Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
"Indeed, that is most diverting Damien." Rosa replied in her mellowed down voice. The girl maintained her composure as she sat down on the sofa, her slender hands gently rested atop her lap whilst her widened eyes conveyed her apparent fascination to her "potential marriage partner". Damien on the other hand, apparently felt no need to conceal his noticeably averse disposition. "Yes Rosalynn, a very... exceptional feat if I do say so myself, then again I suppose for a demon decades your senior, that is... to be expected no?" Damien uttered nonchalantly, his arms slightly crossed all the while. Already, Rosa could perceive the faint apprehension from Lord Maddox who unlike his son, retained his sobriety throughout the duration of the arranged marriage meeting which he himself supposedly coordinated. A thin glass table separated the two parties by mere meters, the air within the estate's executive lounge now more strained than ever.
On one side sat Tristan Maddox, Current head of House Maddox and his son, Damien. On the other was Lazarus Halogan, Acting head of House Halogan and of course, the debutante Rosalynn, 16 years of age. Just as Rosa prfedicted, the meeting is turning out to be a complete fiasco. This is in fact, is already the third session the teenage girl had to endure following her sixteenth birthday. She would have hoped that the previous farce of an arranged meeting would have deterred the other noble demon families for at least decades, yet here she was. The sheer folly of this situation now compelled her to suspect her grandfather's cognitive capabilities considering that there was quite literally an ongoing event she had to oversee. Lazarus knew well how the meeting would unfold. The Maddoxes made a blunder in arriving months earlier than the anticipated date.
Rosa merely smiled as the hazel tint of her eyes steadily attempted to gaze at that of Damien's, yet the potential groom took liberties in showering his dark, medium length hair more attention as he combed them back with his gloved fingers. Lord Maddox promptly gave his son a stern look, compelling the vividly unenthusiastic Damien to at least face Rosalynn. "My apologies Damien... it would appear as though I have... said or done something to offend you". The forthright statement came as shock to the Maddox delegation, now even the two servants standing guard began showcasing evident signs of trepidation, much less Damien and Tristan. Damien just as soon cleared his throat and fixed the the collar of his whimsically red coat in accordance to current Halloween themed event Rosa herself has been tasked to organize. "N-no no... it's not that it's just..." At this point, undertones of irritation and uneasiness were palpable in his voice.
Internally Rosa smirked, she caught him right where she wanted. Rosa merely raised an eyebrow shortly before the faux pas that followed. Damien abruptly pressed his gloved hand atop the glass table and just as hastily rose from the sofa. "Damien what is the meaning of this?" A clearly bewildered Lord Maddox angrily whispered from his seat in response to his son's otherwise uncharacteristically rash action. Damien wordlessly stood in place, his head lowered much to the surprise of everyone in the room excluding Lazarus and Rosalynn. Lord Maddox, upon noticing Damien's lack of reply then directed his attention to Lazarus "I am so terribly sorry, please believe me when I say that he's not normally like this. I don't know what's gotten into-" Tristan Maddox's hasty remark has soon disrupted by Damien briskly walking in front of him and staring at him straight down. "Father, I refuse to marry her!" He declared.
Rosa feigned surprise by gasping and lightly touching her lower lip with her fingers, themselves covered in dark-colored fishnet gloves. "Damien, you sit down. Now! This behavior is unacceptable!" Tristan reprimanded after which a conspicuously agitated Damien lashed out "I've had enough Father, I can't take it anymore I can't... arranged marriages in this day and age, seriously... and with a 16 year old brat?! For Volos' sake I'm already 78 and you're still treating me like a bloody child!". Visibly dumbfounded, Lord Maddox just as soon stood up from his seat "You insolent fool... this is utterly absurd! Oh, it's because of that Brenda girl now is it?" At this point, even Lazarus's eyes showed a perceptible hint of bafflement with regard to the Maddox family's ludicrous performance, only amplified upon Damien's subsequent remarks "No father... I'M IN LOVE WITH OWEN!" The raven-haired demon exclaimed with tears in his eyes.
"You w-what... THE BUTLER BOY?!" Tristan replied, almost completely nonplussed shortly prior to Damie storming out of the door. Tristan could only stare blankly at the two butlers by his side whilst a now pouting Rosa finally spoke up "Well gee, now that's just like, rude. Don't ya teach your kid manners or somethin'? I mean sheesh, callin' me a brat in my own home, aggro much?" The girl blurted out whilst donning a downtrodden expression to convey her ostensible exasperation, the refined and formal speech she exhibited earlier now all but devolved to modern colloquialisms. "Lord Halogan... words cannot express how sorry I am... errrr... I suppose that the meeting is off for now..." Meanwhile, Lazarus plainly maintained his rigid, listless expression all throughout. "Pssh it's not like that beta boy was even interestin' in the slightest cus like, I literally sat through almost an hour of that when I could'a been partyin' with everyone else, just go back to... New Zealand... or something!" A visibly upset Rosa spouted out. "For the record, we're actually from bloody Wales... I hope you all have a good evening!" Tristan Maddox firmly declared, shortly before quickly beckoning his servants to follow him out the door.
Just as the Maddox delegation made their disgraceful exit, Rosa's two maids standing by Halogan's side followed upon Lazarus' signal. "So old man, why'd ya keep lettin' these losers try and hook up with little old me, ya know it won't work right?" Rosa inquired in a rather offhand manner to her grandfather whose appearance was akin to that of a healthy and robust looking gentleman despite Rosa's name calling. The girl then vacated her seat, standing up, straightened the frills of her white skirt and pulled out a pocket mirror from her black leather coat. "I'm not like that Maddox fellow Rosalynn... you're a big girl now, I know that all too well. You somehow found out all that info and now plan to ruin their family's reputation do you not?" Lazarus asked, still stationary in his slouched position in the sofa whilst Rosa finished ruffling her short magenta hair to achieve that "messy" look. "Hmmm depends, Is that all, I still have a party to manage ya know?" Who was she kidding? This incident is already bound to proliferate around the internet soon enough, considering the hidden cameras planted everywhere.
Regardless, Rosa was already inches away from the door and in the process of unbuttoning her coat. She predicted that her grandfather had no more qualms, which proved to be accurate as he soon nodded in response. Almost immediately after leaving the rather lackadaisical head of the house in the executive lounge, she directed her attention towards one of the two maids standing guard, Morgana. "Hey Marge, catch!" She alerted the maid shortly after removing her coat and tossing it over. As such, her fairly ostentatious, strapless white dress has been unveiled. Ornate gothic designs have been embroidered onto the dress' fabric. Strangely enough, the attire exposed considerably more of Rosa's skin than she typically does. Among the more peculiar designs of her getup were the silken black laces wrapped criss cross up from her neck, arms and down to the frilly edges of her gloves. To this, her maids Morgana and Fatima raised an eyebrow to which a slightly flustered Rosa hastily replied "W-what... I'm sixteen now... I'm like, old enough to get married as you just saw... don't gimme that look!"
Rosa then strode through the long hallway leading towards the main hall where most the invited guests are, the tungsten lights of the narrow hall gleaming against her medium-brown complexion. "You guys already sent for my mask eh?" Rosa queried to which both nodded. "Good good... and where are yoooooour masks hmm?" She followed through, eliciting a sigh from both as Fatima soon procured two masks resembling disfigured-looking ogres from her handbag, they soon felt compelled to don the bizarre looking masks just as Rosa increased her pace. Before long, a butler wearing a similarly odd, goblin-like mask hurriedly dashed in front of them whilst bearing a large lacquered box with both hands. As soon as the butler neared Rosalynn, he then unlocked the box, revealing a lavishly decorated, dark-colored Carnevale Mask. It was complete with an elongated beak at the nose guard and feathers that coalesced to form a top and back portion, the tail feather extended enough to reach her upper back. She put on the mask accordingly.
Rosalynn Halogan's first publicly organized and sponsored event, her very first opportunity for an authentic publicity stunt... The girl with her showy outfit and ridiculously extravagant mask, approached the large door leading to the entrance hall. Morgana and Fatima then simultaneously pushed open both sides to which they are met with a large and rather diverse crowd. Some of them clad in apparently expensive apparel, others sporting relatively casual garment while some of the bolder ones actually heeded Rosalynn's suggestion to come fully clothed in Halloween costumes as advocated by the invitation cards. If there is one thing all guests have in common, it was the fact that virtually all of them wore something to cover their faces mostly in the form of a mask. Rosa and her maids sauntered over to the railing adjacent to the stairs leading down to the foyer's 1st floor to which she looked down and gauged the magnitude of invited guests lingering below the spacious halls of the Halogan Estate. Melodic Metalcore music blared from the many installed speakers and sepia lights shone from the large chandelier.
Already, she could discern a few curious eyes directed at her lithe frame as she ambled down the long winded staircase. With the lower half of her face still visible, she showered those watching with a large grin, promptly nodding to each individual every once in a while. The manor itself required relatively few decorations to emit a Halloween-like vibe considering the genuine Victorian Gothic style interior that practically corresponded well with the occasion. Rosa ran her eyes through the masses, the masks of the guests just as varied as the vast quantities and assortments of food, mostly sugary ones served in the many tables and counters. All around, a number of individuals dressed in the TRS uniform either stood guard or patrolled, although understandably, some of them joined in the festivities as well. Rosa's decision to generously hand out invitations to the general public was just as deliberate as it was risky with the prospect of the manor being sabotaged by the AP terrorists being increased tenfold with this decision. Nevertheless, little Miss Rosalynn Halogan has a plan... she always has a plan.
For the record, she loved going to parties. Extravagant ones, either hosted by the Assembly or by unsuspecting citizens who decided to invite her to the party for her considerable status as the heir of the Hawkins fortune (many didn't know that she had died from the car crash long years ago). She loved talking to the other wealthy families, specifically the younger ones brought along to the parties by their parents. At parties, she had made many friends, as well as won the hearts of the richest people who happened to be there.
[break][break]However, she had never heard of a party hosted by an equally rich family so ridiculous that she almost considered her choices of joining the party or not. A party for Halloween, of all things? Yes, there were parties celebrating the holiday, but they weren't supposed to be hosted by a rich family or person. As much as she could tell, she had only seen halloween parties hosted in schools or regular families themselves.
[break][break]But then again... it was still a party, so what was there to loose?
[break][break]As soon as she had gotten a hold of the Halogan Halloween Party invitation, she had changed to her most extravagant halloween costume prepared right away. The blonde spirit stood in front of the mansion, surrounded by lots of crowds, dressed in a black wedding dress with sleeves that puffed slightly up her arm. Dahlias decorate the back of her hair, tied to a bun, and there were usual obsidian hair clips supporting her bangs. She didn't wear that much make-up; the only part of her face painted vibrantly were her lips clad in blood red.
[break][break]According to the invitation, the mask was important. Of course she had brought her own all along, already covering her eyes while her blood red lips are left visible. The mask is a cloud of white, framing a newly-painted fresh corpse, covered in trims that shone with the light emitted from the lights in the house. Feathers protruded from the corners of the sides of the mask, multicolored yet representing a dark Halloween theme: red, black, and grey, simultaneously lined altogether.
[break][break]Once she is permitted to enter the premises after giving up her invitation, she looks around and gapes in awe. She'd heard that there were rich houses here in Lorsette, but she'd never gotten the chance to see the interiors, so this was much of a surprise. It reminded her so much of her old home back in Ohio before... only much brighter than this.
[break][break]Selina took this chance to walk around, waving and feigning a smile at a few who had greeted her. Perhaps this is also her chance to enjoy herself by being a party-pooper. That's what the Rotten Rose is for, after all.
[break][break]Then again... it wouldn't hurt to just enjoy the party being itself, wouldn't it?
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"]Expectations were a looming horror in the homes of nobles, failure to succeed frequently bringing scrutiny from family members and fellow noble families. Rumours lingered as people would exchange their thoughts, purposefully mentioning topics they looked at with great disdain. They wanted to speak about their dislikes, install their opinions over others by cleverly articulating their words to persuade others into their arguments. Volos knows they still mumbled rumours about Bernadette and her mysterious lover from a vacation long ago and continued to mention false statements about her firstborn son, Emmerson Halogon. A questionable, infatuation resulting in the ill-received eldest child never provided an opportunity to be heir to the Halagon household, yet, still held to the expectations of a nobleman. Lessons on manners, posture and other ridiculous teachings crammed into the male demon's head were still provided; they even taught him to read Latin. These expectations were thankfully lower than the true heir to the Halogan household, Rosalynn Halogan, Emmet's adored younger sister.
[break][break]
While the nobleman could only imagine the stressful situation for the lady of the household, thus the lieutenant proceeded to be supportive, going lengths to assist in his sister's ventures. Naturally, Emmet recruited some assistance from the members of unit three when the mission arrived and hastily volunteered himself for guard duty. On the lower floors, the party was in full force, the male demon sparing a few moments on the balcony of his room. A smoke was captured between his fingers while he leaned over, elbows resting on the stone railing. Beside him sat a dull, black ashtray, wind tousling the remnants of former cigarettes and their butts in the ceramic bowl. Below, people began flooding through the wrought metal gates, stationed guards requesting invitations to confirmed their allowance into the lavish Halogan Manor. Nobles and common folk of varying ages intermingled, all marching towards the front door to be escorted the first floor's foyer, where the Halloween party would be taking place throughout the evening.
[break][break]
There were few details Emmet could distinguish from his position from the balcony, but his yellow eyes remained fixated on the group nonetheless. The cigarette returned to his lips, the demon sucking in a breath, allowing the bitter taste of nicotine sooth his body. The adjacent end of the smoke burned bright, ash accumulating at the tip until the nobleman promptly flicked the end into the ashtray. A sigh escaped his lips, smoke spiralling up from his lips and disappearing into the cold outside air. Enjoying dances was difficult for the demon even if he attended to please his younger sister with his presence or arrived to support her endeavours. After losing his wife and high school lover, these events left him both uncomfortable and saddened by the reminder; even Halloween despite it being designed for games and fun rather than romance. While he stared over the crowd, he wished to see the graceful figure over the Ice Queen weaving through the mass of bodies, the mysterious woman bringing him a jubilation.
[break][break]
While they were expected to be enemies, Emmet found his yellow eyes endlessly staring at the enigmatic woman. The divinity of her beautiful appearance kept his attention and the thrilling sensation of her presence caused his heart to palpitate; her mere attendance was an adrenaline rush. These sensations were vaguely familiar, as though somebody managed to generate the incredible reaction, but on a lower tier. The nobleman proceeded to stare towards the individuals filing into the manor, praying he would manage to spot the long, white hair of the Assembly soldier. Would she manage to slip through and attend the Halloween party? A few moments passed before the lieutenant's eyes focused on the horizon, shaking his head in dismay to his ridiculous thoughts. The Ice Queen brought mayhem wherever she went and she should not be welcomed in the home of a high-ranking TRS agent under any circumstances. She was a malicious individual, heralding the death of unfortunate TRS agents and citizens wherever her presence graced; she could not be allowed here.
[break][break]
Thoughts paused as Emmet turned away from the balcony, squishing his cigarette between his fingers and the bottom of the tray. The nobleman stepped through the threshold into his room, shortly closing the elaborate, glass double doors that lead to the balcony; the smoking balcony. He glanced towards the bed where his TRS uniform sat quietly beside a bronze lion mask, his own uncertainty about the Halloween dance resulting in Rosalynn choosing a mask on his behalf. Both would Bernadette and Rosalynn assisted on his attendance, the nobleman wondering if these occasions were used as social attempts or possible date setups; most noticed his incomplete recovery from Marina's death. The manner of melancholic regarding of dances being a distinguishable feature for those who knew the demon prior to his wife's demise. Despite this, he believed volunteering to become a guard would result in him avoiding unsavoury interactions and allow him to keep to himself. A decent amount of time was spent changing into his TRS uniform, the lieutenant going lengths to secure the fancier adornments designed for moments of prestige in the TRS.
[break][break]
The finicky additional pieces were secured, the lustrous pair of red stars attached to left side of his chest. There was a crisp, eye-catching beauty to the freshly cleaned uniform. Each implement was cleaned to excellence for the occasion, providing Emmet with a professional appearance. Red accenting contrast against the dark primary shades of the uniforming, allowing for his hunting division colours to pop against the black and navy of his uniform. A pair of polished combat boots encompassed his feet, hands drawing back the laces tight before tying them into double knots. A soft sigh escaped the demon's mouth as he entered the washroom, grooming his hair back into a formal style before returning to the main bedroom. He ventured closer to the bed his eyes glancing to where the bronze lion mask was stationed. Hand-crafted, being brought from Venice as requested for the occasion. There was a moment spent staring at the stunning creation forged from metal, worked with excellent to capture the regal beauty of the lion.
[break][break]
Slowly, the mask was lifted and secured to the lieutenant's face, obscuring his face. Once his preparations were completed, Emmet attached his radio to his side and headed towards the door, exiting his bedroom. Fluently, the nobleman weaved through the hallways, heading down a different flight of stairs to make an unceremonious entrance into the foyer. Grand entrances were reserved for the pureblooded nobles of the Halogan family, thus he entered through a different area to avoid anything eye-catching. Similar to the nobles, the illegitimate child to the Halogan family possessed an altered sense of expectation with acute changes. He was expected to be polite and charming to those around him but designed to be a ghost amidst the crowd, forgotten and not introduced with the utmost professionalism. Instead, he was looked down upon, suffering the fate of his mother's actions, but nonetheless, a fate he had grown adjusted to. When he entered the foyer, he noticed the massing fray of bodies in the foyer, judging the festivities.
[break][break]
There were no doubts in Emmet's mind that the planning was solely done by Rosalynn, considering the unique choices for the masquerade. The gothic styling accompanied by the melodic metalcore that blared over speakers. Masks were worn by everybody in the room, most making certain the masks matched their costumes. Guards, servants and guests alike wore their masks, perhaps to defend themselves from the harsh tongues of opinions and rumours while formulating their own. As expected of a lieutenant, Emmet proceeded to check in with the various guards, quietly going about his duties to achieve professionalism as expected.
Christina had been contacted by a fellow assassin by text that she had an assignment. She met up at the designated time and picked up a package, returning back home to see her further instructions. She pulled out her cloak and left her hideout in search of her target. Once her target was in sight, she waited until the lady was returning back home before slipping into her room. Slowly creeping behind the woman, she would withdraw her daggers at the last second, slashing at her neck before pushing her to the ground. She would finish her work as to make sure the woman was dead and less likely to come back alive before lighting her place on fire. She would then exit out the window, pausing when she noticed the flyer on the nightstand. She would pick it up, before slipping out the window.
She creeped along the window seal before carefully climbing down the side of the building before her feet touched the ground. As she slowly walked back towards her hideout, she found herself glancing towards the flyer, interested to see the last name. As if this day couldn't get any better, she would likely get to see her dear old Emmerson. It had been a while since she last made contact with him, it wasn't that he hadn't tried, she just worked harder to stay off his radar, or anybody elses for that matter. Once she made it back to her hideout, she peeked around herself before opening the door, slipping inside before quietly closing it behind her. She would then go into the kitchen, setting the flyer on the counter as she moved into the bedroom to hang her cloak back up in the closet. She then went into the bathroom to get washed up. After thirty minutes or so, she had finished blow dying her hair, exiting the bathroom in a fresh pair of clothes.
It was common for the Ice Queen to be found in a dress shirt with slacks, so if she wanted to go unnoticed, she would be forced to wear something else instead. With a sigh, she looked into her long mirror. In her reflection, she was wearing a short knee length dress with no sleeves. Her hair was laying across her shoulders. The flyer had mentioned needing a mask, she didn't have any. Maybe she should pick one up on the way? She would shrug her shoulders slightly before moving away from the mirror to finish getting ready. She wasn't one for leaving her door unlocked but if somebody wanted to break into her place that badly, she had very few things in here. She would hide her keys and wallet in her closet before grabbing the invite from off the counter before exiting the hideout. The walk towards the house had been nice, giving her plenty of time to change her mind if that was her desire.
As the mansion had become into view, she couldn't help but feel a great need to pause as she stared up at it. Smoke was coming from a balcony not far away from her. She would move to hide behind a bush before peeking over to see who was standing up there. Surprise filled her mind when she had noticed it was him. Emmerson, the only reason she would bother coming to this god forsaken party in the first place. I wasn't coming here for pure enjoyment, hell. I could go another day without seeing him too, but I have to know. I have to know if he has somebody by his side. She needed to know if since they had last talked, if he had a special somebody. If he had a special somebody in his life, perhaps she could, could push her feelings to the side and get back to work. Strangely enough, she hoped that he still was single, not having that special somebody because she wanted that person to be her.
She kept staring at him, noticing him move away from the window. He must have missed her, if he had seen her, he likely would have taken action right about now. With a small sigh, she would slowly move towards the front entrance where the rest of the guests were lining up so that they would go in. She had noticed a few TRS hunters roaming the ground, if she didn't know any better, she would assume they were from the same unit as Emmerson. Strangely enough she hadn't seen Nicholas yet, maybe he had taken the night off. Once it was her turn to enter, she found herself stopped at the entrance because she didn't have a mask on. One of the servants had given her one to her displeasure. With the mask up against her face, she was permitted to enter shortly after surrounding her invite. A few minutes later, she was supposed to give a name to announce her arrival.
She whispered, "Chris." Having refused to give her biological name. Her name had been announced, her eyes were looking towards the crowd, trying to spot Emmerson among the many other people here. So this is where Emmerson lives. It is just so big here.... So nice too.... I could never have such things.... I shouldn't have come here, I wonder if it is too late to leave? She would glance behind herself to see people were still entering. Well shoot, I really picked the perfect time to be going inside.... She thought to herself, somewhat annoyed. Now lets see, where is the easiest window to go out from? I know a tour wasn't apart of their plan or mine, but if it means a quick exit, that would be best.
Slowly, she would brush passed people, trying to get to the window. With any luck, nobody would be interrupting her on her way towards the new exit that she demanded at the present time. Of course he would be busy talking to somebody else, what the hell did I expect? She thought to herself, as she neared the window. Having to deal with TRS hunters won't be a problem, despite their attempt for protection.
Having already arrived and displayed his invitation, Grayson now stood against a wall in the room, taking in the crowd. It was a lot more than he'd been expecting for a party where literally everyone and their grandmother had been given an invitation. Once he'd actually found the place, he was half sure he was just lost. He wasn't familiar with the family name of the host, but it was obvious they had money to spare... There were even TRS soldiers standing guard all around. Well, if they were that worried about AP terrorists making an appearance, then that just meant he'd made the right choice in showing up. Having taken note of the mask requirement, he'd settled on something simple. A black masquerade mask with see-through white cloth that covered the lenses to hide his eyes. They were easily remembered, after all. Aside from that, he'd just worn a black suit. It wasn't tailored, but it fit well enough for him to avoid standing out in the well-dressed crowd.
It had been little more than a spur of the moment decision, really. Something like this, extravagant parties and masquerade-- it was far out of his comfort zone. But it wasn't as though he actually had to interact with anyone. As long as he just kept moving around, he could spend the night eavesdropping, and have his fill of free food. At that moment, it was difficult to tell which part really took priority. It was clear that the food tables were just as extravagant as the rest of it...
Barely five minutes into wandering around, however, and it was already grating on his nerves. The exaggerated conversations, shrill voices, prying eyes no matter where he turned... Still, there was something about masks that really urged people to open up. If he wanted to gather intel, he had to stick through it, however nauseating the bright lights were. Occasionally, he would glance towards the door and take note as someone new entered the room. Of course, only being able to remember people by their masks or their clothes made things mildly difficult, as far as keeping track of it all. For a party where invitations were given out so freely, there sure were a lot of fancy people about. Either that, or they were just much better at blending in than he was.
Glancing over, he took note of one violet-hued guest subtly making way towards the windows as if ready to throw herself out of one. Honestly, he could relate.
a sigh escapes her lips as she smooths her dress down. she wasn't expecting to be dressed like this. after all the only reason she had an invite was because she was suppose to be there for work. in the end she wasn't forced to go. yet she found herself there. maybe the curiosity got the better of her. hey, it wasn't bad for her to check the party out, have some fun and keep an eye on things.
at least that's what she was telling herself. she would only be attending just in case they did need her. it wasn't like she had a shift at the ward. after all patrolling the party had been her task. now that she was left with nothing to do, she wasn't planning on spending the night alone. not when there was some fancy party being thrown, besides she still had the invite.
it had been quite the challenging deciding to come up with an outfit for her mask. she was informed ahead of time that a mask would be required even for those that would be working. especially for those that were going to stay inside. she stared at the mask. a few that were sent over especially for them. funny little green thing had caught her eye. she would don a witches face tonight. it wasn't a full one, it would only cover half her face. you could tell it was suppose to be a witch, the way the nose was a bit long and pointy. she even had the hat to go with it. eventually she settled for a simple black dress with sleeves.
she wasn't sure why she felt nervous? maybe it was because she wasn't accustomed to wear dresses all that much. though it wasn't like she had gone out and bought the dress specifically for this occasion. it was something she had already owned. though once inside she wished she would of gone out and bought something a little more elegant. everyone looked so lovely in their formal attire. it didn't matter, she would push those thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand. she was here to have fun and keep an eye on things. not that she didn't think the others wouldn't be capable, but there was nothing wrong with having a little more help.
she had only seen houses like these in movies. she couldn't help, but wander through the rooms and marveling at the decor. perhaps it would of been better to curl up on her sofa with a comfy blanket and a bowl of popcorn, watching a scary movie. she felt out of place, but she wasn't going to leave just yet. after making her way around she found herself near the snacks. everything looked so delicious. she looked at the options and eventually just settled for something to drink. she took a sip before moving away and finding a nice little corner to continue to watch the festivities.
"The mere notion of beauty exists solely in the mind of the beheld"
A somewhat poignant quote that Rosa promptly skimmed over in an online thread yet it still managed to subconsciously resonate with her ego. By definition, the girl's physique seemed but a few birthdays short from ripening. This, in combination with her ostensibly childish demeanor and unnecessarily showy ensemble further conveyed the illusion of her inexperience and immaturity. Not only that, but apparently almost all attempts to groom her into a proper demon lady befitting the Halogan name yielded largely mediocre results as evidenced by her outward persona. Even as the beaming young demon finally descended down the grand staircase, she could well perceive the countless eyes directed at her. Despite their obscured faces, the yellowish tint of Rosalynn's eyes successfully recognized the patronizing gazes of a handful of cousins, uncles, aunts and other relatives from underneath their ostentatious masks. Despite the honeyed words of her parents and darling older brother, she was far from the apparent heir they fancied her to be. Virtually no one else expected much from her... and Rosa could not ask for a more favorable position, if only they knew of the young demon's actual plans.
As soon as her Gothic themed leather boots touched the ground floor, a woman frantically approached her. She was clad in a long black dress and a similarly flamboyant white Volto mask with intricate gold plating that indicated her affluent social background. As Rosa anticipated, this woman hastily clamped both arms around her in a tight embrace, betraying their otherwise refined aura. "Oh my sweet Rosa, how did it go? how was he? you're alright now are you? you're not actually gonna-" Before long, a supple gloved finger sealed the woman's nosy lips before Rosa lightheartedly prodded her masked forehead with her own mask's pointed beak. "Moooooooom not here! there are like, people listening." Rosa muffled in hushed tones, clearly irked by her mother, Bernadette's heedless meddling. "Ah right, sorry." Bernadette uttered shortly before clearing her throat and nonchalantly dragging the girl by the wrist, eliciting some mirthful stares from some of the crowd to which Rosa could only grin casually and nod in response. Eventually, Bernadette and a non-resisting Rosalynn sauntered their way towards a corner... this again was all according to plan.
Rosa had already predicted that her good-natured and doting mother would feel personally invested in who her daughter marries, something the sly demon girl capitalized on. By now the joke is once again, on Lazarus, the whole travesty of a third marriage meeting somewhat insinuating his heavy handed objective of marrying his granddaughter off to another family. However that assumption is inaccurate, that much Rosa is cognizant of. Much to Rosa's displeasure, she has yet to discern precisely the clan head's motives in allowing those meetings to take place, leaving her with only a few theories to brood over. "Not too loud okay... it's a biiiiit too early to make this public, and no, this one flopped just as bad as last time and all that." Rosa dispassionately commented so as to reassure Bernadette, who was technically responsible for coordinating the event in her absence whereas Rosa herself was pretty much only nominally in charge. It did not take long for Bernadette to instinctively drone on about love stories and such whilst Rosa preoccupied herself with more pressing matters.
Perhaps I should focus more on organizing the event... Rosa should just go and have fun before her speech...
Just like that, Bernadette's recurrent account of a historical yet mundane event that occurred in Madrid more than a century ago finally ceased. "Anyways sweetie, now that you're here, I should probably prepare the opening remarks. Go on and frolic around for now, you little party planner you." Rosa's mother expressed in a comically indulgent tone to which the girl replied accordingly before pouting, "No, bad mom, treat me like that again and no hugs for 24 hours!" As such, Bernadette jovially acquiesced and began walking away whilst promptly stating "Do prepare yourself ma chérie, you'll be up in 30 minutes just as planned." And with that, she faded into the crowd. Transmitting such ideas into her mother's unpretentious brain proved to be an elementary task, such was the essence of the Rosalynn Halogan's talent. Possession; a convenient yet principally disregarded demonic gift, a most unorthodox ability that borders the realm of esoteric concepts for those willing enough to master the disreputable art.
As of current, Rosa's consciousness is split into 5 forms including that of her own body. By borrowing the optical and auditory functions of a few select and obviously weak-willed individuals, Rosa was able to scan some events occurring in different sections of the manor. Although the condition requiring all guest to conceal their faces appeared to be hindering the girl's reconnaissance, the process of identifying certain individuals is not yet in the priority list. She essentially has eyes and ears all over the Halogan estate, this was her domain after all. Needless to say, locating her dear Emmet was already a forgone conclusion the instant he emerged from his bedroom. Whilst her sweet lion prince drifted down he unremarkable flight of stairs typically reserved for lower tier servants, her consciousness fleetingly disengaged from an unsuspecting maidservant upstairs as Rosa, in her main body, willfully strolled over the area from where Emmet is estimated to crop up in approximately 20 seconds.
In the meantime, Rosa artfully manipulated the senses of some three other proxies in separate sections of the manor. One was in the form of her lanky and and unassuming classmate clad in a shoddily made ghost costume veiling most his body, well over six feet in height. Through "Posty" as she refers to him, she could accurately gauge the flow of traffic in the middlemost point of the foyer. The blackened eyeholes of Posty's uninspired garb twisted and shifted about so as to monitor any instances of commotion. Posty supposedly grinned from underneath his thin sheet upon sight of the plethora of masked individuals socializing constantly with apparent strangers, such is the self-assuring effect of anonymity in otherwise reserved people. On a side note, he was arguably the perfect watchtower for this task considering his oddly low-profile presence in school regardless of his impressive height. How unfortunate that Posty is notorious for being a class freak despite his genuine desire to mingle with others... well enough about him, a little girl was flaunting about in her lavish outfit, a curious spectacle to say the least.
On the other hand, an elderly yet hearty-looking butler was patrolling the less crowded sections and corners of the premise, this of course is Rosa's other proxy. "Rudy" as he is unceremoniously referred to by the young lady has been subjected to the dress code masks akin to low-level RPG monsters as is prescribed to household servants present in the party. A handful of sepia lights are scattered neatly and evenly distributed onto the household's dark-colored walls in addition to the dazzling glow of the grandiose chandelier hanging off the high ceiling. Virtually all corners of the main lobby had been lit up to compensate for its dark interior design, Rosa was well aware of a well-trained hitman's ability to compromise the estate's increased defenses. In spite of his elderly appearance, Rudy's eyesight was remarkably keen which is why after patrolling the seemingly endless stretch of walls, lights and tall arched windows, the butler's eyes finally caught onto an infraction about to be performed by one of the guests. Rosa was not having it, she expeditiously compelled Rudy to briskly walk over to the purple haired woman in question wearing a run-of-the-mill paper mâché mask... she looked terribly familiar, surely that couldn't be the case... "Excuse me miss..." Rudy asserted to the young woman...
...Nonetheless, Rosa herself was frolicking over to a corner to where some food counters remained largely untouched. A small group of some 4 uniformed and aptly masked TRS agents stood guard. Should her calculations prove accurate, then Emmerson was about to emerge from the staircase in about 15 seconds time. TRS agents hired for this professedly mundane venture had the privilege of being granted their masks, courtesy of Halogan corp. These masks were almost entirely comprised of some metallic materials as well as some synthetics to enhance the wearer's eyesight. Rosa then plucked a stick of candy apple coated in milk chocolate and sprinkles before halting her tracks beside what appeared to be a witch. The young woman's green-coated metallic mask seemed quite exclusive to the ones the company handed out to the guards, it might have resembled a witch in design but appeared much too slick and refined. Rosa looked up at her and said. "So like, you're from the TRS eh?" Rosa affably inquired whilst clandestinely eyeing her outfit that was curiously devoid of a TRS uniform. Of course, the girl could not just heedlessly appear in front of Emmet the moment he appears unless she wished to induce suspicion within him.
For now, the guileless looking girl focused her attention onto the green-haired witch. Rosa could easily tell the young woman's reserved disposition from the countenance of her exposed lower face. "Oooh, what unit are ya from? like, only working as a staff at the HQ? some sorta clerk or somethin? ah, right! I'm Rosa by the way, imma let ya call me Rosie tho', welcome to my party by the way." Rosa chattered on until finally giving the girl a chance to reply once again and heartily chomping onto the candy apple. Shortly afterwards, Emmie was already associating himself with some of the patrols nearby. The very instant Emmet diverted his attention towards them, Rosa was already waving spiritedly, and beckoning him over "Emmmieeee!" Rosa exclaimed just as Emmet might expect.
- Do PM me if you have any questions. There might be some details you want to clarify before proceeding and admittedly, my posts aren't always the clearest. Again sorry for the long wall of text.
Scene particularly for Grayson since Selina had accidentally bumped into him, but then again she finds no reason to apologize because she's miss B (feel free to punch her for me, Grayson).
Walking around could either be a pain in the ass, or just simply boring. And Selina hated boring. Her purpose of coming to this Halloween party wasn't even to complete the mission supposedly given to her, it was meant to just enjoy! But what does she get? Walk, walk, walk, do nothing, walk, wave at strangers, walk, walk, and do nothing, and just repeat it a number of times before it finally gets into her nerves.
[break][break]The blonde girl's blue eyes looked around the grand manor, and she could sincerely blink in awe at how well it is actually kept even though littered with so many ridiculous Halloween decorations (all of which, admittedly, are stunningly fantastic and real enough for someone to believe in). The owner of this mansion must have put so much effort into getting all of this done. Rosalynn Halogan, only upon hearing this name, already seems like an interesting person to talk to, or even someone interesting to bicker with, honestly. Either way, she would love to meet her. Only if she were able to find her around here, anyway.
[break][break]But the routine goes by the same, only this time some young 16-ish year old boy asked her if she would like to dance with him on the floor, in which she absolutely refused. There was absolutely no time to be dancing around the floor, sadly; poor boy would be brimming with tears if that was how Selina imagined it, but she was sure enough that he would be able to move on from the rejection of a pretty girl like her.
[break][break]Cue two arrogant coughs from Selina herself.
[break][break]But right now, though, there is absolutely nothing she could do but stop and watch the other guests having fun. She could probably just go home and forget about why she had come here in the first place, but then again, she was determined to meet this little Rosalynn. It was only after looking around for quite a few minutes and walking once more had she realized she wasn't alone; looking at the window, she could see a figure jumping out from it, and from Selina's range of sight they were a woman with white hair and rather pale skin, wearing such mysterious clothes she will not know what to do with them if she were the one wearing them. Her eyebrows knit together and her eyes squint to get a better view, though. She does seem familiar, it feels like she'd seen her too many times before--
[break][break]Thoughts were disrupted when she bumps into a rather tall man, and she quickly scoots away almost instantly after the impact. The young blonde scowls and looks him up and down, before sighing in exasperation. "Alright. Uh, sorry for bumping into you, but, uh..." She raises an eyebrow haughtily and points at his mask. "What are you supposed to be, exactly?"
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Promptly after exiting the lacklustre staircase, Emmet’s eyes glanced over the massive fray of bodies moving around the room. Music thundered through the speakers, partially concealing the conversations around him; only the occasional few words managed to make themselves heard. Vibrations shook the floor as music reverberated through the foyer, filling everybody's ears. A quiet sigh escaped the lieutenant's lips as he continued to gaze over the guests, analyzing the current citizens occupying the area. There were a variety of people, each wearing their masks, but none appeared to have the hair and figure he desired to see. The flowing white hair, hourglass figure and brilliant purple eyes of the magnificent Assembly soldier he desired the attention of. There was a thrilling aspect to being around Christina, alluring Emmet to her whenever she was present. Everything about her possessed a perfection, the male demon desiring to witness her grace and enjoying her delightful company, yet, the yellow-eyed man could not find her amidst the crowd as he secretly hoped. After a few moments, Emmet moved towards his fellow TRS hunter to exchange commands.
[break][break]
There was a small group of hunters discussing near the far hall, their voices rather hushed, but laughter was evident. Once lieutenant approached, their conversation ceased, the group stiffly turning around and providing a crisp salute to provide professionalism. Each wore their selected mask for the evening, extravagant pieces handed out by Halogan corporation for the event. They were specially made, even possessing lenses to enhance the eyesight of the hunters under his command. Already, the lieutenant's eyes analyzed their masks in hopes of recognizing them, even going lengths to glance over their nametags to reacquaint himself with each hunter. Each footstep brought him closer, the hunters beaming at their lieutenant, preparing for the commands they would be granted. The instant Emmet was before them, each barked up a 'Lieutenant' before patiently waiting for their commands of the evening. A small grin touched the hunter's lips, although, it was obscured by lavish mask requested by his younger sister.
[break][break]
Before Emmet could provide his demands and the hunter's their information, the male demon stiffened as he listened to a name called over the crowd. There was a pause as the lieutenant glanced towards the large crowd, praying he could catch a glimpse of her. A prayer was sent, but the nobleman was interrupted by a cough from one of his hunters, his yellow eyes glancing towards his hunters again. The lieutenant cleared his throat, prompting his hunters to provide some information. There was limited data gathered from the hunters, little occurring prior to his entrance, resulting in Emmet providing a small nod. Commands were given, the group promptly disbanding to accomplish their tasks. A soft sigh escaped his lips, the nobleman taking another glance towards the massive crowd. There remained the immense amount of people, all conversing and possibly hiding the person he desired to see from his sights. While Chris was a gender neutral name and belonged to millions of people, Emmet prayed that perhaps it was Christina, the woman he desired to see. There was a sigh when Emmet failed to notice the Assembly soldier in the crowd.
[break][break]
He turned away from the crowd, shortly hearing his sister beckon him towards a green-haired woman in a witch costume. A smile touched Emmet's face, the male demon walking towards his sister to converse before the party proceeded. While he walked, he stared at the door in hopes of noticing Christina among the crowd, but people blocked the lieutenant's view. There was a slowness to his walk, the male demon hoping to noticed the white-haired beauty. He desired the thrilling sensation of her presence, the intense beating of his heart and odd mixture of nervousness and joy over her presence. When he arrived in the corner near the snack table, he provided Rosalynn and the green-haired woman a smile, although, it was hidden beneath the lion mask.
[break][break]
"Are you enjoying your party so far, Rosa?" Emmet asked.
[break][break]
The demon was curious if the Halloween party was living up to Rosalynn's expectations, Emmet knowing the importance of the hosted event. He wanted to assist his younger sister where possible to make the party successful. There would be relatives scrutinizing the entire event; Emmet hoping he could manage to avoid his relatives. Considering his status in the Halogan family, the lieutenant had concern over those relatives causing him frustration throughout the evening. Despite years of receiving the obnoxious torment, Emmet found it difficult to tolerate them. Quietly, the male demon stood, occasionally glancing over the crowd in desperate hope of noticing Christina among the numerous people. There was something about her which lured him closer, thus the nobleman wanted to converse with her throughout the event because of his dislike of parties; after losing his wife, there was little entertainment in these types of events. A majority of Emmet's attention belonged to the crowd, the nobleman merely providing a quick glance over Rosalynn's and the stranger's costumes while he searched for Christina.
Christina was almost at the window when somebody had called out to her, she paused, turning around to see it was only a butler. So much for making a new exit. She thought to herself, with a small smile on her face, "Yes?" She asked, trying to play innocent. Any thought of exiting the window was gone when she had been caught by him. Words were shared, though frankly she had zoned them out when she found herself thinking about Emmerson and where the hell he could be hiding right about now. Once it seemed like the butler was finished speaking, she would sigh, trying to decide on her next course of action. On the one hand, she could wander around and see if she could find his room, but with all of these people around, it proved to be rather difficult. I'm going to have to remind myself why the hell I came out here again? I mean what did I expect, to see him and things would go smoothly? No. I'm AP and he is TRS... even if I wanted things to go smoothly, surely his family would have a problem with that?
The frustration of being unable to avoid thinking about him was becoming more and more of a problem as time went by. He must have changed from the time she had seen him smoking because there were so many men around his appeared age that were in here and none of them were wearing the outfit she had seen him smoking in. It didn't help that he was wearing a mask and she wasn't able to hear him talking. I could try listening for him as I walk, the only problem is that I don't want to draw attention to myself. I should wait to see if anything interesting happens. He is bound to take action if that were to occur, of course I don't plan on being the cause behind this. She knew that being surrounded by people likely would help her blend in so much better but she wasn't interested in doing such a thing. The sooner she found Emmerson, the sooner she could figure out for herself if coming here was worth it or not. As it stood, she still wanted to lecture him about smoking, unsure on why she felt so strongly about his well being.
I hope nobody else comes up to talk to me. I'll be highly disappointed if it isn't Emmerson. She thought to herself, as she remained in her spot. The music continued to play and she found herself slightly enjoying it as she waited, hoping that Emmerson would find her. Assuming he was looking for her in the first place. She had given the nickname with the hope of gaining his attention, surely he would know that the only person that would dare go by a single name, despite it being known for both genders would only be her.
Grayson remained where he was for the time being, still not entirely sure if he was keen on hanging around. The entire place was exactly the opposite of his comfort zone, after all. All of the noise aside, at least the mask helped shield his eyes from the bright lighting. The girl he'd intended on watching jump out a window was stopped by some butler, so that bit of entertainment had been nulled. Shaking his head, he turned his attention elsewhere, setting off into the crowd. Towards the tables of food, of course. If he was going to put up with this on the off chance of hearing something interesting, he was at least going to eat his fill before he left.
He'd nearly made it there, when his course was halted by a smaller body bumping into him. Grunting, he glanced down at the girl. He'd only half expected an apology, but it still caught him off guard to see the girl scowling at him, as if the impact had been his fault. Was it? It was true that he hadn't been paying much attention to the people around him. He was wondering if he should be the one to apologize, when the girl sighed and finally offered up her own.
He didn't respond to the following question at first, his posture relaxing as he crossed his arms over his chest. He had to think about it. He hadn't actually thought about resembling anything when he picked out a mask, but wasn't that the point of a party like this? "... A superhero?" He suggested, as the first thing that came to mind. Or maybe Zorro. He shrugged. "Doesn't really matter, just here for food." With the question answered, either way, his attention immediately refocused on the earlier destination as he continued on towards the food table. He knew that with his presence in the room as a Lich Beast, it was probably going to get crowded at the buffet, before long. Not fond of crowds, he just had to get as much as he could, before then.
was it weird that she was just stuffing her face? she was a tad hungry and everything looked so delicious. of course she showed restraint and only grabbed a little bit of what she wanted to try. she was going back for seconds at a later time. she would more than likely walk off what she had stuffed into her mouth. the mask wasn't too much of a hindrance, but she did have to be careful. she was surprised someone had noticed. she didn't have anything that would give her away.
well except the mask. she wasn't too sure who would know, except perhaps the hosts of the party. it started to sink in that the person standing in front of her was said host. she wiped her mouth with her napkin as she regained her composure."why yes. is it that obvious."she said with a laugh.
she sure wasn't afraid to strike up a conversation. the questions were sure coming at her quite fast. she smiled nonetheless and waited for a chance to speak. it seemed her snacking would have to wait."im a medic and i work in the ward."it seemed like her suspicions were correct."oh, so you sent these masks. did you pick them out yourself?"that sounded really dumb. she wished she hadn't asked that. of course they would be picked by her right? it was her party after all.
"thank you rosie. everything is lovely."danika said with a smile."im danika."she managed to say before the lieutenant showed up. she wasn't super familiar with him, but he was one of those people everyone knew about to an extent. you could pick him out in a crowd. as soon as he laid eyes on danika, she was quick to salute.
The sugary taste of the candied apple stimulated Rosa's taste buds shortly after her barrage of questions to the lone medic, finally allowing some time for her to respond. Thankfully, the green-haired witch proved affable enough to remain unperturbed by Rosa's sudden intrusion. The veneer of a warm smile adorned the visible half of the young demon's face whilst the amber hues of her eyes clandestinely shifted its glance between the a green witch and a dark noble demon every now and then. Upon heeding the medic's question, Rosa hastily swallowed the huge chunk of candy-coated fruit down her throat. "Hehehe, that's right, t'was I, Lady Rosalynn Halogan!... and my mom... and like, 4 of my other cousins... and a buncha other professional architects- buuuuuut! I did manage to 'successfully' pester my grampa to implement it!" Rosa proudly declared in a rather sarcastic manner, patting herself by the head afterwards.
Before long, the girl introduced herself as a Danika, upon which Rosa squeezed her lips together in a pout and slowly nodded. "Hmmm... right'o, you'll be "Dee Dee" from here on out!" Rosa announced shortly before taking note of the lion turning his head towards their general direction, prompting her to yell his name in a distinctively 'Rosalynn-like' fashion, much to the dismay of both her maids who were still observing her from a distance. Finally her dear Emmie shall feast his eyes on her new ensemble, Rosa could hardly wait for his reaction. Unfortunately for her, Emmet just as quickly diverted his attention while still in the process of leisurely strolling closer to them. As much as Rosa felt inclined to disapprove of his apparent indifference, she initially perceived such aloof behavior to simply be him in 'work mode'.
Regardless, the previously genial grin that decorated girl's lower face lost its inner lustre, thanks in no small part to something else aside from Emmet's inattentiveness... Her waist-length white hair possessed a light tinge of purple which corresponded with the deeper purple of her eyes which can be perceived from beneath the eyeholes of her second-rate papier-mâché goblin mask. The high heels that accompanied her rather eye-catching red dress amplified her height in a way such that she and Rudy were now similar in height. Taking into consideration the woman's discernible physique, there is a high probability of her physical description being identical to that of the Ice Queen, Christina Johnson. Utilizing the optical functions of the butler, Rosa inadvertently compelled Rudy to scrutinize every facet of Chris' body longer than what is considered normal. Should this woman in fact, be who Rosa thinks she is, then it would necessitate her to alter her plans entirely, with the utter neutralization of this AP menace taking priority. "Ah apologies, I must have mistaken you for someone else." Rudy suddenly uttered, donning a slightly befuddled expression soon afterwards.
Before releasing the butler from possession, Rosa closely monitored Chris' bodily reaction to the statement she enforced Rudy to articulate. To the others, the image of a forgetful old man must have been conveyed despite Rudy being immortal and his outward appearance being but the unfortunate result of a curse. As of current, one of Rosa's minions friends in school took the place of Rudy as a new proxy. The girl wearing a plaid blue dress a... 'fake' riot mask, politely excused herself from her group of fellow misfits to furtively trail Christina's movements. Should the target take notice of the girl's presence, Rosa would again shift consciousness to one of her plethora of available proxies in order to avoid unwanted suspicion. Eventually, Chris halted in her tracks, Rosa now silently observing under the nigh imperceptible cover of another individual's body. Rosa was already in the process of orchestrating a predetermined order of events should the notorious Ice Queen actually be audacious enough to infiltrate the Halogan estate in the most fortuitous way.
On a side note, Emmet appeared to have redirected his attention back to her and Danika, prompting the demon girl to perk up once more and energetically nod her head before responding. "No wait, I should be asking that question, cos this is MY party." Rosa stated whilst facing directly at him, allowing him ample space to gaze upon her outfit. Much to Rosa's chagrin, Emmet's attention once again drifted off to the crowd. The girl fixed her mask and cleared her throat prior to facing Danika instead "Well Dee Dee, I'm sure you're like, already aware but I'd like ya to meet my dearest brother, SIR EMMERSON HALOGAN, LIEUTENANT OF TRS UNIT THREE!" Rosa exclaimed in a mock military manner, loud enough for those nearby to hear and eliciting a huge frown from both her maids, Morgana and Fatima. Hopefully, that snatched Emmet's attention back to her. Rosa then leaped beside Emmet, still facing Danika "Emmie, this is Dee Dee!" She stated before following it up in hushed tones "-real name Danika..." Interestingly, all of that she said while not giving Emmet any eye contact.
Afterwards, she strode back to Danika's side and loudly whispered by the side of her ear, if that could even be considered a whisper due to how vividly Emmet the others in the nearby radius would have heard. "Sorry if he's like that, I think he finally started smokin' the green stuff." It was as if Rosa intended for Emmet to hear. "Well, he has a dope mask at least..." Rosa uttered candidly as she finally stared back at the contours of Emmet's lion mask. "Then again, that was like, the one mask I designed all by myself!" she gloated, retracting her gaze away from him in the meanwhile. Honestly speaking, the girl felt genuinely concerned about her dear brother considering how distracted he seemed as of current. It is certainly typical for Emmet to unwittingly overlook his sister's painstakingly tailored outfits despite knowing full well how his heedlessness bothered her. Nonetheless, Emmet's lack of concern about Rosa's earlier whereabouts was slightly upsetting, especially considering that sorry excuse for an arranged marriage meeting prior.
Back at the foyer, Rosa led the acting sentry, Posty to finally move out. A 6'4 sheet of white mess casually waded through a myriad of bodies, steadily making its way towards the buffet in order to provide more reconnaissance regarding Chris' actions. That is, until his sheets had been unceremoniously tugged at, therefore unravelling his relatively normal, and honestly above average looking face to the crowd as his makeshift camouflage fell off. Before Rosa knew it, her consciousness had been abruptly expelled as anxiety transcended over the tall, lanky boy. Posty somehow felt compelled of cover his face with both hands and grumble awkwardly as his abnormal acts inevitably attracted more attention than he bargained for. Face reddened, Posty frantically pushed his way towards the manor's exit... so much for a 'human watchtower'. Rosalynn Halogan, for all her relative popularity and reputation as a young socialite, appeared to be somewhat fond of mingling with weirdos at school for some reason.
"Oh don't mind him, I know that guy he has like... issues ya know" Rosa commented with regards to the unneeded disturbance Posty had created. "Anywho, there's definitely lotsa TRS around for Rosie's little event, ya really think there's AP around here Emmie?" Rosa inquired, despite being well aware of the reason for their deployment considering that she herself possessed her uncle's body during the exchange between him and the TRS general. After all, these high-end Halogan corp masks needed a test run did it not? And of course, Rosa herself was mindful of the recent upsurge in AP activities according to her watchdogs intel in Downtown Lorsette and the Aria Village. Either way, she needed a plan to isolate Chris and compel her to remove her mask, She turned her attention towards Danika "So Dee Dee like, ya have any abilities or magic and stuff?"
"YOUR BODY IS MY MASQUERADE"
Emmerson Halogan @christina @danika @grayson @selina - 1316 words
- CHRIS, SELINA OR Grayson ARE FREE TO BE THE CAUSE OF POOR POSTY'S WARDROBE MALFUNCTION, OR YOU COULD JUST OPT OUT OF THIS POSSIBLE SCENARIO. EITHER WAY, THE ONE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT MAY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DIALOG WITH ROSA IN FUTURE POSTS.
The young man answers her with a sort of uncertainty in his voice; the young girl sneers, as it was worthy of it, but immediately withdraws and changed it into a laughing smirk. "Really now? A superhero?" Honestly, she'd never thought the people around her wouldn't be as productive when it comes to costumes and parties. Saying you are posing as a superhero while wearing only a mask that doesn't seem like it is ridiculous to Selina. "Can't you think of something better than that, mister~?"
[break][break]Her smirk falters into a neutral face and she blinks at his other statement. The food... her eyes widen as plates and she turns her head to where the snack table is. Of course! The food! How could she forget?! Food is one of the most important parts of the party! Well-served dishes and snacks only make this party all the better. How could she just forget about that one vital part? She's supposed to be the former daughter of a noble, surely she should be able to remember such things.
[break][break]"Hmm... I agree, food makes the party absolutely worth to go to." She nods, making her way to the snack table to have a taste. She could see candy apples and other sweets even from far away; she should try some candies sometime. The snack table distracts her from looking around, even to the man behind her; she even starts to forget that there's another well-known soldier loitering around the area, as her mind is too affixed on the food.
[break][break]"Man, I'm hungry..." She whines childishly to herself, rubbing her stomach. "Did I just forget to eat dinner before even coming here--?"
[break][break]She stops talking to herself once she sees a rather... peculiar sight. A long white sheet, walking around like a startled ghost... her mouth starts to crack up and she stifles a laugh, but she couldn't help but be mean. Who was this fraud and what are they even doing? Is this supposed to be a costume? She could only imagine the lost dignity this fraud may have for themselves right now... is this even something worthy of being called a Halloween costume?
[break][break]Selina loved to play jokes. She wasn't called the Rotten Rose for nothing, after all.
[break][break]So she disappears into midair and fades away from people's sights, before she makes her way to the long sheet of white and grabs the spare messy sheet sliding through the ground, pulling it towards her soon after. It reveals an average looking boy, clearly embarrassed and helpless in his disposition. She drops the sheet on the ground, still watching while not seen by other people from across the crowd.
[break][break]He covers his face and mumbles unintelligible words, before actually exiting the manor. The event amuses Selina to no end; she laughs and tries to hold on to her starving stomach, but any attempt of stifling her laughter would not work. She calms down a little, but is still giggling at the pathetic boy; she reappears once again, finally on the snack tables, still giggling evidently which leads people to question if she was just there a while ago, or why she was laughing in the first place.
[break][break]Selina does not mind them and grabs two candy coated apples from the plates, finally able to ease her boredom.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Somewhere in the crowd was the beautiful Christina Johnson with her long white hair. It ended at her waist in long, straight locks which gave it a heavenly appearance. She had a natural perfection to her face, void of makeup allowing for her flawless complexion to shine. Those incredible purple eyes which sparkled in the light and possess the majesty of nobility. There was a certain charm to her personality, despite the limited amount of exposure he had to it. Merely hearing her name was distracting for the lieutenant as his thoughts fixated on her and diverted his attention from his little sister. After the Valentine’s Day dance, Christina had managed to maintain a place on his mind. He had pushed her away, claiming the spectacular moment their lips met to be nothing, but wrong. Unfortunately, the demon was clueless on how to start a conversation after the despicable way he pushed her away. While he stood, distracted by the notion of Christina being here, he debated on the actions he would take. Would he attempt to arrest her, or merely talk in hopes of patching Valentine’s Day Incident?
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Constantly, Emmet’s eyes glanced around the crowd, although, he refused to search in fear of upsetting his precious younger sister. Ultimately, it caused the demon to feel torn between the two significant duties he brought upon himself. Spending personal time with Rosalynn and searching Christina in the massive fray of people were both important tasks; especially if his suspicions were correct about this ‘Chris’ being the infamous Ice Queen. There were a few members of his family who genuinely cared and would not take kindly to her presence in Halogan Manor. The Assembly of Phantoms were the enemies of the TRS, thus entering the abode where a lieutenant lingered was already a disastrous plan. Certainly, this Chris would be different and the Ice Queen would keep her distance, right? When Rosalynn answered his question, Emmet was only half-listening, the thoughts of Christina’s possible presence distracting him. He proceeded to silently observe the surroundings and picking faces from the crowd to analyze, although, nothing appeared awry in the throng of people enjoying the festivities.
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The crowd itself was nearly endless with Emmet detecting a new face, which was mostly unfamiliar with some exceptions. The lieutenant's eyes lingered until Rosalynn exclaimed an introduction of his full name, promptly turning his attention back to his younger sister and the mysterious woman. A faint hint of red touched his cheeks, the demon finding himself embarrassed over his lack of attentiveness, although, fortunately, his face was hidden by the elaborate lion mask. After the introduction, Emmet attempting to perform a better job listening to his sister and the stranger who Rosalynn announced as Danika, Dee-dee for short. Despite a portion of the servants seeming disappointed at the introduction provided by Rosalynn, Emmet proceeded to smile; he still viewed his younger sister as a little kid. While the young demon had grown and learned plenty, the lieutenant still allowed her to easily get away with childish mischief under the belief of her still being a child. Those beliefs managed to exist despite Rosalynn being old enough to marry.
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After a few moments, Emmet straightened himself up before performing a professional bow. Despite his mixed blood, his family still expected formal attitudes and excellent behaviour.
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"A pleasure to meet you, Danika," he began before standing up straight. "Feel free to just call me Emmet."
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There was a broad grin across Emmet's lips, however, it was obscured by the mask which made it incredibly difficult to read his expressions. After a few moments, the nobleman surveyed the surrounding area until suddenly hearing the accusation Rosalynn stated. A sharp cough echoed through the mask as the lieutenant immediately glanced back towards his sister in horror of the sudden accusation. While cigarettes were frequently smoked by the nobleman, he never considered anything more mind-altering and detrimental to his perception of certain situations; he needed to be focused considering his position as a TRS lieutenant. Dealing with those sorts of substances prior to working a significant event could become enough to get him fired from the TRS for his negligence in assuring his brain was prepared to handle the quickly-timed decision making needed for his occupation. A horrified expression was hidden beneath Emmet's mask as his eyebrows raised and his mouth gaped. There was a sudden stiffness to his body from the shock of Rosalynn stating the accusation loudly.
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"ROSA!" Emmet shouted before stopping to clear his throat. "You know I would never indulge in anything like that... It would tamper with my work too much."
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The nobleman was upset by the accusation, especially considering it was completely false. While there were plenty of moments he would inhale nicotine, allowing the disgusting and addictive substance to damage his body. There were numerous occasions he received healing, thus Emmet could never notice the effects of the harmful chemicals. A soft sigh escaped the male demon's lips as Rosalynn fished for an appraisal on the bronze lion mask she had designed specifically for him. The lieutenant lacked the ability to decide on a proper mask, thus he allowed his younger sister to pick a design she wanted to see him wear. After a few moments, Emmet's gaze returned to the moving crowd, allowing him to notice a rather tall and lanky boy have the sheets pulled off of him. The rather tall man's face reddened before he pushed his way out of the manner, resulting in the lieutenant raising a brow to the peculiar action. It was evident the tall boy was extremely embarrassed over his sudden costume malfunction, resulting in him making the sudden decision to leave.
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Afterwards, his eyes returned to Rosalynn as she claimed to know the boy and stated vaguely that he possessed 'issues'. The lieutenant silently accepted the explanation his younger sister provided, presuming perhaps it related to something more personal. Before he could return his attention entirely to the massive crowd, his sister inquired about him truly believing the Assembly would attend the party or attempt to sneak in. There was complete silence from the lieutenant as he pondered the notion, finding it difficult to believe it was impossible.
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"Well... it is unlikely, but I wouldn't completely doubt it either," Emmet murmured quietly as he scrutinized the crowd.
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There were times the Assembly agents would make themselves present despite the outstanding number of TRS agents, thus the lieutenant never doubted their bravery. If they could discover a reason to benefit from attacking a large manor filled with numerous people and TRS agents, Emmet could believe the possibility of them accomplishing the task. As Rosalynn proceeded to converse with Danika, the lieutenant silently watched the crowd, wondering if his suspicions about Christina's presence were correct.
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The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
