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 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.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

And truthfully, Connor would be perfectly content to sit there the rest of the day until they had to chase them out for closing time if that was what Cutter wanted. The trip had been about being together and enjoying themselves, and seeing Cutter so happy and in his element, that was all Connor needed.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was definitely enjoying himself here and was taking in as much of the displays as he could, “oh this is beautiful,” he murmured, taking in the different trilobites, “look at the work that went into them, these are genuine as well, no casts,” he noted.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor leaned over to get a better look from where he was sitting.

"It's the color right? That's how you can tell the actual fossil from a cast? The casts are usually duller in color."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled, “that’s correct,” he nodded, “if it’s a cast, it will be an off white colour but the actual fossils themselves will be stained …you can see the stain here on these trilobites,” he explained as he pointed them out.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"See, I did learn a thing or two from Stephen's lectures" Connor said with a laugh as he leaned close to examine the trilobites. "And the trilobites were preserved so well because they were bottom dwellers and they had hard shells. But things like ammonites only the shells were fossilized." Connor glanced over at Cutter as he spoke. He thought he had that right, at least mostly.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled warmly, "I feel like I owe Stephen a pay rise for carrying those classes for me," he said with a grin, "but yes that's correct, a lot of trilobites crawled on the ocean floors and ammonites were more likely to be surface dwellers,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Soooo, Professor?" Connor said with a slight smirk and a small inflection in that title. "What role do scientists think trilobites played in the ecosystem back then?"

[itsananomaly]

It shouldn’t have been possible for Cutter to turn that shade of bright red at Connor calling him ‘Professor’ like that, he ducked his head slightly as he tried to compose himself, “that is an excellent question Mr. Temple … scientists believe that the trilobites played a very important role in the ecosystem, they were very versatile specimens and they fulfilled many a ecological role since they were both predators and scavengers and they swam on plankton and they did all of this from the ocean sea bed," he tried to maintain a serious expression but he couldn't help but grin.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Oh Connor was very much enjoying that blushing, sorry Cutter... actually no, he wasn't sorry at all. But Connor would give an appreciative nod after that very thorough explanation. "Thank you, Professor."

[itsananomaly]

It took Cutter a moment to actually respond to that, he just smiled happily at Connor, bright red as he enjoyed hearing Connor call him 'Professor' and he had to remind himself that they were in a public place, at the Smithsonian no less, "you're very welcome Mr. Temple," he grinned as he stepped a bit closer to Connor, "any further questions?"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor leaned in closer and smiled. "Only one. Can I schedule one of those private sessions on short notice?" And yes he was going there, sorry Cutter.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was leaning in very close now as he looked at Connor with a wide smile and yes he was a now an extremely bright shade of red, if he blushed any more he was likely to combust, "you're in luck Mr. Temple," he grinned, "my schedule happens to be free at the moment, I can schedule you in on short notice for a very private session,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well, then I think I know what I would like to do" Connor said with a grin as he leaned closer and gave Cutter a quick kiss on those adorable red cheeks of his.

[itsananomaly]

"Oh you know a way to a man's heart Mr. Temple," Cutter grinned, cheeks somehow getting even redder, "this is definitely a good start to the private session, and I think that deserves a reward,"

And then Cutter leaned in to give Connor a quick kiss on the lips, he was trying very hard to remember that they were in a very public place but not succeeding very well.