Sex Pollen

Trope · Genre
Synonyms:
Related:	Aliens Made Them Do It
See Also:	dub con, Fuck or Die
Tropes · Slash Tropes · Tropes by Fandom
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Sex Pollen is a common fanfiction trope used to bring two characters together in a sexual encounter. It involves one or several characters becoming infected with a pollen of some alien or magical plant, or they might be influenced in some other way (magic, alien technology, mind control, etc.) that causes them to lose inhibitions and/or revs up libido, usually resulting in non-con sex, which may lead to dramatic guilt and misunderstandings, or a resolution of UST.

Sex pollen is related to, but distinct from Aliens Made Them Do It. Sex Pollen involves at least one character being under the influence of a substance or device, while the latter trope usually has both/all characters still in their right minds but compelled to have sex for external reasons. However, the division is not hard and fast.

The essay Writing Sex Pollen Stories by Jen_in_Japan offers several classic uses for sex pollen, among them marital aid, getting a "wtf" couple together, breaking taboos, non-con, and "romantic matchmaker:"

One of the most common uses of sex pollen is to bring together two people who have wanted to be together (consciously or unconsciously) for some time. The iffy question of consent raised by sex pollen is dodged by having the two people realize at the end of the experience that they're actually in love with each other. Yes, it's a pretty lucky coincidence, we all know that, but in these cases sex pollen functions as a metaphor for sexual desire itself--irresistable, uncontrollable, and surprising. Sex pollen's function in these kinds of stories is usually to corner the characters and force them to face their own desire and embrace the frightening lack of control it brings.

Origins

• The DC Comics character Poison Ivy is a villain who uses plants and botany to commit crimes, often by creating a plant or flower that can control people's minds. In some of her canonical incarnations, she possesses a substance that makes men fall in love with her instantly, or makes her irresistibly desirable. The term "sex pollen" originated from fic wherein characters are exposed to one of Poison Ivy's creations that causes an irresistible urge for sex in general, not specifically with her. The term is now used in many different fandoms for all kinds of fic that places characters in this situation, even when the object or substance causing the increase in libido is not plant-based.

• The 1967 Star Trek: TOS episode This Side of Paradise featured an alien plant whose spores lowered inhibition; under its influence, Spock was able to admit to and act on romantic feelings for Leila Kalomi.

Sex-pollen-y Fandoms

• DC Comics. Popular choices for sex-pollen adventures include Tim Drake, Dick Grayson and also everyone (see Resources below), thanks in part to the canonical sex-pollen, but also because it's just that kind of fandom.
• Lois & Clark fandom has many stories featuring an aphrodisiac pheromone spray which appeared in the episode "Pheromone, My Lovely".
• Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis fandoms have many fics that feature sex pollen (apart from and in addition to Aliens Made Them Do It fic)
• The Sentinel fandom has many fics that feature sex induced by Jim's reaction to various medications and substances.
• Voltron: Legendary Defender has many fans take creative liberties with the planets the Paladins visit by having the pair of their choice affected by the strange plant life.

Fanwork Examples

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.:

• in the morning (you'll just hate yourself) by shineyma, For reasons unknown, HYDRA has developed a chemical sex pollen with an emotional component. For Jemma, whose heart still (unfortunately) belongs to the traitor in the basement, this is something of a problem. (Ward/Simmons)

The Avengers Movieverse:

• 7A WF 83429 by musesfool, where S.H.I.E.L.D. has a form for when it happens, and Darcy Lewis jokingly put Captain America not knowing that he was still alive. (Darcy/Steve)
• What a Day for a Daydream (Tomorrow I'll Pay the Dues for Dropping my Load) by Teeelsie, Clint and Steve get dosed with sex pollen, spend an uncomfortable amount of time anticipating what will happen, have a lot (like, really, a lot) of frantic sex, then have to face each other and Phil afterward, resulting in three-sided angst and awkwardness. (Clint Barton/Steve Rogers, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson)

DC Comics:

• Dodge-town by Shrift. Dick is exposed to actual plant-based sex pollen and jumps Tim, because who wouldn't.
• Things You Get Used To by Te: Tim/kind of everyone.

Hawkeye (comics):

• Must Be Tuesday. by Kali Cephirot, Form B4-309 is where you put a list of the people that, if you were in no way to give an informed consent presently, you'd trust enough for make the choice for you. Clint is Kate's third option. (Clint/Kate)

Lois & Clark:

• Super Stud by ML Thompson is an example of an aphrodisiac story in which Superman is the victim.

The Sentinel:

• Pheromones by Sahar. Blair is a test subject for human pheromones; when he gets home, Jim jumps him. Or The Object of My Erections by Speranza: "Three conversations and then The Sex Scene That Simply Would Not End." (Jim finds Blair's pheromones irresistible. Hijinks ensue.)

Starsky & Hutch:

• In White Rabbit by Morgan Logan, the guys fall victim to soup laced with 'shrooms.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace:

• In Nectar Induced Haze by Jedi Luvr, Obi-Wan unknowingly ingests fruit nectar that is used as an aphrodisiac.

Miraculous Ladybug:

• In The Boiling Point by Speaks, an akuma spreads sex-pollen that heightens sexual desire in an iconic post-reveal, pre-relationship setting between consenting, aged-up Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng promting a love confession or two.

Sailor Moon:

• For a 4 Authors 1 Trope Sex Pollen Challenge on Ao3 for the UsaMamo Sailor Moon Fandom several authors came together to write Trope Detox versions of the sex pollen trope: feminist-friendly, sex-positive, aged-up story versions intended to flip the classic scripts in a several unique consentual ways that consciously aimed to disinclude themes of sexual coercion present in the classic script of the trope.
• In Completely Under Control by UglyGreenJacket, Sailor Venus makes a potion to give King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity a reason to act on their stress-induced sexual frustration in an Established Relationship setting.
• In All's Fun with Love and Orbs by lrritable_vowel_types, instead of falling into wild lust, Mamoru Chiba and Usagi Tsukino fall into wild repulsion with each other after being subjected to the pollen within a Trope Inversion setting.
• In La Douleur Exquise by FloraOne, Mamoru Chiba and Usagi Tsukino both choose to enter a "magical bubble" known to cause near-fatal frantic lust in order to disspell it. However, the bubble will only allow in people wrecked by secret Mutual Pining who enthusuastically want to actually have sex with each other but deny themselves.
• In Love Potion No. 9 by Antigone2, subjected to a Youma's sex pollen perfume that heightens pre-existing sexual attraction to a maximum, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask willingly choose to let the aphrodisiac do its magic in a secret Mutual Pining setting.

Resources

• Te's recs of sex pollen stories in DC Comics (last updated 2004)
• Te's original sex pollen challenge (January 2004)
• Stepps' masterlist of sex pollen stories in Bandom (last updated 2008)
• sd_recs list of "sex pollen & fuck or die Sam/Dean stories in Supernatural fandom (Sept. 2011)
• Sex Pollen tag on AO3
• Superhero Muses Workshop: Writing Sex Pollen Stories by Jen_in_Japan
• Recs tagged as Sex Pollen at Fancake