"What were you expecting?"

"I thought maybe they'd ask me what the heck I was doing there first!"

"We might do that. Depending how scary the situation was at the moment."

"Admittedly being invisible and unshootable and able to fly would not make me less scary but at the time I was less powerful and if they'd shot me I could've died, so."

"I was discussing with my mother whether I should make my claim to the throne of Wakanda. But I could die, and I really, really don't care to."

"- claiming the throne is itself fatal or you'd just be at risk for assassinations?"

"People can challenge you. It's stupid. I watched my brother do two challenges and - no."

"These are fights to the death? Why?"

"They don't have to be but they're allowed to be. I ...suppose it disproportionately discourages kings who will be wildly unpopular. But I'm really reaching, there."

"How did you wind up with this stupid tradition?"

"We've had it since we politically unified three thousand years ago."

"Some kind of unification compromise, nobody just gets a clear dynasty over the others if someone else wants to make a bid?"

"Yep. Every tribe can put someone forward if they'd like."

"And in three thousand years nobody's snugged this up with political marriages all 'round?"

"Relations between the tribes have gotten better but not linearly, and the past year was very ugly for us - there was a coup, and a countercoup, different tribes picked different sides -"

"Yikes. When we've rolled this back are you reasonably stable now?"

"If you get the King back I expect we'll be fine. He was in the process of patching things up and doing well at it."

"Thanos got him, or you need him rezzed separately?"

"Thanos."

"Okay, well, here's hoping." She coughs. "Excuse me," she calls forcefieldward, "I'd really like to talk to Lúthien or a representative, but if you take much longer to get here I'll assume the forcefield is soundproof and try talking from inside! I wouldn't want to alarm you unnecessarily!"

"We did not invite you here," says the forcefield reproachfully.

"Yes, I know you didn't, but if you'd known I existed I'm sure you would have. Can you tell Lúthien that Princesses Loki and Shuri would like to talk to her please?"

"We don't know who you are or what brings you here."

"I'm Princess Loki! I am here on an errand which is about the outside world and therefore probably totally uninteresting to you but I bet Lúthien would find the story fascinating if nothing else!"

"Then I will record it for her."