You did, did you. [ Claude has no trouble picturing this, particularly as Viktor deftly disassembles parts of the clock in a way which speaks to that experience, and any parts removed are ones that he immediately leans in to get a better look at. Much easier than trying to peer into the clock at the dining table when combined the recognition he didn't really know what he was doing with this specific clock. ] I always liked them for the same reason myself. Those or pocket watches, though those were far more delicate and often required more patience than I had while spreading my attention through other projects at the same time.

[ A shame there's no way of bringing the last one he'd particularly struggled with as a way to keep himself occupied during the war here so Viktor could also inspect it. Claude has a feeling he'd be willing to bet a lot of money on that the other man could've solved it in no time at all. In the meantime, he picks up a fragile pair of gears gently to study them closer and with great care while considering something else they'd talked of briefly. ]

Were those clock projects the start of what led you towards academia?