“You..." he trailed off, his anger evaporating at her lack of emotion.

“However I am willing to protect you from them, as well as from any humans who may be pursuing you. I take it the master you escaped from is the one called ‘Jiro'?"

Now he couldn't help but ask.

“How did you know that?!"

“You spoke his name before you fell unconscious, saying he would no longer order you around."

"Oh..." Carter felt Like blushing, but at least it was clearer how she had surmised he was an escaped slave. It didn't make him feel all that good about being essentially imprisoned though, even if it kept him safe. Yet at the same time he had no idea of where to go if he could leave, so perhaps playing along for now was best. As he considered this she spoke again quite suddenly.

“Taki.”

"What?" he questioned.

“My name," she replied. "It is Taki, Taki of the Viridian Mantis clan.

Does knowing my name put you more at ease?"

It didn't really, though his consternation at her Lack of understanding of the emotions he was feeling did make it harder to focus on his anger. "Carter," he sighed, "no last name, they never gave me one."

“Then you may take my clan's name if you wish."

"Is being forced into her family supposed to make me feel better?’

“Yeah, I guess that doesn't sound so bad, Carter Viridian..." he remarked, trying to sound more accepting than he was of the whole situation.

“You don't need to fake your sincerity," she stated suddenly. "It is unimportant if you like this arrangement, so long as you see sense to abide by it."

Carter flinched. How had she seen through him so easily? He figured he had gotten pretty good at lying over the years, given he was surrounded by criminals who Lived on Lies. "What makes you think I'm faking?"

“Even if I have no emotion, being able to spot lies is a survival skill. It is obvious that you don't like my offer from the way your voice sways and the way your jaw clenches. So, if you can, think logically. I don't ask a lot of you.

He retorted, "Little?!" giving up on trying to remain composed. You want me to remain in this place with you forever and raise a lot of monster kids! How Little is that?

"You don't have to help me raise my children. I don't think someone like you could teach them anything, either.

Not understanding why he was insulted by her statements given his Lack of desire to be a parent, he responded, “Is that what you think of your own father?!"