(Untitled)

[ol_yellow_eyes]

Data is in the bar with his cat today, occupying one of the booths. Spot is standing on the table with his face in a bowl of (apparently delicious) cat food, next to which is a datapad that his owner is currently studying

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[reallyaduck]

Duck is bouncing cheerfully past Spock's table when she notices . . . the cat.

!!!!!!!

She reels backwards on her heels - the 'flight' reflex is maybe just a little stronger in girls who are actually ducks - and then remembers a little late that she is a girl now, a girl who is ten times the size of cats (except for Mr. Cat, but that's another story) and promptly tries very hard to put on an air of total unconcern.

She'd be whistling if she could. Alas, she cannot.

[reallyaduck]

"Well, um, Puss in Boots, right? Where the cat always knows what's best - Mr. Cat really likes that one! And the White Cat too - she was a princess really but they had to cut off her head before she could turn back to one . . . I dunno if I'd be brave enough to get my head cut off just to turn into a princess!"

Fortunately it's not that hard for Duck to turn into a magical princess. On the other hand, it's never permanent, either.

"We had to learn about them when we were learning Sleeping Beauty 'cause they're in the third act, and you gotta learn to dance a pas de chat - that goes like this!" Duck attempts to demonstrate, her feet skidding on the floor in her everyday school shoes.

[ol_yellow_eyes]

Data watches the demonstration with interest.

"Do the beginners at your school take part in the performances as well, then?" he asks.

[reallyaduck]

Duck loses control of her feet and slides several inches over before bringing herself back in front of Spock.

"If you're really good you get to be in the chorus and stuff sometimes! I'm not that good though . . . I had to do a pas de deux with Fakir once 'cause Miss Paulamoni asked and that was on stage and everything, but it was way scary and uh I kinda sucked."

[ol_yellow_eyes]

"You are still learning," Data observes, an attempt at reassurance.

Curious, he asks, "Do you experience what is known as 'stage fright'?"

[reallyaduck]

"Oh yeah! All the time!"

Duck shivers demonstratively, wrapping her arms around herself.

"With everyone looking at you it's really scary . . . the only way to get over it is if you're really having fun dancing and then you can forget there's lots of people watching!"

[ol_yellow_eyes]

"Were you not having fun, then, when you were dancing on stage with Fakir?" Data asks.

Spot has currently begun to groom himself.