Rituals of Courtship Among the Distinguished Classes

Being a guide for the young elf seeking a paramour in proper fashion

It must be observed that, while many of today's youth have taken on the manners of the rough classes or of foreign elements, there is a certain spirit that has been lost, a manner in which we navigate the world. Elves are not meant to live crassly nor in solitude, for each damages the soul in its own way. Rather, we must exalt ourselves, and take care to uplift our souls and our society.
Politeness is the very core of our civilization, the one rule that lifts us above the beasts that squabble in the dirt. And what better expression of politeness manifests, than in how we treat our most dear, especially those we would welcome into our hearts and homes? An elf's behavior in courting indeed reflects their behavior in all things, for one who does not respect that most sacred of bonds surely will not respect their fellow sapient.
The aim of this guide is to lay out the most essential rules of proper courtship in plain language, for indeed a source of the problem is the decrease in traditional education in the ways of society in favor of cramming as many facts as possible into the minds of our youth. For what good is memorizing your times tables, something rather easy to find in any modern reference manual, if you know not how to treat your fellow sapient?

History

It must be observed that rituals of courtship have varied over the ages and cultures of the world, as the soul of each time has found its ideal expression. The ancient peoples of Kodiri were the first to formalize the language of flowers that now plays such an essential role in formal communication, and records of the time speak of the position of the fan having already taken on much of its modern meaning.

Execution

It is impolite beyond measure to approach an elf upon the street, or indeed without formal indication, for such an action imposes your presence. If you seek to begin courtship, you may approach one of your aspiring paramour's siblings or friends to make discrete inquiries into their availability and preferences. If you are discouraged, do not press your suit nor make a nuisance of yourself, and rather accept the dismissal with grace and equanimity. It must be said that many proper friends will initially discourage a potential suitor, to test their reaction, for a true measure of an elf can only be taken in how they handle rejection.
If you are discouraged, you must desist, and return to wait for some indication. If no word comes, your aspiring paramour is utterly disinterested, and politeness demands that you not impose your presence upon them. Most often, though, a letter or bouquet of flowers will come, bearing with it a message. Traditionally, it is impolite to outright insult or invite a suitor, though this author has observed a tendency among the youth for more direct discourse. If the letter speaks about your virtues, but says that the writer is unsuited for you, or unfortunately cannot pursue a courtship at this time, then that is a rejection, and you should not continue to press your suit, though it is polite to send a letter in acknowledgement of the message. Flowers are the most traditional way of acceptance or rejection, being indirect, and if you have not been schooled in their language (as most youth have not), this author would recommend The Lore of Flowers, by the distinguished Liodi Hakuri.
If you are encouraged, you must then wait for a social affair, which traditionally would be a ball or holiday celebration. In the modern era, it is appropriate too to wait for the reception to a grand speech or symposium, or any other large outing. You must then ask a mutual acquaintance for your aspiring paramour's permission to approach, then humbly must you permit that acquaintance to introduce both you and your suit. Upon introduction, your aspiring paramour will indicate acceptance or gentle rejection. Traditionally, acceptance is indicated by holding out a hand with a smile, shyness and uncertainty with hiding the face behind a fan, and rejection by holding the closed fan pointed down. If rejected, make the conservation short and topical to a mutual interest, then disengage and bother them not again. If the answer is acceptance or uncertainty, then the art of polite conversation must come into play, a topic far too broad for this nor any manual, though The Art of Conversation and Etiquette for the Modern Age, being a thorough guide to manners in today's society are both a place to start.
Modern sensibilities, being more direct, and the expressive fan having fallen out of style, might involve a more direct statement of interest, though so too might mood be conveyed solely through tone of voice, though a rather imprecise measure it might be.
Do not linger too long in conversation, for it is rude to monopolize another's time. The space of three dances is a proper and suitable time for making introductions, and indeed it is better to cut a conversation tantalizingly short than to let it run into boorish lengths.
The next day, send a letter or calling card, thanking the other for their attention and remarking upon your enjoyment of the evening. It is too early for declarations of infatuation or even mention of further plans, for you do not wish to burden the other with the weight of your expectation. A small gift is proper to be included, but must not be something that would expect reciprocation. A perishable or consumable, such as flowers, candies, or other small fancies, is ideal.
It is vital to maintain communication, though do not send multiple letters if you have had no reply, unless you have been informed that your sweetheart is unable to reply due to illness, misfortune, or distance, but would still wish to receive word from you. After three weeks of letters and an outing no more than once a week (for more often lends an undesirable pressure and feeling of rushing to a blossoming relationship), it is appropriate to begin indicating deeper feelings.
Earnest poems, flowers that symbolize deep affection, and more permanent - though still small - gifts become acceptable at this stage. A proper gift is something that indicates a knowledge of your paramour's preferences, and it is not only proper but indeed encouraged to seek the wisdom of their friends in choosing gifts. The cost of a gift should be commensurate with your income, and if you find yourself worrying about how to afford it, it is too grand a gift at this point. If your finances are tight, many appreciate homemade gifts, and indeed a poem written upon a scrap of paper or even recited orally can be held more dear to the heart than the stars in the sky.
After one year, it becomes appropriate to begin to grant larger gifts. The first date that a gift larger than a trinket should be given is the anniversary of your first meeting, and indeed recalling that date shows how dear it was in your heart. Which gift to give is entirely a matter of your paramour's preference and your own finances. A gift should certainly not bankrupt you, and it is improper to borrow money for the sake of a gift. If your finances cannot be manipulated even to afford a small book or similar curiosity, a gift of your own making, albeit preferably one that requires more effort than before, remains appropriate.
Do not go unchaperoned with your paramour at any point in this, nor ask to be apart from friends and family, for that is an unacceptable pressure. Indeed, until the relationship has proceeded for no less than three years, it is utterly inappropriate to seek to meet alone.
After three years of continued interest have elapsed, you or your paramour may breach the topic of further solemnity. If you are both now ready to put serious effort into the relationship, an exchange of promises is necessitated. It is the habit of the wealthy to commission a necklace, and of the middle and lower classes to request one that has been in the family. This author once heard the charming story of a machiner, who, having no fortune nor family, crafted a marvelous necklace out of scrap iron for her beloved, which while not of traditional forms is rather the work of art, having the earnestness of its making expressed in its rough shape.
After promises have been exchanged, it becomes appropriate to spend time alone. It is preferable to, especially at first, engage in something that provides a ready source of conversation, such as a long walk or drive through the countryside, or a visit to a museum of curios, for even the most skilled of tongues might find it difficult to maintain a proper conversation without external prompts.
The process by which a courtship may become a marriage is, unfortunately, beyond the scope of this manual, but it is this author's hope that this guide has laid out some of the ways by which a society elf might engage in that most ancient of traditions.

Publication
Published 3406
By Clockwork Books Publishing Company in Lidaidi, Veshiri
All rights reserved

Primary Related Location

Veshiri

Reception

This manual was marketed towards the aspiring socialite, with different editions priced at costs appropriate for the middle, lower, and destitute classes, the latter two lacking illustrations and being on cheaper paper. Indeed, the book proved most popular with recent immigrants to Veshiri, who wished to rise in society and blend into the planet's thriving middle class. The author, catching onto this new marke, published a series of sequels addressing different elements of traditional Veshiri manners and customs over the following years, formatted to be understandable even by someone with no prior familiarity with the planet.
The language of flowers had been long dying, and this publication is often credited with sparking a revival in interest in that ancient art, for it caught the fancy of youth wishing to carry about beneath the watchful eyes of their elders.