Baltimore, Maryland - Thursday Lunchtime

[itsananomaly]

Since Becker’s birthday was at the end of June, Connor and Cutter had decided to arrange a special birthday lunch for him and take him to one of the local museums on the mainland and show him their neck of the woods. Plus it was a nice way for both of them to spend time with Becker, since they hadn’t really done that lately with everything going on and since Cutter had gone on his camping trip with Becker the other week.

They were meeting for lunch first, Cutter had been able to print the photo of Becker licking the rock while fossil hunting on their trip and he’d made sure his shirt from shenanigans had been thoroughly cleaned and dried so that he could give it to Becker as well.

“So how are you liking Baltimore so far?” Cutter smiled as they sat at their table.

[for Connor and their guest. Up early for timezones. NFB for distance!]

Comments

[itsananomaly]

"It wasn't easy," Cutter admitted, "I wanted you to stay over longer but James wouldn't budge ... he only wanted you to come over for the day but I was able to eventually talk him into the overnight stay, it's definitely the least we could do after everything you've done for us,"

He smiled, "I would imagine the ARC is probably falling apart without you right now and James is cursing me,"

[thearcfamily]

"Someone has to keep the place in order and on track" Becker said with a laugh. "But it is good to get a break. I haven't been to the states but a handful of times with my training, and then it was all business and training and missions. So this... is a nice change of pace for sure." Becker took another sip of his drink then picked up the menu and flipped through it. "So any recommendations or are we all going into this adventure blind?" he asked with a grin.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter grinned, "well hopefully we can get as many activities in during this trip and you can get a good feel for the area," he said as he picked up the menu to have a look, "and hopefully James will let you come and visit Fandom for Parents Weekend this year,"

He glanced down at the menu, "Going into this adventure blind could be fun," Cutter considered as he looked at the options, "see anything that catches your eye?" he looked at Becker and Connor.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I think we should get some starters to start with for sure" Connor said with a nod and he looked over the options. "Ever had Octopus before, Becker?"

"Like Octopus? The weird eight-armed swimming thing?" Becker kinda blinked as he looked at Cutter and Connor. "People actually eat Octopus?"

[itsananomaly]

"Oh Octopus is amazing," Cutter smiled, "I haven't had that in ages, I think you'd also really like the shrimp as well Becker," he added, "I don't think you can really go wrong with seafood,"

Well aside from the prices but then that's where Lester's credit card was going to come in handy.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Oh definitely. And could always get the bread also to go with it. Be a nice start off to everything" Connor said with a nod.

"That sounds really good actually" Becker said with a grin. "Think we are good with the appetizers and the start of a great day" Becker added with a lift of his glass.

[itsananomaly]

"I think that's a plan then," Cutter grinned as he raised his glass in a toast, "happy birthday Becker, I hope you really have a good time here for your birthday,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Hear hear" Connor said with a raise of the drink he had in hand. "This is all about you Becker. Your wish is our command!"

"Oh you better be careful saying something like that!" Becker said with a laugh as he toasted them both. "You may come to regret letting me have that kind of freedom!"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter couldn't help but laugh at that as he raised his glass and then took a sip, "well after everything you've done for us Becker, it's only fair that we bow to your every whim for your special day,"

[thearcfamily]

Becker smiled once the first round of food came out and gave a warm smile to Cutter and Connor. "Well I have no complaints so far- just please no embarrassing public displays" Becker said. "Ya know, no happy birthdays from the staff or anything like that" he said with a somewhat pleading look in his eyes.

[itsananomaly]

“Well there goes that plan,” Cutter tried to keep a straight face as he looked over at Connor with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, “should we go and tell the staff to not start singing happy birthday than Connor?” he was joking but he couldn’t help but troll Becker just then.

[thearcfamily]

"Oh please do" Becker said for once in his life sounding like he might even be ready to beg them not to make a big fuss with everything.

"I... I've never been good with all the attention and everything that comes with it" he admitted somewhat shyly.

[itsananomaly]

"You have nothing to worry about," Cutter assured him, at least until he started opening the presents he and Connor had gotten him at least, "this is your birthday and we want you to have a good time, you don't have to worry about a lot of attention," he added.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"We're going to make sure you have the best time while you are here" Connor said with a nod. "This is just the start. Our plan is to make this the best, or one of the best birthdays, you have ever had!"

[itsananomaly]

"Absolutely," Cutter agreed, "this is all about you Becker, you don't have to worry about anything at all while you're here, we're going to take care of everything, all you have to do is sit back and relax and enjoy yourself,"

[thearcfamily]

Becker nodded with a toast of his drink and a nod toward the food. "Well I think the best place to start is with this amazing-looking food!"

And with that Becker tried one of the shrimp and with a mouth full and a smile on his face he gave them a big thumbs up.

[itsananomaly]

"I'm definitely looking forward to this," Cutter grinned, with a raise of his own glass and he eyed the octopus and decided to start with that and took a bite, "okay the seafood here is amazing," he declared.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

And in classic fashion, Connor couldn't decide where to start so he grabbed a piece of shrimp and a piece of octopus and dug in. It might be Becker's birthday celebration but he was not going to let the good food, so very generously paid for by Lester, go to waste!

"Honestly...." Connor said between bites. "I'd be worried if they had bad seafood.... considering how accessible it is here!"

[itsananomaly]

They couldn't let that food go to waste, Lester was paying for good quality food here.

"That's true," Cutter grinned as he helped himself to some shrimp and another piece of octopus, "and that's another good thing you'll find out here Becker, the food out here is really amazing,"

[thearcfamily]

"You guys know that now I am going to have to find a place back home to try and get fresh seafood and all right" Becker asked, trying to feign annoyance though there was a big grin on his face. "Cuz this stuff is amazing! I mean I still appreciate the simple things- like hotdogs and s'mores" he said with a grin as he looked at Cutter. "But this is really really good!"

[itsananomaly]

"Well I'm sure that can be our next mission when we're back in London," Cutter said with a grin, "help you find a good seafood place, I mean nothing can really beat s'mores and hotdogs," he added, "but this is a pretty close second ... or third, I guess," he tilted his head thoughtfully.

[thearcfamily]

"Well at least we are spending the money on good food" Connor offered. "Lester can't be too upset with us for that right?"

"Aye, to Lester!"Becker said as he finished his drink and tried some more of the amazing food. And this was just the appetizers. He was already eyeing one of the main dishes hungrily.

[itsananomaly]

"That is true and we're not just spending it on ourselves," Cutter smiled as he ate several more mouthfuls of delicious food.

"To Lester," he raised his own glass at that toast and had another sip. "What do you think you're going to try to eat next?" he said as he smiled at Becker.

[thearcfamily]

"Well, continuing with the seafood theme, I think I am going to go with the Sea Bass" Becker said hungrily. 'it has been a long while since I have had fish that wasn't battered and fried and served with a plate of chips" he admitted with a laugh. "Maybe a nice glass of wine to finish an amazing meal before we start with the rest of whatever you two have planned?"

[itsananomaly]

"Oh the Sea Bass does look amazing," Cutter smiled as he considered the menu, "the seafood rice doesn't look too bad either," he said, "and we can definitely arrange for a glass of wine,"