[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210306/f8df6fdaf31ed259b6aaf7059a37b39c.png[/img][/center] 

[color=f49ac2]"Why, thank you, Al-Oh, I mean, Mister Cobalt."[/color]

Alvin peered at the young woman from behind his mask's eyes. [i]She knows me.[/i] Her playful giggle and coquettish nature hinted at her youth; meaning she was most likely a classmate of his. He didn't recognize her from any of his upper-level linguistics and ancient language classes; those were smaller and entirely male. Perhaps from one of the science courses, he was completing? He dredged his mind for a moment, trying to picture every pretty face he was too shy to spend more than a moment's glance staring at. 

[i]Perhaps...[/i] 

What would Lancaster do? One of his closest friends, an anthropology student and drama aficionado who tended to walk around with a local girl on each arm every Friday night at the local bar. He was a silver-tongued devil, and also the impetus on which his mission began. It was Lancaster's roommate, another friend of theirs, who'd been invited to Wilde Hall, after all. But instead of Lancaster, the man whose [i]dramatis personae[/i] was always the hero, it was up to the spindly Alvin to uncover the truth. 

No, old Lancaster seemed...uncomfortable with the plan. "Stay away from that place, old boy," he'd muttered to Alvin in private. "You know I'm not one for old folk tales like you and Professor Wilmarth, but something about those kinds of folks feels...off." 

And yet, Alvin had pressed on and found himself in the carriage with a young woman and a giant man. He didn't have the sheer charisma to simply whisk this beauty away off her feet, and the presence of the intimidating man alongside them killed any fanciful notions of the sort. However, she was acting [i]familiar[/i] and his hope was that it would give him an ally in a party full of his betters. 

Alvin considered Lady Gold's question. [color=0077be]"I find masquerades intriguing. The purpose was to obfuscate one's standing and class amongst one another, to allow everyone to engage with one another freely, without any pretenses."[/color] Something he could relate to, in a sense. Someone like him would never get to rub shoulders with his betters. [color=0077be]"And I've never stepped foot inside of a manor either. I find it quite intimidating."[/color]