Advent Day 8

“Jim.”
Jim put a nail in his mouth as he hammered the one he held into the rooftop. He did not look down. He was quite aware of the Vulcan standing at the foot of the ladder below. And though he was not looking, Jim absolutely knew he was getting the Vulcan version of the side-eye.
“Jim.”
To the untrained ear, the repeat of his name sounded just like it had before, but Jim heard the slight irritation behind the second time his name was said.
He removed the nail held in his mouth and hammered it in, stringing the line of lights across the latest two nails.
“Be right down,” he called, not looking. He’d been up in space for decades, had faced death and injury numerous times, fought and won against more foes than he could count, and even survived the death and resurrection of that Vulcan, his husband, waiting below, but he hated heights. He’d considered asking Spock to do this part, but Spock had a secret. He hated heights more than Jim did.
Well, and to say either of them hated heights was not exactly true. Jim enjoyed mountain climbing, after all. And Spock had those rocket boot things he’d used to reach Jim on that mountain. But there was something different about the roof of one’s house and Jim couldn’t say what.
“Can you turn them on so I see if they’re all lit up?” he called down.
He heard the definite huff from Spock, but a moment later the lights were lit and Jim leaned back slightly on his haunches to detect if every last light was on. He couldn’t see any that were out so he mentally patted himself on the back and then inched his way to the ladder.
Perhaps some of his trepidation was due to the fact he’d actually fallen from said roof the prior year. Thankfully, just like Humpty Dumpty, they’d been able to put him back together. Not that he appreciated the comparison.
When he landed on the ground below, Jim felt relieved, and offered a smile to his grumpy husband.
“All done with the roof.”
“I thought we had agreed last year that if you continued this ridiculous, illogical competition with Bob Jenkins and Doctor Morely, you would hire someone to get on the roof.”
“You mean someone younger and in better shape than me,” Jim said, rolling his eyes. “I thought about that but the rules are we have to do all the decorating ourselves.”
“Who decided these rules?” Spock asked pointedly.
“The three of us as a committee. It’s just in good fun, Spock. It doesn’t really matter who’s won. There’s no reward.”
“Except the bragging rights to use all year round that you had the best decorated house for the holidays.”
Jim smiled, and rubbed his hands together, moving farther out in the yard to survey his handiwork.
“Right! And I’m absolutely fine with not winning.”
Spock gave him that side-eye Vulcan thing again and Jim ignored him.
Shooting out of a giant menorah on the roof, placed there for Spock, were twinkling yellow lights that looked like candle flames. He’d just purchased that this year. Also on the roof was a life sized Santa and sleigh with reindeer. Actual reindeer or Caribou, not just the Bambi type substituted so often.
He had more reindeer, elves, and snowmen in the yard surrounding the house too. Candy canes. Snowflakes. Gingerbread men.
“Do you think I did enough?” he asked Spock when Spock moved to stand beside him as they surveyed their kingdom.
“You are serious?”
Jim chuckled. “Yes, of course.” He took out an apple from his pocket and took a bite. “I don’t like to lose.”
“You just said—”
“We both know I lied.”
Spock sighed and nodded. “I believe you will succeed in maintaining your winning record.”
“Now that’s what I want to hear. All right, Spock, let’s go inside where it’s warm. I want to contact Jenkins and Morely to tell them they’re going to lose again.”
Spock sighed even more dramatically. “Very well.”
Jim took Spock’s hand in his and led him to the door of their home. “Well, perhaps, I’ll wait to warm you up a bit first.”
“That would be most agreeable.”
December 8, 2021 at 4:04 am
Lol. Oh. I love the normalcy of this, and the way their personalities shine through even in something so silly and wonderful as an unofficial house decorating competition. Deck the halls indeed!
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December 8, 2021 at 7:32 am
thanks 🙂
this was an idea from Jamie
It reminded me of the old Home Improvement episodes when Tim competed with his neighbor the proctologist lol
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December 8, 2021 at 7:44 am
Of course. Not believing in the no-win scenario. Carried into like EVERYTHING!!
And of course, Jim making sure we knew he’d been winning for years.
Their kingdom – LOVE that.
This is soooooo TOS Shat/Jim. I can hear every word in his voice.
Humpty Dumpty last year. These guys!!
Yeah, I was thinking of Tim the Toolman as I was reading, too. I can see them on a show together.
Thank you – this was awesome. And kudos to Jamie for the idea. It’s all perfect!
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December 8, 2021 at 9:57 am
thank you! and yes this is all Shatner Kirk for sure, I can’t see Chris Kirk doing this.
I could see Tim Allen and Shatner in a show too! 🙂
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December 8, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Loves this!!!
I love the idea of Jim competing for the best Christmas decorations 😀
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December 8, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Apparently as you were the one who came up with it!
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December 8, 2021 at 5:39 pm
I know 😀 I love when you use our ideas in fics
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December 8, 2021 at 5:15 pm
I never got the notification for this or yesterday’s flashes. Every time I comment, I have to re-enter my username and email. Also I have to click notify me of comments and apparently I need to click notify me of new posts. I thought I would get new posts without having to click that everyday! 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Spock is definitely grumpy. Jim insists on risking his life climbing a ladder to, as Spock says, to continue “this ridiculous, illogical competition with Bob Jenkins and Doctor Morely, you would hire someone to get on the roof.” Jim remains competitive. I’m enjoying how they will spend their time afterwards, getting Spock warmed up. Now there’s an activity they can agree on and both enjoy!
❤️🖖😘🥰🖖🎄🎅🎅
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December 8, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Alas I do not know the workings of wordpress but you should just check every day through 12/24 🙂
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