[i][b]-Leesburg, VA-[/b][/i]
(A collaborative post between me and Byrd)

The two cars rode tandem down Leesburg's main street. The community wasn't much to look at, a few stop signs on the main road with a red light in the main intersection downtown. There were a dozen few grocery stores and shopping centers to serve the bedroom town's residents, almost all of them traveling to Washington through the week.   The driver of the lead car followed the written directions given to him and took a right at the first stop sign after the red light. He mumbled under his breath in Portuguese, counting the numbers on the mailboxes next to the street. He pulled the front car up to the two-story colonial style home with white pain and scarlet trim. A few words were passed, again in Portuguese, between the driver and the car's passengers. Satisfied, two people stepped out the back of the car and exchanged looks. They were both high-ranking diplomats of Brazil. Adelina Moreno, the Republic's foreign minister, and the Republic's US ambassador Luis Geraldo. This modest home and sleepy town seemed to be a less than fitting place to hold diplomatic negotiations, but it was not an ordinary diplomatic meeting. The door to the house opened, and the two diplomats and their three staff members in the rear car were beckoned inside.

"Americans," Moreno instinctively thought to herself. Nowhere else in the world could you find a more tranquil environment, the two wars of the last decade notwithstanding. Though many cities still bore some marks from these conflicts, towns like these made you forget all about them. It had all the hallmarks of the growing suburbs around the cities at home, though she was certain that America would have nothing parallel to the favelas within its inner cities.

Not that those uniquely Brazilian shantytowns were a good thing.

As she and Geraldo filed into the home that by her standards was fairly comfortable and passed through the foyer, she was met with the sight of a waiting party of three people. A middle-aged woman in a navy blue blouse and matching skirt, a younger woman in a black pants suit and white blouse, and a gray-haired man in a pinstripe three-piece suit and thick glasses.

"Minister Moreno, Ambassador Geraldo," Secretary of State Lillian Mather said with a polite bow. "Welcome to my home. Allow me to introduce my husband, Gregory, and my aide Liza Weld."

Gregory Mather and Liza Weld followed Lillian's lead and bowed to their guests. 

"I hope my home is to your liking," said Mather. "It's not exactly the White House but Gregory and I try our best."

"Absolutely." responded Moreno, as she cast her gaze about her surroundings before returning to eye contact with the Secretary of State. "I have always valued a more casual environment for this sort of talk, as official gatherings often grow far too stuffy. Then again, perhaps those of us in tropical countries take everything a bit less seriously." She laughed. "Allow me to introduce my colleague, Ambassador Geraldo, chief diplomat to the United States for three years now, is that right?" Geraldo nodded. They both bowed in return.

Lillian politely invited them to sit in a few comfortable chairs surrounding a table in their living room, and allowed Adelina the courtesy of beginning the conversation.

"Madam Secretary of State, as you undoubtedly know all too well, the world has become increasingly unstable of late. The Spanish invasion of Ethiopia, which both our nations stand against, has the potential to escalate into a crisis of massive proportions, and potentially bring us to the precipice of a second Great War. This concerns me and President Claro greatly." She paused for a few moments to let her words sink in. "I have always felt that the Americas should take steps to avoid the same instability which so plagues Europe, Asia and Africa. It has been four years since the end of the Second North American War, and we hopefully stand on the eve of a new age of peace. The purpose of my visit is purely to foster good relations and cooperation between our two nations in the hope of achieving that end."

"The president is all in favor of stronger ties with all of Central and South American," Lillian said with a polite nod. "But he recognizes Brazil as the preeminent region power in South America. Our two countries should be linked arm in arm to preserve the Americas from outside influence." 

A servant entered the room carrying a silver platter with tumblers of scotch in them.

"I know Ambassador Geraldo is a scotch man," Lillian said with a glance towards Moreno. "I wasn't sure on your preference, madam minister so you will have to forgive me if you don't care for it."

"I've always preferred wine, but there is certainly nothing wrong with a fine glass of scotch, Secretary Mather. Thank you for your hospitality," Adelina responded.

The secretary of state plucked a glass from the platter as it passed by and held it in her grasp. 

"The thing that the White House, and by extension the State Department, is most curious in is the upcoming elections. What's your take on how the vote will go?"

The minister took a careful sip of her scotch before replying.

"It is a very close call, but I'm confident that President Claro will succeed. Incumbents naturally have an advantage, and his vision for our nation's future is hardly tarnished. Still, there is a good deal of public resentment towards the leftward turn we have been taking."

"Not that it matters much to me, as Senator Bela has assured me I will retain my post regardless. She is as anti-Spanish and Chinese alike as Claro ever was." She broke into a light, lilting laugh.

"I'm glad that the senator has every intention of keeping you in your post should she win the election. I've been a victim of administration changes in the past and I know that it can be frustrating."

One of the household staff announced dinner was ready. In the dining room the two mini-delegations sat down for a meal of prime rib, mashed potatoes, and a helping of mixed vegetables. A simple meal for what was a low-key affair. At the two heads of the table sat Moreno and Lillian. The American staff were on the right, the Brazilians on the left.

"I've been given assurances from President Norman," Lillian said between bites of food. "Once the election is over and the winner is sworn in, he'll invite them to DC for an official state dinner and a weekend of diplomatic talks. We want to develop a diplomatic gameplan between our two nations as uncertainty abounds in Europe, Asia, and Africa. We want the Americas to be the bastion of sanity in the world, and the only way to do that is for the two biggest nations in the hemisphere to work together."

Moreno dabbed her face with a napkin before responding. "I think that is a very wise course of action. I will relay your intentions to Brasilia, and I am confident either the President or Bela will agree with your proposal."

"The most important thing in diplomacy, I find, is planning. Even if great change or extenuating circumstances arise, planning greatly assists in allowing us to react and determine a new course of action. It is imperative that we develop such a plan regarding the Americas for this new decade."

"Excellent," said Lillian. "I'd love to hear more about your plans after dinner, Madam Minister. The president is something of a data junkie. I suppose that's a side effect of being in the military. They like to have as much information as possible before acting."

The Secretary of State took a polite bite of her prime rib while the conversation between the diplomats shifted towards apolitical talk.

[b][i]-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-[/i][/b]

"The time has come, my fellow Brazilians!" The crowd cheered, as Senator Bela spoke defiantly from her podium.

"President Claro has, for the last four years, baited the people of this nation with the promise of free handouts while the nation slides further and further into debt.

He has given the state-owned corporations the same free ride, letting them sit on enormous piles of cash while our treasury drains."

"Enough, I say! I promise that in the first hundred days of taking office, I will cut the fat and corruption of the state-owned industry and use our rightfully earned profits to reduce income taxes by five percent for every Brazilian!"

The crowd rose in a standing ovation. A few Claro supporters yelled in protest, but their numbers were barely significant in the sheer size of the crowd. As the election progressed, it became more and more clear whose vision truly inspired the people.