stelecharm | (no subject)

[ 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.