It pained Sterling to consider a world in which Henry was no longer at his side, not that he now knew what it was like to be in love with the man. It was true that their relationship had never really been perfect. Sterling has always had to chronically share the man with the drugs and whatever passing man or woman had caught his fancy and yet, Henry had always come back to him in the end. Surely, this too was yet another test of his dedication to the man? Even though this one certainly hurt far more than the others before it. A soft sigh left the man's lips at Harley's insistence that life was decidedly short. He knew well exactly what she was saying in that subtext. He knew well what she thought of Henry - that pining over a man who hardly bothered to check on his very life wasn't worth his time and effort. Innately, he knew she was right and yet, turning away from Henry was a challenge he wasn't yet ready to face, even if that hope had begun to dwindle significantly. He remained silent in way of a response, the warlock entirely content to instead devote himself to that magical affinity in an effort to drown out both that physical and emotional pain that so afflicted him.

The creation of those plants had been sheer chance, as far as Sterling was concerned and yet, he was slowly getting used to that feel of that magic that ran rampant in his veins. That first place was unique by pure looks alone, the little plant almost iridescent in design. The pair, however, would quickly come to discover that the little herb was hardly as innocent as it appeared to be, the sassy little thing almost had a mind of its own in the fashion it so seemed to assault the raven haired spitfire. In a way, those two creatures seemed almost fitting for one another - that plant and his companion. He could hardly help that chuckle on his lips nor the way in which he so clearly teased her with the notion of turning into one of them. The very first were-plant. No one would believe that one. Harley, as it was, seemed content to to consider the ridiculous idea as she propped herself onto that kitchen counter, eying that little herb all the while.

A small shrug crossed his shoulders at her inquiry of what he'd do with her as a plant. "Do I really bore you that much?" He inquired, glancing up at her with a mock hint of offense. She would fall asleep on him?! The nerve! That small simper at the corner of his lips surely gave him away in that moment, though he hardly stopped her from considering her life as a plant. That sudden mutterings of her plan for her plant life, however, brought that warm chuckle back to his lips. "I would pay to see that." Sterling admitted, only before insisting that, perhaps, she should consider being nicer to that little herb. Perhaps it merely returned that very demeanor that she so seemed to exude. He ignored that sneer she regarded that plant, the man instead gingerly reaching out to it with a lover's caress, his tone far softer and gentler that he was certain Harley even knew how to be. Whatever words of indignation had been upon Harley's lips, however, died abruptly as that little plant let go of that leaf. A soft breath of relief left his lips as his gaze turned triumphantly up towards his friend.

That utterance upon her lips only furthered the man's pride at his success though he could hardly say she was wrong in any sense. Sterling had always had a sort of liking for plants. The window sills of that old flat with Henry in the Upper East Side of New York City had been near covered with them. He had missed that greenery, even if he hadn't anticipated to take it quite this far. His bright blue eyes briefly glanced around the apartment in consideration. He'd have to do something about those vines, even if he intended to keep those magical little herbs he continued to craft. Each of those little herbs all seemed to have their own sort of feel about them, as if it was their personalities shining through to reflect upon his very thoughts. It was an intriguing idea and yet, he could hardly help but to wonder if she might experience the same thing. He commented over his shoulder as he turned back towards that steak of Rosemary's decided good nature. Harley's insistence that Rosemary too was likely a 'bitch' only cause that little plant to droop ever so slightly in a small display of.....sadness? Basil seemed all the more erect in that moment, as if it was willing to take the woman on for such a comment, much less the suggestion of setting them on fire!

He placed that steak upon a plate only to turn and face Harley with a clear hint of hesitance. After all, the man was about to deliver to her dog untested magic without the slightest clue of what it would do, if anything. She seemed insistant enough, however, that he was willing to at least attempt to believe in that completely utter blind faith. It was nerve wracking as he placed those two "normal" dishes before Harley and himself. That suggestion to attempt to try that herb on his leg, however, was met with a wrinkle of his nose. "Isn't that what animal testing is for?" He commented in a half hearted jest and yet, truly, he was equally as reluctant to try on himself then he was on Ace. As it was, she seemed insistant enough he try and so, with those french words, he placed that plate in front of Ace only to turn and find a place beside Harley at that bar. He'd hardly had a chance to pick up that fork before that whine immediately drew his gaze towards the dog, that hint of panic already began to flood his chest. "I don't know..." He uttered softly at her inquiry, entirely unprepared for that gut wrenching crunch. It was clear, in those moments, that Ace was changing, that body shrinking and snapping and that fur changing. It was almost horrifying to watch and equally as perturbing to hear and yet, as abruptly as that power had taken hold of the dog, it too ended, leaving nothing but the form of...

STERLING TENEMBRAGE