If you came here for Wednesday’s Flash, I regret to inform you it has been moved to tomorrow, Thursday, for reasons. It’s Halloween tomorrow and that plays into the fic that was written for this Wednesday, so I moved it. It’s not my fault Halloween would not cooperate and be on a Wednesday.
So….see you tomorrow
I’m back from Solvang/Santa Inez but super exhausted. Got back about an hour ago.
Solvang was so gorgeous this time. Not a bit of wind there. Just stunning. We had pastries at our favorite bakery and then did some wine tasting at a couple of places. Had a lot of fun.
Then we checked into the Chumash Casino for overnight. Had planned to have some wine on the balcony but it got down to 37 at night and so we decided nope! Had a nice dinner at the restaurant, put the mother to bed (she poops out fast at 93) and then went out and played some more. I won $1,000! Pretty cool since I didn’t have to pay for any of it. And that $1,000 goes to my property taxes due soon. I was wondering how I was going to come up with the money but God came through for me in this case.
We had fun! Then we got some Swarovski crystal this morning, played some more, where the mother won her own $1,000, and then we stopped at the Ventura Harbor for a lunch of fish, shrimp and chips. Great time and great weather.
Of course tonight we are in for another “Wind Event” all the way until Noon on Halloween. Sigh. Which probably means more brush fires. Many of which are started by some freak! Grrr.
You will have all read Somebody’s Knocking on AO3 my latest Song Fic. Otherwise I’m currently tired and still working on December flashes. Next up for AO3 is Cadet Ashayam, but we will see when that happens.
The usual flashes are coming for the week, including the last October flash.
In the nearly a month they had been living together at the Riverside farmhouse, Spock had become used to Jim rising from their bed before he did. It was a strange experience, because Spock had always risen well before Nyota during their time together and Spock was aware that Vulcans didn’t need as much sleep as Humans.
But of course, Spock was no ordinary Vulcan. And Jim was no ordinary Human. At first he was worried about Jim’s sleep patterns and wondered if his sleep was disturbed with unpleasant dreams that woke him, but it soon became clear that was not the case, on average anyway, and that Jim’s sleep patterns were normal for him. He functioned very highly with much less sleep than others around him.
Spock found himself often quite exhausted after nights of explorations between him and Jim. Though they had not fully consummated things between them, they’d experienced a lot of erotic play. Spock was careful never to take things too far while Jim recuperated. But last night their mutual blowjobs, as Humans called them, had been extremely satisfactory. Jim had referred to their position as 69.
Curious.
Today, Spock recalled as he rose from their bed to shower, they were going into the city proper for an event Jim told him was the Harvest Festival. Children would also be participating in an ancient custom called ‘Trick or Treating’ where they were given candy.
“I know, you never went Trick or Treating on Vulcan,” Jim had said with a wry smile.
“I did not.”
Jim had told him the neighborhood kids traipsing about from door to door was no longer especially practiced, but there were generally activities such as this for children. He’d also asked Spock if he wanted to wear a costume.
Spock had declined.
Spock did dress in autumnal colors after bathing. He pulled on a pair of brown slacks that he paired with an auburn sweater. He also put on his brown ankle boots.
He found Jim sitting at the dining room table, coffee and coffee cake in front of him, furiously typing on a PADD.
Spock walked behind him to peer down at the screen. He straightened. “Jim, you are on leave.”
“I know.” Jim absently held out two fingers toward Spock, who, of course, met them gratefully. “Good morning.”
Spock shook his head and went into the kitchen. “Good morning. What time do you want to leave for the Festival?”
“Soon as I finish this.”
“You aren’t supposed to be doing that.” Spock lifted a cup to his mouth and took a large swallow of tea that Jim had left for him. It was still hot, so Jim must have heard him getting ready upstairs. He did love an efficient boyfriend.
“It’s just the roster for when we’re back on the Enterprise.”
“I could have attended to that.”
“It’s your leave too.” Jim forked a bite of the cake, popped into his mouth and chewed.
Spock was endlessly puzzled with Jim’s love for sweet breakfasts. “I was not subjected to mass internal injuries.”
“I’m fine, honey.” Jim swiped his finger across the PADD and then set it aside. He leaned back in the chair and gave Spock a heart stopping smile. “You look scrumptious.”
“At least you are looking at me now,” Spock replied with a raised eyebrow. He noted Jim had on a bright orange T-shirt with a ghoulish Jack O Lantern face on the front. “Where did you get that?”
“Ordered it online.” Jim stood and went to where Spock stood. “Don’t look so grumpy. This is going to be fun.”
“Wandering around in crowds of strangers who paw at merchandise they do not need, running to stand in lines for rides that are unsafe not to mention unwise, throwing darts at balloons in an effort to win prizes they will throw away next week…”
Jim laughed and kissed him. “You are grumpy.”
Spock shook his head. “I will do anything you wish to, Jim.”
Jim’s grin slipped into a soft smile. “I know. Because you’re just happy I’m alive and that you love me.”
“Yes.”
Jim kissed him again. “All right. Harvest Festival time.”
Much later, they returned home, Jim drooping again, but proudly holding the stuffed pumpkin with legs Spock had won him, and Spock holding the water filled bag with the goldfish Jim had won him.
And they’d both ate far too much candy.
But Spock had to admit, that yes, it had been fun.
We’re having the evil chaotic winds again. Supposed to for the next few days. Just ugh. Basically that means we are on fire watch. There’s a big fire up north in Wine Country. They got hit hard last year. So sad as it’s such a beautiful area. I love it up there.
I’ve made some progress on my Jim/Prime Christmas story. I hope to make it somewhat shortish but whenever I say that…well…
I’m also working on another December Flash. I don’t know if I mentioned this, but all the 25 Days Flashes in December are named after Holiday Songs. The one I am working on now is called…oh wait. No spoilers! ha ha. But I think you will be very pleased.
Nine Lives will be up next for AO3 updates, but not sure when I will get to that because the next few days will be quite busy for me and I still want to get some Flashes done and scheduled.
Have a party Saturday and then I’m going away Monday and Tuesday. So anyway, I hope it won’t be too long until I get to it because I’d like to wrap Nine Lives up soon.
I greatly look forward to you reading the continuation of my Fall Guys tomorrow
Garage Door Company Cut it Wrong. Didn’t fit.
I am ready to cry.
Another three weeks at least.
There is no such thing as a reputable company anymore
A wee bit weird!
“Rumors are this place is haunted.”
Spock glanced at Jim with what could only be considered derision. “I am surprised you would listen to rumors, Captain. Especially nonsensical ones.”
Jim snorted. “Tell me how you really feel, Spock.”
“I always endeavor to do so.”
Jim sighed. Crossed his arms in front of him as he looked at the ruins of the ancient civilization. It was little more than abandoned decaying buildings and crumbling stone arches. It was kind of eerie but more than that it made Jim sad for what was lost. Whoever had lived here, had dreams and hopes and wishes for a future that never happened.
“Did you want to go into the dwelling further, captain? I do not recommend it. It looks dangerous.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll be careful. Report over to the chieftain of the village and I’ll meet you there shortly.”
“You do not intend to go in there alone.”
“It’s not haunted, remember? You said yourself.”
“Indeed, but they are crumbling ruins, Captain.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Spock hesitated, but he finally nodded. “If you do not return to the village in fifteen minutes—
“I will.”
He waved Spock away and headed into the ruins. He knew his first officer watched his every moved, but Jim ignored it. He’d chalk it up to their new-found…er…well whatever it was they were…more than friends, less than lovers? Jim sure as hell didn’t know—but Spock had been weird about watching Jim’s every move even before all that. Jim used to think Spock was looking for a way to file a report against him, but he no longer thought that.
Jim didn’t know all that much about this ancient, almost-forgotten civilization. The chieftain had told them that the ruins had been abandoned for hundreds of years, long before any of them were alive, and had long been the subject of stories about ghosts and hauntings.
Spock had barely contained his skepticism as the chieftain spoke, but Jim figured that was mostly because the chieftain had a huge crush on Spock and had been openly flirting with Jim’s second in command since they’d arrived.
The chieftain had suggested they go look at the ruins while he prepared the feast for them, but he’d wanted Spock to stay at the village and Jim to go alone. Jim had decided he’d just let Spock go back early. Especially since the Vulcan hadn’t wanted to go anyway.
Jim ducked under a half collapsed arch, trying to imagine what the people from this planet would have been like hundreds of years ago. They had jewel eyes now and lilac skin, attractive. It was unknown what their ancient ancestors looked like. Perhaps the same.
It had been an earthquake that had destroyed them, sudden and catastrophic. When they had rebuilt, it was on the other side of the planet, less prone to seismic activity, and this place was never rebuilt.
Jim stepped through what must have been a doorway into a house or something.
He heard a child’s laugh, merry and bright, and so real-sounding, Jim turned quickly. But there was nothing and no one there.
“I’m getting punchy.” He shook his head and decided maybe he was better off going back to the village sooner rather than later.
He took a step and fell through a hole.
“Shit!”
He didn’t know how far he fell but it seemed like a long distance and when he landed, his leg was twisted underneath him at a painful and clearly broken angle. He went to fish his communicator out of his pocket and discovered it was missing.
All around him was nothing but darkness. Even looking up, he couldn’t even see the sky. And he suddenly felt like it was all a setup from the chieftain.
He hoped he was wrong.
****
“Come on, Jim. Wake up.”
A gentle hand on his face. Light as a feather.
“Jim. Jim. Please. Wake up. Come on. You can do it. Come back to us. Come on, kid.”
He was trying. He was. Couldn’t-couldn’t whoever it was tell? He should know the speaker. He should. But he couldn’t think of them. Couldn’t…
So tired.
“Jim. Please. Jim.”
A different voice. But still familiar.
Drifting. Let me rest.
“No!”
Jim woke with a gasp and he sat up straight into strong arms that held him. He blinked hard, and stared into Spock’s dark eyes.
“Jim,” Spock said, it sounded almost like a whimper. He pulled Jim close.
“Easy, Spock. Easy,” Bones said. “Let him breathe. Let him catch his breath.”
Spock pulled back, but only a little.
Jim put his hand up to Spock’s face. Spock was shaking. “Medbay?”
“Yes. We…”
“You almost died on us again, Jim.”
Jim looked at Bones. “The ruins?”
“You fell down some giant crater thing. Lost consciousness. It took us a long time to reach you and you’d lost a lot of blood.”
He nodded. Looked back at Jim. “The chieftain?”
“Chieftain?”
“Of the village. He had the hots for you. I thought maybe he set me up to fall.”
Spock shook his head. He covered Jim’s hand with his. “There was no chieftain, Jim. The planet was abandoned. The ruins were from an extinct civilization. It is unknown what happened to the people from there.”
“But…they were lilac with jewel eyes and…”
“No, Jim. There was no one on the planet. We had barely begun to explore the ruins when you fell.”
He could barely believe it but his friends were looking at him like he was crazy, so he nodded. “Okay.”
“You gave me and your husband here a heart attack.”
Jim’s mouth hung open. “My-my what?”
“Ashaya, perhaps you ought to lie down.”
“You are unaware Spock is your husband?”
“Since?”
“For a year!” Bones exclaimed. “Spock is right. Lie down. I’d better check a
few things.”
Jim allowed Spock to ease him back down on the biobed and as Spock held his hand while Bones examined him, Jim heard the faint laughter of a child.
So I am struggling with the next part of Our So-Called Life. I kind of know what’s supposed to happen next, but I am not feeling the urge to write it. I tried. I opened it up and wrote a paragraph. And then closed it.
The answer? I’m going to put it away for now and mull on it. I may change what happens next slightly. We’ll see.
So while I am still working on my December stuff (6 and a half days done and scheduled. I should have the 7th done soon), I will move on to The Vulcan Who Fell to the Earth next instead. So expect that some time this week.
I’ve been enjoying writing the December stuff anyway. Other stuff will be updated as needed.
My three day weekend is at an end and it’s back to work tomorrow. Sigh. Wish I was rich. Don’t we all?
Spock searched the whole house, looking for Jim, after he got out of bed and showered, but there was no sign of him. He squelched down the sense of panic that threatened to take hold. It was, of course, ridiculous. Jim was probably outside or even had gone off to the store in the city as he had done before.
There was nothing at all unusual in his absence. Jim insisted on his independence even after being so grievously injured, something Spock had been forced to get used to and accept.
Prior to Jim’s near fatal injury, Spock had only been friends with Jim, but as the mission had turned so dangerous, Jim had confessed his love for Spock. It wasn’t until Jim was revived that Spock could share his own deeper feelings. The fact he even could was…remarkable.
Sure enough, as Spock approached the back covered porch, he could hear Jim softly singing to himself. Next the scent of Jim’s pumpkin spice coffee hit his nose.
Spock pushed open the screen door. “Jim?” He didn’t immediately see him.
“Here, babe. On the ground.”
Spock looked down and noticed Jim sitting in the middle of the porch floor, knife in hand, tongue sticking out, with a giant pumpkin he had purchased at the pumpkin patch in between his spread legs.
“Ashaya? What are you doing?”
“Carving a Jack O Lantern. Didn’t your mom ever…never mind. She probably didn’t. But remember? I mentioned it at the pumpkin patch. Come sit down.”
Spock shrugged slightly and made his way over to the mess Jim was making. He had papers all spread out and gooey looking seeds all over the papers.
“You are killing it?”
“Already dead. I’m just pulling out its guts now.”
“A curious practice.” Spock watched as Jim finished gutting the pumpkin and then began to stab its flesh.
“I’m making a face for it,” Jim explained.
“I see. What is the purpose?”
“You put him out on your front porch all lit up for the harvest or whatever. Halloween. That kind of thing. I’ll just put him next to the uncarved ones. He’ll look cool.”
Spock thought, not for the first time, Earthlings were strange, and Jim, perhaps, stranger than many. And yet, Spock loved him. Almost obsessively so.
Jim looked at Spock and grinned. “What?”
“I am…” He cleared his throat. “I find myself very glad that I am sitting on your porch floor while you slaughter that member of the squash family.”
Jim laughed. It was an amazing sound. “Me too, babe.”
Spock doubted, really, that Jim actually got it. How much this almost didn’t happen. Couldn’t happen. Jim was there but he was out of it much of the time. And he didn’t think either him or McCoy, for that matter, could ever describe how horrible it had all been.
He reached his two fingers toward Jim. He paused in his cutting to extend his to Spock, and he felt the warm jolt that seemed to accompany their skin contact, their joining in any way. Spock suspected he knew the reason, yet he waited to know for sure.
“I am going in to get some tea, if you do not mind, then I will return.”
Jim grinned. “Sounds great. I’ll be here.”
And yes, Spock thought, he would, and Spock felt gratitude.
For Fun, Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
Hello Friends
I have scheduled the first flash for December, Comfort and Joy, which will appear on December 01. I am already working on the next one for December 02. I’ll be working on a few December flashes before I go on to update Our So-Called Life. I’m about to get a little angsty with that one.
In other news, I saw Addams Family in the theater on Tuesday. It was cute. This weekend I have a three day weekend as I scheduled myself off for Monday. This was originally the Morro Bay weekend that I had to cancel. I didn’t cancel my day off though. I hope to get some writing in this weekend for December etc. I may also go to the dentist.
Our garage gets done on Wednesday the 23rd. M will be home dealing with that. Two months later.
I have a Halloween Party on October 26th. Then I also have off October 28 and 29 to go somewhere with my sister and mother. It’s just an overnight trip to the Solvang area for some casino, dining, and wine tasting, but I was invited to go (asked to go really and the sister is paying for everything, so how could I not?). Obviously that means that weekend not much writing will be done.
I have much much writing ahead of me though so I have to get working on all this or drive myself crazy. For one of those days in December I may take an old posted and deleted Pinto Christmas short and expand it just a wee bit so I can call it new! HA.
After Our So-Called Life, for AO3 updating, I will be back to My Vulcan Who Fell to the Earth.
And then of course there’s still work and you know life stuff. I am crazed. Some of those December flashes will be short, just so you know.
Fall Guys continue tomorrow.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 