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!
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Watchful eyes were everywhere when notions of the newest arrivals joined their education system, fortunately, Preston could narrowly manage to tolerate it; he received similar treatment when he was transferred to Lorsette. Students were curious people, obvious by their reactions to noticing the newest face in the school. They desired to gather the information about Alfonse, however, they were unlikely to approach, some waiting for an extremely sociable individual to arrive and essentially interrogate the newest student. They would want every shred of information they could gather about him, the students of Lorsette High School accomplishing similar to him once he moved. The angel ignored them as the distance was closed between him and Alfonse and the librarian's front desk. He could hear the soft clicking of her fingers across the keyboard, making it obvious she was doing her job. Briefly, the blond's amber eyes glanced around, the lurking students sharing whispers about the recent developments, some quickly looking away when his gaze met theirs. The hushed apology managed to reach Preston's ears, the adolescent ceasing movement to glance behind him.
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There was a small shrug afterwards since the angel had steeled himself for the impending attention. While Preston leaned more towards the shy and introverted type, he hoped he could handle it.
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"They were going to be curious, unfortunately," Preston responded. "When someone new comes, they always want to know exactly who they are... They did the same when I moved to Lorsette."
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There was a brief moment where Preston remained motionless before turning to head towards the desk. When he approached, the yearbook was placed onto the counter. The subtle sound of the hardcover colliding with the counter caught the librarian's attention. The woman delicately picked up the book then towards Preston. The book remained in her grip as she clicked more keys, pulling up Preston's library information before scanning the book and stamping the return date on the inside of the book.
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"A yearbook today? I'm surprised," the librarian stated casually.
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"Yeah..." Preston responded quietly.
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Once the yearbook was returned to the counter, the blond reached up, grabbing the edges of the book, bringing it close. When the book was in his grasp, Preston retreated from the counter. Immediately, the librarian returned to work, an occasional authoritative glance around her domain being accomplished; nobody would break the rules under her stern watch.
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As Preston spoke, he didn't seem in the least impacted by the eyes and whispers that followed them through the Library... his words matched the reserved, if not stoic demeanor of his face. Alfonse hadn't moments ago been able to look him directly in the face due to his own guilt and anxiousness surrounding the environment but when hearing what he had to say, some of his anxiety was eased over enough for him to do so. [break][break]
Aquamarine youthful eyes uplifted to gaze towards the blonde as they walked. He could only see him well enough from the side due to their alignment while walking... but nonetheless he could interpret the desensitization of their attention... and wished he could feel the same way. [break][break]
There was a moment of curious thoughtfulness that shown in the gleam of his Aquamarine hues. He wasn't comforted so easily.... but he, in a way, found some minor solace in knowing that.... e-even if he may have been an unexpected burden on the other boy, it hadn't been directed towards he himself nor the attention received by their similar aged peers. Hearing that Preston had, too, experienced such a similar occurrence when he was a new student... did make Alfonse feel better, sharing that similarity with the boy. He wished almost as badly as he hadn't wanted to attend Lorsette High to begin with, that he would grow to be strong like Preston in regards to receiving such pondering eyes from others. [break][break]
When they reached the Library desk, a soft and small smile touched Alfonse's lips as a gesture of well-meaning greeting to the Librarian but the boy proceeded to keep to himself and allow for Preston to take the lead. His eyes lowered towards the desk with no particular intentions, shyness shrouding him as his hands remained lowered and clasped with the fine material of his cloak sleeves nearly covering them. The sound of clicking was enhanced from the quiet Library's atmosphere... it nearly tickled his ears, unsettling him with every continuous click. A quiet breath exhaled through his nose as Alfonse awaited patiently and when Preston retrieved the book from the Librarian, she turned away from them. [break][break]
Alfonse then lifted his head to look at Preston. "U-Um, shall we find somewhere peaceful to sit?" He asked him with another shy smile crossing his features. The idea of sitting around the tables where most of the students seemed to reside greatly unsettled him. He'd rather find somewhere where only the comforting smell of pages, whether new or worn, arose without the hindrance of.... 'people smells'. That is, if they were to stay here. It was possible Preston intended on moving onward. The boy wondered more about Preston's experiences as a new student at the high school but didn't want to pry... m-maybe he'd ask when the timing felt appropriate.
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] After accomplishing the simplistic task of signing out the book, Preston’s eyes skimmed over the crowded library. A frown perched itself on the blond’s face as he realized the curious students re-positioning their chairs in certain directions in hopes the pair would grace their table. Attending one of the sitting areas in the library appeared to be a recipe for disaster; he could already imagine the endless inquires whispered out from their lips. They would be unable to cease until they finally gathered the information they craved, thus Preston’s thoughts began churning. He racked his brain for a method to spare Alfonse from the intense social situation; unfortunately, it was mostly unavoidable. Eventually, they would manage to find the auburn-haired boy and practically interrogate him about the entirety of his life; they were social savages, feeding off doses of information for gossiping purposes. The notion made Preston pause to shake his head, however, his thoughts remained fixated on how they could escape the social situation. Should they take shelter in the walls of the library, people would inevitable shuffles seats to meet the newest student. To Preston, defending Alfonse from the social jungle of Lorsette High School would be difficult to accomplish for at least a day or possibly two.
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The inquiry from his companion was provided, however, Preston hesitated to answer. He skimmed through the library before directing his eyes to gaze through the glass walls. Certainly, there was an empty classroom somewhere in the high school which would be pleasantly quiet and private. Furthermore, Preston could properly notify his teacher before whisking Alfonse away to a quieter room.
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“Let’s see if your bodyguard found a book… There could be an empty classroom upstairs, then there will be less people… Besides, I still need to tell my teacher and grab my stuff from the classroom,” Preston explained, pausing briefly. “It will also give me the chance to introduce you to the math teacher.” [break][break]
There was a pause as Preston's amber eyes searched for the large build of Alfonse's bodyguard. The blond theorized they were expected to inform the man that they were going to leave and settle down elsewhere in the high school. Unfortunately, the endless maze of bookshelves resulted in the angel questioning where exactly he could be lurking.
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"Where would your bodyguard go to find a book anyways?" Preston asked quietly.
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Narrowing the search areas would assist in finding Alfonse's bodyguard, although, he would be easy to spot considering he was fairly large and an adult at that. However, the school library was a decent size, thus Preston preferred attempting to lower the amount of area where they would be required to search.
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An unease filled the blonde's expression and Alfonse had, subconsciously, been tempted to glimpse in the direction of which the other boy's gaze befell. When doing so... Alfonse noticed right away the very change of some of the table chairs, as though some students had repositioned themselves in their direction. His Aquamarine hues brightened in nervousness and surprise when seeing h-how interested a number of a students were in having some kind of interaction with them... his stomach churned, and his chest squeezed. [break][break]
H-he didn't want to be stared at.... but... his dad always had to go about things his way. Why couldn't their guards have been spying from a distance, o-or made not so noticeable!? Such thoughts quickly infiltrated his mind, but were as quick to flash away from him as he turned his face to once more look at Preston, trying not to pay too much attention to those who were clearly... paying a lot of attention to them. He quietly cleared his throat to rid of the building knotted tension inside of it, attempting to hold his head high as his mother always advised him to do and not seem... afraid. [break][break]
He wanted to be composed... level-headed, brave like Preston was being. The blonde spoke aloud his idea of finding an empty classroom upstairs and Alfonse's eyes expressively shown with relief and approval. Thank goodness there was a chance of finding somewhere private! No staring, just the two of them. And... probably Ezriel. That filled him with hope, and he offered a complying and optimistic smile along with a small nod to all that the boy suggested. He had no qualms about any of it and was grateful to have been paired up with someone who was as calm and bright-minded as Preston. [break][break]
Upon Preston's question of where his bodyguard may have went off to, Alfonse's gaze drew away from him and attempted to scan over the expanse of the Library from where they stood... and trying to avoid making eye contact with any onlookers. Thoughtfulness captured within his face. "I'm not certain..." He admitted after a moment, his face heating once accidentally making eye-contact with a broad-built teen whom had sitting in his chair, facing the back-seat of it, with arms folded over the chair's framing. Alfonse's eyes immediately averted away and he turned himself to face Preston with a small, sheepish smile. "Ezriel is usually very quiet, and sneaky. A lot of the time, when he's around, I don't even realize it...." He admitted, "He will likely just follow us when he sees us leaving. I-It should be fine for us to, um..." Shyly, Alfonse's somewhat glimpsed towards the door while trying to avoid that jock who was eyeing them down, "Head where you'd like to next,"
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Curiosity was piqued by the numerous students in the library, however, they were miraculously unapproachable. Presumably, there was merely a lack of socially proficient students which allowed them to merely slip through the cracks and avoid interactions. In Preston's eyes, that proved everything was proceeding excellently, the plans to avoid social confrontation being top priority until Alfonse became more comfortable with Lorsette High School. Inevitably, the students would essentially interrogate the youth with little consideration to the perturbation to his emotional state. Students were curious, but youth occasionally made thoughtfulness an unavailable trait for the immensely nosy. Years of attending the high school allowed Preston to adjust to the feeling of apprehension towards the fellow students of the school. Teachers proved to be more difficult initially, but once the blond discovered his comfort zone, a sense of safety had transcended over him. Thus, he was hoping to delay student interaction until Alfonse had discovered comfort inside the sturdy walls of high school. Analyzing the area provided Preston with a vague idea of the student's curiosity.
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Chairs were arranged, friends shuffling apart in order to assure there were a pair of chairs for both himself and Alfonse. A soft sigh of relief escaped Preston's lips, the blond discovering solace in being capable of avoiding the social jungle temporarily. Eye contact was entirely avoided during the surveying of the library in an attempt to find the large bodyguard who escorted Alfonse. Venturing into the shelves was an option, however, the angel would prefer avoiding the endeavour since the social predators could attempt to ambush them and engage in conversation. Retrieving the yearbook without hassle was a splendid miracle, but their avoidance should not be flaunted. Those more determined to manifest a social relationship consisted of endless questions and extreme scrutiny would assure it would occur. When his eyes returned to Alfonse, he easily detected the shy smile followed by an interesting admittance. Based on the auburn-haired boy's world, the bodyguard was observant and prepared to detect when they exited the library. The angel provided a small nod in response and gestured for Alfonse to follow him out of the library.
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Without hesitation, Preston weaved through any students near the library's exit, the blond displaying a neutral expression in response to their staring. However, his inner feelings towards it was a mild sense of trepidation, the hairs on the back of his neck raising because of discomfort. Shyness was difficult to hide, but the angel worked extensively on pushing it away and maintaining a calm disposition. Socialization and calmness seemed like befitting traits of a doctor, although, the timidness his adoptive father displayed was a comfort which settled in the back of his mind.
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"I need to go back to my classroom first... My teacher will wonder where I am if I just disappear," Preston explaining.
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Briefly, he glanced behind him to make certain Alfonse was capable of following him through the door and down the hallways. They were fortunate to avoid students with improved social skills, but the blond was worried their luck would not last.
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When he'd glimpsed towards the doorway of the library, Alfonse saw a few moments later how some spots seemed to free up around the tables in a mannerism that indicated some students were trying to make room for Preston and him to sit down... o-or maybe he was just... putting way too much cautious observation into this. [break][break]
The deep Aquamarine hues of his eyes sustained their shy glimmer as they wavered away from the doorway to look back in Preston's direction. The only boy whom presented any form of ease to look at in this whole room. The feeling of gratitude of not being alone in an environment such as this, where he was unfamiliar to everything and having what felt like the whole world's attention on him, didn't once cease. [break][break]
The blonde nodded after he'd spoken and looked ever so calm, just like he was minutes ago. With a gesture and beginning steps towards the exit, Alfonse recognized Preston's intentions and resumed following him. He listened as Preston explained that he needed to find his classroom first, and speak with his teacher, passing by the athletic looking fellow whom had held an aura around him that Alfonse felt.... oddly unsettled by, without much warranty for it that Alfonse could understand. He didn't look scary but his energy was one that he picked up on... there was something about it that didn't sit well with him. His eyes kept focused up ahead with particular resistance of glancing his direction, speeding up with a slight hop in his step to remain right by Preston's side. [break][break]
Dark brown eyes from the dusty blonde athlete's demeanor followed them, before simply focusing down towards an open textbook. When Preston and Alfonse reached the doorway, a sudden strong and muscular arm sheathed by form-fitting clothing extended over the boys' heads and strongly pushed the door open in an abruptly unpredictable notion. The movement startled Alfonse, whom let out a spooked gasp as he spun around on his heels to face.... none other than Ezriel, standing behind them as though he'd secretly been present the whole time. "Leaving so soon?" The man asked in a steely cool voice. A shaking sigh left Alfonse as he placed a hand over his heart, visibly caught by surprise. That guy was going to give him a heart attack someday with his ninja-like disappearing and reappearing acts. "O-oh, jeez, Ezriel... " He quietly stammered out before stepping out into the hallway, "Preston is going to show me where his classroom is," [break][break]
Trying to regather himself, Alfonse smiled at the blonde in the similarly gentle and innocent nature that surrounded him, "Who is your teacher?" He had a number of teachers and masters in the past, and he was very curious what specialties Preston's teacher excelled in.
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Escape was found as Preston squeezed past the jock, entering the hallway beyond the room of bookshelves. These reasonable reactions exhibited by the angel’s schoolmates resulted in plenty of difficulties in escorting Alfonse smoothly through the school. Consistent staring was nerve-wracking, however, the blond managed to hide those unsettling feelings in favour of a braver facade. The principal required him to accomplish the task of familiarizing Alfonse with the school, thus Preston was determined to complete it. Patiently, the young, angelic boy waited for Alfonse to slip past the jock and reached for the door, however, a different arm managed to get there first. A surprised gasp escaped the angelic boy's lips, his amber eyes flitting behind them to find Alfonse's bodyguard already behind them and prepared to leave. The bodyguard's footsteps were unheard, resulting in Preston's heart beating rapidly in surprise by the sudden arm. After a few deep breaths, Preston quietly slipped into the hallway, glancing back briefly through the windows at the room of seemingly endless bookshelves. There were a few noticeable pouts from the curious students, however, they refused to move from their seats.
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Patiently, the blond waited for the pair to enter the hallway before starting to slowly walk down the tiled floors. The sounds of their footsteps echoed through the empty hallways, undisturbed from the lack of wandering teachers or students. Tucked safely under his right arm was the yearbook, the blond youth’s eyes occasionally glancing towards it before surveying the area again. Only a few moments after the walk began did Alfonse give him an inquiry about his current teacher; he presumed he meant the math teacher opposed to the homeroom one.
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"Well, Mr. Henderson is my math teacher. He probably thinks I am still getting a book... I usually finish my work first," Preston explained while he walked down the hallways.
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Mr. Henderson was a sombre man, his bland voice reigning over the class similar to a heavy blanket. Occasionally, the bland tones would lull students asleep, resulting in them missing the day's lesson or receiving punishment. The teacher himself was evidently intelligent but merely lacked the vibrancy to maintain the student's interests. Admittedly, Preston refused to place the man high on his "favoured teachers" list, however, the decisions were biased. The biology teacher was among the blond's favourites, especially considering she provided interesting lessons on the medical care system. Subtly, the amber-eyed boy raised a curious brow before glancing towards Alfonse.
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"What kind of teachers did you have?" Preston asked out of pure curiosity.
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Gradually, they approached the stairwell which led to the upper levels of the large school building. Without hesitation, Preston began quickly walking up the stairs, hastily surveying the area as they ascended. Students would occasionally linger in the stairwell, however, under most circumstances, it was during lunch hour.
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Preston firstly mentioned a man named Mr. Henderson, whom taught math at the institution. Mathematics weren't a favorite subject of Alfonse, but he was fortunate enough to perform well in the subject despite his interests wandering more so into dreamier realms of thoughts. He was, also, guilty of daydreaming far more than he should. Something that unbeknownst to him, a regular school environment such as Lorsette High may bring about far more easily when sitting at desks all day. [break][break] Due to a lack of a structured and fairly average academic environment, Alfonse's primary focus did more so reside in combat, magic, species-related training, and learning of differentiating cultures and leadership. His parents' decision to have him attend a public school still didn't excite him at all but they remained firm it was important for him to be well-rounded. [break][break] Nervousness and uncertainty regarding being a student here still consumed Alfonse but admittedly, Preston's presence made him feel a little better. Especially right now... when the blonde had been the only student who didn't make him feel really out of place and... w-well, weird. He wondered what a classroom would be like here and if there would be other nice students like Preston, or if everyone would act like how they did in the Library. Good Heavens, he hoped not the latter...[break][break] The two young teens reached a stairwell that led to an upper level of the school when Preston asked him about the teachers Alfonse had before. The question was one that brought another sheepish but friendly smile to his soft features, lighting up his face. The very reminder of his previous teachers was one that ignited a warmth of reminiscing and pride from his previous journeys with them. He had been taught by teachers in a group of youth with magical abilities but had also been taught one-on-one, too, and it was his private mentors that made him absolutely love learning. Using portals to travel to different places, practicing in old temples and just... all kinds of really cool different places was a big highlight for him.[break][break] Reflecting on it also brought a slight nostalgia, though. Ever since he woke up from his coma.... his parents and their clan superiors had been much stricter and sheltering of him. An enclosed and more so protected building like Lorsette High was the most that they seemed willing to let him be part of for his learning experience. However such nostalgia wasn't enough to damp his moods or show in the lively gleam in his eyes. [break][break]
"I had all kinds of teachers," He answered, voice uplifting in an cheerful pride whilst still keeping its soft tone. Trailing behind the two boys was none other than Ezriel whom was like a distant but still strongly-present towering shadow. "Priscilla Kong was my Healing and Natural Medicine teacher, and then Master Leon taught me everything I know about my abilities. They were both my most recent mentors," With a slight skip in his step up the stairs the boy excitedly went on to add, "When I was learning with other kids my age, I had a History and Combat teacher, too! Combat was fun but kind of scary.... some students were a lot bigger than me," A small, nervous laugh left him at the thought of some of the older kids from the clan's territory camp set up in the Northern Highlands. A lot of them were strongly-built, as though trained for a battle field. [break][break]
"U-Um, I think I had others but I can't remember them as well..." Alfonse then admitted after trying to recall more of what he had last been up to before everything became a fog in his mind... the long sleep he had been under rendered him unable to remember anything near the time-frame it'd happened. He tried.... but.... he didn't have any luck. It was like his mind hit invisible walls every time he tried or felt very heavy.
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] As they journeyed up the stairwell, Preston's thoughts lingered to the other teachers, specifically the ones who taught their grade currently. Each subject had a different teacher with only a few possessing multiple subjects to their name. Frequently, these teachers had two classes which could be easier to manage together. There were plenty of teachers in the school who Preston rarely interacted because of his chosen classes. Currently, he was in Mr. Henderson's precalculous class for this period, but later he would be in english, science and a few other classes he joined to fill his schedule. Part of him wondered what classes Alfonse would be signed up for, but he assumed his parents held those plans. They appeared upper class, especially considering the guard who continued to follow behind their steps. Thus, Preston was under the assumption that he would see Alfonse in his classes. Receiving excellent grades in harder classes was praise for upper-class families in television shows, however, those shows were never a reality. Despite that, they still sparked presumptions about certain types of people. When inquired about previous teachers, Preston quietly listened to what the kitsune said.
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Each name was unfamiliar to Preston, however, Alfonse had recently arrived at the high school, thus he assumed these teachers perhaps lived outside of Lorsette. The blond nodded at the words the kitsune, listening as he explained his various teachers. The most notable thing was the uniqueness of Alfonse's classes, Preston even being a little jealous of the fact he received natural healing classes. Back when he was with his other foster family, they hung healing lessons over his head and demanded attention in lessons he never cared for. He merely nodded when Alfonse mentioned not remembering, but there was concerned expression on his face. There was a pause as Preston opened the stairwell door, once again allowing Alfonse and his bodyguard through first.
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"So... natural healing? That sounds interesting," Preston mentioned.
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He desired more information about the healing section because of the blond's captivation with the medical realm. The boy's sickly mother and goals to become a doctor maintained his interests in the subject. If there was something to learn about healing others, Preston wished to discover it. Once they crossed through the threshold, Preston entered afterwards, promptly taking the lead. They still needed to met Mr. Henderson after all.
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Preston listened patiently, seemingly interested and enhancing Alfonse's comfort in sharing more about his different class subjects as he continued speaking. It felt nice opening up a little to someone else about his world. Preston quietly allowing for him to talk about them was more soothing to the boy than what could have been expressed. It helped remove the barrier of feeling alienated from a brand new place. Even if many of those subjects were in reality classes he had a long time ago, it still felt like only a few weeks passed since he'd last been part of them... it was still very much part of him and his present life, as opposed to a distant memory. [break][break]
The blonde opened the stairwell door once they reached the top. Alfonse at first slowed in his own steps to allow for Preston to venture through but it became apparent pretty fast that the other youth was stepping aside for him and his guard to pass first. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked to the blonde before smiling at him in gratitude for the polite gesture. "Thank you," He stepped through, entering the hall of a whole new floor of the building. [break][break]
What came with the new floor was new sounds, and scents... his ears caught the distant chatter of an adult from beyond the classroom doorways aligning the exterior. The smells of numerous students awaiting somewhere not yet visible hit his nose quite strongly. He paused in his steps just beyond the hall entrance, his scenes alerting him intensely of other people... o-other students, that could also be his possible classmates... and it was a little unnerving. Ezriel approached the stairwell door but instead of passing through, he paused beside Preston. The guard extended his arm over the boy's head and chose to hold the door open for the youth to pass through instead, silently insisting that the boy continued onward before him. [break][break]
Preston's voice broke Alfonse's anxious tension from where he'd frozen in place. N-not quite petrified, but overwhelmed by the epiphany of what they were about to go into. "... Y-yeah, it was a really interesting and fun class," He answered, turning to face the boy with a nervous smile. His hands reached inside the pockets of his cloak, anxiously pulling at the inside embroidery work as the weight of entering a big classroom lurked in the near future. Just by standing here, he could recognize that the classrooms had more people than what he was used to back home. Preston was here and already accustomed to this place... h-he wasn't alone, and so everything would be fine! That's what he tried silently telling himself...[break][break]
"We, um, did survival exams at the end of each subject. One of--" Alfonse continued trying to share, pushing through the over-flooding of scents rushing to him. However, at the sound of elevating voices during a classroom discussion from one of the rooms he paused mid-sentence before sheepishly continuing. "-- O-One of the exams, we teleported to a burial ground where ancient healing herbs grow...." He finished off with the same attempt of composing himself with a smile, "Have you made a potion using ancient herbs before? I was surprised by how different they look and smell compared to other recipes,"[break][break]
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Perhaps it was Preston's lack of inclination to speak about himself or merely the mention of healing which thoroughly captured his attention, but he allowed Alfonse to speak. Listening to others talk in these situations was easier than providing the conversation words. The young, blond angel was never a social teen, thus instances, where he could potentially avoid speaking about his experiences, was welcomed. Furthermore, these teachers sounded interesting, especially for the angel who constantly yearned for knowledge. A simple nod was provided as an acknowledgement to the thanks given for politely holding the door open. Surprise flashed on Preston's face when the guard's arm reached out, pressing against the door and keeping it open. The angel paused, eyes gazing up at the bodyguard for a brief moment before hastily entering the hallway, a subtle shyness to his steps. A deep breath was sucked into the depths of Preston's lungs only to be slowly exhaled. Gradually, he discovered calmness, his mind returning to the interesting discussion he had with Alfonse. Curiosities proceeded to manifest after Preston's interest was piqued; the young boy enjoyed investing his time in learning about healing.
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As they entered the upstairs area, the blond discovered a sense of comfort because of the surroundings. The hallway during classes was usually empty, an air of quiet and stillness consuming the area commonly filled with bustle. Without hesitation, the blond began marching down the hallway, leading Alfonse down the hallway. Lockers lined the halls, only breaking when a classroom door was available. As Preston led the young acquaintance down the corridor, he listened to the words, even patiently waiting when Alfonse paused. Everything was about the natural healing class which the blond was curious about. He allowed Alfonse to sheepishly continue his story, the angel pausing in front of Mr. Henderson's classroom to listen. The moment he was asked about herbs, Preston shook his head.
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"I don't have the magic to make them... besides... I'm an angel, so I can just heal people without potions... I'm hoping I can get really good at it so I can help people," Preston explained slowly. "An-anyways, we're here, so I will introduce you to Mr. Henderson."
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Quickly, Preston glanced through the classroom window and made certain Mr. Henderson was not accomplishing a lecture. Afterwards, he knocked on the door, a student promptly rising and opening the door to allow them inside. The student walked away, believing it was merely Preston's return, however, attention returned when some people noticed the angel was not alone. Slowly, the intelligent student led them towards the teacher whose attention was also earned.
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"Mr. Henderson, I'm showing a new student around," Preston explained before glancing at Alfonse. "Alfonse, this is Mr. Henderson."
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Even if Alfonse had not entered the classroom, Preston would have conducted the introduction so Mr. Henderson knew the individual joining his class. The teacher provided a nod before cleaning his bored expression to a half-hearted smile. There were nervous cracks in Mr. Henderson's face because of the bodyguard, however, he was determined to appear professional.
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"Hello, Alfonse. Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?" He asked, with a weak, "friendly" smile.
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The blond's eyes remained on Alfonse, waiting to see how the young man would react. If his company wished to introduce himself, Preston would gladly provide the opportunity, thus he quietly waited.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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When Preston mentioned that he was an angel, Alfonse's face lit with visible surprise and interest. Such interest was then met with self-consciousness about himself and having been born a Hell Species... what if Preston didn't like those of his kind? The thought saddened him and dampened the sliver of hope he had for possibly already making a new friend before class started... a-after all, he knew that Heaven and Hell species were often at odds with one another. It was one of many reasons why his parents, whom were both of Heaven's kind, kept his identity as a Kitsune a secret and that the boy had been raised to allow most others to assume he was a Nymph because of his eyes.[break][break]
But... maybe Preston wasn't like that..... maybe the boy would still accept him for who he was. He, too, knew that not all those of Heaven's kind were unpleasant towards his species. He had his parents, after all! They were nice to him, as were his father's closest colleagues who knew about his true identity. [break][break]
The moment Preston mentioned meeting Mr. Henderson and having both heard and smelled the presence of other students, Alfonse felt a swarm of nervousness surface within his stomach. O-oh goodness, the moment was actually here... the moment where he'd be face to face with the very students he was potentially going to be learning with. He quietly gulped as the blonde knocked on the door and when someone came to open the door, his face instantly burned warmly much to his own misfortune. G-great, now he was probably turning red...[break][break]
He shyly followed Preston inside, tension rising within his body as bright Aquamarine eyes danced briefly over the heads of students at their desks. His gaze abruptly returned to Preston before befalling the teacher, shyly and very nervously smiling at the man known as Mr. Henderson.[break][break]
He could feel the eyes of many looking right at him and it was... r-really uncomfortable. The teacher's weakened smile was met with an uncertain one from Alfonse. "H-hello--" He begun softly before nervously reminding and bracing himself for facing the rest of the students... while being at the very front of the classroom. Clearing his throat, he bowed his head politely."Hello...! M-my name is Alfonse Sinclairé. I-I'm from the Icelandic Highlands," He introduced, his voice slightly shaking. 'Come on, don't sound so scared!' He silently scolded himself, "It's nice to meet all of you... I-I hope we can be friends,"
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] As they entered the classroom, Preston failed to detect the nervousness and self-conscious aura radiating off Alfonse because of the sheer mentioned of his species. When people thought of Akari's "glorious" Heaven their thoughts frequently orbited to the white-winged citizens, angels. The holiest creatures with wings whiter than the freshest layer of snow and boundless amounts of benevolence... at least in the perspective of most non-Hell species. Alas, Preston knew of the bitter reality and bias opinions of his species.
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Angels were not their namesake, but rather, in Preston's opinion, presumptuous and vain. Most believed they topped the pedestal in his experience as Akari's well-meaning servants. They damned Hell species, few granting ones the opportunity to prove their envisionment incorrectly. The only white-winged angel Preston appreciated was Zachary, the dark-haired man's unbias and pleasant views a relief. Other than him, there were his parents, perceived sinners from the blackness of their feathers, not a soul warranting them a chance at redemption.
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After providing Mr. Henderson with an explanation, Preston retreated to his desk to gather his binders and pencil case. Through the introduction provided by Alfonse, the blond angel quietly gathered his items. He stepped aside from the desks, listening to Alfonse nervously introduce himself. When the young boy finished the introduction, Mr. Henderson straightened his back and provided his best interpretation as a friendly, interested teacher.
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"Thank you, Alfonse," Mr. Henderson politely said. "You two may continue your tour."
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The scooped up items in Preston's arms were carried, the young blond pointing his chin towards the door in a gesture for Alfonse to follow him out. With that, the angel moved to exit the classroom, aware they should have just enough time to show the other classrooms before retiring to the following class. First, Preston planned on heading towards his locker to drop off his items and grab the next binder and textbook he required.
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Having to introduce himself in front of a whole classroom of unfamiliar faces... o-of those his age... was extremely uncomfortable and awkward for him. None of his private lessons and classes through the clan had so many people in them, and they were all for the most part somehow associated with his parents... s-so it really wasn't that nerve-inducing. They weren't total strangers. B-but... this... was much different.[break][break]
He couldn't help but to anxiously turn his head to look in the direction Preston went off to, but tried to keep his gaze focused on the students in front of him... o-or the ground. "Thank you, Alfonse. You two may continue your tour." The teacher politely dismissed him, and Alfonse couldn't be more discomforted and unsettled. D-did he even do okay with everything he said? What if he completely ruined his first impression with everyone? He.... h-he stammered too much, didn't he? Ugh...[break][break]
Alfonse politely bowed his head towards the teacher, sucking in his lower lip and being unable to hide an expression of nervousness as he was quick to look back where Preston stood towards the door. With a gesture, he readily followed. Once they were in the hallway again, a shaking breath left Alfonse, not quite relieved... but a combination of unsettling worries and being glad to be out of there. [break][break]
"U-Um, so... that was Mr. Henderson?" He asked to try and get his mind off of how much he may have messed up his introductory speech, "He, um, seems nice..." Alfonse awkwardly added.
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] As they exited the classroom, there was slight ease in Preston’s postures. The curious had watched until they listened to the softest click of the closing door. Moving through the classroom always held a subtle awkwardness. Everybody else was stationary inside the room, meanwhile, the individual moving effectively spotlighted themselves for a quick glance. The slight nervousness Preston felt was nothing noticeable; so acute that the calls were minimal. Over the years, the blond grew adjusted to the wandering eyes of intrigue.
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Nonetheless, he never appreciated how quickly the glances would arrive should he ask a question or leave his desk to use the pencil sharpener; fortunately it always lasted a mere few seconds. Being outside the classroom demonstrated a more pleasant calibre of quiet. Forged from the sheer lack of people and unwillingness to disturb other classes. Words touched Preston's ears as he began the initial strides towards his locker. The awkward addition resulted in a soft grimace breaching the blond's tamed expression.
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Mr. Henderson was in Preston's opinion, a questionable teacher... The man's outward blandness, tired expression and boredom glazed eyes making it somewhat obvious he cared for the paycheck. Yet, the man accomplished his occupation-based expectation, thus, Preston was not particularly... harsh in his opinion. Enthusiasm and enjoyment of the material would be a wondrous perk, but when the day ended, the blond wanted the classes done.
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"He... isn't bad," Preston said hesitantly to give a summary. "Usually he can be a little... monotoned."
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Opinions were minimal when it arrived at Mr. Henderson. Some students ripped at the teacher, declaring him boring while simultaneously declaring other teachers as superior; particularly those who make their classes fun. Alas, Preston, by all regards, was a student who fixated on learning, method or enjoyment hardly being a concern. Gradually, they reached Preston's locker where the blond turned the combination lock. It opened with a soft click, allowing Preston to smoothly twist his hand and slip off the hook.
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His locker opened with a hushed squeak of the hinges, announcing the reveal of its innards. On the locker door was his schedule, hung from plain, grey circle magnets. Below the schedule was a magnetic pencil holder that held extra pens, pencils and even a few additional highlighters. The top shelf was filled with a variety of heavy textbooks, two sitting atop the shelf. One a biology textbook, another chemistry and the missing one precalculus math; which was promptly returned to its slot. The hooks held a navy-coloured backpack, zipper opened to reveal a matching lunch kit.
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The knapsack hanged adjacent to a light, spring jacket in a grey colour. Below the hanging items was a miniature "table" where Preston's binders patiently sat for use. There were no customized features, like pictures, making the tiny storage unit a bland thing to stare at. Quickly, Preston kept the binder in his arm, a large, black one that held three of his subjects, his personal favourites; math, biology and chemistry. From there, he plucked the biology textbook from the top shelf before turning to Alfonse.
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"Are you taking biology, or do you know your classes yet?" Preston inquired before shutting the door and locking the combination.
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The blond was attempting to plan a route for the remainder of their tour. There were other teachers who would be considered crucial for introductions. The English and history teacher being among the first people Preston thought of. Thus, it would be best to begin there before heading anywhere else.
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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.
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