→ fifteenth rune ←

[cupio]

[ The video is an accident. Even at the beginning it's quite clear Clary has no idea it's filming or she'd probably have turned it off. The view focuses on one corner of the room she shares with Jace - which hopefully explains the sword just casually hanging off the back of their computer chair - her focus on the closet and the bar secured between the two walls. Clary's hair is tied up in a messy bun and she's wearing gym clothes she doesn't like because they're too tight and too obvious but it means she's less likely to get snagged in a throwing knife or caught up in the door. For those of a more ... Supernatural persuasion, the black lines of her marks are obvious against her freckled skin, the silver length of faded ones catching the light.

Clary blows out a breath and twists so she's facing out to the room at large, lifts her hands to curl them around the bar. The look of grim determination on her face is rivaled only by the one she has when she draws and there's one beat, then another before Clary's lifting herself up from the ground, her muscles straining.

It's not that she's weak - Jace can probably attest to how much she can pack in a punch, but this - the training and the stamina is so new to her that it's clear she's struggling. She manages to pull herself up five, six, seven times before her grip slips and she tumbles. It's not a drop by any standards but Clary somehow manages to tug down half a dozen outfits at the same time, burying herself in the bottom of the wardrobe. ]

I give up. [ Addressing the room at large even though she thinks she's alone. ] This is dumb.

Comments

[VIdeo]

[silvering]

[Jem's on the move while he's on the video.]

I think we need to work on not destroying your clothes Clary.

[He sounds amused.]

You were doing great before that.

action?

[brobeforehos]

[Lol, their apartment. So full of weapons and explosives, it's like it's not inhabited by three teenagers at all.]

I've all the respect for you right now. [Said while nursing her cup of coffee, from the doorway. Mae is watching with equal parts admiration and uncertainty. She's dressed and ready for work, clearly, but she's still hanging around the house for...well, reasons.]

[VIdeo]

[cupio]

[ There's something of a mad scramble to pick up her device, her hair a mess now and her eyes wide. ] This was filming?

[cupio]

[ She blames Jace. Blame Jace with her, Mae. Clary looks over and tugs a jumper off her head with a mild blush. It's not like Mae hasn't seen her fail completely at being a Shadowhunter before. ]

Maybe I can just embarrass the demons away?

Re: [VIdeo]

[silvering]

Yes I am afraid so.

video | private; because shadowhunter business yo

[cupio]

[ Burying her face in her hands. ]

So now everyone will know how bad I am at this, great. I should just stop hoping I'm going to inherent my mom's skill. Apparently she was this total badass and me? I just broke the closet.

[silvering]

Breaking the closet is pretty badass.

[Jem smiles. He thinks Clary talks herself down too much.]

Perhaps we should take your practice outside.

[brobeforehos]

[Mae would fail even harder at being a Shadowhunter, if that's any comfort! She'd reject the idea of exercise and go in screaming and waving her guns like it's a western movie and probably die. Gloriously.]

You could intimidate them with your abs.

[cupio]

So I can the nearest hill and break myself?

[ Her problem is that she's trying to be like them straight away. That the blood that runs through her veins should mean she automatically gets it. It's not that simple. ]

[silvering]

No we are going to start with the rooftops.

[Jem's face is deadpan. He means it.]

Meet me on the top of your roof.

[cupio]

You should see Isabelle.

[ She picks herself up and out of the small space knowing she'll fix it before Jace comes home. Then she's grabbing a too long shirt and tugging it on. ] I look like jello compared to her.

[brobeforehos]

You look amazing, don't even start. [She takes another sip of her coffee and steps into the room.] So this is your training routine?

[cupio]

What, no!

[ Jem, Jem no. But she's grabbing her jacket either way and looking out her window. The fire escape leads up and she tries not to let her stomach drop when she climbs out on to it. ] This is a terrible idea.

[cupio]

Kind of.

[ Back at the Institute her training could have gone so much better. But they have to make do. ] Jem's been teaching me a thing or two but sometimes he's not well enough. I've seen Jace do that so often I thought it might ... be easier than the half a billion other things I've seen him do.

[silvering]

It is a brilliant idea.

[The video is getting blurry as Jem as making his way across the rooftops to her.]


You will love this.

[cupio]

I am going to die from this.

[brobeforehos]

What's wrong with Jem?

[silvering]

I won't let you fall.

[And Jem is standing on the roof, looking as cool as cucumber in training gear.]

[cupio]

[ ... She winces like she's just realised she's given away something, then spreads her palms in front of her. ] He gets sick. A lot.

[ Clary's the one who goes down to the Underground to find the drugs to help him. She's getting better at that at least. ]

[cupio]

[ Standing on the roof like she's afraid she might just topple off at any moment. ]

Sure you won't.

[silvering]

[Jem smiles and comes across. He places a hand on her arm.]

You are over thinking all of it.

[brobeforehos]

What about getting him to a doctor? Is it anything that he could get medicine for in the City?

[She pauses, and squints a little at Clary.] Or is it something weirder...

[cupio]

I can imagine myself hurtling to the ground you know. It's not a fun idea.

[cupio]

[ Picking up knickknacks only to put them back down again. ]

His medicine isn't really conventional. I've been helping him get it so at least it is available. He told me once without it, he'd be dead within a week.

[brobeforehos]

God. [She leaves her coffee mug on the desk in the room, and sits down to mull this over. It's strange, when you know people who are sick. You don't know what to say, what's the good or appropiate thing to say. I hope he gets better? It sounds too perfunctory. Anything else sounds too nosey.]

Clary...[A pause.] Is it dangerous? I'm not going to tell you to stop, it's a person's life at stake, but...is it?

[cupio]

It's just the Underground. [ She sits back on the edge of her bed, fingertips digging into her comforter. ] I know how the handle it and somebody needed to know how in case he can't make it himself.

[silvering]

You would land on your feet if it did happen.

[Jem walks her towards the side of the roof.]

Are you scared of heights?

[cupio]

[ She's reluctant to follow but does either way. ]

A little. I'm not like you or Jace, I'm not very good at laughing in the face of danger.

[silvering]

I only smile in the face of danger.

[Jem stops just short of the edge. He wraps an arm around Clary's waist. He does not have any qualms about touching her during training.]

Step forward until you feet are right at the edge, I have you.

[cupio]

You better.

[ But Clary trusts Jem, is the thing. She trusts him and so she edges forward a little. ]

[silvering]

You are doing great Clary.

[Jem holds her steady.]

Once you are further along in your training, you will be able to jump from here to the ground.

[cupio]

[ Hysterical laughter bursts from her but it affects her balance meaning she grabs the arm around her waist to hold on to. ]

No way am I jumping from any building.

[silvering]

[Jem's laugh is soft somewhere just above her ear.]

You'll change your mind in three weeks.

[cupio]

Three weeks?

[ He has a nice laugh. ] Try years.

[silvering]

You should have more faith in yourself Clary, every shadowhunter is hardwired with a daredevil steak.

Even me.

[cupio]

But I haven't lived like a shadowhunter. Maybe my daredevil streak is broken.

[silvering]

It is only hidden. Do you not feel a small thrill when you face danger?

[cupio]

No.

[ Yes. ]

Maybe?