The Prince's Ball (On the Balcony)

Choice adventure number: 825

The Prince's Ball (On the Balcony)

It is X minutes to midnight.

Initial visit:

The balcony area encompasses both an interior balcony overlooking the dance floor, and an outdoor balcony through open French doors. Large porcelain vases hold bouquets of fresh white carnations, which means Cinderella likely hasn't spent much time up here, seeing as she's incredibly allergic to them. Guests are mingling and chatting, enjoying the cool night breeze -- except for one particularly elegant-looking lady whom you recognize as being the Baroness of Crunbrooke, who is leaning against the balcony railing, sipping a glass of white wine and looking grumpy.

Subsequent visits:

You return to the balcony, maneuvering around the little knots and clusters of idle rich people chatting about the incredibly boring things that idle rich people chat about.

Before or at least five minutes after asking what troubles the Baroness, without her receiving aspirin:

The Baroness is here, looking tired and vaguely annoyed.

If the Baroness has received aspirin:

The Baroness is here, chatting amicably with other party-goers.

One minute after asking what troubles the Baroness:

The Baroness strides down the stairs from the balcony area and starts across the dance floor.

Four minutes after asking what troubles the Baroness:

The Baroness leaves the dance floor, returning to the balcony.

Six minutes after asking what troubles the Baroness, and you didn't take aspirin:

The butler climbs the stairs to the balcony, and hands some aspirin to the Baroness with a bow. She thanks him, and swallows the pills with a gulp of champagne.

Six minutes after asking what troubles the Baroness, and you took the aspirin:

The butler climbs the stairs to the balcony, and regretfully informs the Baroness that they don't have any aspirin. The Baroness gets a fire in her eyes that suggests she would fire the man if he were her butler, but she quickly pulls herself together so as to not make a scene.

Seven minutes after asking what troubles the Baroness:

The butler leaves the balcony and descends the stairs to the dance floor.

Before taking the coin here:

Someone appears to have dropped a silver coin -- luckily it hit a railing post, instead of rolling off the edge of the balcony.

---

Before taking the coin here:

Pick up the coin.

You 'accidentally' drop your handbag near the edge of the railing, and pick it back up with the coin inside.

You acquire an item: odd silver coin

---

Examine the flowers.

You inspect the carnations. They look nice, you suppose. And they smell fine. Honestly, you've never given a flat crap about flowers, but wealthy ladies do seem to love their gardens, so you've done your best to familiarize yourself with them, even if you can't muster up any excitement.

If you do not have a carnation:

You snap one of the carnations free of its stem, and tuck it in the hair above your ear. Why not? It might come in handy.

---

Before interacting with the Baroness:

Speak with the Baroness.

You try to engage the Baroness in some chit-chat, but other than the bare minimum of nods and grunts needed to maintain politeness, she's about as responsive as an oil painting. The corners of her mouth are taut, and deep furroughs line her brow.

---

After having spoken with the Baroness:

Ask the Baroness what troubles her.

"My dear Baroness, is something the matter?" you ask. "You seem positively aggrieved."

The Baroness sighs. "I apologize if I've been rude. I'm suffering from an absolutely murderous headache."

You refrain from commenting that her hair is braided tight enough to power a catapult, and all several pounds of it have been piled atop her head with enough hairpins to melt down and supply the Fifth Regiment with musket-balls for a month.

"You poor thing," you say instead. "I'm sure I saw the Prince's butler around here somewhere. Why don't you ask him for some aspirin?"

She seems mildly surprised. "Why yes, that's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?" She moves to the railing of the interior balcony, and scans the crowd below for the butler.

---

At least four 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.

---

Six 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.

---

If you have aspirin, at least six minutes after asking what bothers the Baroness:

Offer the Baroness some aspirin.

"That awful butler said they haven't any aspirin!" the Baroness grumbles as you approach. "Can you imagine!"

"That's terrible!" you say. "But don't worry -- I've just discovered I've got some in my purse, and you're welcome to them." You hand her the bottle, which she accepts gratefully and swallows a couple of the tablets.

"You're a life-saver, darling," she says, and gives you a sly sideways look. "And what must I do to repay this favor?"

If you have seen the silver cow creamer in the curio cabinet:

"What do you think of that girl Cinderella?" you ask her.

"That girl who's been hanging on the Prince like a leech all night long? She strikes me as being impossibly dim, and I shall be appalled if their relationship goes any farther."

"Why Baroness, I do think I've just found a new best friend. Would you like to help me give her a little comeuppance?"

She laughs. "Are you plotting something sinister?"

"The less said the better," you reply, "but perhaps you might give me one of your hairpins, and be around to back me up if anything... interesting happens?"

"Absolutely," she says, handing you the hairpin with a smile.

Otherwise:

You can't really think of anything specific, so you utter some tripe about a good deed being its own reward and wink at her. The two of you share a cynical laugh. If nothing else comes of this evening, you're at least pretty certain of an invitation to her next party.

---

Hang around for a bit.

You take a moment to enjoy the cool night air, and get the cloying stink of perfume out of your sinuses for a bit.

---

Time passes.

It is X minutes to midnight.

---

Occurs at The Prince's Ball.

Notes

• Only one hairpin can be claimed from the Baroness via carnation after asking her what troubles her, but this can be done either in the balcony, dance floor, or canapés (depending on her location). A second hairpin can be claimed by offering her aspirin (which requires the first hairpin to obtain in time) after having seen the silver cow creamer in the curio cabinet and after her butler tells her he didn't find the aspirin. Either hairpin will open the curio cabinet or the restroom medicine cabinet.