2022-08-26 0:39:24 ¶ ●

# Pocket Watch

Written for @eliasbouchardweek

Day 5 - modern / old fashioned

Read it on AO3

The pocket watch used to be brand new and modern. Now it is antique and old fashioned. That is simply how the passing of time works

…

“You are late,” Mordechai says instead of greeting as soon as Jonah slides into the chair opposite to him. Of course, that he was sitting at the furthest corner of the main area of one of the most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs. Jonah’s membership might or might not be obtained through some questionable means.

“I have been doing great, thank you for asking.”

“Do not waste more of my time with pleasantries.” Mordechai seems to be in a bad mood today. Which is no surprise as he always seems to be in a bad mood. There was a time when Jonah felt unnerved and nervous by it. Not anymore. Mordechai loves to make any conversation with him as unpleasant as possible but he rarely mirrors his real opinion of feelings towards the topic of conversation or his conversation partner.

“It has been what five minutes?” Jonah looks at the clock on the wall. “I left the house on time, I swear, but then I ran into my neighbour and-…”

“Here.” Mordechai hands him a pocket watch. Jonah gives his companion a confused look but he takes it and for lack of another instruction he opens it to check time there as well. Pocket watches are quite expensive in general but this one looks like there was extra care put into it, not to mention it seems to be brand new. It takes him a few seconds of admiring the craftsmanship before he remembers he was about to check what time it claims to be.

“Your pocket watch is showing exactly the same time as the clock in the room. Do not try to claim I am more delayed than I actually am.” Jonah frowns still mildly confused and hands it back to its owner but Mordechai shakes his head.

“Keep them.”

“What? I cannot! I mean they must have been quite expensive…”

Mordechai just shrugs as if he could not care about the fortune the watch must have cost him. “You were complaining that I haven’t given anything for your birthday anyway. So, pretend it is just a belated gift from your… acquaintance.” Is Jonah imaging it or is there a little smirk on his face?

“Thank you?” He is still hesitant, expecting there to be some trick as he puts them in the pocket on his waistcoat.

“Just make sure to use them and arrive on time since no you have no excuse not to know it. Anyway, can we finally get to business?”

Jonah would not really say he changed a lot during the more than two hundred years of his lifetime. No one who really used to know him is still around so no one could really argue with him about it. Though sometimes there indeed are moments when he is willing to admit he did not remain exactly the same.

…

For example, his opinion on punctuality has changed.

“You are late.” Elias frowns as Peter Lukas finally enters his office three quarters of an hour after the time they agreed upon. He is leaning on the front side of his desk, pocket watch in his hand and giving his guest a disapproving look. Even though it might look like he has been waiting like this for the entire duration of his delay he has actually been standing there for past half a minute as Peter finally got close to approaching his doors.

“Your Institute is a maze. And I am not that late.” Back in his days being ‘not that late’ had a slightly different meaning.

“It has been almost an hour. Feel free to check for yourself,” Elias shows him his pocket watch. Peter does not really bother to look at the time it shows nor admire how nice and well preserved it looks and just sits down with a scoff.

“Pocket watch? Really? How old-fashioned of you.”

Elias smiles. “They were brand new and a peak of modern technology when they were gifted to me.”

“I do sometimes forget how old you are.”

“Old fashioned or not they are much more importantly functional. Maybe I should consider getting one for you as well on some occasion…”