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!
osuah's grip tightened against his phone, feeling concerned about his father's involvement. He could ruin everything. His brows remained curved downward as he thought about the plans he had come up with last night. Having his father change his number was a temporary solution, it would make it harder for Brendon's outside family to gain contact with him.
It would have been easier if he could tell him the truth, but that was something that could have only ever existed between him and his mother. Josuah had never been able to connect with her the way she wanted, but her love for him was never hindered by that. He barely remembered her...but he did miss her.
The reflection of his phone caught the morning light as he lowered it to his pocket and gained sight of the Attorney from before, Mr. Lambert. Josuah withdrew from the wall, empty box in hand and spoke to him. The man stopped in his tracks, eyes rising to his own behind his spectacles with suspicion.
"You have a delivery," Josuah stated, and pulled a clipboard forward to sign. The older man sighed, as he entered his space and took hold of the pen. However, as his eyes went over the paper he suddenly looked to him. "I see..." he returned with that same judgmental look.
"I'll take it inside, come now," he muttered, pulling out a mess of keys to unlock the door leading up to his office. Shortly after the two entered Josuah removed his mask, cap and hoodie.
"So, Mr. Ardel, why all the secrecy?" He asked, sitting in his chair and briefly peering down at the ID presented to him. "It should be obvious." Josuah returned and felt impatient for this conversation to be over with. "What papers am I to sign?" He pressed and the other male scoffed. It was obvious he thought very poorly of him, but Josuah didn't care about his opinion.
"Eager are we? Well then...papers...papers, papers." He muttered to himself checking around, but ultimately reaching for the phone. He must of seen the look in his eyes because he took the liberty of explaining on his own what he was doing.
"Brendon should be present, don't you agree?" The man asked, holding the phone within one hand. Josuah's features immediately shifted and he couldn't hide his eagerness at the mentioning of the boy. Slowly, he gave a nod and watched the man intently, but he tried to remain cautious too.
A knock on his bedroom door drew Brendon’s attention away from his computer screen. Yesterday had been filled with chaos and nerves and the entire night had kept him awake and restless. He’d been spending the last couple of hours propped up against the headboard of his bed, his laptops brightness turned down to the dimmest settings as he scoured the web for anything he could find on Josuah Ardel.
The door slowly opened, light from the hallway filtering in. Hanzo assumed him to be asleep, and Brendon liked to believe that he glimpsed a glimmer of surprise when he caught him sitting up in the dark of the early morning hours.
“The Attorney has phoned. Josuah Ardel has shown up.”
Alarm slammed into Brendon like a tidal wave. He felt it in every fiber of his being, rattling him to his core. His shoulders hunched and stiffened, but he didn’t hesitate to begin scrambling out of the bed, heart launched into a frenzied beat.
“The Attorney has asked for you to come down and meet him personally.”
“I will!” Brendon breathed out harshly, already at his drawers and drawing out an outfit for the day. He couldn’t begin to fathom why there was excitement mingling with the myriad of other disconcerting emotions. Did he really expect this person to be anything good? And why would he dare? He was setting himself up for failure.
By the point that he and Hanzo had been chauffeured to Mr. Lambert’s office in Lorsette’s downtown business district, the small excitement that had once been apart of him had been completely snuffed out. Brendon sat rigid in the luxurious black velvet seats of the limosene, his palms clammy as they gripped at the maroon fabric of his dress pants.
His eyes had misted with tears of emotion and dread and as the car rolled to a stop he suddenly felt stifled in the high collar dress shirt and neck tie. He adjusted them both, allowing himself more room, before his door was opened for him and he stepped out before the sleekly designed building. Hanzo came around to join him at his side, taking the stairs first to open the door for him.
“We have an appointment with Mr. Lambert.” Hanzo intoned, however it hadn’t been necessary. The receptionist instantly recognized them and was already buzzing in to Mr. Lambert’s phone directly to inform him that Brendon Redal had arrived.
You can sit down you know," Mr. Lambert's voice held the exhaustion he felt watching him for the past forty minutes, but Josuah didn't move from the large windows overlooking the city of Lorsette. His nerves were on fire and the anticipation from before thrummed inside of his chest. He wanted to speak with the boy alone...to explain to him everything. But he was heavily guarded and requesting privacy would not come easy.
The ringing of the telephone was the only thing that drew him from his thoughts. They had arrived and it took everything in Josuah's power not to show the emotion that brought him. His heart hurt again, tightening with a sickening feeling as he peered at his reflection, but he couldn't show his true self. He had to tread carefully with everyone.
When the door opened, the male he'd recognized from the funeral entered first and the sight of him flared silent jealousy, but the emotion was easily set aside when Brendon was revealed behind him. He was suited again, in a lavishly expensive outfit, that lightly glimmered with shades of purple, his hair was somewhat messy, but his ears and antlers helped completely distract one from such things.
Nestled somewhere deep in his heart Brendon knew that he had been expecting it. But, the sight of the black haired man standing at the wall brought such a contrasting mixture of emotions through him. His eyes immediately burned, chest clenching up tight. There was nothing about him that he liked. A part of him wanted to vehemently deny the fact that he was claiming to be Josuah Ardel, as though he even knew who that was. It made him so angry — yet so conflicted — to see this stupid male standing here instead of… of… someone else!
But he kept himself in check. He was so close to throwing a fit, screaming and yelling accusations, but he wouldn’t mortify himself. He needed to act dignified. He needed to be in control and in charge of everything. Hanzo’s features had become unfriendly as soon as the gray of his eyes caught sight of the male from the funeral services.
Brendon’s gaze lowered away from the presence of the other in the room. He radiated a strange aura that made him feel familiar, yet whenever he looked at him his whole being rejected the ugly sight of him! He wanted to stamp his foot over his boot and then stamp it some more! He was not Josuah Ardel! He was an Imposter!
Hanzo was handed the Imposter’s identification, to which he silently scrutinized for a handful of seconds before placing it back into the Attorney’s hands.
osuah could see it now, with the boy standing right before his eyes. The way his features twisted into scowl, but how he couldn't tear his gaze away. His disguise was creating a turmoil inside of him because his soul couldn't see the true colors of his own. He knew in a way it was his fault for mastering the art of disguise, his voice and even scent were all effected and Brendon was clearly reacting to it all.
"If I may..." Josuah interjected before the attorney was able to say anything at all. "...I have a something to give Brendon Redal in private...from his parents."
His features were tense and he was very aware of scrutinizing gaze from Brendon's bodyguard. But he had to speak to the boy alone...and he would keep trying until he was given the chance to do so. The letter he withdrew from his jacket, was the one his parents had sent...one that they had instructed him to burn.
“If I may… I have something to give Brendon Redal in private… from his parents.” Brendon felt so much bitterness swell within his heart and such a need to reject referring to this male as Josuah Ardel. When he finally heard his voice, as though wanting it to sound a way that he could connect to, it instead pierced at his heart in a scathing way and made him feel… emotional. He was almost unable to control himself, and his desperation to lash out, and it took every ounce of will power to seal his mouth and remain rigidly still next to Hanzo.
“As his bodyguard, I accompany Brendon at all times.” Hanzo’s impassive but strong voice answered the other’s request. He did not appear hostile, but his lack of trust was clear.
osuah could see the lining of Brendon's fur bristling out as his body trembled from the hidden rage within. The boy rejected everything about him, but was clearly drawn to him. Josuah knew he was tormenting the boy and he hated it.
“As his bodyguard, I accompany Brendon at all times.” The bodyguard's tone was disciplined, not giving anything away and his dedication to Brendon's protection made him seem like an ally. But the boy's parents had been clear in stating that he could trust no one.
A slow sigh parted from his lungs as his eyes narrowed on the boy before he finally set the letter aside and withdrew his phone. From there he navigated to his notes where he had written the boy a message. He had written it last night as a precaution and would have preferred to tell him in person alone, but this would have to do.
"Then avert your eyes," he told the taller male with quiet annoyance as he stepped towards Brendon and held the phone out for him to take.
The Imposter had drawn a letter from the pockets of his black coat. However now, with a sigh, he tucked it back inside, opting to retrieve his cell phone instead. “Then avert your eyes.” He was already bossing around his bodyguard but unfortunately for him Hanzo was loyal only to Brendon and it was him he looked to for the order.
Brendon nodded his head, giving him his permission to do as requested, and then accepted the cell phone handed out to him. He wondered if the contents written on it were going to be threatening him about the necklace he had revealed during the Funeral Reception.
Therefore he was… shocked, but also still suspicious, as he read over the letter and learned of him claiming to use a… disguise hex. Emotion sweltered in his eyes and he felt it consume the rest of his body as well. He wanted to see. He immediately wanted to see, but he couldn’t trust himself. He couldn’t trust the Imposter, either. He felt such a desperate and uncontrollable need for it.
But he knew as much as Hanzo did that he couldn’t be so quick to trust, so quick to run away into the other room with him. The Imposter had been trying to get him alone since yesterday… and it still felt really nefarious. Not only that but… even if he was disguised, what was it that he was looking for? Hoping to find in his real image? How would it change any of these circumstances? And why was this male saying that he trusted him? Why was he claiming that he was the one…
His mind stalled and immediately drew back to the necklace he had revealed to him. He had felt connected to it, had felt like a part of him was with it, and with a sudden surge of fear he wondered if that was what he was referring to. H-How was he stealing his life energy?!
“I…,” He faltered and struggled with the inner war going on inside of him, his strained gaze flickering between the Attorney, Hanzo, and then the man he couldn’t stand looking at! He hesitated further and then ultimately chose to write him a message, silently, in return. With a harsh breath, and a face set with determination, he gave him back the phone.
nger ignited within him when he watched the bodyguard deliberately ignore him in favor of the boy's orders. It reminded him of his circumstance, the only true power he had was on paper and nothing else. Being here for Brendon was suicide thanks to his parents poor planning, but it was a fate he was willing to take.
Silence filled the room then as Brendon read over the message, but his reaction was not encouraging. Politely, Josuah stepped away from the boy, not wanting to be within close vicinity of him because of what he was.
With an ever present frown, Brendon began typing a message back and then held the phone out for him to take. He could feel the aggression radiating off of his message, but he felt relief in knowing that the boy would give him a chance.
"It is all I've been trying to do," Josuah answered.
“It is all I’ve been trying to do.” The male confirmed out loud, causing Brendon to go a little pink in the face. His ears were frazzled, swiveling this way and that atop his head, his antlers glowing a little more intently from his build-up of emotion.
“Hanzo, I wish to do it.” He announced, puffing his chest out and using his hands to pull at the tail ends of his coat, making himself appear more masculine and older than he was.
Hanzo appeared genuinely surprised by his request, and then his gaze narrowed with his disapproval. However, he did not fight him on his decision. “Very well. I would advise that you at least set a time limit.”
Brendon took in a shaky breath. “What would you suggest?”
“Five minutes.”
“I choose seven, and then you may intervene Hanzo.” Brendon decided, folding his hands behind his back as he brought his amber gaze up to the Imposter standing across from him.
he pink that touched his cheeks was the very first sign of fluster he had ever seen and he couldn't help but stare. He wanted to take everything of his company in and stare forever. It was an unreasonable feeling and one he imagined came from their connection.
"Hanzo, I wish to do it," Brendon suddenly declared and Josuah's eyes widened in surprise. His heart began to thump and he immediately created more distance away from him, looking to the attorney to hurry with his departure. But his eagerness was hindered by the request for a time limit.
He should have harbored his emotions better, but his frown immediately went to the bodyguard, his patience with him already wearing thin. But he tried to compose himself, and gave no words of argument at the decision of seven minutes.
"And I am to leave my own office it seems?" Mr. Lambert openly complained with a sigh, giving Josuah a look of exasperation as he stood and checked his watch. But the two older men did as instructed and left the room, closing the door behind them.
"You have to promise me that you'll remain where you are..." Josuah told Brendon as he stepped further away from him, his hand revealing some chalk to begin drawing a hex onto the floor.
The Attorney and Hanzo took their leave of the room, promising him the seven minutes he had requested. The door closed after their retreat and Brendon’s enhanced senses could hear the retreating of the attorney and Hanzo stationing himself at the wall beside the door.
“You have to promise me that you’ll remain where you are…” The dark haired male, who swore he was under disguise, instructed him as he backed further away in the Attorney’s office until he was nearly at the opposite wall.
Brendon pressed his lips firmly together, anticipation swelling tight in his chest. Still he… didn’t know what he expected. What could possibly happen with a change of appearance? What difference would any of this make? Despite his doubts, he couldn’t fight the compelling feelings inside of him.
His breathing grew short and raspy, impatience churning in the pit of his stomach, hands wringing against one another, as he watched the male draw the glyphs of a hex into the floor with chalk.
rendon's ears flickered and twitched curiously as he lifted his chin to take in the hex he was creating. It was just the two of them now and that reality was stifling to the older male. He knew it was illogical, but apart of him worried that he would be dangerous to Brendon. If he fed from him...would he cause him discomfort.
Josuah's jaw tightened feeling an unpleasant sensation within the pit of his stomach as he rose and turned to face the boy. But he didn't stand within the hex circle. What he had drawn was to return his disguise since breaking a hex required nothing but willpower.
A breath left him as he closed his eyes and focused, his energy spiking and making him feel weak as the previous hex symbol glowed red beneath him until it physically shattered and with it the disguise that he had grown so accustom to for years.
Emerald eyes now stared back at the boy, with golden strands of hair framing his face, but he didn't dare speak because he knew this would already be overwhelming for Brendon.
Brendon’s small body tensed and straightened, his chin raising up to follow the male’s movements when he rose to his full height once more. However, instead of using the hex — as Brendon had assumed he would — he stepped out of it. Suspicion immediately engulfed Brendon, causing his brows to knit together as wild ideas started to bombard him. What if he grabbed him and teleported away? Why was there a part of him that felt conflicted over his feelings on that thought?
However, his thoughts were ceased as a once invisible hex began to glow underneath him and then shattered a moment later, his disguise breaking away with it. Brendon’s eyes immediately widened and he felt struck to his very core. He’d been right… Suddenly, he felt emotion swell painfully in his chest, tearing up his eyes as they laid upon the completely different person who now stood before him. Blond hair that he could see in such vivid detail; the color and texture of each strand and his… h-his magnificent green eyes. The structure of his face… where every contour was placed.
His scent overwhelmed him. He could taste him in his mouth and he was so different. He didn’t understand why it mattered — but it did. The tears burst down his cheeks and emotion seized in his chest, pent-up rage and frustration making it burn with hurt and a feeling of betrayal.
“Why did you do that!?” Brendon yelled, his voice coarse and filled with his tears. But his accusation and emotion stirred unrest outside of the door, Hanzo immediately there, turning the knob with the intention to barge in.
osuah could see the brief suspicion that graced his features was he stared at the unused hex. But soon his gaze was brought to him as he witnessed the breaking of magic he had used to conceal himself. And Brendon's reaction was as expected, the boy could no longer deny the pull they had to each other.
He wanted so many things to come from that moment, but none could. The boy expressed his upset at being tricked and Hanzo was instantly ending their time together. Josuah stepped back, exerting his energy to return his disguise, but he needed time. His emerald gaze riveted to the metal doorknob to which he proceeded to heat so that it would burn the holder on the other side providing very few precious seconds.
The hex completed itself just in time, the symbol beneath the soles of his shoes vanishing and he was left back in the body that wasn't his. He imagined that would be the last time Hanzo allowed them time together, but at least Brendon knew the truth now.
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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.
