4717/Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity
Date of Scene:	22 June 2018
Location:	Asgardian Ship
Synopsis:	T'Challa and Nuala each teach the other a little of what they do not know.
Cast of Characters:	Black Panther, Nuala Duvall
Tinyplot:	Ragnarok

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Black Panther has posed:
The storage bay turned medical bay is not a pretty sight. There are Asgardian men and women in all states of injury, haggard looking healers and the smell of blood and burning. Some of the patients writhe as black ichor seems to pulse through their veins. Others suffer from serious, even life threatening burns.

T'Challa, Okoye and one of the healers, Hrud, are talking in animated tones near the door to a second, smaller room, that has a bunch of small, shrouded bodies in it. They each gesture to the smaller bodies at different points.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala steps off the Sea Song with a recently treated Asgardian. She looks tired, but the steely gray slim armor with pulsing lights has started to become a beacon to those who need medical attention. The man thanks her, and she nods graciously, though there isn't a smile on her face.
    She glances around, spotting T'Challa and his team, she walks over, frowning at the shrouded forms on the floor. She doesn't interrupt the conversation, it looks like she is just taking the moment to avoid the medically in need for a moment. She leans against the bulkhead, letting out an exhausted sigh.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa notices Nuala leaning against the bulkhead and waves her over.

"Ms. Duvall," T'Challa says when she comes over. He introduces Okoye and Hrud to Nuala. Okoye nods, but looks stressed. Hrud looks haggard. "We are just discussing how to move all of these children to Wakanda for treatment. It seems they have been poisoned quite seriously. I cannot fit them all in my ship at once. Would you be able to help us transport them?" he asks.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala nods politely to each of them, and it appears that she can relate to the two. She forces herself back to a standing position, lest she be rude in the presence of royalty. "Your majesty," she says with a slight bow of respect. "I can help of course. What poison do they have?" she asks, "I am able to treat some of them aboard the Sea Song."

Black Panther has posed:
"It is a Svartalfr poison, used by their assassins. Vintridr gave us a sample of the poison to use to try and synthesize an antidote. It seems one does not yet exist," he says. He nods to Okoye and Hrud, who looks impatient, and the two women get to work loading the stasis pods.

"You have been working very hard," T'Challa observes. "Perhaps you should take a moment to rest?" he says, gesturing to a bench nearby. He moves to sit with her if she will. "I must admit I am curious about you. Are you Asgardian? You look Human, but are obviously more at home in space than person I could think of."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    The blonde woman quirks one eyebrow. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it, but I can help to transport them. The Sea Song could make it to Wakanda in about twenty minutes." Which, of course, is an unheard of speed for human transportation.
    "I am human," she acknowledges. "Well, biologically at least. I only returned to Earth a few months ago. Had to take classes in English for a year before I returned just so I could pretend to be human." A strange statement perhaps since she just admitted to being human. "It's a long story."

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa is an attentive listener, and Nuala seems to have his undivided attention. "It must be," he says. "And your English is very good," he compliments her. "May I ask what the Halal Corps is, and what your role is? You mentioned keeping Earth protected."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    "Well," Nuala says, placing her hands together as if she's uncomfortable with the question. She looks indistinctly up and to one side, then back to T'Challa. "The Halal Corps aren't a very well known branch of Nova Corps." She pauses. "The Nova Empire is one of the larger organized governments in the galaxy. Which...I guess you probably have no idea exists." She considers, looking as if she's trying to find a succinct way to put something that begs several more questions. "I'm like an extricator that kills bugs," she says, not getting the correct word for exterminator. "I just kill space bugs. Parasites, like the mushrooms that are growing around the Earth right now."

Black Panther has posed:
"I apologize, I did not mean to pry," T'Challa says, noting Nuala's reaction. "All of this is strange to me. As you say, I do not know the Nova Empire or Nova Corps, and had not met an Asgardian before today," he says and smiles. "But I am glad you are here, especially if you are able to help with these mushrooms. They have killed too many already."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala nods, "It's all right. I'm just not very good with people. Not human people, I guess," she says. "Spent so long away, I don't //feel// human. It must be harder for you," she says. "You seem to take it in such...peace. Learning so much of space in such a short period of time."

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa's expression is sympathetic. "I cannot imagine how that must be," he says. "To be a stranger among your own people." His expression lightens a bit though at her remark about his peace. "I am glad it seems that way. You see, this is my relaxed face," he says and gives a neutral expression. "And this is my overwhelmed face," he finishes, with the same expression. "It is very fortunate they are so similar!"

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    A smile can't be helped, a bright grin invading Nuala's exhaustion. "I see," she says, a little more energy in her voice. "Well, I wish I could keep a face like that," she says. "You are very fortunate." She pauses, and then starts to laugh, as if she was trying to maintain her composure until that mmoment, and the joke is just too funny to resist.

Black Panther has posed:
T'Challa laughs with her, pleased. "When we are not faced with such emergencies, I would like to show you Wakanda. I think you would like it, and you would be welcomed there," he asserts. "Perhaps we can even destroy some mushrooms together."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    "Yes. Destroy some mushrooms. Do your people a favor, if they have magic, it seems to be the best option against them. Cold can put them in stasis, just... don't give them any form of energy. Without magic, the best solution I have found is to starve them, isolate and contain, let them wither away." She pauses, realizing that she just entered a debrief mode in a causal conversation. "Sorry. I do that sometimes. It'd be better to send a brief, probably." She smiles slightly. "I would like to visit. I have spent most of my time in North America, "I have never seen Africa. Are people much different there? Humans have such...diversity among them."

Black Panther has posed:
"I appreciate the information," he assures Nuala with a smile. "I will make sure we put those tactics to use."

T'Challa ponders her question for a moment. "In Africa, the cultures are very different from what you are familiar with. When I studied in the US, I thought at first I was on a different planet. But in time I came to see that people are not so different, no matter where they are from." He shrugs. "When I realized that, I felt more comfortable. Are other planets less diverse?"

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    "They..." Nuala stops, and thinks a moment before continuing. "You know, I'm not sure," she admits. "Other races can be quite diverse. Perhaps more politically unified. The Astonian I call 'Dad' is far different from humans. Much more peacable, but he's not too different. Perhaps they are all not that different from humans in the end. Perhaps it is in my head. Being on earth here is the longest I've been on one planet in as long as I can remember. Usually we respond to threats. My selection to be stationed here is a little...unusual. Is it unusual for someone in one country to study in another?"

Black Panther has posed:
"Astonian, another people I am not familiar with," he admits, then shakes his head. "It is not uncommon for those who can afford it. I studied in the United States and the United Kingdom before I became King., and met many students from other countries. But not everyone is so fortunate."

T'Challa looks over toward their ships and nods. "It seems they are nearly finish loading. We should leave for Wakanda," he says then smiles. "If you do not mind flying slow enough to follow us."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala glances over. "Of course," she says. "I think I can fly slow enough," she answers with a smile. "It's not protocol," she adds as she begins walking, "But if you like, you can see what it is like aboard the Sea Song," she suggests. "Just do not tell anyone in Nova Command."

Black Panther has posed:
"I would love to see your ship, and I promise I will not say a word," he says with a smile.