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Go looking for more information on a coin as rare as a Wakandan Claw and it won't take long before some intrepid dealer can point one in the right direction: Wakanda. Of course, heading to the mysterious and largely unknown African nation would be a challenge and a half. But it might come up that there is apparently an embassy for Wakanda, established in New York to serve the United Nations some four or five years ago. If one wants to know more about Wakanda, or about the feline imagery of that nation's coinage, that might be the place to start.
Half of finding out something is knowing whom to ask, and what to ask them. The coin was as striking as the woman who had donated it. Wakanda, that's what she had said was her home, and once Tigra figured out the right way to spell it, she was able to find the embassy and decided to pay it a visit. Once again in human guise, she enters the embassy with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
The Wakandan Embassy is, to be fair, a rather unassuming building, a double 'brownstone' with only a very few visible enhancements. One of these is the underground parking structure. The other would be the array of antennae and dishes mounted on the roof. Entry is simple enough, passing a single guard at the front entrance. Inside, the lower floor is a largely open plan, with a sizable circular desk in the front, manned by between one and three people - two, at the moment - ready to greet guests and apparently answer the public phone lines.
The black woman at the desk welcomes Greer upon her entrance. "Good afternoon, Miss. Welcome to the Wakandan Embassy. How may we help you?" She does not have an accent like T'CHalla did, but instead sounds American. Perhaps she is a local hire?
A wide staircase along one wall leads upwards to the second floor, where a balcony overlooks the open entrance, with hints of doorways that lead into offices or other rooms. Some artwork covers walls and stands on pedastals about, much of it imagery of Wakanda, and much of it including images of great felines. Those few in color show themselves to be midnight black. Panthers.
*
No need for parking for Greer, though if she were traveling as she normally does, she would have noticed the equipment on the roof and been quite curious about it. She takes a moment to get her bearings, and on seeing someone offering to be helpful, gives a polite smile and approaches the desk. "Well, I was curious about Wakanda itself, actually. I'd never heard of it, I'm afraid, and met a woman from there." She pauses a moment. "Well, I say met, but it's not like we exchanged names. Just crossed paths listening to a musician."
*
The young woman nods. "Well, it is not terribly surprising. I had not heard of Wakanda before I was recruited to work here." She seems mildly amused, but pleased to be helpful. "Admittedly, there are not many Wakandan citizens in the United States. So. What would you like to know?"
*
"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure where to start," Greer admits. "I suppose I could say everything and anything, but that doesn't help narrow down where to start, does it?" she asks with a smile. "Let me say this, then. The woman had a large silver coin she gave to the musician, and I noticed it had a claw on it. And I can't help but notice all the panther imagery here," she adds, glancing around the room. "Does Wakanda have a special place for the great cats in their hearts?"
*
The young woman smiles and nods. "Definitely. The leadership of Wakanda is largely dominated by the Black Panther Cult, and the leader of that Cult rules Wakanda as sovereign monarch. As land of jungle and plains in the fullness of Africa, Wakanda knows almost all of the great cats, and honors them all. But greatest of these in their eyes is the Black Panther, which is also the hereditary title of the monarch, as much defender of Wakanda and her people as ruler." Clearly, this young woman has soaked up a lot about Wakanda since coming to work here.
*
"Cult?" Greer asks, finding that an odd choice of words. She has to admit when it comes to Africa, it's a pretty vague landmass to her. "What can you tell me about this…cult?" She's hoping they just mean something different with the word. "I noticed you said 'her' people. Is Wakanda ruled by a queen then? Are they like England, a constitutional monarchy without much actual power?"
*
She shakes her head. "Sorry. Yes, Wakanda's current monarch is a Queen. But the monarchy of Wakanda are not without actual power. Their power is almost absolute, beyond the right of challenge." Sounds barbaric, doesn't it? "I do not personally know a great deal about the Cult, except that they are the leadership of the Panther Clan, the largest and strongest of the ancient Clans of Wakanda. I do know that there are religious overtones about them, and that they are responsible for guiding the monarchy and nation, and education of the people."
*
Eyebrows go up at that. An absolute monarcy in this day and age? That's definitely surprising. She's certainly tempted to dismiss it as backwards, but restrains herself. "And the leader of the cult is also the ruler, you said? So it's a little like a theocracy, then?" she asks carefully, not sure if that's what she's hearing,a nd certainly not wanting to sound judgmental in the use of the word.
*
"I suppose one could view it that way." the young woman answers, clearly not sounding like she feels she's on solid factual footing. "That hasn't been my impression. After all, the Queen is herself a great lover of science and technology. She's actually pursuing a graduate degree in Engineering from ESU."
*
Greer offers an apologetic smile and a shake of he rhead. "I didn't mean it ot sound like I was comparing them to the dark ages. After all, there have been great religious scientists. I just wanted to make sure I understood what you were describing. I've never heard of Wakanda before, and the woman I met, she suggested they're an isolated country. Is that something that's changing?" she asks, gesturing to the embassy.
*
"It's true. Wakanda is very isolated." The young woman answers, nodding. "They don't trade much, and are very self-sufficient. As far as I know, this is one of only perhaps three Embassies they have in the world, and this one is only five years old. But yes, I believe it is changing, at least a bit. Though no one but the Queen could likely tell you where she is headed with that, or her end goals."
*
"Wow, really?" Greer asks, lips pursed in thought at that. Her tail would speak eloquently of her curiosity, did she have it right now. As is, lips and eyebrows stand in for it. "Do you know where the other two are? And what caused them to get more involved in the world?" Then there's a wry smile. "Or is it that the world's getting involved with them? Harder to be isolated from it in the era of radio, TV, and atomic weapons."
*
The young woman considers briefly, and then nods. "I know that one is in the Netherlands. And from what I've read, the other is in Kenya." Or it may be some other African nation that is mentioned, but it is essentially Wakanda's largest, most stable neighbor in Africa. "As I understand it, the rule of their new Queen is largely responsible for the change in their involvement with nations beyond their own borders."
*
The African country makes sense to Greer, but the Netherlands? She's sure there's a reason for it, but she would have expected Russia. Or possibly Great Britain. Well, she didn't study foreign relations in school. "What's the Queen's name, by the way? She certainly sounds like a forward looking woman." Which is the only way to keep from walking into walls.
*
Someone better familiar with international relations would realize that the Hague, the International Criminal Court as an extension of the United Nations, is in the Netherlands. That would be why there is a Wakandan Embassy there. "The Queen's name?" the young woman questions. "Oh. Well, it's a matter of public record, so I don't suppose that would be a bad thing to share. She is Queen T'Challa, daughter of King T'Chaka."
*
"T'Challa,' Greer says, repeating it to make sure she understood it right. "Well, she certainly sounds interesting. You said she's going to school here, in New York? I'll have to keep an eye out for her and her entourage," Greer says with a grin."
*
The young African-American woman smiles and nods. "Yes. That's how it's pronounced." Her eyes twinkle merrily. "And yes. She is a graduate student at a rather reputable university here in New York City. But she rarely travels with an entourage, except on official business. She passes better and more safely as a woman on her own. She's very capable."
*
It's rpetty obvious that Greer's a bit dubious of that, at least at first brush. And then she remembers that she, herself, is quite capable, and her dubious look becomes a more thoughtful one instead. "Well, I certainly hope that she is. Parts of New York can certainly be challenging. I can certainly see the advantage of anonymity."
*
The young woman nods. "I am sure that Queen T'Challa is up to the challenge. She has lived here like this for almost five years, now." She doesn't mention that the Black Panther has recently become a costumed vigilante of some note in the news; this is left as an exercise for the woman who is herself so curious. And so capable. "Is there anything more I can tell you, Ma'am? Any other way I can assist you?"
*
Greer files the information away for later considering. Her subconscious is pointing her attention to it, but it will take some pondering before it's meaningful. "No, I don't think so, at least not at the moment," she says the polite young woman. "I'm likely to have more questions later. Thank you for your time, though," she smiles.
*
"You are quite welcome, Ma'am. Please, have a good day." the young woman offers, with a smile and a nod, as she watches Greer gather herself and eventually depart. She'll probably write up the encounter, just for completeness' sake. It would be the responsible thing to do.
*
Greer returns both smile and nod and turns to depart, takign a slow look around as she does so. She's learned some interesting things today, things to contemplate. That makes it a good day, certainly.