It's almost like at home, no?

[Evangeline Anovilis]

Although the two countries did not border each other, Naples and Romania did share quite a few similarities. Not only in terms of climate and in prominent vineries, but also culturally. Although the most likely last time these lands were connected was during the heighth of the Roman Empire, the two countries still were heavily influenced by this era long past. Naples actually was the closest Romance-speaking country to Romania that existed, which caused many Romanians to feel positively about the people of Italy. The two countries even shared flag colours and many people of Romanian descent did actually live in Italy, more than in some Balkan neighbours.

 

After the recognition of Naples by Romania, a meeting had been arranged and indeed, the Napolitano were invited to Bucharest for talks. Cotroceni Palace had been prepared for the meeting, and Mihaela Constante awaited her guests.

[Hereno]

Naturally, the Neapolitans accepted the invitation. And, after not too long, a jet was dispatched from Naples by order of the Executive Director herself.

Several hours later, Foreign Affairs Director Ippolito Romagnoli and an small assortment of minor officials, paper pushers, and armed guards arrived in Bucharest. Eager to attend the meeting, a skeleton crew would accompany the Director via limousine to Cotroceni Palace, where they would presumably find Mihaela waiting.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

 

It was already November, and the first snow had fallen in Wallachia. It was not too much, but the landscape did get covered in a white blanket of frozen water. a few trees had still leaves, but most had lost their foliage already completely. Romagnoli would be let in by the guards at the gates to Cotroceni Palace, as they had already been instructed in preparation of the visit. Similarly, Mihaela Constante awaited Romagnoli at the entrance to the palace. As the Conducătora, Regent and Foreign Minister in personal union, all foreign policy was planned, if not directly conducted by her. Still, for the meeting, she appeared mostly in grey business clothing, appropriate and formal, yet simple. "Buon Giorno, Signore Romagnoli. I'm Mihaela Constante, pleased to meet you.", she greeted the Neapolitan, introducing herself quickly, before the unseeming head of state could be mistaken for a simple member of the palace staff. Gesturing her guest to follow, she added. "I hope your journey was not too troublesome. We had some snow in the last couple days and it got windy, so I worried there could be issues with the flight or Bucharest's traffic. If so, please excuse."

[Hereno]

Director Romagnoli took his time entering the palace, admiring the frosted atmosphere. Although he had been around the world and back again, he had not yet managed to spend any meaningful time in Romania, only having once stopped for a few hours in an airport terminal between flights. Executive Director Belmonte had expressed a peculiar interest in Romania, although no specific directions had been given. She trusted her subordinate as she trusted herself, having spent a non-insignificant amount of her own political capital to help get him into his position.

The whirlpool spinning in his head, amped up with novelty, came to an unplanned halt. A vocal life vest jerked him out of the ocean and back into reality, and he barely had time to process what Ms. Constante had said before smiling, introducing himself, and beginning to follow her to whatever destination she had in mind. "No, no problems at all, thank you", he smiled, continuing; "Besides, even if it should have taken a while, I would have had plenty to keep my mind busy. There is something heart-warming and familiar about the land here."

Edited November 9, 2014 by Hereno

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Well, I guess there might be. Many Romanians outside Romania chose to live in Italy, most likely for such a reason.", Constante responded, before gesturing for the guests to enter the palace. The inside of the palace was less frosty and a room had been prepared for the meeting. Flanking the hallways every now and then were guards and servants, who stood ready to act on any order given by the Conducătora, not dissimilar to how they had been trained to follow orders of the late monarch. But Constante hardly minded them, as she walked past and talked to the Neapolitans. "How is Napoli doing these days? It's not been long since a local government has been established now. The rise of Italian states surely is a good sight that hopefully enriches our continent."