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!]

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[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."

[itsananomaly]

“They use acetic acid, which is vinegar,” Cutter explained with a smile, “limestone dissolves - and then there will be carbon dioxide bubbles on the surface,” he nodded at the staff who were working on different fossils, “these fossils have had their limestone dissolved, they use fresh water to flush any calcium salts, these ones are about to have their first clean,” he said excitedly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor listened and watched completely enthralled. At some point he noticed a few people had wandered over and wear watching as well. He couldn't tell if they were just watching the staff at work or if they were also listening to Cutter talk. But it made him smile in any case.

"How long does it take to clean a fossil like that?" he asked with a nod toward one in particular that looked like it was a partial skull from a crocodilian or some similar creature.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter hadn’t even noticed that there seemed to be more people around as he explained the process that they were using in the lab, “once the cleaning process has started, something of that size would take a few hours at least, once they use either the air chisel or the fine tipped drill, it’s very delicate work so they have to be careful when they begin chipping away at the rock, it can easily shatter otherwise, ” he explained as he watched what the staff were doing while they cleaning the fossils.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor nodded again, a grin on his face as he listened.

"And sometimes the actual fossils aren't what is put on display right? They make casts of some of the bones and fossils and display those instead."

[itsananomaly]

“That’s correct,” Cutter smiled warmly as he nodded, “sometimes the fossils are too fragile to put on display, they can be damaged by vibration or with changes in temperature and humidity, so the museums will put casts of the fossils on display and then they will store the actual fossils in a more controlled environment so they can continue their research,” he explained.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"And not every fossil gets completely removed and cleaned up right?" Connor was definitely feeding questions to Cutter at this point, and there were definitely at least a few people hanging around listening to him as well. "Some fossils like trilobites, usually stay encased in the stone they are found in to an extent?" And yes there was a huge grin on his face as he brought up that one fossil type specifically.

[itsananomaly]

Oh you definitely knew a way to a man’s heart Connor and Cutter’s eyes lit up at the mention of Trilobites, and he had started to notice the crowd of people who were listening at this point, “correct again, trilobites often remain in the rock that they are found in … it depends on the type of trilobite that is found … for example lower Cambrian trilobites, you can see the whole specimen if you prepare it in a certain way but most of the time, the trilobite is buried in the rock and is only partially revealed,”

“Cleaning a trilobite can prove to be rather difficult and is not without its set of challenges,” Cutter continued because he was going in full on geek out mode here and yes, maybe he was playing up to the audience who had gathered round at this point, “the rocks themselves can be impossible to penetrate such as the ones in Canadian quarries or they could be found in Russian shales and they can shatter too easily,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

He knew one of several ways to his boyfriends heart. Connor smiled as he listened, absolutely soaking in that smile.

Connor was content to spend the rest of the time they were there just listening to Cutter talk about the things he was most passionate about.

[itsananomaly]

And Cutter was very happy to keep talking, especially once the audience that had gathered round started asking him questions about fossils as well, since they definitely thought he worked here and Cutter really had no problems with correcting them and happily answered all the questions that they were being asked.

He smiled over at Connor as he talked, especially when he got asked a few more questions about Trilobites and the Cambrian Explosion, he was really in his element here.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor stayed where he was but backed up just a little so people could get closer, but he, of course, made sure he could hear everything Cutter was saying. And at some point, he might have even taken out his phone to record a couple of quick videos and snap a few pics of Cutter in action.

This was his first time really seeing him in professor mode, and Connor definitely wanted to remember it!

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was so caught up in his answers that he didn’t notice Connor taking out his phone to record him, as he answered a particularly long and detailed question about what it was like to go on a dig and the process that was involved in what was going on and then someone actually asked him about study pathways and career advices so he happily talked about how someone could go into the evolutionary sciences for a career since he knew that would definitely be helpful for Connor as well, in addition to the information about the dig.

At least he was making up for all those times that he didn’t turn up to his classes?

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Eventually, it dawned on Connor that he probably was going to have to physically start dragging Cutter away before he would stop geeking out over the fossils and all. Giving him a smile and tapping his wrist as he walked over, Connor cleared his throat and face the crowd that had gathered.

"Alright, everyone, ummm... thank you for stopping by. This ah, this concludes the fossil talk for this afternoon" he said as he reached out to grab Cutter's hand and start pulling him away.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter looked very sheepish as the crowd began to disperse and he let himself get dragged away, “sorry got a little carried away there,”

Well it was a little more than carried away Cutter.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Shut up you," Connor said with a fond smile and teasing wink. "You were brilliant, Nick" he said leaning in and kissing his cheek.

[itsananomaly]

And Cutter went bright red at that kiss, “it did feel nice, answering all those questions, I suppose if I’d turn up at my lectures, I would have been able to do that huh?” he said sheepishly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well, if you ever are offering private lectures, I definitely won't turn down the invitation."

And yes he was being impossible right now. He couldn't help it. You were too adorable when you got flustered, Cutter.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was very bright red by now, “well you’re in luck, my schedule is pretty open …I can fit you in for as many private lessons as you need,” he grinned shyly at that.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Then I will have to make sure to book up a few of those open slots as soon as I can" Connor said with a shy grin of his own.

[itsananomaly]

“Then I look forward to our private lessons,” Cutter grinned and was very bright red now, “I’m sure I can teach you a few new things,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Oh Nick you delightful, wonderful, mess of a man. "And I look forward to all of it, Nick."

Connor smiled and nodded, reaching out and taking Cutter's hand in his and started leading him through the museum.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled happily, still that bright shade of red as he took Connor's hand, "same here," he said with a grin as he followed Connor through the museum, "so what display would you like to see next?"

Cutter really wanted to see the trilobites but he knew that once they got there that Connor would find it hard to get him away from that display.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well, it would be a bit of a wasted trip if we didn't make it to at least one other major exhibit" Connor said as he stopped after a little more walking. He gave Cutter a quick hug then stepped aside, revealing the Cambrian extinction collection area and the trilobite displays in particular.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter returned the quick hug and then his eyes lit up as he realised Connor had taken him to the Trilobites display, “oh this ….” he was at a loss for words as he took in all those trilobites, “this is amazing, look at all these trilobites!”

Good luck getting him to leave now Connor.