Friday Afternoon and Evening- Mainland

[anomaly_research_nerd]

It had been a busy day for Connor already, and he hadn't even had a class to deal with like Cutter had. But he DID have a lot to keep busy with to make sure everything today went according to plan.

After their talk last week, Connor had made arrangements for a little day trip to the mainland. He had something special planned and had somehow managed to keep it a secret from Cutter until now. He looked down at the pamphlet to the small museum he had found.

It sounded like someplace Cutter would enjoy. Connor just hoped he was right and resisted the urge to fiddle with his gloves as he waited for Cutter to meet him so they could catch the portal he had set up for them.



(For that guy. That they met to go on a date is okay but rest once they catch their portal is, of course, NFB due to distance.)

Comments

[itsananomaly]

“Well then, I’m looking forward to hearing from him about the position,” Cutter grinned as he followed Connor’s gaze to the first table, “oh these are beautiful,” he remarked as he leaned in for a closer look, “trilobites are such fascinating specimens,” he gushed.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor could just stand and watch Cutter gushing over fossils and rattling off facts and data all day. It was good seeing him so happy.

"AYe, I keep thinking I wouldn't mind seeing these guys in person..." Connor started as he stepped closer and leaned over for a better look. "But then I remember the centipedes and the scorpions.... and yeah, these guys would likely be a lot bigger knowing my luck!"

[itsananomaly]

“I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen them yet,” Cutter admitted, “with everything else we’ve seen but I know I don’t want a repeat of the centipede and the scorpions,” he added as he took a closer look at one of the fossils, “but it would be beautiful to see a live one up close,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor nodded, giving Cutter a slight apologetic grin, still feeling a bit bad for being off with those Silrulian scorpions.

"Maybe someday we can get that chance," Connor said as he shifted a little closer, maybe slipping an arm around Cutter's shoulder as he leaned over. Maybe.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter happily leaned against Connor as his leaned his arm around him, taking the time to appreciate just how nice this was.

“I should go more in depth on the Cambrian next week and talk about the trilobites then,” he mused, “it’s incredible to think they were around at the same time Rex was,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor just stood there, enjoying all this, enjoying them, just soaking it all in.

"And kind of mind-blowing when you think that all of the time humans have existed is barely more than a blink of an eye compared to how long there has been life on the planet."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, “it’s incredible to think just how much history there is and we’ve only scratched the surface of what we know, there’s so much that we’re still finding out,” he said in an awed voice.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I know some see that as a bit depressing, that all of our life and accomplishments mean little in the grand scheme of things. But that's not how I see it at all." Connor said, looking over fondly at the man beside him. "I think it just shows how special it is, how amazing it is, to be here where we've ended up in our little slice of history."

Look what you did, Cutter, you made the geek go all philosophical!

[itsananomaly]

Cutter gave a fond smile in response, appreciating how philosophical Conner was being, “you’re quite right at that, it is remarkable that we’re here, at this exact moment in history, getting to take part in this,” Cutter gestures to the displays around him, “and how many more moments we’ll get to enjoy,” his smile widened at that.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

And hopefully, a few of those would be a bit different and better this time around... Connor smiled and slowly untangled his arm from around Cutter and slid down just a step or two toward the next set of fossil displays.

As much as he loved hearing Cutter rattle on about trilobites, there was still a lot to see just in this one collection. At the rate they were going, it would take half a dozen visits just to get through this one, let alone the archeology collection. Not that Connor would mind that but still... he was trying to get them through at least some of the displays this time around.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was maybe just a little reluctant to leave the trilobites and really could have spent hours just looking at the one display but he knew they did have a lot to see and followed Connor to the next display.

“Okay maybe we shouldn’t spend so long at one table,” he admitted with a sheepish grin, “got a bit carried away there,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Oh I quite like it when you get carried away into Professor Mode," Connor said with a smirk. "But getting through only one display a visit could take so many return visits they might get a little tired of us," Connor pointed out. "Well, of me anyway."

[itsananomaly]

“No one would get sick of you,” Cutter assured him with a grin, “what do you think they’d do if I offered to run a tour for them, so we could keep coming back for multiple visits?”

It didn’t quite work that way Cutter.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Oh you were absolutely adorable when you were in full geek-out mode Cutter. Connor grinned widely and gave a small laugh.

"It's an option possibly," he said, reaching out and putting a hand on Cutter's shoulder. "But let's get through more than one or two of these displays before we decide to make this a side project, alright? Afterall, you would need to show up to every tour you are supposed to run" he added gently with a small wink."

Sorry Cutter, that reputation of yours was one that was hard to forget.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter looked sheepish at that, “fair enough,” he smiled as Connor’s hand resting on his shoulder, tilting his head slightly as he gazed at him, “they might not like my references if they called the university to check…even though, the university might say anything to get rid of me if they thought someone else would have to put up with me,” he considered.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Well, there's always the option of leaving the university. Start teaching somewhere else," Connor said, hand slowly sliding off Cutter's shoulder. "You're teaching at the school now, which yes, its not as big and glamourous as uni but it's still teaching."

Connor hesitated a movement, suddenly feeling a bit nervous about putting his following thought into words. His eyes fell to the display case on the table in front of him though he really wasn't looking at it as he spoke.

"And if... if you are... planning to stay, in Fandom, I mean... It... it might be easier to find something, closer. If you thought you might... stay."

Connor wanted to look over, to see what Cutter's expression was, what his reaction would be, but he couldn't just then.

[itsananomaly]

“I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to the university if I’m being honest,” Cutter admitted, “I think …there’s just too many memories for me there, starting over …being at Fandom …it’s more than I could ever have hoped for,” his smiled widened, there was a brief moment of hesitation and he reached a hand out for Connor to take, “I think I’m going to stay in Fandom, everything that’s important to me is right here,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor listened to what Cutter was saying, slowly lifting his head to look at him, still trying to process the words he had hoped he would actually hear. His eyes fell to the hand Cutter had extended out to him.

Those last few words did it and as Connor took Cutter's hand he pulled the man close into a tight hug. Cutter was staying in Fandom. Cutter was choosing him. Connor tried but couldn't get any of the words to come out. so he just kinda clung to Cutter for a moment, and hopefully that was enough to let him know what he thought about that.

At least until Connor was able to get out a "Thank you Nick," at last.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter gratefully returned the hug, “you’re welcome, you can’t rid of me that easily, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,”

He smiled, “and I wouldn’t change this for anything,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor's natural instinct to make a joke to downplay the nervous flipping in his stomach was for once overwhelmed by the feeling of relief that came with Cutter's words.

"Nor would I. And being stuck with you, that sounds like a pretty good deal on my end of things," he said with a smile as he tried to make himself let go.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was very reluctant to let go as well, “then it’s settled then,” he smiled warmly, “I’m staying in Fandom for the long haul,”

It felt kind of strange after all this time that he was going to have a proper home, he hadn’t thought of his London home as a home in years, “you know, I should really consider selling or renting my London home,” he considered.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

That made Connor loosen his hold enough so he could lean back a little and look at Cutter.

"You are serious then," he said with a warm smile. "Might not be a bad idea, really... if you aren't planning on being back in London much other than helping the team with any big anomalies or issues that come up. Not like you'll need a house if you are only going to be there for a few days to a week most likely now and then."

[itsananomaly]

“I am,” Cutter assured him, “it’s …I can always stay in a hotel, actually use that credit card Lester gave me for the purpose it was meant for,” and not just running up a bar tab.

He smiled at Connor, “I think I like that plan, I wouldn’t even have to worry about the university just yet since I’m on sabbatical, I can focus on us,”

He wasn’t going to make the same mistake he did with Helen and bury himself in work.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Us... I, I like the sound of that. I like it a lot," Connor said, the grin on his face widening if it was even possible. "I can easily get time off from Blathers when we need, and as long as we don't make it a regular occurrence and plan ahead for someone to cover the class, the school seems pretty ok with giving us time off when we need."

Connor's head was spinning a bit and his heart kept doing leaps from his stomach up to his throat. He was the happiest he had ever been, that much was for sure, but with it also came a slight fear that he would, once again, end up messing things up. He quickly tried to push those thoughts out of his mind and focused on Cutter instead, which relly was not too hard to do.

[itsananomaly]

“Well the school hasn’t complained yet about me missing classes so I think we’ll be fine if we take time off, go away somewhere …I’m sure one of the students could cover class for us?” Cutter tilted his thoughtfully at that, returning Connor’s wide grin, the more he thought about it, the more he was confident in this choice, settling down and beginning a life with Connor.

It was perfect.