The Prince's Ball (On the Dance Floor)
It is X minutes to midnight.
Initial visit:
The dance floor of the Prince's ballroom suite is a checkerboard of white and dark green marble, showing a more sophisticated taste than the usual white and black. On the whole, the place is very tastefully designed and decorated, which is a pleasant surprise. Most of the ultrawealthy types whose parties you've managed to finagle invitations to (or, in some cases, crash) have had the taste and aesthetic sensibilities of a magpie that has just flown headfirst into a plate glass window.
Subsequent visits:
You return to the dance floor, which sadly doesn't offer many possibilities for mischief, being so spacious and well-lit. It's a good opportunity to people-watch, or even to score some dances with a few socially well-placed gentlemen, but you have a much more important and concrete task to focus on.
If Cindy and the Prince are here (minutes 25-21, 15-11, and 5-1):
Cinderella and the Prince are dancing a waltz. A fairly graceless one, despite the Prince's best efforts to teach her.
At minute 23, 13, or 3, if you have given the Prince a carnation (can trigger more than once):
Cinderella suddenly has a sneezing fit -- apparently she got her face to close to the Prince's carnation, and her allergies kicked in.
- If you spread the disease rumor:
- The Prince seems somewhat alarmed -- perhaps he's thinking about that rumor he heard, and is wondering if the pox can be transmitted by sneezing? You allow youself[sic] a quiet chuckle.
- If Cindy still has her handkerchief:
- Cinderella takes her handkerchief out of her purse and blows her nose with a disgusting "snrk" noise that the Prince probably finds cute. Ugh. They return to their dancing.
- Your score is now +1. (+2 with disease rumor)
- If Cindy doesn't have her handkerchief:
- She looks in her purse for her hanky, but she never got it back after you borrowed it earlier, so she goes to the restroom to wash her face.
- If if you slipped cinnamon into Cindy's purse:
- Cinderella opens her purse to get her handkerchief, and a cloud of ground cinnamon puffs in her face. She coughs and sneezes even harder, flapping her hands wildly as the Prince retrieves her purse and the can of cinnamon from the floor with a puzzled expression and helps her toward the restroom door.
- Your score is now +1.
- If you slipped a cigar into Cindy's purse:
- ??? (she goes to the restroom to wash her face)
- Your score is now +1.
- If you slipped whiskey into Cindy's purse:
- Cinderella looks in her purse for her handkerchief, but she never got it back after you borrowed it earlier. Instead, she discovers the flask of whiskey. "Oh! What's this doing here?" she asks. The prince gives her a surprised look as she shrugs and heads toward the restroom, to wash her face.
- On her way there, she asks several people if any of them dropped their "whishkey flashk", and the Prince starts to put two and two together.
- Your score is now +1.
- Alternatively, if she threw away her purse:
- Finding herself without a handkerchief, Cinderella excuses herself to the restroom.
- If the soap was not doctored with carnation:
- She returns after a moment, looking fresh-faced and composed. You grumble to yourself a bit.
- Your score is now +1.
- If the soap was doctored:
- She returns after a moment, with her eyes bright red and puffy, her face blotchy, and still sneezing. You give yourself a little mental pat on the back for your foresight in tampering with the soap.
- Your score is now +2.
- If the soap was doctored and you spread the disease rumor:
- She returns after a moment, with her eyes bright red and puffy, her face blotchy, and still sneezing. You give yourself a little mental pat on the back for your foresight in tampering with the soap.
- The Prince takes note of her appearance, and seems even more alarmed about the prospects of catching something horrible.
- Your score is now +4.
If Cindy and the Prince are here and Cindy is due to throw up: See Notes
Baroness/butler movement:
- One minute after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The Baroness strides down the stairs from the balcony area and starts across the dance floor.
- Two minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The Baroness exits the dance floor and approaches the canapés table, where she has a short conversation with the butler.
- Three minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The Baroness walks away from the canapés table, heading back across the dance floor.
- The butler walks away from the canapés table and enters the bathroom.
- Five minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The butler leaves the canapés table and walks across the dance floor, toward the balcony stairs.
- Six minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The butler climbs the stairs to the balcony.
- Seven minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The butler leaves the balcony and descends the stairs to the dance floor.
- Eight minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her:
- The butler crosses the dance floor and returns to his station near the canapés table.
Before taking the coin here:
As someone rises from a plush sofa near you on the perimeter of the dance floor, the probable quality of loose change one might find in this place comes to mind. A bit gauche, but old habits die hard.
Before taking the coin here:
| Search the sofa cushions. |
You casually sit on the velvet sofa, body slightly turned to obscure your hand as it slips under the back of the cushion. You fish out a silver coin, and slip it into your purse, then stand up, feeling slightly embarrassed. Only slightly, though.
 | You acquire an item: odd silver coin |
One or three minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her, if you have a carnation:
| Give your carnation to the Baroness and steal one of her hairpins |
"One moment, Baroness," you say, taking the carnation from your hair. "Allow me to give you this, I think it will complement your dress nicely." You pin the flower above her ear, stealing one of her hairpins in the process. She smiles and thanks you.
If you have soap and Cindy is here:
| Kick some soap at Cindy. |
You take the little bar of soap out of your purse, dunk it in a glass of champagne someone left on a nearby sideboard to moisten it, and drop it on the floor -- where you conceal it underneath your skirt with one foot resting lightly atop it.
The next bit will take extremely... precise... timing... now!
You lift the hem of your skirt just enough to give clearance, and send the lump of soap skittering across the polished marble floor with a swift tap of your foot. The line of its travel perfectly intersects the arc of Cinderella's waltzing, and at the precise moment to send her to the floor with a surprised yelp and a flailing tangle of skirts. The soap itself ends up underneath a chaise longue on the other side of the room, and in the havoc, nobody noticed it.
If Cindy is not intoxicated by whiskey or laudanum:
You hiss a gleeful "yessss!" to yourself as the Prince helps Cindy up, making very kind noises but obviously a bit bemused by her clumsiness.
Your score is now +1.
If Cindy is not intoxicated but the Prince has heard either an alcoholic or opium rumor:
You hiss a gleeful "yessss!" to yourself as the Prince helps Cindy up, making very kind noises but obviously a bit bemused by her clumsiness.
In fact, you can practically see it written on his face that he's thinking about that rumor he heard of Cinderella being <a drunkard/an opium addict>.
Your score is now +2.
If you spiked her drink with whiskey or drugged her cannoli with laudanum (or both):
The Prince helps Cindy up, plainly bemused by her clumsiness and confusion. "Aaah! Wha' happen?" she slurs, shaking her head dizzily. "Ow! My butt!"
Hilarious.
Your score is now +2.
If Cindy is intoxicated and the Prince has heard either an alcoholic or opium rumor:
The Prince helps Cindy up, plainly bemused by her clumsiness and confusion. "Aaah! Wha' happen?" she slurs, shaking her head dizzily. "Ow! My butt!"
Hilarious.
Even better is the way this confirms the rumors about Cindy's <alcoholism/drug addiction> to the Prince, who is shaking his head in pity.
Your score is now +3.
If you've taken soap, and the Baroness is here:
| Kick some soap at The Baroness. |
If Cindy and the Prince are present:
You take the little bar of soap out of your purse, dunk it in a glass of champagne someone left on a nearby sideboard to moisten it, and drop it on the floor -- where you conceal it underneath your skirt with one foot resting lightly atop it.
The next bit will take extremely... precise... timing... now!
You lift the hem of your skirt just enough to give clearance, and send the lump of soap skittering across the polished marble floor with a swift tap of your foot. The line of its travel perfectly intersects with the Baroness's movement across the dance floor, and she steps on it just as she's passing near Cinderella and the Prince. The Prince quickly turns and catches her in his arms before she falls to the floor, and helps her regain your footing. She curtsies politely and flutters her fan at him with a smile. "I thank you, my Royal Highness," she purrs.
He bows in return. "At your service, madam." He watches her for a moment as she glides away across the dance floor.
Cindy looks ticked. Nicely done.
Your score is now +1.
If Cindy and the Prince are not present:
You consider kicking a piece of soap across the floor to make the Baroness trip, but without the Prince being nearby to catch her, you can't think what that might profit you. You spend a little time watching the dancers and pondering your next move instead. [turn wasted]
If you've taken soap and the butler is here (five and seven minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her):
| Kick some soap at the butler. |
If you did not see the butler with the key (at the canapés, four minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her):
You consider kicking some soap across the floor to make the butler trip and fall, but while that sounds entertaining, you can't think of how it would be profitable in this situation. "Focus!" you chastise yourself. [turn wasted]
Having seen the key, if Cindy and the Prince are here:
You take the little bar of soap out of your purse, dunk it in a glass of champagne someone left on a nearby sideboard to moisten it, and drop it on the floor -- where you conceal it underneath your skirt with one foot resting lightly atop it.
The next bit will take extremely... precise... timing... now!
You lift the hem of your skirt just enough to give clearance, and send the lump of soap skittering across the polished marble floor with a swift tap of your foot. The line of its travel perfectly intersects with the butler's movement across the dance floor, and the man crashes to the floor with a yelp. Cindy rushes over to help him up and brush him off, and the Prince obviously notices her kindness.
Crap. That wasn't how that was meant to go down.
Your score is now -2.
Having seen the key, if Cindy and the Prince are not here:
You take the little bar of soap out of your purse, dunk it in a glass of champagne someone left on a nearby sideboard to moisten it, and drop it on the floor -- where you conceal it underneath your skirt with one foot resting lightly atop it.
The next bit will take extremely... precise... timing... now!
You lift the hem of your skirt just enough to give clearance, and send the lump of soap skittering across the polished marble floor with a swift tap of your foot. The line of its travel perfectly intersects with the butler's movement across the dance floor, and the man crashes to the floor with a yelp.
You rush over to help him to his feet and brush him off, and he thanks you kindly, not noticing the fact that you've lifted the little brass key from his vest pocket in the process.
Five or seven minutes after asking the Baroness what troubles her, having spotted the butler's key at the canapés, with a carnation and without the key:
| Give your carnation to the butler and pick his pocket. |
You approach the butler, and pluck the rose from his lapel before he can react. "My dear fellow," you say, "your boutonnière is wilting! We can't have that at such an important occasion, can we? Let me replace it for you."
The butler is flummoxed by the sudden attention and freezes up, allowing you to tuck the carnation into his lapel. You then give him a friendly pat on the shoulder while snaking the little brass key from his vest pocket with your other hand. "There you are, dear, that's much better."
"Er, thank you, madam," he replies. "I'm much obliged."
You hide your grin as you turn to leave.
| Watch the dancers for a little while. |
You stand around and observe the dancers for a bit, making mental notes about who is dancing with whom, and how near their hands are to the others' behinds while doing so. You never know when that sort of information might come in handy.
| Leave the party. |
Cinderella really sucked all the fun out of this party for you. Looking across the dance floor at the manor's front door and the footman in charge of storing and retrieving guests' coats, you consider calling it quits and just settling for making Cindy's life a living hell when she gets home.
The following choices are given:
| Leave the party. |
You claim your coat and leave, giving the Prince's manor double middle-fingers through the coach window as you drive away.
Now there's nothing left but to hope that the Prince gets as sick of the little airhead as you are. Or maybe that she slips into a coma and never recovers. Then maybe you could live happily ever after. [playthrough ends as a failure]
Your final score was X points, reduced to 0 due to failure.
| Stay a while longer |
You clench your teeth and crack your knuckles, firmly resolving not to give up yet, not when you've come so far. [turn wasted]
Time passes.
It is X minutes to midnight.
Occurs at The Prince's Ball.
Notes
- Leaving the party uses an adventure. Since there is neither a penalty to having the ball active nor an obligation to keep playing it, and using another grimstone mask can restart the zone at no further cost, this is essentially a waste of a turn.
Cindy Throwing Up
Additional text and score is added here if Cindy and the Prince are here and Cindy is due to throw up from having eaten ipecac-doctored cannoli (eight minutes after eating one, or four minutes after eating cinnamon ones).
- If Cindy has not thrown away her purse:
Cinderella's suddenly widen to the size of teacups. She turns away from the table, sticks her face in her purse, and makes a little "hurcch" noise. The Prince looks shocked. "Are you all right?" he asks.
If you had not doctored the restroom soap:
She runs to the bathroom, and comes back with her face freshly-washed, and looking none the worse for wear. You notice that she doesn't have her purse -- she must have found a wastebasket to ditch it in.
If you rubbed a carnation on the restroom soap:
She runs to the bathroom, and comes back sneezing violently, with her eyes red and puffy and watering. You notice that she doesn't have her purse -- she must have found a wastebasket to ditch it in.
- Additionally, if the Prince has received the disease rumor:
- The Prince shares a frightened glance with the man who was whispering to him earlier.
Your score is now +X. [+2 normally, +3 if soap doctored, +5 if both soap doctored and rumor-tipped]
- If Cindy threw away her purse upon seeing a regular or foamy mouse in it:
Cinderella suddenly turns green and gets a wild look in her eyes, like a cornered rat. She looks around in a frenzy and then, unable to hold it back any longer, projectile-vomits directly onto the Prince's shoes. "OH YEAH!" you begin to shout, with your arms raised in victory, but with a cough you quickly convert it to "OH that poor girl!"
If you had not doctored the restroom soap:
Cinderella runs to the bathroom as the Prince retires briefly to his private rooms for a change of shoes and trousers. After a few minutes, they both return, and Cindy apologizes profusely with tears in her eyes. The Prince calms her with reassurances that such things happen at every good party; he hides it well, but you can see that he's still pretty ticked.
If you rubbed a carnation on the restroom soap:
Cinderella runs to the bathroom as the Prince retires briefly to his private rooms for a change of shoes and trousers. After a few minutes, they both return, and Cindy, stuttering through a sneezing fit, apologizes profusely with tears in her red, puffy eyes. The Prince calms her with reassurances that such things happen at every good party; he hides it well, but you can see that he's still pretty ticked.
- Additionally, if the Prince has received the disease rumor:
- The Prince exchanges a glance with his friend who was whispering in his ear about Cindy a short while ago. The man has a look on his face that says "I told you so" and also "Holy crap!"
- This is definitely going in your diary as the best thing you've ever seen in your life.
Your score is now +X. [+6 normally, +7 if soap doctored, +9 if both soap doctored and rumor-tipped]
