534/Bel and Panther at the UN.

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Bel and Panther at the UN.
Date of Scene: 21 May 2017
Location: United Nations
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Black Panther, 194




Black Panther has posed:
Approaching noon on this wide of the world, and in front of one of the most important buildings in the city. At least as far as geopolitical balance is concerned. World leaders and assorted dignitaries come and go, their security teams rubbing elbows with the teams of other dignitaries.

Adding to the carefully choreographed mess is the envoy from Wakanda, King T'challa himself. Arriving from the airport to sit in on some meeting or another. It is the same 3 armored SUV's as before, rolling up to the curb, all with the Wakandan flag on the hoods of the vehicles.

Unlike last time, there are no protesters, apparrently they have taken the day off. All three vehicles pull of smoothly to the curb, and as before.. synchronous door openings, and opening the rear passenger side doors. A lithe African bald woman steps out of one, clad in a grey powersuit and metallic bracers on her forearms, mostly hidden up her sleeves. Out of another, the rear door, a beefy man steps out, black hair shorn tight to his head. Another well tailored charcoal suit matching the bald woman's.. but he has a thick sheave of papers and clipboards under one arm.

Out of the middle SUV, another man steps out. Physically well defined and his suit is jet black, a white undershirt and a jet black tie. He looks up at the building and sighs slightly. "These meetings are pointless Nakia.. they get nothing done but more exercise in lip flapping." He tells the woman as she joins him. A tight lipped smile from her is all she gets. Woman of few words.

Together the three start up the steps to the UN building.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Getting the occasional stare is a woman standing outside of the UN's security gates, on the sidewalk, near the stand of flags to the right. She's easily visible by any vehicles passing by. The security guards in the booth at the gates keep leaning over to keep an eye on her now and again, because she definitely doesn't look like your average pedestrian.

Entirely white, her magenta-purple eyes stare straight ahead, as fixed and focused as one of England's royal guards. People pass and stare, children point, and she is as immobile as a statue. This time she has unarmored, dressed only in her alien petticoat and bodice, even more out of place against suits and skirts, t-shirts and jeans. Silvery crystal plates of armor-like material rest against her shoulderblades from the nape of the neck to the small of her back. A backpack that isn't a backpack.

Why she is there, no one seems to have asked, but when T'Challa steps out of his vehicles, he immediately has her attention. She turns to look at him, to see if he will acknowledge her presence; she does not immediately run up to greet him or shout out to him. It would be against protocol to do so.

Black Panther has posed:
Protocol be damned. One must act appropriately to their position certainly, but ones position must never stop a person from being a decent person.

Laying eyes on the white 'woman' T'challa smiles. He remembers the odd looking alien from his previous visit to the UN. Remembers her need for a place to park her ship. Remembers her need to remain armed, the blade being a legacy of her people. He raises a hand to her. It doesn't sway like a wave, but it is very definately an acknowlegdement. A silent greeting.

Steering his small entourage her way he simply looks at the security guards, both of whom open the gates for the King. They have VERY strict instructions NOT to cause problems with the King of Wakanda. Not when the world at large wants what he alone has. "It is a pleashah to see you again. Though I must confess... it is odd to see you without the blade and armah." He tells her, ignoring the looks of alarm from the guards.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Bel returns the nod in acknowledgement, and steps foward, walking up to greet T'Challa, arms at her side. "I have come to understand that the people of this world do not see blade and armor as tokens of defense and protection, but rather, of impending conquest and aggression. As such, though it is against my understanding, I have humbled myself," she replies. Faintly, a smile breaks out across her lips. "It is a pleasure to see you again as well. If it is not against propriety nor an inconvenience, I would have audience with you." Still nothing but formal speech here. It will be a long time coming before she adopts anything more casual.

She glances to the guards at the security booth, as well as the women who flank T'challa's side as retainers and protectors. "If it is acceptable to the authority here, and to your retinue," she adds.

Black Panther has posed:
T'challa shrugs slightly. "This world is.. many worlds. I have been led to understand that most planets with life, such as yours.. the entire planet is of one culture, one people. Not so here.. you may as well be visiting many worlds. As there are many cultures here. American culture is different from british, though one comes the other. Each country has it's differences with other countries even though they may touch borders. Everyone wants to be a leader, but many have no idea how to lead. They assume it is simply 'Do as I say, or there will be consequences'"

"It is not."

"I would be be honored to be your host here. We may speak freely." He tells her, and nods to the guards at the gate. His own retinue already know. T'challa makes decisions on the fly, but they are rarely poorly thought out. He does have the wisdom of millenia of past Kings and Black Panthers in his ears. "Come." He says standing aside and making space next to him. To walk as a peer.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Bel once more nods in assent, and walks to T'challa's side. She'll keep pace with him where he is going.

"I cannot speak for the inhabited worlds of the rest of the galaxy. Mine own had nothing to do with them. We had what we needed, and we had no interest in exploring the stars to find other peoples. We were content with what we had been given, and to contemplate the gifts of consciousness and life," she explains. "All of that changed several of our centuries ago, when we were invaded by an unknown race. We had no concept of war or conflict until the enemy found us. We naively believed that if there was other life, it would be like ours, uninterested in conquest and harm."

"We were forced to turn tools of healing and sustenance into weaponry, and we looked into the dark abyss of death-bringing. We discovered terrible power, and we used it to defend ourselves. We did not even know the name of the race that invaded us, but seventy billion of them died at once. We still mourn for the senselessness of it, and now that we have opened the door to death, we have changed irrevocably. That is why there are knights such as myself, to guard the door of death, so that, goddess willing, it may never be opened again."

Black Panther has posed:
T'challa listens to her story and nods as she speaks, but remains silent. At the end, he says simply. "Then your race has done what few others can claim. You found power, used it only in your own defense.. then laid it aside. You have taken measures to keep it from being used again. Rightfully so. It is a terrible thing to take a life. But I would not mourn too much for those who attacked you. You did what you had to to protect yourselves. They brought it on themselves." He says.

Both his bodyguard and assistant nod in agreement. That is the Wakandan way.. Protect your country. Protect your countrymen. Protect yourself. In that order. Everyone knows this. From the smallest child to the great elders.

"What is it that brings you to our world? To warn us of this nameless race?"

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
"No. I am not certain if any of them still survive," Bel Canto answers, looking up at the large building ahead.

"I will unfortunately bore you with details. Bear with me as I answer you fully."

"I am the firstborn of the present king, and as such, I will be required to sacrifice any personal desires to step into the rulership of my people and planet. It is a duty to which I have been prepared my whole life, and in that duty comes the training of being a knight, and becoming a mastersinger of the most powerful harmonies our world has ever known. To complete this training, and to be worthy to face judgment - to be tried by the gods to determine if I should be king - I engaged the last step of the journey, to fast and seek the face of our goddess. During my prayers, she did appear to me, but with a quest and command that has never been the like all of our recorded history:"

"She showed me your world. This planet. This people. She charged me with bringing the master songs to this planet, in order to spare it from great evil. She did not tell me when this evil would come, or what it would be, but that I would "know it when it came"."

Bel looks back over to T'Challa. "My father, the chorus of mastersingers, the philosopher priests, all of them believed it to be a false vision, that I should remain behind, pray yet again, and ascend the throne - but... I disobeyed. I could not deny what I saw. Once before Harmonia suffered grievously in lack of preparation, in turning a blind eye to the rest of the peoples of this galaxy, this universe. It would be cold and unrighteous of me if I did not trust the vision I saw, and do as my goddess bid."

"So here I am. My blade, my song, is in service of this world. I am prepared to lay down my life for a world that may not, may never, know or understand who and what I am."

Black Panther has posed:
T'challa turns to look at the woman. "That is a hard thing.. To lay down your life for a people you've never met. It is also the hallmark .. of of the traits.. of a true hero. But can you? Can you sacrifice yourself to protect a people who may never know or care what you did for them? Can you even know until the moment arrives?" He asks her. "I do not mean to question your journey but it is easy to say you have trained for these things, another to act on that training. I speak as a warrior trained from birth. I have had training from the best masters in the world. From this time and millenia past. But the decision to act. Or not to act.. is purely my own. It relies on my willpower. You see?" He asks her.

They reach the doors of the UN and he escorts her inside. "She is with me for this visit." He tells the wary looking guards at the door.

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
Bel smiles a little more, and sighs a soft little sigh. "To answer yes to your questions would be the height of arrogance and foolishness. The truth is that I do not know. I can only try. That is the test. The outcome? Only time and gods know such things." She continues following T'Challa inside.

Black Panther has posed:
T'challa leads Bel through the stately corridors to a room marked with the Wakandan flag and opens the door for her. "Then you answer correctly Bel. To give your best, is all that can be asked. If your best falls short of what is needed.. then you can only train and raise the level of what your best can be. If it is enough.. then you can train to make that your normal position. It is something we all must do for ourselves.. to the betterment of all."

Bel Canto (194) has posed:
"The quest now, is to determine how, until the evil comes forth, I can best serve this planet and its people. I cannot remain indolent. Neither can I remain ignorant of this world and its people; as you say, I have never seen such division and diversity, and in my wildest dreams I could not imagine a people so different from one another," Bel admits with a note of wonder and frustration simultaneously. She steps through the door as it is opened for her.