The meeting didn't come out quite like I'd wanted but I hope you all still enjoy! Thanks to all those to read, reviewed favorited and followed! Thank you guys so much! You all make me so happy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Panther.
The elders all come in and they don't look happy when they see him there. Queen Ramonda gives him a look that says he's still scum under her shoes for attempting to kill her son but she doesn't say anything to him. Erik gives her a sunny smile because he doesn't regret one shit bit of it.
The elders settle into their laces and Erik has fun meeting their gazes and smirking at all of them. I was your king once, he mentally sends to them. I ruled you old farts. From the stiffening of many of them his message has been received. Good. He's sure his pleasure shows on his face.
He's not quite in the circle of chairs, he's pulled off to the side but he's still at the top of the circle, close to T'Challa. Shuri stands on the other side of her brother. She's not an elder but she is in charge of the tech outreach program. The look she gives Erik is a cool neutral. He thinks this is probably the closest she'll ever come to a game face.
The first part of the meeting is basically a briefing. The wakandans go over everything that has been done in the last few weeks. At another time it might have been boring but Erik realizes that T'Challa was right when he said Erik coming to the meeting would keep him in the loop. There are things going on he doesn't know. Things that are happening under the radar of the news and things that haven't been allowed to feed onto his tablet. T'Challa's talks with the other African nations being one of them. It takes him a while to piece together how T'Challa has chosen to treat with them and when he does he is equal parts enraged and impressed. Wakanda is still protecting its heart, still keeping so much of themselves away from their brethren but at the same time Erik's been around the world and he's seen how aid efforts can turn sour for both the giver and the receiver. It's not a pleasant position to be in. This is exactly why Erik chose to do things the way he did.
Finally though, they come to the parts that Erik has directly contributed to but it's not alone. His plans have been interwoven with the wakandans' ideas. The false profiles are out along with real wakandan profiles, joining the social media world at last. They're are tentative and friendly, touching a world they have been cut off from for too long and its working to garner a sort of sympathy, making people believe that they are technologically advanced but socially stunted of a sort, unsure of how to deal with other nationals. They are expressive with their culture, working hard to ensure that it is not lost as the gates have been drawn down. They even throw in funny stories about attempting to get passports for the first time since wakandans rarely travel outside. They talk with sadness about their brethren in the building that had exploded.
T'Challa isn't on any social media but it's clear from what his people say that they consider him a good king, that they trust him and that he is close with his people not aloof and also well respected. There is an impression of him watching over everything and keeping them safe. Shuri's blog provides the counterpoint.
Everyone loves to have a new royal family to goggle at and create scandals. Shuri is bubbly, smart, young and beautiful. Moreover, she is a leader. She's heading the tech exchange, it's clear that she has some role in building the actual tech even if people are still unaware of how much she has a hand in. She talks about her brother in the way she usually does and she makes him human to the rest of the world. It also puts the royal family in a united front, shows them squeaky clean as if they have no dark secrets, as if they're not keeping a human being locked in their basement.
Erik would have much rather be a skeleton in their closet. As least he wouldn't be in this damn cage! His muscle bunch but a flicker from T'Challa's eyes tells him he's noticed. The glance is warning but not from T'Challa directly. His deaf cousin doesn't want the elders to notice. Erik bares his teeth in a grin that's all threatening. T'Challa ignores him. Shuri rolls her eyes at him and the elders definitely notice though they follow T'Challa's example and ignore him.
By Erik's time it's been an hour and a quarter since the meeting started as every progress report was made in excruciating detail for the elders who are determined to parse everything through. They are the check against the king and they take their job seriously. But Erik isn't the only one who is bored. T'Challa of course manages to look like he's sincerely interested, maybe cuz actually is. It wouldn't surprise Erik if he's inhuman like that. But Shuri is shuffling her feet slightly. She's been standing for the entire duration of the meeting and clearly wants to sit since she's equally clearly not one of the Dora Milaje who don't move as they stand guard.
A few minutes later she's subtly checking out the room for an extra chair she knows is not there. Her shoulders slump, her eyes flicker to the doorway likes she contemplating how much notice she would get if she drags in a chair from elsewhere. Her gaze moves away from the door and goes off into the distance and Erik can see the moment she gets an idea. She moves from T'Challa's side, graceful and sure, and heads towards Erik.
Oh hell no.
Hell no.
Nada princess.
Shuri off course can't read his mind. She plops across his lap settling a hand on his thigh and another on his knee to balance herself. Erik quickly considers if she's close enough that he can rip out her jugular with his teeth but Shuri had taken that into consideration because she'd sat just too far away for him to succeed. Her eyes flickered to his teeth and Erik grins at her.
"What up princess? Felt like torturing me a bit today?"
Shuri screws up her face and says in a disgust so well faked he mightn't have been able to tell it wasn't true, if he didn't know it was.
"Of course not. I'm just treating you like I do any of my cousins."
"I'm your only cousin," Erik points out.
She shrugs innocently, guilelessly. "I am still learning."
Erik grins at her. It says 'screw you princess," quite succinctly. She smiles back at him, brilliant and cheerful. The meeting continues after an awkward pause around their conversation.
"Are we sure that using social media like this would actually work. We all know how easy opinions can change and it can all backfire on us!" One of the elders argued.
He feels a tap from Shuri on his thigh. At first, he thinks she's just resettling herself but it happens again. He blinks, looks at her watching the elder intently as if she listening to every word he says and understands. This is someone who is not keen on moving away from their isolationist policies. This is someone who will oppose T'Challa's plan.
Why the hell are they telling him to watch out for that elder? Erik isn't for T'Challa's plan either. Wait...he's supposed to be. He had agreed to be...so they're pulling him in, acting like he's for them. Alright best play along if the long game is the only way he'll get out of here.
"But social media is a large part the world today, even in Wakanda," T'Challa points out. "It's how the rest of the world connects to each other. If we truly want to integrate ourselves with the world, this is the fastest way to do this. It is also the fastest way to get our goals out there and the fastest way to garner support."
"Mob mentality," another elder says after a moment. "You are directing the mob through this."
Erik gets a gentle poke on his leg. This one isn't warning. 'This elder is on our side it says.'
Which leads us to our next points," another elder declares. A brush against his knee made to look like she was shifting her weight. It's not a warning either but neither is it warm. A neutral then. Erik flickers a look to T'Challa but the king isn't looking at him. His face is tilted away a little and Erik follows his gaze. He catches a faint glimpse of silver behind the elders' chairs. A mirror. Not angled for Erik, no. Its angled so that Shuri can see what T'Challa is saying with his face and relay it to Erik. Well look at that. High tech cousins and they're back to old tricks where the elders can't catch them using the tech.
His gaze flickers back to the circle quickly just in time to notice everyone is now focused on him.
"We need," said the same elder as before, "some explanations as to these suggestions that you have made."
"And which old shit are you?"
Shuri sighs, like she hadn't expected better but is still disappointed.
"Elder Shakli," T'Challa says, placing emphasis on the name. "I would ask you to speak to the council of elders with respect cousin."
Erik sneers a laugh but says, "Sure why not? Lived this long in their cushy digs. Might as well give 'em some respect for managing to survive the luxury."
"Erik," T'Challa's voice is warning.
Erik opens his mouth but Shuri Slaps his chest. He coughs instead of whatever cutting remark he was going to say. "Don't bother, they'll just ban you from talking in the meeting unless you get asked a direct question or its about your specialty. I know, that's what happened to me."
Erik blinks. So that was why princess was so quiet today.
"What happened to freedom of speech?".
"It dies when your brother is king and agrees with the elders," she says dryly. Erik raises his eyebrows because that doesn't sound a thing like T'Challa.
"If I wanted the meeting to last for five hours then we'll let her and the elders go at it." T'Challa says. "She talks when she wants to anyway."
Someone clears their throat loudly and Ramonda says, "And the meeting will take five times as long if you keeping interrupting like this." A squeeze on his knee tells him that her ex-highness is on the fence about T'Challa's decision but not openly.
"What is the purpose the food bloggers?" one of the elders jumps in before anyone can say anything.
"Culture sharing," Erik says. "People like food, they don't care from where. You got every sort of racist under the sun and they'll 'cus at every race they want to but they'll still go buy their damn food. It's about making a connection. Also your bloggers are gonna show your citizens in a good light. They'll have pictures of their kitchens and whatever and that shit will make people feel connected to them."
There's silence as everyone takes that in.
"I like Thai food," Shuri says. Everyone looks at her. "I'm not saying I'm racist against Thai people!" she backpedals quickly, and T'Challa has to bite back a laugh.
"That's what they all say lil cuz," Erik drawls. He gets a hard smack on his thigh. He figures that means she hates him. But the air in the chamber has lightened considerable. Erik catches a flash of T'Challa's eyes to the hidden mirror and realizes that he had signaled Shuri to say something that would lightened the atmosphere. Huh. Cuz might have a brain cell or two in there after all.
"Travel bloggers," asks another elder. Tap on his thigh. Enemy then. He'll have to answer carefully.
"Shows you've got nothing more to hide," he says. "Bloggers, especially the kind that fancies that they're good at what they do, love to poke around and people know that. They'll think that whatever they give to them is real stuff. Also all those bloggers have a rep for showing a place as it really is you know? So people will trust 'em. You just gotta figure out what you're showing 'em." He shrugs as much as he can in the chair.
"And what if they do see something they should not?" the elders voice is cold.
Erik laughs in her face. "You really telling me you can't hide what you want to when you've hidden your entire country for years?"
The elder goes silent but she's still frosty. A gentle squeeze on his knee. Well done this one says. Guess he's not the only one who took an instant dislike to that particular elder.
Erik continues. "Also blogs are the sort of stuff that gets under people's skin without them knowing you know? They might hate a place but get a few good pictures, show all the normal people in a place and that's what will come to people's minds along with all your fancy ships. It's a trick. Bombard people with enough images and they'll eventually believe it, even when they know they shouldn't."
"So we should allow them to take pictures of whatever they want?" T'Challa asks.
"Nah," Erik says, "Looks like you're trying too hard. Let your peoples know that they can refuse the bloggers taking pictures of their homes and stuff if they want."
"That's good," Shuri says. "Makes it look more real."
I understand the point of the celebrities," Ramonda says after a while, "Bur we do not need their support."
"And that's exactly why you need them here," Erik says, flatly. "People expect you to attempt to garner support. If you don't attempt to get support people either will think you don't want their support, or more importantly, you don't need it. Since you're trying not to scare the hell out of the rest of the world you should attempt to show a weakness. This lures 'em into thinking you're not as strong as to be able to actually make that much of a dent and so, they'll relax around you a bit more."
"Why not bring in actual leaders?" someone asks.
"Because people will think you're trying to lead their thoughts."
"But aren't celebrities leaders?"
"Close enough," Erik shrugs.
"But just a moment ago you told us not to bring in any leaders because people will think their being led."
"But celebrities ain't true leaders," Erik explains. "People can just say they're paid off or whatever shit they want to say to believe they're lying. The celebrities ain't for the normal population, they're for the governments."
"So we look weak!" another elder says. He clearly done not appreciate the idea.
"So we don't look like a threat," T'Challa corrects gently before Erik can say anything. "At least, not more than the rest of the world."
"You don't want to get people's back up do you, Elder O'Tanaye?" Shuri says. "People don't like to listen when you do." There's warning in her words and damn Erik almost wants to high-five her. Pity she's his bitch of a cousin.
The elder looks uncomfortable but he gives a stiff nod. "You are right," he conceded and Erik is a little impressed. Man's got the balls to admit he's wrong. A poke on his leg. Elder O'Tanaye is a friend.
"Is that all?" T'Challa asks. He even manages to say the question like he's not eager for the answer to be yes. If Erik was king he'd already have thrown 'em all satisfyingly out.
"Not at all," says another elder. Tap, goes Shuri's finger. She taps again a little harder. This elder is real opposition then. Her eyes flicker to the mirror and then she relaxes a little more, looking like she doesn't care a damn. Erik follows her, T'Challa's, lead and relaxes in his cage of a chair. Even his kingly cousin is looking a little smug, leaning back in his throne. It's a power play of the subtlest level. We rule here, it says. We are royalty. We rule. Not you. It's a warning.
Erik looks to the ex-queen but she shows nothing on her face.
The elder clearly gets the hidden message as does the rest of the council. The tension ratchets up and the rest of the elders are looking like they're getting ready to watch a fast paced table tennis match.
"Why is he," the elder points to Erik and he fully expects that if she was a witch he'd be ash now, "allowed use of some of our operatives?"
"Set a killer to catch a killer," Shuri answers first even though the question was directed at Tchalla. Princess is still lazily seated on his lap but Erik can feel her muscles coil. Princess is in for one hell of a fight. Erik glances at T'challa and realizes he's going to let Shuri have this round. They're gonna tag team her. Erik settles back for real, definitely interested in seeing how this all plays out.
"By gang him the means to kill?" the elder shot back.
"Elder Kintasi," Shuri says, "You are acting like our operatives are like robots, unable to think for themselves. If he gives a strange order, they will no doubt parse it through and make the best decision that is in line with our principles."
"Do you really think he is incapable of setting up a plan without our operative knowing that they are being used?" Elder Kintasi strikes back, her eyes hard.
"With his track record?" Shuri says, "No actually. But we have judged the risk worth it. Also we have people who go through his instructions before they are forwarded. Surely you aren't insulting the intelligence of your own intelligence network?"
"Worth it?!" Kintasi strikes back, choosing to ignore Shuri's parting shot. Leaves her bleeding though. The other elders are watching her a little askance. "Worth having the world turn against us when he strikes against them? Against innocents?"
When Shuri answers her voice is soft but carries a weight that is warning, deadly. She turns Erik into her throne from which she delivers her irrefutable judgement. "Worth it, to save the life of my brother, your king."
Kintasi opens her mouth and Shuri locks eyes with her and Damn Erik can feel the charisma pour of her and freeze the whole throne room save for her brother.
"If it wasn't for his intervention, six assassins would now be paid to kill my brother," Shuri says. "Six. Six assassins to try and toss this country, our nation, back into chaos."
Well shit. Erik didn't know that.
There is dead silence and then Kintasi rallies. "Are you saying the Dora Milaje are not capable of handing these threats?"
"Are you saying you would rather have these threats out there, rather than have them taken care of before they can even begin to harm us?" T'Challa's voice is…not cold or hard but it too is carries a weight that squishes any protest.
Except apparently Kintasi. Seriously. This is the one time Erik wishes his cousin would win. This lady's voice is annoying.
"I'm saying," Kintasi says, "That you are taking care of risks by exposing us to more risks."
"Ain't you the one just spouting off about innocents?" Erik breaks in. Everyone's' eyes and head turn to him reminding him or meerkats. He continues before Elder Bitch Witch can say something that makes him want to claw her throat out. "How do you think those assassins were getting into Wakanda? They'll try to bribe wakanadans you got on the outside. They'll fail and then they'll kill them and take their credentials. With SHIELD and HYDRA running about, there enough technology to change someone's face to look like one of your own enough for them to pass through. Or," he continues, "They'll show up at your border dressed as refugees, in that case no one might get hurt but the real smart ones will show up with a group of real refuges and once they're inside they'll kill everyone who can identify them and come for Cuz here. The third option is that they'll kill real refuges before they come to the border, steal their clothes and their look and then get inside. So, lotta dead innocents by my count."
"You don't care about innocents!" Kintasi snarls.
"But you do," Erik shoot back."
"We are not just going to let any refuges come in," says another elder.
"You aren't?" Erik says raising an eyebrow.
"We would have to," says Tchalla, "at least a little bit in or we risk bad publicity. But that opens us up to assassination attacks and spies."
"So we get rid of them before they come to us," Shuri finishes the argument neatly.
"This is foolish!" Kintasi says. "You are all disgraces!"
The Dora Milaje instantly stiffen and T'Challa sits up in his throne. "That is not the way to address your king, Elder Kintasi!" Erik's cousin is gone behind the mantle of king and black panther and Kintasi recognizes it.
"My apologies," she says even though they all know it's a lie.
"I think that is enough for today," T'Challa says after a moment. "Dismissed."
The elders all nod and then vanish out the door. Ramonda is last. She glances back at her children and Erik can see that even though she may no be on board with their plan, she's hella proud of them. Then she's gone and Erik is left alone with his cousins and the Dora Milaje.
R&R please!