boldygoing | Hanukkah Sameach

Entry tags:

hunter,
ic

Hanukkah Sameach

It's well after the ship's designated 'sunset' when Jim arrives back at his quarters, fresh from the menorah lighting in the rec room and carrying a tray with a double portion of dinner. Synthesized sufganiyot aren't exactly the same as you'd get from a bakery, but they're close enough, stuffed with raspberry jam and serving as a perfectly fine dessert to accompany veggie pizza, potato latkes with applesauce, and cheese-stuffed mushrooms.

Zunar is waiting at the door when it slides open, meowing his welcome to the captain and winding around his ankles as he heads for the table in the sitting area, already set with two plates and sets of silverware, and a smaller menorah just waiting to be lit. And hidden behind one of the cushions on his small couch, there's a small box wrapped in blue and silver paper.

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As customary before he shows up in Jim's quarter, Hunter sends a text to make sure the coast is clear before he shows up.

He arrives dressed casually, holding a box wrapped in simple black paper, and topped with a gold ribbon and bow.

"Hey handsome."

Zunar chirps a greeting to Hunter, quickly trotting over to rub up against his leg. Jim smiles over at his boyfriend, a familiar face around these parts lately. An even more familiar face, now. Part of Jim will miss the way Hunter used to look, but not by much; this one is the face of the man he's spent the better part of two years with, and he's missed it far more.

"Hey, gorgeous. I hope you're hungry." Last year, he hadn't been in the right place to appreciate the fried feast that comes with the holiday, still fighting his way out of bad memories dragging him down. But that was last year. He's making an effort to leave that shit where it belongs, and focus on what he's got right now.

Hunter sets down his gift, and digs in his pocket to find a little cat toy, with a little bow on it. And winks at Zunar. He didn't forget the kneazle.

He smiles at the welcome. It is nice to hear such a compliment, especially after his appearance had changed so drastically, and back, in six short months.

"I am. What do we have on the menu tonight?"

Ooh, a present. Zunar purrs happily and bats a paw at the offering, eager to poke at it close up. You're the best, Hunter.

Jim gestures for Hunter to make himself comfortable, while he doles out the food. "Mozzarella-herb mushrooms, latkes and applesauce... the pizza's all veggie, it's peppers, olives, and diced tomato. And the synthesizers made passable sufganiyot this year. Almost tastes like they're actually fried." Okay, so he sampled the goods on his way back from the rec room, but that's just because he wanted to make sure Hunter would like them. It's hard to mess up doughnuts, but he's seen it happen.

Half of the fun for Zunar will be the ribbon tied to the gift. (And it will hopefully keep him away from Jim's gift).

Hunter surveys the whole table with a smile. "This looks good. Did you have a good celebration with the rest of the crew?"

"Yeah, it was all right. I didn't mess up the blessings or anything," he adds, a little relieved that there's enough volunteers to light candles on the other seven nights. "Can't remember half the songs though. I swear they've added new ones since I was a kid."

With the food situated, all that's left is the drinks, and Jim pours them each a glass of blackberry wine to go with the meal. "How's your day been?" It's all so relaxed and casual, it's almost strange. They haven't been on any kind of real date for... a year, maybe? And then there was what happened last summer. But maybe it's because Hunter's been here, almost every night, for more than a month now that Jim doesn't feel that nervous about all this. Just worried that Hunter won't like his present, which he knows is a ridiculous thing to be concerned about.

"It was good. I feel better about going into the Nexus again." Hunter was hesitant for a while. "But it helps to know that I have friends who are there for me."

"And I am glad to get my market table up again, just in time for Christmas."

Jim wasn't exactly a fan of Hunter going back to the Nexus without him either. Having Caspar around to keep an eye on him helps, though; he doesn't know the Cylon very well but he's capable and Adia trusts him, so that's good enough.

"I bet business is booming." The small talk over dinner is comfortable, normal, just the two of them save for the small scuffling sounds of a kneazle wrestling with his new toy underneath the table.

The only way to face his fear was to go back. And having Caspar around helped.

"So far, everyone has liked my new series of jewelry, the ones that I had themed after the Seven Sisters." Hunter honors the Sisters in his artwork.

"You think I could somehow give you a few extra presents to put under the Enterprise tree? Small little extras for your crew?" He doesn't want people to get too suspicious.

Hunter wanting to give gifts to his crew comes as little surprise, and it puts a small smile on Jim's face. "We could probably get away with it this year. If anyone asks, I packed 'em with my stuff before we left Earth." Though Jim has a feeling most (all?) of Hunter's presents are intended for crew that know better already.

"I do have specific gifts for the senior crew who knew about me. But I made some little Santa ornaments for everyone on ship." Yes. That is a lot of ornaments. But the Santas were quite easy to make.

"And of course... you don't have to wait for your gift." Hunter winks.

Okay, Jim wasn't expecting that, and his eyebrows fly up. "You made over four hundred ornaments?" That's a hell of a lot of work, for a lot of people he hasn't even met. Touching, but wow. That must've taken a huge chunk of his time.

He takes the teasing in stride, giving Hunter a playful nudge with his elbow. "C'mon, the anticipation's part of the fun." No presents until after dinner, Hunter, so eat your vegetables.

Small talk continues as they work their way through the meal, with a couple interruptions where Zunar demands tribute and is rewarded with bits of pizza crust and a bite of Jim's latke. Once they're through eating, Jim lights the menorah on the table, and digs the little wrapped giftbox out from behind the couch cushion.

"I actually made over one thousand ornaments. I have some being sold at my market table." Hunter grins. "Once I got into a routine... it was easy to complete."

Hunter will gladly finish everything on his plate. Everything is so delicious.

He watches Jim light the menorah, and smiles at the sight of the gift. He exchanges his gift-wrapped box for Jim, for the one the other man offers.

"Who should go first?"

Jim has no idea if there's supposed to be some kind of gift-opening protocol here; he's never really had much of a reason to do a straight gift swap before. Nobody he would've wanted to swap with, either.

"Same time?" he suggests, and while he's curious as hell what Hunter got for him, he's oddly more eager to see if Hunter likes his own gift.

"Deal." Hunter grins.

Inside of his package is a beautifully hand-made pottery bowl, one that doesn't have Hunter's signature style. And inside the bowl are thousands of tiny little notes, in different colors.

Jim's gift to Hunter is a piece of jewelry, a pendant with a familiar constellation captured under glass. There's a notched moveable ring around the outside edge, and when Hunter rotates it, it projects a small detailed hologram of each individual star, one for every notch, starting with Merope.

He keeps an eye on Hunter for his reaction as he examines the bowl, investigating the little colored notes.

Hunter is awed by the pendant. And he spends some time rotating the detailed hologram, to stare at each star with interest. He is really touched at how it starts with Merope.

It is like having a little piece of Kendra back in his life.

Is there a little tear in his eye? Definitely.

"Jim. This is amazing." He looks up at his boyfriend.

Even though he had nothing to worry about, Jim is still relieved that Hunter likes the gift, and he reaches over to give his boyfriend's hand a squeeze. "Now you can have her with you wherever you go."

"Thank you..." He runs his hands over the pendant again, rotating the holograms until it returns to Merope.

"Can you help me put it on?"

"Sure." Jim undoes the clasp, and settles the pendant around Hunter's neck, its weight settling over the other man's breastbone. He steals a kiss while he's there, his arms around Hunter to fasten the chain.

Hunter sighs contently as the weight of the pendant settles over his breastbone. He grins at him, placing his arms around the other man. Just one stolen kiss? No... let's have a few.

It has been such a long time since they were just able to be together. To express such feelings. It feels new again.

He might've known he wasn't getting away with just one so easily, but Jim isn't protesting, sliding his hands up Hunter's back. He kinda misses getting to run his fingers through Hunter's hair, a little, but seeing Hunter comfortable in his own skin again is worth it.

Jim almost starts to trace one of lines of ink on the other man's cheekbone when a curious mrrp? catches his attention, and he looks down to see Zunar peering curiously into the gilded bowl.

Hunter sighs contently again at the sensation of Jim's fingers tracing the lines of ink on his face. And then he chuckles at Zunar staring at himself in the gilded bowl.

"Do you see your reflection little one?" He grins.

"Mow," Zunar replies, tail swishing as he pokes a paw into the bowl. Is this for sits? It's so pretty. Surely it needs a cat to make it even better.

"C'mere, you little rascal." Jim grabs both kneazle and bowl, setting the cat in between the two of them where he can stretch out and purr against their legs. The bowl gets set on his lap, where he can get a better look at the notes without curious paws getting in the way. "I'm guessing there's a story here?" he asks, raising his eyebrows at Hunter.

Cats make everything better. Of course.

Hunter grins at the sensation of the Kneazle purring against their legs. He leans his head on Jim's shoulders.

"Have you ever heard of Inspiration Jars? This is an Inspiration Bowl. If you ever find yourself in need of inspiration... take a note. And hopeful it will guide you."

Jim's not familiar with the idea, but it's not a hard one to get his head around. "I think you've got enough of 'em here that you've got all my bases covered," he says with a little laugh, and steals another kiss. "Thanks, Hunter."

"The notes don't have to stay in the bowl." Hunter grins down at Zunar. "Just in casea certain kneazle wants it to be his new bed."

Zunar slowly blinks up at him. But the paper is the best part! So crinkly.

"I'll let you play with the ones I've used already, how's that?" Jim offers, lightly scratching at the kneazle's ears, and he's answered with a purr.

It is nice to have this closeness with Jim again. To be able to come to his quarters every night. And rekindle their relationship.

Hunter has moved slow. Not rushing back into a sexual intimacy too soon. Mostly because for the last few months he was in a body not his own. Then right before Halloween, Jim needed someone to hold when the nightmares filled his head. And after Halloween, Hunter was getting used to his own face again, and had his own sorrows to deal with.

But tonight?

Hunter smiles. "There is a little game you can play. Don't know if this is still around or not..."

He pulls out an inspirational quote. And reads it. "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop...."

Then turns to Jim, with another smile. "...In Bed." And kisses the other man deeply. He is ready to rekindle that part of their relationship again. If Jim is.

They've each spent their fair share of time waiting for the other, over the past few months. Even further back, if Jim's honest about it. And sure, he isn't quite sure what Hunter's getting at, at first, but he's always been a fast learner.

And once the kiss comes to an end, he smiles at Hunter and says, "Then I guess we'd better get started."

[I think this is a good spot to wrap up. :) ]

[Perfect spot <3]

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Hanukkah Sameach

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