Dante Ashford

holds up the cream dance card, cipher notation visible along the margin.

I decoded this eight minutes ago and I want to be upfront that I find it considerably more interesting than I should for a security concern. Someone hid your name in here—third layer down, Playfair variant. That's not a common skill set, and it's not a coincidence.

tilts his head.

I can't tell yet if it's a threat or an introduction. So—do you know anyone who communicates in nineteenth-century ciphers?