Part 1: Dining Etiquette

The Lady's Code of Conduct: Revised Edition
Chapter 1: Dining Etiquette
1. When attending formal dining occasions, one must wear a hat and gloves.
Eagle: Do I really need to wear a hat to Ms. Sotheby's dinner party? I've never been to such a high-class event before.
Eagle: Hmm, no, think again, think again.
The desire to meet the standards of others is one that even a child isn't spared from.
The nervous little girl takes off her Scout cap, reluctantly putting it back in the closet.
Eagle: Maybe I should change into something else? Mr. APPLe's Complete Guide to Education and Social Etiquette says that it's important to follow the dress code of a formal dinner.
Eagle: That's right. You have to be meticulous in how you present yourself to avoid leaving a bad impression.
She rummages through her things and pulls out a crumpled little dress, a birthday gift from her father when she was eleven.
Even during the height of the war, her father planned out every gift his daughter would receive at each age.
She wipes the sweat off her palms onto her skirt as she looks at herself in the mirror.
Eagle: That's strange. There should be a pussy bow here. A cute, soft one, perfect for a dinner party.
Eagle: What if I pick two leaves from outside and fashion them into a bow?
Eagle: No. I mustn't think like that. A Scout would never damage public property.
The alarm cuts through her deliberations, reminding her of how little time she has left to decide.
Eagle: Uh-oh, time's up.
She stops the alarm and dashes out the door.
2. When attending important events, one must never be late or early.
Eagle: Ms. Sotheby? Where's Ms. Sotheby's room?
Ms. Moissan: Oh—goodness! Slow down, child!
Ms. Moissan: Ah, Ms. Eagle?
Ms. Moissan: Come on now, dear. The more anxious you are, the more you ought to relax. Take a deep breath, and slow down.
Eagle: huff, huff, huff
Ms. Moissan smiles as she watches Eagle regulate her breathing, her little flushed face gradually returning to its normal color.
Eagle: Sorry, Ms. Moissan, I didn't mean to be rushing around.
Eagle: It's just that Ms. Sotheby invited me to her dinner party, and I have to be on time.
Ms. Moissan checks her watch.
Ms. Moissan: A dinner party? Hmm, then you might well be late already.
Ms. Moissan: Generally, a formal dinner party starts at eight o'clock sharp. It's now 8:01. You'd be—
Before she can finish her sentence, Eagle has already dashed off down the hallway.
3. Cutlery must be arranged according to specific standards at any formal dinner party.
Knives and spoons are placed on the right, while forks must be placed on the left.
Sotheby: La-la-di-da! Teaspoon, egg spoon, melon spoon, grapefruit spoon ...
This room is always lively, hosting parties and dinners for all kinds of friends.
The hostess of the room is wearing a fancy green satin hat, and her jewelry shows the signature sparkle of the Corona Borealis brand.
Her heels clack as she makes her way around the table to arrange the cutlery.
Footsteps echo from the hallway, growing louder as they approach.
Eagle: Reporting! I'm so sorry!
Eagle: It's my first time attending such a fancy dinner party, and I'm afraid of making mistakes. I-I studied every page of the Complete Guide to Education and Social Etiquette, but the rules are still too complicated for me.
Eagle: Wait, no, a good Scout shouldn't make excuses for their mistakes. I've broken the etiquette rules, so go ahead and punish me! I'll do a hundred push-ups, no, a thousand!
Twins Sleep: Come sit! Come sit!
The twins, Lisa and Louise, sit at the table, eagerly waiting for the dinner to start.
The hostess of the room spins around and stops in front of Eagle. The little Scout's ears turn red with embarrassment.
Sotheby: Oh! You're here! How wonderful it is to see you, my dear friend!
She gives Eagle a welcoming smile.
4. One must stand behind one's chair and wait for the host or hostess to sit first. When entering and leaving one's seat, one must enter from the left and exit from the right.
Eagle stands behind her chair, nervously waiting for the hostess to sit down.
Sotheby: Huh? What's that grumbling sound? It can't be a Carbuncle licking its fur, so it must be someone's stomach growling!
The anticipation seems to reach its peak, as everyone is waiting for the dinner to begin.
Eagle swallows, wondering what delicious food they'll be feasting on.
Sotheby turns around, takes her seat, and looks around the room, nodding in satisfaction.
Sotheby: Alright! Let's get started, shall we?
A strange-looking little black doll stumbles out of the kitchen, carrying far more food in its arms than it can possibly handle.
Sotheby: This is our appetizer! Nachos covered in delicious powdered cheese!
The doll jumps onto the table, scattering nachos everywhere as it frantically pours the chips into Lisa's and Louise's bowls.
Sotheby: Whoa—yummy! Go ahead and dip them in the Sticky Snot Syrup! It's delicious!
Having distributed the food, the little black doll slyly grabs a nacho and quietly puts it in its mouth.
The little Scout's eyes widen.
Eagle: Ahem, and these are ...?
But she quickly falls silent. Apparently, commenting on the dishes is also against etiquette.
Sotheby: Next up, we have our Mini Mischief Mint Chocolates and Pop-a-Rock Rainbow Candy!
Sotheby: Give them a try! They come in all sorts of different flavors! Some taste like dragonflies and morning dew, and others make you croak like a frog! Hehe!
The hostess continues, overwhelmed by her excitement.
Sotheby: Oh, and there's more! Does anyone else miss the little bear cookies from the Nabiscuit Company?
Sotheby: Well, I have them! Aren't they cute? This one looks like a snowman! And this one over here—it looks like a Buru Lizard, don't you think?
No one dares touch the cutlery. Even the twins exchange puzzled glances.
Sotheby: Oh, oh! And the highly anticipated main course—Popping Candy Popcorn!
Sotheby: A unique creation by Sotheby herself! They puff up like little clouds and burst like magical carbonated bubbles! They'll make you want to bounce up and down, and you'll see a rainbow!
Sotheby: Oh, and paired with these cupcakes, they'll make for a sensational taste experience!
Her introduction is over.
Sotheby kisses the little black doll she has infused with her arcane skill.
Sotheby: Thank you, Typhon!
The doll deflates like a balloon. Before long, it's lying limp on her lap. Sotheby hangs it back on her pocket watch.
Eagle: E-Excuse me ...
Eagle: Is this what we're going to eat now?
Sotheby: Of course, why else would I host a formal dinner party?
Eagle: But, Ms. Sotheby, haven't you ...
Eagle: Haven't you noticed these are all snacks?
Sotheby: Yes! They're snacks—the greatest snacks ever!
Eagle: So, we're eating snacks for dinner?
Eagle: The officers in the barracks call this "energy-draining junk food."
Sotheby: Junk food? Hmm, if by that you mean "amazingly delicious," then yes! It's "junk food"!
She blinks, her natural optimism glowing in her large green eyes, and forks a cookie into her mouth.
Meanwhile, the serious little Scout holds her knife and fork, staring at the assortment of candy, chocolates, and nachos on her plate, unsure of how to proceed.
Sotheby: Huh? What's wrong? Why aren't you eating?
Twins Sleep: Yes, why aren't you? It's so hard to find snacks like these in the suitcase.
Eagle: I-I don't want to eat snacks. A Scout should focus on nutrition, not candy and chocolate.
Sotheby: Oh, really? But I've heard what you talk about in your sleep.
Indeed, Eagle's father once left her a bag of Pop-a-Rock Rainbow Candy, and she indulged in every single one.
Eagle: Oh ... th-that's ...
The guilty little Scout is speechless.
Sotheby: Yes! So I made these for everyone! It wasn't hard; I can mimic the Nabiscuit Company's products to a T!
Eagle looks up in shock at the enthusiastic hostess.
Eagle: You mean, you made all these snacks yourself?
Sotheby: Yes! Lady Sotheby made them all herself.
In the midst of their conversation, no one has noticed that the Popping Candy Popcorn has been slowly expanding all this time.
Hot steam has started to rise from it.
But Sotheby is too lost in the excitement of the conversation.
Sotheby: Popping Candy Popcorn is my latest creation, you know. I worked ever so hard on it. It took thirty-eight failed experiments to finally land on the perfect one.
Sotheby: But this number thirty-nine is the perfect formula. It has—
*bang*
The dish at the center of the table explodes, filling the room with smoke.
Sotheby: What? What's happening?
Twins Sleep: It exploded! It exploded!
Sotheby: cough
Sotheby: An explosion? From where?
Eagle: The main course—the Popping Candy Popcorn—it exploded!
Sotheby: Impossible! Popping Candy Popcorn is the result of long experimentation! It couldn't possibly just ...
Sotheby: cough
She quickly pulls the explosive snack from the depths of the smoke and throws it out the window, still in disbelief at what has happened.
*boom* A blaze ignites in the Wilderness outside.
Eagle: Will Ms. Vertin get mad at us for damaging public property?
A sorrow envelopes the room, with some worrying about being scolded by their "landlord" and others realizing their thirty-ninth experiment has ended in failure.
Sotheby: Why did this happen? The calcium carbonate mixture and bubble essence didn't work together? But I already increased the dosage.
As the thick smoke clears, it reveals the large hole that has been blasted in the wall of Sotheby's room.
On the other side is Sotheby's neighbor, sitting on the edge of her bed.
She is extremely thin and pale and wearing a nightgown.
She has a medical drip by her side and bandages on her arms and legs.
She leans over to look at the scene of the incident.
Cristallo: Um, sorry to interrupt you, but ...
Cristallo: Popcorn is made from corn.
Sotheby: What did you say?
The earlier explosion has caused a brief ringing in Sotheby's ears.
Cristallo: It's like this ...
The pale girl tries to raise her voice, but the sound that comes from her throat is still faint.
Cristallo: Popcorn—is—made—from—corn!
Her gentle, nasal voice lingers in the air before dissipating with the smoke.
Lisa and Louise look at Cristallo, soot all over their faces.
Sotheby: Wow.
Sotheby is stunned by this statement.
Sotheby: That's the most interesting thing I've heard for a while.