fandomhigh | Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #6

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!)

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Karla smiled. "Especially for kicking your cousin in the shins. Though fancy shoes are nice and pointy."

"Get heavy enough soles and you don't need pointy," Triela countered with a laugh.

"Get boots with spring-loaded knives in the toe, and you don't need heavy soles," Karla said with a grin.

"Never had any myself, but I always wanted a pair."

"I suspect you'd accidentally stick something you didn't meant to," Triela laughed. "Those sorts of tricky things never work right."

"Still want one," Karla said. "It's a risk I'm willing to run for the opportunity to have boots with knives hidden inside of them."

"What kind of boots would they be, anyway? Riding boots, or what? I mean, you'd want them to blend in, right?"

"Probably riding boots. Something with a thick enough heel that the spring-mechanism could be disguised," Karla said thoughtfully. "You know, I would love to design an entire set of eveningwear filled with all sorts of hidden weapons. You could go to any fancy party and still be armed to the teeth." Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Maybe you should!" Triela suggested with a grin.

She shook her arms. "These sleeves alone could hold an arsenal. I mean...look at these things."

Triela shook her head. "How do you even move in something like that?"

"Carefully," Karla answered. "Actually, I have enough practice that I can do okay. I can even dance in it. But if something were to happen, I'd probably just cut myself out of it."

Triela nodded. "I think I'll stick with this. No cutting required."

"True. Not to mention I don't really need to hide weapons. I can just call them in at my leisure. Still fun to think about, though." Karla thought for a minute. "Besides, looking at me, would you honestly think me capable of anything other than standing around looking pretty in this?"

Triela looked Karla up and down before shrugging. "Don't forget that I work with a team of girls who kill people. And most of them are tinier and cuter than I am." That was: all of them were.

"Okay, maybe not you then," Karla allowed. "But most people, right? Which is why your team is made of adorable young girls."

"Precisely," Triela nodded. "People underestimate them." Somehow Triela never thought of herself as 'cute', even though that was what the Agency went for in its operatives.

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

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