Title: Irresistible
Author: Ash
Rating: PG, but that will change
Summary: Pheromones run amok turn Trance into the unwilling object of everyone's affections (fluff warning).
Disclaimer: Tribune owns Andromeda, because if I did, last week's bimbo episode would never have happened.
Trance always said that all things came from the same 'dust'; all things were irreversibly linked, and the beauty she held in her hands proved it. "It's called a White Widow. That's a rough translation, of course."
"Sounds... ominous," Rhade observed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It is. Her petals secrete pheromones- the same chemicals used by insects to attract mates. The insect pollinates the flower, then moves on to the next one. But, if the plant is in need of nourishment, it engulfs the insect and digests it. As it gets bigger, it moves on to larger prey: small animals and reptiles, mostly. I still haven't quite figured out how it works."
"And you found this on a drift?"
"Trance smiled coyly. "You can find the rarest treasures if you know where to look. Anyway, thanks for helping me drag it up here."
"Don't mention it." Rhade silently reminded himself never to put his fingers anywhere near the thing. It was only the siz of a small bush, but it was strangely heavy, even though only the petals and a few leaves were visible above the soil. "This one's already pretty big. What are you going to feed it?"
"Raw meat," Trance answered as she sprayed it with a mist of water. "Would you like to watch?"
"I think I'll pass," he said, unfolding his arms and heading for the door. It was then that he noticed Harper in the doorway.
"So the big, strong Nietzschean is scared of a little plant," he teased, dangling a bloody piece of meet between his thumb and forefinger. Rhade shot him a look of annoyance and slid around him and out of hydroponics.
"Thanks, Harper," Trance said, ignoring the exchange and taking the meat from him. "Wanna watch? It really is magnificent when it feeds."
"As delightful as that sounds, Trance-"
"Don't be a baby, Harper."
"Fine, fine," he sighed.
Trance began to prod the petals gently. "It can feel the pressure, I think. I'll have to study it more." As she spoke, the large, white petals slowly unfolded and spread out until they lay flat, revealing a dusting of sparkly red pollen in the center. She had to stand back as they came down, then fling the meat into the center as she couldn't reach far enough to drop it in.
Harper's eyes were wide in amazement. "Wow... it's so beautiful. Look at the colors..."
A few moments later, the plant snapped shut, but he didn't notice. He hadn't been looking at it.
"Harper, are you alright?" Trance asked. "You're staring...." She crossed her arms self-consciously. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Author: Ash
Rating: PG, but that will change
Summary: Pheromones run amok turn Trance into the unwilling object of everyone's affections (fluff warning).
Disclaimer: Tribune owns Andromeda, because if I did, last week's bimbo episode would never have happened.
Trance always said that all things came from the same 'dust'; all things were irreversibly linked, and the beauty she held in her hands proved it. "It's called a White Widow. That's a rough translation, of course."
"Sounds... ominous," Rhade observed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It is. Her petals secrete pheromones- the same chemicals used by insects to attract mates. The insect pollinates the flower, then moves on to the next one. But, if the plant is in need of nourishment, it engulfs the insect and digests it. As it gets bigger, it moves on to larger prey: small animals and reptiles, mostly. I still haven't quite figured out how it works."
"And you found this on a drift?"
"Trance smiled coyly. "You can find the rarest treasures if you know where to look. Anyway, thanks for helping me drag it up here."
"Don't mention it." Rhade silently reminded himself never to put his fingers anywhere near the thing. It was only the siz of a small bush, but it was strangely heavy, even though only the petals and a few leaves were visible above the soil. "This one's already pretty big. What are you going to feed it?"
"Raw meat," Trance answered as she sprayed it with a mist of water. "Would you like to watch?"
"I think I'll pass," he said, unfolding his arms and heading for the door. It was then that he noticed Harper in the doorway.
"So the big, strong Nietzschean is scared of a little plant," he teased, dangling a bloody piece of meet between his thumb and forefinger. Rhade shot him a look of annoyance and slid around him and out of hydroponics.
"Thanks, Harper," Trance said, ignoring the exchange and taking the meat from him. "Wanna watch? It really is magnificent when it feeds."
"As delightful as that sounds, Trance-"
"Don't be a baby, Harper."
"Fine, fine," he sighed.
Trance began to prod the petals gently. "It can feel the pressure, I think. I'll have to study it more." As she spoke, the large, white petals slowly unfolded and spread out until they lay flat, revealing a dusting of sparkly red pollen in the center. She had to stand back as they came down, then fling the meat into the center as she couldn't reach far enough to drop it in.
Harper's eyes were wide in amazement. "Wow... it's so beautiful. Look at the colors..."
A few moments later, the plant snapped shut, but he didn't notice. He hadn't been looking at it.
"Harper, are you alright?" Trance asked. "You're staring...." She crossed her arms self-consciously. "Why are you looking at me like that?"