Love Poison No Cure Needed

Licoricey Pollen 1.15

Jasper wasn’t sure if Kayad was buying lunch again simply to show off to Sorrel or as an apology for the psychological damage Jasper had suffered but he wasn’t going to say anything either way. “So, I want to ask something.” Jasper started while trying to determine how he should phrase his question. It wouldn't be good to just blurt the question as whether Sorrel realised Kayad was flirting.

“Oh, about the Licoricey Pollen, right? I had a brief talk to Kayad about it before when he told me that it was rule one for Beastskins to not eat otherworld flora.” Jasper paused at this seemingly out of left field topic. It was completely not what he was going to talk about though now that it was brought back up it was important to know.

“Yeah, I haven’t heard of a Licoricey plant and I do the botanical course at BPA, it’s an Other course as well.” Jasper said slowly. From the topic focus Jasper basically already had an answer. Should he say that his new friend was oblivious or that he was naïve. Possibly both.

“Oh, no the pollen name was given to it separately when it was found to be good for deepening the flavour of otherworld liquor since the person who made it was certain that the plant smelt like liquorish. Generally, theory is that it was a pregnancy craving that led to that particular focus.” Sorrel explained.

“Uh what?” Jasper was now confused did the plant smell like liquorish or not and why given the pollen a different name from the plant.

“What had been covered in the botanical course?” Sorrel asked as he c****d his head at Jasper’s confusion.

“Medical properties of Outer Realm and Human Realm plants.” Jasper answered promptly just as Kayad came over to the table and sat down.

“What are we talking about?” Kayad asked as he handed out the plates and cutlery and everyone started to take small serves of the different dishes to try.

“Licoricey Pollen, and the plant origins.” Jasper responded think that the food was acquired much faster than he expected.

“Ah, right. You said that the plant was uncommon or regulated.” Kayad said as he looked at Sorrel.

Sorrel swallowed the mouthful of food he’d just taken and said, “Well the explanation is a bit long since you don’t know the main point of difference between outer realm and human realm plants.”

“Eh, it's fine. We’re not in a hurry. Besides the assignment Jasper has left should be for his botanical class so it might even help him.” Kayad responded while waving a hand in dismissal.

“Yeah, it is a botanical assignment so just go through it one by one.” Jasper started eating while he focused his attention on Sorrel.

“okay.” Sorrel nodded and then began to speak.

“the most basic thing about a plant is how it gets its nutrients. In the human world nutrients that plants need are abundant; they absorb them through the ground and from the sun. decomposing leaves dead animals and insects create a plethora of food allowing them to be completely passive and still grow well.” Jasper nodded to the start of Sorrel’s explanation that was something he was already aware of, that was why human plants were just treated as living decorations and even the poisonous ones were not given too much attention save from telling others to avoid them.

“The Outer Realms though are not quite so easy; the fey realm has an overabundance of nutrients to the point where the plants would start to be poisoned from the excess any time the races fought. Therefore, the plants there developed a sort of protective mechanism that allowed them to store excess nutrients and then shed them as shielding to stop fights around them. Makes that realm particularly free of physical violence but prone to schemes and deception.” Jasper paused at this explanation before he nodded more slowly. The famous willow tree that would through the centre of the Shattered Senses club was a fey tree raised by Mr Serie the elf owner. It was a relatively open secret of the Other community that violence was not possible in or around Shattered Senses.

“The other Outer realms, particularly the Angelic and Demonic realms are the opposite. Nutrients are scarce to non-existent there. In fact, the single largest source of nutrients are the living predators native to the realm.” Sorrel stopped to have a quick drink as Jasper interrupted.

“Wait by living predators you don’t mean the Demons and Angels, right?” Jasper’s eyes widened at the implication of calling the native people of the realm as ‘largest sources of nutrients.

“Yes, though the fauna there also counts even if there isn't as much variety as here.” Sorrel nodded.

“I don’t think I like where this is going.” Kayad muttered as he stabbed a piece of honey chicken and ate it.

“Yeah, from a perspective of human sensibilities it’s not nice. As you have figured out most Outer Realm Flora evolved to actively search for and acquire nutrients. Which is to say they can attack people so that they ahhh, become unable to leave and thus provide necessary energy for growth.” Sorrel stuttered as he seemed to search for a tactfully way of explaining.

“You mean the plants attack and kill people so that they rot at their feet as fertiliser.” Kayad interrupted bluntly.

Sorrel winced slightly at the description as he seemed to worry that Kayad and Jasper would not like him anymore after the explanation.

“Right, so the Licoricey Pollen is from an Outer Realm predatory plant. Which plant and how Predatory is it.” Jasper briskly moved the conversation along which seemed to comfort Sorrel who relaxed slightly and finished his answer.

“Demonic Realms number one most dangerous plant, the Brimstone vine. A rich bronze coloured vine most easily identified by its large gorgeous red flowers whose scent is a form of mana manipulation that smells like an intoxicating allure to whoever inhales it. It has the single fastest breeding rate of any other plant and rather than any traditional roots it instead uses its tendrils to grow from any available source of nutrients. Immune to fine and blunt force with a neural toxin in the fine spikes on its leaves it’s deemed a class one deadly plant and there is only supposed to be one in the human realm whose seeds are carefully collected and dropped in liquid nitrogen to avoid spreading. Unfortunately, five of the seeds from the last shipment were stolen before they reached the destruction factory.” Sorrel hurried through the explanation as Kayad and Jasper’s expressions worsened with each sentence.

“Wait multiple deadly, fast growing, intrusive, man eating plant seeds are lost and no one says anything?” Jasper exclaimed. He likely would have been the centre of attention of the whole courtyard if he hadn’t put the barrier up earlier. As it was his control on the barrier fluctuated which caused the dome to wobble before it stabilised as Jasper just gaped in stunned silence.

“I mean a notice was sent out to all the clans that could be accessed when the seed went missing but since the city wasn’t immediately ravaged the search sort of trailed off.” Sorrel returned as he put down his knife and fork and stared worriedly and how Jasper’s expression fluctuated.

“That is not something you just let trail off! I can’t even. I’m going to go see my dad.” Jasper jumped to his feet and headed off, too incised to wait for Kayad to drive him. He would leave Kayad to see Sorrel home while he went to see what the actual clans were doing about this. If they said nothing, he might just have to blow something up.