Day 3 - Pocket watch

I'm walking down Central Street with Leea after school the next day. Flame didn't come to school with me today, staying curled up in the tiny nest she's made for herself in the corner of my room when I left in the morning. I bought her a basket so she wouldn't have to sleep in my knittings anymore, but she stuffed it full of scarves and socks anyway. I don't mind, it's not like I use any of them now that it's spring.

We're talking about summer plans when Leea suddenly stops. I walk two more steps and then turn back, giving her a confused expression. She's looking at a shop window with a smile and then tugs at my arm.

"Let's go there!" she says, pointing at the thrift shop that just opened up. There's all kinds of antique stuff on the display window, clocks and trinkets and silverware. She turns back to me, looking very excited and I shrug.

"Sure," I say and she pulls me in.

The shop isn't very big, just one room with four rows of clothes on one side and almost all of the other wall covered in bookshelves holding all kinds of items in addition to books. The back corner of the room has all kinds of magic devices stacked up on some tables and shelves. Leea lets out a delighted squee and hurries to the corner. I don't go after her, I have no interest in magic myself.

I wander around the clothes section of the shop for a moment, but nothing is the right size or bearable to look at, and so I drift over to the bookshelves. The owner (presumably) hovers behind my shoulder for a moment but I politely tell her that I'm not really looking for anything and that Leea would probably much more appreciate the attention. She stands there aimlessly for a moment more, but then slides over to Leea, and the next time I look into their direction they are in the middle of a rather intense conversation about something or other.

My fingers dance along the spines of the books as I stroll between the shelves, occasionally stopping to actually look at the books I'm walking past. In front of the window are tables filled with miscellaneous items, like toys and jewelry and the like, and I browse them as I wait for Leea to finish her business. A small pocket watch catches my eye and I pick it up.

It's silver and has a chain a good 30cm long hanging from it. There are spirally engravings in the cover, creating symbols that seem familiar but I cannot quite place. It fits nicely in the palm of my hand and I flip it open. The clock is fairly simple, its dial similar to the Great Clock of Westminster (that is, the Big Ben) in its design, and on the inside of the cover is an inscription.

"Ooh, pretty," says Leea from behind my shoulder and i jump a bit, slapping the watch closed. "You gonna get that?"

"What would I do with a pocket watch?" I ask, incredulous, but can't seem to put it down. I check the price tag on the other side. It's only seven quid. Leea makes a thoughtful noise and I feel my cheeks heating though I don't know why.

"I dunno," she says. "But I think you should get it."

"I don't even wear waistcoats, when would I ever use it?" I try to argue, but it's weak at best. Leea shrugs.

"We could hold a steampunk party," she suggests and I huff out a laugh. "Or you could give it to someone we know who does wear waistcoats. Just a suggestion."

She keeps staring at the side of my face, but my eyes are fixated on the small silver watch in my hand and think about Cecil. He does wear wear a waistcoat pretty often, and I could totally see him having a pocket watch. It could be a late Christmas present! A really... really late Christmas present... But would he like it? Maybe he'd think it's too corny, or-

"Wellllll?" Leea says and I look up at her. Oh, to hell with it!

We leave the shop a few minutes later, the watch heavy in my pocket.
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Yaas, I dunno. When I read "pocket watch" I immediately thought that Cecil would totally have one, but I had some trouble getting it be an integral part of today's bit. But yeh, here it is.

Oh, in case you haven't noticed, these are going kinda real time. Like, everyday's story is a story from that day. Or something. Yeah.

I'm gonna bake a cake tomorrow, I think. Should I just do a chocolate cake, or should I try something fancier? I think a basic cake is fine... Our oven is kinda bad for baking stuff cause it simply refuses to heat up evenly, but well.....

Anyway, I'm gonna go. Toodels.

Pie out.