fandomhigh | Human Anatomy, Thursday, 01/11, Period 3

Elliot looked like she was halfway between bouncing and running away in terror as she started her first class of the semester, and she kept wiping her hands on her slacks as if her palms were sweaty.

"Hi, people, welcome to human anatomy, which is the study of structures and systems of the human body,. If you didn't sign up for anatomy, you're in the wrong place. If you stick around without registering? You're volunteering to be dissected.

"I am Elliot Reid, which yes is a guys' name. Blame my dad. Call me Elliot or Dr. Reid. Doing the E.T. voice on Elliot will freak me out and earn you a detention. But basically, it's pretty easy not to get a detention in here - show up on time, don't miss more than three classes without letting me know, and don't be incredibly hugely obnoxious, and you're golden.

"I am passing around a couple of things. First, you have textbooks, which are yours to keep and love and put under your pillow. Second is my voice mail number. Call whenever. I'm also in my office Friday mornings, if you need me outside of class.You're also getting the class roster and syllabus. Syllabus is a guideline, not a rule -- it can change. Finally, my TA is John Dorian, so if you can't find me for something, talk to him."

Done with the preliminaries, she pointed to an area behind the rows of desks where seven-foot stretches of paper were taped to the floor, with buckets of markets between them. "To help make this class more visual, you're going to pair up and trace each other, and then we'll tape the drawings to the wall to fill in the body systems on as we learn them. But before you do that, I want to do some introductions. Say your name, your grade, and two interesting things about yourself. Starting with .... you." She closed her eyes and pointed randomly into the group.

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"Okay, right," Marty said trying to do a quick outline that didn't invade any private spaces. "Quick. See? Speedy."

"Finished yet?" She's the most patient girl in the world, really.

"Oh come on it's not that bad," Marty said. "There. All finished. See? And you weren't harmed for the experience."

When she gets up, she says, "The lines are crooked." She's joking. You might not notice it, but she is.

"You want to lie down again?" Marty said crossing his arms. "I'm sure If you weren't rushing me that I'd do a better job."

"No, no, totally fine," she says. "Your turn."

Marty laid down on the ground. "Be gentle."

"What's that?" she asks, and gets to work tracing a crude outline that never actually manages to come close to touching him.

"Just kidding around," Marty replied. "We almost done?"

She stays quiet until she finishes, then stands. "There. Finished."

Marty stands up and studies the figure. "I think you've managed to capture the essence of my character without overstating it. Well done. When is your next gallery showing?"

She blinks at him, frowning a little.

"You obviously have a talent for this. Are you going to be an artist after graduation?" Marty asked.

"Hm. Hardly," she says, studying her work. Yeah, definitely not.

"Too bad. You have a real talent for this. Will you sign my body?" Marty asked politely.

"No," she says immediately.

"The tracing of my body," Marty clarified. "I don't think Angela would appreciate your signature on my pectorals any more than John would."

"Either way, I'm not signing you," she says.

"But look at this fabulous work," Marty said gesturing to his body outline. "Do n't you want recognition for this? Or do you want your name lost for the ages?"

"I'm fine with it being lost," she says. "Completely fine."

Marty gave Aeryn some a pleading-puppy-dog eyes. "Please?"

"I'll tell you what. Why don't you sign it? It's your body."

"But I didn't make it."

"Does it seem like that matters to me?"

"It matters to me."

Re: Tracing, Anatomy, 1/11

can_be_more - 2007-01-11 21:11 (UTC) - Expand

oatmanspatient.livejournal.com - 2007-01-11 21:16 (UTC) - Expand