It's never the same

She nodded to his instructions, but turned back him lifting a brow.

"Don't I have to sort out the storage room first? And who says I'm being sentimental? Can't a Slave thank her Master? You've-" Don't tell him how much he's spoiled her! He'll take it all away just as quickly as he's given it. She slammed her lips shut, nearly biting them in the process.
Why was he being so nice to her? Was he battling his nature? Was he dangling treats before her in order for to comply? He already knew she complied as well she could, even going well above and beyond what he asked of her.

No, it was hard enough not to look at the elephant in the room, when it was in her nature to talk to it directly.

She stood up and hopped up on the ledge she would eventually make her bed. It gave her a few extra inches of height. She propped her forelegs up to another ledge to lift her head up another few inches. Yes her leg ached, but this was far less strenuous than the exercise she attempted yesterday.

"What is it you want Basilisk?" She asked, still looking up at him but at least closer to his level then usual, "Why do you do that? You dangle your attention like a treat on a hook then whisk it away as soon as I acknowledge it. I've shown you time and again that I do what you ask of me, you don't need to do that. Not anymore. I don't see myself going anywhere else at this point. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere even if you beat the light out of me." She leaned toward him, "What is it you actually want?" She asked earnestly. If there was anywhere in the Col to have this conversation it was here, with no prying eyes or ears able to notice them.

"Speech"