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!
His vision is spinning and he stumbles against a nearby wall to help him regain himself. His breathing is labored as the gush of the wind washes over him with a chill. Severus normally wasn't one to go drinking anywhere fancy but he had ran out of alcohol at home so he went to go and pick some up. It was most definitely the worst possible idea he come up with knowing the state of mind he was in. He was unable to wait till he was in the confine of his own home to start drinking. It was a pack of beer suddenly dwindled down into a singular bottle.[break][break] He turns on his heels and has a slight moment of struggle but he catches himself when his back hits the concrete wall and he slides down against it to where he's sitting. His head tilts upward to stare at the night sky as a pained wheeze which turned into laughter leaves him. He drinks to forget but when he drinks is when all the deepest thoughts come pouring out. He brings the bottle to his lips and downs the remainder of the liquid within the bottle.[break][break] The bottle slides out of his hand and rolls down the concrete. His heart is in turmoil and his mind won't give him the break he needs. The alcohol did nothing for him but make his mood all the more worse and make it near impossible for him to get anywhere. The lizard was ready to flop on over and accept the fate of passing out on the concrete when an voice which normally irritates beyond belief reaches his ears.[break][break] "Why are you here?"
A quietness consumed his home, interrupted by the eerie ticking of the kitchen's clock. Insufferable seconds documented with every rhythmic tick tock. It was rather vexing... Since the centuries of old, shortly after his betrayal, the demon found himself walking alone. Defending himself, accomplishing the reckless and risking his life at every frightful turn. In silence, Brasti's violet eyes stared at the cameras ahead, hardly registering what he gazed upon. Rather, thoughts of the hourglass curves of a woman's body and gorgeous strands of red hair haunted his mind.
[break][break]
There were days where it was difficult to avoid thinking about her... The woman he loved those many years ago. How many centuries now? ... He no longer knew the answer, but it felt as though forever passed. His alarm echoes through his empty room, a sign his work was completed and perhaps he should consider rest... However, tiredness hardly leaked into his bones... A soft sigh breezed through his lips. His hand reaches up, closing the laptop stationed in his work office. Slumber was not considered on the table of options...
[break][break]
His black, gloved hands adjusted the colour of his dress shirt and suit coat. Dexterously, they adjusted the position of his tie, tightening it rather than loosening. Rest would be delayed, for thoughts required clearing before he could even consider those necessities. From the table, his fingers plucked the pair of sunglasses, hap-hazardously sliding them on; nearly poking his eye with one of the legs. He rounded the table, exiting the kitchen in favour of the near-empty hallway. The demon hardly kept much decorum, preferring practicality over anything else.
[break][break]
At the end of the hallway was a single door, the hinges squeaking once Brasti twisted the doorknob to open it. Quietly, he closed it behind him, entering the concrete-floored basement. Leaving his house directly during the evening hours was nothing short of moronic. There were plenty of people who loathed his very existence, thus the demon could believe people observing his home's movements. A single table was stationed inside the basement laundry room. Atop it was a box of child's chalk, a surprisingly useful tool for hex makers.
[break][break]
A single piece was plucked from the chalk dust covered box. Only a few more steps were taken until Brasti crouched, chalk making the concrete floor. Some swift movements of the hand allowed for the hex circle to be formed through the simple use of chalk. Carefully, he opened his suit coat, placing the chalk into an inner pocket for safe keeping. The demon carefully stepped inside, standing directly into the center. His fingers came together, until snap! Light engulfed Brasti as his body disappeared, landing him in one of Lorsette's many districts.
[break][break]
Where hardly mattered... He merely needed a walk to clear his thoughts. For a moment, he surveyed his surroundings, admired the night sky and the quietness of the world... It was better than that dreaded clock. A long exhale trailed from Brasti's lips as he shoved his hands into pockets and began walking. The coldness of the evening hardly bothered him... rather... he ignored. The steps began gradually. How long he strolled for being lost in meagre moments as he remembered her voice, her laugh, the times they shared...
[break][break]
In the night rung laughter which shook Brasti from his complicated thoughts. The demon's eyes flitted around, eventually landing on him. There were plenty of instances he bothered the infamous unit 3 sergeant, although, already the situation was beyond different. The high-ranking individual of the hunting division looked hammered. The scout deputy could tell from his distance how intoxicated the brunette was. An expression unusual to the demon crossed his face, a soft frown and subtle cracks of concern.
[break][break]
Poke the bear was among his favoured games, alas, Severus' state made it among the last things on his mind. The blackmailer was not a heartless man. The brown-haired raiju with alcohol thicker than blood in his veins and his back against the wall was his ally... Leaving him to drown in his intoxication undoubtedly meant death by the hands of a terror, Assembly member or perhaps even kidnapping and torture. A sigh left the demon's lips as he departed from his original course to gain a closer look.
[break][break]
"Hey, you okay?" A serious tone riddled Brasti's voice upon his approach.
[break][break]
Regularly, the demon would have began his endless mouthing of things to irritate Sergeant Cross, yet, two things saved the brunette this eve. The hammered state of his mind and the somewhat depressive state of Brasti's. Thoughts of his deceased wife easily rattled him from the world of complete uncaring and jeering remarks... By Volos, he missed her. In Severus' consciousness, words leave his lips, suggesting he had get to intoxicate himself to the point of black out.
[break][break]
"Does why really matter? You don't look so hot," the demon answered, if it could be referred to as such. "Had a little too much to drink?"
[break][break]
While Severus hardly struck Brasti as a hardcore party-goer, anything was possible during these days. However, something about the scene presented to him suggested something awry... As though there were deeper meanings behind the emptied bottle and his position beside the wall... Nonetheless, the demon refused to press for now... What mattered was getting Severus somewhere he could pass out without waking up dead.
[break][break]
[ For my tracking: AU Crack Ship, Brasti's wife died centuries ago, leaving him single. So he has been alone for many many years fending for himself. ]
The feelings running throughout him were all clashing with one another. It didn't help the start of what he'd knew was going to be a pounding headache. It's cause? None other than the sudden appearance of Brasti goddamn Vanderfeld. One might argue otherwise but It wasn't even fully that fact alone which had Severus so bothered. It was the point that the demon was getting to see him in such a raw emotion and inebriated state. He wasn't buddy-buddy with the man and something about getting to witness him at quite literally one of the worse points in his life was upsetting.[break][break]
The image he had painted over the years of Brasti was someone who had no care and simply wished to poke fun at him and his irritation. A bastard who was incapable of showing concern but the way he called out to him made something within Severus twist and churn. It was a shiver down the spin and a feeling that made him jerk backwards in uneasiness. He didn't want to believe in the sincerity his tone of voice was oozing off. There was no way he was going to not bring this up in his face later as a laughing point to mock his recklessness further. Severus moves his hands to rest on the concrete underneath him as he makes attempts to turn away from him... but of course, that could only go one way when he's as drunk as he is.[break][break]
It's a mess... he doesn't fall over but it's clear such small movement like that on his own is impossible. He stumbles slightly but luckily years of natural instinct built into himself overcomes his momentary intoxication to prevent him from fully falling downwards. The lizard inhales a shaky breath as he grinds his teeth. He showed yet another pitiful sight to the other. Another thing for him to wield against him. Severus as much as he wished to bare his usual fangs, give Brasti the snappy response he'd usually... he couldn't. All that remained within him in this moment was the hints of a lonely and heartbroken man.[break][break]
A man who was suffering immensely and the only way for him to function, to live normally was to drink to the point of being stupid. His voice slurs as he shakes his head slowly. "Shut up." [break][break]
"I do — don't... want you here." He slurs on his words, a hiccup following shortly after. He doesn't want Brasti to see his face. Severus knows he can't hide his feelings right now and the last thing the komodo dragon was for Brasti to see himself just how bad everything was crashing down upon himself. "God... why the fuck do you even care anyways?" It made his head hurt much more than the sound of his voice did. He wasn't used to this part of Brasti and he wasn't sure if he wanted to get to know this side of him.[break][break]
"Just... — just... leave." He knows it's not going to be that easy to shake him off but Severus is hoping. Wishing... that somehow it's enough.
Never once had Brasti expected to witness the infamous Sergeant Severus Cross intoxicated to depressing points. Obnoxious arrogance was abandoned in favour of a soft frown and the slightest hints of concern trailing his violet coloured eyes. Whatever happened clearly impacted the brunette hard and left him stranded in a thick, drowning syrup of emotions. Either that, or Severus foolishly over-indulged in the bitterness of liquor. Yet, never had Brasti acquired information about Severus being a frequent over-indulger.
[break][break]
However, the information inside the man's file that Brasti managed to retrieve was interesting. A recent death committed by Severus, a man connected to him via the strings of the past... a traitor. Alas, the demon lacked thorough details on the situation having only gained vague information... but it suggested a grimmer reality. A gentle sigh left the dark-haired demon's lips as the raiju pathetically attempted to adjust himself... However, after searching for something at the bottom of beer bottles, he was beyond inebriated.
[break][break]
The demon's hands retreated to his pockets as he observed the brunette. He found himself growing concerned about the sergeant given his state of mind. The raiju's state of mind cemented at the passion-lacking responses given to his expressions of concern. Through their previous interactions, Brasti hastily learned Severus loathed him and accepted the notion... but this was hardly the reactions he regularly provided. A gentle sigh left his lips as the intoxicated brunette slurred out words, seemingly struggling to talk straight.
[break][break]
His presence was unwanted, however, Brasti knew his presence was somewhat required. In this drunken state, Severus would be incapable to defend himself or potentially pass out in the streets. He merely stood, quietly listening to the brunette's words without one leaving his until he seemed finish. While the pair held previous transgressions, Brasti held no ill-will towards the raiju. Somebody needed to help him and with nobody else reputable in the area, the task hung on his shoulders.
[break][break]
"I'm not leaving you drunk off your ass in the streets," he mumbled softly before stepping closer. "You're going to pass out at this rate. You could die out here. Now c'mon, I'll help you up and you can crash on my couch."
[break][break]
The demon walked closer, pausing for a moment fetch the chalk from his inner pocket. Before he dared attempted to persuade the hammered thunder lizard anywhere, he wanted a circle to teleport him with. Furthermore, he doubted Severus could remain on his feet long enough without assistance for him to finish. As he knelt to begin drawing the circle, the demon's violet eyes occasionally glanced over at the brunette. Despite Severus being seemingly helpless, Brasti maintained caution. Their rocky relationship of endless teasing could turn the hammered man into a foe induced by intoxication after all.
"Why should that matter to you?" Severus wasn't pleased by the response received. It didn't explain his reasoning. He dodged it cleverly with his word play, was he avoiding it on purpose? Severus was going to refuse to go with him if he didn't hear it. He'd kick, scream... he had no shame to lose at this point. If he behaved as a child so be it. His actions tonight no sign of him being a responsible adult anyways. Emptying bottle after bottle of cheap alcohol really didn't paint out a picture of him being someone who put much thought into his actions.[break][break] "I really don't understand you..."[break][break] Even now... Severus no longer has a grip on his willpower. The one thing that motivated him once before was far out of his grasp. He looks to the pavement, a wave of complete defeat rushed over him. Brasti spoke as if he had some purpose to keep on going but the demon didn't know that nothing remained for him. No one existed anymore that he could fight for, that he could live on for. When Thalassa was around... even if he betrayed him, he had that goal of finding him. Of gaining answers but instead what he did was kill him before he could even get words he so desperately needed out.[break][break] It was too late...[break][break] This was precisely why he didn't want Brasti around. He could feel his emotions consuming him, the strong urge to shed tears plagued him but he didn't. "Wow gee... Don't you think I fucking knew that could happen? Why else do you think I willing took a fucking seat out here when I'm drunk out of my mind, huuuh?" The blunt confession was enough to reflect the shattered state his mind was in. He didn't even have the strength to keep living onwards. "I'll totally be left alone. Uh huh, so you can go on ahead and carry on your merry way."[break][break] "I'm not going anywhere..." Rather than it being Brasti taking him, he'd much prefer a hungry terror to consume him whole or one of those bloodthirsty AP bastards to rob him of his life. Anything was better than having to crash on that couch, having to face the day that follows this. Severus couldn't do it anymore. His eyes close slowly as he lets out a quiet whimper. "Just leave me alone, please." He didn't want to be cared for and the desperation of that showed from the unusual noise that left his mouth.
Determined and guided by his own questionable emotional state, the demon glided the chalk across the concrete surface. White residue leaving lines for the summoning of his hex-focused magic. The gentle scratching of chalk against the smooth surface was background noise to their conversation. The raiju appeared disparaged by events occurring in what Brasti would assume were personal events. Yet, despite his lack of details, the dark-haired demon was hardly somebody to abandon his coworkers in the harsh, peril-filled streets of Lorsette.
[break][break]
Perhaps he had dodged the question, dancing around the inquiry without a sense of proper grace. Rather, direct answers were cut away, Brasti fixating on the ramifications of leaving Severus drunken and alone in the streets. While the demon abandoned furthering his answer, the raiju repeated the words, albeit, with fresh phrasing. A gentle sigh breezed through the violet-eyed man's lips. Entering the details was something Brasti wished to avoid, however, it seemed probable the brown-haired sergeant would never cease the question tirade.
[break][break]
"Because you are my coworker and I'm not one to leave the people I'm working out to die," he began, momentarily allowing the gears to turn. "Besides, you're a good sergeant and I don't think anyone would want to lose you."
[break][break]
Part of him wondered if the intoxicated was thinking straight. If everything was fueled by troubles with a foolish, unhealthy coping method to escape. Comprehension was mentioned, but Brasti merely offered him a shrug. The reason was obvious. The demon harassed Sergeant Cross without hesitation and to points of severe infuriation with his games of Poke The Bear. Unfortunately, the deeper issues became obvious at Severus' rambling... The wishes of a death sentence by the hands of his follies and gnashing teeth of a terror.
[break][break]
It summoned a frown to the demon's face as he stood, returning the chalk to his inner pocket. The strong sergeant's words shifted to a pathetic whimper. It represented a man made vulnerable by circumstance and cruel events. Slowly, the demon walked towards the raiju and kneeled next to him.
[break][break]
"Hey, whatever happened, it will get better, alright?" Slowly, he reached to rub the sergeant's shoulder, hesitant given the state of their relationship. "If you want, you can just talk once we get to my place... if you're comfortable with that."
[break][break]
Forcing the sergeant he pestered throughout the day to talk was bound to turn sour. If Severus merely wanted to borrow his couch and never speak a word to him, the demon would accept that. However, the raiju required some calming and later some assistance to wrestle through whatever emotions stewed inside. While Brasti held some suspicions, out of a small pang of kindness he maintained silence. The situation was hardly anything joke worthy, therefore, all teasing was removed from the conversation in favour of genuine concern.
It's as if a game of everyone's fun family-friendly card game Uno had been in process and Brasti pulled a reverse card on him. His mind was far too out of it for him to properly register what in clear had been said. Severus had still been aware enough to know that hearing Brasti of all people going on about them being co-workers and looking out for one another when the normal treatment the two gave each other was nothing but the opposite of anything that could classify as friendly or easygoing. He was a subject for his never-ending barrage of teasing and Severus was susceptible to response in anger. Having it all flipped on the head for him did nothing to help the pounding of his head. "Since when have ya ever gave a shiiit about somethin' like that, hic..."[break][break]
"Your co-worker? A good sergeant?" He laughs pitifully, his shoulders dropping down further as he made himself more comfortable on top the cold concrete. Severus hadn't picked up on the sound of the chalk being used given how he was currently zoning out more than he had been listening. His mind was in the process of undergoing a great storm. Booming thoughts with heavy down pour. Every so often when the lighting strikes goes off does Severus wheeze softly. His body tenses for a moment... before after all that no longer happens. "Don't need it... don't wannt it from you." There's a slur in his tone of voice as his eyes slowly fluttered back open. His hand resting on the ground uses it to push himself up slightly. Some stumbling was unavoidable but... the urge to flee was real.[break][break]
Brasti at this rate seriously intended to take him away but his movement was already too late. The feeling of his hand on his shoulder makes the Raiju tense. His eyes widen and for briefly the touch of another person makes his skin crawl. He didn't want help. He wanted to stay here on the streets and rot away as he deserved. No matter how much he said it, it was ignored and that only made him buckle under the pressure of his mind further. His teeth sink into his lip as the lower one trembled. "You don't know the fuck 'm goin' through... it'll get better?" His hand whips around to slap and push away at the hand that tried to comfort him. His brows furrowed as anger mixed with sad frustration leaked out of his tone. "As fucking if! It's not like... it's not like you've had your whole world go up into flames... crash right in front of you." A small pause. "Cause of your own doing...."[break][break]
His voice had gradually got more quiet throughout that until... there was no more but just silence. He wasn't saying anymore but judging by the way his shoulders slumped to how his vocalization of anything quickly ceased... he gave up on fighting. He was drunk and an emotional mess that no longer wanted to deal with this any longer. "I don't wanna talk anymore... Don't wanna do a damn fuckin' thing." He's tempted to throw out a comment but even then does he have no energy for it whatsoever. "Just do whatever and let me be..."
Observantly, Brasti's eyes analyzed the raiju's composure. The man's tongue danced with alcohol, allowed intoxication to infect his brain and it was obvious. A brutal parasite working alongside sorrow's power and influencing the hands of those weakened by its bitter tongue. An unfortunate display, and had Brasti's mood not been persuaded by the sorrowful reminders of a history ridden with misfortunes and turmoil, his words would lack delicacy. Though previous experiences between himself and the easily angered raiju remained blatant memories.
[break][break]
Teasing antics were commonly accomplished by the arrogant, sunglasses-wearing man. Entertainment was easily discovered in obnoxious games of 'poke-the-bear' and incessant bothering. Ceasing the tirade was impossible for every crack in composure or annoyed sigh fueled the requirement to jeer. Alas, his present toned down emotional composure was beyond the attitude the man regularly exhibited. Behind the mask of sunglasses, Brasti's violet eyes watched Severus, their colour clouded with a sense of pity to the intoxicated man.
[break][break]
Slurred rambling escaped the sergeant's lips as he rebuked the stated words. The truth was behind the words used by the scout deputy, however, in his inebriated condition nothing could be fully cognitized. Thorough thinking was abandoned for drops of poison from a bottle. Distant strikes of lightning created grumbling thunder, suggesting the shortcoming of rain. The assistance to avoid a lending hand from another was undoubtedly natural. Severus held no preconceived notions of trust and winning him over would undoubtedly be difficult.
[break][break]
"I don't send you straight into trouble, do I?" The demon began. "I tease everyone, it's nothing special. Besides, seeing you like this? It's a little worrying to anyone, don't you think?"
[break][break]
The dark-haired demon's eyes narrowed as Severus attempted to rise. The lizard shifter was already against taking assistance from him, furthermore, the intensity of his intoxication suggested he would be a stumbling mess. If anything, rising from the cold concrete risked the possibility of injury. It inspired his hand to latch on tighter than intended, hoping Severus would merely bow to the whims of guidance. The thought was a weak prayer... A prayer that went entirely unheard. Tense muscles formed beneath the demon's hand, increasing any wariness the bespectacled man initially had.
[break][break]
Words spilt in a waterfall of slurs as Severus smacked away the demon's hand. An insistence against comprehension towards the other's emotional state. Yet, as the raiju's spoke more, Brasti's eyes darkened with the thoughts of distant bad memories. Fortunately, the demon's eyes remained masked by the pair of dark glasses obscuring the specifics of their emotion and colouring. Everything going up in flames from your own doing. Ah, the sentence mustered distant memories of his long, lost lover perishing in the turmoil of betrayal.
[break][break]
He should have allowed her to strike him down. Her return would have been unquestioned and showered in beliefs of heroics. Rather, they accomplished the foolish and as the smoke settled, he remained the last man standing. A chuckle left his lips, nothing similar to his teasing attempts. Instead, it was half-hearted and barely audible as though trying to bite away from any painful thoughts. It shifted into a slow exhale as every bitter memory was shoved carelessly back into the box and stored. Severus was the concern, not thoughts of his follies.
[break][break]
"You're right, I won't fully understand, but I can get it a little bit," Brasti began cautiously. "You're overwhelmed, eh? Like nothing's going right anymore because of one dumb mistake?"
[break][break]
Slowly, the demon shuffled forward and put a hand on Severus' back. It was gentle and hovering as he tested the waters. The emotional hurricane the raiju appeared to be going through was nothing he would mock or speak a word of, rather, he wanted to provide the chance to ease.
[break][break]
"You don't have to," he murmured in a softer voice. "Now c'mon, how about you come with me and lay down? You can be as quiet as you want."
[break][break]
Carefully, he pushed Severus' back in hopes of nudging him forward. The brunette required a place to lay down his head and breathe for a few moments, and despite their differences, Brasti intended to provide it.
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credits
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.
