Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Sunday

[itsananomaly]

Cutter and Connor had been talking about spending a few days on the mainland, having their first official weekend trip away and they decided that for the first day they were going to visit the National Museum of Natural History. After some searching, Cutter had found a nice hotel for them to stay at, which was courtesy of Lester’s credit card.

They had left Fandom early that morning via a portal, which Cutter was still taking some getting used to but he was getting a lot better about them and after they had dropped off their bags at the hotel, they went to the museum, which Cutter was finding that he was extremely excited about and couldn’t wait to start exploring.

Once they were inside, he looked around excitedly, “where should we start first?” he asked Connor, trying to take in everything and figuring out what direction they should go in.

[for the boyfriend, who is modded with permission and NFB due to distance!]

Comments

[itsananomaly]

Cutter returned the smile and was surprised but rather pleased when Connor pulled him in closer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, he started blushing again.

"And I look forward to answering them," he said, his smile widening.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor grinned as they continued on their way. "Maybe while we are here I'll finally figure out that new major for me to work on?"

[itsananomaly]

"I can help with that, if you'd like," Cutter told him enthusiastically, "did you have any ideas already, maybe we can use some of the exhibits to narrow down the possibilities? And then when we're back in Fandom, we can start drafting the proposal for your new advisor?"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Still really leaning towards the evolutionary science side of things," Connor offered after a moment or two of thought. "Not really sure beyond that? I... I- Its harder now, in a way? I am not just choosing something for myself. Ya know? I... I want to get this right... for us."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded and then after a moments hesitation, reached over to pull Connor into a hug, "well I think I might know a thing or two about the evolutionary science side of it, there's a whole range of subjects that you can choose from, I know how important this is to you and I want to help you as much as I can,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor smiled as he was pulled into the hug, turning a nice shade of red himself as he returned the hug. "I cant do this without you Nick," he said softly. "I want your help... I... I need our help."

[itsananomaly]

“And I’ll be here every step of the way,” Cutter assured him as he kept that embrace going, “I’ll be here to help you, you won’t have to do this alone,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Thank you Nick... I... that means the world to me..." Connor held on tight for a moment longer. "I... I won't let you down!" he said as he finally reluctantly pulled back, giving him a quick kiss again as he did.

[itsananomaly]

“You’re welcome and you could never let me down Connor,” Cutter said gently as he held on to Connor, his blush going deeper as Connor gave him another quick kiss.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Right... ok" Connor said his face still quite red and hot as he smiled at Cutter. "We um... better get off to those fossils..." he said, as much as the idea of just standing there hugging his boyfriend was appealing, he knew PDA wasn't Cutter's thing. "Shall we?" he asked with a grin. Maybe they would be able to get through a good number of the exhibits... maybe. "I think the big cat displays are up first!"

[itsananomaly]

“Oh that will be brilliant,” Cutter smiled happily at Connor, still blushing slightly and he ducked his head a bit. He still wasn’t used to do much pda’s but he was working on it. “I wonder what big cats they’ll have?” he wondered eagerly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well, they have saber-tooths at least" Connor said with a nod as they finally arrived and the first display and gave a nod towards it and grinned broadly, watching Cutter's reaction and excitement.

[itsananomaly]

“Oh isn’t that beautiful?” Cutter gushed as he took in the display and then he lowered his voice in a conspiratorial tone so only Connor could hear, “I think I prefer looking at displays of them to trying to escape from one,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I was just thinking the same thing," Connor said in the same hushed tone. "Lot fewer hazards when they are behind glass like this huh?" he added with a grin as he leaned a little closer to get a good look.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, "they're beautiful creatures but after barely trying to escape from one, I think I'll stick to looking at them from behind the glass," he admitted in the still hushed tone as he moved forward to start examining the display.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Easier to appreciate the differences between the Smilodon species when you aren't worried about some of those features trying to rip your face off," Connor added with a smirk as he walked around the display himself.

[itsananomaly]

"That's very true, I mean look at the size of those incisors," Cutter gushed as he took in the display, "even though this one doesn't seem to have the p3 premolar tooth," he was getting as close as he could to the glass without setting off the security alarm, "most of the later species don't have the p3 premolar, " he added as he took in the Smilodon with wide eyes.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor was barely looking at the display at this point, his attention was fully fixed on Cutter with a broad, admiring grin. Really, he could stand there and watch him gush and fanboy like this all day.

"Is that.... something expected? An evolutionary trait of the later species, or is it just a quick no one really understands yet?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled, “the evidence seems to suggest that that it was common for the early specimens of Smilodon to have the p3 premolar but it wasn’t present in later specimens, in particular the Lujanian and the Rancholabrean didn’t have them at all,” he gushed excitedly, as he took in the display, “I mean the Smilodons only went extinct 10,000 years ago … in terms of general evolutionary history that’s fairly recent,” he grinned.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor just nodded, that smile still plastered on his face, enjoying how much Cutter was already enjoying himself. "Drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things really."

[itsananomaly]

And Cutter hadn’t even gotten to trilobites yet - Connor was going to have a hard time dragging him away from those displays, “evolution is truly remarkable,” he gushed, “to think that there once were big cats roaming North America but that they couldn’t survive against nature, even a creature such as the Smilodon,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Always thought it was really amazing... how sometimes the smallest difference between related species made all the difference" Connor said with a grin. "Longer claws, different teeth, specialized feeding... there were so many things that made a difference in what species survived and which ones did not."

And he would be content to stay at one exhibit all day if it was what Cutter wanted to do- of course seeing more would be nice, but he was not going to complain- they both were enjoying themselves and that is all that mattered.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded as he took in the display a bit longer, "it is truly fascinating to see what species survive and which ones don't, some can live for millions of years and others for thousands," his eyes gleamed at that and then he paused, "I suppose if we want to see other exhibits we should get moving and try and see what else we can find?" he said a bit sheepishly, "did you want to try and head to the fossil lab now while we still have a bit of time?"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Sounds good... we can always circle back around later if we have time" Connor said. "But that fossil lab looked amazing, so definitely want to get over there before we leave. I... I've never been on a dig or anything, so this just sounds absolutely amazing to watch."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled, “you are going to love it,” he said confidently, “you know, if you wanted I could get probably get us a spot on one of the digs that the university sponsors fairly regularly before my sabbatical ends, we could go on one together, depending on what your major ends up being, it would even count towards your degree,”

There was absolutely nothing wrong with planning things this far in advance was there?