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!
This was the worst she's been dealt in regards to an off day. Elliana had gotten a lot more better at managing them and even preventing them consuming her to the level that this one did this time around but unfortunately, she couldn't put on the strong front she had developed. Not when the one thing she had been attacked with was one of her remaining vulnerabilities. A nightmare that felt far too surreal, the horrors of that night coming back to plague her. The additional mix of her mother showing up in her dreams just to spite her. The version of her mother she saw was one that sent endless barrage of insults, of cruel things, and how she said things which Elliana feared with every fiber of her being. Being exactly as her mother was... it was something she worked so hard to prevent but hearing it from the one person she wished to leave in the past made her wake up in a cold sweat and tears in her eyes.
The unfolding of emotions only followed naturally after that and she hadn't been able to stop her tears. She wasn't able to calm her breathing or get a grip and from there only had she fell further apart until she reached the inconsolable state. All of her work for the next few days cancelled because even moving up out of bed had been a challenge. The words uttered to her in the nightmare plagued her mind and made it hard to focus on anything but the repeating of it being said within her head. The only thing that Elliana had as a beacon of light to help pull her from this pit of despair she fell into was none other a male by the name of Naoya Shikekutsuki.
A good friend of hers who she's overtime had the luxury to develop a meaningful friendship with. in the midst of her breakdown did she send a message his way which lead to them sharing a conversation and an eventual call. The conversation itself saved her to some extent, had it not been for the words he spoke she might've not been able to calm down to the point of where she was at now. The promises of being there for her, at her side. How she wasn't alone and how he'd never come to see her in a bad light. Such sweet words rendered her further into a more emotional state, enough to where she somehow managed to have him coming over to further comfort. A promise of cheering up and him bringing something she could eat her feelings away into.
With awaiting the arrival of Naoya, it pushed her to look at the very least... presentable. Elliana was going to stay in her comfort clothing which was a pair of plain-ol stretch pants with one of her many loose fitting t-shirts. She just wanted to wipe her eyes a bit and clean the mess made by the copious amount of tissues used. The feeling of her feet touching the cold ground with the general shift of her body moving from bed when she had yet to do that makes her wobble in place but she catches herself before anything bad could come of it. It felt as if she had something invisible weighing down on her, the world was spinning... and she wanted nothing more to climb back under those covers.
The seer sucked in a deep breath softly as she continued to move, carrying out with what she wished to do before he could show up. With each minimal household task she partook in, her mood only seemed to backtrack back to the same state it was prior to the conversation shared with the dragon. It was only a temporarily distraction and she couldn't help but wish he'd come sooner. The stinging of her eyes to the gentle trembling of her hands-- not even sure what or where to put them to prevent the upset tremoring. She sniffles silently as the lukewarm water mixed with the sudsy soap her hands been covered in she could only whimper.
Watching it rinse off of her hands in the same time she faintly heard the knocking on her front door with the doorbell going off only a mere few seconds after. His eyes widen with tears at the sound and she could only panicky rush to turn off the sink and dry her hands on the nearby towel she had for the purpose. Naoya was here.... he was here. A burst of relief; the appearance of him meant she wasn't going to be alone anymore for her thoughts to consume her. He was going to be her rock as he always was, the person who kept her sane... who made her happy.
She needed him now more than ever so when she shuffled over to the door in a rush. Her movements paused to wipe at her eyes but there's no denying he would be able to pick up on the fact she had been crying. A combination of the puffiness and the fact that they were still very wet but... Elliana didn't care. Her hand twisted the door knob and opened it without hesitation. The appearance of his familiar white locks entered her peripheral and she can't help but smile weakly. A small desperate mumble left her lips. "Naoya..."
To resist the urge to cry, to hug him right then and there. "I'm s-so happy you're here..." Her eyes dropped to look at the bag he had in hand, a small huff of laughter escaped. "You actually brought something too..."
"Really... what did I do to deserve you?" She stepped out of the way as he entered and closed the door behind him. Having him within her general space was making her happy but she knew... if he could be closer it'd make her all the more happier than anything right now. "I'm so glad..." She's just repeating herself at this point but this time around her head drops down completely as her hands are moving to cover her eyes, to cover the fact she had tears rolling down her cheeks.
This was a first for Naoya, the dragon not used to making house calls. He was worried for Elliana, someone who had over time grown very near and dear to him. The raw emotions laid bare in her words and voice, it drew an instinctual sort of protectiveness out of the light dragon. He felt the need to be there for her to lean on, to help soothe the fears surely running rampant in her mind. He could understand her feelings to an extent, though surely the things that plagued his own mind were far different. It lead to where he was now, a pit stop on his way to where she lived. Looking for something she’d like, something sweet.
It lead to him roaming the aisles, looking for a varied amount of treats with which to form a care package. Grabbing a few of the higher-end chocolate bars, and a bottle of fizzy flavored water. He also stopped by the freezer aisle, remembering that another sweet thing many enjoyed was ice cream. It was a quick shift to the check-out lane from there, picking up a warm caramel drink along the way. After paying and having everything put into a bag, Naoya was off once more.
He wasn’t very attuned to the popular sweet items, being as it wasn’t his preference. He had used his best judgement, and could only hope that he had chosen right. For once, he vaguely wished he gave more attention to the things Honeydew liked picking up. Honeydew had an obnoxious sweet tooth, as it was almost always treats and snacks that the young dragon seemed to consume. Well, right or wrong, time would soon tell.
Stepping up to her door, he raps on it easily with his knuckles. He was here now, hopefully to make the day eased on up from now on. It was all he wanted, to be able to help Elliana in her time of need. To see her beautiful smile maybe, or even just the light in her eyes that he drew a silent comfort from. Naoya owed the seer a lot, for the way she pulled him back from the edge he had been resigned to falling off of.
Elliana had been able to do what nobody else had, the guiding light that chased away the shadows and darkness. The healing effects of her radiance had extended into almost all reaches of his life, a subtle melting of the glacial ice that had been his identity. He stopped holding everyone at an arm’s length, became more and more receptive to getting to know those around him. The turning of the handle drew his focus, and then the door was open. Her smile, though weak, still tugged at his feelings, the fact that she had been crying softened his edges. He was needed here, so he was happy he had come. Soothing had never been his strong point, to nurture a thing he hadn’t been taught. He only had his honesty and instincts, reassuring her with words he believed from the depths of his heart. ”I’ll stay as long as you need me.” He shifted, the bag of treats rustling at his side. ”Mhm. Hopefully my distaste for sugar didn’t make me pick up anything nasty.”
His voice is a little teasing here, knowing that she was well aware of his anti-sweets tastes by now. ”You’re stuck with me now. Why wouldn’t you deserve it?” As she moved to allow him entrance, he stepped inside and glanced for a place to put her drink and snack bag down. He gingerly set them down on the counter, after a quick moment of deliberation. ”Hmm... Keen eyes pick up on her body language, the fact that her hands had moved to cover her face. ”I wanted to come. You’re important to me Elli...”
He quietly steps closed to her and in a rare instinct, moves to wrap his arms around her in a hug. The act of genuine affection was foreign to the dragon, and yet, everything within himself had been pulling that this was what he needed. What she needed. Closeness like this was ... not something he allowed of anyone. Elliana is an exception, the candle in the dark that steadily melted away the ice.
Naoya is quiet as he holds her, hoping that he hadn’t made the wrong move. All he wanted was for her to feel safe, reassured that he really was here for her as long as she needed him to be. It was okay to feel like this, and he wouldn’t ever think of her any differently. He doesn’t know the details, but he doesn’t need to. What was important was that he could help chase away those fears, even if it only lasted for a little while.
She was the furthest thing from how she normally presented or carried herself. A feminie beauty who put all her efforts in looking beautiful but what was before him was the exact opposite- Her hair had been down and a little bit of a mess, her face was a tad bit puffier from all the crying she had been going through. Elliana had also been in some of her common comfort clothing- some nice stretch pants and an oversized sweater. She normally gave off that aura of being a well put together person but the reality of that came crumbling down with this unusual appearance. Emotions were overtaking her and she was back to crying despite Naoya just arriving. She had been hoping, wishing that she could bite it back. Force it down and play that normal part of her that he was so used to seeing and yet- she wasn't as strong as she usually was. She couldn't even pull herself out of the mindset that had been consuming her whole.
The seer's cheeks and palms had been wet with tears as soft faint hiccups escaped her lips with each breath she inhaled. Her nostrils were congested and the sniffling that happened alongside each new tear that rolled down her cheeks only added too it. What she hadn't been expecting was the feeling of two defined arms to wrap around her and pull her into an embrace- It sucks her breath right out of her and her walls were down in an instant. Her hands left her face to cling to him- to hold him closely as she let out incoherent sobs into his shoulder. Somewhere in between them did she mumble "I'm s-so sorry..." in various ways but she clung to him hard.
She hadn't realized how much she needed him- how much she needed this until he was right here in front of her. It's been too long since she was able to seek comfort in someone like the comfort Naoya Shikekutsuki gave her. From the way he had been awkwardly holding her to the coffee-like smell he radiated. All of it screamed him and to her that was soothing enough to chip away slowly at the violent storm of emotions overtaking her. Every fiber of her body didn't want her to pull away, didn't want to try to calm down so she could free him of that bag hanging off of his arm but she did. She sucked in a deep breath as a means to momentarily halt her emotions. She pulls away shakily from the hug as her hands grasped onto the plastic bag.
Another soft mumble of "Sorry..." came from her lips as she shakily turned to go and set it down on the nearby counter. With her back turned to him had she moved her hand to wipe her eyes. For some reason... she was scared. She couldn't bring herself to face him when she was like this- her hands moved throughout the bag, giving that illusion she had been looking when the truth was she didn't want him to see her like this. See the state her expression was in- a permanent frown with eyes stinging with tears. "I... wasn't intending on crying t-that hard after seeing you but- youknowit... kinda just happened!" She forces laughter and yet from the tone alone it sounded the furthest thing from humored chuckles.
"You really got soo much chocolate- and... ice cream too." She does smile but it's only momentary. "You do all of this for me... I really... I r-really appreciate you, Naoya." She's on the verge of another crying moment but she bites down hard on her lip- pushes her tears back as hard as she can to inhale. It works but she isn't sure how much longer she could do this. "I'm kinda scared to turn around." She admits to her thoughts, her hands fidgeting together. "What if I look- totally ugly- and like- awful... I definitely don't look good right now." Her shoulder droops as she frowns harder. "I don't want you to see this side of me. This side... of me isn't a good person."
She hiccups again and the tears are rolling but not as hard as the last time. Not yet at least. "Your opinion of me is so-soo important to me that I'm terrified.... ahh..." He already saw her at the entrance but not in tears and obvious pain like this. Every time until now- Naoya had saw her smiling, happy. What would he think seeing her like this? She didn't want to let him down... to make him sad because she was. She wanted to remain that positive force in her life and yet right now... she couldn't muster any of that. "I wanna hug you too but I also don't wanna. I don't want..." There's a whimper before more tears fall- her shoulders tremble.
"I don't want you to see how- I kinda hate myself..." She admitted to it but displaying that was a different thing. "I tell you all these positive things.. and- I... I...yet here I am- being the biggest hypocrite known t-to man... I'm a failure and... " She laughs. "I'm not good at all." Her mind dare even propose the thought she might be as bad as her mother- and that made Elliana cry a bit harder.
While Naoya was no stranger to seeing people in emotionally compromised states, this was the first time it had an effect as strong as this. Where once had been an impenetrable icy fortress, was something thawed and left open for empathetic feelings to be drawn forth. It was very likely the very thing that had pushed the dragon to such a rare instance of affection, proof that where there was nothing but the biting chill, there was now sunlight shining through. Those delicate hands clinging to him as she continued to cry only spurred the dragon to give the side of her face a slight nuzzle, a small gesture but it was likely one that carried a lot of meaningful weight. Naoya offers no acceptance or rejection in response to her apology, though he does not believe that she really needed to give him such a sentiment. [break][break]
Right now all he wanted to be was whatever she needed most, be it the rock that grounds her or the comfort blanket to wrap herself in. For now the ice that comprised every fibre of what made him who he was was gone, something undeniably softer and warmer in it’s place. Subtle, baby steps. Even if everything else tangled and uprooted in the storm of emotions and sorrows, he would remain the one safe haven. There was an urge to pull her back as she tried to retreat, but he let her go. Ice blue eyes watched her, though for once they held no judgement. It was something left for only her, as anyone else wouldn’t have received such an open minded state. [break][break]
This time though, Naoya does respond to the apology. ”It’ll all be okay, Elli.” His voice was low, softer around the edges than usual. It might not be entirely the same, but he found that part of him empathized in ways that just made him soften further. When things were dark and hopeless, and every way to turned to look seemed darker than the last. ”Remember that I want to be here. There isn’t anything that could make that fact change.”[break][break]
It was an unspoken, but that naturally implied that it would hold true no matter how terrible she thought she looked. When she started speaking again, he found himself responding almost immediately. ”It is not so much…especially if it helps.” [I’d do more than this, if I knew what to do.] This thought, he kept to himself for now. ”I wouldn’t be.”[You’re certain to still glow to me.] Another thought, kept to himself for the moment. The next words however, earn the traces of a frown tugging at his lips. ”You are good Elliana.” The dragon couldn’t see any different, not when she was what inspired himself to be better. [break][break]
The resurgence of the tears, it only increased his instincts to protect and comfort. It was something terribly foreign to the dragon, something he hadn’t tasted in so long. ”What I see won’t change a thing. You may be scared that I may think something negative…but I understand. Nobody can be strong forever.” It would take far more than this to change his opinion of her, and if anything it only showed her in more depth. With the situation spun on it’s head like this, it was his turn to return the favor. Even if it was not his forte, he could do this much. Even if he wasn’t sure how to navigate everything, he wanted to try.[break][break]
”I will hold you through all of those feelings…” As long as she would want it, at any rate. “You aren’t a failure. If only you knew what you’ve done for me.” This, he hadn’t fully intended to say. While it was digging into his core, he would tell her if she asked. Even if these feelings spanned leagues beyond what he was used to, at least for now he would let them settle. It was now that Naoya truly understood some of the things he had heard, about truly feeling for someone else. It is vulnerability, it leaves you unprotected and easy to injure. It twisted all your instincts up, flips your world upside down. It makes him want to be better, wants to be what he had never gotten the chance to be. For once in his life, Naoya didn’t want to be ice walls and guarded stares. For the first true instance in what seems like forever, Naoya wants to be soft.[break][break]
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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.
