It was almost like the longer they were in the greenhouse, the more aggressive and handsy the plants were becoming and Jared didn't like that at all. First of all, it didn't make any sense. Plants were living things, sure, but they weren't all Audrey II, for fuck's sake. Audrey II had been an alien, anyway, not a plant, if he remembered right. Second, was it literally the water that was giving them life? Because if it was, then it stood to reason that they'd die back away to the still lush but not overwhelmingly, chokingly lush state they'd been in when he and Sharra had entered the room to begin with. Somehow, Jared doubted they'd fall away that fast.

"It's really flattering that you think I'm strong enough to lift you, but you're gonna have to climb up, babes," he shouted over the rush of water as apologetically as he could manage. He crouched a little with the hopes that she would be able to get up on his shoulders if he lowered himself enough for her to climb on. Then all he had to do was stand up. ...which would probably be a lot easier said than done with the extra weight, but if he could chicken fight in the city pool, then he could do this. It was almost the same, right?

Jared braced himself and mentally prepared with the hopes that he wouldn't immediately fall over. He also made a mental note to start hitting the gym again when he got out of this dump. "Ready when you are. Go for it."