truth be told, nina hadn’t been all too surprised by her project origin audition results— at this point in her trainee journey, the brunette had long since gotten used to opportunity slipping through her open palms, instead having to settle for background glory ( or, in some cases, nothing at all ). each rejection leaves a lingering bitterness on the roof of her mouth, yet, despite her repulsion, there’s an underlying addiction nina simply could not seem to shake. there’s an annoying, ever festering need to prove, a need to show she was capable and willing, even when it came to opportunities she wasn’t necessarily all that interested in. so, with that mentality solidifying as each day passed, nina had also come to terms with the fact that not every chance she put herself out there for would yield positive results. that was fine.
besides, this wasn’t a gig she’d been banking on too badly. for now, she was ok making up the filler crowd.
spending hours on end practicing for something she surely wouldn’t be given much credit for is certainly taxing, don’t get her wrong— there are plenty of other things nina could be doing, plenty of other lessons and workshops she could be taking with the intent of bettering skills she actually wanted to utilize, but nina forces herself to try and find even the slimmest of silver linings ( if she didn’t, there was no doubt she’d have lost her mind weeks ago ). said silver lining? she wasn’t the only one who seemed to be having a hard time, regardless of how transparent she allowed her feelings to be. nina felt for sian, she really did— it was one thing to have to participate in something that, while not particularly pertaining to the path she wanted to walk, offered only mild overlap in career interest. it was a whole different ballgame having to do things that didn’t overlap with ones focus completely.
sian doesn’t seem to be in much of a rush to leave once practice for the day is over, lingering as other make to run out, and the action has nina slowing her own movements. nina feels exhausted, body still having to take its time to cool down despite the work she’s put in with her stamina, and she can’t even begin to imagine how beat the other girl must feel ( her features are more than enough of an indication, all on their own ). as the crowd continues to thin, nina grabs the water bottle she’d set down near her bag. for a moment, she waits, letting the room continue to air out. then, she edges her way closer to the blonde.
“penny for your thoughts?” nina holds out the water bottle to sian, unassuming and waiting.
sian was in this mess as a punishment— for the blatant honesty last quarter in her journals. her hand was now being forced, to commit and try something she truly had no drive to pursue. sian didn’t feel as though her participation in this musical was important or detrimental to her success. they were merely trying to make a point— and so she got it. point made. point heard. she’s tired. she misses the liveliness and warmth of the old dormitories— the comfort of her then roommates and the comforting embrace of her best friend. she feels drained. uninspired. devoid of emotion and drive. she never expected to get this beat down over something so trivial.
sian felt like she could book a one way ticket back to texas right now. she surely wouldn’t be missing anything.
she sighs, pushing back stray strands of blonde hair that had fallen from her ponytail. the room slowly begins to quieten as the other trainees make their way out, only sian is surprised by a sudden figure looming at her side. to her surprise, it’s nina. she offers the older female a small smile, which disappears the moment she looks away. nina offers her a bottle of water, to which sian takes, not entirely sure if she’s thirsty or not. “thanks.” she murmurs, gesturing to the bottle. she mulls over the water for a moment, rolling her wrist in a gentle motion. she sighs.
“feels kind of stupid to say that i was hoping for more.” sian admits, glancing at the ground. “uh, congratulations on your minor part, though. that must be a relief, right?
