[There was, of course, a very primal fear of being devoured. It was something he and Floyd had faced often growing up. So he’d be lying if he said that suddenly being right above a giant throat didn’t set him a teeny bit on edge.

He was, however, also a total masochist and there was something about being completely at her mercy that turned him on. Of course he was still helping himself under control, and he was able to shift himself a little closer to her, and a little farther from the eating people part of the titan.]

Generally yes, but I think I could make a special exception for you.

[A demi-bluff. But only demi. He’d rather not be wholesale devoured, but if she’s got a biting kink she wants to indulge he’d be happy to be her target.]

And what of that little vow of pacifism of yours? I'm beginning to think this ancestor of yours just doesn't like me.

[He wouldn't have it any other way of course, because honestly he wasn't terribly fond of her ancestor. Dead people should stay dead.

But this was really more about teasing her and calling her bluff. Making Jabs at her ancestor was just a perk.]

Are there exceptions for "immoral fishmen"?

[Because that's still hilarious to him. She's never living it down.]

[He did indeed catch her fighting the switch, which, much to his amusement, proved him right.]

My, my. I spoke my words in jest, but it would seem as though there’s truth to it. That’s a shame, I truly don’t mind this… Karl, was it? I simply have no respect for him.

[Which is honestly probably worse when it comes to matters related to Jade. He had no use for a coward with a room temperature IQ and the backbone of a jellyfish.

This probably should fall under the category of “disliking someone”, but Jade would argue the semantics until he died.

As the way out opened he merely stared at it for a moment instead climbed further upwards to take a seat on some of the fleshy mass holding Frieda in place. He wondered if that would put the titan’s… something to sleep. Arm? Leg? He wouldn’t know.

Frieda did mention the big flesh gollum was difficult to control, and Jade didn’t think it would be in anyone’s best interests if she had an episode while piloting it. Best to stay close and keep watch from the inside.]

Anyway, I would much rather keep my present company.

Mercy is a tool for the weak to feel better about their inability to make dire decisions. All I hear is an irrelevant old man using his descendants as mouthpieces for his impressively nonsensical and contradictory opinions, because he couldn’t even die properly.

[And this is all said with the most cheerful and polite tone. He does not particularly care to be bothered with with nonsense at the moment, so he’s just breezing through it.

He would rather get back to more important matters, like flirting.]

Now, if I could have my Frieda back I would greatly appreciate it. I’m still “shooting my shot” as it were.

You’re cherry-picking my argument. You cannot accept my take on mercy without also acknowledging that this Karl is… [You know what, he’s going to steal one from Vil.] a complete and utter potato of a person.

My point was I could at least have a shed more respect for an individual that was only an idiot rather than a spineless idiot.

[Sometimes he envies his brother’s shameless when it came to being crass, because there’s a joke about deep-throating here that’s going to go completely to waste.

Anyway, he’s wormed his way next to her to affectionately rest his head on her shoulder, both because he wasn’t giving up his attempts at flirting, and to make this as awkward as possible to her inherited will. Frieda would know the mischief in his eyes though, this in only step one. Jade currently banking on her ancestor NOT noticing, and being too caught up in the self righteous soap boxing.]

I am personally rather glad that he was a coward, since I would say I have immensely benefited from it.

Counterpoint:

[And that was just the perfect opening to give Frieda's cheek a nice good play bite. Gentle as always, he doesn't want to maul her face, but his teeth are still sharp and it is no doubt very uncomfortable.

Get wrecked Karl. Who's on the menu now?]

[Well, unfortunately for Karl’s will, this is both incredibly amusing to him, as well a huge turn on.

He was initially jostled about, but like an infuriatingly resilient popcorn kernel, he finds a nice fleshy wall and seems to wedge himself in place. A partial transformation- in his merform he had built-in defenses against being devoured, namely the number of long jagged spines over his forearms and back, not to mention his claws. Even he wouldn’t be able to disengage himself from the spot easily unless he pushed forward and flattened the spines out retracted them altogether.

The only thing he was mildly displeased was the tearing of his dorm uniform. That was also the reason for the “partial” transformation. If he tore through his pants then returning to the city in his human form would be rather awkward.]

My, my. What an adorable first attempt at hunting. Clumsy, impulsive, and lacking in any forethought, but I would not hold Frieda’s ancestor to standards I know him to be incapable of.

[And his tone is infuriatingly patronizing, while being played off as him being genuinely considerate. Like he’s commenting on a child’s drawing where they failed to color within the lines.]

Would you like some tips?

Well, if your kind were truly so easy to eat, then you would have gone extinct ages ago. You clearly evolved to survive just as I have. And your kind already kill off your weak regularly, whether you devour them or allow them to starve on the streets, the end result is the same.

We are not so different- save for the pompous self-righteousness, and delusions of self-importance, of course.

[It was a truly hilarious trait of humans. They tended to believe they were somehow above the laws of nature, just because a number of them managed to have a relatively cushy life.

But Frieda’s people have taken it to a newer, funnier, level.

He could laugh about it later, currently they were at a stalemate, and that simply wouldn’t do. He knew he would win a battle of attrition, either Frieda would front again, or she’d presumably grow exhausted. But that wouldn’t be a fun win.

He needed to puzzle out some of the workings of this thing and think through a plan or several that did not compromise his current advantage. He curiously started looking at the fleshy tendrils that connected to Frieda and the… tumor-like formation she was wedged in.

He could reach one such tendril fairly easily, should he dislodge an arm… yes he would do just that- it would somewhat compromise his cushy hiding corner, but not enough that he’d be immediately shaken loose.

So he would give that tendril a curious twang… while looking “Frieda” right in the eye.]

Ah, struck a nerve did I?

[Whether he was speaking literally or figuratively was anyone’s guess, since it would seem he somehow managed to strike them both at once.

For the moment he was going to focus on the literal nerve he’d poked before, but this time he he tore it from the fleshy wall near him as he grabbed it, and in a smooth motion retracted his spines briefly and leapt from his spot to the fleshy mass containing Frieda. His claws kept him held in place until he started to climb up.

And dangerous as it was, given that he could be shaken loose again, he’s perfectly calm. Of course there was a hint of amusement at all of this, but he was level headed and meticulously thinking his actions through.]

[Oh look at that, he might actually have to make some sort of effort to get out of this one. That leaves him with two choices, magic, or his true form, but considering one will tear his pants to shreds... magic it is.

But that brought forth another question, what kind? Fire in such an enclosed space was ill-advised, not to mention he did not want to harm Frieda, same would go for lightning spells. Ice could perhaps work though would require precision, flora magic...

Yes that would do.

So at tendrils reached and latched onto him, so too did vines start to grow forth from the masses and walls until the space was a cobweb of vine and flesh. Just in time for him to be shaken loose, only to land safely amidst the tangle, and got himself comfortable just to rub it in that the efforts to kill him were, once again, in vain.]

My, my, I'm surprised I actually had to use a spell. Maybe I should actually put an effort in?

[Unfortunately for Jade, he’s unaware that she’s hitting her limit with the titan, all he knows is that if he winds up outside of the titan it’s an instant game over for him.

But this development gives him quite the unique opportunity to get the upper hand. So he keeps his cool, since he’s got no reason to panic. “Karl” has inadvertently set him up for an advantage.

But first, he needed to be insufferable and get the last word.]

Dear me, so arrogant after just one spell. I suppose that means I no longer need to hold back then?

[And with that he froze the mouth of the titan just as it was ejecting the bile in its stomach- leaving it nowhere else to go but up into the service they were having their little battle. It would surely only last a moment until the hot liquid fell back into the stomach, but this gave him the opportunity to assume his true form safely. Without gravity holding him back he was able to swiftly discard his pants as he took his true form and sped for Frieda, where he wrapped his long buddy around the fleshy cocoon she was in. To be an extra bastard he made sure he was hugging her from behind, head on her shoulder.

Smiling like an asshole.

Go on Karl. Tempt him. He needed to make it abundantly clear that he was better than this inherited buffoon possessing his Frieda.

It no longer mattered what he tried, even if he managed to drain this… whatever it was, Jade was safely coiled in place. Of course there was no telling how safe it was to “breathe” whatever liquid this was, but eh. That would be a problem for future Jade.]