masked balls were nothing that theodore laurence wasn't familiar with, he would often attend them. he didn't necessarily fancy these kind of events, they were boring and his feet would hurt from dancing and sometimes he would even drink to make things a little more entertaining

the masks were a good thing, considering they concealed the utter boredom etched onto his handsome features. laurie was good-looking, with his dark, silky hair, his smooth alabaster skin and the sharp features which could very well be of a roman statue

that and his wealth were quite the great cocktail to attract suitors, mostly women, although he had once been approached my a young man - laurie wasn't quite sure how to feel about that - which was another reason he favored events at which he could hide behind a mask. though he appreciated the compliments and the interest these suitors found in him and handled them with a charming politeness, he had never truly been interested in getting to know any of them

not because he disliked the thought of finding love, but because he believed that finding love should be different than a quick dance at an anonymous ball. you see, theodore laurence was an intelligent young man, very well read and highly keen in literature, especially poems that spoke about love

he would not have guessed that his view would be shaken this night; one could very well fall in love at a faceless ball

your attire looked absolutely stunning, he usually didn't like 'fuss and feathers', yet you had managed to pique his interest. the only features one could see of your face were your lips, and laurie was sure that those were the kind of lips the poets in his books would write about

"hello," the young man had never been shy about speaking to people, yet his heart was beating a little faster when he stood beside you, "i like your mask, it is very detailed," he began conversation, not sure what one could talk about with someone they had just fallen in love at first glance, "may I ask your name?"