nysalogs | ( CLOSED )

[ she doesn't trust that her own abilities will be as potent, not for more than a handful of moments, with the state that she's in. it minimizes their window, certainly, which might contribute to another tug, more insistent. it's the only warning he'll get before she tries to lead him inside, waiting until a few stragglers in the foyer walk by them to speak. something tells her a disembodied voice whispering would draw attention if they were around to hear. ]

Now would be a good time.

[ hopefully he doesn't expect a fancier, more subtle, signal than that. ]

[Direct is just fine. This whole magic thing is going to be another story. He focuses on the pendant like she told him, thinks about his intent, which feels strange. In fact, he feels a little stupid, with his hand clutching an old necklace and his face likely screwed up in concentration. It only takes a second for it to work, though, and while he was expecting... something, some sort of rush, fireworks, anything, none of that happens. One second he's visible and the next he's not, and as much as he tries to be quiet, he inhales sharply anyway.]

[ her impatience falls to the wayside, forgotten, as he tries to focus. it's nostalgic to watch, to some degree, if only because it hadn't been so long ago that she had been in his position, forced to accept something new. her tracking abilities are still too rusty for her not to feel incredibly ridiculous (useless) when making the attempt, so she has little room (or desire, at that) to judge.

what's more troubling isn't the amount of concentration it takes, but the sharp inhale. she freezes when the sound seems to draw a glance, and only a glance, before relaxing the moment they're relatively alone again. if not for the belief she would hit his chin if she tried to cover his mouth in warning, she might have done so. ]

You're okay. [ she's not so certain that quiet reassurance is needed, but she rubs a brief series of circles into his forearm, giving him only a handful of seconds to adjust until it's back to business. ] The head honcho should have an office nearby. Ready?

[ 'should', meaning her mental layout of the institute isn't... as clear as it could be. ]

[He adjusts relatively quickly, so the reassurance isn't needed, but it's sweet. Bellamy manages to find her forearm and squeeze gently, a silent way of telling her he's fine when he doesn't want to risk talking much.]

Ready.

["Should be" doesn't exactly inspire confidence, but grilling her when they're in the middle of a crowded lobby, made invisible by magic, is stupid, so he bites his tongue for now.]

[ she nods at first, a reflex that can't be stopped until she realizes the mistake she's made. of course he can't see it for himself — though it's a curse and a blessing, considering she can pull an expression at her own idiocy without bellamy noticing. ]

Okay. [ that'll do instead. she's quick on her feet, though thankfully not clumsy in her haste, given how distinctly aware she is of their limited time to sneak around without being called out on investigating a rumor that's flimsy at best. the lack of visibility means she can't be sure he's keeping up and not stumbling with how she's pulling him along (a little forcefully, admittedly), but it does get them from point a and point b.

never mind that getting from point a to point b takes a bit of time and finesse, mostly in the art of reading the names hanging outside of each respective, personal lab. she's trying her best, give her a break. at least she's a little more adept at shutting the door soundlessly behind them, keeping them both hidden from view and giving her something to lean against when she flickers back into view and tries to keep herself balanced. ]

See? Easy.

[ "easy". ]

[Apparently Bellamy's lack of confidence was justified. He spends every second she pauses to glance at a nameplate wondering if the necklace is going to stop working, and by the time they finally reach the correct office, he's on edge. He has just enough time to roll his eyes without her seeing before the magic fades and he becomes visible again.]

Easy. You didn't even know where you were going.]

[But whatever, Clary!]

What are we looking for?

You agreed to it without knowing where you were going. You're just as bad as I am.

[ not as egregious an offense, but one she feels needs to be addressed in defense of herself, regardless. checkmate? ]

Anything even a little incriminating. Documents would be the safest bet.

[ and the obvious bet in her mind. her head is still swimming from having to use her abilities, but that isn't going to stop her from approaching the desk in the corner. her steps aren't graceful by most definitions, but she's managing on her own two feet for now. ]

It's probably just the ravings of a crazy old lady, but it's still worth checking everything out. No evidence is still evidence, even if it's evidence of innocence instead of guilt.

[He scoffs, shooting her a look, but there's no real heat or annoyance behind it. She's absolutely right about the fact that he's a hypocrite, which is why he watches her unsteady movements with a frown. Bellamy isn't going to nag her, but he's worried. They don't know how bad this sickness could get, and in the back of his mind, he's afraid she might go south too quickly for him to get her back to the Sanctuary in time. Paranoid? Maybe. He shoves that thought out of his mind and heads for a filing cabinet across the room, pulling the bottom drawer open.]

Who is she? You think she has a good reason to set off a biological weapon in the middle of the market?

I know appearances can be deceiving, but I don't think so. What reason would she have to set off a bomb and blame it on this Evras guy?

[ her musings are a little absent-minded as she jangles the desk drawer once, and then twice, to find it refuses to budge. as loathe as she is to drain herself even more, she's quick to apply an unlocking rune, letting the lock unlatch smoothly. ]

She looked sick. She might have just been looking for someone to blame the infection on. Isn't that what most people do when they're scared?

[ she would know, speaking from personal experience. the distrust toward her hadn't been warranted, but she had been an enigma to the clave, and anything that hadn't understood had been condemned or hated — sometimes both. ]

Everyone is pointing fingers right now.

[It's a fair point. Bellamy's not sure who to blame here, or who he should even suspect. He doesn't have enough background knowledge to make a decent guess, so he just keeps digging through the cabinets. So far, there's nothing particularly interesting.]

Doesn't mean her information is trustworthy.

[Which sounds pessimistic, of course.]

I don't even know who the hell would have a reason to do this.

It doesn't mean anyone's information is trustworthy.

[ and she's willing to bet finger-pointing won't be limited to old women placing the blame wherever they see fit. pessimistic on both counts, maybe, but either perspective is only realistic at this juncture, especially when most of the documents she's rifling through have her pulling faces. observations on flora, fauna, some questionable material for medicines — nothing interesting aside from that, and the exasperated huff she gives makes that fairly obvious. ]

Next thing you know, they're going to start pointing fingers at us, too. We're the outsiders here.

Edited (yes i had to edit this before bed bc tmw you realize you repeated something in a tag) 2017-10-07 08:58 (UTC)

I'm surprised they haven't yet.

[He closes the last drawer a bit harder than strictly necessary, then turns to face Clary.]

Nothing. You have any luck?

They will.

[ undoubtedly, but anything else she had to say on the matter is interrupted by the sound of the drawer slamming. her eyebrow arches momentarily, a little surprised and quietly chastising; inconspicuous, indeed. ]

Not unless you want information on the local flora and fauna.

[ the dryness of her tone expects otherwise, but it's an attempt at nervous humor to overshadow some of the disappointment and exasperation that bleeds through. ]

There's nothing here.

[Bellamy sighs, rubbing a hand over his face.]

Not really. We can check the other offices.

[Although from the tone of his voice it's clear he thinks that might be a wild goose chase.]

If we come back at another time.

[ they're in agreement there. it feels like a waste of time to search other offices, admittedly, when she isn't so certain the infection is only flu-like, but she doesn't have any desire to admit how terrifying that prospect is. she stands instead, slow to lift to keep her head from swimming too much. ]

I don't know how long I can keep my runes activated like this without it backfiring on me.

[ like running herself into the ground, as bellamy had worded it, but minimizing the drama of it is apparently the name of her game. ]

[It's instinctive for Bellamy to move closer, and just as natural for him to rest a hand between her shoulder blades, ready to steady her if she needs it.]

Backfire on you how?

[ the pressure between her shoulder blades is a steadying comfort, a touch she leans back into for just a moment while she rights herself. she might even find time to consider the gesture endearing if not for how weary she feels, but her focus is on pushing off of the edge of the desk, one hand still wrapped around the edge of it to stay completely balanced. ]

It's more draining than it usually is, honestly. I don't know what's wrong.

[ speaking of other understatements. ]

[Yeah, right. He shakes his head, his voice low.]

You know exactly what's wrong.

[Doing this while she's sick with god knows what is a terrible idea.]

Let's get out of here.

[ unlike bellamy, she has more self-discipline when it comes to rolling her eyes. the hit to his chest has no force or violence driving it, more of an obvious reprimand than anything else. ]

You know that's not what I meant.

[ how and why it might be affecting her runes is a little more of a mystery, though he isn't wrong with the general gist of it. overexerting herself hadn't been wise, no, but it had felt necessary, and she still doesn't regret it even knowing there's nothing they have to show for it. ]

I'm not going back to the Sanctuary.

[ she throws that over her shoulder to remind him of that stubborn refusal before she does move (and ignores clumsily slamming her knee into the desk in the process of said moving) to make a beeline toward the door. that obstinance might be as terrible an idea, but never let it be said that she isn't unyielding when she feels the need to be. ]

[That lack of discipline is apparent again when Bellamy lets out an almost long-suffering sigh. It's the only real reaction to the hit she gets. Sometimes it's mind blowing how stubborn she is.]

Then don't.

[He follows, of course, fingers going for the pendant again.]

Go back home and get some rest.

[ well, at least his concession is earned easily. she blows out a breath she'd been holding, as if she'd been anticipating an argument. ]

I live alone. [ said — or whispered, more aptly — while she slowly peels open the door, poking her head around the corner before stepping out. the coast is clear — for the moment — and so she only keeps her fingers wrapped around her stele, ready to activate her rune if necessary. ] I'm surprised you don't think I'm going to run off after a few hours of staying there.

[ she's absolutely tempted to, for the record. ]

I'm not going to babysit you, Clary.

[That's only going to drive both of them nuts, but more than anything, he knows she can handle herself, even if he's a chronic worrier. He leads the way down the hallway and back towards the lobby, moving carefully but casually.]

I can stay with you if you want.

Thank god.

[ in the case of not blurting out what she's thinking, her self-discipline is a little less. still, her agreement is blatantly clear. babysitting her would result in one or both of them being strangled. ]

If you want to. [ that's softer, more sincere. it's an invitation, but she isn't going to make it a chore. ] It might actually stop me from going insane.

[He smiles a little at that.]

If it gets you to sit down for a minute.

[Getting her to rest is another matter entirely, but he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.]

[ wryly, ] If you're lucky, I might even sit down for more than a minute.

[ making jokes at her own expense tends to be her expertise. walking generally is, too, but she has to pause — if only for a moment — in the hallway to regain her composure. after a handful of seconds, she starts up again, moving back into the lobby. ]

Maybe even five.

[ possibly an achievement to unlock. ]

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