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Negotiations
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2025 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: agreement
The draft document, put forward as, as one envoy put it, “A basis for discussion,” sat in the center of the table. It was thirty pages, single-spaced, and in three languages.
The pine marten in the black suit, black shirt and black necktie glanced at the document before returning his gaze to the equally expressionless polecat in the dark gray suit, white shirt and dark red tie. The marten was flanked by two envoys from countries who had succeeded in cajoling the pair to meet face to face, a vapid-looking rabbit and a sharp-featured fox. The polecat was accompanied by a jowly, thickset bear in an ill-fitting suit and a poker-faced wolf who was in a civilian suit but whose bearing screamed ‘military.’
The marten spoke first. “This,” and he flicked another glance at the document, “is unacceptable.”
“The terms,” the polecat said, “are an unacceptable compromise.”
“You will withdraw to your prewar borders.”
“We will not.”
“Gentlemen, please,” the rabbit said, “this is a starting point. Can’t we find some middle ground to end this war?” He looked at the marten seated beside him. “It would mean giving up some territory – “
“And if you were invaded, would you find this ‘compromise’ acceptable?” the marten said in a level tone that made the rabbit’s ears droop. The fox, whose nation had learned a hard lesson in the past, watched the reactions on the other side of the table. “How much of your territory would you give up, along with disarming and leaving yourself open to further, ah, ‘boundary adjustments?’” he asked, quoting from the document.
“Um, well,” the rabbit dithered momentarily before saying, “My country’s leadership back this – “
“Then they are fools,” the marten said bluntly before returning his attention to the other side. “We will accept nothing less than your withdrawal to the prewar borders.”
“We will accept nothing but your total capitulation,” the polecat said in a contemptuous drawl.
“Then we have nothing more to say,” and the marten got his feet and turned to leave the room.
“Wait!” The marten paused and half-turned. “We meet again in thirty days?” the polecat asked.
The marten thought. “Yes,” and walked out.
As they got to their feet the rabbit said to the fox, “Well, there’s at least a little progress.”
The fox favored the rabbit with a slow, unbelieving blink. “Yes?”
“They agreed to meet again,” the rabbit said in a pleased tone. “That’s progress.” He gathered up the document’s thirty pages and left the room.
The fox rolled his eyes.
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2025 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: agreement
The draft document, put forward as, as one envoy put it, “A basis for discussion,” sat in the center of the table. It was thirty pages, single-spaced, and in three languages.
The pine marten in the black suit, black shirt and black necktie glanced at the document before returning his gaze to the equally expressionless polecat in the dark gray suit, white shirt and dark red tie. The marten was flanked by two envoys from countries who had succeeded in cajoling the pair to meet face to face, a vapid-looking rabbit and a sharp-featured fox. The polecat was accompanied by a jowly, thickset bear in an ill-fitting suit and a poker-faced wolf who was in a civilian suit but whose bearing screamed ‘military.’
The marten spoke first. “This,” and he flicked another glance at the document, “is unacceptable.”
“The terms,” the polecat said, “are an unacceptable compromise.”
“You will withdraw to your prewar borders.”
“We will not.”
“Gentlemen, please,” the rabbit said, “this is a starting point. Can’t we find some middle ground to end this war?” He looked at the marten seated beside him. “It would mean giving up some territory – “
“And if you were invaded, would you find this ‘compromise’ acceptable?” the marten said in a level tone that made the rabbit’s ears droop. The fox, whose nation had learned a hard lesson in the past, watched the reactions on the other side of the table. “How much of your territory would you give up, along with disarming and leaving yourself open to further, ah, ‘boundary adjustments?’” he asked, quoting from the document.
“Um, well,” the rabbit dithered momentarily before saying, “My country’s leadership back this – “
“Then they are fools,” the marten said bluntly before returning his attention to the other side. “We will accept nothing less than your withdrawal to the prewar borders.”
“We will accept nothing but your total capitulation,” the polecat said in a contemptuous drawl.
“Then we have nothing more to say,” and the marten got his feet and turned to leave the room.
“Wait!” The marten paused and half-turned. “We meet again in thirty days?” the polecat asked.
The marten thought. “Yes,” and walked out.
As they got to their feet the rabbit said to the fox, “Well, there’s at least a little progress.”
The fox favored the rabbit with a slow, unbelieving blink. “Yes?”
“They agreed to meet again,” the rabbit said in a pleased tone. “That’s progress.” He gathered up the document’s thirty pages and left the room.
The fox rolled his eyes.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Marten
Size 120 x 92px
File Size 52.3 kB
Listed in Folders
No, I come to FA to escape the reality, dammit! : D
One side says: Genocide. The opposing side says: No genocide. The enlightened centrist says: We should all compromise and have just a little bit of genocide.
Compromise makes sometimes every side evil.
Well written. I feel a little bit of rage and anger and a lot of tiredness now. Well done.
One side says: Genocide. The opposing side says: No genocide. The enlightened centrist says: We should all compromise and have just a little bit of genocide.
Compromise makes sometimes every side evil.
Well written. I feel a little bit of rage and anger and a lot of tiredness now. Well done.
*chuckles* Well, I suppose at least they agreed on meeting again... not everything is swept clean off the table yet. One would almost think they're treating it as a monthly coffee meeting. "We're just gonna say no, but meet us again to say no again." At least you'll know what to expect >~_^<
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