tea with the demon and the witch [OPEN]

[cutlery]

CHARACTERS: Sebastian Michaelis (cutlery), Sieglinde Sullivan (grunehexe), and YOU

DATE: Today?! I guess?!

WARNINGS: None

SUMMARY: Sebastian received tea and a teapot for his holiday gift, so what better way to use it than to share it? That, and it's a prime opportunity to socialize Sieglinde. It's lessons time.

[ Whether you received an invitation to come to tea or just happen to be an especially dedicated explorer, you're likely to find the local apothecary's first floor slightly rearranged. After a bit of bargaining with the owners, Sebastian had managed to convince them to allow for a small gathering. While Sieglinde's little apartment above the store was well enough, it was certainly not suitable for what Sebastian had in mind. He had received a gift of tea (earl grey, of course) from ALASTAIR, and not quite having a taste for it himself, well. He had another idea on how to use it.

It was perfect for a lesson for the young lady.

A large table is set up for tea, including a plethora of tasty treats all made by Sebastian himself. He won't be sitting to join, since it's not proper for a butler, but he'll happily stand to the side of the room with the teapot at the ready to give people tea as they need a refill. There's no need to ask, since he's a butler of perfect principles, so just as you seem to be wanting more, he's there to refill your cup.

In his mind, this is an occasion for Sieglinde to meet others and socialize with them, and he can gently give lessons on proper etiquette, but it might not be in yours. Feel free to strike up a conversation with the butler quietly playing host, though he'd much prefer you speak with everyone else! ]

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ooc ; Welcome to a tea party! This log is OTA, so feel free to tag in even if you don't have CR with Sieglinde or Sebastian. He's too polite to turn people away, and Sieglinde is probably just excited to meet more people... Feel free to make toplevels and use this as a mingle post. I'll be responding to every toplevel at least! ♥

Comments

Sieglinde Sullivan | OTA

[grunehexe]

A. Pre-Party Jitters | for Sebastian;

[Sieglinde has had parties before- sort of. There were sabbats, of course, and the occasional banquet... but something like this? Something actually fun, with so many people- some she might even meet for the first time? Without the threat of death by werewolves hanging over their head?

Her feet are kicking excitedly in her chair, hands (and elbows!) on the table as she looked over the preparations Sebastian had made.]

How grand, Sebastian! You have put together quite the spread!

[How innocent, how naive... not to know the hellish round of social lessons that could await her.]

B. Little Witch Hosting | OTA

[But as unused as Sieglinde was to the conventions of English tea parties, she was the Lord of Wolfsschlucht, and she knew how to host, spreading her arms out in welcome to the newly arrived guest.]

Welcome to the tea party- please, take a seat!

[Her usual hennin headdress and antiquated dress were also gone, replaced with- well, to most people it might seem antiquated still, but Sieglinde's moved up at least a few centuries in fashion, thanks to Sebastian's skills, hair done up and dressed like a proper little Victorian lady.]

C. Manner Policing | OTA

Are you enjoying yourself... ?

[It wouldn't be a weird question if Sieglinde didn't cast a nervous look at the butler before she said it, very, very carefully picking up a fork and moving to take an equally careful bite of cake.

And... another quick tiny bite of cake with another furtive glance off to the side to make sure Sebastian wasn't watching.]

a

[cutlery]

[ Of course, Sebastian is wearing his best to match, which... means he's wearing the same thing he always does, for the most part. But today, this also comes with the addition of proper glasses and one half of his long bangs pinned up. It's a rather handsome look for him, but any admiration Sieglinde especially might have for this new look will quickly fade. She'll learn to associate this particular look with Sebastian's harsh tutelage, after all. ]

Thank you, Master Sullivan. I am glad to hear that it is to your liking.

[ He gives a gracious half bow with a smile, but then steps forward to gently pick up her arm and direct it off the table. ]

Still, do not forget, this is a part of your lessons, young lady. This is excellent practice for your etiquette, and so no elbows on the table.

[grunehexe]

[The admiration still hanging in there... But for how long was anyone's guess.

Elbows at least she could deal with- okay, elbows. She frowned, but only because she was trying to commit it to physical memory, unlearn a decade of... Well, being allowed to do whatever she damn well pleased, whether that meant eating with her hands, stuffing her face, or sprawling all over the table.

But more than restrictions on her diet, she could handle elbows. Where should she- okay, she put her hands in her lap.]

Are the Queen's parties truly like this... ?

[She gestured to the table, but she could mean any number of things by "this", really.]

C

[boneafide]

Oh yes, very much, thank you for hosting such a wonderful party!!

[ And then she shoves cake into her mouth...?? ]

You know, if you want to eat more cake, you should just get a bigger fork! That one is pretty small.

[grunehexe]

[Though Sieglinde had been beyond shocked when the skeleton first showed up at the party, with time and Sebastian's pointed reminder that a lady and host didn't show any rudeness to her guests she had settled down and stopped staring... as much. Apparently pointed questions about how he was sentient and walking weren't polite tea party conversation either, so she'd have to just assume for now that someone in Chantes practiced reanimation and other black magics. (She'd definitely ask later, though.)

Before she replied Sieglinde made sure of Sebastian's whereabouts, (pouring tea for another guest), before she held up the tiny fork a bit pathetically.]

- this is the cake fork.

[Dont you understand, skeleton? Of course she wants to eat more cake!!!]

C

[beyourrock]

[While she had 'met' Sleglinde on the network, she had never met her in person, nor had she seen her in person. But goodness, she looked so adorable in her dress. This whole tea party was all so elaborate!

Pearl perks up one she's addressed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. It looks as though the young woman has no food or drink set in front of her, but she smiles none the less. The Gem bows her head in greeting to Sleglinde.]

Yes, I am! Very much so. This is all so beautiful.

The more important question is if you're enjoying yourself as well.

[grunehexe]

[Pearl was another guest Sieglinde was doing her very best not to stare at or ask "strange" questions of. (She found her questions perfectly pertinent, mind.). There was the matter of her not seeming to be partaking of any food or drink, and she was already so very thin, and the fact that... Well, there appeared to be a large gemstone on her forehead.

At the very least, though, Sebastian's training has given her a proper answer to the question, though she commits the social no-no of waving such concerns away in a gesture of her hand while still holding on to the caked up fork.]

Nonsense- my guests' enjoyment is my own!

[Did she do it right?]

c.

[1300yen]

[Given her armor and what Alisha's talked to Sieglinde about before, she probably doesn't scream "noble lady" so much as "formal knight" from first appearances. But with her straight back, graceful eating habits, and all-around elegant conducting of herself, it might not be hard to guess that she's had some etiquette training of her own.]

Yes, quite so! It's a lovely party. [Honestly, she can't remember the last time she had the chance to enjoy something like a tea party. It's a nice change of pace.] But tell me, are you enjoying yourself as well?

[... She's enjoying the cake, if nothing else. Alisha catches that quick stolen bite, but it only makes her laugh softly behind her hand. Sieglinde is really cute, okay!!]

[grunehexe]

[That stolen bite of cake is followed soon after by another, complete with another furtive glance to make sure she isn't being seen by the butler-turned-etiquette teacher. (What she doesn't realize quite yet is that nothing escapes him- nothing.)]

Naturally if my guests are enjoying themselves I am as well.

[She'd learned that sort of pleasantry, at least- and it covered well for the fact that she felt she would have enjoyed things much better if she could eat more cake.]

b

[adlantisag]

[ She's never been invited to a tea party before! Or a tea-anything before.

As such, she's excited for a new experience, and grins broadly at Sieglinde's adorable welcome. ]

Hello, little one! I shall.

[ She sits with the grace and good posture befitting a princess, but that's about where the comparison ends. In Atlantis she'd be cross-legged on cushions with food laid out on a low table, not in a chair with a myriad of utensils she doesn't recognize.

That doesn't seem to curtail her appetite though, because she eyes the spread hungrily. ]

What should I start with...?

[grunehexe]

[Kida was one of the guests Sieglinde was most looking forward to, (as excited as she was to meet new persons, and as knowing as she was that it probably wasn't "ladylike" to play favorites). At the sight of the other woman she can't contain herself, breaking from the more rigid role of host to excitedly pat the seat next to her until Kida came to settle there.]

It is good you have come- Sebastian's cooking has no equal!

[Which... She can say confidently thanks to having tasted only her own servants' fare and then Masamune's but seriously though, he's good.. At the question Sieglinde already has an answer ready, pointing eagerly at a particular cake to Kida's right, garnished liberally with berries.]

That one!

B

[digophelia]

[ It has all the hallmarks of the afternoon tea parties her family hosted, thankfully, a far cry from the tea parties back in Wonderland. It's been so long, Alice stands there, looking the display over, before she responds.

It's very easy for her to lose herself into her thoughts. ]

Goodness, am I not allow to say "hello"?

[ This will be a challenge, she can't remember most of the customs of tea parties, only bits and pieces of would-be "polite" conversation topics for a lady.

Which was not talking, at all, and Alice was far too blunt of a person to abide by that. ]

[grunehexe]

[Oh. Sieglinde's moment of blinking likely betrays that she wasn't expecting that kind of response. It wasn't exactly typical when she received guests at her manor... all of the... one time it had legitimately happened with actual guests and not just village women coming to call.]

- of course you may.

[She was most definitely free to. In the meantime, though, Sieglinde pats a seat by her excitedly.]

Papyrus | OTA

[boneafide]

[ Sebastian probably regrets being too polite, because now there's a skeleton showing up to the party. Who even wants that?? It's too late now anyway, because here he is, making his way into this delightful tea party. Not that he's rude or clumsy even, it's just... no one really expects a skeleton to show up to a tea party, right? But he seems happy to be here, nonetheless. ]

Hello, everyone! Thank you for inviting me! I've never been to one of these before, although I was expecting a lot more spiders...

[ Aren't spiders always at tea parties? No? Maybe that's just an Underground thing. ]

[cutlery]

[ In a sense, he is. Sebastian is still having flashbacks to someone honestly thinking you could melt ham every time he's in the kitchen, but. Sebastian also assumes that so long as Papyrus is confined to this area and not allowed to cook, it might be fine. He seems like a friendly sort, at least, and that was good enough.

Just, you know. Sebastian definitely doesn't think that this skeleton has a brain.

Sebastian sighs heavily, and he looks his way with a mildly concerned expression. ]

Why on earth would you expect spiders, dare I ask?

[boneafide]

[ Well, if we want to get technical, he does lack any and all organs of the flesh... ]

Usually they're the ones that host tea parties! You know, with Spider Cider and Donuts. "Made by spiders, for spiders, of spiders."

... No?

Never heard of it?

[digophelia]

[ Rather than gaze at him in horror, Alice's green eyes were fixated on his figure, with a slew of questions in her head forming, the first being that if she was hallucinating or not. But the confirmation of other responses proves that, no, this isn't a hallucination.

This is very real. ]

Ah, what do you mean? Spiders? [ Maybe in Wonderland, perhaps, with something along the lines of horrible mechanical corruption. ]

How can you drink tea? Why, you have no stomach!

[boneafide]

I mean spiders! That's what I mean. They love tea parties.

[Hello, Alice. Meet Tweedledee. Tweedledum is probably off napping somewhere.]

Magic! I mean, how else would that be possible? I guess I could just let it fall though, but that'd make a big mess.

Pearl | OTA

[beyourrock]

[After receiving word from Sebastian about this small get together for a friend of his, the Gem just couldn't turn it down. It sounded so wonderful, and if anything, endearing. Plus, she wouldn't mind seeing the man again after all the help he gave her during the jailbreak.

She steps into the room and sees the exquisite display of treats across the table top. While Pearl herself doesn't eat or drink, she can't help but admire the treats. The Gem steps up to the table, her hands folded behind her back as she looks at the treats with a careful eye, taking mental notes. Maybe some of these would be suitable for Steven's own tastebuds.]

Oh my, these look so wonderful!

[cutlery]

Thank you very much, Miss Pearl.

[ Sebastian responds gently and politely, and he really does look quite genuinely pleased not only to see her, but to be in this setting at all. Considering how they met, it's almost a comical contrast, since he seems just as suited to tending to this little party as he had holding a spear. He's a weird guy... ]

I hope that they are satisfactory. It is somewhat difficult to prepare truly proper fare for tea, but... Well. I suppose I need not be so picky here!

[ He gestures towards one of the chairs politely. ]

So, welcome. Please take a seat and enjoy yourself if you would like.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl perks up and turns on her heels to see Sebastian, which causes her to smile a fraction wider. It was much better to see him in a more relaxed setting. A much more silent setting than the clanging of metal and the shouts of battle cries. The Gem glances over her shoulder at the treats.]

They look extraordinary! I'm very impressed by it all.

[She moves to take a seat, rather stiff in how she does so as she takes a closer look at the treats. Her stomach churns. A small weak smile pulls at her lips.]

I think they look rather tasty!

[Though, she doesn't make a move for one. Nor does she move to take up a tea cup.]

Loki | Open

[selfimage]

[ having been raised as a prince of the Realm Eternal and child of Odin, as well has having a few thousand years of memories, Loki can pull the whole proper etiquette thing all too well. Asgardian formalities usually were more barbaric, occasionally ending with someone getting an axe to the face, but Freyja had demanded a certain level of civility from her children, especially Thor and Loki.

there's an easy elegance to him; a cross of his leg here, and a lean back there that pushes the boundaries of conventional polite behavior but doesn't cross them. he puts on his best charming face, which, well, is still a little skeevy.

time to bother people. ]

And here I hardly thought we had the time ...

[cutlery]

[ Once Loki has settled himself, Sebastian takes the role of the butler as he's expected to do. He steps forward and places a teacup in from of Loki, a fragrant and perfectly prepared Earl Grey tea. The comment gets Sebastian to laugh gently, which is a warm and pleasant sound, though his response is wry. ]

Why, there is always time for tea, you know.

[ He says, being Very English for a moment. ]

Though I do jest slightly. I thought to make time, for this was my gift from ALASTAIR, and I would rather use it up now.

[digophelia]

An old friend of mine would say it's always time for tea.

[ Though, technically, the Mad Hatter was so obsessed with tea, that he didn't really regard time, at all, even after Wonderland's corruption. He's an interesting sort, isn't he? He looks vaguely familiar, but Alice can't really put her finger on it. She's a little transfixed, if only because the way he carries himself is, yes, oddly elegant.

But that expression earns a sour look from Alice has to hold back the urge to drop her head on her hands -- no elbows on the table. ]

[grunehexe]

Apparently there is always time for lessons before meeting Queens.

[If Sieglinde sounds just a bit bitter about that it's because she totally is. Though she'd been rather excited for this party, (and still was, really, look at all the people nd the food), her childish joy had been cut rather short by the knowledge that this was training.

And training involved not eating what she wanted, not putting her elbows on the table, using the right forks, and all manner of very miserable things.]