For proper and fine dialogue to occur a proper foundation must be laid.

This can be accomplished through any means, and depend on your personal strengths.

Previously explained concepts such as Storytelling, Facial Expressions, and the impression of the gentleman are important facets in this endeavor.

The first impression can be improved upon through various means such as gifts.

For a gift to be appropriate and appreciated it needs to appeal to the nature of the recipient, the setting in which it is given, and free of strings attached.

An introductory gift should also never be something that has a high monetary value.

Instead, it should be something that shows dedication and taste.

A gift is not a guarantee of success, it merely provides a chance depending on the factors considered. You are responsible for your own actions, consider them carefully.

Excerpt from “Gifts for the Noble lady” chapter seven of “The Eloquent Gentleman” by Sir Arek of Toislow.

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Having greeted the man of the manor Liana left her parents to exchange pleasantries. As a child, it was not appropriate but at least acceptable for her to show only a modicum of respect to other grown-ups that had no direct authority over her.

I probably should have spent more time appearing thankful for the invitation but I am missing out already, and in a few short steps she had arrived next to her friends.

“Heya everyone. So nice to see you again. I missed you so much,” she interrupted the agitated conversation between Cora, Evelyn, and Monika. Teira had already walked her way and had just begun embracing her.

Any other time she would have been slightly embarrassed by the close contact. Something simply not done by two people that were neither related nor wed. Right now she couldn’t bring herself to care. She had felt slightly left out,

“It is sooo good to see you again, Liana. We haven’t seen you in ages and father, well he is less interested in us having social interactions with people… uhm that do not fit into his idea of what a proper social standing is,” Monika said from the side.

After approaching she too embraced Teira and Liana in a big hug.

“Don’t mind that though. We have some ideas of how to work around that in the future,” Teira said. “And today is gonna be so fun, there is so much interesting food here today, and there is gonna be a proper orchestra playing later.”

“Ohh that sounds really fun, why didn’t you tell us that. Anyway, who else is coming? Anybody we don’t like? You better not have invited Sarah. I’ve had it with her in class already. I might as well just jump out of a window if I get to hear her sham accent tonight,” Evelyn interjected before the conversation could devolve too far from judging other people.

“Father allowed us to invite five of our classmates and only ones we both like. So it is just Antonia and Iris coming besides you guys. He did invite some of their brother’s friends too and so many other people he wants us to meet. But they are all so boooring. Can you imagine, one of them gifted us flowers,” Teira said.

“Ohh, he did? I don’t think flowers are that bad, they can smell really nice, and look pretty. But I do agree, it is really boring, right?” Evelyn responded.

“Those over there. I guess they look fine but what sort of present is that? They are gonna be dead within the week. Maybe longer if we plant them but they aren’t even nice. They have thorns,” Monika said while pointing towards the other side of her father.

“Don’t be a dummy, Monika. Didn’t you listen, they are dungeon-grown. They wouldn’t be able to survive out here at all for more than a couple of days,” Teira responded.

After some more back and forth the three guests left to enjoy themselves because the hosts had to entertain further guests.

After some further instructions from their parents to stick together, not annoy other people, and most importantly to keep up a well-behaved image, they were allowed to split off from their families, with the not-so-subtle recommendation to seek them out regularly.

First, they inspected and marveled at the odd clothing some people wore.

Just as they had inspected most of the especially extraordinarily dressed people and were ready to make their way to the confections they noticed someone else, dressed particularly odd.

The old man was dressed in a mismatched outfit of linen trousers, a black jacket, and a straw hat with a red pulsating band around his neck.

Though before any of them could do more than point out the man to the others he seemed to notice their gaze and approached them. Not sure of what a proper reaction could be in this case Liana got worried, and her coy attitude shined through.

What can I do? Have we insulted him by looking? All that was slightly secondary though. I have to speak up before Evelyn can. But before she could gather herself,

“Ahh, good day. It is always a pleasure to meet new interesting people, especially ones so young. I couldn’t help but notice your staring, is there anything I could help you with?” he asked the girls.

None of them were fond of being put on the spot like that and just when Liana had gathered her wits about her Evelyn began talking. And that was in most dicey situations a bad thing.

“Yes, you are right about that. I was just wondering what could entice a distinguished gentleman such as you to wear such an atrocious combination of clothing. It is quite the eyesore.”

Liana had been just a moment too late and now they were doomed. They might as well jump ship and leave Evelyn to figure out the mess she caused.

Then she got confused. A huge grin appeared on the man’s face. From one second to the next he was howling in laughter. When he had mostly recomposed himself he looked at Evelyn.

“Refreshing, I knew it would be worth my time coming over to you. Only my children and grandchildren talk to me like that. Mind you, they are mostly right. Just as you are,” he said looking into the round. When his glance reached Liana he spoke up again.

“Don’t worry child, I will not have you be punished for the truth. Others might, however. You’d do well reigning in your friend. Don’t mind that, however. You should really try the salted taro drops. A fascinating experience, quite unlike anything I have ever had before. I shall be on my way, it was my pleasure meeting you all.” And with those words, the man was gone. With each step, he vanished further than what should be possible into the crowd, his coat undisrupted by his movements.

“Spawns take you. What was that Eve, can you just not antagonize everyone that crosses your path?” Cora asked. “Just be a normal person once, ok?”

“What I was right, he said so himself. So stop being so fuzzy about it. Let’s just get some food, alright,” Evelyn responded.

“No, Cora’s right, you can’t just go around antagonizing people like that. We don’t even know who that was. It could have been the Vikariat for all we know. Or one of the nobles, or another capitalist. I guess it wouldn’t be bad if it had been a delver but you can bet your trait that there are mostly important people here,” Liana said, almost copying the lecturing pose of her mother perfectly.

The group moved towards the dessert buffet recommended to them while Cora and Liana ranted about Evelyn’s insensitivities - which the culprit ignored.