fandomhigh | Sexual Anthropology, Tuesday, Period 2

A brunette in a business suit waited by a lectern for the class to assemble. She wasn't smiling; her demeanor was that of someone with a serious task to do who expected to do it well.

"Welcome to Sexual Anthropology," she began, once everyone seemed to be in a seat. "I am Dr. Temperance Brennan. I'm the lead forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian, but I am taking leave this summer to finish a novel and teach this class. For anyone who doesn't know, a forensic anthropologist is an anthropologist who specializes in identifying the dead through skeletal clues."

"That said, this class has nothing to do with bones, as it were. We are going to be talking about sexual relations and sexuality from an anthropological point of view. That means we're interested in what sex means in the broader social context, rather than in the medical and physical side of things; if you want instructions on using condoms, I suggest you go to the clinic." She handed a stack of syllabi to a student in the first row and gestured for them to be distributed.

"We're doing introductions this week." Booth had suggested as much, and Brennan had decided it was only logical to do that here, even if she never did it at the college level. "I would like each of you to state your name, age, and one message about sexuality that you got from your culture while growing up. It can be anything, no matter how illogical you now think it is. For example, I am an American and I grew up in the late 20th century; I might say that I was given the message that women have to be slender to be physically attractive, or that I was raised to believe married couples should avoid divorce at all costs. Feel free to talk about each other's contributions, but I ask that you respect any cultural differences we undercover. We are here to discuss, not to judge."

"I will need two TAs, so if you're interested, please stop by and see me after class. Otherwise, I am in office number eight Fridays during business hours, and my phone number and email address are on the syllabus. And, um, hi, Angela ~~assuming you're here~~." No, she still wasn't used to the 'my best friend is here and 17' thing.

She nodded to a student. "You can begin."

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Dor was a complete bundle of nerves at this point and looked horribly embarrassed.

"My name is Dor. I'm seventeen and going into my senior year," he replied and then took a big breath.

"I'm from a magical world called Xanth where people call sex 'summoning the stork' and once you know how to do it you become a part of the adult conspiracy and can no longer have any fun."

"...wow," Brennan said, sincerely energized. (New cultures were fun!) "Do you abide by your cultural taboos against discussing sex here in Fandom?"

"It depends on whether or not the furniture decides to be nice to me or not," Dor replied sincerely. "Usually I prefer to talk about other things."

"You won't be able to do that in this class," Brennan told him, bluntly but not unkindly. "I'm not sure where furniture comes into it."

"I kind of figured that," Dor said looking uncomfortable. "I'll be fine. As for the furniture-"

"We're happy to talk about sex all the time if you want!" the desk exclaimed.

Dor sighed. "Well they can talk when I'm around."

Brennan looked from Dor to the desk and back to Dor.

"That didn't just happen."

"Um," Dor started but then...

"Yes it did!" the lectern replied. "Don't worry, it'll fade once you kick him out of the class."

"I don't want to be kicked out of class!" Dor flailed.

"You're a disruption," the lectern lectured. "And I will not tolerate disruptions in my classroom."

Brennan hit on the lectern. "Furniture doesn't talk," she stated, sounding anxious. "Dor, make it stop doing that."

"Stay quiet," Dor ordered the furniture and sighed a little bit. "Sorry about that. That tends to happen when I'm... um. Nervous."

"Then calm down!" Brennan helpfully ordered. "It's weird and distracting to have furniture talking at you."

Then the scientist started to take over. "Why does it happen?"

Unfortunately the ordering didn't help much.

"It's my magical talent," Dor gulped. "I can make inanimate objects talk."

"I don't believe in magic," Brennan said, mostly by rote because, hi, she could see the lectern and desk, talking to her. "... didn't believe in it." This was something to deal with later. "Could you at least try not to make them talk during class hours?"

"I'll order them not to speak at all," Dor said quickly. "They won't say anything else after that."

"That is much appreciated," Brennan said, relieved. "Thank you, Dor.

Sexual Anthropology, Tuesday, Period 2

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