stelecharm | (no subject)

[ Still sleeping, Jace groans at the sudden loss of warmth beside him, the tug of the covers slipping down with her bringing him further from the grip of slumber, but the bang as she hits the floor is the thing that really pulls him out.

He's struggling to blink his eyes open in the dark, voice rough and lips dry, which doesn't quite carry the playful teasing the way he aims for. ] Don't tell me we need to fit some of those safeguards around the bed. [ He rolls into the cooling space she left behind, reaches to flick on the lamp so he can see if she's done herself any harm. ] Maybe it's the rude awakening talking, but I'm pretty sure you didn't go to bed in that thing. [ And then he focuses in on her face, meets her eyes, and what he sees there is all wrong. ] Everything's still where it should be, right? Because I'd rather not have to get up if it can be helped, even I need my beauty sleep.

Mister Lightwood -. [ Her voice comes out shocked, softer. Her hands settle in her lap, curl in the fabric of her lace nightdress. ] I - I don't know what I'm doing here.

[ Because she'd woken up in his bed, come to consciousness next to a very male figure and there's a little bit of panic there. ]

[ Mister Lightwood? The dress, the name - is this some kind of weird role-play thing?

But, no, this is Clary, and the dress is definitely new, not to mention the fact that even she's not that good of an actor.

He sits up, sharply at first, and then slows his movements, not wanting to scare her further. ] That makes two of us. [ He mumbles, sighs. ] But you know who you are?

Clarissa.

[ She's staring at him, eyes wide like she's never really seen a half undressed man before. Which is ridiculous because Clary's often traced his scars while they lay beside each other. ]

[ It probably doesn't help much when he shifts, lets his legs drop from beneath the covers and over the edge of the bed. ]

All right, Clarissa, let's get you up off the floor before you ruin that pretty dress of yours.

It's a nightdress.

[ But she rises, averts her gaze for a moment. She remembers him, is the thing, remembers the City, but it's hazy and a little confusing. ]

[ He holds out a hand in case she needs it to help herself up, the confusion and fear still on her face unsettling.

He gets up, smooths out the cover, and guides her into sitting down on the bed. ] Take a moment, all right? I'll get you a glass of water.

[ He disappears for a few minutes, going out to the kitchen and returning with the water, putting it down on the side. ] Are you warm enough?

[ She looks completely lost, like being here with Jace like this is a strange and unknown occurrence. In her hands she's cradling an alarm clock that glows in the dark, her expression as confused as it can be. ]

I'm fine, thank you.

[ He watches her with the close, arms folded loosely as he leans against the wall in nothing but his underwear. He's trying and failing to figure out what this curse is exactly. ]

Okay, so you know who you are, but do you know where you are?

The City.

[ She pauses, holds up the clock in her hands. ] What is this?

[ It's difficult to tell if his expression is bemused or amused. ]

It's a clock. [ A pause. ] You know what a clock is, right? Because if not then this is worse than I thought.

It's not made of clockwork.

[ She frowns down at it. ] Is it meant to glow? [ Lifting it to her eyeline. ] Have you used witchlight to make it that way?

It's the magic of Mundane science. [ He takes it from her, careful to avoiding touching her in case it brings back the less distracted and more fearful look to her eyes, and he slips off the battery casing. He taps one of them. ] It's clever, really, I suppose, if you're into that kind of thing, but these little cells hold energy that can run things. Like this clock, for example.

[ He takes one out, the time disappearing, and then slots it back in. ] See?

[ She looks absolutely fascinated for a moment, eyes wide and her fingers drifting over the part where the time lights back up. ]

I've never seen anything like it.

[ He puts the clock back together properly, sliding the back in place, and then takes it from her to put on the bedside cabinet.

He resits the urge to sigh and scrub a hand over his face. ]

As fascinating as that is, I need to ask what it is that is familiar. [ Either way he's got the feeling he'll have to babysit her through this. ]

I know you. I know this City. I don't know the things in this room or why I was here.

[ She lifts her face up to him. ] That's troubling, isn't it?

No, not at all. [ Which also translates as yes, yes it is.

He steps closer, lowers himself to sit beside her, but he leaves a comfortable gap. ] So if you know the City, you know that there's curses, don't you? I'm still working on what kind this is, but we'll figure it out.

Yes, of course.

[ She knows about curses, she knows about the City and about Jace but it's like her life has been subtly altered. ] Are we being cursed?

Less me and more you, but yeah, I think so.

[ Certain no more sleep will come tonight, even if it's still the early hours, he gives up on the idea and reaches for a discarded shirt, pulling it on over his head. ] Come on, I need coffee to deal with this.

[ She doesn't know where the small moment of disappointment comes from the minute he tugs a shirt on but it seems to make her more aware that she's wearing a nightgown, hands curled in the lace for a moment before she stands. ]

All right. [ Following him out to the rest of the apartment and then - sort of just looking about herself with a strange bewilderment. ]

[ He turns back as he leads them out into the rest of the apartment, eyes wandering back to her. ]

Nothing will jump out at you, and if it does, I'll stop it.