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!
Being escorted around by somebody younger than him felt awkward for Dexter, especially considering the kid appeared plenty more comfortable with the situation than him. It hastily became apparent to the redhead that Brendon was more prepared to handle these circumstances. His avoidance of these lavish events surrounded by wealthy individuals resulted in any minuscule of social prowess related to a professional, formal conversation being long abandoned. If everybody enjoyed video games, horror movies and various nerdier topics, perhaps he would stand a chance.
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Alas, Dexter was under the assumption that these wealthy individuals were fascinated by business-related or common life occurrences as opposed to the recent video game boss he defeated or the latest horror movie release. Common ground was nonexistent with these people. The redhead's absence in the affairs of the family business only increased his concerns further; perhaps his grandmother allowed him to be paired with a child for those reasons? Chances were, Brendon would likely avoid business-related topics.
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Yet, Dexter found his youthful company fixated on him stating his favourites followed by reasons... and already the redhead knew he was failing whatever "assignment" the kid randomly decided to give him. Honestly, the bespectacled young man was unsure if he would prefer awkwardly attempting to converse with the adults over business matters or be stuck answering Brendon's questions. Uncertainty was an incorrect answer when Brendon's face was tinted with a shade of pink, and Dexter was plenty aware it was, however, he hardly knew which drink to pick...
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After the interaction, Brendon poured him a drink, using the provided ladle to give liquid to an ice-filled cup, however, Dexter doubted the brown-haired boy was happy about it. From the beginning, their exchange was questionable at best with the redhead displaying every socially-awkward aspect in seconds; he should have stayed home...
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"Uh... thank you," Dexter said quietly, hoping to smooth things over a bit.
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The cold drink was provided alongside the name of said beverage which was 'lemon fruit punch', suggesting the concoction to be fruity. The moment after a sip flowed through his lips, the sourness accompanied by sweetness all wrapped in a strong, fruit-flavoured taste coated his taste buds.
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Unfortunately, Dexter could not escape another one of Brendon's question involving a description. An awkward flinch breached the redhead's expression as he attempted to organize his thoughts.
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"Well... it's sour and sweet... has a strong flavour. It's pretty good," Dexter answered hesitantly.
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Even before the conversation could continue, Dexter was under the impression his answer would be wrong even if based around what he tasted. Alas, he assumed it to hardly matter to the young child considering how awkward and terrible their exchange was. The redhead was uncomfortable with these formal situations, thus, the young man possessed the upper hand in this environment.
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[ Brendon is amusing me with how uncomfortable he is making Dexter. XD ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Dexter Adams [break] 469 Words
Light filtered through the shattered window, a shallow carpet of snow coating the floor beneath the opening. Glass shards were haphazardly laying on the hardwood floor, idly waiting to potentially injure a passerby. These were no peculiar sights to the former criminal as he assessed area beyond the threshold, however, there were concerning ones. Footprints were obvious in the snow, even the ones in the small patch of snow. While the signs were concerning, anybody could have entered the building briefly before leaving. Thoughts were given to the person who attacked them, but the amount of darkness suggested there would be an emergency escape. With a gloved hand, he carefully cleared any jagged edges before stepping through. The man’s amber eyes fixated on the glass shards below to assure he would avoid slipping and gaining a wound. Once both feet were firmly planted on the inside, Dexter’s amber eyes searched the area further. Glass crunched loudly beneath his feet upon entry as he walked further into the building. He moved further into the cabin, the bespectacled man finding the peacefulness of the surroundings to be rather surprising.
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A voice echoed through the cabin, Dexter's body tensing as he jumped at the sudden voice. Instantly, he turned, stumbling a few steps further before his amber eyes noticed the blond he met a few days prior. He recovered quickly from the ailments of being startled, his breathing promptly regulating as a sigh of relief flowed through his lungs. While their initial interaction was complicated to say the least, the stranger was an improvement to the individual who attacked them. When the phone was tossed towards, Dexter frantically scrambled to grab his phone, narrowly grasping the device and holding it close. The redhead glanced at the device for a few moments before sliding it into his jacket pocket. Observations were evidently accomplished by the blond when he inquired about Dexter's lack of company.
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The redhead nodded as he answered, "Yeah... If there was still danger, I'm not about to drag someone else here..."
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Endangering those he cared about was never Dexter's intentions, especially for something silly like his cellphone. Furthermore, shadow teleportation was a fickle sub-power of his darkness manipulation. The unfortunate truth was that increasing the number of occupants escorting him would result in major side-effects should a hasty escape became necessary. Teleporting even two people resulted in harsh penalties for invoking an ability provided to him through genes. Teleportation exhausted Dexter beyond words, the repercussions forcing him to his knees while his body grasped for any air to enter his lung. The punishment for shadow teleportation in his case was similar to getting the wind knocked out of him after a physically grueling obstacle course. His body felt exhausted and sore, making movement impossible and his lungs burned while they screamed for air. Thus, the redhead held firm to his preference to come alone to avoid harsher side-effects. Quietly, the amber-eyed man stood in the cabin, a slight awkwardness holding his body language. Crossed arms closing him off while he nervously swayed and avoided eye contact.
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This was the individual who saw those vulnerable emotions, the things he wished to hide away from prying eyes; those tears for souls long lost. Somebody had viewed his tear-slicked face, which was the blond asshole who heroically rescued him from a malicious dark mist... Threatening for silence about the situation would be stupid, abysmal behaviour he would undoubtedly be reprimanded for.
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"Also... can you not tell anyone you saw me crying?" He mumbled out.
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Subtle red painted the rich man's cheeks, the blush allowing anybody to become aware of his embarrassment over the event. Amber eyes were kept downward, following the grooves between the wooden boards to avoid eye contact. Admittedly, Dexter despised asking for something of people, but unfortunately, options were limited if he wished to avoid teasing.
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[ It's all good! c: Also, YUS, I AM LEARNING HOW TO READ NICOLAS' MIND! lmao ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 645 Words
Days passed since the incident inside the abandoned cabin. Within hours of returning home that afternoon via a winged stranger, Dexter's grandparents had thoroughly interrogated and lectured him without a second thought. Hesitation was nonexistent when matters involved their troublesome grandson, especially when thoughts of breaking and entering crossed their minds. Several times, the redhead was forced to defend himself and explain the situation, however, his grandparents were beyond upset. Worry drove them to stick firmly to their beliefs, thus the bespectacled young man could hardly blame them for displaying vexed emotions. Thus to settle their concerned emotional states, Dexter stayed inside his room for days with little contact with the outside world. Yet, throughout those days, thoughts of his phone laying on the cabin's floor fluttered through his mind. Despite their wealthier status, the bespectacled man desired his original device to return to his possession, furthermore, his SD card would be useful for transferring over the information over should his phone be broken. Alas, leaving the house to retrieve the device would be difficult because of his grandparent's overprotective nature.
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Yet, fortune knocked on his doorstep since his uncle still required help with the duties of the company. When the redhead roused, he listened to the hustled steps of servants while his amber eyes locked directly onto the alarm clock stationed on his bedside table. Minutes were ticking by as Dexter remained motionless, waiting for the time to arrive where his family would leave for work. When the suitable time ticked onto the clock, the redhead slowly exited his bed, a hand pulling the curtain to the side. Contrast against the white snow was the black limousine heading down the streets, turning off to undoubtedly take his grandparents and uncle to the company building. Quickly, Dexter changed clothes into a pair of jeans and a red v-neck before tugging a sweater over his shoulders. He snatched the truck keys, exited the bedroom and hurried downstairs. He grabbed his black jacket before heading over to the old, red pickup truck once owned by his father. Despite the vehicle's age, it was well-maintained because of his father's admiration for mechanics. Servants were curious, a few wishing to stop him, but the redhead was quick to pull out of the garage and start driving.
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Yards were covered in snow, trampled from days passed since the snowfall which occurred the day he lost his cellphone. As Dexter drove down the streets, his amber eyes scanning the area around him while he headed towards Starlight Beach. Mentally, the bespectacled man steeled himself for the worse situation, which would be the return of the mysterious darkness. Shadow teleportation was a hasty way out of the situation, however, exhaustion would arrive with it. The circumstances could be dangerous, but Dexter never wanted to bother his grandparents with purchasing him a new phone. He did not deserve it, he hardly worked and practically did nothing to benefit the company at the present time. Eventually, Dexter pulled up to Starlight Beach and parked his vehicle by the sidewalk. Promptly, the redhead exited the vehicle and headed up the dirt path. Hands were shoved into the depths of his pocket as he accomplished the same walk he did days prior. Carefully, he navigated the area, searching for the strange cabin where his phone was abandoned. In the distance, his eyes caught a glimpse of the abandoned cabin the mysterious blond stranger flew them out of.
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Each step brought him closer to the damaged building, the altercation days prior still obvious to any passerby. Slowly, he approached, crossing the threshold with curious eyes searching for his precious phone. It would be a quick grab and go, nothing more, at least, Dexter had hoped. Upon crossing the doorway, the redhead's eyes widened before narrowing into an annoyed glare.
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"You've gotta be fucking kidding," he grumbled rather loudly, before pausing and noticing his phone. "HEY! THAT'S MINE!"
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From the threshold, Dexter could see the blond man who saved him, his cellphone clasped in the man's hand. The stranger managed to save him days ago, but the redhead was displeased to see him. While the individual rescued him, arguments were constant between them because of their interesting predicament. Eyes remained in a glare as the bespectacled man waited for the blond's response.
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[ If Nicolas hides, just ignore the last bit. <3 Also, love the thread!!!]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 719 Words
There were instances where Dexter craved social capability, especially with the recent expectations being placed heavily onto his shoulders. Eventually, his family would attempt to drag him into company affairs despite his apprehensions about the entire decision. Thus, this could potentially be a practice run for the redhead's social skills, however, he felt as though he was failing the exercise. High-class individuals were always difficult to interact with from his personal experiences during those fleeting interactions sparked from recognition. Yet, this situation even broke the conventional expectations taught from the brief conversations. Unlike those business folk who fixated on company-related conversations, he was being demanded to admit his favoured cakes which were mere trivialities compared to the conversational focal points oftentimes discussed by the majority. Or... perhaps he failed to learn the formation of genuine friendships was crucial to maintain powerful connections. Each question was a mere curiosity and individuals wishing to form a relationship with the upcoming heir to the Adams' company, alas, Dexter was always hesitant about social interaction.
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Either way, he lacked social grace to form those significant connections between others, thus he felt stranded as he interacted with Brendon. When the cake conversation seemed dropped, Dexter followed behind the young boy with subtle concern cracking his expression. Things were not going well. The redhead glanced over the beverage table with wide eyes and a confused expression; he hardly knew what over half of these fancy drinks were... Why did his grandparents abandon him to be toured around by this kid?
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"Uh... I am not sure," Dexter answered awkwardly.
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Immediately after his words, the bespectacled man steeled himself for the demanding nature of the young child. These situations were beyond the redheaded heir and currently, that was on display for everybody. Was his family genuinely expecting him to fill his parent's shoes when he could hardly tell a child his favoured drink? Unfortunately, expectations were provided, which meant he would inevitably be taught about the business, which meant improving in conversation if possible...
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Brendon Redal [break] 336 Words
Anxious and thoroughly embarrassed, Dexter awkwardly stood awaiting his grandparent's requests. The inevitable interrogation was worrisome because of the manner used to enter the cabin. Criminal acts were something the Adams' family were strangers too, mostly due to his foolishness a mere few months ago. Forceful entrances, thievery, graffiti and a variety of other crimes coloured Dexter's history, thus, he feared the response he would receive should he mention the cabin break-in. Reprimanding? Lecturing? All of the above? The final appeared the most probable considering his grandparents would be upset he failed to avoid those types of situations. They would undoubtedly be disappointed, or perhaps downright angry because he allowed the assumed demon to break into the cabin. The redhead knew his grandparents would disapprove, but he mostly feared the possibility of being punished for something he never did. He never demanded the man who saved him to break down the cabin's door and instead wriggled and complain throughout the entirety of being carried because he feared the possibility of embarrassment encroaching. People would leap at gossip, especially the type which involved a member of the Adams' family displaying their true emotions after the deaths.
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A hand grasped Dexter's shoulder, making the young man stiffen and glance at his grandfather. The man's wrinkled face leaned closer, eyes examining the small drop of blood. Once satisfied, his pointer finger is used to push up his black, wire-rimmed glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose. There appeared to be no injuries on his grandson, however, it never ceased his relentless worrying.
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"You're not hurt, right Dexter?" He inquired softly while Colleen invited the demon inside.
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Slowly, Dexter nodded in response to his grandfather's question. The redhead was thankful to be uninjured since past behaviours exhibited by his grandmother allowed him to easily imagine her over-reactive fretting over him receiving a mere cut. When the blond refused her assistance, Colleen's eyes softened, her mouth opening briefly to insist, however, she sympathized with the notion of worried parents. An understanding smile stretched across her cheeks, small, but respectable.
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"Well, you are welcomed to come back if you ever need help. You be careful. Thank you again for bringing my grandson home, he can definitely be a handful," she said, attempting to lighten the mood.
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Slight red touched Dexter's cheeks, but before he gained the opportunity to whine, the stranger provided peculiar words of farewell. The bespectacled man's amber eyes widened slightly, brows furrowing in surprise at the odd statement. Moments prior, they were constantly bickering because the blond refused to leave him alone. There was slight confusion on the countenances of his grandparents at the unexpected comment, but they allowed silence to reign. Once the stranger turned to leave, Colleen silently watched, waving with a smile on her face when he glanced back. Only after the blond left their vicinity did her expression shift to stern as she turned to Dexter.
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"Now... care to tell us why you were stuck in a cabin?" she demanded as he was ushered inside.
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Text messages from earlier were unfortunately remembered... which meant Dexter would be thrown into the deep end. The redhead flinched, his prayers of escaping his interrogation unanswered. Trouble would arrive in the form of lecturing or punishment, which the wealthy, young adult knew all too well.
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[ We already discussed the upcoming thread obviously since you got it up while my slow butt is was still getting this wrapped up XD, but I agree where it would have been an interesting environment. <3 Especially with the Adams' Manor being lavish and quite large. ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 553 Words
Thoughts about his attitude radiating vibes of not taking the Matthews' son seriously never crossed Dexter's mind when he decided to nonchalantly shrug at his answer. He was more concerned about his casual demeanour possibly resulting in people looking down upon him. Admittedly, Dexter thought his inexperience with conversation placed him below Brendon in social grace, although, he was unaware of how difficult it was to gauge those capabilities. Everybody had different means of communication, meanwhile, he preferred to avoid it altogether whenever possible. Thus, there was something about the ballroom which felt crowded and loud despite the civil conversations occurring between adults. The conversations were business-based, however, years of unfamiliarity made it impossible for Dexter to be aware of the contrasting differences in the discussions. Although, his lack of interaction resulted in the redhead's belief that his bland answer would be plenty fine, especially since he noticed nothing special about fancier meals. The demanding outburst was unexpected, Dexter's eyes widening as he flinched. There were higher expectations, including notions such as explaining favourites.
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"We-well... I'm just... a... um... Dexter fumbled, uncertain about how to answer. "I... I just like simple stuff... Is that a problem?"
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Nervously, Dexter adjusted his collar, uncertain with his answer. The redhead's confidence over the current situation was diminishing. The introverted young man wished his family never abandoned him to participate in conversation with Brendon. How could he be trusted with something like this?! Handling the situation felt impossible for Dexter, however, choices were limited.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Brendon Redal [break] 250 Words
Warmth coated the earth on this day as the sun stationed itself high above the sky. Clouds were practically nonexistent, revealing brilliant azure skies above. Through tightly shut curtains, the wondrous sunlight hardly managed to break into a dark bedroom. Thus, later into the morning hours, Dexter roused from his sleep. He woke bleary-eyed, days of waking earlier to begin the process of learning about the Adams' company messing up a once "regular" sleep schedule. Throughout his years, Dexter was a night owl, however, a little over a year passed since his parent's death and his family was becoming determined. These walkarounds through the company building became mandatory, each morning starting with loud knocks on his bedroom doors and shouts about his uncle waiting. The only remaining heir to the electronics company's fortunes was a young, redheaded adult who was an outlier compared to his family. Several comments were made already, overheard when his uncle and grandparents settled down in the study to discuss the company. People were complaining about the radical differences since Dexter was introverted and dubbed a troublemaker after his crimes. He supposed those thoughts kept him up and the recent changes of sleep schedule made it impossible for the redhead to receive an appropriate amount of sleep.
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Slowly, Dexter rose, groaning as he reached for his glasses, unfolded the arms and placed them onto his face. Weeks were going by since his introduction into the company, but he could already hear the discussions about his unique behaviour. An annoyed sigh escaped the redhead's lips, however, his desire to delay the inevitable sparked thoughts of a plan. Hastily, Dexter leaped out of bed, striding to the drawers and grabbing a light red t-shirt and a pair of light blue shorts. Whether they matched or not hardly mattered, they were merely the two articles of clothing piled on top with some possibility of working together. The clothes were quickly tugged on without any forethought, the wealthy young man being quite pleased he merely slept in boxers. Less time was wasted hiding in the dark depths of his rooms. He returned to his bedside, snatching the phone off his bedside table and unplugging it. Promptly, the device was shoved into his pocket, later followed by a pair of earbuds taken from the drawer as he walked towards the door, pressing up to listen to the other side. Once satisfied with silence, he turned the knob and entered the lavish hallways of the Adams' manor. His bedroom door was quietly closed behind him as he crept forward, listening and avoiding anybody awake at these hours.
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A mere few years ago, Dexter thought his days of sneaking out of the manor were over, but it appeared to start anew because of conversations he desired to avoid. Fortunately, the redhead remained skilled in his craft as he gradually slipped through the house, undetected. There was a pause as he approached the steps closest to the right side of the manor as he listened for footsteps. Quietness allowed him to proceed, the young man heading into the kitchen where merely a few drinks were stored. From there, he snatched a filled, blue, re-useable water bottle before fleeing the high-traffic area and weaving through the hallways. Quick steps carried him to the servant's foyer where he opened the door and headed outside through the manor's back entrance. From there, everything would be easier as Dexter made his way down the path and beyond the gate; he long snatched a servant's keycode for morning ventures. Foolishly, they thought the redhead only had his darkness manipulation for escape, but he preferred to have alternative methods. Once outside the gate, he walked a free man with plans of travelling to Calico Forest by foot to avoid these confrontations.
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As he headed down the bland sidewalks, Dexter sent a quick I'm heading out for a bit text to his grandparents before returning the phone to his pocket for ignoring. When he arrived at his destination, perhaps he would consider answering, but for now, he required distance. The earbuds were plugged in and the ringer turned off, which would allow Dexter to thoroughly ignore any incoming texts. Would he worry his about his safety family? Most definitely. However, his insecurities about the possible conversation related to his attitude concerned the young man more. There were no plans on changing his personality or unhappily working under a facade of happiness and friendliness. It sounded miserable, thus he wanted to avoid an ill-fated destiny. The earbuds were placed in his ears, a few quick taps playing the album ATTENTION ATTENTION by Shinedown before the phone was shut off and returned to his pocket. Carelessly, Dexter weaved through the sidewalks, eventually arriving at the dirt paths of the Calico Forest. Animals went unheard as rock music blasted in his ears, but the shade and changes in the atmosphere were nonetheless welcomed.
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He proceeded down the path to Cattail Lake for an extensive period of time until suddenly veering off into the bush. Grass tickled his feet easily through the black sandals he wore, but Dexter hardly cared. He took cautious steps around bushes, fallen trees and anything else that blocked his path. Eventually, he arrived at a small opening where the river swept passed idly. Dozens of people would be either at Cattail Lake or Starlight Beach, upriver was where relaxing existed and worries could be rinsed away with the waters. The cellphone was fetched again, turned on and the pause button tapped. The earbuds were pulled out and texted complaints noticed, but temporarily ignored. Sandals were slipped off near the river's edge until finally Dexter sat on the edge and dipped his feet into the cooling waters. His phone remained in his hand, the young man reading texts, but making no hustle to reply to them. Relaxation, peace and quiet, it was everything he desired opposed to arguing and being informed about how improper his behaviour was. The conversation would be unpredictable, but Dexter remembered how he would be lectured for his troublesome ways, thus he assumed a similar outcome instead of finding out for himself. He was simply frightened of the requirement to change for the world when he merely wished to be himself.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Artorias Fray [break] 1,044 Words
Protectiveness and reckless decision-making manifested at the notion of potentially losing more than his parents. The loss of his parents was devastating, but Dexter knew possibly losing his grandparents would be another heartbreaking occurrence. Pessimistic thoughts of impossible recovery from four life-shattering deaths entered his mind, thus it prompted his threats about returning for the cellphone he dropped. He refused to feel the pain of losing more family suddenly and violently. Murdered by terrors while being driven home in a taxi, it was a frightening thought for an abrupt demise. The thought always disturbed his stomach and worried him about possibly meeting a similar death... Similarly, his grandparents were terrified of losing him, going lengths to insist on installing a tracking app so they could find his exact location should he fail to respond to any text messages. The entire Adams family was filled with people scared of losing another person close to them, all rattled by the abrupt deaths of the two wealthy, company heads. News stores never captured the amount of anguish and fear created from those chilling stories, thus nobody knew about how over-protective they became of one another.
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Once soothed by informing one of their butlers, Dexter quietly watched the ground pass beneath them. Something was thrilling about being at these heights, watching the world beneath pass by. It was calmer than the rollercoaster rides Dexter enjoyed in his teen years but held a tinge of fear because of the distance away from the ground. The redhead was thankful he was not terrified of heights. Quietly, the amber-eyed adult watched the world passed beneath, noticing as they closed in on the lavish Adams' Manor. Their landing was interesting, the lack of grace resulting in a slight stumble on Dexter's part as he attempted to create room. Blood landed on his jacket, the weather-resistant material failing to absorb the red liquid. As the man retorted, the redhead narrowed his eyes, but before he could speak the manor's front doors would burst open and reveal a pair of elderly people quickly hurrying towards him. Despite their age, they crossed the distance quickly, the female of the pair immediately wrapping her arms around Dexter.
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"DEXTER!" A tight squeeze was taken, prompting the redhead to hug her back before she pulled away.
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Worry was obvious, his grandmother anxious about her grandson's well-being and he could hardly blame her. Chances were, their eyes were glued to the Life360 app used to track the location of Dexter's phone. Concerns undoubtedly flooded through their mind when they noticed the motionless tracker after he stated being on his way home. Slowly, his grandfather approached from behind her, a stern expression on his face. His grandmother, Colleen, carefully released her grandson and shared a similar expression.
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"No more adventures into the city for a bit, okay? The elderly man, Wayne Adams, said.
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Embarrassed and quiet, Dexter merely nodded, amber eyes refusing to meet theirs. The redhead knew they were concerned about his safety, and after what happened today, he could not reassure them it would never happen again. Eventually, Colleen glanced around her grandson and noticed the horned man with wings who brought her grandson home. She favoured him with a thankful smile, Dexter watching as she walked around him to approach.
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"Thank you for bringing my grandson home," she said graciously.
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The smile she wore crumbled as he looked over the young man, noticing the blood seeping from his arm. Once again, Colleen glanced over at her grandson with a worried expression before return her eyes on the person she assumed was a young man.
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"How about you come inside? We have some peroxide and bandages for those cuts," she offered.
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Her tone was insisting, making it clear she would merely try harder if the offer was refused. There were no doubts about Colleen Adams being a good-natured woman, albeit, occasionally over-bearing or downright excitable if placed in the right crowd. Alas, her mood was dampened by worry, specifically with what her grandson was involved in. Meanwhile, Dexter's eyes fixated on the concrete walkway leading up to the large manor as he concerned himself with the upcoming interrogation about what happened while he was out.
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[ YAY! ADIRA LIVES!!! Also, if it helps Nicolas, Dexter will be interrogated which he will hate. ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 701 Words
Offensive language or actions were always a concern for Dexter during these social events. Association with these gatherings were a rarity for the introverted redhead since under most circumstances he managed to narrowly avoid them. Usually, his troublesome behaviour gave his family hesitance to permit his attendance at these events, however, recent developments provided his grandparents with a reason to change those traditions. Unfortunately, the redhead found himself somewhat cursing his change of demeanour solely because of the awkward situation it placed him in. Abandoned by his grandparents and uncle, Dexter was expected to fend for himself as he spoke with the son of the Matthews' family. The dessert fixated conversation was something unique, however, the bespectacled man's tense nerves staved away any hunger remotely. Throughout these few interactions, Dexter was cautious about possibly saying the wrong thing and being criticized for it. The impatient question surprised the redhead, a curious thought entering his mind. Was he supposed to be able to answer whatever inquiries were asked without any hesitation or vague answers?
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"Um... well... I..." Dexter briefly flinched at his word struggle.
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A deep breath was taken, the redhead straightening his posture and reminding himself he needed to act professionally and formally. If only the task was easier...
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"Well... I guess I would just pick a plain chocolate one," he answered, instinctively shrugging.
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The casually stated remark could hardly be considered remotely professional, thus the redhead frown. An annoyed sigh almost escaped his lips, but he resisted the temptation. It was extremely difficult to refuse himself the ability to outwardly display his self-infuriation. These parties were definitely not a pleasant atmosphere for Dexter and he supposed it was starting to show. He was struggling to contain his regular behaviours, his previous facade breaking from a mere moment of concern over a potential error. Admittedly, the redhead prayed somebody would save him from the current social situation.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Brendon Redal [break] 319 Words
Endless concerns about his grandparent's well-being flooded through Dexter's mind, his fears of loss remained fresh after losing his parents in November. Despite potential getting hurt no longer mattered, the redhead desiring to avoid the mourning from more family members passing away; the first time was enough. There was an aching deep in the introvert's heart as he foolishly struggled in the stranger's grip. Concentration was increased, the redhead attempting to move the darkness despite being more inept than the mysterious force which manifested it. When they moved further from the phone, Dexter eyes widening as he squirmed slightly more, his heart nervously slamming against his sternum. He feared for his overprotective grandparents who would most certainly follow the phone's signal. Would this mysterious force attack them for attempting to find their missing grandson? The last thing Dexter desired was for somebody's death to be entirely his fault. He already failed to provide his parents with an incredible son who could have brought them happiness and pride, but he wanted his grandparents to be around while he changed; he did not want to be alone...
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The gifted man squirmed, surprise invading his concerned expression when he heard the sounds of shattering glass. Immediately, his amber eyes flitted towards the stranger who broke the window, shards of glass reflecting sunlight and glittering as they fell. The demon's wings provided safety, Dexter failing to comprehend why this complete stranger decided to rescue him from everything bad. Wings were flapping, the redhead carefully adjusting himself to avoid being scratched by the menacing remnants of glass remaining stuck in the window frame. Breaths were faster, worry permanently clinging to Dexter's face as the distance was created between himself and the phone. The bespectacled man bit down on his lip as he tried to fight the worrisome tears fighting to surface.
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"NO! PLEASE! I NEED IT! IF THEY GO THERE, THEY MIGHT GET HURT!" He shouted, squirming fearfully for his grandparent's safety.
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The location was unanswered as Dexter squirmed, more worried about his grandparents than his own safety. He was narrowly avoiding the surfacing of tears, his thoughts tormenting him with the notion of somebody attacking his beloved grandparents. The mentioning of the phone made him flinch, the bespectacled man only memorizing the home phone's number; contacts existed for a reason. The location was provided in a quiet murmur, Dexter reaching up to grab the phone. The numbers were quickly dialed in an anxious hurry, Dexter praying the servants could persuade his grandparents to turn back.
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"Someone better be home... or else you are dropping me off and I am getting my phone," Dexter stated while he listened to the ringing.
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There were two rings before the familiar greeting of an Adams' family servant answered, "Greetings, you have reached the Adams' residence, is there somebody certain you wish to speak with?"
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The male tone which answered the phone was quickly given a name in Dexter's mind, Thomas Waterson. The man was older and always answered in a professional tone whenever his grandparents were gone or preparing to leave.
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"Hey, Thomas! I need you to call my grandparents and tell them I will be home soon! Tell them they can't go to where my phone signal is, please?!" Dexter stated, the words hurrying out of his mouth.
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A soft sigh escaped Thomas' lips before he answered, "Very well, Master Dexter."
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"Thank you! Bye!"
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Only mild relief flooded through Dexter once he hung up the phone, praying his grandparents would listen to the servant's message. Slowly, he reached up to return the phone to the stranger's pocket, the bespectacled man attempting to relax while he would be flown towards the suburbs, specifically the wealthier side where large houses were.
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[ Ooooh! That could work! : D Also, Dexter did give directions, I just kept it vague since I suck at street names. XD ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 622 Words
Each letter was carefully tapped and placed into the text area, Dexter already imagine his grandmother staring directly at her messenger, waiting for confirmation or denial. Fixation was placed onto a phone, the redhead desiring assistance to escape his abrasive companion. Quietly encroached a force from the darkest corners of the cabin, from places where the fire’s light failed to reach. Smog consisting of shadows consumed the floor, although, the redhead merely proceeded, assuring there were zero spell checks in his message. Suddenly, he heard the other man’s voice, Dexter’s senses returning as his eyes widened with realization. Thick, black smog was enveloping the floor, resulting in a surprising yelp escape the redhead’s lips. There was little time to focus as arms grabbed him, pick him up. The startled emotions resulted in Dexter’s grip loosening around his phone, the device plummeting onto the wooden floor without the send button being touched. A flinch graced the redhead’s face as he realized the phone left his hand. The arms around his wrists lifted him higher, the bespectacled man glancing to notice the blond’s large wings; how many demonic traits did this man have?! They were hovering above the smog, Dexter squirming slightly as he watched the wrestling shadows below.
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Beneath him, he could sense the loose darkness manipulation creating a smog-like consistency. After a few moments, the bespectacled man’s eye’s widened as he stared where his phone was. The screaming did not disturb him, but rather the thoughts of how his grandmother would react watching the typing indicator disappear with no text message.
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“... Oh fuck… I-I need my phone!” he stated, squirming slightly, ignoring the question momentarily. “NO! MY GRANDMA IS GOING TO FREAK, DAMMIT! If we’re in danger, my grandparents sure as hell are when they get here!”
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Panic settled in quickly, a nervousness breaching Dexter’s expression as endless concerns flooded his mind. Chances were, his grandmother would overreact and request a driver to immediately take them to the location of his phone. Despite the danger below them, the redhead’s worries about his family making it impossible for him to cease struggling. Thoughts were rushing at light speed through his mind, Dexter having difficulty thinking straight. Senses gradually led the worried redhead to a potential escape from the situation, the darkness manipulating gifted praying there was a way out. A deep breath was taken, the bespectacled man attempting to focus, desperately hoping he could control the smog below, but nothing happened. A grimace breached his face as he watched the wreathing mass of shadows pooling on the cabin's floor. The threatening darkness below was undisturbed by the gifted's attempts, resulting in a frown touching his lips.
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"I... I can't get it to move," Dexter mumbled in defeat until his eyes flitted to the stranger. "You're a demon... can you move the darkness so I can get my phone? If you do, I can get both of us out of here."
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The dangerous situation they were placed into was menacing, thus Dexter believed the insensitive individual could be searching for a method of escape. Unfortunately, the downsides which would inevitably arrive worried the redhead immensely since there would be no possible way to defend himself. Shadow teleporting, the riskiest method of escape the gifted man held in his hand, but definitely a type which could hastily evacuate them from the cabin with little injury.
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[ Well Dexter didn't like his phone being taken away. XD This will be a fun rollercoaster! ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 563 Words
Comfort was discovered when Dexter wrapped his own arms around his torso, hugging himself tightly as he desperately attempted to maintain calmness. Another man was in the room, yet, the redhead felt a suffocating sensation of loneliness because of his companion’s lack of assistance to his sensitive situation. The man had a callous attitude towards his situation, which he held no knowledge about and, yet, felt entitled to treat him horrendously in response. All Dexter had desired was solitude to hopefully soothe his mourning heart and mind. Warm colours proceeded to consume the wood, although, the warmth embrace failed to reach the redhead who remained on the couch. Despite blowing his nose being recently blown; he was simply too upset to completely calm himself. There were desires to leave the cabin, but after the attitude the horned man displayed, Dexter believed leaving would be a difficult task. Considering the demon was willing to toss him over the shoulder and literally carry him against his will to the lone cabin. Quietly, the bespectacled man proceeded to hug himself, listening to the calming sound of crackling flames.
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Words left the blond's lips, Dexter's eyes flitting over as his attention fixated, listening to the fact the stranger planned on leaving the building. There was a chance he could finally escape the cabin and hurry home into the sanctions of the Adams Manor where he could sob as he pleased with both comfort and support from his family. As the demon stood, Dexter nodded hastily in hopes the stranger would leave and not guard the cabin. Quietly, the redhead settled on the couch, amber eyes carefully watching as the blond stood and headed towards the door, but there was something different. Immediately, the introvert's brows furrowed when he realized the room was darker than it was previously. How much time had passed since they entered the cabin? Certainly, the time could not have transitioned to evening this quickly. There was little thought towards the notion, the redhead watching intently as he waited for the stranger to open the threshold and finally leave him alone, however, it never happened. Each attempt to open the door appeared to be a failure, yet, blocking the door in a brief amount of time was impossible.
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"What the hell is going on?" Dexter asked, rising from his seat.
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Slowly, he rose from the comfortable embrace of the couch, his steps quick and brisk as he moved towards the door. Should he gain the opportunity, the introvert reached for the door, attempting to open it himself, however, there would be no budging. The attempt to open the door provided Dexter with the evidence to make a conclusion. Ultimately, they were stuck inside the confines of a cabin without any way to escape from the walls around them or one another. Instantly, a single fact became obvious, today was designed to be a horrible series of events and fate refused to give Dexter a break. An annoyed groan escaped the redhead's lips as he fished his cellphone from his pocket and noticed the text message inquiring his health sent by his grandmother. A frown touched his face as he clicked to open the message then used his fingerprint to unlock the phone. There was a single message quickly sent through taps on his screen, I'm stuck in a cabin... Can you help me, please? Undoubtedly, his grandparents would assault him with a torrent of questions, but the redhead was more fixated on limiting the time he was forced to spend with the rude stranger.
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[ PFFFFFT! Well, in some way Dexter would say that. XD Either way, it is an amusing thought. Also, no problem! Let's make this harder on them. XD Muahahaha, evil character trapped together moment! lol ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 593 Words
Arms were crossed while Dexter sniffled, tears still trickling down his face as his lips quivered, refusing to become anything, but a sorrowful frown. Ceasing the endless water dripping from his eyes felt impossible, especially considering the redhead was upset over his sudden loss of his parents alongside his embarrassment over being found with a tear slickened face. Being overwhelmed by his emotions and the mental pain he felt was not a choice, but rather a consequence of when horrible things happened. There was an intense longing of his parent's attention, however, Dexter knew it was impossible to ever have those interactions again. As the tears proceeded, the gifted man's eyes remained locked on the floorboards, following the cracks between them. There were further sniffles, the crossed arms tightening as he allowed the tears to fall. A congested sensation remained in Dexter's throat, the young man struggling to create even an illusion of calmness. The sound of returning footsteps arrived, the redhead checking his peripherals and noticing the stranger return, setting down a roll of toilet paper. Immediately, Dexter snatched the roll, tearing off some pieces to wipe away the tears and blow his nose.
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The sounds of movement and wood hitting the bottom of the fireplace caught the redhead's attention, his amber eyes glancing over to watch the mysterious man piled wood into the fireplace. After a mere few moments, there was a pile of toilet paper from Dexter cleaning himself up, the redhead gathering up the tissues to throw them out in the kitchen garbage; hopefully, nobody would mind. Slowly, he began walking back towards the house, stiffening when the stranger stating he would get over it without even being aware of the situation. Could he ever recover from losing his parent?
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"Shut up... you don't know anything," Dexter mumbled, sitting back down.
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Once the redhead stationed himself, he noticed the large, black mark on the man's jacket. A confused eyebrow was raised, Dexter wondering what happened to had potentially resulted in the large burnt mark. An extensive exhale escaped the redhead's mouth as he carefully adjusted his glasses, glancing through the messy lenses. He pulled them further from his face, reaching under his jacket and sweater to grab his shirt to carefully wipe away the distracting marks on them. Once everything was cleaned, he adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose. When the man spoke again, attempting to make it clear he was not their enemy.
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There was a soft sigh which escaped Dexter's mouth before he spoke, "... Yeah..."
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The word was mumbled out, Dexter uncertain of how to respond to the notion. While he understood the stranger was attempting to assist him, but unfortunately the redhead wanted to be alone. The introverted man simply felt overwhelmed and as though he needed to cry everything out without anybody else around, however, fate had different plans it seemed.
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[ AHHHH! Same! XD Dexter will think that for sure, he thinks Nicolas is a jerk. ]
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@nicolas [break] 484 Words
Separation from family members never manifested into anxiety for Dexter, until this particular moment. An acute fear sparked in the pits on the redhead’s mind, bringing force a nervous heat and tension which settled on the back of his neck. There were many people who glanced in his direction, curious of the newcomers to the prestigious social gathering. Capability in social interaction was a questionable notion for the bespectacled gifted since he could perform considerably well in these situations, however, lacked the interaction battery power. A conversation was somewhat exhausting, reaching lengths of tiring the introvert rather quickly when exposure was prolonged. When his grandparents, specifically Colleen, pleaded for his attendance, Dexter expected to rely immensely on them to manage a majority of the socializing. However, they smoothly passed him off, forcing him to play nicely with a young boy he never met; did they lack the understanding to the predicament they placed him in? Initiating and actively participating in the conversation with people around his age already proved difficult, but with somebody who appeared to be a mere adolescent?! The uncertainty broke through Dexter’s poor attempt of an amused facade, the young adult glancing back at his family.
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While his grandparents continued their own socializing, Richard glanced towards him. A reassuring smile touched his face as he gestured for Dexter to pay attention to the young boy he was forced to converse with. Inaudibly, a sigh escaped the redhead’s lips, his gaze promptly returning to Brendon. As Dexter gazed at the youthful boy, he noticed the wide-eyed expression on his face, resulting in him raising a brow in confusion. An inquiry was followed by a sharp turn, the redhead pausing before slowly following the brown-haired adolescent.
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“Not really, but I do like chocolate,” Dexter answered, remaining quiet in tone.
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Uncertainty coated the redhead’s words as he moved to follow Brendon, however, he already wished his grandparents did not push him to socialize. After years of avoiding these gatherings, Dexter felt unprepared to handle the situation on his own. Gradually, each step took them closer to a lavishly decorated table filled with numerous desserts. Plates were strewn across a matching green table cloth, a variety of different desserts, making it evident the Matthews were prepared to cater to a majority of people’s sweet preferences. There was a pause as Dexter stared at the many cakes, his personal favourite always being those with plenty of chocolate. Chocolate had always been his favoured sweet, the redhead frequently enjoying it whenever the opportunity presented itself, unfortunately, the mild nervousness manifesting in the pit of his stomach made him hesitant. There was still a majority of the evening to come, and Dexter was unsure if he could last for the extensive hours and make his grandparents happy. The concern easily extinguished any appetite the redhead may have possessed prior, leaving the dessert table merely a place filled with beautifully decorated cakes rather than a place to quench hunger.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Brendon Redal [break] 494 Words
Silently, Dexter listened to the progression of the conversations, mildly concerned over the numerous things his grandparents could potentially state. There were currently a variety of different facts the redhead prayed his lovable grandparents would avoid sharing with the adorable, blue-haired man he fatefully found. A soft sighed escaped his lips, the bespectacled man's amber eyes flitting to Maxi, where he noticed him gazing at him. There was a pause, surprise touching Dexter's expression until he managed a shy, reassuring smile. Rapidly inside his chest, the redhead's heart palpitated from merely catching a glimpse of Maxi's face, although, he wished for more personal time with him. After an initial conversation, the pair discovered they could bond of reading, and Dexter desired to manifest a closeness with Maxi, however, could not provide a reason for why. Something was pulling him towards Maxi, as though threads were knitting them together. When the adorable man glanced away, an inaudible and extensive exhale escaped the redhead's lips. Evidently, his grandparents were extremely excited over the notion of meeting a man their homosexual grandson was spending time with.
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These were the instances when Dexter wished he remained in the closet about his sexuality to his family, especially considering how meddlesome his grandparents could be when they believed someone could make their little boy happy. As the conversation switched to the book, his grandfather smiled as Maxi shared his opinion, meanwhile, his grandmother was beaming. There was a wide grin stretched across her face as she excitedly observed the blue-haired man, listening to the words he stated as though they were a holy gospel. The admiration Dexter's grandparents held for the young author was endless, especially considering the unique themes they stated were in the book; it would be untraditional and scandalous in his grandparent's prime era. As Maxi explained, Colleen enthusiastically nodded, hands coming together, resting against her chest as she listened.
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"That sounds wonderful," Colleen responded excitedly, albeit, quietly to avoid further trouble. "I will have to consider reading it sometime."
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As Colleen decided on reading the book as well, her husband nodded in agreement, although, Dexter immediately stiffened, straightening in his chair to stare at his grandparents. Endless concerns over their meddlesome tendencies entered the young redhead's mind as memories flashed through his mind of their assistance in his parent's attempts to find him a suitable significant other. Their intentions were completely positive since they merely desired his happiness, but the bespectacled young adult wished to discover their significant other on their own. The instant his grandparents noticed his staring, they smiled reassuringly at him before returning their attention to Maxi.
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"Anyways, I was actually curious if you planning to write more books in the future? Your first one was incredible, so I would definitely love to read more of your work," Colleen asked quietly.
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During a majority of events, Dexter's grandmother was the primary conversationalist because of her extremely extroverted attitude. Striking up a conversation with other individuals was an easy task for her, and despite his quietness in this instant, Wayne could accomplish similarly. After a few moments, the redhead's eyes slowly drifted in Maxi's direction, a neutral expression on his face.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@characternamehere [break] 531 Words
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