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At this point, Aïtana wasn't sure why she was still listening to this person. They were more than clearly not on the same page. Morally as well as dictionary-wise. The chair got lifted off the floor once Catarina seemed satisfied with her theatrics.

Aïtana's face turned from apathy to a mix of apathy and defeat. It wasn't the kind of defeat that suggested you had found yourself in a corner or at a loss of will to fight and now felt there was no other way but to surrender. It was the kind of defeat that made you retreat into yourself and let the other person talk because they are too stupid to follow your simple logic. The kind of people who stand before you and stomp their feet and grin at you thinking they've won when you stop arguing with them, not even realizing that they haven't understood a single word you had said before. It was a waste of time to reason with such people.

Aïtana's had nothing of her humor, her bitterness, or her sarcasm in it anymore. She just sounded bored. [color=fab900]"Just because you are able to remember and quote my sentences doesn't mean you understand them. If I say those words it [i]implies[/i] that I think little of your morality. It does not imply I believe you to be a monster because - as I've said before - those are mythical creatures. And you are not mythical. You are not hell-bound. You are just a human who decides to make decisions the law doesn't agree with. You are a criminal. That's all you are. If your definition of a monster includes yourself as such, then that is something you should reflect upon with yourself. My definition of a monster doesn't include people. If you haven't understood why I can spell it out for you. But I thought you smarter than that."[/color]

The woman took a deep breath. Much like a professor who was sincerely done explaining the same thing yet another time for that one student who still doesn't get. [color=fab900]"If you think I haven't picked up on your feelings regarding my intellect, you have missed something. However, what surprises me I must admit is that you seem to think I care one bit whether you think me the greatest genius or the biggest fool that ever walked this planet or the next. I don't know why I am still granting you this much of my breath."[/color]

She wasn't sure what made Catarina think any of her words had left even the slightest mark on her. Maybe she had misjudged her after all. It was possible Aïtana had given her more credit than was due.

[color=fab900]"As for your offer... Hold me responsible if you can handle holding yourself responsible. If you wanna appear so brave, let's see what the judges say about our crimes."[/color] What gesture, word, or expression had caused Catarina to even think for a second she'd need her to not hold her accountable for her wrongdoings? How did this person think she'd even be tempted to let her off the hook if in return Catarina let [i]her[/i] off the hook? She wasn't even on the damn hook! 

Yes, she had made mistakes. As everyone else. And she was not seeking a mistake-free existence. But all her mistakes had been honest and she had done her best to repair what could be repaired. She had done her best to better herself. Her mistakes were not hidden, she hadn't run from them. She had dealt with them openly, had endured the public's roar and the possible social and legal consequences. What had Catarina done to make her trustworthy? What had she done that would allow Aïtana to trust even a single of her words? Why would someone like Aïtana ever consider sitting on the same level as someone like Catarina?

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