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!
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext1]I'm not ready for the truth to see the light
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext2]Make it up, Make it pretty, I don't mind
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Mikaela hated this. She hated the flames and the light and the fact that she needed Touri’s help. And she hated the fact that if he was sane he’d ignore her precarious situation and help himself first. She could probably get out on her own if she had to. Her cat form was small enough to sneak through. But she couldn’t risk anything falling on her and she didn’t know if she’d be able to take in enough air not to suffocate in a smaller form.
[break][break]
The already unbearable heat was rising and Mikaela felt certain she’d choke on the smoke if she stayed here much longer. And the brightness. It was the best she could do to keep her smoke-stung eyes open against the light’s assault, especially as she gazed at the flame, terrified it would lash out and catch her off guard. She couldn’t tell how much of the heat closing in around her was from the flames climbing further and how much was from the claustrophobia clamping down on her lungs.
[break][break]
She lashed out with shadows, dulling the brightness of the fire, but it didn’t do much to help. If she had more control she might be able to make a full shield, but she’d never liked the idea of being able to do that. She’d purposefully kept the ability weak so she couldn’t be forced to use it against others. She heard glass shattering behind her and turned in time to see Touri in front of a now empty window frame.
[break][break]
”Of course I can climb.” she hissed, almost offended at the idea that she couldn’t. Her instinct was yelling at her to get out, but as she stepped towards the window and looked out she hesitated. If she climbed down she’d technically be out of the bounds of the party when she reached the ground and that would break her deal with her sister. Plus she didn’t know where her twin actually was, and she couldn’t leave without knowing Libby was safe.
[break][break]
So, despite everything in her demanding otherwise, she closed her eyes and took a breath, paying attention to the way it burned her throat. She had to think. She pressed her back against the wall by the window to make sure the fire didn’t sneak up on her and pulled out her phone. It was close to midnight, but not quite there yet. She swiped open the device and texting Libby one more time: Get out and text me when you’re gone. Until she got that message in response she wouldn’t assume her sister was safe.
[break][break]
Her moments of hesitation cost her as the crackling fire jumped closer, tearing through the spot she would have been if it weren’t for well trained reflexes. She managed to dodge most of the fire, but not quickly enough to entirely clear her arm of the area. She yelped and tugged her arm to her chest, eyes watering more at the pain. She clenched her jaw tightly and stepped into the window sill. She had enough of a sense of self preservation not to stay any longer with the flames so close. The outside of the building was stone so the fire wouldn’t make it out. It would be a much safer place to kill time while her life was in imminent danger.
Of course I can climb… was her witty retort. Daichi snickered, glad that she’d fallen into his trap.
Despite the urgency of their situation, she seemed reluctant to step toward the ledge. He’d be a pretty poor date if he didn’t at least wait around for her to step out of the burning building. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was reluctance because she though he’d kill her. Maybe she’d like that. No, she would like that.
What was wrong with this woman?
For a moment she disappeared inside, nothing but the slight violet hue from her dress sleeve hinting that she hadn’t left. Daichi was a patient man but this was a bit ridiculous. He was about to formulate another of his slap-winning sarcasms but the crack of fire behind her must’ve prompted Ruby to finally step out onto the windowsill.
“You really want to die, don’t you?” he called over the fire, glad for the cool night’s breeze.
Daichi didn’t wait for an answer as he placed both his hands a window ledge that could barely accommodate half his foot. He wanted to maintain the illusion that he too was subject to the laws of gravity and thus gingerly placed his foot below him. In about five motions he had already descended one floor to the ledge under. Two more and they could probably just safely jump into one of the nicer looking bushes.
Though he really didn’t want to have to comb twigs out of his hair for the rest of the night…
Ruby was somewhere above him but he was pretty confident that, should she slip, he could easily catch her before she fell too far. Fire cackled menacingly from the open window above them as though laughing. It sparked a distant memory.
Anzu standing among a smoldering back drop, her shadowy hair billowing against the heat it let off as she walked towards him. She hated fire, just as much as him, but the twisted darkness that had lined her soul seemed to want nothing more than to flirt with death. At first, he had been afraid of this new version of his sister but then… Daichi spared a brief glance at his fingertips, still gripping the ledge, and he was relieved to see that there was no hint of crimson.
“Sorry about your ex,” he stated loudly, his fingers working their way down another level as he maneuvered his foot on the ledge below, “I get carried away sometimes. You know, I did come here to do my office work but when I don’t get who I want my hands get a little twitchy. Office trigger finger.”
It was a poor apology but Daichi wouldn’t allow himself a full one. The man needed to go, for multiple reasons, and Daichi wasn’t sorry about the death merely he was sorry that Ruby had to witness it. Despite her chilly self-sufficient exterior, he had to wonder if there wasn’t a beating heart in there somewhere. Beneath many layers of… denial, stubbornness? The list could go on. Once he was safely on the second ledge down, Daichi scanned the garden for a bush that didn’t have the potential to rip his lovely costume ensemble.
“Which one?” he called up, indicating a plump circular bush and a tall slender one in the shape of some sort of animal. If Daichi didn’t know better he would think that maybe he was trying to make small talk with Ruby.
Well, it did make the night go by faster. The best part about this escape plan would be that now they had to deal with the hedge maze. Nothing about the estate was subtle either and, from what Daichi could see right now, it was a decent sized maze. He kept his expression mostly sarcastic despite the annoyance that still cooked inside him: This night had really turned to shit quick.
Maybe, just maybe, this was a side effect of being around Ruby.
MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS
[googlefont=Lato][googlefont=Fira Sans Extra Condensed]
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext1]I'm not ready for the truth to see the light
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext2]Make it up, Make it pretty, I don't mind
[newclass=.Mikredimage]width:500px;height:200px;background-image:url('https://i.ibb.co/hxzNqkk/download.png');border-left: solid 10px #8f0505;border-right: solid 10px #8f0505;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhover]opacity:0;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;height:200px;width:500px;margin-top:-200px;[/newclass][newclass=.Mikredhover:hover]opacity:0.4;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;background-color:#fff;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhovertext]font-family:Arial;color:#4c306a;font-size:18px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
Mikaela scrunched up her nose and stuck out her tongue at Touri's retort. It didn't really matter what he thought, but he could at least give her some credit. If she was going to die it would be in a blaze of glory, not in a blazing fire. And not while the people she cared about might be in danger. She may be reckless and suicidal, but all that was put on hold when her family wasn't stable. [break][break]
She knelt down and grabbed the ledge she was standing on, allowing her feet to fall beneath her towards the next landing. She winced at the pain in her arm, but it was nothing she had any right to complain about it. Nor was it nearly the worst burn wound she'd gotten. [break][break]
Mikaela didn't pause her careful climbing as Touri spoke. She wanted to glance back at him, but that would reveal a bit too much of her curiosity. What had he been thinking that he felt the need to strike up a conversation about his latest murder victim on the side of a wall. "Don't you dare apologize." she huffed. "I mean yeah, you should feel terrible, but your words are worth nothing. I hate apologies, especially in English. The language is practically made to half ass them. No need to worry though, apology or no you'll end up burning in hell when all is said and done." [break][break]
She glanced down as Touri asked which bush to jump down into. "Entirely up to you, doll." she drawled, wrinkling her nose. It would be a lot easier to jump from here, but she wasn't a fan of what that might do to her already roughed up dress. Nor was she sure she'd be able to get up if she got caught in the bush at the wrong angle. Instead, she lowered herself further onto a very thin ledge then shimmied over to a drain pipe, using that to make it the rest of the way down.
So many thoughts wrapped up into one stubborn, ruby-fueled proclamation.
Yes, he should feel bad. No, he shouldn’t apologize because it was offensive. Yes, his words didn’t mean anything. Yes, the English was offensive. The words practically landed on him from above, their weight something akin to a heavy child stuffed into unwilling arms. To be fair though, had he truly been sorry?
Not at all. He’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant his superiors didn’t catch wind of the absolute failure that had gone on here.
“Ah, if I only I could have the privilege of burning in hell,” he said softly, mostly to himself but there was a chance that the stubborn woman might’ve heard him, “alright then, left topiary it is.”
Daichi didn’t need further invitation. He was going for the animal topiary for a few reasons though mostly because the other option seemed somehow denser and the thought of having to brush twig-induced snarls out of his hair before sleeping tonight was off putting.
Bushes were a wonderful cushion. For starters they were covered in leaves which were often soft enough to break a fall. While the branches were sharp, they were also flexible and at a distance such as this it would be almost impossible to do any harm. Not to mention that bushes were also-
THUNK.
He felt the sculpted front of the bush give away with a loud and non-reassuring snap. Daichi reached out just in time to grab a fistful of bush before he hit the actual cobblestone beneath. Once the initial feeling was over, he slowly lowered himself to the ground on the side of the bush, which apparently was a bush-tree combination. Once the assassin felt his feet touch the ground, he released his grips and set to brushing himself off.
“I’d highly recommend using the other one,” he called up to her playfully, “but don’t expect me to catch you or anything. I’m too busy burning in hell down here for politely apologizing to you.”
Were his words swallowed by the distance between him? In case they weren’t he offered a playful smile, trying to ignore the topiary beside him. It was difficult given that at one point it had been a giraffe and now its branch-neck hung at an odd, broken angle.
At least he could take solace that one murder tonight had gone smoothly.
MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS
[googlefont=Lato][googlefont=Fira Sans Extra Condensed]
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext1]I'm not ready for the truth to see the light
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext2]Make it up, Make it pretty, I don't mind
[newclass=.Mikredimage]width:500px;height:200px;background-image:url('https://i.ibb.co/hxzNqkk/download.png');border-left: solid 10px #8f0505;border-right: solid 10px #8f0505;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhover]opacity:0;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;height:200px;width:500px;margin-top:-200px;[/newclass][newclass=.Mikredhover:hover]opacity:0.4;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;background-color:#fff;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhovertext]font-family:Arial;color:#4c306a;font-size:18px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
Mikaela paused her own descent as Touri made his mad leap at a bush. Personally, she didn't like his route of choice. Who knew who was standing under those bushes. It would draw suspicion if people were jumping from the sky. Of course, they were running from a fire not embarking on a stealthy mission. [break][break] She had just gripped the stone she was holding onto harder with her right hand so she could let go and rest the burned arm for a moment when a loud crack broke through the air followed by a crash. "You know, you should have warned me you were doing that, I would have got a video," she called down, taking a minute to study the wall beneath her before continuing her climb. There were fewer and fewer handholds that wouldn't require her to put too much of her weight on her injured arm, but she really didn't want to jump into a bush. [break][break] Mikaela eyed Touri beneath her. He had just said he wouldn't catch her but maybe if she just jumped at him he would anyway. At the very least he'd break her fall without cutting her up like a bush might. He was big enough to do the job, though she didn't think he'd make for a very soft landing pad. Maybe it would be better to wait for the firemen to come and feign helplessness. Then again, whatever had caused that fire wasn't natural and probably wasn't unintentional either. Waiting there could end up backing her into a corner later. [break][break] "Hey, Touri," she began, then hesitated and began a cautious climb down the wall. It was the safest option that didn't test her fear of jumping down from heights. She just needed a distraction so she didn't overthink it. "You told Enrico it was his own fault his sister died. Do you really think I'm the type of monster that would let someone's family be the collateral?" She knew she was speaking loudly enough that any passerby's would be able to overhear, but she was willing to bet anyone in this dark corner of the garden would have their own secrets to hide, and her sins were too long buried to be used as blackmail against her anyway. "Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't?" she added.
Ruby’s words echoed down at him as he brushed off the remnants of bush from his tacky Halloween costume but he promptly ignored her verbal jaunt. Despite his best attempts to avoid messing up his hair there would be a lengthy conditioning and brushing session later. Daichi pulled out a hair elastic and began to swiftly braid his hair. At least this way it’d be somewhat contained because it was far too windy out for anything else.
Perfect for feeding the flames of a fire.
Instead of taking the short, efficient route Ruby began to cat-climb down the old brick façade. He promptly finished tying off the end of his braid with the elastic while suppressing a groan. Women, why were they always so difficult? Sage eyes scanned the majestic building in front of him. Whatever was burning inside was burning far too swiftly to be the result of some drunken fool knocking over a candlestick.
More than anything, Daichi didn’t like things that seemed like coincidences. Especially given the strange “technological troubles” he’d had with his burner phone. He’d have to touch base with Anzu later – maybe she’d been making more enemies than usual. Then again, anyone who knew his lovely sister wouldn’t dare touch Daichi. Collateral from her violent nature he supposed.
Wait, was Ruby saying something important suddenly? He placed one impatient hand on his hip, wondering why she thought this was the time to discuss philosophy of sorts.
“Are you looking for validation from an assassin?” he quirked a brow, deciding that the office worker joke was no longer appropriate. He had killed a man right in front of her after all.
Imagine, validation from an assassin. It made him wonder if she really cared about the answer or if she was just filling space in the silence. Additionally, there was significantly less screaming than he predicted. Normally that was a good thing but in the setting of so intense a fire… what had gone on in the main party? Daichi would think on it later.
“Monster is a relative term really, something people who think they’re right and just throw around to judge others,” he said simply, a little louder so that the still-climbing Ruby could hear him, “but that’s not what you’re asking. You want me to judge you so that you don’t have to judge yourself. Alright, I’ll bite on this one.”
Daichi’s hand fell from his hips and he stole a glance at Ruby, still climbing, wondering if her cat-like reflexes would be enough to prevent her from falling should her foot not stand on a solid ledge. Violet fabric billowed in the wind, tossing her hair in her face most likely. While he told herself he wouldn’t catch her should she fall, Daichi did adjust his posture to accommodate a quick lunge.
“I know a few monsters and you’re sorely lacking in that category,” one of them being his sister of course. Sage-hued irises watched the slender form in front of him. It would be better if she could hurry it up a bit so they could leave before any authorities got here. Questions were annoying in general and he didn’t feel like sitting for hours on end stating he basically knew nothing.
MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS
[googlefont=Lato][googlefont=Fira Sans Extra Condensed]
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext1]I'm not ready for the truth to see the light
[attr=class,Mikredheadertext2]Make it up, Make it pretty, I don't mind
[newclass=.Mikredimage]width:500px;height:200px;background-image:url('https://i.ibb.co/hxzNqkk/download.png');border-left: solid 10px #8f0505;border-right: solid 10px #8f0505;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhover]opacity:0;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;height:200px;width:500px;margin-top:-200px;[/newclass][newclass=.Mikredhover:hover]opacity:0.4;transition:all linear 1s;-webkit-transition:all linear 1s;background-color:#fff;[/newclass] [newclass=.Mikredhovertext]font-family:Arial;color:#4c306a;font-size:18px;text-align:justify;[/newclass]
As Mikaela made her way down, she kept her attention on Touri's words. She trusted herself enough not to lose grip and fall off the wall, so the only thing she really needed to focus on was finding the right foot and hand holds. Validation from an assassin actually would have been far better than the rest of her sources of validation, but this time it wasn't what she was after. [break][break] Nonetheless, he continued to go on about her potential motive. His theory about monsters being fake was a complete lie, undoubtedly one he told himself so he wouldn't feel bad about murdering people without a second thought. Personally, she had no doubt that there were plenty of living, breathing monsters mingling amongst other people. She'd spent enough time around them to know there was no salvation for some of them. [break][break] As he finished up his response, claiming she was far from a monster, her foot slipped and she gripped onto the wall tighter, heart thundering in her chest. What sort of idiot was this guy? "You're an assassin. I don't need your validation, and you of all people should know better than to assume I'm some... innocent civilian. Trust me when I say there are more than enough people with the scars to prove I'm not." [break][break] Once Mikaela made it to another windowsill, she glanced at the ground beneath her. At this point Libby was either gone or in trouble, so keeping an eye on Touri had lost its importance. Did she want to see him again? Probably not. He'd made enough of a fool of her and running into him again would probably bring more trouble than good. [break][break] It was shockingly empty on the ground bellow, but out of the corner of her eye she noted a passerby and fixed her gaze on that person. It was definitely time to end this. "Help," she called, pitching her voice higher and stringing her words together quickly. "This man is a murderer! He killed my friend and then the building started burning and now I'm stuck up here! Please call the cops or something!"
Sharp, irritated words stabbed at him. Of course, she didn’t want validation from an assassin, the question had purely been for her own amusement… or something like that. Daichi stared at her as she nearly missed the ledge beneath her foot. Maybe he should let her drop to the pavement: a good hit to the head might make her more prone to forgetting what happened today.
Again, the self-delusion that she was a monster surfaced. Daichi didn’t have the energy to explain how subjective the word was. Ruby truly had guilt eating her up inside over something, didn’t she? He wondered what it would be like to feel those sorts of things. Years of violence had dulled him to anything of the sort.
Ruby was steady enough on the windowsill now to gaze back at him, those molten cores seemingly bearing down into his soul. It was unsettling and Daichi attributed it to the characteristic cat-eyes that many of her species had. Still unsettling.
What fiery torrent lay beneath that crimson gaze? Red was the color of blood, of pain, and life. Which of these did Ruby value the least? The most? Maybe his age-old superstitions were just bleeding through again. Daichi shifted, awaiting the next ridiculousness as she opened her mouth to say something.
But what came out was not another statement thick with denial but instead an entirely different woman. As he processed the words, they became sandpaper on skin. A flash of anger surged to his eyes before he quickly shut it down, resuming his sharp sage-hued gaze as he stood in the empty courtyard. Her words were quickly swallowed up by the breeze but eventually someone would hear them, someone would come.
Daichi stared at her for as long as he dared, her violet dress swaying in the breeze amidst pale skin and dark chestnut-hued locks. It was her eyes that drew him back in. Red, the color of blood. He could feel his braid swaying behind him in the breeze, tugged by the wind in a way that was basically telling him it was time to go.
“Suit yourself,” he said softly, just loud enough that she’d be able to pick it up, “get over yourself Ruby, there will be plenty more death in your future.”
He stepped behind a large hedge, as though about to walk away. It would block Ruby’s view of him enough that he could transform into his spider form. The change was quick, as it had been for years, and Daichi soon found himself skittering away through the safety of the greenery until he was far enough to change back into his human form without Ruby seeing.
While against his nature, he forced himself to look back at the silhouette of the burning mansion behind him. It would be a blessing if he never saw her again. There was already too much blood in his life.
MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS
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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.
