No, I will not kneel

[Solange Mullaney]

Solange had been less than happy when they agreed that the United States would host the next conference, the main thing being that they really didn't have the room for such a large crowd, but they made it work. The House of Right and Wrong-Doings were on recess for the summer which gave Solange ample opportunity to set up the huge Congress-like room to accommodate her international guests. They were first all to meet in the vestibule where a little snack was set up. It was your usual politician fare - caviar, French cheeses, crackers, and other hors d'oeuvres. Solange herself was already making a plate for herself, having not eaten since the night before as she studied her notes.

She bit into a cheese puff with a frustrated sigh. Solange also needed to watch what she ate during these things. Conferences and dinners - they all happened in the summer and around Christmastime, the times she gained the most weight. Solange didn't like this one bit since summer was of course bathing suit season and American tabloids waiting to take her picture on the beach.

Oh what Solange would do for the civilian life again.

[Andris Dzenis]

It had been a longer voyage than expected, the portkey having decided to malfunction and land the German Minister in Texas, instead of Washington DC which had been the most proper destination. Fortunately, Andris managed he never did panic and so he simply composed himself and found a way to DC. The international affairs were always of such utmost importance, and yet the man truly hated going to these things, they were not only lavish (and not fit to his particular tastes) but it also meant he had to act semi-civil towards people.

At this pompous pre-conference event the man wore long dark green robes, and they certainly did out shine the rest of the wizards and witches that were around. Andris was tall, and remained composed and certainly stood at the highest possible level among the other leaders, he always did believe himself to be rather superior and so he didn't act as if he didn't believe that fully. He stood by one of the tables that had crackers and caviar laid out, and was picking up crackers and spreading the caviar, in a most dainty manner not wishing to get dirty.

[Solange Mullaney]

Solange had found a group to settle in with in the form of the Ministers from Canada, Italy, and Norway. Outside of the conference, they kept their conversations casual and personal - how were their children, where did they go for vacation, and what restaurants were excellent in the DC area. Were they going out later? Solange was most interested in that question and those answers. However, it was the Canadian Minister who brought up the black sheep in the entire vestibule: the German Minister.

She wasn't sure how a non-German was appointed to the highest position within the German wizarding community, but she also understand that not all governments operated like the United States government. It was American citizen or bust when it came to her position.

"I cannot stand being in the same room as him," the Canadian Minister hissed. "Just standing here makes my stomach churn." Solange's eyes widened out of surprise as she took a sip of her champagne. "I've never had the pleasure," she replied. All three Ministers shook their heads.

[Andris Dzenis]

Andris kept to himself and simply munched quietly on the caviar, he had no reason to intervene with any of the other Ministers or leaders, though he did overhear the Canadian Minister speak in his direction about disliking a certain someone, they were brief words that he had heard in the bustle and noise of the entire crowd of leaders talking and socializing. Unfortunately Andris was obviously not only one of the tallest, but wearing the most extravagant clothes as well as not socializing, he was easy to make out especially with the strikingly black hair and thin structure of his body.

He took a bite out of the cracker and let his gaze linger among the crowd, picking out those he had hated and those he tolerated, but there was absolutely no one he liked and it was even more painful because he had to deal with his sister being around, fortunately she was off in her own little group, chatting with the Ministers of the Baltic, a spark of envy lit up in Andris' piercing eyes, before he forced himself to look away only for his gaze to land upon the Secretary. Americans.... He hated them too, soon enough he looked away and rolled his eyes to himself as he took another cracker and spread some caviar on it.

[Solange Mullaney]

"No surprise he's gobbling up that caviar," the Italian Minister replied before taking a sip of champagne as well. The others, except for Solange, chuckled. "Guys, please," she said, tilting her head. "That's not fair. We need to work together." The Norwegian Minister scoffed. "Our Muggle counterparts don't get along. Why should we?" Solange's mouth turned downward into a frown. Because we're better than that, she wanted to say, but she bit her tongue. "Well I'm going to say hi," she said, lifting her head. "It's his first time in the States, right? I mean, I've never seen him before."

"Solange, don't," the Italian Minister stressed. "Don't embody your country's ideals right now. That's for the public arena. Don't waste your breath trying to get that..." He couldn't even finish his sentence, shaking his head. "Well too bad," Solange said. And with that she turned on her heel and walked over to the other end of the room, where the German Minister was.

[Andris Dzenis]

Andris was too busy spreading caviar on his crackers to pay attention to the other Ministers talking badly about him behind his back, he had never seen himself as a truly terrible man, he had only thought of everyone as ridiculously idiotic, all of their little laws and such things pointing to freedom, when in reality, freedom was nothing but an illusion and that was exactly why Andris despised the American Secretary so much. She was the embodiment, and epitome of what freedom was, she represented it, she was the poster-child of an illusion. Andris was only attempting to help those poor souls in Germany, and through his laws and words, he was slowly gaining their trust, to show them that freedom indeed was an illusion.

When the American Secretary came up, Andris sighed internally, he would have preferred that woman not come near him at all, but that wasn't his choice really, and instead he finished spreading some caviar and turned to her, his clean features, everything polished up and down, was only more stressed when standing closer to Andris. He stared at her, his gaze condescending, and above all one that held a look of superiority, they were piercing and gleamed with some kind of bitterness.

He took a bit more caviar, eyeing the woman, before he turned and walked over to the sister that he so much despised.