A Week of Secundus Christmas, Day Two: Lights
I used to have a mild obsession with not letting Doc put up Christmas lights successfully. All three of these scenarios are ones I've played out with other Docs at different times. Secundus Doc loves being on the cutting edge of technology in his chosen city, but after this he's probably going to go back to candles.
“All right, Marty, switch on the generator!”
Doc, Victor, and Alice waited eagerly outside Dr. E. Brown’s 24-Hour Scientific Services as Marty disappeared around the side of the building. Doc had recently gotten a string of electric lights and was eager to show them off. “This is exciting,” Victor commented, examining the wire and the little flame-shaped bulbs attached to it. “How do they work?”
“Oh, it’s a pretty simple design – each bulb contains some wire and a special gas, which, when activated via electrical current, makes the bulb glow. More precisely, the bulb contains a wire called a filament, which–”
Doc broke off from his explanation as he noticed the lights were still off. “Marty! Is something wrong with the generator?” he called.
“No! It’s running fine, Doc!” Marty called back over the hum of the machine.
Doc arched an eyebrow at the dark lights. “Huh. Turn it off, kid, it appears we have an issue. Victor, Alice, care to lend a hand?”
***
“Switch on the generator!”
There was a grinding noise, then a growing hum as the generator came up to speed. Victor took Alice’s hand as they waited for the moment when –
“Oh!”
“Ack!”
“Great Scott!”
Victor hurriedly slipped his ever-present goggles over his eyes, shrouding the world in dark green. “They’re – r-rather bright, aren’t they?” he said, still squinting a little. Beside him, Alice had her eyes tightly closed to avoid being temporarily blinded.
“Yes, they are,” Doc agreed, shading his eyes against the light. “I really don’t think – Marty! What speed is the generator–”
A series of little “pops” was heard, and the bulbs went dark again. Doc groaned. “Please do not tell me we just ruined them all. . . .”
***
“Oh, now that’s nice,” Victor said, smiling at the new light display. “And in such nice colors too!”
“Mmmm.”
Victor, Alice, and Marty looked over at Doc, who was scowling at the new strand of lights. “What is it, Doc?” Marty said tiredly.
“They’re still not working.”
“They look fine to me,” Alice said, looking back at them. “I rather like the way they keep blinking on and off.”
“They’re not supposed to do that.”
“Oh.”
Marty threw up his hands. “I can’t give a shit, Doc. I’m just happy they’re lit and not burning our eyes out. I’m freezing out here.”
“Me too,” Doc allowed with a sigh. “It’ll have to do. Come on, folks, let’s get some hot chocolate.”
Doc, Victor, and Alice waited eagerly outside Dr. E. Brown’s 24-Hour Scientific Services as Marty disappeared around the side of the building. Doc had recently gotten a string of electric lights and was eager to show them off. “This is exciting,” Victor commented, examining the wire and the little flame-shaped bulbs attached to it. “How do they work?”
“Oh, it’s a pretty simple design – each bulb contains some wire and a special gas, which, when activated via electrical current, makes the bulb glow. More precisely, the bulb contains a wire called a filament, which–”
Doc broke off from his explanation as he noticed the lights were still off. “Marty! Is something wrong with the generator?” he called.
“No! It’s running fine, Doc!” Marty called back over the hum of the machine.
Doc arched an eyebrow at the dark lights. “Huh. Turn it off, kid, it appears we have an issue. Victor, Alice, care to lend a hand?”
***
“Switch on the generator!”
There was a grinding noise, then a growing hum as the generator came up to speed. Victor took Alice’s hand as they waited for the moment when –
“Oh!”
“Ack!”
“Great Scott!”
Victor hurriedly slipped his ever-present goggles over his eyes, shrouding the world in dark green. “They’re – r-rather bright, aren’t they?” he said, still squinting a little. Beside him, Alice had her eyes tightly closed to avoid being temporarily blinded.
“Yes, they are,” Doc agreed, shading his eyes against the light. “I really don’t think – Marty! What speed is the generator–”
A series of little “pops” was heard, and the bulbs went dark again. Doc groaned. “Please do not tell me we just ruined them all. . . .”
***
“Oh, now that’s nice,” Victor said, smiling at the new light display. “And in such nice colors too!”
“Mmmm.”
Victor, Alice, and Marty looked over at Doc, who was scowling at the new strand of lights. “What is it, Doc?” Marty said tiredly.
“They’re still not working.”
“They look fine to me,” Alice said, looking back at them. “I rather like the way they keep blinking on and off.”
“They’re not supposed to do that.”
“Oh.”
Marty threw up his hands. “I can’t give a shit, Doc. I’m just happy they’re lit and not burning our eyes out. I’m freezing out here.”
“Me too,” Doc allowed with a sigh. “It’ll have to do. Come on, folks, let’s get some hot chocolate.”