fandomhigh | Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #7

Miss Bennet was a generous, kind soul who would never place her students in any real danger. But she was going to amuse herself at their expense. Somehow, teaching etiquette did not preclude her from misbehaving.

Oh, this would be fun.

"Good morning," Miss Bennet said, clapping her hands in front of herself. "As I warned you last week, you do, in fact, have a final exam today. That is why I have asked all of you to assemble here, in the Danger Shop. Your exam will be a test of many of the principles we have learned over our short weeks together -- how to be social and civil even in circumstances which may be considered less than ideal.

"In this next room," she said, gesturing through the doorway, "is a gentleman by the name of the Reverend William Collins. He wishes to propose marriage to you, for varying reasons, which he will list for you at the slightest provocation. I assure you, you do not wish to accept his proposal. However.

"You cannot simply stride into the next room and call him rude names. The laws of inheritance state that Mr. Collins is next in line for your estate; should your father fall ill this very evening, and pass away, then by dawn, your house and all your possessions will belong to Mr. Collins. Making an enemy of him will have very real and very dire consequences.

"Walk that particular balance as best you can. Persuade him that you do not wish to marry. Spare his feelings. Dissuade him from wishing to offer for you. This is your final exam: refusing Mr. Collins's proposal while not causing him to throw your family out onto the street." Her smile was nearly evil. "Good luck. I do believe you shall need it."

(OCD COMING!)

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Solemnly swear that you are up to no good.

Take notes. Stare at one another in horror. Wonder if Miss Bennet is joking.

(She isn't.)

Each of you will be entering the Proposal of Doom Room separately, one at a time. You will not be able to observe one another's finals. So if you should like to congregate and chatter nervously or discuss strategies, feel free to do so here.

The room is a small, quite homey drawing room, with a dining table at its center and a potted fern serving as its centerpiece. Mr. Collins is pacing, but will greet you in a gushy, overly warm manner once you enter the room.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: in order for this exam to be fair to all participants -- i.e., so that everyone is on a level playing field -- Mr. Collins is going to be ignorant towards distinctions of gender, sexuality, race, or species. Arguing that you are male and Mr. Collins's parish will disapprove of your passionate gay love will earn you a blank stare and a reboot of Mr. Collins's last ping. Because everyone should have to suffer, that's why, and because otherwise this wouldn't be much of an exercise for the male students.)

Edited 2009-06-25 05:40 (UTC)

You can leave after you have completed the final, if you choose, or you can come here, to a separate waiting area, in order to converse with your fellow ~~survivors~~ students.

Only students who've taken the exam already can be here -- no mingling with those who have yet to go, or you might be able to give them tips.

Edited 2009-06-25 05:42 (UTC)

Tell her that she's been a lovely TA, and compliment her catsuit once more for the road.

Accuse her of sadism. See if she is sorry. She seems more amused than sorry, though.

Thank you all for being a lovely class. Extra-special thanks to Wendy-mun, who will be helping with the Creep-of-Doom NPCing.

Because if Miss Bennet had to endure that horrible proposal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWx7AF8B0R8), then so should you.

Karla di Glacia

Karla...was a little unsure how to Procede. Protocol had handled dissuading persistent males, of course, but not any who had any form of power over her. And she didn't have other males around to send him packing if and when all else failed.

Karla hesitantly entered the room. She had a fair idea that her usual greeting would not be appropriate at this time. Taking a good look at him, she was glad she went with that thought. "Mr. Collins?" she called. "You wished to speak with me."

"I did," Mr. Collins said, approaching with a wide grin and reaching to take Karla's hand, should she allow it. "Believe me, my dear, your modesty only adds to your other perfections. But you can hardly doubt the object of my discourse, however your ... feminine delicacy may lead you to dissemble."

There was something to the man that oozed.

Leto Atreides

Hahaha, oh, mean! :D

Karla let him take her hand, but retrieved it back as gracefully as she could a few moments later. She was tempted to simper, but there was something about this Mr. Collins that reminded her of the males back home. The ones who liked their women to giggle thoughtlessly and let them take the lead.

"I'm afraid I don't," Karla said flatly. She'd intended to say something a bit more diplomatic, but oops.

Then paused for a moment thinking. Perhaps simpering could work to her advantage...

Edited 2009-06-25 06:16 (UTC)

Serena van der Woodsen

Leto couldn't really object to this as an exam, and he also didn't think he would have any problems refusing the man. He tried not to recall any ancestral memories for this - he should manage without them.

Leto shot Karla a glance, smiling a little. "I'm sure you won't have any problem with this."

Leto entered the room. He stopped by the door, eyeing the man and evaluating his first impression.

"I don't know," she said with a grin. "I have a feeling that my usual methods all involve getting tossed into the street. Or in jail. Or arrested for witchcraft or something."

"Do you have any ideas?" she asked. Not that she was trolling for ideas or anything.

HEEEE, TY. Miss Bennet should be ashamed of how much she's enjoying this, for reals.

Serena knew how to deal with pushy over-bearing men. After all, most of her mother's husbands had been like that. Doing it politely - that could be another matter. "Mr Collins? I think you were waiting for me?"

"I believe I will have to meet the man before I can decide on a strategy." Leto grinned. "You have to take into account his intelligence and perceptive talents."

Mr. Collins failed to note her lack of enthusiasm. He was not terribly skilled with subtleties, to be perfectly frank.

"Nay, my attentions have been far too marked to be mistaken," he insisted, clasping his hands together and eying her appreciatively. "For I have now singled you out as the companion of my future life."

He announced this with fanfare, as though Karla should fall at his feet and thank him.

"Come in, come in," Mr. Collins insisted, hurrying over towards Leto. "Did your excellent mother inform you that I wished to see you? I am quite certain that you know what this conversation shall be about."

For his part, Mr. Collins appeared to be thoroughly pleased with himself.

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Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #7 - Thursday, June 25th

Sign In! [ET-7]

During the Lecture [ET-7]

Waiting Area - Before [ET-7]

Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Waiting Area - Afterwards [ET-7]

Talk to Miss Watson [ET-7]

Talk to Miss Bennet [ET-7]

OOC [ET-7]

Re: Sign In! [ET-7]

Re: Waiting Area - Before [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Sign In! [ET-7]

Re: OOC [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Sign In! [ET-7]

Re: During the Lecture [ET-7]

Re: Waiting Area - Before [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Waiting Area - Before [ET-7]

Re: OOC [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Waiting Area - Before [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]

Re: Mr. Collins's Proposal [ET-7]