Duck trembles, her body reacting as if it were under scrutiny and not the papers that just left her shaking hands. None of it was really a lie but that doesn't make turning in the enrollment and government forms any easier.
"Ward of the state..." Mr. Felidae mumbles just loud enough for Duck to hear as he shuffles through the pages, licking his fingers in between each. "You intend to earn your tuition through scholarship? You are here because you're already skilled in ballet?"
At his amendment after "scholarship" flew over her head, Duck nods rapidly. "I work really hard and I'll practice all the time and I really love ballet so-"
Mr. Felidae holds up his hand. "Miss Duck, I'd rather you prove yourself with your feet, not your mouth. And calm down. Even on scholarship, I don't expect you to be perfect."
She stills and tries to relax, willing herself to be loose. It works about as well as it ever had before. The thoughts escape her when her accompanying musician enters.
"Aaaa-!" Duck exclaims, her arms windmilling about in the face of Autor's calm but bemused demeanor. "I- I- I'm real happy to meet you!" She remembers her manners and throws herself forward in a bow of gratitude. "I mean thank you for playing for my tryout!"
"You're...welcome..." Autor responds, briefly adjusting his glasses before making his way to the piano.
"As you can see, Miss Duck is a very animated addition to our academy," Mr. Felidae says, using the back of his fingers to tuck a loose strand of dark gray hair back in place behind his ear. "If you would, Mr. Autor?"
The piano fills the room with Odette's Entrance in Act II of Swan Lake. Autor catches himself looking up every once in a while at Duck's delicate steps and graceful extensions of her arms. He's not sure why. He's never done so with any other auditioning ballerina. But the feeling welling through him doesn't match his actions. He then spies the unusually calm Mr. Felidae watching. Did he notice it, too?
Once the song is complete, Duck waits in anticipation for her fate.
"I think you were meant to fit in here," Mr. Felidae softly says, putting the strange and apparently mutual sensation into words. "However, your expression needs work. I've never seen such a happy Odette before."
Duck scratches the back of her head and stammers out, "I'm just really happy to dance again!"
"I look forward to having you as a diligent student, then. And I expect you to work hard, Miss Duck. Thank you, and thank you for your assistance, Mr. Autor."
Mr. Felidae indicates Duck to follow him so they can finish her paperwork, leaving Autor alone with his odd but not unwelcome contentment. The musician picks up his sheet music and meanders towards the library, wondering if it would be too painful for Fakir to learn there's a new student in the ballet division.