Well, Abby was not, obviously ready to do as she was told, and PRECEDE her into the room, but Caroline took it all in stride.

The suit of armor she had requested stood in the corner. Perfect and there were two sets of dainty tables and chairs, among other interesting props in the large room, appropriately, given the nature of the detention, named the Training Room.

Caroline stepped lightly into the room and held the door open, "It's bad manners to keep your hosts waiting, Ms Wright," she said instructively.

Abby makes her way into the Training Room behind Miss Avalon. Abby doesn't say anything to the woman's comment. Past experience has taught Abby not to venture off by yourself when you don't know the terrain. She notices the place is set up to look like a formal dining room. It reminds Abby of the Etiquette Classes at Barrows. She walks over and examines the tables. Of course they are perfectly laid out. Abby waits for Miss Avalon to tell her what to do next.

Ms Wright's attire would simply not do. Drawing her wand, Caroline did a quick bit of clever magic, transfiguring the girl's sweater and jeans into a black knee length dress and her shoes into a pair of low heals. She also conjured the girl a pair of crocheted gloves.

"Now, isn't that much better?" Caroline asked. "Won't you please have a seat?" She gestured to the table.

Abby looks down at her clothes. She has to admit; she likes them. Abby walks over and sits down at the table. She takes a sip of water. Her mouth is rather dry. "You said you were waiting for someone else. Will you start my detention when he or she arrives?" Abby remembers very well her last detention with Professor Lupa. Abby wonders when Miss Avalon is going to take the kid gloves off and get down to business.

Caroline shook her head ever so slightly.

Oh they had so much work to do.

"Ms Wright, in this detention you will be learning better manners, among other things. First, you will learn when it is your turn to speak. You did not answer my question, so you certainly didn't earn the right to ask one of your own; you spoke out of turn. Please don't do that again." Caroline took small, graceful steps to stand behind Abby's chair, and placed her hands lightly on the back. "Also, it's terribly unladylike to just flop into a chair, stand up please."

OOC: Sorry I missed the questions. Poor eyesight.


"Yes ma'am. Sorry ma'am." Abby stands up again. "I do like the dress. I'm not so sure about the gloves." Abby notices how obvious her wand holster looks. She takes it off and puts it on the table.

No No No.

"Ms Wright, please put your wand holster back on. It doesn't belong on the table. I'll disillusion it for you." Oh MERLIN we have work to do.

Abby looks at the woman like she's lost her mind. Of course she knows it doesn't go on the table. Normally Abby would have left it in her room, but she didn't know they were going to be having a formal dinner instead of detention. "Yes ma'am." Abby puts it back on. This is the craziest detention Abby's ever had.

Caroline rapped her wand hard against the wand holster and disillusioned it.

"Now, Miss Wright, let me explain what else you have done wrong since you have arrived in detention," she said as if she were making conversation, "First, as I mentioned, there is your manner of not waiting your turn to speak, this is a persistent problem of yours outside detention, I've noticed. I also mentioned that you don't gracefully sit as a young lady should, but we'll get to that lesson, so please remain standing. And then there is how, when an adult gives you a gift, you need to learn that honesty, while usually the best policy, should not be brutally employed if you don't like something; it's rude."

It shocked Caroline a little that no one ever taught these things to Abby.

"So when I say 'Isn't that much better?' a more appropriate answer would be, 'Yes, thank you,' or your previous answer, but leaving out any disparaging comments about the gloves, my dear," she explained, "Let us try that again, 'Isn't that much better?'"

If I have to say this again, I might as well put an Alice band on my head and double all the doilies on the tables.

What is it with this woman? She never lets me finish a thought. I didn't mean I didn't like the gloves. I just don't think they are appropriate for dinner. I feel like I'm in Etiquette Class at Barrows again. Oooh how I hated that class. Abby grits her teeth together. "Thank you, Miss Avalon. The dress and gloves are lovely, and thank you for fixing my wand for me. I shouldn't have assumed you would want this like most professors do during detention." Nope better not say that. Too much imformation. She must have been raised by parents who believed children should be seen and not heard. Can I help it if my parents raised me to have strong opinions and to not be afraid to speak them?

"That's much better Ms Wright," Caroline complimented.

She may not be fond of the child, but she had to give praise where praise is due. However small.

"Now, we'll have a lesson in sitting down like a young lady," she said.

Caroline explained while she demonstrated, sitting down at her own table, 'the grown ups table':

"You must never turn to look at where you are sitting, you simply look at where you going as you approach your seat, back into your chair gently until you find it with the back of one leg. Sit down with your back straight on the edge of the seat and slide gently toward the back of the seat. You must never bend over or lean forward during any part of this process. You must also never cross your legs, never sit on your feet. Sit with your knees together (that's imperative) and one foot tucked behind the other. Now you try."

"Thank you, ma'am." Abby listens to Miss Avalon's directions as to how to sit in a chair. It can't be... I mean I know Lord Voldemort possessed people, but he was a dis-inbodied spirit not a ghost. If I closed my eyes, I'd swear Madame Cecil was teaching this class. She was the first ghost I ever saw. Of course she wasn't too pleased when I found a whoopie cushion that even a ghost could set off. Now that was a detention. Abby stands back for a moment and examines every inch of the chair. It looks like a normal chair, but Miss Avalon could have put a spell on it. Either way, I don't have a choice. I have to try and sit in the chair the proper way.

Abby walks up to the table and pulls the chair out. She positions herself in front of it. Abby keeps her back rigid as she backs up to the chair. Her left leg hits the apron of the chair. Abby move forward a little, gently runs her hands down her rear end to keep her dress straight. She then sits down. That wasn't so difficult. Suddenly Abby hears a loud wishing sound as the woopie cushon's air escapes. She doesn't move an inch until the sound disappears. Abby then slides her rear end until it is position at the back of the chair. Not the easiest thing to do with a disillusioned whoopie cushion under your fanny. Her back is still upright and not touching the chair. For a moment she sits spread eagle. Realizing her mistake, Abby quickly pulls her knees together and puts her left leg behind her right leg. She puts her hands in her lap, and tries to breath as quietly as possible. Abby also tries as hard as she can to keep a straight face. That last for about half a second. Then Abby finds herself with an uncontrollable case of the giggles. "Sorry, ma'am."

Ethan walked into the training room dressed to impress just as Cari had asked him to. Of course, being the owlery, he had charmed his clothing to remain immaculate. He knocked on the doorframe as he stepped inside.

Well, this should be fun.

"Hello Cari, Abby. Sorry I'm late."

Abby stops giggling when she hears Professor Truebridge's voice. Finally someone who is sane. Then Abby sees what he's wearing. She has to admit he looks gorgeous but strange at the same time. I mean he just doesn't look like Professor Truebridge. He looks more like a model than the zen professor I've come to know and love. She gives him a small smile. Abby would say hello, but Miss Avalon hasn't given her permission to speak.

Well.

Since Caroline hadn't put a whoopie cushion there since Abby sat down last, and she hadn't given Abby permision to so much as twitch... it couldn't that missy had sat on an invisible one, could it?

Nope.

The ill mannered child had farted.

And the mannerly thing to do is ignore it.

Caroline stared resolutely at the door above Abby's head wondering if she could even BE taught basic manners.

Probably not.

She was resisting the urge to rub her temples when the door opened. And she might have thrown herself upon the person who entered, but you know... good manners.

"Not at all, Ethan," she dismissed behind a grin of relief. Thank you thank you thank yoooooouu!

"Miss Wright, wouldn't you like to say hello to Professor Truebridge?" Hello? I meant don't speak until you are spoken to - he spoke to you. Speak! Dur!

Abby looks at Professor Truebridge with sad eyes saying please rescue me from this mad woman. She figures that's not going to happen anytime soon, so Abby replies to Miss Avalon's order. "Good evening, Professor Truebridge. How are you tonight?"

Maybe she can be taught yet.

"Very good Ms Wright. Now, how would you invite Professor Truebridge to join us for tea?" she asked.

Without scaring the living daylights out of him... she added silently.

Abby looks at Miss Avalon. She starting to wonder what rock she crawled out from under. Abby has had tea with the US Minister of Magic for crying out loud. She looks back at Professor Truebridge. He is definitely easy on the eyes in that monkey suit. I wonder if he owns it, or if he's renting it. Must be renting it. The suit looks fabulous on him, but I just don't imagine him wearing something like that on a regular basis. "Professor Truebridge, would you like to join us for tea?"

Ethan returned Abby's small smile and added a respectful little nod.

Truebridge gave Cari a tiny nod, trying very hard not to stare too much. Just enough, but not too much. That was something he'd managed to pick up back in the day. After all, Cari looked nice but that was hardly the most important thing about her, was it?


"Good evening, Abby. I am quite well." Ethan responded, quite naturally. He looked back at the Hufflepuff, his eyes quite clearly responding with the word 'detention' flashing in them.

Did she expect detention to be something that was supposed to be fun?

Though Ethan himself would have MUCH preferred this as a detention to those he'd suffered (SUFFERED!) at the hands of Valon Kazimeriz.

Truebridge waited patiently and gave Abby a bare but encouraging nod.

"Certainly Abby I'd be both honoured and delighted." Ethan essayed a low bow for the fun of it, shot an almost mischievous half-smile at Cari and decided to enjoy himself. "If I may be so bold as to say so, you both look lovely."

Abby smiles at Professor Trubridge's bow. She nods her head. Abby not sure if she should stand and curtsy too. "Thank you kind sir. May I say you look quite handsome in your tux." Oooh I love eye candy. I wonder who I have to kill to get Professor Lawson up here in a tux like that too. Who need chocolate when you have those two to oogle at. "I want to apologize for my slight Miss Avalon. You look lovely in your dress too." Abby takes her eyes off of Truebridge for a moment to acknowledge Miss Avalon with a nod too. "Miss Avalon, should I have stood and curtsyed when Professor Truebridge bowed?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

Ethan returned Abby's small smile and added a respectful little nod.



Truebridge gave Cari a tiny nod, trying very hard not to stare too much. Just enough, but not too much. That was something he'd managed to pick up back in the day. After all, Cari looked nice but that was hardly the most important thing about her, was it?




"Good evening, Abby. I am quite well." Ethan responded, quite naturally. He looked back at the Hufflepuff, his eyes quite clearly responding with the word 'detention' flashing in them.

Did she expect detention to be something that was supposed to be fun?

Though Ethan himself would have MUCH preferred this as a detention to those he'd suffered (SUFFERED!) at the hands of Valon Kazimeriz.



Truebridge waited patiently and gave Abby a bare but encouraging nod.



"Certainly Abby I'd be both honoured and delighted." Ethan essayed a low bow for the fun of it, shot an almost mischievous half-smile at Cari and decided to enjoy himself. "If I may be so bold as to say so, you both look lovely."

A tiny blush crept across Cari's cheeks and nose. Hmmm. She always did have trouble with her friends seeing her in her formal best. She once threatened Ogden viciously should he ever tell Lee about her secret formal life. Maybe this detention had a downside.

Or twelve.

"Thank you Ethan," she replied, a little more formally than was normal for them, but she was trying to lead by example. "You look very distinguished yourself."

She hated saying that. Worst line ever. But the standard reply. Ug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Weasley

Abby smiles at Professor Trubridge's bow. She nods her head. Abby not sure if she should stand and curtsy too. "Thank you kind sir. May I say you look quite handsome in your tux." Oooh I love eye candy. I wonder who I have to kill to get Professor Lawson up here in a tux like that too. Who need chocolate when you have those two to oogle at. "I want to apologize for my slight Miss Avalon. You look lovely in your dress too." Abby takes her eyes off of Truebridge for a moment to acknowledge Miss Avalon with a nod too. "Miss Avalon, should I have stood and curtsyed when Professor Truebridge bowed?"

"Thank you very much, Ms Wright." Ha! she CAN be taught!

Caroline shook her head slightly. "No Miss Wright, not in these circumstances, since you are already sitting. It's awkward to stand just to curtsy."

Caroline took up the tea pot and one of the teacup and saucers on the table.

"Now, we shall have a lesson in how to properly pour tea for a guest," she announced.

She really felt like an idiot with Ethan around, and she'd feel like a bigger idiot yet when his part came.

But on the bright side? At least it wasn't Marcus.

Abby thinks about Miss Avalon's answer for a moment. In her mind she visualizes trying to stand and knocking the whole table over. Not the best thing to do. Then Miss Avalon mentions pouring tea... Pouring tea!!! A look of terror comes over Abby's face. The last time she tried to pour tea on her own... Mrs. Graham tried to make light of me pouring too much tea in the cup, but my mom... If looks could kill, I wouldn't be in detention right now. My tea pouring skills did improve a little after pouring it everyday for the remainder of summer vacation. Poor Miss Ernst... on the bright side, my dad did pay her cleaning bills, but she never would have tea with me again after that summer.

Of course, when one had suits especially tailored, it was only natural that they'd look good in them.

"Thank you, Abby."

Ethan inclined his head in acknowledgement of the compliment. Sort of.

It was his actor self that was managing all this. If he stopped and thought about it for a moment he'd realise... yeah. Mortification.

Truebridge sat himself and idly listened to Cari instruct Abby.

Hmmm? What was that odd expression for? Had she left an iron on somewhere? Was she constipated? Had Abby just had visions of her boggart?

Tea though...

Ethan DID like tea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Weasley

Abby thinks about Miss Avalon's answer for a moment. In her mind she visualizes trying to stand and knocking the whole table over. Not the best thing to do. Then Miss Avalon mentions pouring tea... Pouring tea!!! A look of terror comes over Abby's face. The last time she tried to pour tea on her own... Mrs. Graham tried to make light of me pouring too much tea in the cup, but my mom... If looks could kill, I wouldn't be in detention right now. My tea pouring skills did improve a little after pouring it everyday for the remainder of summer vacation. Poor Miss Ernst... on the bright side, my dad did pay her cleaning bills, but she never would have tea with me again after that summer.

"Now Miss Wright, though there is no medical proof of this, it's best not to tempt fate and make faces like that, lest it get stuck that way," she warned her gently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoT

Of course, when one had suits especially tailored, it was only natural that they'd look good in them.

"Thank you, Abby."



Ethan inclined his head in acknowledgement of the compliment. Sort of.

It was his actor self that was managing all this. If he stopped and thought about it for a moment he'd realise... yeah. Mortification.

Truebridge sat himself and idly listened to Cari instruct Abby.



Hmmm? What was that odd expression for? Had she left an iron on somewhere? Was she constipated? Had Abby just had visions of her boggart?

Tea though...

Ethan DID like tea.

Cari relaxed a little as Ethan sat. Which is good, because pouring tea "like a lady" was a loathesome skill.

"Now Miss Wright, for whatever reason, you are meant to do this with you cup resting on your saucer, and holding the saucer and teapot more or less at equal height. Ladies are supposed be able to balance both perfectly and it's a difficult skill." Caroline demonstrated, "Now when you hold the saucer, hold it firmly but don't grip it, between your thumb and forefinger and pour the tea in a slow but steady stream. And then put the pot down, ask if they take anything in their tea, and give it to them. - Do you take anything Ethan?" she asked, replacing the pot on the table.

Abby didn't realize she had made a strange face. Her thoughts were a million miles away. "Sorry ma'am." Abby straightens her face out when Miss Avalon starts showing her how you pour a cup of tea. It figures there would be more than one way to pour tea, and I've practiced a different way altogehter. Abby picks a spare cup up using her thumb and index finger. She holds it in the air just like Miss Avalon does and pretends to pour tea from a tea pot. "Miss Avalon, is there a way to make sure you don't put too much tea in the cup?" The last thing Abby wants to do is spill tea on the table cloth, Miss Avalon, Professor Truebridge, or of course herself. This is going to take concentration and a lot of practice.