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

[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?

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"That would be bloody amazing, Nick... I... I would really like that" Connor said with a sincere smile. "It would be amazing to get to do that, especially with you."

And no, no problems with long term plans at all.

[itsananomaly]

"Then I'll have a look and see what digs the university is doing in the summer and see which one works best for us and make arrangements to get us on the dig," Cutter smiled warmly at that, "I would love to be able to go on a dig with you, it's been a while since I last went on one and being able to share this experience with you ... I would really love to do this," he started to go a little red.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Can't think of a better way to spend the summer- traveling someplace special, getting to do something amazing like that... with you..." Connor smiled. "Even if it doesn't count towards uni or anything, I would really like to share that experience with you too, Nick." he said with a warm smile, his own face going a little red at that too.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled happily at that, “I can’t think of a better way to spend the summer,” he grinned and then after a moments hesitation he wrapped his arms around Connor tightly, “it will be perfect, getting to go on a dig somewhere, you can experience your first dig, going to the fossil lab will be a massive help for that, you’ll learn about some of the techniques that we use when we’re on a dig,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor blinked in surprise at the sudden hug for a second but then returned it firmly with a smile of his own.

"Let's get to that lab then" he said, hugging Cutter tightly. "I can't wait!"

[itsananomaly]

“Let’s” Cutter agreed happily, holding on as tight as he could, “it will be incredible to watch, I’m looking forward to it,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor grinned and reluctantly let go, grabbing Cutter's hand in his with a warm smile and lead them on their way.

It didn't take long until they reached their destination and Connor stood there in stunned amazement, just trying to take it all in. He had never seen anything like this before and it was his turn to gawk and stare.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled as he watched Connor’s expression while he took it in, “what they’re doing now is removing the limestone from the fossils,” he explained in a low voice, “prior to being taken here, they use a chemical called paraloid, which helps soften the limestone and then it will also protect the fossils from the acid that they use to clean it,” he whispered in a low voice as he began to explain the process that they were using to clean the fossils.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor really was in full student mode at that point, listening and watching what was going on, trying to take it all in. This was something he had always found fascinating and being able to see it, and learn about it like this, he couldn't keep the broad grin off of his face.

"I always wondered how they got the rock and all off without damaging the bones and breaking them in the process."