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

Dinner [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

The dining room itself comprised of a long wooden table, with a candelabra at its center and further candles along the midline. The white tablecloth was starched, and each place setting had a china plate, several utensils, and wine goblets.

There was also a small card at each setting, with a person's name written in Miss Bennet's flowing script. Miss Bennet herself was seated at the head of the table, and Miss Watson had the opposite position. Naturally.

"Thank you all for attending my dinner party," Miss Bennet said warmly.

Find your seat (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Rellyjean/eliza/dinnerparty.jpg), pull the napkin onto your lap, and the meal will begin.

(For those of you at work who cannot see Photobucket images, please check the OOC for the text version. Despite her comments about not shouting across the table, do feel free to converse with whoever -- I only made up the seating arrangement because I'm OCD like that.)

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Interesting. Karla hadn't actually spoken to any of the people closest to her that her mun could remember. She smiled at all of them, and tucked her napkin into her lap, trying to decide who looked most open to small talk.

"Kiss kiss," she said, by way of greeting.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose stared. "Does that mean you want a kiss? Cause you probably should try the kid on the other side for that."

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Karla grinned and shook her head. "Greeting, not request. Or invitation," she added. "I'm Karla."

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I'm Rose," she laughed. "Now I'm not all worried you'll jump and kiss me."

She was totally teasing. She liked being jumped and kissed.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan took her seat and hoped that Worf would not be providing his own food. She recalled all too well the 'food' he served at the Multi-Cultural Fair.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Good day," Agnes said to her. "How do you do?"

It seemed like an appropriate greeting, given the stuffiness of the situation.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"I'm doing well, thank you," Joan said. "And yourself?"

She could do polite chit-chat.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Quite well, myself," Agnes replied. "This is a delightful party, isn't it?"

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela had impeccable table manners. It was one of those odd points in her education that had been thoroughly covered by the Agency. She was also glad she wasn't sitting next to Leto. He still made her uncomfortable, and she still wasn't sure why, and that was still frustrating.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

No, seriously, Rose would have been much more comfortable along the wall guarding this little party thing, but she had some clue how to behave properly and tried to show it.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[oops-mbad.livejournal.com]

Diana really didn't want to know what she did to end up sitting right next to the teacher, so she was working on how long she could sit without moving.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet noticed that the girl to her immediate right seemed to be frozen in place. She dropped her voice to a low murmur, such that only that girl and people very close to either of them might hear it.

"None of the food is actually poisonous," she teased gently, "and it's unlikely to bite you, either."

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[oops-mbad.livejournal.com]

Diana was not frozen; there was no ice. "I don't do dresses." She informed Miss Bennet under her breath.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda nodded courteously to the girl sitting beside her. "Hello Diana." Her accent had even changed. It sounded vaguely Eastern European Aristocracy.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund took his seat after the ladies had, between Rose and Triela and across from Agnes and Joan. He seemed quite at ease, moreso than throughout the rest of the workshop every week.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

After her conversation with Karla, Rose turned to her other dinner partner. Because she'd seen movies about how this worked.

"You look comfortable," she teased.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You get used to these after a while," he replied, settling back in his chair.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[glacial_queen]

Since Miss Bennet didn't seem too averse to chatting, Karla leaned backward in her chair and spoke around Rose. "Are we still on the part of the conversation where we made empty chatter about the weather and the food or have we moved on to more amusing topics yet?" Her irreverent grin was at odds with her formal attire.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"There was the possibility of a food fight discussed, but I think it was decided against so as not to ruin Miss Bennet's dinner party," Edmund replied, adjusting his chair so he could still remain a part of the dinner without being rude to his neighbours.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

Yakko took his seat and reviewed the silverware. It was hardly up to par.

And so he threw that stuff away and started pulling his own silverware out of his jacket.

"A salad fork
A dinner fork
A butter knife
A water glass
A soup spoon
A dinner knife
A fork for eating pickled bass
An oyster fork, dessert spoon, a napkin, and a finger bowl,
A dinner spoon, a salad knife, a bread plate for your dinner roll"

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Pickled bass, really? I doubt we'll be served any of that."

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

"You can never be too prepared at a fancy dinner," Yakko said. "That's why I also brought my own barbeque grill."

Strangely enough, Yakko couldn't seem to locate it on him. "Huh. Must be in my other jacket."

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes stared at the menagerie of silverware by her plate. Considering that meals back home were often eaten with just a knife, and having forks was considered classy, there was entirely too much there to work with.

She selected a fork, a knife, and a spoon, and arranged the rest in a neat pile above her plate. As and when the waitstaff stole her utensils -- because they would, you know they would -- she'd pull a new one from the pile.

Re: Dinner [ET-6]

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

It was amazing how easily one could get used to High Society again. Leda usually disdained high society. But you'd never know it to watch her.