anomaly_research_nerd | Thursday Early Morning- Nihi Resort Momole Treehouse- C Bedroom Pool Deck

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Thursday Early Morning- Nihi Resort Momole Treehouse- C Bedroom Pool Deck

The party had been really good. Really nice, even. How could it not? Good jello shots. Good people to talk to. Good setting. And a very, very good date to enjoy it all with.

But at some point, like all good things, the party wound down, and somehow- don’t ask because he had no idea how- Connor and Cutter had made it almost all the way to their room. Somehow. But now as the morning sun began to shine bright off the water and sand, Connor became aware of two things at about the same time.

One was his head, which was pounding with a hangover headache. And two, was the feeling of something heavy laying against him. Opening his eyes slowly with a slight wince as his head protested loudly, he looked around, trying to figure out where he was. That’s right… the island… the party last night…

That’s right, they were heading back to their room and… seemed they had made it as far as the lounge chairs by their private pool. Connor finally looked down and then froze, blinking for a moment as he tried to process what he saw.

Cutter. Passed out. Practically laying on top of him where he had apparently ended up sprawled out on one of the chairs. This was a bit… unexpected…. Not terrible at all. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

(for the one currently sleeping off a hangover as well)

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At first Cutter wasn’t sure where he was, he vaguely remembered leaving the party and making his way back to the room but …

“Augh..,” he moaned, eyes still closed as he tried to stop the room spinning from where he was sprawled out on the chair.

OK this was fine... he just needed to shift a little cuz his arm was going to sleep. Connor tried to move to get his arm free from under Cutter without disturbing him too much.

"Ok... that's better..." he said once his arm was free, giving it a small shake to try and get the feeling back.

Cutter slowly began to realise that he was laying on top of someone, which he didn’t remember how he had gotten there.

The logical part of his brain began to make the connection that it was Connor he had passed out on.

“…Connor?” he mumbled, still keeping his eyes closed.

Edited 2023-02-23 03:55 (UTC)

"Aye... It's me," Connor muttered, laying the recently freed hand on Cutter's back as the other lifted to rub his throbbing head.

"Looks like we almost bad it to the bed...." he said with a small laugh that quickly turned into a groan.

Slowly Cutter began to open his eyes and then had to shut them again, “why is the room spinning?” he moaned.

A few more minutes passed and he slowly opened his eyes again, “at least I didn’t end up on the floor this time right?”

"That would be the nine shots we each had...." Connor said. "At least.... I think it was nine. I... I kinda lost count after the 7th ..."

Connor fell silent for a moment and then grinned. "Am I more comfortable than the floor at least?"

"A lot more comfortable," Cutter managed to smile a bit with that, as he slightly turned his head to look up at Connor, he was still making no effort to actually sit up.

He would eventually, when it felt like he wouldn't fall down again.

"I don't remember most of those last few shots," he admitted, "honestly I don't even remember how we made it home,"

Connor was in no rush either, both because he wasn't sure he would be able to stay upright just then and also because it was rather nice laying here like this. His back would likely be protesting for a bit once he was coherent enough, but that was a problem for future Connor. Present Connor was just going to lay right there and enjoy the view.

"I don't remember much either," he admitted with a smile in return. "Like, I remember little snippets, here and there. Guess we got this far and decided it was close enough."

Connor grinned bigger as he went to lay a hand on the back of Cutter's head, idling running his fingers through his hair.

“I guess so, I’m honestly amazed we managed to climb all those stairs,”

Cutter smiled at that, enjoying the feel of Connor’s hand in his hair. It had really been too long since he’d had experienced what that felt like.

“Mmm,” he let out a contented moan, “that feels really good,” he closed his eyes again.

Oh look he’d found a word that was different to nice.

Connor smiled at that and kept it up as he laid his head back, eyes sliding closed for a minute. A small chuckle escaped at that response. Hey, guess all they needed to do was get drunk and write down all those other words so he could remember them later!

"Comfortable enough?" Connor asked, not really wanting to move unless absolutely necessary. "Need anything?"

Cutter smiled, eyes still closed, “I should probably drink some water,” he admitted, “that will probably help with the hangover,”

"Aye, water... That would probably be a good idea..." Connor said with a somewhat sad sigh because there were definitely no water bottles or anything within reach. Not in his current situation at least. "I guess we should... try to... maybe..." he started as he shifted a little, trying to work out the best way of untangling themselves.

“Oh…right,” Cutter realised he was still sprawled over Connor, “um…let me see if I can get up?”

It took a bit of effort but Cutter was able to eventually move and stand up, for a few moments and then he sat down on the ground.

“Standing is still an issue,” he said sheepishly.

"Easy there big guy..." Connor said, helping Cutter sit as he tried to keep himself upright. "You sit. I think I can make it over to the ~~totally handwaved and modded for convenience~~ cooler we left by the pool. Should still have some bottles in there."

Connor gave himself a moment to make sure his balance was more wobbly and less spinning and then headed towards the cooler. It wasn't that far, but his head was definitely complaining about every step quite loudly.

"Okay, I'm not going anywhere," Cutter was perfectly content to stay where he was siting.

Mostly because he didn't think it was possible for him to even stand up and move right then, so he was fine with waiting for Connor to come back from the cooler.

"That was a good plan, putting the cooler nearby," he smiled at that.

Connor made it to the cooler and successfully retrieved a few of the water bottles from inside without much trouble. The walk back though, was a little less steady and he basically sank onto the chair as soon as he got back to Cutter.

"Aye...." he said, trying to act like he had meant to sit down just then. "Had figured it would save us tracking up to the room every time we needed a drink." With a grin, Connor handed over a bottle to Cutter.

“Cheers,” Cutter smiled as he took the offered bottle and took a long sip of water.

“That was definitely needed,” he said, trying to get comfortable where he was sitting on the ground.

“It was still a really good night though,” he added, taking another long sip of water, “I’m glad we went to the party,”

Connor reached over and grabbed the cushion off the lounge chair and dropped it to the ground. He then lowered himself down to try and get in a good position that left enough room for Cutter as well.

Once he was situated, Connor grabbed one of the bottles and started drinking some of it slowly. He stopped and grinned when Cutter mentioned the party again.

"The party was awesome, but you know what my favorite part has been? The after party." Here Connor gave Cutter a huge grin and gave him a small nudge. Thanks for letting me tag along for all of this, Nick."

Cutter smiled at that, turning a little red as he did, “you’re welcome, thank you for coming with me and for everything,” he stared down at his bottle, “I’m …thank you,” he found himself suddenly lost for words.

Edited 2023-02-24 05:29 (UTC)

Connor returned the smile and slipped one arm around Cutter, and pulled him closer in a side hug. He let go after a minute, but kept his arm where it was, loose enough that Cutter could easily pull away or move if he wanted.

"Don't mention it, Nick. Im just glad, we have the chance to do this.... to be together." Connor looked at him for a minute, then slowly leaned in closer.

Edited 2023-02-24 06:23 (UTC)

There was a moments of hesitation and then when Connor leaned in, Cutter leaned in closer as well, he was still getting used to hugging but he was finding that he quite liked it, especially with Connor.

"Same here, I ... I didn't think anything like this could be possible," he admitted, "it's ... it's still taking some getting used to, but I ... it's I'm looking forward to being with you," he added with a smile.

"Same here," Connor replied. "Definitely new, and different, and nice" he said with a grin. "But we can take it slow, figure it out.... we have the time, right?"

Connor blinked a second or two after those words left his mouth as his mind flashed back for a moment to a very different yet all too familiar scene. Back to a moment when he and Cutter, his Cutter, had been sitting in a similar position. Only instead of the tropical air there was choking smoke, and in place of the warm sun there was the heat of a raging fire.

Connor shook his head, trying to push the memory back as he took a slow, deep breath. "We have the time," he said again, more to himself this time than to Cutter really.

Cutter tilted his head a little at that, blinking up at Connor, “why wouldn’t we have the time?”

There was another pause as he tried to make sense of that, “I mean, this is all new, this … this will take time, I’m not going anywhere,” he said, trying to be reassuring, “I … I want this to work, to be with you,” he said softly.

Connor gave a small sigh as he mentally cursed himself. The last thing he wanted was for Cutter to think he was assuming he as going to just up and leave. He hadn't meant to make him feel bad.... Connor closed is eyes for a moment, thinking of how to reply.

"I mean.... we have time to figure this out, no need to rush things," Connor said as he looked down at Cutter and gave a smile. "I... want this to work, to be with you... I, don't think I have ever been happier than I have this past week," he said, trying to sound reassuring because it was true.

“Same here, I …the last time I felt anything like this was when I was with …” Cutter swallowed, finding it hard to say Claudia’s name, “these past couple of weeks have been amazing,” he smiled and then another thought crossed his mind, “i …I know we’re starting to tell people that we’re together …how…do you think we should tell the team? how do you think my Connor will take the news?”

He had been wondering if his Connor had felt the same and like him, just hadn’t acted on it.

Connor fell silent a moment, because yeah, that was a topic that could be interested to bring up. But it was something they had to deal with all the same.

Giving Cutter's hand a gentle squeeze, he looked over with a small smile. "Might be time for me to make a non-school related visit with ya. We can tell them together, and.... as far as Connor specifically goes, I'm not sure. There's so many small changes that have already happened between our timelines as it was. I know for me... the feelings were always there, just... convinced myself it wasn't possible."

Connor paused a minute before continuing. "Could be the same for him or something totally different. We can find out and deal with whatever happens together, right? I'm not planning on going anywhere." he added with another reassuring squeeze.

Cutter nodded, returning Connor's hand squeeze as he mulled things over, "right, we can do this together ... I ... I don't want to make things awkward for you two, I know you ... he was with Caroline ... or I suppose they've broken up?" he seemed to remember something about a text message and ending the relationship, he wasn't entirely sure what had happened while they had been in the Silurian Era.

Then another thought hit him, "Helen will try and come after you," he said softly, clinging just a bit tightly to Connor's hand now, "she ... she'll try to get to get to you, to get to me,"

He knew once Helen found about him and Connor, there was no telling what she would try to do.

"Connor and I can deal with any awkwardness. Might not even be an issue, since we don't know what all might have been different to start with right?" he said, trying to be encouraging. "And as far as Helen goes, I had my own run-ins with her before. If she comes after you, she'll have me to deal with." And hopefully, this time he wouldn't utterly fail at it.

Connor looked over at Cutter and gave a soft, maybe slightly sad smile. "I've only finally just let myself get to this point. I am not going to let Helen ruin it... Not again," he said, that last bit almost whispered to himself.

Cutter took a deep breath, nodding at that, “that’s … that can be good, if there are enough changes, I suppose we’ll find out when we do tell everyone,”

Then he paused and considered the rest of what Connor said.

“I just … Helen won’t like this one bit, she … that’s why she told everyone about her affair with Stephen, because I’d kissed Claudia right before the timeline changed and she wanted to get back at me for that,” he said softly, “I … I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,”

"How many times have I been chased, stalked, attacked, and nearly eaten by some creature? I think I can handle Helen." That was what Connor WANTED to say and what he ALMOST said. But this was probably one of those conversations where wisecracks were not needed.

Instead, he held Cutter's hand as firmly as he was and looked at him, the normal playful spark in his eyes replaced, at least for now, with a seriousness even Connor wasn't all that familiar with.

"Even if you told me it was a guarantee the Helen would come after me and that something would happen like that... even then, I am still choosing to be right here. THIS is where I want to be, Nick... no matter what might happen."

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Thursday Early Morning- Nihi Resort Momole Treehouse- C Bedroom Pool Deck

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