I kind of switched the premise of the story from 100 themes, to the 30 day OTP challenge, just because it gives better prompts. Lazy is me.

Rating: K

Tags: Kirk/Spock friendship, Wii, shitty pseudo-science, Spock sucks at Mario, Jim's a giant nerd

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek, or Mario Bros. Or Wii. Or Nintendo. Basically anything you recognize is not mine. I'm just playing with stuff.

Carry on.


"I am sorry, Captain-"

"Jim, it's Jim remember?"

"Very well. Jim. However I still fail to understand why you choose this form of primitive entertainment..."

Jim slammed the white controller in his right hand down onto the table, cutting Spock off. In front of him was an old-fashioned flat-screened television from the 21st century, complete with a "Blue-way" (or whatever) player, and Jim's crowning achievement of all time and space.

A Wii.

Yes, James Tiberius Kirk managed to actually track down a real working Wii. Sure, it was a little bit scratched up, but he'd dropped it by Scotty two weeks ago, and he'd had it up and running in no time. The ancient console had come in a box, with remotes, and six games in their packages. How someone had managed to keep it this long and not be forced to donate it to a museum was ridiculously amazing to Jim, but he didn't really care about the logistics of it. All he cared about was actually using it. That, and rubbing it into other people's faces.

"It's not primitive, Spock, it's Mario." The Vulcan seemed unimpressed. "You know... trailblazer of all arcade games to follow it? Started as a big giant gaming console in the eighties? Well, 1980s." Spock merely raised an eyebrow. Jim huffed.

"At least hear me out?"

"I am raising no objections." Jim grinned. He hopped off the bed and plopped down in front of the entertainment center, so very different from anything in the 23rd century. Of course, Starfleet had refused to let it be set up in Jim's quarters, for reasons completely unknown to the Captain. But they had allowed him to use an old room off of the engineering wing, and Jim had settled. At least then Scotty would be nearby is something caught fire.

After fiddling with the buttons, and trying valiantly to remember what his Chief Engineer had advised, the television screen suddenly flared to life, and vivid colors danced across the screen. Jim grinned again, hugely.

"Now this is kicking it old school!" he crowed. The Wii remotes (or Wii-motes- how clever) worked by locking onto a sensor that Scotty had placed above the television. A few pieces of the original parts and instructions had to be improvised. There was simply no 21st to 23rd century tech conversion sometimes. Shame.

Jim picked up his own remote, and leaned back against the regulation couch they had salvaged from someone's unused quarters. He patted the seat beside him.

"Join me?" he asked. If Spock was anything less than a Vulcan, he might have rolled his eyes. But Spock was just that, so he managed to abstain. Jim was thankful.

"Okay, so basically you point the remote in the general direction of that," he gestured at the sensor, and Spock nodded, "and then you use it to control whatever's on the screen. Usually a character. They're called Miis! I made some for a few of our friends." Spock looked surprised.

"When did you find the time to design such... Miis?" he inquired. Jim flapped a hand.

"Just, like... I dunno, I spent a few hours in here when I should've been sleeping. It's no big deal. Oh look, there's you!" Jim pointed excitedly at the screen again, and sure enough, a group of tiny cartoonized versions of the crew appeared in a virtual plaza on the screen. Spock looked intrigued.

Then he said, "Stereotypical, Captain." Jim looked at the tiny Spock that he'd put together.

"What do you mean, he looks just like you!" It was true. The character was taller than the others, and wore a blue shirt. It's hair was a pixelated bowl cut, and it looked eternally annoyed. Spock conceded.

Minutes passed as Jim booted up the historic arcade game. In the meantime, he managed to accurately describe the general rules, and how not to die immediately. He'd had sufficient time to research, and several hours to play it before, so he figured he was qualified to teach. Spock remained skeptical.

"Cap- Jim," Spock began, as Jim handed him the second remote, "I am comfortably sure that I possess the fine motor skills required to 'not die,' as you put it. You may begin the simulation."

"Game," Jim huffed quietly, "It's a game." But he did press play.

Hilariously enough, and Jim was certain that he would hang on to the memory for as long as he lived, Spock really wasn't good at Mario. Jim resolutely refused to laugh as his 2nd in Command repeatedly lost lives over silly things like the Skoopa, or forgetting to jump. But it was getting harder, as every time if happened, Spock's face darkened.

When Spock ended up losing his last life a few minutes later, Jim lost it completely.

"I do not understand. What happened?" Spock asked, sounding frustrated. He set his controller down harder than necessary. Jim cackled unabashedly.

"I actually beat you at something. That's what happened!"

"Is the game over?"

"Yep, I won!" Jim patted his first officer on the shoulder. "Valiant effort though." Spock sat up straighter, and sniffed.

"I still do not see any logical purpose for playing such a game," he stated flatly. Jim chuckled again.

"It's fun! Don't be a sore loser, Mr. Spock!"

"I," Spock started, and then revised. "I am sure that with time, I would improve far beyond your skill level, Captain. Given my superior Vulcan reflexes, and-" Jim held up a hand to stop him.

"I get it. You want a rematch. Nothing to be ashamed of," Jim pointed at the screen with the remote again. "Ready any time you are."

Spock didn't say anything, just gave his Captain a long dark stare.

And then picked up his controller.


Weeeeell, that was fun. And much longer than originally anticipated. Prepare for unpredictable chapter lengths. Thanks for reading!