Ford frowned. Cash was lying to him. He was sure of it, because it wasn't even a particularly good lie; it didn't even make much sense. Talking about pocket watches, of all things, but then Ford had cut in with we don't have to talk about it? Something weird was happening, and Cash knew what it was, and wasn't telling him. Ford wasn't sure how to feel about that... but thought what he was mostly feeling was annoyed.

"Fine," he said almost petulantly. He tossed the stone down to the ground and fished out his pocket watch from a pocket deep inside his suit. "Pocket watches. This was my dad's, and he passed it down to me when I graduated, and I carry it every-bloody-where but I never use it because —" Ford cut off abruptly, realizing that he was letting himself get carried away and if he went any further he was going to end up revealing two much. There were two reasons he hardly ever used his pocket watch: the first was that he thought it bothered Noble to be reminded of their father; the second was that he thought someday he might have to sell it, and he didn't want anyone remarking on the change of habit if it disappeared.

"— because there are plenty of clocks at the Ministry," he ground out instead. "What's the story with your pocket watch?"

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