[The touch as much as the firm voice pulls him out of his own thoughts.]
Sorry. [He smiles apologetically.] It's lovely.
[It takes him a second to build himself up so he can kiss Casper on the cheek and not overthink it too much. Then he takes the hand that was around his waist and pulls it to the table.]
You get the drinks sorted and I'll get the dinner out.
[He needed something he could whip up quickly, so fajitas it is. It shouldn't be too spicy for Casper either, but it will take him a couple of runs to get all the bits to the table.]
I think you're lovely, for wanting to take care of it so well. [There's something deeper there. A thought about how if Muldoon is this careful with an orchid, how might he treat a heart, if it were given to him?
But then he's being pulled, and there's time for pondering later when he's by himself again and not being offered dinner and drinks.]
I can pour wine, at least, if you point me to the glasses. From past conversations, I assume they're not holding down any paperwork that I need to worry about?
[Muldoon adjusts to bring out two glasses instead. They're not wine glasses but they'll have to do. A second later and he brings the rest of the food out for them.
See? If you can take care of me so well, you can certainly take care of an orchid. [Casper nudges his foot against Muldoon's ankle with a smile, and starts assembling his dinner. Which smells delicious, honestly. He likes a bit of spice (just not too much), so this is nice.]
Peanut butter is protein, right? I've lived this long, anyway.
Your family must have wonderful genes to cope with that sort of feeding and still... [He pauses in his own assembly to look Casper up and down and shrug pointedly with a smile.
Then he goes back to sorting out his dinner. He's trying hard not to get distracted until after the food is eaten this time.]
But you're still part of the animal kingdom. You talk to me. You're predictable. I know about foraging, and what plants animals eat, but growing them? All I know is how much trouble it was for my mother to keep her garden. There were always complaints, and she knew what she was doing.
Predictable? Robert you wound me. [And he does look wounded, if only for a moment as he presses a hand to his chest before he laughs and shakes his head.]
You've studied me, then. My habits, my routines. I bet you have. I bet you could write a book on the care and feeding of Doctor Casper Darling. [Which he means, fully, as a compliment. It's touching, how much attention Muldoon has paid to him.] You should, and then pass it out to Wu and the rest of the staff. I think they're at their wit's ends with me.
[For a second Muldoon thinks he's accidentally offended Casper. He didn't know he could offend Casper. But then the man is laughing and Muldoon smiles, narrows his eyes and shakes his head in a silent scolding.]
They can figure you out themselves. [He takes a sip of wine.] As long as they don't interfere, or I'll have words with them.
[He pauses in his eating to tilt his head at Casper curiously.] What are they struggling with?
[Not unless he made a pointed comment about Casper's work, like as not. The scolding look just gets an even wider smile, and another nudge with his foot under the table.]
Oddly enough, most of the things you find endearing. My over the top enthusiasm, my tendency to treat the dinosaurs like children rather than an equation. To some of them, it's a successful experiment, but I can't see it like that. We're creating life, it's incredible.
[Muldoon hums his agreement.] You're in the wrong crowd. Everyone here, bar Hammond, is as cynical as they come. In my area that's no bad thing. People need to be respectful, not overawed. But I don't thing that's as easy to come by when you're not working with them out in the field day in and day out.
[The warden fails to smother a smile.] Maybe you should take them on a field trip.
Tempting though that is, I fear they would get mauled or devoured fairly quickly. To some of them, they're still numbers on a screen. DNA strands. Numbers can't eat you.
[After a few more bites of his fajita, he concedes --] I would also be in danger of a fatal nibble, but only because I think they're spectacular and want to hold them like I did when they were first hatched.
Warning? For me? Absolutely not. Though maybe a sign that I need to work on being faster.
[Ah, that question. A fair one, really, given his paternal feelings about all the creatures here at the park.] I do, dozens of them. We co-parent the park, remember?
But in all seriousness, um. I tried, one and maybe a half times, to be with a woman. It never felt right, and by the second attempt I felt like I had enough data to come to that conclusion. It wasn't for me. So alas, no little Darlings running around anywhere.
[Joking about co-parenting gets Muldoon to roll his eyes and shake his head some more as he smiles. It's so silly to him. Then again, sometimes it does feel like that.
He's focused on finishing up a fajita when Casper explains himself a little further. The warden blinks at him, a little surprised, a little confused.
After a second he asks,] You don't like being with women at all?
[It seems he'd just assumed Casper was like him; not fussy about which gender the other person is. Muldoon has no doubt that there are plenty of women who'd love to date the enthusiastic, paternal, genius doctor who's both more fit and handsome than he has a right to be.]
[There were plenty of women, especially when he was younger, who were interested. And he had a lot of female friends, of course. But he always politely declined and tried to introduce these lovely young ladies to his straight friends.
Casper shrugs a shoulder, looking almost embarrassed.] I think a part of me always knew I wasn't interested in women. I had a few casual girlfriends in highschool that never really went past hand holding, but there was no sexual attraction there. At least not on my end. But the scientist in me needed to know for sure, so I did try in earnest in college. A few semi-successful dates with one girl, and some absolutely disastrous ones with another, and that sort of sealed it.
Theory proven, women hold no interest for me. [He finishes off his dinner, carefully wiping his hands off on his napkin as he tries to read Muldoon's expression.] I assume they do for you, at least a little, from the way you're asking. Which isn't a problem for me, you don't need to worry about that.
[Food finished, Muldoon sips his wine as he listens to Casper explain some of his past. At least that's one less group of people to be jealous of.]
They do. A good thing too. The places I've lived and worked, with the mentality of many of the people in those places... [He tips his head in a shrug. He assumes Casper understands.] It was better not to risk anything. Being with women the few times I was able to have a personal life helped.
[Another sip of wine, another curious look.] Did you get to go on dates? Did you get to be open about that sort of thing?
I can imagine. [His tone is sympathetic, as he settles back with his wine, as well. He shifts to let his foot rest against Muldoon's ankle, just to have a point of contact.] All those very masculine men.
I was never really closeted, I guess. Fairly open about things, but mostly only if asked. It was the sixties, so you know. A lot of experimentation going on, free love and all that.
I went to parties, I hung out with the athletes and frat guys that I was tutoring in math and science. They were relatively supportive, I think some were even relieved to find that I wasn't competition, and I was a good wing man for them. And then of course there were the ones who weren't out, but happy to explore their options in the privacy of the bedroom.
But I haven't dated anyone seriously, I guess. There was someone, I thought it might have been... something. But then it wasn't. [His expression goes a little wistful at that. But it's in the past, and not worth rehashing.]
[Now that? That is something to be jealous of. Getting to be with Casper openly, publicly, not afraid of what might happen. Part of him wants to know about them, to know more about what it was like, and to be more jealous of them. The other part knows better. Still, it takes a bit of focus to swallow down his questions.]
And now there's me.
[He sips his wine, takes a moment to think of something other than Casper's exes.]
I hope I made a good impression, the first time you noticed me. I can't remember the first time I saw you, but I remember noticing you. I thought you were part of a different team. You were too charismatic to be part of Wu's team.
You'll flatter me to death, one of these days. [He slips off his shoes to poke teasingly at Muldoon's ankle with his toes. And to get more comfortable, really.]
I was so impressed by you, when I first saw you. I still am, truth be told. It was at our first full staff meeting, and Hammond was introducing you as the park warden. And I was seethingly jealous that you would be working so hands on with all the dinosaurs.
I also noticed your hands, because you were taking notes. Or writing something down, anyway.
[The prodding gets a raised eyebrow, and if Casper lets him, the warden will shift his legs to pin Casper's ankle between his calves. He can't help try for an understated 'gotcha'.]
The hands-on work I can understand. But my hands? [The scientist gets a look of disbelief.] Were you just fixated on the idea I'd get to pet the animals?
[He fakes a gasp and wiggles his foot a little, pretending to try to get free. It's nice, it's playful in a way his last relationship wasn't. Things feel so much easier with Muldoon, in that way.]
Well that, yes. But also because you have long, elegant fingers, and I was distracted by the way you were holding a pen. And now that I know what those very elegant fingers are capable of, staff meetings will be torture.
[It doesn't matter if it's playful or otherwise, 'winning' gets a small smirk.]
That's a lot of power to give one man. I want to distract you, because the fact I can is satisfying, but I also don't. You're usually the voice of reason in your team.
[From behind a sip of wine he says,] I'll have to get your focus off my hands and on to something else.
A shudder of anticipation, you mean. [Muldoon holds that smile for a few seconds, before standing.]
Stay there, or head to the couch, I'll clear these up. [No protest will be listened to as he piles everything up and takes them to the kitchen. From there he calls back,] I don't have a dessert, by the way. You'll have to make do with the wine.
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Sorry. [He smiles apologetically.] It's lovely.
[It takes him a second to build himself up so he can kiss Casper on the cheek and not overthink it too much. Then he takes the hand that was around his waist and pulls it to the table.]
You get the drinks sorted and I'll get the dinner out.
[He needed something he could whip up quickly, so fajitas it is. It shouldn't be too spicy for Casper either, but it will take him a couple of runs to get all the bits to the table.]
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But then he's being pulled, and there's time for pondering later when he's by himself again and not being offered dinner and drinks.]
I can pour wine, at least, if you point me to the glasses. From past conversations, I assume they're not holding down any paperwork that I need to worry about?
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[Muldoon adjusts to bring out two glasses instead. They're not wine glasses but they'll have to do. A second later and he brings the rest of the food out for them.
He raises an eyebrow at Casper for a second.]
Have you put everything back to the way it is?
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Not completely back. They're still in the folders you put them in. But they are more... out and about again, yes.
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[Once the wine is poured he gestures to Casper to sit down.] Come on, take as much as you like. I've a few years of malnutrition to remedy.
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Peanut butter is protein, right? I've lived this long, anyway.
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Then he goes back to sorting out his dinner. He's trying hard not to get distracted until after the food is eaten this time.]
But you're still part of the animal kingdom. You talk to me. You're predictable. I know about foraging, and what plants animals eat, but growing them? All I know is how much trouble it was for my mother to keep her garden. There were always complaints, and she knew what she was doing.
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You've studied me, then. My habits, my routines. I bet you have. I bet you could write a book on the care and feeding of Doctor Casper Darling. [Which he means, fully, as a compliment. It's touching, how much attention Muldoon has paid to him.] You should, and then pass it out to Wu and the rest of the staff. I think they're at their wit's ends with me.
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They can figure you out themselves. [He takes a sip of wine.] As long as they don't interfere, or I'll have words with them.
[He pauses in his eating to tilt his head at Casper curiously.] What are they struggling with?
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Oddly enough, most of the things you find endearing. My over the top enthusiasm, my tendency to treat the dinosaurs like children rather than an equation. To some of them, it's a successful experiment, but I can't see it like that. We're creating life, it's incredible.
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[The warden fails to smother a smile.] Maybe you should take them on a field trip.
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[After a few more bites of his fajita, he concedes --] I would also be in danger of a fatal nibble, but only because I think they're spectacular and want to hold them like I did when they were first hatched.
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[Still chuckling, he shakes his head in disbelief as he prods at his food.] How do you not have kids?
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[Ah, that question. A fair one, really, given his paternal feelings about all the creatures here at the park.] I do, dozens of them. We co-parent the park, remember?
But in all seriousness, um. I tried, one and maybe a half times, to be with a woman. It never felt right, and by the second attempt I felt like I had enough data to come to that conclusion. It wasn't for me. So alas, no little Darlings running around anywhere.
Apart from the dinos, of course.
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He's focused on finishing up a fajita when Casper explains himself a little further. The warden blinks at him, a little surprised, a little confused.
After a second he asks,] You don't like being with women at all?
[It seems he'd just assumed Casper was like him; not fussy about which gender the other person is. Muldoon has no doubt that there are plenty of women who'd love to date the enthusiastic, paternal, genius doctor who's both more fit and handsome than he has a right to be.]
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Casper shrugs a shoulder, looking almost embarrassed.] I think a part of me always knew I wasn't interested in women. I had a few casual girlfriends in highschool that never really went past hand holding, but there was no sexual attraction there. At least not on my end. But the scientist in me needed to know for sure, so I did try in earnest in college. A few semi-successful dates with one girl, and some absolutely disastrous ones with another, and that sort of sealed it.
Theory proven, women hold no interest for me. [He finishes off his dinner, carefully wiping his hands off on his napkin as he tries to read Muldoon's expression.] I assume they do for you, at least a little, from the way you're asking. Which isn't a problem for me, you don't need to worry about that.
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They do. A good thing too. The places I've lived and worked, with the mentality of many of the people in those places... [He tips his head in a shrug. He assumes Casper understands.] It was better not to risk anything. Being with women the few times I was able to have a personal life helped.
[Another sip of wine, another curious look.] Did you get to go on dates? Did you get to be open about that sort of thing?
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I was never really closeted, I guess. Fairly open about things, but mostly only if asked. It was the sixties, so you know. A lot of experimentation going on, free love and all that.
I went to parties, I hung out with the athletes and frat guys that I was tutoring in math and science. They were relatively supportive, I think some were even relieved to find that I wasn't competition, and I was a good wing man for them. And then of course there were the ones who weren't out, but happy to explore their options in the privacy of the bedroom.
But I haven't dated anyone seriously, I guess. There was someone, I thought it might have been... something. But then it wasn't. [His expression goes a little wistful at that. But it's in the past, and not worth rehashing.]
And now there's you.
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And now there's me.
[He sips his wine, takes a moment to think of something other than Casper's exes.]
I hope I made a good impression, the first time you noticed me. I can't remember the first time I saw you, but I remember noticing you. I thought you were part of a different team. You were too charismatic to be part of Wu's team.
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I was so impressed by you, when I first saw you. I still am, truth be told. It was at our first full staff meeting, and Hammond was introducing you as the park warden. And I was seethingly jealous that you would be working so hands on with all the dinosaurs.
I also noticed your hands, because you were taking notes. Or writing something down, anyway.
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The hands-on work I can understand. But my hands? [The scientist gets a look of disbelief.] Were you just fixated on the idea I'd get to pet the animals?
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Well that, yes. But also because you have long, elegant fingers, and I was distracted by the way you were holding a pen. And now that I know what those very elegant fingers are capable of, staff meetings will be torture.
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That's a lot of power to give one man. I want to distract you, because the fact I can is satisfying, but I also don't. You're usually the voice of reason in your team.
[From behind a sip of wine he says,] I'll have to get your focus off my hands and on to something else.
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I might have shown my hand here, it's true. I shudder to think what other distractions you might have up your sleeve.
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Stay there, or head to the couch, I'll clear these up. [No protest will be listened to as he piles everything up and takes them to the kitchen. From there he calls back,] I don't have a dessert, by the way. You'll have to make do with the wine.
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