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There is room in the arts in Attilan, but it is limited to the aesthetic of its own society. One of the benefits of being out in the world is the chance to experience the culture of others. While Blackagar might be reticent, Medusa has decided to take full advantage of T'Challa's invitation to experience an evening of Wakandan music. And besides, a chance for her and Crystal to wear evening gowns? Blackagar in a tux? Yes, please.
And so they arrive at the Wakandan embassy, and providing the other two are inclined, Blackagar will have a lady on each arm, Medusa's hair drifting in cloud-like mass around them.
*
Ok, so Blackagar fills out a tux very well. But that does not stop him from wanting to delay the attendance to the gathering. But it was an argument he lost, and lost soundly, with Medusa. Yes. That is a pun.
Looking around, he adjusts his jacket some and offers a glance at Medusa, eyebrow quirking up slightly towards her before he contineus to let the hair-maned woman guide him about.
*
It's a pity, really, that the gowns Crystal wore in Asgard would draw too much attention here in New York. Cloth woven from sunbeams tends to do that sort of thing. But there's nothing wrong with the bell-skirted green silk number she's worn instead, save maybe for the fact that it's either five years out of style or else incredibly safe and conservative.
Where her sister is regal, Crystal looks excited, half-releasing Blackagar's arm here and there as she lingers to get a look at one thing or another. She's been restless lately, given the news of the hour, but tonight is for fun. Even if she shoots nervous looks toward her sister's hair every now and then.
"After this, we should go to the Black Cat," she suggests with a swift smile for Blackagar. "It's an interesting place. There's no sense in rushing back, after all."
*
The Wakandan Embassy in New York City was established mostly to connect Wakanda to the United Nations. That, and quietly because their young sovereign, Queen T'Challa, intended to attend university and graduate school at Empire State University. Which she is doing even now. The Embassy is not terribly large, instead only a double-brownstone building, though of course it has been completely remodeled inside, and isolated from the buildings on either side. There's not much in the way of grounds, and only a small underground parking garage for a few key Embassy vehicles. Security is generally down to a mere couple of guards stationed at the entrance, although the facade of the building has some impressive-looking panther-motif emblems and statuary.
It's nothing like the palace, of course.
The Embassy does not often host outsiders, but tonight is a special case, a cultural exchange event scheduled not for Americans or other international persons visiting the city who might be interested, but actually set up by T'Challa herself just for the visit of the Inhuman guests now arriving. With Medusa's presence and the invitation presented, the guards outside - one male, one female, both dressed in tribal-accented dark western businesswear - nod, confer briefly by radio, and then open the double doors to admit them inside.
Inside, the open foyer is largely unpopulated at this hour, although another tribal-accented dark businesswear-dressed African figure appears promptly, stepping out from another pair of doors to the left, and then nods. "Good evening." His accent is much stronger than T'Challa's, but still understandable. "If you will follow me? The concert is inside."
Through the set of double doors to the left is a small auditorium. Quite modest, in fact, in size but excellently appointed. There are only perhaps thirty seats in the auditorium, almost universally filled with African men and women, half of whom are in tribally-accented western attire, the other half in what must be variations on formal Wakandan attire. As the guests enter down the only aisle, the Queen herself approaches, dressed in a startlingly vibrant sleek purple floor-length gown, with a broad golden gorget over her throat and upper chest, large earrings in her ears. She is flanked by two guards, again with one male and one female.
"Good evening. Welcome. I am very pleased that you could join me this evening."
*
If there's one thing that Medusa knows, it's protocol. And she will not relax formality until T'Challa gives evidence of wanting to do so. She dips a curtsy - nothing ornate in effort, just a simple dipping of her knees, and then turns just a touch to present those accompanying her. "Your Majesty, thank you for having us. May I present my younger sister Crystal, and my fiance, Blackagar?" She witholds their titles; the world is not ready for those details.
*
Blackagar's gesture is equal in setting, an incline of his head; proper in depth but not too terribly so, before he offers a glance towards Medusa and then back towards T'Challa. The man remains silent during that time, observing quietly. Then after a moment he offers a small smile.
*
Crystal's curtsey is a bit deeper than Medusa's, though not quite an affair of state. "Thank you for inviting us," she echoes her sister with a flash of a smile, looking around again. "Your embassy is lovely." Even if the pair of redheads and their escort stand out like sore thumbs there. At least these people aren't all six and a half feet tall.
*
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, both of you." T'Challa offers, addressing first Medusa's fiance and then her younger sister. Her smiles are understated, but do not lack a dollop of genuine warmth. She may be regal and standoffish, but she's not an unfeeling bitch. "Please allow me to complete the introductions, if you will: I am Queen T'Challa of Wakanda. I hope you will enjoy our show."
That said, T'Challa gives some tiny cue and then turns with her bodyguards as one, making her way back to her own seat. The guard guiding the other three guides them to seats nearby the Queen, but not right beside her; they are guests of an unknown nature, after all, and these people are charged with her security and safety above all things, even life. Many of the guards are taller than six feet, a few even six and a half or more. But T'CHalla is the tallest (Wakandan) woman here, and she is only a few inches taller than six feet.
Once everyone is seated, a small gathering of Wakandans step out on stage from a door up there, and take seats around the stage. After a few long moments to settle and focus themselves, one turns to regard the audience and the Queen specifically, and speaks up. "In deference to the Queen's guests, I speak in English tonight, that we might not exclude them. However, our performances will be in Wakandan. We have prepared translation pamphlets, and these will be delivered shortly. Our first piece tonight is and updated and formalized rendition of the classic tale of The First Panther."
*
Medusa starts to speak for Blackagar, but T'Challa speaks before hand, and so she withholds her words. A look is darted at Blackagar, faintly apologetic, but like as not they'll have an opportunity to have further communication after the performance. So seats are taken, and she smiles across Blackagar's solemn countenance at Crystal. "Marvelous, isn't it?" Her hand rests on the arm of her chair, wrist not quite touching Black Bolt's.
*
Blackagar smiles calmly towards Medusa, looking to be unpreturbed and instead follows along with the others where once they are lead to their seats he takes his with delicate patience and settles himself with tight posture. Hands folded into his lap, legs resting comfortably secured and attention on the performers. He spares but scant moments to glance, first towards Crystal, then to Medusa, before finally offering a longer look at T'Challa as the performances begin and carry on; still remaining silent.
*
Crystal settles into her seat, smoothing a hand over her skirts and looking as much at the people around them as at the stage until the speaker comes out. She flashes a swift smile to Medusa's question, giving Blackagar's arm a squeeze as well. Isn't this fun?
*
As promised, a young African woman appears at the guests' seats with three small booklets, each including a clip-on LED lamp to light it and make it readable in the slightly darkened hall. And yes, that's despite that such lamps are not even a thing in western technology at this time. Inside, as promised, are translations and explanations for each of the performances that will follow this evening, starting with the story of the First Panther.
The musical piece is combined with a small performing dance troupe bedecked in costumes. The music is definitely of African origin, for those who are at all familiar with traditional African music. But this music has a refinement and style, and a purity of nature, rarely seen in the modern world, unadulterated by Western cultural influences.
The performance tells the tale of the First Panther, the leader of the Panther tribe and cult in ages long past, before even the birth of the man who would be Jesus Christ, and his founding of the dynasty that would become the future Wakanda. It reveals the finding of the Great Mound, though this is not explained to be the source of Vibranium within the pamphlets. Also found seem to be elements of technology which inspire the First Panther and those who follow him to study and seek to understand what they offer. The First Panther finds the Heart Shaped Herb, and partakes of it, changed by its power - held to have come from the Great Mound - to become greater than other men, a lineage proclaimed to rule down through the centuries, even to today.
It is, to be clear, a very impassioned and striking performance, showcasing costumed dancers performing impressive feats of agility, grace and style, backed by a very talented small 'orchestra' of Wakandan instruments performing Wakandan music, with Wakandan singing in their native tongue. It is something that few if any outsiders have seen and survived in any recent memory. And it has been shared with these three.
*
Medusa leans forward with visible interest during the performance, lips parted in fascination as she soaks up the story, the music, the dancing. And her hand does indeed slide tentatively down to curve against Blackagar's as she doesn't so much watch as experience the performance. She doesn't want to disrespect the performance by whispering, doesn't want to, but during one of the pauses in the show she does turn to look at Blackagar and Crystal, her expression filled with weight and meaning; she senses the honor they've been given, and she sees the opportunity for alliance here.
*
Having seen much in his travels, to be able to bear witness to the display truly settles upon Blackagar. His expression remains ever stoic and his absorption of the performance is complete. Taking in the nuances of dance, the intricacies of the music and even closing his eyes momentarily to encompass his presence in the scent of the Wakandan embassy; Blackagar's time is well spent embracing the moment. Bright eyes watch, sparing only but a glance to either Medusa or Crystal during the demonstration that, upon its completion pulls his hands together not in mere applause but in a gesture of extreme gratitude.
*
The Inhuman trio knows about ancient civilizations and secret histories all too well. But this is a new story, a fresh performance. Crystal watches as intently as Medusa and Blackagar, but it isn't just the art of it that she appreciates. She takes in the story itself, watches the dancers for the leaps that are just a little bit higher than they ought to be. For the expressions on the dancers faces, the things that add truth to the performance.
*
Applause fills the hall, restrained though it may be, as the performance ends. The performers all gather and present themselves, crossing their arms over their chests as they bow their heads. As they do so, T'Challa stands from her seat, and at this every other person present does the same; she is their monarch, after all. When the applause dies down, T'Challa speaks from her standing position at her seat. "I thank you, all of you, for honoring the story of our ancestors as you have. May the blessings of the Panther be upon you all, and your families."
After a few moments, T'Challa glances at her guests, offering another tiny, ephemeral smile, and then takes her seat. The other audience follow soon thereafter, as the performers move about, most of them retreating from the stage to be replaced by another small gathering. What follows is a series of introduced musical performances. Most do not include singing, though some do. All are described as traditional Wakandan music, serving purposes of religion, family and community, celebrating their history and culture.
*
"Did I ever tell either of you how I met T'Challa?" Medusa takes the opportunity between performances as acts are transitioning to speak quietly with the other Inhumans. "A shopkeeper was treating her abominably. He didn't realize who his patron was, only that she was black." Such a thing would never occur in Attilan, her tone suggests. She is careful not to discuss questionable topics, but she is wondering if the herb of the story is somehow connected to Terrigen Crystals.
*
Crystal tilts her head toward Medusa to catch the explanation, wrinkling her nose when she hears it. "Yes, well," she sighs softly. "People here are remarkably blind when it comes to realizing that difference isn't the worst thing they can find. Remind me to take you to Mutant Town sometime," she murmurs before the next act comes on. Again she watches, attentive.
*
After a few more performances, the concert ends, with more applause offered as thanks to all of the performers for their efforts. Then, finally, T'Challa comes to gather her guests and leads them out of the auditorium to the open foyer, which has been made over since they entered as a small cocktail party atmosphere, with a buffet and a bar available, and soft music playing - Wakandan, naturally - while offering the opportunity for the concert-goers - Wakandan and Inhuman alike - to mingle and meet with the performers who have so graced everyone tonight.
"I hope you have enjoyed the concert tonight. I wanted to say, again, that it is an honor to meet Medusa's family. We understand only too well the challenges that can be faced in operating in a world largely dominated by the current western regimes and their eastern adversaries, but remaining independent. It is nice to meet others who face those challenges." Trays of glasses of alcohol and of nibble-worthy finger foods make the circuit as the conversation and mingling begin.
*
Blackagar is called away, but not without Medusa conveying his pleasure at the performance and regret that he must depart, leaving her and Crystal to attend T'Challa. "It is quite possibly one of the most amazing things I've ever gotten to experience." says Medusa quite honestly. "And I feel incredibly privileged that you would honor us this way." Medusa admits, "I have traveled far - we all have, but I have not had the opportunity to visit any of Africa's countries."
*
How much did Medusa tell this woman? Crystal slants a sidelong glance to her sister for a just a moment before she looks back to the queen, smile crooked. "It's always a pleasure to find something new in the world, something we haven't had the opportunity to see before. And that was incredible. Thank you for inviting us to see into your world," she says with a dip of her chin, pressing a hand to her chest in a gesture of respect.
*
In truth, Medusa never gave T'Challa much in the way of facts. But the way she said things - and didn't say them - left the young Wakandan monarch with a clear impression, which she has expressed in her own way. Right or wrong, she forges boldly ahead. It's what monarchs do. Surely these people would understand that better than most. "There are many wonders to be seen in Africa, and I strongly encourage visits there. Sadly, all too few of those wonders remain unspoiled. Or remain in African hands." Wakanda has never been conquered by any force, ever. It is the only African nation that can say this, and some are still under the yoke of outside oppression. "You are all quite welcome, and thank you for coming, and for keeping an open mind to experience and appreciate our culture, art and people."
*