readytosee | OPEN RP POST

[He squeezes Casper's hand a little before letting it go and leaning back into his seat.]

Alright, I'll behave. I'll even talk about something boring if you like. If asking you more about yourself is going to distract you from eating.

You can absolutely ask me anything you'd like about myself! I will answer openly and honestly.

[He finally does take up the sandwich to take a bite, humming his approval and giving Muldoon a thumbs up.] You should threaten me with food more often, gracious.

Anything is better than nothing. [But he's still smiling at the compliment. He hasn't smiled this much in years. It's truly ridiculous how easy it is for Casper to get one out of him.]

Alright, then. If you weren't stuck on this island, what would you do for fun?

[It's a very nice smile, and Casper is exceedingly pleased that he's able to see more of it, recently.

He eats while he talks, though he does cover his mouth and finish chewing before doing so.] Outside of work, I'm honestly a little boring. Even when I wasn't stuck on an island, I didn't do much that wasn't work. I read a lot, though. Work here and there on a book I'll probably never publish, but it's fun to play with. More of a thought experiment than anything.

You're writing a book? [Hopefully the question, along with the raised eyebrow and tone of his voice will convey that the way Casper mentions it so casually is not proportional to the attention it deserves.] What is it about?

Oh! [He looks a little surprised at further questions, honestly. It feels like half the department has written a book. Wu has probably written five, at this point.]

Well I just had this idea -- what if there hadn't been a major cataclysmic event that wiped out the majority of the dinosaurs? How would that evolutionary chain have progressed, how might it have looked alongside animals that we know to have carried over from that period. Sharks! For instance. Largely unchanged from the start of their evolutionary progress. But other things have crawled onto land, developed lungs and legs -- so it's a look at the different possibilities that might have occurred. What would a modern dinosaur look like? That sort of idea.

[Yeah, but Casper's more handsome. Plus, this way he gets to sit back and watch Casper get all excited over something. It's ridiculously cute.]

Are you writing it as a scientific theoretical exploration or a science-fiction book?

A scientific theoretical exploration, definitely. Taking what we know of evolutionary theory and pushing at it. It's a bit of a mess right now, I'm not sure how I want to organize it. Mostly I'm just playing around.

[Alright, now he has to smother a smile at Casper's hobby being a more relaxed form of what he does for work.]

Glad to hear it. You're far too playful a person to not have some kind of outlet.

Yeah, I know. [He looks sheepish in response to that expression. But he's smiling, too, because it is funny.] I need better hobbies that aren't work related.

But what about you, what would you be doing, in your free time? You seem fairly dedicated to the job, as well.

[It's alright, Muldoon fully intends to encourage him into some new pastimes.]

I like to read, or go to the bar, or go shooting. But when I get the time I like to travel. Camping, usually. The more remote, the better. I enjoy planning out my route, meeting new people, exploring new places. Even if it's just a day trip.

But yes, sometimes I get pulled back into work. I've had some holidays which turned into me helping out old colleagues with something or other.

I'd invite myself to go camping with you, but I'm not sure I'd make it out in the wild. I would try to make friends with dangerous animals, pet something that shouldn't be pet.

[The sandwich is finished, and Casper manages to pitch the crumpled paper bag into his trashcan with surprising accuracy.] Books, however, I'm very good at. What do you like to read? I'll admit to indulging in some silly mysteries, on occasion. Agatha Christie, that sort of thing.

That's why I have a job.

[Muldoon eyes that shot with suspicion. He's going to keep that accuracy in mind. Casper is full of surprises. All thoughtfulness is banished when he meets Casper's gaze again.]

Natural history books sometimes. To keep up. But I like biographies of explorers the most. Sometimes I'll even read an adventure novel.

Ah, see? I'm not the only one whose hobbies are work related. [He nudges his foot against Muldoon's leg with an amused look. Teasing, since that seems to be the foundation of their relationship, which is delightful.]

You do strike me as a non-fiction reader. Which isn't a bad thing! I think it's fantastic, to want to learn more about the world around you. Having that spark of curiosity -- it's a good thing, in fact.

Only sometimes. [Not that he's really protesting. It's a rare privilege to get paid for what he'd do for free.]

I do read some fiction. I read Robinson Crusoe a lot when I was younger. But as I got older it didn't have the draw it used to. I didn't feel the need for a story to be fiction to make it interesting.

Well now that we live on a secluded island ourselves, I can imagine there's significantly less allure to the idea.

[Now that his food is done, he takes Muldoon's hand again. Idly toying with his fingers, the way he so often does with his pens. Or whatever is closest near him to fidget with.] I do like science fiction and speculative fiction quite a lot, actually. Exploring what might be, what could be. Our world, but slightly to the left.

He didn't have paperwork to do while he was on his island.

[Muldoon is happy to let Casper play with his fingers. It's pleasantly odd to be touched so much, even if it is just hand holding.]

Is it because you like imagining what could be done if there weren't any limits? Or because you like trying to figure out how it could be made possible?

[He's always been very tactile. Even before last night's dinner, Casper had a tendency to touch Muldoon's arm or perhaps his knee while talking, to underline a point. This just feels like a natural progression of things.]

More of the second, really. Both would it be possible, and would it be practical. What purpose would it serve, other than proving that we could?

Which -- I'm sure sounds odd coming from someone who works with dinosaurs. But it does feel needed, in its own way, I think. Filling in all these missing evolutionary pieces. It solves a puzzle, but also helps us plan for the future, looking at the way these animals have evolved.

It sounds like Hammond made the right call in hiring you. Even when you're supposed to be taking a break you're figuring out problems.

[As Casper turns his hand, he catches sight of his watch and pulls his lips into a thin line.]

Speaking of breaks, I should get back to work.

Should you? [He tries not to look too disappointed, but he can't quite help the way his eyebrows pinch a little.

Still, he presses a kiss to the back of Muldoon's hand before releasing it.] No, you're right. You have your schedules you need to keep to. But thank you so much for lunch, and it's always nice to see you.

[Hand kissed and released, Muldoon takes that as his cue to stand before Casper changes his mind.]

We'll have to arrange another- [Catching himself, he glances around to make sure they're definitely alone, but still lowers his voice a notch.] Another date.

Soon, [he adds. Then just before he heads off he does one more triple check around the room and leans in to kiss Casper on the cheek. Then and only then does he finally leave.]

[Muldoon bought him a present. How delightful. How sweet, even if he denies it. At least he knows that the local grocer's does have a small selection of potted orchids and things, so that's easily done.

He tries very hard to be patient and wait, maybe, for the warden to text him. Or call, or stop by. He's distracted the whole rest of the day by their conversation and the prospect of soon.

Finally, a little before five, he takes up his phone again.]

So when you said "soon" how soon did you mean?

[Muldoon drops all his paperwork to look at that message and, after a bit of back and forth, settles on what he hopes is charming honesty.]

How soon is as soon as possible but not overeager?

[Ugh, this man. Casper is so smitten, and he can feel himself blushing fiercely at the reply]

That depends.
Is it too overeager if I say I happen to be free tonight at seven, as well?

[It's times like this that Muldoon is glad he has his own office, so no one can see him smiling as much as he is.]

As long as you're not eager for a fancy meal, then no. Not overeager at all.

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