The living room smelled faintly of pine, the tree standing tall in the corner, its branches still bare except for a string of half-hung lights. Dave stood on a stool, untangling another strand with a look of intense concentration, his tongue poking out slightly.

"Are you sure this is how it’s supposed to go?" he asked, glancing down at you. "Because I’m pretty sure I’ve created the world’s first knot-powered Christmas tree."

You smirked, holding up a box of ornaments. "It’s a work in progress. Besides, it’s not like you’re aiming for perfection, right?"

"Uh, perfection is kind of the goal," Dave shot back, mock-offended. He stepped down, holding up the now untangled lights triumphantly. "See? This is why they call me a hero."