Meeting of two dictators, Ali Khamenei and Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania

The meeting would likely unfold in a cavernous, ornate hall, perhaps one of the many lavish chambers within the People's Palace, then still under construction but already emblematic of Ceaușescu’s grandiose vision and the suffering it inflicted on his people. The air would be thick with the scent of old wood and the unspoken history of countless power plays. Around a polished table, adorned with national flags and perhaps some token refreshments, the two dictators, surrounded by their most trusted (and fearful) advisors, would begin their dance of diplomatic rhetoric, each probing for weaknesses, seeking leverage, and carefully guarding their own vulnerabilities. The sheer disconnect between the opulence of the setting and the harsh realities of their respective nations would be palpable.