[color=gray]As Catarina spoke, Aïtana kept her gaze on her food, only looking up at her at times. But she was fully aware of every movement, every twitch with the eye her captor was taking. Even if just from the corner of her eye, Aïtana was watching her. She didn't feel tense or stressed. She felt more curious. And she was hungry. So she focused on her food and tried to listen to Catarina without her emotions getting in the way for once.

As much as Catarina's surprise eased Aïtana's mind just a little more - [i]she had managed to surprise Catarina, to break through her masks for a moment [/i]-, she was soon to be the one to show surprise as Catarina actually took her up on her offer and asked for the address of her lingerie shop. Aïtana lowered her bread to the table and looked at Catarina with confusion on her face for a moment before she got up. [color=fab900]"Of course."[/color] She moved through the room. Once she found the items, she took it upon herself to write down the address.

With a couple of steps, she stood in front of the bars that made her room a prison. She folded the paper once, lowered herself down to Catarina's level, and slid the paper through the bars for her to take.

After, she returned to her seat at the table and continued her meal as if nothing had happened. But something had changed. [color=fab900][i]Strange... How one simple exchange can shift something.[/i][/color] She wasn't gonna let a little moment like that make her forget how she was still imprisoned, how Catarina had knocked her out with her pain spell before and could do it again anytime she felt Aïtana was being too unpleasant.

But Catarina wasn't done surprising her. She had actually... listened? Aïtana was slowly running out of food. She had been eating a fraction too fast and she needed to slow down before her hands would be left empty. Catarina had just acknowledged what Aïtana had explained. She had admitted that Aïtana had every right to her anger. And that wasn't all. Had she really just confessed that she didn't know how to handle this situation any further? [color=fab900][i]Did Catarina just ask me for advice on respect?[/i][/color]

[color=fab900]"Uhm..."[/color] Aïtana was at a loss for words. How could she give advice in such a situation? Of course, Catarina was correct to assume she could not let Aïtana go if she didn't want to stand up for her crimes. She couldn't help but feel rushes of anger coming up again. [color=fab900][i]Asking to be taught respect but not wanting to be held responsible for her actions, that's just like you, isn't it?[/i][/color] But this wouldn't help her. What was her own agenda here? To show Catarina just how much she despised her actions, her morals? Did she want to make sure Catarina went back to hurting her and not really listening? She had undoubtedly surprised her this morning and lifted the mask. If she wanted to get anywhere, she needed to start with keeping it respectful as long as Catarina attempted the same. She was listening. She was asking for help. This could definitely be a sign that there was still room for Catarina to grow. Somewhere, somehow - maybe.

[color=fab900]"Well... You could continue to talk to me at eye level. That is a good start. You could also give me the newspapers every morning. I like to read them. I'd appreciate three actual meals per day. I am assuming you were gonna provide that already. And fresh clothes. A big jug of water always refilled and a cup to drink from. I should not have to ask you for water throughout the day. That would be the best beginning, I think."[/color]

Catarina rose from her position on the floor. Aïtana noticed the glance to the second chair at the table. She had already guessed that Catarina would use it one of the coming days. She hadn't bothered to think about in what context that would be - she had felt it would have been a more cruel one than shared meals. But it seemed Catarina was missing friendships in her life. She seemed lonely to Aïtana, in that moment. She could've been mistaken though. There would be plenty of other reasons her gaze could have crossed that chair. Maybe she had seen a fly.

[color=fab900]"I must admit that I indeed don't feel up to reading. The... situation kind of takes the fun out of that."[/color]

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