nysalogs | ( CLOSED )

[ it only takes one look at his expression to understand he's proud of octavia, and that compliment to her strength confirms that fondness. it's charming, even with the realization that any similar feeling will always be something missing, all courtesy of a father that couldn't stop himself from trying to corrupt every child he'd had.
her smile widens even without realizing she's wearing one at all. ]

Good. I can't wait to meet her.

[ in stasis or otherwise, clary is confident that it will happen. someone has to stay optimistic in that regard, after all. ]

I haven't driven you insane yet. That's the most important word in that sentence.

Shut up.

[His tone is teasing, though, and it's clear he's trying to keep from smiling. He misses Octavia like crazy, and he knows that if Monty or Raven were awake, they'd be ten steps closer to figuring out how that bomb worked. Still, having Clary around is almost centering. She'd fit right in at home.]

How much farther are we going?

Make me.

[ an automatic, very mature and not at all childish comeback. it's difficult to interpret shut up as anything other than playful when he's smiling like that, and for as little as she feels like she's accomplished in investigating the bombings, she can take pride in boosting someone's mood — even briefly. ]

Just a few blocks. [ her pointing likely doesn't help, considering the buildings blocking the view, but an attempt was made. ] I moved out of the shacks we were given as soon as I could, but I should warn you it's kind of a mess.

[Look at that, he's rolling his eyes again, whether at the snotty response or her warning, it's hard to tell.]

I don't care. You sure you're going to make it the rest of the way?

[Definitely teasing again.]

[ if not for the question, she would be more than happy to point out the eye rolling trend. as it stands, she's distracted by her own amusement, the side of her mouth slanting. ]

Why? If you're offering to fulfill my dreams of being carted around like Cleopatra, feel free.

[ is she teasing, or is she serious? it's anyone's guess. ]

[He slows, raising his eyebrows at her.]

I've been waiting for you to fall over.

[So honestly, he's tempted.]

I wouldn't be surprised if I did.

[ it arguably isn't something that she should be laughing about, but it's possibly one silver lining in a miserable pile of chaos. the fact that he seems to be considering it enough to slow down would be amusing on its own, even so. ]

You're that worried?

[ she's touched, truth be told, teasing aside. ]

You're sick with who knows what. Of course I'm worried.

[Teasing or not, he's still looping an arm around her waist. She's moving unsteadily enough that, after all that talk of spells draining her, the possibility that she might pass out is in the back of his mind. Now's your time to back out, Clary.]

[ as stubborn as she is, that softens some of her resolve and any need to argue that his concern is unfounded. given she doesn't back out even in moments where she should, she leans into his side without thinking. ]

If you keep talking like that, I'm going to start thinking I'm special.

[ fair warning. ]

Think what you want, as long as it doesn't start going to your head.

[And then, as payback, he's going to try to lift her up bridal style. This is what you get, Clary.]

[ if the satisfaction of having revenge is ruined by the squeal of her laughter, so be it. thankfully, she doesn't have too much pride to injure — not by lifting her, that is. ]

Calm down, Caesar. [ mark antony could be a more fitting reference, considering her previous allusion to cleopatra, but she's purposefully avoiding the comparison. the idea of brother-husbands is understandably too nauseating for her to even mention it. ] I'm not going to forgive you if you drop me, just so you know.

[ she won't let it slide, either, without making a jab. it shouldn't be difficult to carry around someone that barely weighs more than a feather. ]

[Bellamy makes a face at the Caesar comparison, but he can't fully hide his smile at the way she laughs.]

I thought you trusted me.

If I didn't, do you think I would have let you pick me up in the first place?

[ no, not without a struggle. the arm she braces around his neck is only a precaution, should he somehow trip, but she's evidently not too worried about that unlikely outcome when she leans the side of her head against his shoulder. ]

It's just down the street. Third house on the right.

[ she isn't walking, but she can still be a useful navigator. ]

[Down the street they go! This is certainly helpful considering Bellamy has no idea where they're going.]

You can barely walk straight.

[So, yes.]

I can barely walk straight, but I could still kick your ass if I really didn't want to be in this position.

[ she's not a damsel, thank you very much. she doesn't sound terribly offended by his original assumption, but she's just as disinclined to let him get away with thinking she couldn't squirm her way out of his hold if she were less appreciative. ]

[Bellamy rolls his eyes again. Apparently she just pulls that out of him.]

I don't think any less of you, Clary. I'm not going to treat you like a baby.

[They reach the place he assumes is hers, and he stops.]

Want to help me with the door?

I'm not saying it because of that. I'm saying it because it's the truth.

[ clary had been repressing her share of eye-rolling, but there it is, somehow still good-natured in spite of everything. she wriggles in his hold just a little in order to slide the key out of her pocket and reach out to slide it into the lock, twisting the knob open with a click afterward. ]

Try not to trip on anything.

[ there isn't anything on the floor, but he deserves the trolling for rolling his eyes again. ]

[She's such a brat. He steps inside and then nudges the door closed with his foot.]

Whatever you say.

[And then he crosses the room to deposit her, surprisingly gently, on the couch.]

Happy?

Whatever you say.

[ to inadvertently prove that's even more of a brat, she drops her voice a few octaves in obvious mimicry of his voice. being placed as softly on the couch as she is arguably isn't deserved, but it's appreciated, nevertheless. she settles into the arm of it, drawing her legs up to her chest. ]

I think I should be the one asking you that question. [ considering bellamy was the one making the fuss. ] Satisfied now?

Yep.

[He sits down beside her, settling against the back of the couch. He would make a comment about her mockery, but he's starting to clue into the fact that those sort of reactions just encourage her.]

I'm surprised you're sitting down.

I'm surprised you're sitting down.

[ evidently she doesn't need much encouragement to turn the tables on him. he'd offered to stay with her, regardless, and she isn't interpreting that as anything other than the truth — even if how much he wants to genuinely stay might be diminished by stretching her legs out across his lap. ]

Contrary to popular belief, I have other hobbies that don't always include running around and sneaking into places where I don't belong.

Do you?

[He asks it incredulously, but he's smiling over at her, and he doesn't shove her legs off or move away.]

That's news to me.

Very funny.

[ said in a way that states she doesn't think he's funny at all, eyes narrowing in his direction. as if to contradict that thought, her lips do quirk, lopsided in her subtle amusement. ]

My personal favorite is torturing you.

[ she doesn't expect that to be the slightest bit surprising to him, sounding unabashedly fond (and proud of it) all at once. her intent is more sincere when she leans over toward the coffee table to snatch up her sketchpad from the unorganized spread of books and toss it in his direction, filled with places and faces he may recognize — and some she knows he won't. ]

But I do have other tricks up my sleeve, believe it or not.

[He catches the sketchbook and glances up at her before settling it in his lap and beginning to flip through it. Bellamy pauses to study each page, though he doesn't recognize most of it. A sketch of a city street makes him stop, and he looks up at her again.]

Where's this?

[ she tilts herself closer to get a glimpse of the page when he stops and turns to her, aware it could be anyone or anything that's piqued interest. sometimes it's easy to forget how different every refugee is and where they come from; bellamy, in particular, is similar to jyn. neither of them scream space, and yet clary knows they've both encountered technology that would make her head spin. ]

Brooklyn, New York. I don't know if I did it much justice.

[ if she sounds nostalgic, almost wistful, it's because she is. nostalgic can't ensure she's gotten the details just right, nevertheless, especially when it's been some time since she's been home instead of starting anew in the new york institute. ]

Right behind my mom's loft. Definitely not the safest place to grow up, but it was ours.

[ the graffiti on the walls in the sketch should make that apparent, but clary can't ever say she was left wanting for much in the way of anything material, even so. ]

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