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 2022
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.
With April, an activity check has arrived for members to do! Please post on the AC and tag all your accounts, including WIPs and OOC accounts. Failure to post on this AC will result in your accounts being marked inactive or deleted. Please note, due to a late start, the due date for this check has been adjusted for one time and one time only.
My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.
It was another relentlessly cold, gloomy afternoon near the mountainside bordering the starlight beaches. Snow hadn't stopped falling once from the heavens, leaving Rosevier Manor layered in its powdery pure white trimming. From the grand historic structure boldly viewing the neighboring shores, all the way through the winding pathways that led to the heart of the city, patches of ice and layers of snow could be seen. While Christmas had only just come to pass, the decorations were already stowed away in boxes and the white elegant lights strung about the balconies had been taken down by the helping hired hands.
The poor weather outside hadn't given them any less work to do and the gardeners, every day, still had their work cut out for them with continuously shoveling off the pavement, trimming the rose bushes, fertilizing the winter crops, and various other tasks all while having chattering teeth. As of current, the outside demeanor just beyond the manor's front door was isolated and eerily quiet as it normally was.... with the exception of a man operating a lawn mower over the front courtyard's grass that'd just been shoveled off. With the snowfall still coming done, one would assume it'd just be covered all over again by the evening... and the man's work, somewhat wasted... though perhaps the paycheck he'd be receiving made it worth the efforts.
Alfonse sat in the front living area, a warm sweater worn over a long-sleeved silk shirt and slimming grey pants cuffed at his ankles as he sat in one of the love seat's with a view of the courtyards just down below. The fountain with dancing nymphs was still operating, trickling generous amounts of water through the tiers and being the current source of attention from his beige eyes. His hands held a warm cup of tea, the steam swirling above it raking the air. A fireplace was just in front of the lavish room's seating, where nearby it was the piano and the glass cases of trophies and various other proud knick knacks collected by Alfonse's relatives over the years. Perhaps the proudest object of all was the expensive looking professional painting done of Perseus Rosevier, and his wife and four daughters... that bellowed down at Alfonse in a somehow mocking manner... as though cooing at him how he would never truly be a part of the family.
He may have been the long-lost grandson, but that was as far as matters reached. Alfonse knew that any form of gratitude or 'love' he received from his family was not without gain and expectation... which had brought him into a melancholy state of mind. His mother was lurking somewhere within the manor and just as the past couple days, she'd been suspiciously avoiding him. She tried to be elusive about it, exchanging a few simple words his way if they happened to cross paths, but Alfonse knew that she was intentionally avoiding him... because she didn't want him to wish for a private conversation between the two. A certain private conversation that involved him bringing up with his mother... that he had concerns with staying here.
It was only a few minutes ago where he'd finally caught her in the dining area, of which he barely tagged her down as she rapidly tried to get away. She claimed she had important conference calls to attend and they would discuss things 'later'... but next time, Alfonse decided he wouldn't let her slip away. They needed to discuss his grandparents... and he needed a more direct answer from her, if this situation truly would be permanent for an indefinite time or if he could convince her to allow him a chance of contacting his father to stay with him for even just a short while.
Snow suddenly began falling harder, appearing graceful yet merciless. The messy wisps of his auburn hair had fallen down by his nose and cheeks as the boy took a calming sip of his tea and continued watching the front courtyard's winter wonderland. He may have been by himself, but he hadn't felt this at ease since... w-well, since arriving in Lorsette earlier this week. He had a lot on his mind but he felt self-assured in tackling things head on after having time to process his surroundings and compose a way to handle the topic. He hoped it would only be a matter of time before he could have a genuine conversation with his mother... and see where her mind was at regarding all that'd happened since the holiday gala. He wanted a real, genuine discussion with her before she left without giving him a chance to vocalize his own feelings.... something he knew he needed to act on before she walked out without returning.
✎ tags -- Nathan Beckard ※ mentioned: N/A ✉ notes: here it is, hopefully this works! ^^
White flakes danced down from the clouds above, spiraling in the air as they slowly descended to meet their ground bound brethren. The air was brisk, causing the breaths of those travelling by foot to escape their mouths in cloudy, white wisps. Under foot was the gentle sound of crunching snow as Nathan walked down the sidewalk, dressed in his TRS uniform. There was a lacking in altercations to the uniform, leaving it the regular orange on a dark canvas. The jacket's collar had been tugged up higher than usual, resting just below the vampire's chin. Tucked within the jacket's pockets were his pale hands, hiding from the cold conditions despite the temperature regulating charm that wrapped around his right wrist. Gently bobbing against his chest were the silver dog tags, his brother's name chiseled into them and later painted black to allow visibility.
A minor shiver came over Nathan as he walked, suggesting that the charm he wore was wearing out. He could have easily asked for a driver or driven himself to his current working location, but his parents were home. Having a hatred for his parents had caused the vampire to feel uninvited in his own abode. The consistent verbal dueling between himself and his parents made him desire escape and any reasons to be outside the house for long periods of time. They could not argue with somebody who was not around nor who was answering his phone. It was the reason his phone constantly sat on silent in his pocket was to avoid confrontation with his, in his own opinion, insufferable parents. He had decided to slowly walk towards his mission which was to serve as an excuse to leave early instead of spend a longer time within the house's walls.
In silence, the vampire continued weaving down the roads, his yellow-green eyes noticing as people avoided him during his journey to his destination. It proved he was somebody to be feared, and witnessing their avoidance never bothered him; it was what he desired after all. This solitude, although lonely, was the defense for his sorrow-filled emotions to never surface again. Thus, as people avoided him, he flashed the odd toothy grin with his fangs poking out from his upper lip. It always perturbed people after all, causing them to dislike his company entirely. While he walked, his right hands thumbed the handle of his bowie knife, feeling the smooth and polished wooden handle. He was prepared for his mission; he had gone to incredible lengths to make certain that he had not forgotten anything at home. The last thing the vampire desired was to be forced into running home only to be scolded by his parents for not answering their copious messages.
As Nathan walked up the winding path towards the manor, he gazed up at the building the faced the starlight beach. The Rosevier Manor was what the structure was referred to as and from what the vampire knew, they got protection from the Terror Response Syndicate. Being placed on patrol here meant hours of boring guard duty, but those long hours of boredom were better than the headache that was dealing with his parents. As the vampire approached, he regarded the manner with curiosity glimmering in his yellow-green eyes. His superiors had informed him to attempt to be kind towards the family inside, however, that was unlikely to stop Nathan from pushing them away should they try and get too close. There were only a few selected people who Nathan allowed close proximity, and adding new strangers to that list was not the vampires plan. A long exhale escaped the vampire's breath as he drew closer to the manor. A mental checklist was quickly accomplished, Nathan making certain that his hair was somewhat well-kept for the time being.
Based on the manor's size, these people were on the wealthier side of life similar to his own family. Although, his own family were well known business personnel standing on an empire of fortune from the success of the company's predecessors. Either way, the hunter could easily imagine that the house's occupants would not take kindly to a disheveled teen arriving at their front door explaining that he had been charged with protecting them. Once certain that his appearance was maintained, Nathan began to approach the manner in a swift walk. While he moved, his hands did last minute adjustments to his jacket, assuring that there were few wrinkles and that nothing was out of place. Upon reaching the door, the vampire merely stared at it for a few moments before releasing a sigh. His pale hand reached up, balled in a fist while he gently rapped on the front door before stepping back and awaiting an answer.
As the vampire stood, he mentally prepared for who he presumed he would be meeting at the door; which he guessed would be a servant based on the size and the numerous gardeners attending the outside. Naturally though, this was merely a presumption and Nathan was familiarized with unexpected surprises.
My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.
The gentle crackling of the fireplace before him continued its calming melody in an otherwise silent and vast room. The peacefulness lulled Alfonse into a trance... lost in mind, yet at the same time at ease from the previous crowds of a gala that took place in this very room only a day ago. An area once filled to the brim with elegantly dressed connections to the Rosevier family, now existed in solace. Even with knowing there was a lot awaiting him in the near future, Alfonse was able to have time alone like this to sort through his thoughts... it was a freedom that he knew he wouldn't always have, if not even rarely have once the week-long trial of them merely visiting expired. After this week was when reality would surface... and Alfonse clung to the need of receiving the answers he longed for before time trickled through the gaps between his fingers.
For now, though, he appreciated this moment. A rare moment that reminded him of the days when he and his father would sit beside each other, much in a way he was doing now... with coffee or tea, or even hot chocolate, next to a window safely looking out into the outside world.
Another sip allowed the warmth from his mug to travel down his throat and hug his chest in comfort. The temperature of the mug may have brought discomfort to some but for him, it further induced his ability to sink back in the cushion of the sofa in pure peace. In a historic and extravagant structure such as what his mother's family inherited, it was difficult to find comfort in a place that felt... so cold. Alfonse was uncertain he'd ever feel at home here. He felt as though there was still so much to learn not only about Lorsette, but also in the purpose of roots of the manor.
The silence eroding through the first floor of the manor came to an end upon the sound of a rapping fist on the entrance doors. Alfonse paused with the mug lingering just below his lips, his current state of mind clearing from what was an unexpected guest before the foyer... the next room over.
He was left unaware that the unexpected guest awaiting at the door was, instead, someone whom which was send over by the annual request of the Rosevier patriarch. Curiosity ignited among the soft features of his face as Alfonse further lowered his mug, the wisping heat arising from its surface streaming towards him. He glanced first towards the dining area where the hired help spent much of their time in the neighboring kitchens.... and upon neither seeing or hearing anyone begin their way over to the door, he glanced towards the other open entrance of the living area, of which the twin-winged stairway and foyer existed.
Still, none seemed to be on their way to greet whomever it was standing outside in the cold. Alfonse hesitated... h-he wasn't usually the person who answered those who knocked on the door. Not in his previous cities when he was younger, and... now since his short arrival in Lorsette, either. However, the scrutinizing eyes of his relatives watching his every move with expectancy along with how none of the manor's hiring workers seemed to be nearby, further urged him to step out of his comfort zone and open the door himself.
The blanket covering his lap lightly rolled to the cushion next to him after Alfonse set his mug on a coaster and arose onto his feet. He first went up to the large arched window to look outside and see if he could see from a distance who may have been at the front steps... but no vehicle was present, nor was he able to see the tall grand entrance to the manor from where he peeked. Stepping further towards the foyer he once more glanced over towards the dining hall to see if anyone else was present, but it was still the same. His mother disappeared somewhere... and he was left more alone than he originally thought.
His socked feet nearly slipped on the sleek shining floor of the foyer as he ventured onward. The roman-esque marble statue guarding the stairways leading up stairs stared down at his slippery feet, tall and valiant... and not nearly as clumsy as the teen. Alfonse finally arrived at the doorway, a natural nervousness hinting in his quiet breaths as he braced himself for doing something that... while simple, was out of the ordinary for him to do much as a result of his own shyness and the adults in his life taking over such tasks as answering the door.
Opening the door, an immediate chilling air fled inside that Alfonse hadn't quite prepared himself for. His clothing was enough to keep him comfortably warm, but it wasn't enough to make him unable to feel the nipping winter that dwelt outside. After opening the door, his hand remaining on the handle, through the wisps of his auburn hair fallen over his nose and cheeks he was met with the sight of another teen. They looked, perhaps, a little older than him and had vibrant yellow-green eyes that vibrantly peered against an ivory complexion. Alfonse was able to identify him as a vampire in an instant based on the pure white porcelain skin adorning his appearance... but right in that same moment, he also took notice of a uniform he wore.
It wasn't a uniform Alfonse had seen before, but he wasn't naive enough to not realize that the young man was visiting on some form of professionalism and that his outfitted exterior indicated purpose. His beige eyes widened in further curiosity from the stranger's presence at the manor's doorstep, and a greeting smile sheepishly developed upon his expression. "H-hello..." His voice softly and quietly welcomed him, "Is there something I can help you with... sir?" The "sir" he decidedly spoke in addressing the other male felt uncomfortable for him, since... they were clearly not far a part in age. Yet, the uniform showed he was on the job for something... s-so sir, in a way, it conflicted him by also feeling appropriate.
✎ tags -- Nathan Beckard ※ mentioned: N/A ✉ notes: great post, chibi! I like reading Nathan's thoughts on his journey over to the manor ^^
After the initial knock, it seemed that time began passing agonizingly slow as nobody answered the door quite yet. An annoyed sigh escaped Nathan's lips as he scanned the large front doors of the manor. It was a grand display, the kind that the vampire believed wealthier folk enjoyed showing to outsiders. Should he not belong to wealthy family himself, he may have viewed the door as a sign of mockery over the large accumulation of wealth. Even if the time between answering the door and the knock remained small, the vampire's own impatience made it appear as though it was an eternity. As Nathan stood, he seemed to be reminded of the cold weather as blew through and seemed to pass through his uniform with ease. Uttering a curse under his breath, the vampire withdrew his hands and rubbed his arms to generate some warmth.
Instantly, the vampire began tapping his foot while he awaited an answer from the door, his eyes watching the puff of cloudy exhale dissipate into the air while he waited. The vampire's gaze shortly drifted back towards the expanse of land in front of the manor, watching a gardener work tirelessly in the cold. Despite originating from a wealthy family, Nathan could never comprehend why exactly the rich felt it a requirement to upkeep their lawns to the highest degree during the winter months. The hunter watched the snow spiral down from his current position, noticing the silence of winter as he did so. A majority of people remained tucked away in their homes during their downtime and found the cold unfriendly for menial activities. Some explored their options and found enjoyment in winter based activities, but a majority of the people Nathan knew decided to hide themselves away.
Around this time was when his parents traveled most, rejecting the gift of beauty that came with a Canadian winter. As Nathan looked over at the land beyond where the snow remained untouched, shimmering in the slightest touch of light, it reminded him of the intense quiet his home would receive. Even the servants seemed to grow quiet around these times, an oddity indeed, and perhaps it was similar for the Rosevier Manor. The atmosphere in winter passed slowly, like the gently falling snow from the grey clouds above; almost like people needed a mini hibernation. As the vampire stood over-looking the front yard, he heard the click of the door opening. Immediately, he turned to face the door, arms cross and a grumpy expression on upon his face. It did not matter that the answer came in reasonable time since to the green-haired teen it felt like hours.
As the door opened, Nathan eyes seemed to narrow more with the slightest glimmer of curiosity when a teen who appeared a to be younger than him answered the door. The greeting the vampire was given was sheepish, almost as though the stranger was unfamiliar with answering the door; which was something Nathan found strange given the fact he had responded to knocks at the door once or twice. Although, that was oftentimes on occasions when the servants had their hands full and could not open the threshold for themselves. Before even thinking about responded, the hunter's eyes began analyzing the person who answered his knocking. The boy's auburn hair to the manner of which he was dressed; it suggested the possibility that the boy was not a servant of the manor. At least, Nathan was presuming since his parent's servants usually dressed in formal wear to keep an air of professionalism in the house.
Then again, the vampire lacked information about the Rosevier Manor which could mean a number of possibilities; like maybe this home preferred a more familial sense between servants and masters which freed up wardrobe choices. Shortly, Nathan's eyes returned to the boy's face, noticing the sheepish smile.
"I'm the agent they sent over from the Terror Response Syndicate for guard duty," Nathan explained simply. His voice held an air of boredom and mild annoyance. "I would like to speak with a representative of the house to know if there have been any terror problems in certain locations and know if there are exact locations I need to patrol or watch out for."
The explanation was simple, merely the begins of quick introductory conversation alongside to provide the reasoning to the vampire's arrival. As he spoke, he seemed unperturbed by the concept of being referred to as sir considering multiple people who arrived for company parties or meetings would refer to him as sir at times; not to mention he was on duty. The auburn-haired stranger was regarded with mild annoyance due to Nathan's impatience over the wait time. A moment of thought was taken as the hunter realized he had held the behavior of a disinterested teenager, which was an unacceptable attitude in front of his parents and he could imagine would gain similar responses in the house of wealthy individuals; Nathan had the suspicion that guard duty was going to be particularly painful for his mask considering he would be forced to act formally.
"Also, I am Nathaniel Beckard just so you're aware, but you may refer to me as Nathan. May I ask who I am speaking to?" The vampire inquired with some professionalism.
Shortly, Nathan's position shifted so his arms were folded behind his back to gather a more formal atmosphere for himself after his initial introduction. The posture the green-haired teen had was straightened, shoulders facing towards the stranger to give off the impression of open body language. Business with wealthy people oftentimes went smoother with profession attitudes. Yet, maintaining a professional image was definitely not going to be enjoyable for the unfortunate hunter who was commanded into menial guard duty. If only patrolling a manor to protect the occupants could possess a little more flavor of enjoyment, but Nathan would not outright complain. He desired to fulfill what his brother had left behind, to protect innocent people like Donovan and Teresa who had been victims to the cruel creatures Zeredah spawn. Which meant at least with this monotonous duty would be an improvement to sitting at home accomplishing nothing of importance.
[ thank-you, also, sorry! meant to leave ooc notes before, but I don't have a delegated section in my template so I am prone to forgetting them. the starting post was excellent alongside your current one. I love the manner of which you describe things. ]
My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.
Upon the other, older teen's expression was the curious narrowing of his green-yellow eyes of which Alfonse observantly took notice of scanning him over. This brought on a slightly more enhanced shyness over him but not enough to cause his sheepish smile to vanish. Behind the green-haired young man was the scenic, slowly rolling downfall of snow.... it was peaceful and chilling at the same time. From the lobby's arched window he was able to enjoy the sight while being tucked away from the cold, but even now Alfonse momentarily appreciated that it was beautiful on the cliff-side they inhabited right next to the starlight shores.
His own eyes shown a more so innocent curiosity than the other's cooler, more so reserved professional aura surrounding him as he went on to explain that he were visiting the manor on behalf of Terror Response Syndicate. He was assigned guard duty... and the specific task he was entrusted with didn't seem to bring the young man much enthusiasm or fulfillment. His tone of voice matched with the mute features of his face strongly hinted at low moods... i-if not even annoyance. Alfonse's smile gradually faded from his expression in attentiveness towards the uniformed individual's authority, heeding his words and finding himself... unfortunately clueless as to the other boy's summoning.
Not only had he not been in Lorsette for long and thus was still obtaining knowledge about the lifestyles here, but he also wasn't close to his grandparents... he couldn't think of any time when his grandmother, Eleanor Rosevier, shared with him about expecting a guard to be sent over from a defense unit to patrol the manor's grounds. He, admittedly, didn't have experience in interacting with a "Terror Response Syndicate" before... this left him feeling all the more under equipped for handling what sounded like serious matters in place of his grandmother or even his mother. H-he hoped.... one of the two would greet the assigned guard soon... b-because he wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. H-he didn't even realize there was a call for concern about any problems around the area...
Like a child, he was left in the dark about a plethora of information he was gradually figuring out himself... it was discouraging to him that while his family wished to extend order in his life and stack on expectations required of him as the family's only Angel, they also prevented him from being included in all of their functions... nor did they seem to wish for him to venture away from them with his own independent responsibilities. Thoughtfully, Alfonse's beige eyes remained gazing at the older boy, his lean hand remaining on the door knob and opening it slightly further to enable less of a barrier between them, now that he knew this young man had important dealings and wasn't an unannounced visitor or stranger. He was concerned about the need for a guard... but at the same time, with the wealth of his mother's side of the family and how difficult it must have been to maintain these grounds, he tried not to assume the worst... this could have been a mandatory check-up.
The vampire eased through his introductory, and most likely rehearsed professional explanations as he went on to lastly offer up his name. "Also, I am Nathaniel Beckard just so you're aware, but you may refer to me as Nathan. May I ask who I am speaking to?"
Shortly thereafter his arms tucked behind his back, lessening his formal stance although not quite removing his underlying aura of boredom. Alfonse's facial features softened in both friendliness and uncertainty, smiling lightly to him as he politely went about providing his own name in return. "I-It's nice to meet you, Nathan. I'm Alfonse... the grandson of Perseus and Eleanor Rosevier," Referring to himself as their grandson was what he'd done a lot of since arriving here... and it still felt strange to say aloud. They didn't feel like family to him, yet... associating himself among them was all that most people he was meeting in Lorsette seemed to care to know him as. They had stronger roots than he did in this city, after all... b-but it left him feeling isolated and uncomfortable in his own skin, as though he weren't quite himself... just someone who happened to be part of the Rosevier tree. With the same shy nature that dwelt within his chest, the boy openly admitted to the TRS guard, "My mother and grandmother are somewhere inside. They may be able to offer you more knowledge than I can,"
His gaze turned apologetic as he looked away from Nathan and over his shoulder, inside the large exterior of the foyer. The windows just above the doorway shown light upon the antique crystal chandeliers hanging above the center of the room. A glinting light from its several shards dolloped the tall masculine Angel statue behind them, guarding the stairways diligently... and serving as the only other presence beside the two teens standing at the entrance. Alfonse leaned back a little more, the door only slightly swinging back as he tried checking to see if he could see anyone else roaming down the hallways.
The bodily movement caused a silver chain that'd been worn around his neck to dangle away from hiding beneath the shirt's collar, a warmly glowing pendant that appeared to have a small orb of gold soothingly warping inside. He was met with no luck... and promptly, he faced the vampire once more. "I-I'm sorry, I don't see them, but they'll be here soon..." He apologetically told him before his eyes somewhat widened and he held the door open entirely to invite Nathan out of harm's way from the continuous blanketing of white from the grey skies, "Please, come in!"
✎ tags -- Nathan Beckard ※ mentioned: N/A ✉ notes: aww thanks ^///^ I'm glad you enjoyed those posts!! I like yours a lot too and learning more about Nathan's life. Alfonse's mother or grandmother will enter in my next post~
Upon noticing the curiosity gleaming in auburn-haired teen's eyes, Nathan raised an eyebrow in wonder. Further, the hunter began observing the stranger's expression, noticing as the gradual smile faded as the vampire explained his reasoning for arriving. Was the shy boy not informed that guards stopped by the home? Once again, the green-haired teen found himself examining the younger man with a mild confusion entering his expression; maybe the boy was indeed a servant? It was probably in Nathan's mind since the boy seemed lost about the concept of there being a guard on scene. There was a desire to release an annoyed sigh, but the vampire manage to stifle it and maintain his composed and professional expression. At least the servants that worked back in his abode were thoroughly trained and were aware of how exactly to handle trivial situations like answering a door.
A thought was given towards his deceased brother as Nathan stood, awaiting possible instruction from the younger teen. Would Donovan had been impressed with his brother being handed meager guard duty, or would a flow of sibling teasing arrive should he still be presence? The vampire would presume the latter since his brother always enjoyed teasing; either that or sagely informing that this was merely apart of working. A sadness glazed over the vampire's eyes, causing his gaze to linger elsewhere to avoid inquiries. Only a few moments later were the thought's shoved away with knowledge that pondering them would cause upset emotions to spark. Quickly, his eyes flitted towards the metal accessory dangling from his neck, scoping out the etched name of his brother before pushing the sad memories aside and focusing on the situation at hand.
Alas, the thoughts still danced around his mind, almost as though they desired his attention. However, Nathan's attentiveness returned when the boy spoke, stating he was the grandson of manor owners. Which meant that the stranger lived on the property and somehow managed to be oblivious to past guards of the TRS arriving. Naturally, Nathan was unaware that the stranger was new around Lorsette and that perhaps his family kept certain business-based affairs unknown. Unfortunately, the thought never occurred to him which caused the vampire to be unimpressed to the point that it was displayed on his face. An active member of the family had failed to be inform, which was rather pathetic considering even Nathan managed to retain knowledge about his parent's occurrences. Perhaps this younger boy somehow hated his grandparents more than the vampire despised his parents? That seemed unlikely, thus the older teen just presumed the auburn-haired stranger was oblivious to the regular happenings.
"... I see, hopefully they arrive soon. I hate to be kept waiting," Nathan responded.
Professionalism remained in his tone, but the vampire found it difficult to resist putting emphasis on the word hate. Never being one for patience made him desire displaying his loathing of waiting. Perhaps it could caused the younger teen to rush off and bring them here. Besides, once they arrived, Nathan could start performing his basic duties as the day's guard instead of standing around incredibly bored. When the hunter managed to notice the apologetic look in the stranger's eyes, his expression softened a degree, melting away some of the unimpressed and bored appearance on his countenance. If the younger teen was going to look at him like that, then at least Nathan could attempt to be nicer; not to mention his superiors essentially informed him to 'play nice'. When the door opened slightly further, it granted the vampire a chance to gaze at the manor's interior which looked lavish.
A few moments were taken to quickly scan what Nathan could view through the slight gap, noting the angel stature that kept a valiant post by the stairs. Witnessing the piece made the vampire feel slightly uncomfortable considering his species was associated with the god Volos, a sworn enemy of Akari and oftentimes the species that originated from her lavish world. Were they going to be opposed to a vampire being around? It was a momentary thought, shortly dismissed as he quickly did a mental rundown of the younger teen's (who introduced himself as Alfonse) reaction to his arrival. Although, he had possessed a sheepishness, it seemed more associated with shyness opposed to negative emotions towards the vampire. Either way, Nathan found himself tensing slightly over the concept.
When the auburn-haired teen gave an apology and explained he could not see them, an inaudible sigh escaped Nathan's mouth. The only evidence of its creation being the small, white puff of smoke that escaped his lips. Thankfully, it did not appear the younger teen held the intent of forcing Nathan to wait outside. The door was opened wider, granting the vampire the chance to walk through the threshold and into the warm embrace of the house interior. Once within the home, the hunter brought his hands in front of him, rubbing away the cold. A thought crossed his mind, Nathan realizing he would probably have to work outside which meant he likely required a temperature regulating charm; he would have to text one of the servants when given the chance.
For a few moments, the vampire's yellow-green eyes trailed across the room in curiosity before he turned back to the boy who granted him entrance. There was a silence maintained by Nathan, although, it was shortly ended as his subconscious insisted on his superiors' wishes for politeness.
"Thank-you, it was rather cold out there," Nathan stated formally.
Mentally, the vampire was bothered by the formal attitude he was required to maintain at the given time. The main reasoning the forced behavior perturbed him was because of the pride his parents would possess over the scenario. Their son's professionalism would be viewed as gentlemanly which was something his strict parents always desired to hammer into him, but the rebellious boy rarely listened to their authority; he simply found it better to upset them considering they never actively involved themselves in his life.
[ no problem~ your writing is so beautiful I had to make a comment. c: with mine I just enjoy mentioning other connections since it allows for a behavioral view of the character; kind of a sneak peek to how they may act. also, I enjoy learning about Alfonse too, especially since shy characters are adorable in my opinion. it also helps me think if there are more characters that may fit with him. :3 also, okay~ sounds like a fun time when they do. c: ]
My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.
The guard's hardened expression seemingly softened upon Alfonse's own apologetic display of words regarding the absence of the manor's ruling adults, although the remaining boredom inflicted with a touch of irritation didn't seem to entirely fade away from his exterior. His travels here under such chilly conditions made him sympathize with the young man's disposition. Nonetheless, Alfonse made certain he welcomed him inside the manor as a guest... a-and he'd hoped that by entering the comfortable warmth that was kept enclosed by the secure grand walls would be of some easing to the vampire. He could, too, sympathize with having to stand out in such cold weather, and possibly even having walked through the frost and white sheets of snow was taxing... even with charms and other precautions taken.
Alfonse partly made the assumption that he arrived by foot given the lack of vehicle or tire tracks among the front courtyard's exterior. He didn't see any sign of transportation from the living area's broad windows nor did he catch sight of such noticeable details from where he opened the door to greet him. To think he may have walked here, though... it was a ways walk from Lorsette's main streets. The guard must have either been trained diligently by his superiors to handle harsh conditions or had a good charm on hand... e-even with a charm, Alfonse still thought it could have been a taxing trip.
Once Nathan was inside, the teen quietly closed the door behind him with a barely audible click that solidified their shelter away from the winter air. He turned to face the manor's new-found guest, whom which rubbed his hands in front of him in a mannerism that indicated he were trying to initiate faster developing body heat. A bit anxiously, Alfonse tried to glance over yonder the wide hallways linking to the other exteriors of the manor's first floor... he could have swore he heard a distant clanking of dashes somewhere in the background, but the noise wasn't loud enough to determine. H-he tried not to make it obvious he was looking to see if someone else preferably his grandmother would take charge...
From above them, the crystal chandelier cast the sunlit reflection of scattered speckled lights along the flooring. A few moments of silence arose before the vampire politely commented, "Thank-you, it was rather cold out there," Attentively bringing his gaze back to the guard, Alfonse meekly smiled in response with understanding sentiment showing within his expression. "Y-yes, of course! There is no need to thank me," He replied before going onward to agree, "It has been really cold lately... i-it is a relief you weren't made to wait outside for much longer," It didn't take long at all to feel the looming awkwardness wafting about the foyer as a result of two strangers being met face to face.... on professional matters, of which Alfonse would be of no use of accomodating to. He wished he could... but he was just as much of a stranger to Lorsette as he was to his relatives here.
A soft, inaudible sigh of worry left him in a developing concern that no one else would arrive to assist them. It was apparent they weren't alone, with the manor's hired help about the grounds... a-and somewhere around inside... they must have all been occupied with other tasks, so much that none had arrived more quickly to the green-haired teen's duty. That, and.... it was after the holidays. Alfonse noticed his grandmother, and the absent yet powerful authority of his grandfather, hadn't lessened the expected work of their employees nor provided them with any different treatment regarding the holidays. So far, from the short time of knowing his grandmother, Alfonse discovered... his mother's side of the family not only sustained a distant and dutiful professionalism with one another, but also... lacked affectionate or softness towards others.
Before an awkward silence could fully solidify itself, Alfonse desperately tried to think of something to fill in the gaps of waiting while also wanting to be as polite and hospitable to him as he could when knowing that was the best he could do from being left in the dark regarding what he'd arrived here for. He didn't want to be useless.... and while he wished he could do more, that didn't mean he would leave the vampire to stand on his feet idly after he'd come all this way to the cliff side. With a friendly smile and welcoming, yet remaining shyness he offered, "While waiting for my family, would you like to sit in the living room? We have a fireplace that will offer you warmth after traveling this far,"
[[Notes: The template limits note sizes so I wanted to put my comments here! x"P Chibi you are so sweet!! /)//u///(\ Ahhh thank you so much, I really appreciate all your kind words! I really like how much depth you put into writing about Nathan's observations and thoughts, it makes me look forward to seeing if he and Alfonse will end up sharing more about their families with each other! It's definitely a great sneak peak in seeing the inside behaviors of how Nathan thinks and feels and I love it ^^ I also adore Nathan and am excited to learn more about him <3 Sorry for taking awhile responding though!! I haven't been feeling well with a cold and headache.]]
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