peering out a busy harbor filled with both commercial traffic and a mixture of Gordonopian and Hitmano warships. If all went well over the next few days, the animosity that had separated Gordonopia and Lamoni, two Covenant brethren, since the Southern Crisis would come to an end.
As Arbitrator of Diplomacy, Eric's aim was not just to thaw relations but to forge what the basis of a powerful partnership in Southern Greater Dienstad. Being close allies of Lyras made the two nations natural friends, but until recently they had been at odds over the single largest foreign mistake made by the Empire. In recent months, though, overtures from Lamoni for dialogue had been welcomed in Gordonopia City as an opportunity to move past it all.
Unlike most nation's chief diplomats, the Arbitrator of Diplomacy did not serve as the head of a foreign ministry. The government body that oversaw Gordonopia's embassies and diplomatic missions abroad was separate, although loosely subordinate, to the small Arbitrat he headed. A unique facet of modern Gordonopia, Aribtrats allowed for close attention to be paid to essential areas directly under the control of the Emperor. In the case of Diplomacy, the Arbitrator and his staff's task was to both guide and create general policy from the top, and also to respond to specific affairs that required special attention. Eric's predecessor and mentor, Jonathon Dunn, had played the role perfectly, with his shining moment being the tough negotiations which forged the coalition of city-states on Taffy that ultimately allowed Gordonopia to annex the large island.
When it came to high level diplomacy, though, few were as important as this. The trip from the capitol out to the furthest reaches of Gordonopian provincial control, chosen to reduce the visitor's travel time, was somewhat exhausting but he had thankfully slept well the previous night. The meetings would begin with a hearty seafood dinner that evening. There Eric would have his first chance to meet the Lamonian Foreign Minister and her senior staff. From that point on, it was show time.
