Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #6 - Thursday, June 18

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet had handwavily notified her students to meet her in the Danger Shop, this week, and added that they might wish to wear something elegant, but not to concern themselves if they were unable to accomplish the latter. She herself had worn one of her favorite gowns, with a stylish hairpiece and opera-length gloves.

The Danger Shop looked identical to Miss Bennet's classroom, save the two ornate double doors off to one side, and a far more ordinary one to the rear.

"Welcome," Miss Bennet said, smiling at her students. "First, I should like to say that you have my apologies for my absence last week, though I am glad to know that I left you in quite capable hands. Secondly, I wish to inform you that, as last week is our last time together, I will be giving a final exam. Pray do not distress yourselves studying; it will not be the sort of examination which requires rote memorization. More a practical application of what we have learned so far.

"And now, we may progress to today's lesson. Today, we will be discussing etiquette as applies to more formal setting; that is to say, a dinner party." She clasped her hands in front of herself. "One arrives, and mingles with the other guests, making polite conversation. Nothing too serious, and nothing which may cause offense. When dinner is announced, guests follow into the dining area by order of precedence -- their social standing as regards one another. When you find yourself in doubt in such situations, it is wiser to err on the side of caution, and rank yourself slightly lower than your own estimations. It is better to be elevated by an attentive hostess than demoted.

"Always stand until your hostess sits. Soup is the first course; do take care not to begin on your own food until all have been served, and even then, it is wise to wait for one's hostess to begin. Converse with those seated near you. Do not shout over several individuals in order to have a loud conversation with someone on the opposite side of the table altogether. Do please remember that it is considered rude to snub the food with which you are presented; if it is not to your liking, make an effort to eat enough of it that your dislike will not be noticeable, lest the party think you are insulting your hostess. For silverware, there is a simple trick: start on the furthest utensil out, then move inward for each course."

Miss Bennet then straightened up, and walked purposefully to the door at the back of the room. "You all look quite lovely," she said, regardless of whether any of them had actually worn anything formal. "But we have several minutes before our dinner party is to start. So should any of you desire, you may sample the Danger Shop's wares." She opened the door, revealing a small storeroom filled with dresses and suits, with changing areas to the side. Her eyes were dancing. "Do please hurry, so our food does not turn cold."

(Wait for OCD up!)

Comments

The Antechamber [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

The double doors lead to a small square room, with lush carpeting and ornate chairs. Waiters are carrying trays of champagne flutes; do not get your hopes up. It's ginger ale.

You can head here directly, and wait for your classmates who are changing clothes, or you can arrive here once you have found a new outfit. Mingle, socialize, get your schmooze on.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Karla stood in the antechamber drinking some ginger ale out of a champagne flute, trying not to sigh. Just because she could do this in her sleep didn't mean she wanted to. Usually, in Kaeleer, there's be a few musicians playing, either a string quartet or a piantist or something. After her conversation with Leto the other day, Karla found herself wishing there was a piano to play.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela held a full flute of ginger ale which she hadn't sipped from at all. Better safe than sorry, and she didn't really want to ask anyone if there was alcohol in the glass.

She seemed oddly comfortable, but that might have been because all she had to do was stand there and watch people, and that was something she was very good at.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Karla slid up next to her. "Cute," she said, glancing at Triela's outfit. "The males in Kaeleer wear outfits like that, though it fits you nicely."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela blinked and looked down at herself. She'd never really applied the term 'cute' to anything she wore before.

"Thanks," she managed after a second to think about it. "It's traditionally a man's garment here too, though mine's tailored to fit me." It wasn't like Triela had any real curves to speak of, but the tuxedo almost made it look like she did.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

"I like it. After I came home, I always wore male's garments instead of my own. Of course, I did it to be rebellious and piss off my guardian."

That was truth. Though only a half-truth.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"It's just... what I've always worn," Triela shrugged. "I get uncomfortable if I have to wear dresses and stuff."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

"I'm getting used to them again. I only stopped wearing them when I went home. Gowns were a reminder," she said quietly.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela frowned for just a split second, an expression that was gone fast enough that it might not have ever been there. "A reminder," she repeated.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan sipped her flute of ginger ale and looked around the room at her classmates. They did clean up nicely.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that Rose didn't like socialising. To the contrary really. But this sort of formal thing just made her think of the Moroi royals, and her job was to protect them not to attend this type of function.

Which was why she was all kinds of sad that the champagne flutes didn't actually have champagne.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet's flute could have had champagne, but it seemed vulgar to indulge when her pupils were left with ginger ale, so she was joining them.

She sipped from her glass and glanced around the room, smiling at whichever students caught her eye.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

When a waiter offered a champagne flute, Yakko responded, "No thanks, I brought my own."

Yakko then pulled a flute out of his suit jacket and started playing Oasis songs.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet raised an eyebrow, but she seemed more amused than put out.

"How kind of you to provide music," she noted.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but I have not yet BEGUN to play music!" Yakko said before launching into Thriller. On the flute. He was doing the dance while playing, too.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

"Impressive," Miss Bennet said with a nod. "You should be certain to notify us, when you begin to play music. It shall be equally entertaining, I would imagine."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

"And ruin the magic of spontaneous music?" Yakko asked. "I'll think about it, but I make no guarantees."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

"I'll do my best to stay attentive," Miss Bennet laughed. "But if it becomes music and I'm not aware, I suppose that's my own fault."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes sipped at her flute of ginger ale and looked around uncomfortably. She wasn't very good with formal settings.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

The antechamber was a good place for Leda to steel herself. She had to make the transition from her preferred identity of street punk, to full on Dragon's Tooth Hill Princess. Only hopefully without the insufferable arrogance.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Karla sauntered over, dressed to the hilt. "Gremlin-bit again?" she teased gently.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda smiled elegantly. "Not at all darling." she said. Her accent now sounded vaguely Eastern European Aristocracy. "I'm simply remembering how to be the girl my foster parents wish me to be." She really seemed like a different person. Almost literally.

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Now Karla was trying to decide if the lack of an odd psychic scent was a good thing or a bad thing. "I think I like my Leda better," she said quietly. "She feels more real. This Leda," she said, looking at Leda admiringly, "is very beautiful, but isn't for me, I think."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

This Leda did not lose her composure, she was an Elf after all. Fortunately she had been able to not bury herself too far in this version, so she was not offended.

"She'll be back soon enough, I assure you."

Re: The Antechamber [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

"I'm glad of it." She gave Leda another long, considering look. "Funny. I put my Court manners on and off like a garment. I'm still Karla, I just behave myself better. Yours is a change that seems to go far deeper."