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!
i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Hypocritical was the best word to describe the current situation, Preston refusing to provide his companion with trust after she proved her faith through extinguishing her light. The action should have warranted an ounce of trust, but the angel was terrified about being confined to a small corridor with a terror. While the situation was merely a possibility, the notion made the blond quiver in fright. Undoubtedly, Preston was being stubborn, but the entire situation held intense stress and concern about what could potentially unfold. There was a blizzard outside trapping everybody inside the Lorsette Public Library while terrors lurked around outside and only the God's knew what else. The library could possibly transform into a death trap considering there were few places people could evacuate to without risking their lives. However, the blond refused to be trapped inside a tiny corridor. The small stairwell himself and his foster father ended up inside had proved to be a nearly detrimental choice, the younger angel remembering how Zachary insisted he proceeded faster up the stairs to avoid the menacing beast below. Memories flashed of the quiet scuffle as his foster father slipped on stairs, only to rise and be attacked by that creature.
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They had toppled down the stairs while tears accumulated in his own eyes, fear to grasp him, tightening his chest and manifesting shallow breaths as he screamed out words of worry. Another tremble overcame Preston as he shook the thought away, focusing on those memories now would not assist in his escape. Briefly, he glanced over his shoulder, watching as the russet-haired girl separated, recreating her light to follow her chosen path. A soft sigh escaped Preston's mouth as he turned his head to face forward into the inky darkness beyond him. While they only interacted momentarily, the blond genuinely hoped she would survive her endeavour and be alright. He wondered if the mysterious girl had ever encountered a terror, and admittedly, he believed she lacked experience considering the decision she made. Although, these thoughts were bias because of Preston's first encounter being in the confinements of the stairwell where his foster father nearly met his demise; a single trip could potentially lead to death. Silently, the blond proceeded through the endless hallways of bookshelves, eyes searching the endless shadows.
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A small frown remained evident as fear crept into the male angel's heart, making it beat slightly faster as he nervously wandered the library. Stillness consumed the area, the only noise being the occasional eerie creak of the building settling and the floor beneath his creak; each making him jump. Gradually, the young boy continued forward, using the orb of light as guidance. Everything was proceeding as expected until the building suddenly shook and a thunderous sound echoed through the library. Immediately, Preston jump, a gasp of fright escaping his mouth as he backpedalled away, back smacking into one of the shelving units. Another jolt of surprise arrived, a quiet scream leaving the blond mouth as he hurried forward, heart racing, turning around to investigate the threat. A relieved sigh escaped his pale lips as he realized it was merely one of the shelves. A few books were knocked from their places because of the sudden shaking accompanied by Preston bumping into the bookcase. There was a brief pause as the young boy gave himself the opportunity to calm himself, ears listening to the howling wind outside as his eyes searched the darkness.
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A mild tremble remained in the blond's steps as he stabilized, taking a few hesitant steps back towards the shelf he bumped into. Slowly, his amber eyes flitted towards the sign, sending his light to read the words while his mind provided a variety of worrisome thoughts. Could that sound had been a terror breaking into the library? The thought made Preston shutter, the male angel navigating the hallways in hopes of avoiding the direct entrance into the library since he desired a vantage point. After a few moments, Preston nervously clenched his open hand, his small light source unable to vanquish all the shadows, which meant a terror could appear from any direction. Perhaps he was foolish to not entrust the young girl's idea, but he feared the notion of one of those horrible creatures chasing him down a cramped hallway, only for him to trip and become its next victim.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Certain situations could manifest concern in anybody, especially a mere child trapped in a dark and frightening place. There was nobody to protect Preston, but himself, thus he feared travelling into these mysterious corridors with a girl he hardly knew. Those spaces were unknown to the youthful angel, creating hesitance to agree following the russet-haired teen somewhere sacred. After managing to catch a glimpse of a hulking monster outside, the blond felt a tad paranoid and worried for his own well-being. Somebody needed to be around for his ailing mother, and Preston was determined to remain beside her until she fully recovered from her illness. Carefully, the male angel settled an arm around his stomach, hand filled with light inching closer to his chest to display a more guarded demeanour While information reminded him she could not potentially be a disguiser (her earlier light magic proving it), the abnormalities found in certain terrors made him wary to completely trust her. There could potentially be Assembly of Phantoms members in the area and moving to an unknown corridor resulted in endless concerns over the notion.
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Logic and reasoning of a horde survivor could differ depending on the circumstances, and these situations manifested an endless concern for Preston. Shaking the notion of anybody potentially being associated with the Assembly of Phantoms could be complicated, especially after returning to a similar scenario. During the horde near the coastal area, the hospital's lights had flickered out, leaving the blond in the darkness while a terror secretly lurked the hallways; he would have perished should his foster father not defended him. While the young girl explained herself, Preston inched back a few steps, disliking the notion of entering a closed off passageway with another individual he just met, even with her explanation of working here.
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"I don't even know you and you're telling me to enter a closed-off passageway, alone with you?" Preston countered stubbornly, attempting to make his perspective understood. "It's hard to trust you when I have only known you for a few minutes! Even if it is faster, I am sticking to staying out here. Besides, if one terror manages to find that corridor... where will we go?"
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Without listening further to the girl's words, the young blond stepped around her, moving to investigate the sign by sending his light upwards. Carefully, he read the letters, evidently unwilling to obey the young girl's plan from his inner fears of the entire situation. At least in an open area, he could potentially evade terrors by running or perhaps flying to hide on the upper areas. In a closed-off corridor, a single threat could easily become a large problem, especially since magic needed usage to navigate.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Throughout the early moments of the power outage, Preston found his pulse elevated as his proceeded imagination manifested frightful beliefs. Fear became an endless spiral, the blond's breaths being forced into slow, extensive ones to maintain an air of calmness. There was more fixation on fear rather than the disapproving expression provided by his companion, although, there would be no uttered complaints. If his companion desired to waste her magical energy, Preston would not proceed into a verbal argument; bickering would be useless. Unfortunately, the objective remained to navigate through the bookshelves and arrive at the front desks where there would be safety. Possessing the energy to fuel their light magic would be crucial, thus when the older angel decided to agree, Preston felt relaxed. Gradually, her light had diminished, allowing the darkness to encroach on more of their space. Alas, the male angel knew the light was significant in managing through the labyrinth of books. Admittedly, the young boy remained uncertain as he hopelessly stared into the endless darkness. There were fewer windows on the ground floor, a majority of space being used for endless books, making it difficult to see.
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A small frown touched Preston's face as he squinted, attempting to peer through the darkness. There were a few hesitant steps across the carpeted floor, the blond listening to the eerie sounds which remained prominent; the usual noises associated with blizzards. The male angel stepped quietly, attempting to remain optimistic about the current situation, however, trepidation made accomplishing the hope-inspiring endeavour difficult. Sounds were limited, wind proceeding to howl outside while the inside of the library continued to maintain a haunted atmosphere. There remained no other footsteps in their section of the library, nor other voices from distressed citizens trapped inside the warm building; they were alone. The single light emanating from Preston's hand created long shadows, the small orb unable to chase away the darkness around them. Gradually, the blond's eyes managed to catch a glimpse of one of the hanging signs which would provide them directions to the front desk, although, each step held hesitance. The uncertainty about terrors entering the building shared between himself and his mysterious companion increased the anxieties plaguing younger angel.
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"I hope they stay far away," Preston murmured. "Those things can be pretty strong..."
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Images of his foster father's abhorrent injuries after being pounced on by a feline-like terror flashed into the blond's mind, a brief tremble breaking his futile attempt at a tranquil facade. The quiet shuffle of the girl's footsteps resulted in Preston's amber eyes flitting towards her, fixating on her as she mentioned a passage. A skeptical countenance touched the boy's face, his lack of familiarity with the other youth making him hesitant.
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"Wouldn't sticking to the signs be better?" He countered quietly.
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There was a stubborn sheen which managed to grace his amber eyes despite the evident fear which surrounded him. Plenty of anxiety was manifested from the situation, Preston concerned over following a stranger down an unknown corridor. The male angel preferred sticking to the more open areas, only hiding should there be evident signs of terror activity. Terrors could hide anywhere and Preston was plenty aware of the notion. After his foster father was attacked, the blond began reading endless books on terrors in hopes of discovering ways to assist the wounded man, thus he stumbled upon many facts which sparked an acute concern.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] The loud crunches of giant feet stepping across the frozen ground resulted in the library trembling in response. There was a slight quickness to Preston’s breath, his heart beating faster due to the frightening situation he was trapped in with a complete stranger. Terrors were fierce, monstrous creatures who preyed on anybody they could find, killing them in the name of Zeredah. The young boy wished he remained home, safely among his foster family or even in the hospital with his true mother. Each step held an air of caution, the blond’s memories of the first terror he witnessed the attack of still fresh in his mind. The creature possessed excellent hearing and was a mixture of animal flesh and metal pieces. Fortunately, this particular one was a large, hulking creature which blended in with the distant whiteout. There would only be mild ease when the tremors ceased, but Preston feared there would be more of those mysterious fiends. The hairs on the back of the male angel’s neck stood on end, a slight queasy sensation entering his stomach as he remained nervous. Had he truly required another book? The price of being trapped in the library while a blizzard raged on outside was becoming mildly frightening. While he remained familiarized with the maze of shelved books, Preston had never traveled in the dark through the large structure.
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The scratching outside alongside the howling wind continued, the young blond gazing down into the dark depth below. There was power to Preston’s imagination thought about the clicking claws of that medium risk terror back during the horde near the hospital. Those scratches of the outside trees reminded the blond of the dreadful claws. Could a terror have secretly invaded the library’s interior? There were no screams from distraught people, thus Preston held his doubts, but his fears provided his gluttonous nerves with a feast. A breath was sucked in and held, one of his hands clenching the cold, metal railing hard enough to make his knuckles white. While the male angel remained quiet about his fears, it became evident in his slightly paler face and nervous attitude. Perched in his hand, the ball of light continued to glow, illuminating the girl’s face as she drew closer. There was a nod when the girl stated their best chance of safety would be heading to the front of the library. Gradually, he walked towards the edge of the stairwell, pausing to glance at the stranger.
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"Maybe you should save your energy for now... If we stay close, I can keep my light up and then if I run out, you can use yours. I have a phone with a flashlight too," Preston suggested.
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Light coated the area around them as the blond slowly walked down the stairs, steps creaking beneath Preston's feet as he gradually made his way down. The male angel's hand remained extended, palm open to manifest light while the other slid down the metal railing. There was a pause when Preston reached the bottom of the stairs, his amber eyes glancing around nervously the shelves which the light of his orb just managed to reach. The thought of a terror infiltrating the inner sanction of the library frightened the young boy.
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"Do... you um... think a terror may be inside?" Preston inquired hesitantly.
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Slowly, Preston moved away from the stairs, allowing for the girl to exit the stairwell when she was prepared. Another deep breath was taken, an extensive exhale following in hopes of managing to calm his rapidly beating heart. The situation was akin to a horror movie, however, the reality was terrifying and paranoia-inducing.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Darkness consumed the unlit areas beyond the shining ball of light levitating above Preston’s left hand. Slowly, the blond’s eyes adjusted to newly formed light, his amber eyes flirting around the space filled with antiques. The subtle scratching against the building’s exterior kept the male angel wary as he slowly stood, legs pushing back the old wooden chair. A wail echoed through the room as the chair’s leg scrapped across the old wooden floor of the library. There was a flinch which briefly crossed Preston’s face as his eyes gazed towards the old chair, now motionless waiting for an occupant. As the male student slowly skirted his way out the space between the table and chair, he paid little mind to his companion. Cautiously, his eyes scanned the area around them, only flitting back towards the female when suddenly light sparked from that section of the room. The light displayed her features, the reddish brown hair, fair skin and topaz eyes. For a few moments, Preston’s eyes remained on her figure as she departed from her seat. It appeared her fixation was smartly on the nearby lighting affixture rather than the inky blackness beyond the light source. His light source had a small radius, his immediate area only be provided a brilliant light. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he slowly walked around the table, watching the girl check the light source while he moved to the window.
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Throughout the movement, he maintained his light, easily finding comfort in being capable of viewing the area around him. As he approached the window, he paused, noticing the fog over the glass alongside evident signs of freezing. In small designs, a thin layer of ice covered the outside of the window, making it difficult to see. Carefully, Preston tucked his book under his arm holding the light before pressing his bare hand against the window. The blond flinched briefly as cold embraced his fingers, however, he rubbed his hand against the window to clear the fog. Once cleared, he glanced through the insufficient layer of ice, noticing as snowflakes swirled wildly. In the distance, a large creature moved, Preston unable to decipher what exactly the monstrous sized beast was.
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“There is something out there,” he murmured quietly, squinting through the window.
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The creature was large, suggesting it could be a brute classed terror, however, it merely stomped through the snowy streets. The inaudible sounds of its footsteps narrowly reaching Preston’s ears. There was a paling to the male angel's face at the possibility of the creature beyond being a terror. After handling a frightening one during the horde in the coastal area. During that scary day, his foster father was injured alongside his unexpectant boyfriend. The blond kept gazing through the window the best he could, but it proved to be rather difficult on account of the forming ice. When the girl stated there was no surprise, Preston glanced towards her, noticing the floating orb. A frown remained graced on Preston's face as he took a few steps from the window, grabbing his book and setting it onto the table. The wind kept wailing, the increase of snow blowing around made it obvious the power would remain out for an extensive amount of time. Another sigh left his lips as he slowly moved towards the stairs, glancing down at the darkness below.
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"... Should we head to the front?" Preston inquired, procrastinating the descent.
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Part of him wondered if the front was the correct location to meet with everybody else wandering the labyrinth of shelves. There were few other locations Preston could think of unless they were escorted to the cafe inside the library. The effort was taken into increasing the range of the light, however, it remained rather limited nonetheless.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] While Preston slowly walked towards his chosen location of sitting, he noticed the other occupants in the Cresent Moon Cafe. Tables were taken by many, however, the spot with the large, leather sofa was occupied by two young girls, both seemingly around his age. They were conversing since he entered the establishment, the blond even managed to notice them spare a glance in his direction when he entered. The purple hair styled in a pixie cut was naturally a familiar face, Preston's mind managing to provide her with a name in a few moments. Rosalynn Halogan was a popular girl in high school, gaining plenty of friends and envious individuals. Jealousy was sparked through her immense wealth and the long list of friends by some, however, the blond could care little about the social girl. Once his mother managed to recover from her horrible illness, he would happily return into her loving arms and watch as the pleasant days returned. Popularity or wealth was trivial considering all the blond desired was his mother to return. Stationed in a corner table, Preston's usual sitting location was taken by a woman with long, black hair.
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Grasped in her hands was a book, her eyes seemingly focused on the text hidden inside the pages. The young boy was mildly curious about the book the dark-haired woman was reading, however, she was entirely a stranger. Conversing with strangers was not an interest for the introverted, blond angel, thus, he merely skimmed the tabled until discovering a single, dark-coloured table near the back of the cafe. Clutched in Preston's hand was a bag with his precious doughnut inside while his other kept slender fingers wrapped around the plain, white porcelain handle. Steam floated up from the brown liquid in his cup, the smell of hot chocolate reaching Preston's nose, exciting him for his snack. Once he reached the isolated table, he softly set down the bag alongside the mug, the gentle wrinkling of paper and the clink of porcelain against the table reaching his ears. Afterwards, he sat on a padded chair, discovering comfort in the quiet area. Carefully, Preston grabbed the porcelain mug, lifting it to his lips and sipping the hot liquid. It flowed over his tongue, providing him with a wonderfully sweet taste which resulted in a smile touching his lips briefly.
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The warmth which radiated from the cup was pleasant on the cool winter day, manifesting a special type of comfort. A deep breath was sucked into his lungs before Preston released an extensive exhale. The cup was placed back onto the table as he slowly opened the bag, retrieving the delicious confection from the depths. The male angel's open hand fetched his phone from the depths of his pocket, checking for any messages before clicking the e-book app to discover a new book to read. Eventually, he began scrolling through the app, searching as he vaguely listened to the shout of the nearby pair of girls before one exited the cafe. The situation was unknown to Preston, but his attention promptly faded afterwards. However, the sudden exclaims were a distraction from searching for a proper book to settle down and read while he enjoyed his doughnut and beverage. With a single finger, Preston scrolled through his while the other brought the doughnut close to his mouth, allowing him to take a bite of the delectable baked good. The sweet tastes arrived in his mouth, prompting joy in the form of a reserved smile. These were the moments he frequently desired on account of the enjoyable calmness of a pleasant snack at the fantastic cafe.
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Eventually, Preston discovered a suitable book in his collection of purchases, particularly one he was craving to read for an extensive amount of time. Promptly, the blond clicked on the book title as he chewed his doughnut, settling down to read the book he chose. The hum of people socializing remained in the air as other customers ordered their foods and beverages before leaving or settling down to converse for a brief amount of time. Ignoring the occurrences around him were easy, especially after Rosalynn had ceased the socializing which resulted in exclaims; loudness made it difficult to focus. As Preston began reading through the book, he kept nibbling on his delicious doughnut, only pausing briefly to take a sip of the hot chocolate.
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[ I BEHAVED MYSELF! lol ]
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Isolation was preferred under most circumstances for soothing hours of reading, however, Preston could handle a single intruder in his usual reading location. Silently, the blond settled into his seat, comfortable as he hunched over his own book, opening the first page. The pleasant smell of paper vaguely wafted up to the male angel's nose as he took a deep breath, finding the scent soothing. When Preston exhaled, the breath was long, the pleasure of being surrounded by the shelves filled with books allowing him to feel calm while he waited until he could head home. There were hopes that Zachary would not be too worried about his absence; there was, unfortunately, no choice. While he quietly read the words as wind battered the library, resulting in creaks and snow hitting the window. The quiet noises suggested the possibility of the blizzard gradually worsening as time proceeded. People were already stuck in the library, but it would not stop the blizzard from raging on throughout the evening. As time proceeded, Preston kept flipping through the pages, enjoying the introduction to the book alongside the artistry displayed in the black and white pictures.
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Little attention given to the girl in the room, Preston acting as though he remained the only individual in the room. The blond angel had never been the overly social sort, thus he decided to remain quiet. Expressions remained neutral from Preston once he settled to read, no longer concerned with the presence of another individual. Their unexpected company appeared to be quiet, allowing him to steadily read through the text and admire the artwork of his own piece of literature. Rarely, his eyes flitted towards her with evident curiosity, but she appeared more fixating on her own book; which he found pleasant. Promptly, his eyes returned to his own reading material as he began getting closer to the completion of chapter one. Suddenly, there were vague changes in the lighting as the bulbs above started flickering, dimming the light briefly before shining bright. It warranted Preston's attention as he glanced up towards the lighting affixture, mildly concerned about the possibility of being left in the darkness. The current distance between himself and the reception area was far, resulting in concerns he may be forced to navigate to the front of the building.
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Outside, the wind wailed, forcing nearby trees to scratch the exterior, creating an eerie atmosphere to the location. Windows were fogged up, the world beyond the room impossible to see through the arching window; the increase in wind and snow created a whiteout effect. A flinch graced Preston's face before he bunkered down in his chair, reaching to pick his precious book up and bring it closer to his chest. The flickering stopped briefly but began to pick up again, the lights getting dimmer with each change until a slight buzz hummed into the air, the lights turning off completely. There was no longer a provided light source, Preston pausing in hopes the light would return. The fog over the window provided an insignificant amount of light, making it impossible to comprehend what the various items in the room were. There was silence from Preston as he listened to the creepy scratching and wailing wind. Only a minute into being left in the darkness, the male angel closed his book, tucking it under his arm before summoning his energy to manifest a small, glowing orb. While his phone could provide light, he wanted to maintain the battery in case of emergencies.
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Carefully, Preston glanced around, noticing the long shadows casted by his light source. There were dark corners, the moaning of the wind and endless scratching sparking his imagination to life. The notion of creatures hiding amidst the darkness, waiting for an unsuspecting victim was a frightening idea which could be easily fed by the creative thinking of a mere child.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Over the radio, the weather man’s voice informed citizens of the impending blizzard which could potentially lead to power outages across Lorsette. During these extreme and dangerous weather conditions, Preston enjoyed reading his worries away. School cancellations allotted plenty of time to delve into his favourite task, however, the blond was gradually running low of literary material. There would be a limited amount of activities to entertain the young teen throughout the blizzard, thus he hesitantly risked leaving home prior to borrow more books from the local library. The wind had picked up since morning, Preston carefully dressing and assuring both his phone and library card remained in his pockets. Prior to leaving, he notified Zachary that he would be heading to the library. While Preston believed he could arrive there and return without incident, the blond refused to worry his foster father. They were not biologically related, but Zachary had offered him a location to stay. The walk down the windy sidewalks was frigid, Preston hugging himself and hiding his face as he steadily weaved down the snow-covered streets. Silently, he prayed his mother would be kept safe through this dastardly weather; the young angel was clueless what he would do without her.
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There was haste to Preston's steps as he pushed himself to walk faster, refusing to remain out in the cold. Each step was greeted with steam flowing from his mouth, drifting into the air as he hurried towards the library. Buildings gradually passed until the magnificent Lorsette Public Library appeared through the quickly increasing snow. For a brief moment, Preston sprinted, ignoring the sharp feeling of snow colliding with his reddish cheeks in favouring of reaching the front door. The young boy burst through the door, wind whistling through until he wrestled to close the door. Extensive breaths were taken, the blond angel enjoying every second he remained inside the warm building. There was a mild stinging to their cheeks from the sudden warmth, but the sensation was easily welcomed. A few moments were spent breathing, Preston appreciating the warm embrace of the library, his shivers gradually dissipating. Slowly, the young blond began walking forward, waving at the front desk librarian to be polite. A quick tense was sent to Zachary, informing his foster father that he arrived at the library to keep him from worrying; even adding the possibility he may not be home until the blizzard cleared.
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The isles of books were a marvel to Preston, his eyes scanning the signs above to properly navigate the library. While he wandered the labyrinth, the blond kept his phone close, watching for the lighting of the screen. On the radio, the weatherman stated there would be a text notification when the blizzard reached dangerous levels, warning citizens to remain indoors for their safety. Carefully, Preston navigated to the sci-fi section, brushing his finger against the spines on the books while the other kept his phone in hand. Eventually, he paused on a book with the title "LEVIATHAN", a thick book with a dark cover written by Scott Westerfeld. In a smooth motion, Preston plucked the book from the shelf, reading through the summary about the book. A brief grin graced Preston's face after reading the information before providing a nod of approval. The angel's eyes soon flitted towards his phone, clicking the button and sighing as he saw the blizzard notice on his screen, meaning that returning home would be beyond dangerous. Another text was sent to his foster father, stating he would be forced to remain at the library for his safety.
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Instead of checking out the book, Preston began weaving through the library shelves, heading to the further inside. The back of the library was incredibly quiet and serene, the angel enjoying the calmness of the farther reaches. There was a special area within the library up a spiralled staircase, the blond heading upwards to the quiet nook. There was a quiet creak as Preston headed up to where two tables were stationed. At the top of the staircase, Preston stopped, noticing a young girl with reddish brown hair reading a worn book. There was a surprise evident on the male angel's face as he raised a brow, however, he promptly dismissed it, heading to the furthest area from the girl's chair. Once settled, he placed the book on the desk, his phone returning to his pocket and began carefully reading over the words in the starting chapter. The subtle creaks of the library were ignored as Preston's mind fixated on the words, a scene manifesting in his head, the illustrations assisting in properly forging the scenes of the book.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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i told them I wanted to go home[break] but they bound me with their chains
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[attr=class,punkisavelighttext] Cold air embraced Lorsette on a late, winter afternoon. Grey clouds hung in the sky, threatening to snow on the city which already suffered the horrendous blizzard; piles of snow being evident where there was room. A soft sigh escaped Preston's mouth as he stared out the second story window of Lorsette High School, the common student chatter occurring around him. The upcoming weekend left everybody excited, students planning sleepovers, hangouts and various other common events; especially considering it would be a long weekend. Work covered a majority of the student's desks as they opted to pile their homework for the weekend to text friends, proceeding with their arrangements. The teacher was distracted by his computer, evidently having more fixation on the technology opposed to his students. Meanwhile, Preston's desk remained clear of worksheets, each being stored in his binder, completed as expected for the intelligent student striving to become a doctor. There were few plans for his weekend, the blond already knowing he prayed Zachary would allow him to converse with his mother for an entire day. The remaining days would be used enjoying Alice's company, the young teenager aware his foster father's daughter viewed him as a big brother.
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As he proceeded to stare outside, watching people walk down the distant sidewalks as conversations proceeded and the clock softly ticked. Tick, tick, tick. Then finally a loud ringing bell erupted through the building, informing students they could finally escape. When the ringing began, their teacher jumped, hastily standing to his feet in a desperate attempt to appear professional while he addressed his students. As expected, homework was assigned, but the angel merely shrugged off the notion considering the marked pages were already accomplished in the allotted class time. Quickly, students were gathering their materials and storming into the hallway while Preston calmly grabbed his binder, pencil case and the book he recently finished when the class was ending. In an organized manner, the young blond pushed his chair in, weaving through the emptied desks and exited through the front door. Smoothly, the angel weaved through the variety of students, hearing tidbits of the usual school gossip and enthusiastic planning sessions.
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When his locker was located, Preston effortlessly weaved through, balances his items in one hand while the other gracefully twisted the combination lock until it popped open. Quickly, the binder was placed on the top shelf alongside his textbooks before Preston turned towards his schedule. The paper was secured by magnets and currently, the classes listed provided no homework to infiltrate his weekend. A brief smile touched the blond's face, his mother would possess another reason to be prideful of his academic capabilities. Hastily, the blond grabbed his coat, tugging it over the faint blue sweater then proceeded to tug his favourite toque over his head. A moment was spared to check his pockets, the angel hearing the soft jingle of coins and feeling the stiff, smooth sensation of a pair of bills. There was enough money for a quick stop at Crescent Moon Cafe to purchase his favourite type of doughnut alongside a small hot chocolate.
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The high school student clutched the zipper of his black jacket, promptly zipping it up until it rested comfortably below his chin. Carefully, he grabbed his book, placing it into the bag before slinging the strap over his shoulder. Once finished, a majority of the students planning to take the bus already vacated the hallways, leaving the many who would have requested rides from parents or planned to walk. Hastily, Preston walked towards the stairwell, opening the door to quickly descend the steps, caution evident from those early years of scolding for recklessly sprinting down the stairs. He exited the school, feeling the brisk breeze blow past, already reddening his pale cheeks. There was a brief shiver before the young angel proceeded forward, navigating the sidewalks while fishing out his phone for a moment. Carefully, the young teen held his finger on the home button, his fingerprint unlocking the device. A few quick taps allowed him to open the messenger, eyes flitting between the hastily written text to his foster father and the path in front of him.
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Hey, Zac? I am just going to the cafe for a bit, so I will be home a little later. Hope that is okay.
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There was a pause, Preston glancing between the screen and the direction he walked. Once the word delivered appeared below his speech bubble, the blond placed his cellphone back into his pocket. Steps were quick as the angel drew closer to the cafe, a large grin touching his face when he noticed the sign which read 'Cresent Moon Cafe'. Hastily, the young student proceeded forward, pushing the door open, a quiet bell ringing above him. The angel moved towards the counter, counting his money before providing the exact amount for white icing doughnut with sprinkles and a small hot chocolate. Once he received the sweet food and drink, the teen walked to a small table, providing his snack with a tiny grin; an excellent way to begin a long weekend.
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now, i wait for day i could run home to you
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Within the eerie silence of the hospital, Preston sat quietly beside his mother, the young adolescent's hand enveloped in the feeble grasp of his withered mother. The sickly woman was attempting to keep a tight grip on her son's hand, although, it could be easily escaped by the youth should he desire. There was a frightful silence as nurses and doctors frantically worked towards keeping the hospital safe and attending to the scared parents. The blond stared around his mother's room, his mind continuing to fret over Zachary who he last witness injured. Currently, no news arrived about the condition of his foster father, resulting in an intense worry generating in Preston's stomach. A soft squeeze from his mother resulted in the young teen shifting his gaze towards her. Slowly, his mother released his hands, caressing the young angel's face affectionately in an attempt to soothe him.
Shortly, a nurse entered the room with a sombre face, her delicate voice explaining the situation with his foster father. The blond's eyes widened, the concept of Zachary being more injured than expected terrifying him. Immediately, his gaze returned to his mother, a pleading appearance to his amber eyes. There were a few silent moments before his mother nodded, the conversation passing through their eyes. Promptly, Preston jumped to his feet and scurried to follow the nurse down the plain hallways of the hospital. Gradually, they arrived in that room, the nurse slowly opening the door and gasping at the surprise inside. The adolescent was hasty to run inside, pausing when he noticed Zachary snuggled up next to a stranger with ginger hair. Despite the horrifying situation of the hospital, Preston released a gasp in surprise before grinning slightly. HE HAD TO TELL MOM AND ALICE!
"ZAC HAS A BOYFRIEND!" He rejoiced before scurrying out of the room, attempting to use the happy news to bring smiles during these dark times.
Before Zachary would explain the situation, Preston turned heel and hurried down the hallway, planning to return to his mother's room with the gossip.
With arms wrapped around his foster father, Preston burying his face into his chest. Tears continued to leak from the boy's amber eyes as he clung to Zachary with apologies transforming into congested slurs from sobbing. The adolescent felt horrible for his disobedience, his intense requirement to assist matters only worsening the situation immensely. His foster father was injured from protecting him, which made the young angel feel horrible for causing the wounds to befall Zachary. There was a feeling of failure for Preston, the adolescent feeling as though he failed his foster father; he could not protect somebody he cared about. Even as the comforting words reached Preston's ears, he continued clinging to the older angel, crying. The gentle manner that Zachary consoled the blond was soothing, the patting gradually calming him.
Slowly, the adolescent pulled away, hands reaching up to rub away the slick tears covering his puffy, red cheeks. There was a shakiness to his breath, sniffles coming from the young angel as he attempted to find composure. At the mentioning of returning to his mother, Preston lifted his head and gently nodded. Admittedly, the young boy wanted his mother after the traumatic incident that occurred inside the staircase. At the mentioning of taking the elevator, Preston was quick to follow since the stairwell had taken an eerie appearance to it. There were hints of blood, scratches and various other signs that proved a terror had managed to enter the facility. During the walk to the elevator, Preston remained close to Zachary, fear still lingering from the encounter. Once at the proper floor, Preston exited the elevator with his foster father, following him to the room where his mother was.
When the blond entered the room, his amber eyes noticed his distraught mother who was conversing with the nurse about finding him. After a few moments, Amanda's eyes wandered and found her son in the threshold of the door. Relief filled her eyes as she continued to stare at her adolescent son.
"PRESTON! Come here," Amanda said before coughing.
There was a moment of hesitation to listen to his foster father's words, a nod being the response. Afterwards, Preston hastily ran towards his mother's bedside. Her feeble hand reached to squeeze his hand, eyes remaining locked on her son with worry touching her countenance. While Preston wanted to stay in the hospital with his mother, the blond knew the inevitable would arrive. Slowly, he leaning closer to the bed, hugging Amanda and feeling her skinny arms wrap around him. There would be no moving until the time arrived to leave.
Fear was becoming a distinct emotions for the horrifying situation as the hideous, dog-like creature hovered over Preston and his foster father. Everything appeared to pass slowly as the younger angel's heart rate increased immensely and a tremble entered his small body. There was a desire to protect Zachary considering the man's tremendous benevolence, but before the blond could assist, the older angel returned to his feet. A gentle push was provided, the adolescent backpedaling a step before turning around to hastily retreat a few steps. Glancing back revealed a new nightmare as the boy witnessed the mutant leap onto Zachary's back, thick claws digging into the man's wings. Tears began forming as Preston's eyes remained glued onto the scene, mental prayers being sent for it to stop. When the creature finally released his foster father, the blond slowly tried to descend the stairs towards him.
"ZAC!" He yelled while he attempted to return to assist his foster father.
Those emotions of horror gripped Preston, making his stomach churn from the gruesome scene and generating hesitation within his steps. Somebody needed to help Zachary, and without another individual it only left the blond angel. The adolescent's amber eyes glanced towards his foster father, tears blurring them as he watched the mutant leap again and more sparks being created. The struggle between the pair was agonizing to watch until the pair tipped down, rolling down the stairs. The flow of tears increased as Preston's eyes widened.
"NO!" A whimper left his throat afterwards, pace down the stairs increasing.
The blond angel hurried down the stairs, praying that his foster father was alive. In desperation, Preston glanced over the rail, noticing Zachary injured on the ground level and still defending himself against the vicious mutant. Tears continued falling from adolescent's face as horror-filled stress consumed him alongside intense worry over the kind angel who cared for him. If Zachary met his demise, Alice would no longer possess a father and both himself and his adoptive sister would lose a home. The descent down the stairs continued until something passed through the gape between the stairs. There was only a moment to look around, details blurred and heart rapidly beating. The boy's amber eyes spared another glance towards the bottom, noticing the mutant's absence. Relief transcended over him, steps hastening down the flight of stairs until he finally reached the bottom. Recklessly, the boy leaped out to attempt to wrap his arms around his foster father, tears still flowing heavy.
"I'm sorry! You weren't suppose to get hurt," he whimpered. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry."
The words were broken apart by sobs, the young boy remaining uncertain where the terror has disappeared to, although, he only cared about his injured foster father.
Frustration was leaking onto Preston's usually placid face as he continued assisting to Zachary to allow him to help. Proving his usefulness in the current situation was the primary objective to being granted the permission to remain in the hospital. Somebody had to make certain that his mother would be protected from the monstrous creatures ambushing the coastal area. His helpless mother could never defend herself from the horrifying terrors, thus Preston remained determined to remain in the hospital. After years of separation, the young boy would not allow the ultimate form of disconnection take his precious mother away. She remained the only individual of his direct family that Preston could discover, increasing his attachment tenfold. When Zachary forbade him from joining the TRS, the blond remained unaffected; he merely required an example.
The mentioning of remaining within the room caused Preston to narrow his eyes slightly, making it obvious that he was aware of the teleportation scheme that his foster faster possessed. Before the blond could vocalize his knowledge, the mechanisms continued clicking below. The sound of claws clicking on tile flooring and eerie growls kept the young boy moving instead of arguing further with Zachary. The glance behind him provided the update on his foster father, witnessing the man trip on the stairs, the sound echoing through the stairwell. The sound of mechanisms increased, reverberated as the creature gained knowledge of another presence in the stairs. The noises caused Preston's heart to skip a beat in terror of what could unfold. Being commanded to move faster did little to make the boy move; his foster father had tripped.
"NO! I AM NOT LEAVING YOU HERE BY YOURSELF!" Preston stated.
With the little bit of courage he possessed, Preston hurried down the stairs to help Zachary back to his feet. Seconds were passing, mechanisms increasing in volume as the creature made its appearance on the stairs. A giant dog-like creature now mutilated with various metal fragments replacing once soft fur. The teeth were long and sharp, poking outwards from the creature's lips. There were splotches of blood touching the mutant's body, the teeth and claws being stained with the substance. Shortly, it opened its mouth, tongue lulling out while it panted, a growl following while distance was closed. A loud bark left its mouth, causing Preston to tremble slightly at the creature that was advancing closer to them.
Determination glittered in the youth's eyes while he stared up towards Zachary, his desires to stay remaining strong. Understanding why exactly his foster father desired for him to stay behind was easy for Preston, but the young boy kept thinking about his mother. She was here, in a zone that was recently labelled dangerous and with the immense terror activity. Unfortunately, his foster father did not appear keen on permitting him to assist in the situation. When Zachary refused to let him help, Preston narrowed his eyes, making it obvious that he was upset with the verdict. His mother was important to him and the hospital was significant to Lorsette, the least he could do was assist in the situation. At the mentioning of danger, a pout marked Preston's face as he looked at Zachary with defiance written across his face.
"I know! I am offering to help! The hospital is important to Lorsette, so why now take an extra set of helping hands? At least then I know my mom is alright," Preston insisted. "I AM OLD ENOUGH! I COULD BECOME A TRS MEMBER IF I WANTED!"
There was upset tones to his voice, making it obvious that Preston was not pleased with the decision. Being taken to safety sounded similar to acting like a coward! The hospital housed his mother, and the young angel was intelligent enough to know they would prefer not moving her. The mentioning of being taken upstairs, Preston's eyes narrowed more while he dodged the hand reaching out to grab him. Before the young blond could make another move, he heard the foreboding sounds of the downstairs door opening, the sound reverberating through the staircase. Instantly, the adolescent froze, noticing his foster make a gesture to be quiet. In the silence, Preston heard the rapid beating of his heart while fear claimed him in the situation. The haunting sound of moving mechanisms as the clicking of metal echoed through the stairwell alongside the low animal-like growl. The hairs on the back of Preston's neck stood on end.
His amber eyes flitted towards his foster father, nodding when told to go upstairs. Slowly, Preston began creeping up the stairs while he continued feeling the intense fear of the situation. There was danger, a possibility of death in the situation if he was not careful. A faint curiosity arrived, Preston continuing up the stairs and sparing a glance over the rail to see the ugly creature below. Quickly, the young angel proceeded up the stairs, doing his best to remain quiet given the situation. For only a moment, Preston paused to glance back towards Zachary to see what his foster father was doing.
Forcefully being taken home was completely out of the question for Preston as he hurried down the hallways of the hospital. The hauntingly clean scents enclosed him, bringing those usual chills that arrived with thoughts of sickness and medicine. Despite his own healing capabilities alongside his foster father's, sickness still remained a steady fear for the angel after witnessing his mother wither from the cursed one she was given. Footsteps echoed through the hallway while Preston dodged nurses who attempted to take him to safety and weaved through the hospital. His own protection could be mulled over once his mother was safe from the terror invader and he has proven his worth to remain here. Due to his young age, Preston found difficult in keeping up to his foster father.
Being 13 arrived with the horrible bane of shortness, especially when he was a meager average height; however, remained thankful he was not short. He rounded the corner, certain that Zachary was heading towards the security office since it was the most logical place for the doctor to travel. The grey heavy door of the stairwell appeared, Preston desperately trying to remember the layout of the hospital's lower floors. Despite numerous visits, the angel usually only went to his mother's room and to visit his own doctor. The large door was pushed open, the loud click of the it being forced open resonating throughout the stairwell. Hastily, Preston descended the steps, only hesitating when he noticed Zachary had not continued down the stairs. The boy's amber eyes gazed up towards his face before glancing away with mild pangs of guilt; the doctor did not desire him here.
"You planned to send me home. I am not going home until my mom is safe, so I had to follow you! I can help, and I will prove it," Preston insisted.
Most of his tone possessed the usual lacking in emotion, but faint hints of tenderness mingled in. Determination shimmered in Preston's eyes as his gaze returned to Zachary's face, making his stubbornness to leave obvious. Hiding within the comfortable walls of home while his mother remained in this danger zone bothered the young angel, thus he wanted to stay and help where he could.
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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.
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.
