#and perhaps sort of explain my extended absence if anyone was wondering/cared/whatever

[swedegone]

also i do not know what to do with all my blogs so there’s that

[amemixfan]

Zugzwang (3/?)

Unfortunately, I do not wake up in Chicago.

The next morning, I awake in the same blue bedroom from the night before. My headache is completely gone and my muscles feel slightly less sore. I stretch my arms above my head before climbing out of bed.

As I finger comb my hair, I realize that someone has dressed me from before. My T-shirt and jeans have been replaced by a simple white sleeping gown that doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

I bristle and immediately head to the dresser while my cheeks burn.

Someone dressed me while I was out. Someone saw me naked without my consent.

The thought violates me and makes my cheeks even redder. I at least hope it was Helena or some other female and not one of the men from before.

Pulling open the dresser, I have to bite back a groan.

The entire wardrobe in the room consists of dresses in various shades of blue and white that look even more revealing than the last. Whoever these belong to must have a high self esteem.

It takes me more than I would care to admit to find something shoved at the very bottom of the pile that isn’t some skimpy Halloween costume wannabe.

The clothes I find are a plain shirt and pants in various tan and brown shades. Mercifully, and rather oddly, they fit me perfectly to the point where I wonder how they seem to be tailored to me.

Sighing, I decide just to chalk it up to dream logic and head out the door.

Unlike last night-or whenever I was last awake-the halls seem to be empty. There’s no sign of Helena or Alain or anyone else nearby. It takes me several wrong turns and dead ends to finally find someone.

A servant who turns white when they see me mumbles out half directions to some place before scurrying away like a startled animal. I try to ignore how odd that is before following their instructions through the labyrinth that is the building.

Eventually, I make it to some sort of dining room. From outside, the smell of food wafts through the air and my stomach makes a dying whale noise.

I blush for the second time again before pushing the heavy door open.

Immediately, chatter stops. The room turns dead silent upon my entrance. I hesitate for just a second before continuing towards the people from earlier.

“Morning,” I mumble out.

My voice seems to jolt something into action because Helena and Alain jump to their feet. Alain haphazardly lunges for a chair next to him and pushes it out for me. His face schools into another half-obsessed half-creepy smile.

“Good morning, My Queen, I trust you slept well?” He pushes my chair in as I sit.

“Like a log,” I answer back.

My hands fold into my lap nervously as I take in the room around me.

The five from before surround me on a large table. There’s several chairs in between them as if the thought of sitting close to one another disgusts them. Alain and Helena take the left side of the table on opposite ends while Lennox sits near the center four chairs away from Helena. Jinhai and Magnus take the right sitting opposite of one another.

Each of them stares at me as if I were something dangerous. Alain and Helena have the same looks of blind devotion on their faces, Lennox stares at me as if I were a marathon of his favorite tv show on tv, Jinhai gives me half interested looks over his plate, and Magnus stares at me with something cold in his eyes. His stare is the most suspicious and appraising.

I bristle and clench my hands underneath the table. Something I’ve always hated was to be stared by men like a specimen. Schooling my face into a glare, I meet his gaze evenly. A look of shock crosses his face and he looks down at his drink.

Feeling satisfied, I turn my attention back to the table as someone deposits something in front of me.

Helena sets a plate of eggs and bacon. I stare at my favorite dish in confusement before she gives me an adoring smile.

“The kitchen was instructed to make your favorite meals once more. We figured you would like something nice to eat after being hit in the head by a certain disloyal and pathetic General,” she explains. At the end of her sentence, she throws a fierce glare at Lennox.

The General meets her glare evenly before rising to his feet and schooling his features back into his best attempt at a charming smile.

Remembering that he was the one that knocked me out, I feel my body go into defensive mode as he approaches me.

“I apologize once more, My Queen, for my rash actions that night. You were in a state of shock and I figured rest was what you would need. My actions were rather unplanned, but at least you were able to sleep after your ordeal with Wolfson. May I give you your favorite?” He extends a glass of something white and alcoholic at me.

I stare at it with contempt, not really inclined to take something from Jim Jones’ reincarnation, before Helena swipes the drink from his hand.

“I would not accept offerings from someone beneath you, your Majesty. Who knows what Lennox could have done to it?” She dumps out the drink into an empty glass nearby and discards the glass.

“Beneath her? You’re one to talk, Witch. You and Alain spent so much time beneath her that-“

Lennox begins to fire back at Helena before I put an end to it. My headache from before is starting to return and the last thing I want to hear is two people arguing.

“Enough, both of you,” I growl out. My voice sounds more cutting than I had expected and the hall turns dead silent.

It seems that my voice has shocked everyone. Alain, previously openly gawking at me, turns away from me as if frightened. Helena and Lennox take a half step back, their rivalry temporarily forgotten, and the other two suddenly become more interested in their plate.

Feeling awkward and a little embarrassed, I clear my throat and stab my fork into a piece of egg.

“I don’t like arguing during a meal. Sit down and pretend to be civilized for a minute,” I mutter our. The order reverberates through the room and the two obey.

“Apologies, My Queen,” Lennox bows his head as he retakes his seat. Helena echoes him and pretends not to notice his existence as she takes a languid sip of her water glass.

The meal is quiet for a second before someone clears their throat.

Magnus.

He sets his empty wine glass down in front of him and leans forward in his seat. His eyes are still distrusting as he appraises me, but he seems to be forcing it down.

“Your Majesty, may we talk about your return now that you are rested and fed? Your return has sent rumors throughout your lands that must be addressed. Your troops, watched by me in your absence, grow restless at the prospect of having their Queen back. I believe we must make a public appearance soon. To test morale and loyalty,” he says.

There is a pause in his words for a few moments. I realize that he is expecting an answer but I am still confused. I’ve been asking since yesterday about what is happening, and why they continue calling me a Queen, but no one has provided me with an answer.

I open my mouth to ask once more before stopping myself. Magnus and Jinhai seem to be sizing me up. Out of the five in the room, they seem the most suspicious. Something tells me that letting them know their doubts are true is not the best idea.

Despite how much I want to know what is going on, I realize this isn’t the time. If I let Sherlock Holmes and Watson think there is something wrong, it can only come back to bite me.

So, I school my features into my best Queenly look and wave my hand as if disinterested.

“Not now. I still need my rest and time to be my old self. Wait for further instructions,” I voice out. My voice sounds confident and strong.

Thank you theater major, I knew you weren’t a total waste of money.

Magnus opens his mouth to protest, eyes hardening in frustration, before Alain glares at him.

“Your Queen has issued an order, Magnus. Stand down and follow it. Her Majesty is still recovering from bringing brought back and needs time to gather her bearings. In the mean time, tell the troops that their Queen has returned and they will see her when she deems fit. Now, I propose we begin gathering intel on Wolfson and his army before making hasty choices. Retaliation is in order for their involvement in Her Majesty’s disappearance. Is that alright with you, My Queen?”

I start in my seat and make a half noise of approval at the back of my throat. That seems to be enough for Alain because he settles back into his chair looking content.

Magnus growls something under his breath about him being in charge and not Alain but shuts up.

Good. Now if only he and pointy-ears would stop scrutinizing my every movement.

“My Queen,” a familiar voice sounds out. I turn to look at Lennox who is done with his timeout. “While you rest and recover, why don’t we begin planning what to tell your followers? Magnus’ troops may need to wait, but your believers have already seen you. I don’t think there is anything wrong with you helping me come up with a statement to them-“

“The last thing she needs is to spend time with the one who raised a hand to her. If anything, I should cut it off right now,” Alain interrupts him mid-proposition and reaches for his sword.

“I’d like to see you try,” Lennox grits out.

Jinhai makes an amused sound at the back of his throat and leans towards Magnus. “Finally. Something amusing this morning. I bet you a drink Lennox walks away with a black eye.”

Magnus, to my surprise, doesn’t admonish him. Instead, he raises an eyebrow in utter interest and watches the scene. “I wager he won’t even live through it.”

The two seem content to watch this play out but I don’t. Feeling like I’m back in my babysitting job from high school I stand.

“Enough! What did I say about fighting?!”

My voice once more cuts trough the room and it gets quiet. Alain lowers whatever his double blades thing is and mumbles an apology. Lennox offers none this time and instead stands to walk out.

“My offer still stands, My Queen. Perhaps helping me write a statement will jog your memory? Come with me and we shall see you restored to your magnificence.”

Helena and Alain stand before I can make a choice.

“Nonsense, Your Majesty. Lennox has already proven himself to be a traitor by harming you. Come with Alain and I and we can look through the library for something to aid in your recovery,” Helena proposes.

I wait for another option. One where someone proposes to send me back home or leave me in peace until I can puzzle things out but none come. Magnus regards me with his ever present suspicion and Jinhai looks bored with the whole ordeal.

Great. So my two options are between Romeo and Juliet and Charles Manson.

I stand and take my time pushing in my chair as I think.

On one hand, Helena and Alain are the most hospitable of the Death Eaters, but on the other hand, their creepy stares scream danger. I have a feeling that, if given the option, they’d get me in their bed. While being fought over by an older woman and a handsome guy has been a fantasy of mine for a long time, i think I’m already living enough fantasy in this revenge of Dungeons and Dragons dream.

So it looks like my choice is made.

Lennox makes my skin crawl, everything about him reeks creepy and dangerous, plus my headache is a constant reminder of just how spot on that is, but at least he isn’t giving me bedroom eyes.

Winner, winner.

I pretend to look totally confident and not off put and raise my chin.

“Let’s work on that statement,” I tell him.

Lennox grins triumphantly at Alain and Helena who begin to argue, but my mind is already made. I begin to follow him out of the dinning room as the others begin to clear out.

Once I’m outside, I start to feel uncertain.

Hanging out with Marshall Applewhite is the last thing I wanted, but maybe I’ll be fine if I don’t drink the kool-aid.