5 [ location: angela's apartment / accidental visual ]

[bonescientist]

Brennan sits cross-legged on the living room floor in Angela's apartment, sandwiched between the couch and the coffee table. Her laptop, a half-empty bottle of beer and an opened carton of Chinese food with a pair of chopsticks sticking out of it are perched on the table in front of her. Yellow Post-It notes litter most of the free surface left on

Comments

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

Hercules peers into his tablet with a cheeky grin.

"Perhaps your muse needs recharging!"

[visual]

[bonescientist]

Brennan blinks a few times. She should be used to the fact by now that Taxon is inhabited by all sorts of people, but Hercules admittedly takes her aback slightly.

"Uh, perhaps," she finally says slowly. "Are you on your way to a costume party?"

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

Herc pauses for a moment, then asks "Is there a party I should be going to?"

He'd hate to be missing a party.

[visual]

[bonescientist]

Brennan frowns, thrown off by the question. "I don't know. I was asking you."

This conversation is shaping up to be more complicated than it should be.

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

"I don't know of any parties today. If there is a party I am not invited to, I don't think I will be happy."

He looks a little sad. Why isn't he getting invited to parties?

[visual]

[bonescientist]

"I see," Brennan says, not quite sure how else to respond. She's not exactly the most socially savvy person in the world. When all else fails, Brennan tends to fall back to what she does know; anthropology. "Usually, exclusion from collective social events by ones peers is a punitive measure due to some misdemeanor or breach of the mores and norms of said community."

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

"You talk like Hank," Herc says, stroking his beard for a moment. "But I don't know much about science. I leave that to the eggheads!" He laughs. "You seem too pretty to be so focused on science."

His mood seems to have bounced back.

[visual]

[bonescientist]

Brennan's nose scrunches up for a moment at the egghead comment. Her partner Booth used to refer to her and the other scientists with monikers like that. Luckily he'd stopped that fairly quickly.

"I'm aware that I'm quite beautiful," she replies bluntly, never one for excess modesty, "But I'm uncertain as to what my appearance has to do with my understanding of science. Do you not think attractive women can or should concern themselves with scientific topics?"

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

"Oh no," Hercules says, waving a hand. "I believe women should occupy themselves with whatever they wish, as long as it is not evil deeds. After all, my sister is the goddess of Wisdom. I hardly think women are not blessed with intelligence."

[visual]

[bonescientist]

Brennan is placated by the first half of his comment, but stumped and confused by the rest.

"The goddess of wisdom?" she repeats slowly. Well, that was... different.

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

"Athena?" Hercules says, forgetting he's not introduced himself. "She who sprung fully formed from my father Zeus' head?"

[visual]

[bonescientist]

"Yes, I'm familiar with the tales of Greek mythology," she responds, then shakes her head. "You're claiming that you are the son of Zeus, the Greek God of sky and thunder?"

[visual]

[lionofolympus]

"I'm telling you that I'm Hercules, Lion of Olympus and Prince of Power," he introduced, grinning frome ear to ear. "And if you wish to examine me, I suppose I can allow myself to be tested... for science."

[visual]

[bonescientist]

Brennan can't help but let out a small, somewhat incredulous laugh at that.

"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it," she replies, still not quite convinced. "Thank you, but I only examine dead people. Skeletal remains of dead people, more specifically."

Re: [visual]

[lionofolympus]

"Well, that would definitely make it difficult," Herc says. "I've been dead before, but it didn't stick."

He chuckles. "So you are a... coroner?"

[visual]

[bonescientist]

"Forensic anthropologist. I study and identify human skeletal remains and authenticate ancient finds for museums and other such institutions. I also collaborate with the federal law enforcement and help them identify murder victims in cases where the body has been too decomposed or otherwise damaged for traditional identification methods such as fingerprints."

Realizing she has forgotten to introduce herself, she pauses and adds, "I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan. Nice to meet you."