Vil and Epel (pt6)

Despite not attending the social at Noble Bell College himself Vil is stringent about checking what it is that Epel packs, saying, “I know you’d just take a change of underwear and nothing else if I didn’t check. I know how you like to cut loose when I’m not around,” and says that he had best not hear any rumors of a student from Pomefiore “goofing off” in Fleur City “in unkempt clothes with unprotected skin.”

Vil warns Epel to stay sharp at all times when socializing, as people will be viewing them with their own prejudices for better or for worse, and there is no telling who might seek to undermine them. Vil then gives Epel a crash course in ballroom dancing.

We see Vil correcting Epel’s posture, informal speech patterns and table manners all on his first day of school, and Epel has said that Vil will “really let (him) have it” when he slips into his natural dialect. (More on Vil’s issues with Epel’s impolite speech patterns here ->)

Other tasks that Vil assigns to Epel are cleaning, eating full-course meals with impeccable manners, wearing the “frilly shirt” that he wears with his school uniform, not getting into fights and fixing his posture. 

He has also instructed Epel to read one book a week and that “”If you wear the Pomefore uniform, it’s not enough to be a pretty face. You must be strong.”

Vil seems to incorporate corporal punishment into his training of Epel, grabbing him by his ear, his hair hitting him (on the back?) and gripping onto his head.