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!
Penny smiled at Dolores' offer, but shook her head. "Ma'am, you don't have to get me anything," she said. The words themselves were perfectly respectful but there was a firm undertone to them. She didn't intend to see this woman in the future so there would be no getting anything from her. Besides, physical possessions were meaningless. She could barely keep a hold of her journal from day to day. Keeping a pet would be impossible. [break][break] Penny hesitated before starting forward. She didn’t like people walking behind her. She knew Dolores would be just as dangerous walking ahead, and she knew she wouldn’t know where to go if she took the lead, but the idea still sat wrong in the young assassin’s stomach. [break][break] She walked a few steps in silence before deciding it was best to nip this in the bud before it went any further. "Madame, I think you misunderstand..." she began, trying to decide how to be completely clear without letting on too much. "I do not know why you are trying to win me over, but I am not at liberty to choose the people in my life. In my world it doesn't matter who I like, so talking to me won't make a difference in anything." [break][break] She didn't look at Dolores as she spoke. Rather, she remained focused on the path in front of her. She had a long path in front of her, literally and metaphorically, and she knew something as benign as friends wouldn't change anything. She didn't spend much time considering whether she liked the people she worked with. If she was told to kill someone for them, she'd be bound to do it, whether she liked it or not. She was little more than a blade that followed the orders of it's wielder. She didn't care about anything else. [break][break] "Besides," she added as an afterthought, "I'm not this seer you think I am. You're wasting your time trying to abuse something that's not there."
Penny pressed her lips together as she chewed on Dolores' words. She was pretty sure the woman was delusional, so trying to argue further would be a moot point. Just because she had a headache and a few bad dreams didn't mean there was any reason to draw conclusions. Sure it had occurred to her before, but it was just paranoia. She wanted nothing to do with seers. Since she herself wasn't one and most people she met would end up dead, she usually didn't have any problems with them. [break][break] The seer's next words were more important. Ozaei. It would be stupid to give her a real name of someone she could hunt down. If Penny actually had any malintent it could be a fatal mistake. The fact that Dolores made it meant she was either very stupid or very confident in herself. Penny was willing to bet it was the latter. In her limited experience it confidence and stupidity were very similar, but with Dolores' displays of power she wasn't sure it was misplaced. [break][break]
She watched, eyes wide, as the seer cleared a path through the forest. She wondered just what effect that power would have on a building. Such an ability would make breaking into safes a lot easier. [break][break]
"I took the long way here, ma'am." she smiled. She wouldn't have followed that path anyway. She didn't like letting people follow her. In this case it might keep her a bit safer from Dolores, but she didn't know what other predators were in the woods. [break][break]
"My pets have a way of dying on me." she added, motioning to the deer. Even looking at the animal now the first thing that came to mind was all the different ways she could kill it. A knife to the jugular was her favorite for animals like that. [break][break]
Her gaze travelled across the edge of the clearing as she reviewed the running path she'd taken to get there. She usually kept better track of the fastest way to her home base, but she'd been distracted when she set out. Still, it only took a few minutes to identify the right direction. "This way. Please don't blow stuff up this time?"
Penny nodded. She had no doubt Dolores didn’t want her dead, but that didn’t mean she wanted her to make it home safely either. If she wanted that there would be no need for whatever act she was trying to put on. Intimidation between passing strangers was a waste of time and energy. [break][break] Chasing a vision. The words hit a note of discord within Penny. She’d told the woman she wasn’t a seer. She didn’t know why the other insisted on projecting her own abilities onto innocent bystanders, but she was sure it was a mental abnormality psychologists would be fascinated by. It would be best to clear her of the notion now so they didn’t have to keep going in circles. "I wasn’t chasing a vision, ma’am." she argued, ignoring the pain that shot from her shoulder down her arm as she clenched her hand into a fist. "I had a headache and I couldn’t sleep so I went for a run. Don’t make me out to be more than I am." [break][break] Penny was taken aback as the woman offered to cook for her. She had no clue why anyone would offer that. There was no logical reason to offer someone a meal so early in the morning besides maybe earning her trust - like domesticating a wild animal - or poisoning her. Neither of those options seemed pleasant. She knew if she retorted anything along those lines Dolores would just repeat her previous statement that she didn’t want her dead, but situations changed with different settings. Maybe she wanted information that Penny kept in her rooms. There wasn’t much confidential stuff there but it was hard to infiltrate the Black Order at all and such an independent apprentice would be a good place to start. Or maybe she wanted to use a milder poison to knock Penny out and get her to a secondary location where no one would look for her without causing too much of a commotion and attracting attention to them. There were far too many possibilities for Penny to allow it. [break][break] "I cannot accept your charity, ma’am, I have everything I need." That was too clear a denial for Penny’s liking. She hesitated before continuing, very aware that she was about to invite a wolf into her home, but as long as she was in the apartment she was a matter of moments away from calling for help so she wouldn’t be in actual danger. It would be better to find out what Dolores wanted now on her own turf, lest she turn into a long term opponent. "You may come in with me if you are hungry but there's no need to cook for me."
Penny wasn’t sure whether Dolores believed her lie. She chewed at the inside of her cheek to stop herself from bursting out with more details to convince her. It would probably just do the opposite. Penny had never been very good with words, after all. This conversation had far too many of them for her liking already. Though the bloodloss was slowed by her makeshift bandage she was sure it would start affecting her head soon enough. She silently tried to keep the blood exactly where it was, as if she had the ability to do something like that. [break][break] "Of course I’m in school! Although… in this condition I doubt I’ll be able to get ready to go in in time today…" That much was the truth. She had lessons in the morning. Even if she didn't attend a traditional school it was pretty much the same thing. "And my uncle’s only out for the week. For meals, I go to the fridge." The words came out as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, a fortunate side effect of her distracted mind. It kind of was a pretty obvious answer. Where else did people go for food? Her diet was strict enough that she could usually pre-stock food and be good for a month at a time. Not that she liked such limitations. If she had her way she'd eat a lot more cookies. Not bad cookies like oatmeal raisin ones, but the good cookies with chocolate or ginger and molasses. [break][break] A cool gaze watched Dolores at the next request. Even a fool wouldn't accept that offer, and the woman seemed convinced that Penny was no fool. So what was she playing at? Was there any merit in seeing where the woman lived? Maybe if she wasn't injured she could get in, see what the situation was, and get out, but in this state there was no guarantee she'd make it out with her life. [break][break] It could be a threat. 'Come home with me or don't come home at all.' It wasn't like it was Penny's decision to make. Betraying the order would mean far worse things than Madame Esmeree could manage. Putting an end to her disillusionment now would be for the best. "Um… Ma’am, I should say that if you intend to try anything there are people that will look for me. Whatever it is you want, I’m really not the person to ask for it." She spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words. That was the most she could say without giving anything real away. "And I'd be far more comfortable returning to my own home. It’s closer and I’ve got an extensive first aid kit there."
As Dolores closed her fist a sort of instinct kicked in and Penny jumped back, the motion taking her out of the range of most of the carnage. It was lucky, too. She could replace her clothes easily enough but getting the smell off her boots would have been far too much work. Cool eyes took in the gore spattered across the forest floor. Training kicked in, forcing her to consider what someone finding this scene in the morning might think. It wasn't her mess to cover, but it didn't do any harm to consider how she might go about cleaning up if it was. She'd have to find a way to make it look like an animal attack. It wouldn't be too hard, just messy. [break][break] Her gaze returned to Madame Esmeree, hard as marble. If an act wouldn’t fool her, there was no reason to bother trying anymore. In fact, there was no reason to put any words into answering the question. Silence would do just as good of a job as anything she could think to say. She was done playing games; they had never been her strong suit and she just felt like she was making a fool of herself, especially after being called out like that. [break][break] Dolores’ questioning gave Penny reason to pause. If there was any reason to doubt the woman’s involvement in illicit activity, that line of thinking had wiped it away. It led Penny to wonder who, exactly, she was hiding from. They were also the wrong questions. The who and where were important, sure, but any safety nets around Penny were kept further away. Her neighbors and who she reported back to were what really mattered. [break][break] With no interest of pointing the madwoman towards those questions, she spit out the cover that had been given to her. No one seemed to believe she was old enough to live on her own, despite the fact that that was her true living situation. She hadn’t been under anyone’s direct care for a while now. "I live with my uncle but he's traveling on business right now. The apartment's on the outskirts of the village, that's how I snuck out so easily."
If it was a foolish move to let Dolores retrieve the gun, Penny didn't care. A gun in the hands of a madwoman was a dangerous thing, but something told her there was a method to the woman's madness. She wanted something, so as long as Penny didn't piss her off she should be fine. [break][break] Babies can kill their mothers during birth. Despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins, or perhaps because of it, her mind caught on those words. There was no way to know how her own mother had died, but she wouldn't be surprised if her birth had something to do with it, either directly or indirectly. After all, having a child with an assassin couldn't make you very many friends. Her gaze fell back on those crimson eyes as she considered the best way to continue her act. The woman clearly knew she wasn't a stranger to firearms, so there was no reason to act like she didn't know how to tend one. [break][break] "I-I didn’t want to accidentally shoot an animal or something!" The level of naivety in that statement was laughable, and Penny wasn’t entirely sure she could keep herself from laughing. Her, worried about harming some insignificant animal when she certainly wouldn’t hesitate to take human life. In a movement that allowed her to hide her traitorous smile, she took off her jacket and twisted it around her shoulder, gripping the sleeve in her mouth so she could tie it in a knot with her single available hand. [break][break] Dolores was beckoning but she wasn't interested in diving quite do deep into the snake's trap. "If you don’t mind… I mean no offense but I'd prefer to lick my own wounds." The denial went against most of her usual tactics, but it shouldn't do much harm when paired with an alternate option. Dissuade and deflect. "If you wouldn't mind walking me home, madame, I'd be grateful. We could talk on the way." [break][break] Penny didn’t love the idea of letting a crazy woman know where she lived, but it wasn't like she'd be staying there all too much longer. She was only in Aria Village on a training assignment - one she was sure would be done within the next day or two. The morsel of false information was the best she had to bait her escape.
Penny frowned, unable to stop the obvious tell that she hadn't been given the reaction she wanted. So, what was she to do now? Killing Dolores was still at the bottom of her list, even if she had the means to do it quickly. [break][break] "I have no will for you to die, ma'am." The woman had no intention of dying, either. Penny didn't know what her plan was, but she clearly thought she could escape a bullet. Did telekinesis act that fast? It didn't really matter. There was a silent urge to pull a trigger, and she set about making a new plan. [break][break]
What were her goals? If Dolores wanted to kill her Penny was already a mouse in a trap. Perhaps the only thing the woman had overlooked was the noise a gunshot would make. No one should be wandering the forest this time of night, but the woman had been here, waiting, for a reason. If her intended target was wandering these woods it might be beneficial to give them a warning. She didn't know exactly how, but things like owing people tended to come back in the long run. If anyone else was in the woods, they'd be Dolores' people or her own. She didn't specifically know of anyone with plans to be out 'hunting' tonight, but that didn't mean there wasn't some planned assassination in progress. [break][break]
Beyond that false hope, Penny couldn't reasonably deny Dolores' offer as long as that sympathetic, motherly charade went on. She didn't want to reveal her true allegiances if she didn't have to. Something told her she could meet both of those goals at the same time, she just had to find the right target. [break][break]
Were there animals out she could have shot to injure one of them then pretended to really care and see what the woman would do. Unfortunately, the night was far stiller than usual. [break][break]
Relenting to the fact that there was no easy out, she acted quickly. It would be an odd angle, but a bullet at this distance was a bullet, there was nothing more to it. In a smooth movement, she twisted the gun toward herself and pulled the trigger, allowing the bullet to break through the flesh of her left shoulder. [break][break]
She'd taken bullets before, but there was no preparing for the hot shock of pain that ripped through her. She relented to the short yelp that broke from her throat. At the twisted angle, the rebound had caused her to drop the gun and it now lay innocently on the forest floor. There were healers with the Black Order that would think nothing of a bullet wound and she had no doubt a non-dominant arm would save her if this woman decided to turn malicious. If anything this injury could get her out of this situation, assuming she played her cards right. As far as she knew, Dolores would have no healing skills of her own. If she actually cared they'd have to go back to town and once out of the forest Penny would have a much better shot at surviving an escape. Other than that she couldn't think of a reaction to this action she couldn't bend to her will. It was the easiest out. [break][break]
First, she had to go a bit deeper into the pain. Though it went against her instinct, she let her eyes water and tenderly poked at the wound, pulling away with a sharp gasp at the new, not entirely unexpected wave of pain. Cringing, she cupped her hand over the entirety of the wound. She didn't want to seem experienced with injuries like this, but if she didn't put pressure on it she'd risk passing out from blood loss and that wasn't something she could risk here and now. Now she just had to deflect the blame. "Shit! Why would you give me a real gun!" she burst out in a meaningless blubber of panicked words meant to imitate other airheaded teens her age. "You're not supposed to actually give a kid a gun that fires! That's like... Like... Like giving a knife to a baby or something! What the hell?!"
[attr="class","dangertxt"] Penny nodded, although she knew the client wouldn't see the motion, as the nature of the pockets was described. She slipped on the skin-tight outfit and undid one of the zippers, feeling for just how much space she'd been permitted. It was, as Leo had suggested, enough but not preferable. She slipped a knife into each of the pockets at the legs and her simple work phone in the pocket of her left sleeve. Accessing any sort of weapon in the right sleeve would take a moment too long, so she put her lock pick set in that one. It probably wouldn't be needed, but it was the most useful thing she had on her that would fit. [break][break] Leo was right. She probably wouldn't have to use a gun. She only bothered with them as a last resort, but they covered a lot of distance very quickly, which was a nice feature when she was in charge of protecting someone else. That was alright. A knife could do the same, just with a bit less accuracy. [break][break] After a moment of apparent distraction, Leo began discussing the plan, using a holographic model to help. Multiple floors always made things more difficult to plan. On one hand, the guards on the top level should be out of their way. On the other, the soundproof nature of any given building was guesswork at best from an outside perspective. Too much of a racket could lure them down. [break][break] The client ended the plan with a simple phrase everyone seemed to consider important. 'Any questions?' It was a stupid thing to ask, and one of the few things Penny truly hated. She always had questions, it was more a matter of whether she planned to ask any of them. [break][break] "Yes." she said simply, but she didn't pose them immediately. Rather, she spent another few moments scanning the map. She made a point to memorize what she was given. No matter how transportable information was, it was faster to just have it in her brain in case of any emergencies. Besides, the information was easy to remember. Through a mixture of training and good genes, Penny's memory was something unmatched by others. [break][break] Her gaze flickered up to the blonde client, curiosity surfacing in their amethyst pools. What sort of brain could create a scheme like this on their first try? She had no doubt this was the first such endeavor for Leo. It was a bit too cautious and the client seemed a bit too... eager. [break][break] The client was young. They couldn't possibly be much older than Penny herself. She had to wonder whether she was actually prepared for the weight of having done something like this just to get sole ownership over a piece of tech. She wasn't interested in dealing with any childish disillusionments about how simple this would be. Emotionally and logistically, things always played out a bit differently than expected. [break][break] "Ma'am, all plans can go south, no matter how carefully they're laid out or executed. This is relatively low risk; the guards probably aren't trained to shoot to kill. Even if they were, there is a difference between knowing how to pull a trigger and actually taking a life. You're more prepared than most of my clients and I am confident it won't get too far off track, but are you prepared for things to get messy? Once we're in you can't exactly back out." She paused for a moment to analyze Leo's reaction and decide on the rest of what she would say. "On that subject, you should know that I won't kill anyone you haven't specifically told me to unless there already happens to be a target on them, which is not likely. Any shots I take otherwise are on your conscience, not mine. Assuming you care about that crap." [break][break] There wasn't a trace of criticism in Penny's face. In fact, when she fixed her stare on Leo, there was nothing but cold indifference. It wasn't her place to tell Leo what to do, she merely wanted to make sure her client knew what to expect, now and in the long run. "Do you understand?"
Dolores’s expression, like that of a mother scared for it’s child, caused an uneasy disgust to roll through Penny’s stomach. She was no fool and the woman’s air of superiority was becoming patronizing. As she began on a string of compliments meant to raise Penny’s confidence, she was reminded of the snake in the story of Adam and Eve. Unfortunately for this particular snake, she’d targeted the wrong weakness. [break][break]
To grow and be safe and do anything your heart desires. What did her heart desire that the Black Order couldn’t offer her? The answer was nothing. There was nothing she desired but a place to belong and a clear way to live the life path her father had wanted for her. Within the Order she had very defined directions. As long as she could point to the head of the Order and blame him for all her sins and wrong doings she’d be content. [break][break]
Dolores may have a hidden goal, but at that moment Penny was assured that it wouldn’t be achieved. Her gameplan had to do with intimidation more than action, otherwise the younger and more vulnerable girl would be dead by now. No threats the woman made could be taken seriously now, not that she would have put much weight in them before. There was very little left that could truly shake Penny. [break][break]
Whatever Dolores was doing now had to be some sort of trap. What, exactly, that was remained unclear to her. How to avoid it, on the other hand, was a far easier matter. She simply had to do something unexpected. A passive person would throw the gun in the lake or refuse to pick it up. That would leave her with one less arm and give Dolores any confidence she was lacking, assuming that was any at all, to make a move. The obvious choice would be to shoot Dolores. The bullet was probably meaningless with the seer’s telekinetic abilities, but it would be a ringing declaration of war. There was a third option Penny found much more appealing, though. It would tell her whether she really had some sort of value to Dolores or if the woman was simply bored and playing with her like a cat might it’s prey. [break][break]
In a shakey act that came naturally with her headache, she picked up the gun. The weight of the thing was familiar in her hand. Guns and blades were the only friends that had been there for her from the very beginning. There was no way one would fail her now. "What a waste it is to give a potential investment a self destruct button." she said, not bothering to raise her voice louder than she had to for the sound to carry. [break][break]
She twirled the gun in her hand and let it’s aim rest on Dolores for a moment before continuing to its true target: the side of her head. She could feel the cool steel of the gun against her temple and imagined her old mentor rolling in his grave. Never put your finger on the trigger unless you’re ready to shoot. Well, she was ready. Or, at least, she had to seem ready. In a decisive movement she positioned her finger over the trigger, one small squeeze away from death. It wasn’t the first time she’d stared death in the face and this time she was far more in control of the situation. "But then I’m sure you’d know that, ma’am. If you can see the future you must have seen this coming." [break][break] Normally she was no good at acting, but this was not an act. It was a question posed in the form of an action. Would the mysterious woman who seemed so attached to a fantasy she’d created around Penny let her kill it? Because the question was so clear in her mind, there wasn’t a trace of doubt in her actions. In the hypothetical situation she was playing out she would pull the trigger. The question wouldn’t bleed into her future, but it was real enough in the present.
Penny blinked at the display of technology. Any higher-tech and they'd be some sort of shining beacon of electric energy. She wasn't against gadgets and technology, but she was usually trained to rely on as little as possible. The more dependent you were on things outside yourself the more there was to go wrong. If there were any electric manipulators in the lab things could go downhill rather quickly. If that was the case the suits could serve as a good decoy, though. In the meantime Leo was right; they would be useful. [break][break] Her mind attacked the new tools Leo described from every angle, trying to discern weaknesses that could pose an issue when it mattered most. Assuming the mechanics were completely reliable, which wasn't something Penny would put money on, there weren't any flaws she wouldn't be able to work around. [break][break] "Penny Grey. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Every word served it's purpose and her polite tone had little to do with actual respect. There were very few people who had truly earned her respect. In fact, as she tried to list them in her mind she came up blank. Thus far everyone she placed an ounce of respect in had proven less worthy than they appeared. Still, the act tended to make her life easier. It was the path of least resistance, and it set people up to underestimate her. [break][break] She grabbed the suit, testing the elasticity of the fabric before disappearing behind the screen. "What's the plan?" she asked as she loosened and removed any weapon sheaths that wouldn't fit under the new costume. "And do these things have pockets of any sort?" Camouflaging would be useless if not everything was camouflaged, and she had no intention of going in any less armed than she had to.
It was a good day. Penny had, for once, gotten a good night’s sleep and somehow avoided her near-daily headaches. Training had gone smoothly enough, the usual unbearable exercises shortened in light of a mission she’d been assigned. [break][break] The details of the mission were clear enough; she was to accompany some supposed tech genius into a lab to help steal a bit of techie gibberish Penny had neither the interest nor the need to try to understand. Her job was to take care of any living, breathing liabilities they may come across, including a few scientists that could, apparently, replicate the tech. [break][break] Robbery wasn’t usually her beat, but it seemed like the client was an important ally and, upon hearing the age of the client, she suspected it was a part of her mentor’s secret plan to set her up with more friends. She hardly saw the point, but as long as he kept teaching her to survive she’d play along. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. Betraying his command would be close enough betraying the Black Order that Penny would never dare consider it. This was the life her father had wanted for her and she was determined to excel. [break][break] She was dressed in simple, dark clothes. They would do well enough if she needed to blend into any shadows and the outfit, accidentally fashionable hoodie paired with well fit leggings, was casual enough that she wouldn’t seem suspicious to the common observer while managing to flawlessly hide her supply of weapons. It also maintained enough mobility that she wouldn’t be hindered. It was an outfit she commonly wore for missions like this for its sheer practicality. She could easily be confused for a high school student and no one suspected a student, especially not a female student, of being the one they should keep an eye on. [break][break] She didn’t know what the client had in mind, but she was as prepared as she could be. She’d even done a bit of research into the grounds they’d been invading, checking for any potential exits that wouldn’t be marked on a simple map. Things rarely went as perfectly as planned and she didn’t want anyone getting away when things went downhill. If they ended up being the ones running she had a few escape plans depending on how deep into the mission they were. [break][break] The goal was to get in and out undetected and leave the chaos to be found in the morning. From her understanding their faces would be hidden from the cameras so there was less risk of exposure than she usually had to worry about. That was a rarity with modern day security systems. Considering the nature of the targeted lab Penny suspected most of their security would be automatic but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be guards to look out for. If the client was ok with it and they didn’t see their faces she’d try to stick to knocking them out rather than actually killing them. She’d added a lockpick to her collection of tools as well, just in case the need for them arose. [break][break] Between her preparation and the fact that she was merely an accessory to take out any unwelcome guests, Penny felt pretty confident that this would go well. The only thing she really had to look out for was a trap. The last thing she needed was to be dealing with a vigilante setting up a mission just to take out a foolish assassin. She was prepared in case of that emergency too. [break][break] She arrived at the location a few minutes early, but stayed hidden until their exact meeting time. She was neither early nor late as she entered a grey room through a marked door. She’d been briefed, told that this was some sort of Virtual Dimension, but it looked like any other room to her. The door shut behind her as silently as it had opened. As long as she didn’t get locked in she’d be alright. In a single moment, her eyes had taken in the details of the room and landed on the supposed client. Her face remained a blank mask. She wouldn’t be the one setting the tone for their interactions. [break][break] “Leo?” she asked, confirming the client’s identity more for the comfort of the client than any actual interest.
Something about the woman was starting to set Penny on edge. Of course, nothing about stumbling across a random woman hanging out in a foggy forest well past curfew seemed safe, but Penny was getting the feeling that this particular lady could snap into insanity at any moment. It was something in the way she smiled and the predatory stillness she maintained. If Penny wasn’t a wolf herself she’d worry about being eaten alive.
[break][break]
Hair was brushed aside to reveal a glowing golden eye, once again sending Penny back to the crushing embrace of that night’s dreams. It was a cruel thing the seer was doing, messing with her mind so she was primed to slip into a trap.
[break][break]
The snake of a woman approached like a false queen greeting her people, weaving Penny a threat wrapped in something that resembled motherly affection. Her face was held in a firm grip and she resisted every impulse she had to cringe away. Instead, she schooled her face into its usual impassive canvas.
[break][break]
'I have worse things to fear.' The words nuzzled into her thoughts, slowly echoing louder and louder until they were undeniable. She'd been threatened with far worse than a quick death. The knife of those threats had hung over her head since she was a little girl, another aspect of the Black Order's plan to turn her into a perfect tool.
[break][break]
Within their ranks there was no room for denial and any instinct towards betrayal had to be crushed. Bloody images were stamped in her mind of what happened to traitors, what happened to her own father. Yet, for all the pain she risked suffering she'd never been afraid. She had no reason to betray the Order, and if she did she'd happily pay the price, for even in pain there was something to learn. What would it be like to have your life dripped out of you, each bite of agony bringing you closer to the edge until you thought you'd fall over only to be brought back for another go at punishment? It was a morbid curiosity, but one that stuck with her nonetheless.
[break][break]
Being threatened now was meaningless. She had her cause and she would fight for them until she breathed her last breath, even if that final, closing breath happened to be taken tonight. If she could do such a thing her very thoughts would be projecting the message. 'Yes Ms. Esmeree, you may be haunting with your threats and dark pageantry, but I have worse things to fear.' The message was spoken on the tip of her tongue, shared through a blasphemous power she had no knowledge of, and real enough to be traitorous.
[break][break]
As soon as the thought solidified, Penny pushed it away. She couldn't say that. It was a touch too disrespectful for her act and revealed a bit too much. At this angle she could reach her hidden blade, stab the woman in the stomach, and be done with it in a matter of seconds. There were so many ways to kill the woman who’d risk getting so close just to threaten her. They flashed through Penny’s mind, too numerous to bother counting. It would be a stupid thing to do. There was no hit on Dolores. As far as she knew there would be no reward for such actions and she'd get blood on her favorite jacket. The challenge remained in her eyes, but she chose a better approach, unaware that it was too late to take back the errant thought that had escaped the trusted barriers of her own mind.
[break][break]
"I cannot change what's in my blood for you, ma'am." she said, finally breaking from the supposed silence. She took a sharp step back to pull out of Dolores’s grasp. She was willing to bet she could fend off an attack but not from so close. "I am Penny. Nothing more, nothing less. I am no one to anyone that matters. I am not gifted like you." The words, a mix of self depreciation and respect for her threatener, were cool and collected, as though the threat had never come. Strictly speaking they were all true. Few enough people knew she existed. Anyone important she interacted with was slated to end up dead. Dolores was gifted with a life Penny would never have. Even if she despised the ability, there was no denying it was a gift to fall back on.
She was waiting for something important in the middle of the woods shortly before dawn? It may have been her particular experiences biasing her, but Penny didn't think the woman could be waiting for something legal. The information had been given up a bit too freely. Penny didn't know where this conversation was going, but she already didn't like it. Couldn't the universe have waited for her to be able to think straight before throwing her into something like this? At least she was starting to get over her shakiness. [break][break] Penny frowned as the seer denied her statement. "I assume nothing, ma'am." she assured the woman. She was pretty sure it was true. Assumptions were one of those things that could get her in messy situations, and she didn't like messy situations. Still, as the woman denied a fact that Penny was so sure of she had to push through her headache to see where she'd met the woman. [break][break] A pair of eyes, red and gold, flashed in her mind. She brushed aside the misplaced memory. That particular image was from a dream, and it wasn't even a dream she could remember clearly anymore. Information from dreams like that could easily be twisted and confused in her mind, especially with the influence of a creature who excelled in mental arts. Dolores had picked up on her weakness and was manipulating her mind. It was just the kind of trickery she'd expect from a seer, too. [break][break] "There are more ways to meet than personally. I-I suppose I should have clarified. I know you in the way you carry yourself and the way you speak. You're a lot like a few others I knew." Her voice wasn't nearly as confident as she put words to a lie. She didn't like lying, but she hated the idea of Dolores continuing her examination more. This was the shortest way to explain away what she'd said. It had merely been an overeager slip of her tongue she usually wouldn't be so foolish to make. [break][break] In a change of tone, the woman stood from her perch and approached. Penny tensed, forcing any remaining shakiness from her limbs. She wouldn't show that weakness so close to a potential snake. [break][break] "I'm sorry, but you're confused Madame Dolores Esmeree." The full name rolled off her tongue as smoothly as if she'd spoken it a million times. It was a lot to refer to a person by, but she wouldn't make the assumption that they were on any closer terms than the woman allowed. It was all a part of the respectful routine she'd play through for anyone, of course. "I'm not like you. I'm not one of you." There was a new insistent sharpness to her tone, but she didn't raise her voice. She'd never be accused of yelling, no matter how short her temper may get.
After a moment of silence, Penny was pretty sure she should just move on. There was probably just something about the woods getting under her skin. The setting was the perfect battleground for assassins, and she should know. But that didn't mean anyone would be hunting here tonight. After all, there was a curfew in the nearby sleeping town. Any targets would be safe in their homes, making stalking these woods a waste of time. [break][break] Before she could actually get back to her unguided running path, something tugged at her. She resisted for a moment before letting the mysterious force turn her. She'd been right. Not too far away there was a woman sitting in a too-perfect perch of tree branches. Was she some sort of plant manipulator? No. Penny knew the signs of telekinesis well enough to know that that's what she was seeing. The woman was a seer. Like her mother had been. Distaste swelled within her. Penny didn't have many biases, but she considered seers to have a unity in their arrogant, reckless behaviour. They saw what was coming so they deflected the consequences of their actions into others, blind to what harm they truly did. Or maybe they did know. Maybe they just didn't care. [break][break] A ready mind pushed aside the deep-rooted anger and took in every necessary detail of the situation before she wasted words by saying anything. Besides her and the woman, there was no one else obviously nearby. The woman looked far from innocent. She wore a broad smile that didn't sit well with Penny. There was something else going on here she should be ready for. As in any potentially dangerous situation, her mind raced to form an escape plan. They were surrounded by trees and based on the woman's seat Penny doubted she'd have any trouble bending them to her will. Everyone had a limit, though, and people couldn't control what they couldn't see. Fast, evasive maneuvers would be the only way to get out. Assuming she had to, of course. For now, she settled into an unwanted conversation with a practiced false smile. [break][break] "I could ask you the same, ma'am." The polite, respectful term held a different purpose when it was used by Penny. She didn't think it was necessary, but it was the fastest way to twist their situation to her preferred position. Others could struggle to hold power all they wanted, but she got a much better view from the seat of a subordinate. Plus, people let their guards down much more when they thought their opponent had already given up. [break][break] Penny had no real intention of telling the woman anything about herself, so the simple statement left her to start on her own list of curiosities. "We've met before." It wasn't a question, but it felt like one the way it fell from her lips. Her memory, usually near flawless, failed her as her stabbing headache resisted her attempts to scroll through her past. She'd seen the woman before, she knew she had, but she had no idea where and trying to figure out was too much of a strain in her current state.
Penelope Grey rarely let herself slack off. Maybe it was because she had such a grand future to build towards. Maybe it was because she wanted to be the best. Maybe it was because she didn’t want to let down the father who’d abandoned her so long ago. But most likely it was because when she relaxed she fell asleep and her greatest fear was made up of those harmless images that flashed through her sleeping mind. [break][break] The nightmares weren’t all the same. Sometimes they were memories from her past, engraved into her mind in fine detail. Those ones left her shaken but they were nothing compared to the seemingly innocent flashes of unconnected scenes that left her exhausted with a pounding headache. The latter was the type that tormented her late one October night. [break][break] Over and over, the images played in her mind as she struggled to get back to sleep. The sound of leaves rustling followed by a flash of red and gold eyes. Someone bumping into her at a party. The familiar cool steel of a knife against her palm. There were more but she was already losing track of them, even as her mind replayed every moment. On their own, there was nothing scary about them. There was no rhyme or reason to which images stuck up with her, but they were all laced with the same ominous feeling that sent her blood racing through her veins. She absolutely hated it. [break][break] She wasn’t sure how much time passed before she finally gave up on returning to sleep. Holding a memory of the exact details would have been like catching water with nothing but her own two hands, but after years of this, she knew the dreadful feeling wouldn’t go away on its own. Between that and the headache steadily hammering away at her skull she almost couldn’t bear the thought of staying trapped inside her own head. [break][break] No one from polite society would be out this time of night, so she didn't bother changing from her makeshift pajamas: a pair of shorts and a black tank top that clung to her skin. She did pull on a jacket to account for the weather and stuck a knife into a sheath secured inside. She pulled on a pair of black tennis shoes and hopped out the window, trained steps making a hazardous path to the ground flawlessly. She could have used the door but she didn't want to risk interaction with any neighbors. She could barely suffer through a conversation with them in a normal mindset. [break][break] As soon as she hit the ground, her feet took off into a paced run. She hated wasting medicine on a false hope that headaches might go away and the best alternative was distracting herself with some other pain. Already, she could feel the soreness that constantly lived in her muscles groaning to life, welcome in its familiarity. [break][break] Soon enough, the ground changed beneath her feet, from the safety of paved streets to the unsteady rocks and leaves of a forest. The Ivory Woods, something in the back of her mind said but she didn't really care. She wasn't afraid of some woods, nor was she afraid of the dangers lurking within. She didn't feel she had the energy to be afraid of anything at that moment. [break][break] She came to a stop as a thin fog began to cling to the trees around her. The clear waters of the Crystal Lake sparkled in the corner of her vision, but she paid them no mind. Her hands were shaking but whether that was from the cool air around her or the lingering effects of her dreams she couldn't tell. [break][break] Even in her frazzled state, Penny could tell that something was off. Something in her chest tightened, as though someone was watching just over her shoulder. She glanced back only to find the still woods she'd left behind. Of course not. Her hunches were never as cut and dry as that. "Hello," she asked, her low voice echoing back at her from the endless array of trees like a distant melody.
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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.
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