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Totally Modern Jim

Flash Fic, April 12, 2022

I’m going with Sam looks quite a bit like Dad

Jim decided to seek his brother out first when he arrived at his family’s home in Napa. He found Sam in one of the vineyards, bent over at the waist, and speaking.

“What are you doing?” Jim asked, frowning with puzzlement.

“Talking to the grapes.”

“Lost it have you?”

Sam snorted and straightened. “Funny. Been at the house yet?”

“No. Wanted to see what you had to say about things. Mom and Dad aren’t as forthcoming as they could be.”

Sam nodded and eyed him. “You’re looking tired, little brother. You didn’t have to come up here this weekend.”

“I think Mom wanted me to and besides I wanted to check on Dad.” Jim pointed to the grapes. “What are you the grape whisperer?”

“I prefer wine whisperer, thank you very much. I just think talking to your plants helps.”

Jim smiled. “Okay. So what’s the situation?”

“They let him leave the hospital last night. He’s doing good. Has to take it easy for a while. Which you know he’ll hate.”

“He’s especially going to hate not being out here with you. The two of you love putzing around these vineyards.”

“Yep. But he’ll be well enough soon. Keeping busy down there in the city?”

The city was always San Francisco for Sam. Jim knew his brother seldom went there, didn’t like it there, couldn’t understand why Jim did.

“Yep. “ Jim smiled. “My physics classes are going well. Teaching a bunch of geniuses keeps me on my toes.”

“Bet none of them are even close to you,  though.” Sam rubbed the top of Jim’s head.

Jim was by no means small, or he didn’t think so, but both his dad and brother were giants and liked to remind everyone around them of their superiority.

“Come to the house then. Oh, and I’m going to ask Aurelan to marry me soon. You remember you met her last time you were up here.”

“I do, yeah. Congratulations.” Jim had liked the pretty petite brunette.     

Sam grinned. “She hasn’t said yes yet.”

“She will.” Jim fell into step beside his brother as they hiked uphill a bit to the house from the vineyards. “I almost brought someone with me this time.”

“Oh?” Sam asked, surprised.

Jim laughed. “You make it sound like no one would want me.”

“Hardly. You’re a brilliant scientist that comes from a great family and you’re not bad looking. You just never seem to settle on someone you want us to meet.”

“Not sure I’m to the point of settling in this case either,” Jim admitted. “Just…a guy moved into the apartment next to mine and he’s pretty cute and I like him.”

Sam nodded. “So why didn’t you bring him?”

“We’ve only seen each other a handful of times. I think he got a little freaked when I made the suggestion he could come with me. Hell, we haven’t even had a first kiss. So I don’t know. Seemed pretty fast.”

“Well, you’ll know when and if it’s right.”

“Like you have with Aurelan?”

“Exactly. “

They reached the back door of the Spanish style villa. Sam opened the door and let Jim go in first.

“Mom? Dad? Look what followed me in!”

Flash Fic, April 11, 2022

The minute the words were out of his mouth, Jim wanted to take them back. He knew they were idiotic. They barely knew each other and it was just way too early for “meet the family”. He wasn’t even sure anything they’d done so far even counted as an actual date. And he’d put Spock on the spot to have to come up with a polite way to decline. Jim would be doing that himself if the shoe was on the other foot.

“Forget I said that,” Jim said, forcing a smile. “I know that was crazy and way too soon. Sorry.”

He could see signs of relief in Spock’s expression though he was trying to fight them. “It is only that—”

“No.” Jim laughed. “I know. We just met a few days ago. Sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain. Some other time, maybe, but for now, I’m good.”

“When you return, perhaps, on Monday evening, I would like to have you over to my apartment for dinner,” Spock offered.

It was a nice Segway into getting out of the way too awkward gaffe Jim just did.

“That sounds great.”

Spock nodded. “I hope all goes well with your family.”

“Thanks. My dad is doing better already. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll serve dinner?”

 The evening turned out to be very nice once they got over Jim sticking his foot in his mouth with the stupid invitation. Dinner was delicious if he did say so himself and they spent the meal talking about each other’s work.

When it was over, Spock helped with the dishes, and then excused himself to go home.

All in all slow progress, progress, yes, but slow. Jim was pretty impatient sometimes so it was hard to force himself not even to try a kiss with Spock, but he had held back, figuring even that might be a bit too fast for this strange guy. Because yes Spock was different somehow then anyone Jim had ever met. But he liked him.   

Flash Fic, April 08, 2022

Now that he was faced with returning to Jim’s apartment for dinner, Spock regretted accepting the invitation to dine with the Human.

It wasn’t at all that Spock didn’t like Jim. In fact, he did. Which was precisely the problem.

Spock was infatuated with Jim. He was gorgeous and interesting. He was exactly the sort of “type” Spock would be interested in on a normal basis. But his situation was anything but normal.

Spock had wished to work at the Science Institute for the simple reason it would afford him the use of the Institute’s extensive science knowledge. Extensive for the primitive period Spock found himself in anyway. His hope was that there would be some way to discover a way for him to return to his own timeline.   

And if he reached that hope successfully, anything Spock found here in the present would need to be “ditched”, including any friendships forged.

Spock’s ship had somehow crossed into this primitive time in the 21st Century and crashed. The ship was unsalvageable, but he had hidden the pieces in the warehouse he’d taken shelter in that he had later been forced to vacate. He’d buried those pieces underground in that area in case there would be something he required to return.

Still the plain truth of it was that Spock did want to spend time with Jim. He was the only one so far he’d forged any kind of friendship with and Spock was a bit lonely. So, after getting things settled in his apartment and removing the knit cap and setting it on a nearby table, Spock left his apartment for Jim’s.

The door opened only seconds after he tapped on it and Jim, smiling so brightly his little rabbit front teeth showed, stepped aside to let Spock in.

Jim had changed out of the suit he’d been wearing into what was called sweatpants and a gray tank top with the words California Dreaming written across the chest.      

“Something to drink? I don’t have Sake, but I have some beer or wine. Iced tea and soda too.”

“Iced tea would be ideal.”

Jim nodded. “I’m a strictly unsweetened guy but I have sweetener if you want. I keep it on hand when friends come over. I have Sweet & Low, Equal, Splenda, and like regular sugar.”:

“I prefer unsweetened as well.”

Jim took a glass out of cabinet, filled it with ice from the freezer, and then poured tea from a pitcher.

“The food smells good,” Spock said as he took the tea from Jim. And it did. Spock hadn’t eaten much all day and he realized he was hungry.

“It’s a pretty simple stir fry but I think you’ll like it.”

“You are not a vegetarian, are you?”

“Nah. And I bought some shrimp to cook up on the side for me that I’ll toss into my portion. But I knew you would only want the vegetables.”

“Did you anticipate inviting me for dinner?” Spock asked.

To Spock’s surprise, Jim blushed a bit and then laughed.

“You found me out.”

“Found you out?”

“Yeah, I mean, I did want to invite you. Truth is, I really like you and wanted to ask you out. I even went to the restaurant where you said you worked. Congrats on getting that Science Institute job by the way.”

Spock felt a bit nonplused. But the longer he remained silent the more uncomfortable Jim looked.

“Uh, did I say something wrong? Not interested in guys?”

“I am,” Spock admitted.

“Not interested in me?”

Spock blinked. “You have looked in the mirror, have you not?”

Jim laughed. “Uh yeah, but—”

“I am very interested in you,” Spock said bluntly.

“Yeah? That’s a relief.”

“It is a bit…complicated.”

“You’re married? In a relationship?”

“No. Nothing like that. My time here in the city might be short.”

Jim deflated some, but he nodded. He was still smiling. “Okay. Well, we can just see where things take us. As a matter of fact, tomorrow after work I’m driving to Napa to see my family. I’ll be back Sunday evening.” Jim shifted a little and glanced away and then back at Spock. “You, uh, you could come with me.”       

The guys will be back Monday!

Flash Fic, April 07, 2022

Totally Modern Jim

Thursday after work and Jim came into the hallway of his apartment floor with his arms full of groceries for that night’s dinner. After all he could hardly live on take-out alone.

He was carrying a few more reusable bags than he probably should, but he didn’t really want to make several trips. And he had a few things he intended to take with him to Napa when he left the following day after work.

“Here, allow me to assist you.”

Jim almost jumped. It was a near thing, but he hadn’t been aware of Spock being behind him as he struggled with his key to open his apartment door until he was right there taking grocery bags from his hands.  

It bothered Jim that he wasn’t more aware of his surroundings. His building was pretty safe but he knew of a guy who lived a couple of blocks over who’d been robbed at gun point getting into his apartment.

Fortunately, this was just Spock and Jim had no clue why but he sorta trusted this weird guy.

“Thanks,” he said breathlessly, when he finally got the key into his door. “Bit off more than I could chew.”

Spock followed him into the apartment, most of Jim’s bags in his hands.

Jim had a moment where he was embarrassed by the state of his apartment. “Uh. Sorry. Place is a mess. I’m not much of a housekeeper.”

“And I am not much of a judge,” Spock assured him. He put the reusable bags onto the kitchen counters.

Jim smiled. “Thanks for the help.”

“You are quite welcome. I could hardly let you struggle when I could assist.”

Spock wore black slacks and a black pull over sweater this time. On his head was a wool cap pulled over to cover the pointy ears. His entire attire made Jim sweat.

“I’m about to make some dinner if you’d like to stay,” Jim offered, trying to keep the hopeful tone out of his voice. He’d been rejected before, sure, who hadn’t, but not by someone he was as into as he was into Spock, and that realization vaguely freaked him out.  

Spock hesitated. And Jim deflated.

But then…

“I must return to my apartment for a few minutes as I was just coming home myself, but if it is acceptable for me to return in thirty minutes then I accept.”

“Oh. Sure.” Jim’s mood brightened. “Yeah, very acceptable. And you can ditch your hat too, if you’d like.”

Spock nodded. “Very well. Thank you. What will you be serving?”

Jim did not want to admit it, but his choice of groceries for that night had been for a vegetable stir-fry in the hopes he would get enough nerve to coax Spock into coming for dinner. Spock helping with his bags had made the entire thing far easier than he had hoped.

“Vegetable stir fry with sticky rice.”

“That sounds good. I will return in half an hour.”

“Great.”

Jim followed Spock to the door, he wasn’t even sure why, and then watched as Spock made the short trip to his own door. He closed his and went into his kitchen to unload his stuff.  

Flash Fic, April 06, 2022

Jim was greeted by one of the owners, Ben Sulu, the minute he stepped through the doors of Sulu’s Asian Bistro.
“Hi Jim,” Ben called out from beside the cash register. “You just missed Hikaru. He went to pick up our daughter from school.”
Jim had been casual friends with the Sulus since they’d first opened the restaurant on the corner near his apartment building. He’d dined there many times, though, admittedly not recently. One of his last lovers was fond of the place and though Jim didn’t completely associate the Asian fusion place with that particular idiot, there was a small part of him that had been mostly avoiding the place.
He approached the register and grabbed one of the paper to go menus to take a look.
“Been a while since you’ve been in,” Ben remarked.
“Yeah.” Jim grinned sheepishly. “You know, uh, Allie liked this place, and well.”
Ben nodded. “Glad to see you.”
“You got a guy named Spock working for you?”
“You missed him too. Gave his notice yesterday. He was looking to get hired at the Science Institute. Guess he did.” Ben eyed Jim. “Friend of yours?”
“My neighbor. Fairly new.” Jim leaned on the counter. “Wondered what your impression of him was.”
“Good worker. Kept to himself. Had an odd thing where he always insisted on wearing a headband.”
Jim nodded. “He has pointy ears.”
“Does he?”
“Yeah, into that kind of thing, I guess.”
Ben shrugged. “All I know is he was a hard worker, very polite, and this was a temporary job for him. Is he a problem neighbor?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that.” Jim smiled. “I, you know, kind of like him.”
“Oh.” Ben smiled. “Gotcha. I wish I could offer more intel on him then, but I don’t know much. He was here for only a very short time.”
Jim returned his smile and then glanced at the menu. “I’ll have the chicken rice bowl to go, please.”
Ben rang up the purchase. “Thirteen dollars and nine cents.”
Jim handed him his debit card.
A few minutes later, Ben was handing him a to go back with his rice bowl in it and Jim left the restaurant.
He was glad Spock got his job. But he’d been hoping to see him as he hadn’t run into him in the hallway of their building lately.
Jim wasn’t quite sure if he should impose on Spock again like he had the night he’d brought home a pizza.
But on the other hand, in a couple of days he was leaving to see his family in Napa. Jim just didn’t know what to do.
Which meant of course, he did nothing.
No sign of his neighbor in the hallway and no sounds coming from the apartment, so Jim went to his, chicken rice bowl in hand, and spent another night alone, wondering.

April 05, 2022 Flash

And Totally Modern Jim continues

Jim slid into the bench of the booth to sit across from his friend, Nyota Uhura. The restaurant she’d chosen was pretty bland and not his favorite. Hugo’s Health Food Restaurant.

“To think we could have gone for Asian fusion.”

Nyota wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like fusion. And besides you know I have to be careful. I can’t have dairy or gluten.”

“Or anything good,” he mumbled.

She snorted. “You’ll survive missing a cheeseburger once in a while.” She paused to glance briefly at the menu, but then she put it down just as fast. “So, what do you think?”

Jim knew what she wanted but he liked to make her ask for it.

“About?”

“Montgomery Scott. Is he…”

“I met a weird guy.”

“Everyone you meet is weird. Can we just—”

The waitress arrived at their table. “Something to drink?”

“Coffee?” Jim asked hopefully.

“Sorry, honey. We don’t serve coffee.”

Nyota smirked. “We’ll have a pot of cranberry tea, Doris. And thank you.”

“Cranberry tea.” Jim sighed. “He was weirder than most.”

“Can we get back to my problem?”

“So Scott’s a problem?” Jim was amused.

“You know what I mean,”

“Contrary to popular opinion, I do not have gaydar.”

“Jim—”

“But no, he’s totally straight. And into you.”

She looked hopeful. “Yeah?”

The waitress arrived with their pot of bloody red tea. Okay not bloody red, but it was pinkish nevertheless and wholly unappetizing. Come to think of it, Jim knew a lot of weirdos.

 “I’m pretty sure.”

She made a face. “Why hasn’t he asked me out then?”

“Because guys like that think girls like you are off limits to them. That you wouldn’t be interested in him.”

“Why not?”

Jim shrugged. “Probably because you prance around acting like you’re God’s gift to men.”

Nyota gave him a look. Sniffed. “I am.”

He laughed. “And that’s why he hasn’t asked you. Scotty’s an average guy. He thinks you’re out of his league. If you want to get something started, Ny, you’re going to have to ask him.”

“Fine.”

She poured them each a cup of the tea and Jim took a tentative sip.

“It’s as bad as I thought it would be.” He glanced at the menu. “What can I get here that won’t make grass grow on my chest or something?”

“They do have a veggie burger on a gluten free bun.”

“Swell.” But when the waitress came, that’s what he ordered.

She leaned her chin on her hand. “So tell me about the weird guy. Who is he?”

“He lives next door. He dresses pretty strange. Like a Tibetan monk or something. Some of the time, anyway.”

“Like what the Dalai Lama wears?”

Jim frowned. “No, no. More like, uh, I guess a Franciscan monk. Like Friar Tuck from Robin Hood. But sometimes he just wears regular pants and a sweater with a hoodie.”

She looked amused. “Are you stalking him? You know an awful lot about his wardrobe.”

“Of course not. But he lives next door. He also has pointy ears.”

“Pointy ears?”

“Like Legolas.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “Like a Lord of the Rings fanatic. Just like wears fake ones all the time?”

“I think his are real.”

She snorted. “All right, you’re right, he’s weird.”

“Thing is, I kinda like him. He’s trying to get a teaching job at the Science Institute.”

“You like everyone.” She patted his head. “Honey, you aren’t always the best judge of character as far as relationships go.”

“What?”

“Gary.”

“Asshole.”

“Ruth.”

“Bitch.”

She laughed. “You’re making my point for me. Just, you know, be careful with this pointy eared dude. What’s his name?”

“Spock.”

“Spock what?”

“Just Spock.”

She snorted again. “Be really careful, Jim.”

He sighed. “Yeah.”

April 04, 2022 Flash

AKA Totally Modern Jim

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

For a long time, the Human who’d introduced himself as Jim just looked at Spock. There was no fear on his face nor even open curiosity. His expression was simply blank. He rivaled any trained Vulcan Spock had known.

When the silence stretched on, Spock finally spoke.

“You do not seem surprised.”

“Well. I’m not sure exactly where Vulcan is,” Jim said honestly. He really was quite a handsome man. “Is it part of another country?”

Ah, that explained it.

“Do you not see my ears?”

Jim nodded. “Cosplay?”

“Cosplay?”

“Uh-huh. Like for an elf. Lord of the Rings I’m guessing. You just come from a convention?”

Spock frowned. “I am not an elf. My ears are…real.”

Jim cocked his head. “Plastic surgery? It’s cool. Whatever gets your goat.”

“Gets my…”

Jim smiled then. It was an appealing smile. “So not a monk?”

“I am not.”

Jim opened the pizza box. “You have any paper plates?”

“They are wasteful.”

“That a no?”

“It is, yes.” Spock gestured to his dining room table. “Perhaps we’d better sit down.”

Jim moved to do just that as Spock got out two non-paper plates from the apartment’s cupboard. He also poured himself a small cup of Sake.

“Do you wish a glass for your malt beverage?”

Those plump lips curved. “I’m good.”

Spock brought his Sake to the table and took the offered plate from Jim with a slice of pizza.

In truth, since his unexpected arrival there, Spock was not in the habit of explaining his appearance. Both in theory and physical. Most Humans would have trouble believing anyway. So Spock was uncertain what cause himself to lower the hood to expose his ears.

In general when leaving his apartment, Spock wore a hat or hood to cover his nonconformity.

“New here huh?”

“I have recently come to occupy this apartment, yes.”

He had been stranded on Earth for several months now, but found it necessary to leave the first place he stayed.

“I resided on the Eastern side of town until recently.”

“Rent increase?”

Actually, the warehouse he had been hiding in had been demolished.

“Something like that.”

“What do you do?” Jim asked. “Like I said before, I’m a teacher. I teach physics. Full name is Jim Kirk.”

Spock nodded. “As it happens, I am looking to get a position as a teacher myself at the Science Institute. I have interviewed and expect a decision at any time. In the meantime, I am waiting tables at an Asian Fusion restaurant on the corner.”

“Oh, yeah, I know that place. Good food. So are you a scientist?”

“Correct.”

“Cool. I’m glad we have so much in common. What’s your name?”

“As I said, Spock.”

“No, I mean, your whole name.”

“Spock.”

“Oh. Okay. Like Cher or Bono. Gotcha.”

Spock did not know what Jim got but he let it pass.

After he finished a couple of slices of pizza and his cup of Sake, Spock waited for Jim to decide to leave. He liked Jim and didn’t mind the company, but he hadn’t failed to notice several yawns from the Human.

“Sorry, long week. And my dad’s in the hospital, so a bit stressful.”

“I am sorry to hear it. Is he gravely il?”

“Not anymore. He had bypass surgery though. I’m going to drive out there to see them next week.”

“Where is out there?”

Jim laughed and it was a pleasing sound. Not that Spock could get close to Jim. Or anyone. His main goal was to return to where he came from. If that was possible.

“Originally Iowa. Riverside. But we moved away from there a few years back. The family unit now lives in Napa. My dad has a small vineyard. Sam helps him run it.” Jim smiled. “Sam’s my older brother. And now I’m babbling my life story. It’s just…you’re really easy to talk to.” Jim stood then and picked up his empty pizza box. Spock noted he had eaten quite a bit of it.

“I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. I hope to see you again, Spock. It was nice to meet you.”

“It was nice to meet you as well, Jim.”     

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