Drabble_weekly Challenge 334 - Scientific analysis

[m_findlow]

Title: Scientific analysis

Fandom: Torchwood

Characters: Owen

Author: m_findlow

Rating: PG

Length: 200 words

Content notes: none

Author notes: Written for Challenge 334 - Chocolate at drabble_zone

Summary: Jack has given Owen an important assignment. A double drabble.

To: Jack Harkness
From: Owen Harper
Cc: Ianto Jones
Subject: Myfanwy

So you asked me to check into the physiological impact of feeding chocolate to our latest prehistoric guest (which, by the way, is a complete waste of my skills and education as a doctor of medicine, but since you write the pay cheque…)

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which acts a lot like caffeine. It's dangerous for animals like dogs because they don't metabolise it as quickly as humans (or in your case in about twenty seconds). It increases heart rate, impacts the nervous system and drives up thirst, sending their systems into a meltdown.

Since the metabolic rate of dinosaurs has never been studied, we literally have no idea how long those chemicals will stay in its system and what impact long term ingestion could have. Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of theobromine, so as a working hypothesis we've gone all out. No observed vomiting, panting or shaking. I think we're on safe ground in small quantities (not that I'm recommending we document it as a part of their diet). Chocolate didn't exist back then.

That said, if it triggers diarrhoea, you're responsible for cleaning up.
 

Comments

[mxcatmoon]

This put a much-needed smile on my face.

[badly_knitted]

Heeee! Now watch Myf thrive on her unusual diet *grins*