The Clocktower, New Gotham, Saturday

[blondecanary]

Dinah had actually bought some pretty nice presents for Priestly's birthday, and had found a good place to get a cake (the guy shouldn't have to make one on his own birthday (unless he really wanted to)). It was going to be a pretty cool day

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[lovemykilt]

And Priestly, having woken up as Priestly, as he usually did, had no idea what was coming as he headed for the Clocktower.

"Diiiiinah!" he called, knocking on the door. "Can I come in without spoiling any surprises?"

No. No he couldn't.

[blondecanary]

Elizabeth startled, then turned to glare at the door. Maybe this interloper had some answers for her.

"Enter!" She paused, and added, "If you have any weapons, it is a capital crime to wear them in our presence."

[lovemykilt]

"Nope, no weapons," Priestly promised, not sure if this was a joke or if Fandom was rearing its ugly head. "Did you give Helena that warning, too? Or is she part of the 'our'?"

[blondecanary]

"Who is Helena?" Elizabeth demanded, turning fully away from the window to stalk closer to the door. "We are alone here, and very much in need of answers, sir. Enter! And explain yourself and this place!"

Yeah, someone was having a royal snit-fit.

[lovemykilt]

"Yep, this is a Fandom thing," Priestly muttered, and opened the door, peering cautiously in. "Dayamn. That is -- a lot of look."

[blondecanary]

Why aren't you bowing, peasant? And what are you wearing?

"Identify yourself." Elizabeth might have been the 16th century version of freaked out, but she was a Queen, and she'd faced worse than one man alone in... okay, she had no idea where she was, so maybe this wasn't worse. She stalked closer instead of further away though, proving she and Dinah had that in common when responding to perceived danger. "What is this... place?" She stood a little taller, which with that hair, was something else. She was studying Priestly like he was a very confusing bug she wanted to crush but wasn't sure where to start.

[lovemykilt]

"Yeeeeeeeeeah, I can't tell if I'm mad or happy that this skipped me." Priestly gave Elizabeth an assessing once over. "Soooo welcome to the Clocktower. In New Gotham. America. 21st century. You're frooooom. . . ?"

[blondecanary]

"America? This is..." The 21st Century? "Impossible!" Although the view out the window was pretty convincing. "This does not look like Virginia. Did we discover some civilization here, aside from the natives?" She frowned and added with as much hauteur as she could manage, "Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, Ireland, and France. How did I arrive here from Westminster? Speak!"

[lovemykilt]

"You're going to owe me so hard on Monday." Priestly shook his head. "First, your highness, the natives were plenty civilized. Second, we're in New Jersey, not Virginia. I -- don't know if there's a New Jersey yet when you're from. Third, you have no power in America so I'm telling you all this as a favor, not because you told me to. And most importantly: just let everything be explained by 'magic' and you'll be home by Monday morning. Probably. Maybe. I've never been super clear on how that works -- but anyway."

[blondecanary]

Clearly, he was mad. The entire situation was mad, so why not her host? Elizabeth focused on the parts she was certain of. "Magic? If John Dee accomplished this, we will have words when I return home." She cleared her throat. "Monday, you say. What day is this here? Also, Jersey is an island in the Channel. A new Jersey in America?" She contemplated that, then studied him. "You have not introduced yourself, sir. You speak English, yet claim I am not your Queen." She made a face. "Are you Scottish?"

Stupid Cousin Mary strikes again.

[lovemykilt]

"Noooo, I'm American. We haven't answered to a monarch in more than 200 years. I'm Priestly. It's Saturday. And you've taken the place of my best friend on my birthday, so you should be nice to me. Or I won't tell you the secrets of how the 21st century works and you'll be stuck in here all weekend instead of having an adventure."

[blondecanary]

"You're a native?" Sorry, Priestly, that statement about being an American Does Not Compute. "Did the monarchy die out? Or did another Protector like Cromwell arise?" She gave him a strange look. "You are dressed like no priest I know; and what best friend have I 'replaced'?" She bit her lip, and showed a little (but only a little, carefully calculated!) vulnerability. "You must understand how strange this all is to me. Magic. America. I have so many questions. And no one here to advise me."

[lovemykilt]

"Yeah, that's because it's my name." Priestly rolled his eyes. Edward had been way more entertaining. Elizabeth didn't even sing! "I'm a cook and a student, not a priest. Your . . . great grandson?" No, wait, Elizabeth I never married, did she. "One of the later kings taxed the shit out of the colonies and we got fed up and said no thanks, we can rule ourselves. And with a bit of help from France, we even managed to enforce it. Now we have a democracy. So do you guys, kind of, actually. I mean, there's Elizabeth II, but she's basically a figurehead for the tourists."

[blondecanary]

She was a Real Queen, thank you, not a Disney Princess!

All of that information was rather overwhelming, so Elizabeth flopped down on the nearest sofa (as much as you can flop with some serious skirt and petticoats and a steel spine going on) and stared Priestly, trying to fit it all together. "I did not have a child. Did I? I don't wish to be married!"

Now she sounded Dinah and Priestly's age, for once. "Well. Except to Robert. But his wife is rather in the way of that at the moment... and I still may not marry him!" Because she adored him but she really didn't want to make him King. Or have a baby people would fight over and wind up assassinating her in order to put it on the throne. "Cook?"

Her stomach growled. Look, she hadn't had breakfast yet! This was a lot to take in on an empty stomach!

[lovemykilt]

Priestly raised his eyebrow at that. "There's a whole kitchen right over there, you know. You didn't even try to make yourself a bowl of cereal?" She probably didn't know what modern cereal was. "You totally shouldn't get married if you don't want to. I'm all for doing what you want."

[blondecanary]

"That is the kitchen?" She hadn't been able to recognize anything, and had been considering searching out bread to toast in the fireplace. "And thank you." She gave this Priestly a pleased look. "I wish my advisors could be as sensible as you, Sir Priestly. They are all thinking of the short-term." She rose from the couch as her stomach grumbled again, and she grimaced. "Queens do not apologize," she informed him. "However. I would consider it a great favor if you could direct me to some toast with preserves."