EXERCISE: love potion number 9

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 20:34:00 -0400

Here's the pitch...

Suppose (it could happen, somewhere, sometime, right?) that someone has developed an actual love potion.  Pheromonal?  Hormonal?  Or maybe just plain mystical magical goo? That's up to you.

Story seeds:

1. The discoverer -- should s/he tell anyone?  What do you do with this powerful mist?
2. A perfume manufacturer -- how do you market this?  Network marketing?  Highest bidders only?  What about a limited membership club, that gets exclusive use?
3. Someone who has used it?  I mean, what does it do to realize that you've done something by chemicals?  Do you respect him/her in the aftermath?
4. Someone who has been subjected to the potion?
5. How about someone who isn't affected by the potion, watching all the wild relationships forming?
6. Maybe someone who refuses to use the potion, for ethical reasons?

And so forth, and so on.

What are the limitations of the potion?  Does it wear off?  Quickly, slowly, nevermore?  Does it affect all sexes and people, or only selected ones?  What happens when the potion accidently is sprayed on a car -- does everyone want an affair with the bumper?

Let your mind play with the potion, and the effects, and the changes that result...

[bonus points for other potions and liniments -- anger rub, the love killer pill, and such.]

and Write!

(BTW: to provide proper attribution, this exercise is based very loosely on an episode of "My Favorite Martian" in which Uncle Martin brews up a love spray...)