"Pfft, yeah. Sounds on brand." Bemused.

Long as he was happy and not being abused, she was pretty good with Charlie finding people that loved him. That he loved.

"Thought we were legal married, I think. Felt a little like having a guy come up and ask for your hand." Snicker snorting a small storm. "In your defense, sort of, you're a bit oblivious even when people are direct sometimes. You probably would have been last no matter what."

Charlie blinked once or twice. Seeming to mull that over. WAS he oblivious????

"I-"

Hm.

"I believe you, but I can't think of an example of that happenin'...." Which wAS PROBABLY TELLING? The whole point.

Bit of an idiot, this one.

Willow gives a small squeak, stumbling backwards as Charlie stretched and grew to a massive size. She’d end up on her rear, staring up at him with a sense that could only be described as wonder.

“Ah…” The soft noise escapes her before she scrambles to her feet, reaching a shaking hand out to his snout as if she couldn’t quite believe he was real. But he was. And he was right here in front of her. Her hands brush along the sides of his snout for a moment before she manages to find a voice to speak.

“Oh Charlie…you’re beautiful.” She murmurs. “The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen…goodness, just when I didn’t think you could get any more marvelous.”

For some reason, Charlie didn't anticipate that choice of words to describe him. Since adjusting to it fully, he'd always felt so... blasé about himself in this form. There was power in his limbs and his general shape, but hearing himself be called... beautiful was not something he was prepared for.

So he leaned into the touches, a deep, rumbling purr churning from throat to chest. Loud enough to rival the thrumming bass of a passing car with its volume up just a little too loud. Trying not to be shy about it. But it was nice.

From there, he extended his wings and crouched a bit; like an invitation for her to climb on. Spiny protruding scales along his back would hopefully make it not too much of an issue to hang on. He would be slow and steady. Nervous about whatever trust she was going to put into him but... Willing to try it, at least.

One day she'd learn to swim.

"I've gotten the impression that her and her family tend to be sorts that put their sights on something and get it." Devang shared some of her limited observations. "Willow just had a...softer touch about it."

She paid attention to his expression. Trying not to let it make her feel weak. The emotions were still there. Reminded, right now, that they always were. No matter the sludge her own mind like to layer it under.

"Yeah, I am. Irene and Willow asked me about it first, heh. Thank you for checkin' in." Supposed to. Part of the whole informed polyamory around here. "Tellin' me."

Charlie exhaled. "Considerin' how Irene practically steamrolled me tryin' t'get me out on a date with her sister, yeah, that's... about the message I got from them too." One of his ears twitched, his expression modestly dull. He understood that Willow was the slightly gentler of the two.

But still. Pushy and proud about it, really.

Devang's response had him relaxing a bit, offering her a little smile of relief. Okay. Well. That's good. He'd been understandably nervous about it.

Charlie paused, however -

"Wait, they asked you about it? That's-"

...He rolled his eyes a bit. Goofs.

"Y'know, that tracks. I'm always th'last t'know, huh." He was not actually bothered. Dumb, stupidly amused smile on his face probably said as much.

"Please, no." About becoming a landscaper. "Too many bugs hang out on plants. Nothing against the bugs, but I got a terminal case of 'fuck no' after--ya know...bug-world." And Stan, but didn't want to put that man into her conversations for now.

But, eyyyy, she did a good job. "Heard you were hangin' 'round Willow. That going well?" Genuinely curious. Hoping Charlie was finding a some kind of joy that she couldn't provide--or whatever.

“Riiight… the bug thing…” Hard for him to forget. Bugs. Heights. Swimming. Enclosed spaces, if he remembered right. He could relate to at least one of those fears, but the others, he’d always struggled with.

Stopped fully in his train of thought by the mention of Willow. He WHEEZED out a cough that he did not anticipate before answering.

“Uh- Yeah, she’s… We met! And went out once… or twice. She’s a bit… She’s different.” From his usual draw towards individuals who were much more… sturdy? Thorny???? OLD?? He didn’t know.

“…She’s a bit set on us bein’ together, honestly. And the only reason I haven’t given her a definite answer was- Well.” He felt a bit awkward even with the context of what he was hoping was reset expectations with Devang. How did he handle this now???

“…Well even though we weren’t talking, I wanted to… Y’know. Make sure it was okay. With you.”

It was hard to pretend fully that he did not value her thoughts on others who he got involved with.

"Oh, more. You can't have just one sex clone, gotta have multiples. Sounds about right." Charlie started it and she was just taking the piss.

Down in she went again. Probably over thinking the hell out of what she cut loose. Did cut a couple more bits away and brought them to Charlie's hand for inspection.

“Well if the first time is good…” he let the implication wiggle alone in the air. She was not doing a great job at discouraging him. If that’s what she wanted to do.

He had a feeling she didn’t, but he didn’t want to ASSUME.

The added cuttings were both just as up to snuff. And he was pleased, scaly tail giving a happy swish as he felt out the healthy leaves and stems. Magic infused in them to provide some additional support until he could get them into soil proper.

“Good job, junior gardener,” Charlie said with a toothy grin. “We’ll make a landscaper of you yet!”

"Don't start with you and your slutty midriff." Huffed as she crouched down and scooted into the brush.

Took a few minutes for her to understand what he was asking her to do. Plants. But she found one and cut through as appropriate. Then came up and out of it. Pressing the cutting into his hand.

"Like this one?"

He fucking laughed. SLUTTY. Not what he was generally called EVER, but he'll take it. Had to thank Irene for ONE thing - well, aside from introducing him to Willow - but the new wardrobe DID have him feeling himself in a way that he had not in a while. Even if he could not see it. Had used a bit of magic to at least make sure that the fit was immaculate, even if he could not pinpoint the color or any patterns.

He was patient while she snipped the piece from the plant and provided it to him, taking a few seconds to feel out its wholeness before offering a satisfied nod.

"Yup! This is good. Maybe one or two more like this will do it. I don't need much t'really propagate."

"Listen. You might've cleared the dinner-date portion of hookin' up with me, but that don't mean nothin'." Devang drawled and crouched by the bush. Dropping knife out of sleeve and into hand.

"How do...How do I harvest a cutting?"

“Buuuuut, you’re sayin’ there’s a chance?” Sorry. He’s a gremlin. Can’t help himself. He was still attracted to her. ‘Starting over’ or not.

The question had him refocusing though.

“Just find the end of a stem that has one or two of the green leaves stickin’ out. Not the actual flower buds themselves, just the other bits. Cut it a few inches down from the leaves and that should be fine. Pretty simple. If y’accidentally strip the leaves off, you can just find another stem.”

"You can, but I don't promise not to groan afterward."

Devang trailed on after him and did NOT look when he bent over. Starting over. Can't OOGLE him disrespectfully. Blind or not.

"You are so accident prone. Do you want the knife?"

"Don't threaten me with a good time."

He would pull back away from the bush though, shaking himself out a bit to get a few larger twigs and leaves off of his shirt.

"Mm. You better do it. I'm gonna end up slicin' off my hand or somethin'." He WAS accident prone. Honestly, had been even BEFORE losing the sight.

A real klutz sometimes.

“Well I’m interested to see what sort of surprise you have for me now mister incredible.” Willow giggles and lets him guide her outside. Once outside, she’d accept the kiss on the head and step back to give him room.

“I won’t get scared! Promise! I know I might see fragile, but I don’t get scared that easy hehe~!” She cheers and clasps her hands together.

Taking in a breath, Charlie nodded and took a few steps away. At least a few yards, really. In the last few years, he'd gotten even bigger in his alternate form. So much so that when he gave a stretch and a languid yawn full of teeth to get himself shifted down onto all fours and into what he assumed most would consider a dragon, he was the size of the largest Clydesdale horse in existence. Seven feet tall and a forty-five foot wingspan, he was sizeable as he stepped back over towards Willow.

Tentative about it, however. Didn't want to scare her. Knew that he was not the most intimidating creature, even as a pseudo-dragon - that pink nose and rabbit ears of his were too cute for that - but his size and teeth alone were likely a lot to take in.

“If I was afraid of big lizards, wouldn’t that mean that I would be afraid of you?” Willow muses and leans back a bit before kissing the tip of his nose.

“I’m not at all.” She promises. “I’d love to help you fly again. Just don’t get too crazy with it cause it if I faint you’re on your own.”

"...Think bigger. But I'll take your word for it."

No, he'd have to make sure he kept any... acrobatic stunts in check. Didn't need her fainting while up there - he wouldn't be able to see to catch her either. The thought worried him, just a bit. But they could start small. Easy.

He'd take her by the hand then, heading outside so that he didn't knock anything over when he released her - but not before pressing another kiss to her head. Habit, at this point. She made it easy.

"I won't be able t'talk, but I can still understand you plenty. Just uh- Don't panic or anything, yeah?" Sheepish about it. Hoping that she was really taking into account exactly what was about to happen here.

"Boy. Do not tell me I'm out here gathering plant pussy, okay. I'm trying to be a good person."

She waited on him and...oof about the eating thing. That man is gunna be hiiiiiiigh. In, like, an hour.

"I mean, not as good as those...clipper things."

"...I could make a WAY hornier joke if it makes you feel better." Now she's gonna get a toothy grin. You're setting him up for it, Devang. Please.

Already feeling the high, fair enough. But he didn't mind in the least, following his nose to where he'd scented the azalea bushes. Across the small field where they were and further into the gardens. Mostly pinks and reds once he found the bushes, though he couldn't exactly tell what color they were. Had very few color preferences anyway.

"Here they are!" He was bent over the bottom of the bush, though he did flinch a bit when his sides got scraped up by twigs and thorns. The downsides of crop tops, he guessed.

"...Ow."

"Plant organs. Hee-hoo." Being silly, but caught most of that. Might not retain most of that, but got the useful bits for what was going on right now.

"Will a knife work for that?" As she started to stand. Dusting herself off.

"Plant SEX organs," he replied with a smirk and a slight waggle of eyebrows. So horny.

He pushed himself up too, taking another deep drag of the weed he'd had before just... eating the damn thing. Smoke seeping from between his teeth before he stood too, dusting himself off.

"It should. I usually just snap 'em off, so a knife will help for the thicker ones."

"There's no one around. Who would even?" Scoffed at the idea of 'trouble' over digging up plants. The groundskeeper might have a fuss in the morning at best.

"Aren't those big? I dunno if I can carry off a whole bush...Guess that's what you mean by 'cuttings'?" She doesn't know SHIT about plants. Except maybe some very old field survival about berries and mushrooms.

Charlie didn't know! People! But he wasn't truly concerned about it. Had just been teasing.

The question about cuttings had him nodding. Neurons activating a little as he explained:

"Cuttin' propagation is a technique where a root, stem, or leaf is removed from a plant and placed in optimum conditions to allow the plant part t'regenerate its lil' missing plant organs. Means that you can essentially make a clone of whatever plant you're nabbin' the cutting from. Not like seeds where you may or may not get an exact replica - kind of a crapshoot. And seeds are harder t'obtain outside of like an actual nursery or garden environment. Most of my plants are grown usin' cuttings. Plants can also sometimes be sterile, so the -"

He paused, catching himself. He could go on. Cleared his throat and offered a sheepish grin.

"Sorry. Don't wanna give you a lecture. But basically, if we take a snip of some of the roots or stems, I can use that."

"I was askin' in case you wanted me to help you steal some." She murmured to him.

Dandelions were nice. Yellow or puffy. Underrated flowering plant.

"I think they are." About being pretty.

"Eager t'get in trouble?" He asked, jokingly. He was grinning, however.

"Hm... I could probably use some cuttings..." Nose in the air, Charlie closed his eyes again, taking in the scents around him. Ears swiveled forward as he listened, the breeze giving him a sense of the size of the leaves and groves around him. Seeing, in a way, with the remainder of his senses. Focused. Fixated. Honed further by his training with Pride, though not necessarily for finding flowers. Still. Came in handy.

"...Azaleas," he said without opening his eyes. "And rhododendron."

"The gummies, yeah." She watched him for a moment. Felt the sprawl out and new growth. The liveliness, mostly. She could eat it--didn't.

"Sure it does." About him 'seeing' with his magic. "Probably less creepy than mine."

She nudged knee to his. "Any good plants around?"

The nudge to his knee had him opening his eyes again, glancing over in her direction. Couldn't see her - could just see the structure around her. But he could sense the plants too.

"It's a garden, so - I'd say so."

He sat upright again, taking a moment to rub hands together and pressing palms against the wood to bring those plants up and further through the planks. Probably a pain for whatever landscaper had to come and clean up in the morning, but oh well. Ended up revealing quite the bundle of dandelions that were beneath the gazebo.

"...Not as traditionally pretty as some of the other purposefully planted things around here. But I like 'em." He said as he plucked one up and gave it a little blow to send the seedlings scattering from the stem. The breeze would pick them up and carry them elsewhere.