DISCLAIMER ~ I don't own anything Infernal Devices or Mortal Instruments-wise. That is all down to the incredibleness of Cassandra Clare – who is, it has to be said, a pretty damn good writer xD

NOTES ~ What's that? I finally got another chapter up? Why yes, yes I did. I realised that so many like this story and I'm letting ya'll down by not posting so here it is, chapter six...finally. I'll try not to leave it so long next time but I can't promise anything. It's a bit of a filler chapter I know but what can be done haha. Drama is on it's way, I promise you. Anyway, enjoy guys and please R&R.

CHAPTER SIX ~

"So what's the future like?" Of course it had to be Will to ask. Jem gave him a look, raising an eyebrow slightly. "What? It has to be asked doesn't it and as the rest of you are acting like they've got Dragon pox..." Isabelle snorted, but Clary looked slightly alarmed.

"Dragon pox..?" She asked, shooting Jace a concerned look, who simply looked at her and burst out laughing – apparently her expression was simply too hilarious. Jem rolled his eyes at blue eyed William and sighed, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair.

"There is no such thing as Dragon pox." He said evenly, exasperated almost for repeating the line he spoke every time his Parabatai brought up the whole 'Dragon pox' complex. Tessa smiled slightly at their antics but she remained distant, her gaze cautious as she continued to survey the four future Shadowhunters as though trying to learn everything she could about them.

"There is too!" Will protested, his expression persistent as he sat forward in his chair, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. Since the meeting with Benedict they had been sat within the dining room for a small while, discussing things. The group had relaxed a little within each other's company now, feeling more at ease despite the occasional moments when Jace and Will eyed each other up with apparent dislike. They had been allocated their rooms by Charlotte but it was too early to rest, and under the order that they were not to leave the Institute until Magnus arrived to help them return home, they'd settled on chairs and began cautious conversation.

"Are you sure it wouldn't be unwise?" Alec spoke up, he seemed the most reserved of the lot, and his gaze clearly indicated his hesitation to speak of his world, worried for the implications of their actions. "We shouldn't have come here." He shot a look at Clary, one which caused Jace to tighten the arm he held around her shoulders protectively and glare at his friend.

"Yeah, well we're here now, so why not make the most of it. What other chance do you get to see history, idiot?" Jace rolled his eyes and Alec frowned, muttering something beneath his breath which caused his sister to elbow him sharply in the ribs.

"I can't believe there would be any harm in it..." Jem mused, allowing his curiosity to get the better of him as his silver eyes flickered toward the way Clary and Jace cuddled up to each other. He could see the differences between their language and their posture around each other already in comparison to the world he knew – they seemed much less careful of inappropriateness; the way that Clarissa and Jace touched each other was intimate to Jem's mind, but appeared so natural and casual to them. It surprised him, made him curious to know of what else had changed with time. He watched the future Shadowhunters exchange a look before Isabelle shrugged and gave a small nod, conceding that she didn't see the harm either.

"What would you like to know?" She asked, raising one finely plucked eyebrow and gazing between Will, Jem and Tessa. Now the question was out there the possibilities were endless and the three glanced at each other, suddenly hesitant to voice their thoughts. Will gave a lithe shrug and leant back against the back of his chair, tilting it until it balanced on its back two legs precariously.

"You still have taverns right?" He quirked one eyebrow and Jem rolled his eyes.

"Of all the worries of the future, of all the things in the world to question...your first thought is alcohol and women?" He gave a small chuckle and shook his head. Will gave him a look that questioned his sanity.

"Of course, what did you expect?" He said, glancing back to the others with apparent eagerness. "So..?" He asked again, waiting.

"Uh, well...yeah? If you mean...clubs ...bars?" Clary said, glancing at Jace as if suddenly unsure herself. He rolled his eyes at her and nodded.

"Yes there is still alcohol and women." He snorted and shook his head, giving Will a look and going to kiss Clary's cheek gently, catching sight of the faintly startled expressions of Tessa and Jem and suddenly almost nervous. "What?" his voice a little sharper than he intended.

"You're very...affectionate...in public." Tessa said quietly, looking between the two of them. "That's... allowed in your time?" it was the first time she'd spoken up since they'd sat down and she suddenly found herself the spotlight of six pairs of eyes. Shifting within her seat she wished she hadn't spoken, yet the question had burnt so curiously upon her tongue she hadn't been able to help it. It were almost as before when she'd first arrived here, where Will (whether honestly or not) had said he disliked her lack of verbal control. Clary and Jace exchanged a slightly surprised look, perhaps not having thought about the inappropriateness of their actions considering how natural it had become for them to behave this way with each other. Jace gave a non-committal shrug and so it was Clary who spoke, considering the question.

"Time's have evolved a lot. I'm not really sure of the rules in this era..." she hesitated. "Back home you don't have to be engaged or married to be able to be affectionate to someone. Maybe it's strange to think but you can have several relationships before you marry...or not even marry at all." She shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable about the topic, the blush adorning her freckled cheeks showing her discomfort. Jace reached for her hand with the one not around her shoulders and their fingers laced, squeezing gently for support. Tessa watched this, her eyes wider in surprise and she could tell both Jem and Will were taken aback by the news.

"So whore-ing is acceptable?!" Will sounded far too overjoyed but when Jem gave him a reproachful look his grin quickly became sheepish and he shrugged. "What?! That's what it sounds like! Multiple partners, no marriage...what would you name it?"

Jem frowned slightly, seeming to contemplate it himself before tilting his head and giving a small smile. "Progress." He said simply, allowing no elaboration on his thoughts as he glanced briefly toward Tessa, his gaze a little warmer, softer, than the one he then turned upon the future Shadowhunters.

"What else has changed? Does London appear the same?" Jem spoke up this time, his posture leant forward in his new found interest, his cool composure slipping slightly and almost mirroring Will's animated self. Tessa tried to imagine a different London to the one she was beginning to learn of but found it almost impossible. Change how?

"Yes and no. There are new buildings, new roads...Technology has brought a lot of change to the world; all bright lights and big city." Jace said, grinning as he imagined the way the New York skyline flickered with a million colours under the jet black of night. He couldn't take away the lights, the noises, the scents, it was strange to think of it now, let alone London which he knew only half as well.

"Technology has advanced..?" Jem questioned warily, his mind wandered to Henry's devices that worked only five times out of a hundred. Will looked downright dubious, arms folded as likewise, his thoughts headed toward the memories of each and every Henry-made device that hadn't worked quite right. The future didn't sound so safe if the world was full of creations like that.

"A lot. There are televisions and mobile phones, Ipods and all sorts." Isabelle grinned, pulling forth from her pocket a tiny, palm sized device that had Jem, Will and Tessa all drawing back warily, staring at it with the suspicion that it might suddenly explode.

"What in the name of the Angel is that!?" Will burst out, eyebrows raised to the Heavens, questions about what televisions and phones and Ipods were over-ruled by his furious need to know what the Lightwood was holding.

"Iz..." Alec's voice piped up, his expression dark as he shook his head. "This isn't right, what if they turn around and invent the phone or something." He muttered, but Isabelle ignored them, letting Jem go to pick it up and weigh it in his palm.

"Oh don't be so ridiculous, they're just curious." She rolled her eyes.

"Come on Alec don't be a spoilsport and remove the stick from your ass." Jace goaded, his eyes upon the three before him as they all peered at the thing held in Jem's hand.

"What does it do?" Tessa asked quietly, almost worried that speaking too loudly might cause some dangerous reaction from it. Isabelle snorted and rolled her eyes once again, shifting forward to pluck it from Jem's hand, flipping the screen open and showing it to them.

"It's a mobile phone. People who also have one can call you on it wherever they are in the world, or you can call them. It's pretty useful, but then they have to have battery or they don't work, and each one has a certain number and things like that. Some can take pictures." She knew she was over-loading them with such baffling information and she quickly slipped the phone away again and shrugged, as though it were no big deal. Tessa's eyes were as wide as saucers, even Will had trouble maintaining his 'I don't give a crap' composure.

"But...that's impossible." Jem murmured his silver eyes hesitant. This technology baffled him and he didn't trust it. It reminded him of the clockwork creatures, and he could sense as he glanced at Tessa that she felt similarly.

"Are you all trying to yank our legs?" Will raised an eyebrow, his voice almost sounding arrogant for some reason and Isabelle faced him with an indignant look, nose turning upward slightly.

"No, believe what you want, that's where the future is heading." She said simply, refusing to back down from Will's attempted intimidating attitude. The dark haired, blue eyed shadowhunter could see Gabriel in her as clear as day.

"I shouldn't be so surprised..." He mused, expression contemplative whilst his eyes flashed suddenly and Jem gave him a warning look. Will however, was not in the mood to be placated.

"Surprised about what?" Isabelle asked, voice strong as she raised her chin in a way of defiance.

"That even in future generations of Lightwood the arrogance and clear delusion that you have any importance or authority with others hasn't diminished." He lent back in his chair once again, legs precariously balanced as the Lightwood and Herondale surveyed each other carefully, almost seeming to size each other up. Isabelle simply smiled, slow and wide in response.

"I'll take that as a compliment...now, when do we get to check out the night life?" She made to stand in one smooth motion, hands pushing her thick hair back from her face as she glanced down at her friends. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the tea-break."

"Night-life?" Tessa questioned, unsure as to what exactly she meant.

"She means what goes on after dark. Back home she's usually out clubbing or something." Alec muttered, shaking his head. "We can't, Iz...they told us to stay here."

"Always a stickler for the rules, my brother." Isabelle sighed and her eyes swept over the others. "Anyone dare-devil enough to join me?"

Jace stood up with a fresh grin, and as he stood, Clary reluctantly joined him. She could hardly say no considering her own interest was thoroughly piqued at that moment. Will lent forward, his chair returning to all four legs with an almost violent snap and he stood too, stretching easily and musing his hair casually as he ran a hand through it.

"Now this sounds more like it! Besides, you'll need a charming guide and I am certainly more than adequate." He exclaimed, suddenly delighted that someone had suggested escaping the prison of the Institute.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Isabelle muttered and smirked slightly, ignoring Will's narrowed gaze.

Jem hesitated, glancing at Tessa who remained unsure also. She wasn't sure it was such a good idea, her views seeming to mirror Alec's, but the numbers were against her and she would rather learn more about the future she would one day be a part of than stay behind alone. She inclined her head in a slight nod and Jem offered her a brief upward tilt of his lips for support before they rose to their feet.

"It's agreed then.." He said hesitantly, glancing over at dark-haired Alec who surveyed them all once more before frowning in apparent irritation and abruptly pushing himself upright.

"Fine. Have it your way. But if we get into trouble for this, it's on your heads, not mine." His voice was a little more blunt than perhaps he'd intended but he wasn't happy and he wanted to make it clear. Isabelle rolled her eyes and turned her back upon him, already on her way to the door.

"Enough talk, let's go!"