Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2022
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
With April, an activity check has arrived for members to do! Please post on the AC and tag all your accounts, including WIPs and OOC accounts. Failure to post on this AC will result in your accounts being marked inactive or deleted. Please note, due to a late start, the due date for this check has been adjusted for one time and one time only.
Never did Dexter believe there was a chance that he would manage to meet a fellow gamer after being dragged to the TRS headquarters by his overbearing grandparents. He honestly thought hours would be spent in boredom because of the lack of interesting activities to accomplish. The redhead continued to lean over the back of the other chair, his amber eyes fixated with curiosity over the black-haired man who spoke of his interests. The concept of a cluttered workshop sounded like a nuisance to those required to work inside it. While the gifted man's room was a bit messy, organization occurred before it could be given the definition of cluttered. An obnoxiously filthy room just made for more hassle in the future, thus why the redhead attempted to keep it clean the best he could.
[break][break]
"Isn't working a cluttered mess kind of hard though?" He stated in response.
[break][break]
When the man grinned as he explained the weapons Dexter had previously question, the redhead could only stare wide-eyed at the thought. Immediately, his mind flitted through the numerous games he decided to play himself and the interesting weaponry featured. The very concept of those becoming feasible creations was thrilling, albeit, terrifying on account of how much damage they could wreak; should they be created, Dexter hoped they would never fall into villainy. The mentioning of the type of games the man played brought a smirk to his face.
[break][break]
"I see... I am more of a fan of controllers myself, but I do enjoy horror games in VR. Makes it a lot scarier," Dexter happily responded.
[break][break]
Being an avid fan of horror, the redhead enjoyed a variety of horror games, especially when they possessed a virtual-reality twist. When a game begins feeling like reality was when Dexter would oftentimes get scared, but the thrill was always welcomed.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]Zephyr Wolfe [break] 305 Words
Being captivated by Maxi's appearance made it difficult for Dexter to disagree to any plans the blue-haired beauty possessed. There was simply something supernatural about him, beyond what everybody witnessed of powers and creatures observed in everyday life. This abnormal connection the redhead would fail to explain drew him close and brought these strange motions to his heart and created new types of temptations. When a smile touched his company's lips, Dexter easily reciprocated the action while his heartbeat elevated for a moment in joy. Witnessing Maxi smile was sublime, it was a rewarding sight to see an expression of happiness on the bashful man's face. At the mentioning of finding a seat, the redhead provided a nod while the corners of his lips remained drawn upwards. There was a moment spent watching Maxi as he led the way, Dexter admiring the short man which delayed him noticing the gesture to follow alongside the blue-haired man. For a fleeting moment, panic crossed the bespectacled man's face as he took a few hasty steps to catch up to Maxi.
[break][break]
Once he managed to catch up, the redhead adjusted to match the short man's stride. The book was held close to Dexter's chest, his yellow eyes locking onto Maxi while a soft smile touched his lips. They travelled through the shelves of books, the redhead finding it difficult to pry his gaze from the blue-haired man. There was never an instance where these sorts of feelings would surface, Dexter finding himself lost and constantly having to remind himself that staring was not polite. Eventually, they arrived in the further corners of the library, the redhead glancing towards the quiet table in the nonfiction section of the library. Chairs were provided, the blue-haired man being hasty to set up their location without assistance. When everything appeared prepared, Dexter took his seat next to Maxi, his eyes taking an occasional glance towards Maxi. The inquiry surprised the redhead, his eyes fixating on the blue-haired man before flitting towards the book.
[break][break]
"Well... I am not too sure," Dexter mumbled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "We could do it by chapter, maybe?"
[break][break]
There were similar objectives done while the redhead was in school, the teachers usually assigning chapters of a novel before sending the class off. Furthermore, Dexter clung to the hope that perhaps a copious amount of chapters were compiled in the book to allow for ample time to speak with Maxi. While the bespectacled man could enjoy books, he still desired to speak with his charming acquaintance.
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[attr="class","sorry_p_tagname"]@characternamehere [break] 426 Words
Allowing for Maxi to get into trouble because of his forgetfulness or something damaging the innocent book seemed incredibly sinful in Dexter's eyes. This sweet young man was willing to spend time with him and the redhead would not complain nor would he risk upsetting him. Besides, whatever this peculiar set of emotions were, Dexter found it oddly thrilling and incredible. These unusual emotions were causing a small smile to cross the bespectacled man's lips as he spent time with Maxi. The lighthearted response made the corners of Dexter's lips twitch, widening the grin as he gazed at the blue-haired man with a softness in his eyes. There was a spontaneous confidence, which oddly warmed the redhead's heart to see; almost as though there was a newfound comfort in his company.
The kindness in the words was pleasant since after the fraudulent activities he participated in, benevolence transformed into a rarity oftentimes only granted where professionalism remained a necessity. Carefully, the redhead pushed his glassed closer, making certain his grip on the book was firm. The slight undertones of cheerfulness in the words was alluring, generating a comfort within the mingling of nervousness and happiness.
"Well the offer is sweet, I don't want to get you in trouble," Dexter insisted. "I do appreciate the offer though, so thank-you, but I won't make you do that. Besides, if something unexpected happens and the book gets damaged, you could get blamed for it."
After a few moments, Dexter noticed the openness in body language that Maxi was surprisingly displaying. There were slight notes of intimacy in appearance, making a faint red touch the redhead's cheek. Certainly, he was reading into this incorrectly, right? The concept of somebody even implying the possibility of an intimate relationship remained foreign to the former criminal, leaving him lost in unfamiliarity. Flirting seemed impossible and properly displaying his affection was an entirely new ballpark making the concept of romance and love appear inconceivable for him. A brief nod was provided in response to heading towards the sign-out, a small grin on his face as Maxi returned to bashfulness; it was adorable. There was hesitation as he followed Maxi out of the maze, his thoughts suddenly lingering on the concept of romance. Were these peculiar emotions linked to love?
Mere thought surged blood to Dexter's cheeks as his thoughts began immediately refusing the notion. There was no possibility he could have been held by the soft hands of affection. Despite the denial, the thoughts lingered, the redhead's yellow eyes taking a moment to scrutinize Maxi's attractive form before sheepishly retreated to the book cover. Instead of pondering further, Dexter distracted his thoughts and mind by fixating on the intricate red cover of the chosen novel. The redhead's own thoughts resulted in him missing the fluster he created for the blue-haired man by invoking the word 'together'. The word itself appeared to gain a special definition given the situation, creating emotions of fluster upon use. The distance between the pair and the sign-out desk closed, Dexter watching as Maxi signed out his book first. The friendly banter that transpired between the librarian and Maxi seemed pleasant, especially since the redhead was met with an awkward silence. A majority of citizens rarely provided interactions aside from the mandatory, this woman either being aware of his introverted attitude or criminal past.
Once the book was signed out, Dexter hastily took it, providing a quick thanks before joining Maxi. Regret flickered momentarily in the redhead's yellow eyes as he wished people would forget the numerous crimes committed during his younger years. Unfortunately, they had only ceased recently and the wealth of his family allowed the news to remain a hot topic throughout the months. When the blue-haired man inquired him about the reading, Dexter forced a smile and nodded an answer to the first question.
"We could look around the shelves. There was a few tables and I imagine it would be quieter than the cafe," Dexter responded.
A momentary glance was given towards the cafe, Dexter spotting the pair of annoying girls through the glass. Returning there remained out of the question considering the redhead refused to listen to the stereotypical valley girl voices. Slowly, his gaze returned to Maxi while he waited for an answer.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
There were numerous thoughts drifting through Dexter's head while he remained beside the attractive man he had discovered. This fortune that had been granted was a divine marvel which generated surprise from the redhead. A few moments were spared to stare at Maxi, the bespectacled man's eyes fixating on the glorious person who had kindly gifted him the opportunity to remain in his presence. There was a strange essence that seemed to radiate off the anxious man that was alluring to Dexter. The sublime appearance that Maxi possessed was incredible, beautiful and breath-taking. Time appeared to slow around him as the redhead absorbed every emotion and sensation that transcended him during the situation, his yellow eyes continuing to remain locked. Despite their interaction being brief, the bespectacled man already found divinity in the adorable, nervous attitude.
Initially, the humor-based comment remained unnoticed as the redhead found himself mesmerized by Maxi. Silence hung before Dexter realized the awkwardness he was possibly creating as a result. A sheepish countenance hastily arrived onto the redheaded introvert's face before he glanced away. Faints hint of pink touched Dexter's as blood rushed towards them as a result of his immense embarrassment. An anxious laugh escaped his lips while his yellow eyes stared at the floor while desperately attempting to fight the fluster.
"Oh, please, you're probably a lot better at it than me... I just picked the simplest one," he admitted bashfully.
The redhead's heart rate elevated from the nervous admittance of simplicity, a flinch crossing his expression for a moment. Why did he have to admit that? The reasoning stated prior about gradually easing into the concept of reading together would have been ample and possessed a better logic. When the gesture arrived, Dexter followed behind Maxi as they weaved through the maze of book-filled shelves. His eyes would occasionally flit through the shelves in curiosity, his gaze lingering on Maxi's form during the following. Courage had deteriorated slightly, Dexter finding extreme difficultly to attempt walking beside Maxi as he searched. Shelves passed, the redhead's eyes glancing over the golden coloured plaques adorned with chiseled names designed to provide direction. Once the book was discovered and fetched by Maxi, the bespectacled man's eyes flitted back towards him, witnessing the beautiful triumphant smile that resulted in his own lips twitching up into one.
There was pleasure in seeing Maxi smile that warmed the redhead's heart, making the faint grin broaden and his heart flutter in delight. Grins were reassuring in the situation, allowing for a steady growth in confidence for Dexter while he reached out to retrieve the book that the blue-haired beauty offered him. The quietness remained unnoticed, not perturbing the redhead due to his anticipations for gaining the opportunity to be included in this literary delving with the adorable man he met. The generous offer brought a soft appearance to Dexter's eyes as he glanced at his companion while red lightly painting his own delicate cheeks. The anxious attitude that this stranger possessed while he offered to sign out both books caused heart palpitations; there was a charm to the bashful behavior. Sheepishly, the redhead's gaze returned to the floor while a faint smile touched his lips.
"It's alright, I have to sign out my other book anyways," he responded. "I also wouldn't want to get you in trouble if I become forgetful or something happens to the book."
The notion of accidentally causing trouble for the wonderful man who accompanied him made Dexter's heart ache; allowing that to occur would be a sin. When the methods of reading mentioned, the reddish tint darkened a few shades across the redhead's cheeks. Nervously, he scratched the back of his head while his other arm held the pair of books; the one secretly written by his company and The Lady in Red.
"Well, I am okay with either to be honest... but I would enjoy if we read together," Dexter answered nervously.
A sheepish smile remained on the bespectacled man's lips, his yellow eyes refusing to attempt eye contact. There were anxious emotions ravaging his mind, making interacting with the divine blue-haired man incredibly difficult.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
Allowing Maxi to pick the literature piece felt like the correct path, although, Dexter was shortly hurled into uncertainty when the attractive male responded. Perhaps pushing his companion towards picking was a horrible idea which made the redhead feel guilty for not merely taking the burden himself. Although, the bespectacled man was indecisive with reading material outside of the horror genre considering his personal lack of knowledge in the subject. Furthermore, he found himself intimidated by the extensive literary expertise and desired to avoid embarrassing himself with a choice that would disappoint the blue-haired man. Embarrassed and guilt ridden, Dexter kept his gaze averted while his companion step forward to begin the decision making process. Hesitantly, the redhead followed, glancing from the side at the catalog while Maxi's fingers hovered over the screen.
Being fairly close to the attractive man caused Dexter's heart to flutter uncontrollable in delight. Why was his body reacting so strangely to Maxi's presence? It was an inquiry that the redhead was unable to answer. Shortly, the screen filled with numerous selections which caused Dexter's eyes to widen; he was honestly only familiar with the extensive horror section. Titles had consumed the screen, each begging to be chosen for reading material. When a few words stuttered from Maxi's lips, the yellow eyes of the redhead flitted towards him. There was uncertainty over whether it was their close proximity or indecisiveness, but nonetheless, Dexter shuffled a little further from the man. When the first title was discovered, the bespectacled man narrowly resisted the urge to lean closer to gain an improved view.
"Wired? Definitely sounds like an interesting title," Dexter responded.
The comment was simple, said purely out of instinct. Silently, the redhead listened to the explanation, his eyes drifting to Maxi and lingering for a few moments. The optimism was peculiarly pleasant to hear considering numerous days were filled with his own pessimistic words. When the blue-haired man nervously glanced towards him, Dexter immediately averted his eyes, feeling embarrassed for the moment of staring. A light red touched Dexter's cheeks, remaining hidden by his stripped glasses. When the explanation was finished, the redhead provided a sheepish smile and a nod of acknowledgement. At the mentioning of the next title, Dexter leaned in closer to read over the description of the story. For a few moments, his eyes were glued to the screen until he finished the section of reading. It was then that he heard Maxi's rambling which returned his eyes towards the attractive man, watching the gentle movements of his face while he spoke. The nervous response afterwards made the redhead lift an eyebrow.
"Honestly, I like hearing your input. You seem to know a lot more about literature than I do," Dexter admitted, embarrassment touching his tone. "Anyways, as said, I am okay with either. If there is one you prefer, go ahead and say it. I will admit though, the second one may be best just to avoid confusion since we have never done this before... and besides... if we want to continue this we could always go back and find the other one."
The suggestion was stated nervously, causing the redhead's yellow eyes to flit towards the floor bashfully. The concept of being able to be around Maxi more caused Dexter's heart to continue fluttering. It pounded against his ribs, infecting his breathing by forcing him to maintain slow, extensive breaths to calm himself. There were emotions of joy in the notion, making everything in the library feel brighter in comparison and occupying his thoughts with possible future activities he could do with the blue-haired man.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
The adorable essence that Maxi held was causing Dexter's nervous emotions to skyrocket. These sudden desires that ambushed him were unfamiliar, although, bore a strange similarity to the ones his grandparents dreamed of him possessing. This inclination to spend an immense amount of time with somebody accompanied with anxieties, self-conscious thoughts and uncertainty drew connections to the fantasies his grandparents would constant converse about. The concept remained strange, the redhead avoiding eye contact from the mere presence of those overwhelming thoughts that caused his heart to flutter. Faint hints of red coloured his cheeks and bridged across his nose as his eyes continued staring at the carpet below. After a few moments, a glance towards his company was taken, Dexter easily noticing the smile on the blue-haired man's face.
Witnessing the smile caused his eyes to linger again, the concept of making Maxi happy sparking emotions of joyful pride. The insistence for him to pick the book genre remained which surprised Dexter. There was a kindness in granting him the permission to choose the literary topic, but the redhead wanted Maxi to remain comfortable. A majority of the books that the redheaded introvert were aware of consisted of horror topics, which from conversing with his fellow introvert, he discovered the man was not the biggest fan of; he also wanted to avoid terrorizing Maxi with a scary story.
"I... um... I appreciate it, but I can't think of anything," Dexter responded, an awkward laugh following.
The response remained an excuse for the redhead not to select novel, although, detecting the excuse was easy. A sheepish smile crossed Dexter's face as he bashfully glanced away from the attractive man he was attempting to interact with. Embarrassment over his previous sentences was increasing as his yellow eyes returned to the carpet. There were prayers that perhaps the redhead could be educated in social conversation considering his own lacking in knowledge. Never had there been a moment that required social grace and for words to smoothly drift through his lips. The wish appeared pathetic, but Dexter found himself craving the capability to converse with ease to the wonderful man who stood in front of him. When Maxi began suggesting certain genres alongside various other literary terms, the redhead found his eyes slowly drifting back towards the handsome man.
The amount of literary terms that Maxi employ impressed Dexter, causing the man's yellow eyes to spark with admiration. Listening to this spectacular man speak about literature possessed an endearing factor to the redhead.
"Well, either works for me to be honest... Maybe we should start with mystery first and see how it goes? It has the suspense you enjoy and some mystery books can get a little scarier at times," Dexter suggested gently.
Embarrassing himself because of his own rustiness in literary terms was something that the redhead was attempting to avoid; especially since Maxi appeared advanced in the study. There was a strange necessity to impress the adorable blue-haired man which never appeared. Once again, Dexter's eyes drifted towards the floor as he found himself enveloped in thoughts on how and why this man managed to become so significant in a small amount of time.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
There was mild appreciation felt when Nicholas decided to not push towards any revealing of emotions. Gradually, the extensive breaths that the redhead was taking managed to sooth the upset. The topic of his parents remained sensitive, resulting in an intense dislike of conversations revolving around them. It remained fresh in the introvert's mind and still generated the emotional days where he required time to mope within the comfort of his room. As the silence began, Dexter utilized it to continue soothing himself, which eventually resulted in him being capable of turning back towards Nicholas, although, the man was walking away. Where a majority would find the action offensive, Dexter merely shrugged.
After being near the edge of his emotional breaking point, alone time felt required for social recharging. Slowly, the redhead exited the alleyway that led to Hell's Gate, watching the white-haired man leave before heading in the other direction. Wherever the TRS hunter was heading, the introvert was certain he did not desire to follow. The phone was fished out from his pocket while he walked, texts to his grandparents being fired as he continued the walk.
[ End of Thread ]
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
Explaining a criminal past to anybody who remained a stranger was always exhausting for Dexter considering it usual caused the individual's opinion to shift. After narrowly circling to a positive outlook in relation to Nicholas, he did not desire risking it to be truthful, although, it appeared he merely dodged the question. The introvert had never been required to inform any of Lorsette's citizens about his past, resulting in him being unfamiliar in this unique territory. The mentioning of a rain check caused a mildly irritated sigh to escape Dexter's lips as he offered the white-haired man a shrug. Already social exhaustion was claiming him over the concept of having to explain the horrible things he accomplished to another person. The notion was shoved away, the redhead instead favoring to remain focused on the current conversation.
There was comfort in Nicholas not considering him a coward for keeping his distance from the monstrous Assembly of Phantoms, but the disappointed sigh prior concerned the introvert. Merely hearing the sigh suggested desperation in capturing this apparently notorious Ice Queen which meant that she obviously dangerous to the public, which included him. Fears orbited through his thoughts over meeting a similar demise to his parents, which maintained the cloudy appearance to his usually vibrant yellow eyes. Keeping a stable disposition still remained difficult whenever the redhead was forced to ponder over the death of his parents, those who were incredible precious to him. When Nicholas questioned his well-being, Dexter stiffened and glanced away as a precaution for any tears should the stranger attempt to push the admittance of his emotions.
"... I'm fine... Just don't worry about it," the introvert responded quietly.
The concept of speaking about his emotions with a stranger was not desired by Dexter which resulted in the introvert attempting to push away efforts to reach into his mind and reveal the lingering emotions. There was also dread in overstepping the boundary of his emotional state and being sent into the darkest pits of his sorrows. The introvert became determined to not allow that to occur, thus his breaths began to gradually slow as the redhead slowly calmed his tense emotional state.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
There was constant irritation in hearing the valley girl voices which seemed to be nails grinding on a chalkboard for Dexter. The obnoxious tones were immensely annoying for the introvert who preferred the calming peace of smaller groups. Masking the intense hatred for flashy wealthy folks was difficult for the redhead considering his own riches and attitude towards the display. His parents had taught him respect towards those who were perhaps less fortunate or maintained a mere common wealth compared to their family, thus resulting in the redheaded introvert viewing this as an insult to high-classed society. There were always these sorts of wealthy individuals who felt necessity in constant flaunting, but Dexter could never comprehend why they desired to appear as a pompous being to everybody they passed.
An annoyed groan escaped the redhead's lips while his gaze shifted towards Maxi and witnessed the grin on his face. A moment was spent staring before Dexter bashfully glanced away with his heart fluttering immensely from the display. Being capable of viewing a smile on his acquaintance's face was generating emotions of nervousness and affection in the redhead since seeing the essence of the small grin was breath taking. The enthusiasm hinted in Maxi's voice caused his heart to suddenly skip as the redhead enjoyed the amusement his company was finding in the display. The possible mockery remained unnoticed as Dexter's mind became fixated on the thought of making the blue-haired beauty smile, almost as though the grin was a necessity to his own happiness. Gradually, a tiny smile crossed Dexter's face over the concept of making the adorable man smile, a nod acting as his answer towards leaving due to his own speechlessness over sparking joy in his company.
As they began leaving the cafe in search of a quieter refuge amidst the seemingly endless maze of knowledge-filled books, Dexter remained closely behind Maxi. His yellow eyes scanned the various shelves featured in the library's literature section. There was a wonderful peace within the center of calming surroundings, Dexter's mind finding relaxation from merely viewing the numerous books. The novel he picked remained tucked beneath his left arm while he continued following Maxi, his eyes flitting around the establishment while his heart kept the rhythm of excitement. The concept of gaining the opportunity to read alongside the attractive man was making Dexter overjoyed. Admittedly, he was beginning to crave Maxi's attention despite the short amount of time spent alongside the spectacular man who was guiding him smoothly through the maze that was the Lorsette Public Library. There was a pause as the pair reached the catalog kiosk, Dexter watching carefully as his company's fingers glided smoothly across the holographic screen.
Shortly, Maxi addressed him politely, inquiring about if he had any form of literature in mind. Despite the action merely being courteous, Dexter had difficulty not finding the question oddly sweet.
"Uh... J-just pick what you want," he responded nervously. "You wanted to do this... so you deserve to pick."
There was an immense desire to maintain happiness in Maxi, thus the redhead decided to allow his company to pick the novel, however, a thought lingered about being capable of reading any novel with this beautiful man being satisfactory. All Dexter desired in the current situation was to gain more time learning about this marvelous individual who he, by some miracle, managed to initiate conversation with.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
There was certainty in Dexter's mind over the stranger being aware of his identity, but the redhead found himself mistaken. When Nicholas responded about being unbeknownst to his identity, he was surprised. Anybody who followed the news months back possessed knowledge of him making it peculiar for somebody to state otherwise. When questioned about the reason, Dexter waved his hand dismissively. Somebody else could inform the white-haired man, but the former criminal preferred to limit those hateful or pitiful stares. Even if this situation was temporary, the redhead decided to allow his past to be an unknown factor.
"Don't worry about it," he responded casually.
The inquiry had been asked solely for his own curiosity and to Dexter that was enough to warrant silence about the past. When Nicholas stated that he was different from a majority of people, the redhead shrugged in response. There was always the possibility that he was merely being cynical. The glance away made the introvert presumed it was a topic best left for privacy. Considering his own displeasure in personal questions, Dexter remained hush, deciding not to push the stranger into informing him. They were after all mere acquaintances which meant these matters were unsuitable for topic in Dexter's opinion. When inquired about an Assembly of Phantoms woman, the redhead's yellow eyes widened a bit since it brought concerns about nearby terrors again.
"I haven't seen anybody like that, Dexter began. "I usually avoid AP members since I don't wanna be around terrors."
The redhead responded, feeling moderately guilty about being unable to redeem himself. When it came to concerns about Zeredah alongside the Assembly of Phantoms, Dexter was clueless. His fears over meeting a similar demise as his parents haunted him constantly, resulting in a constant avoidance of the menacing group. Shortly, eye contact was avoided as the thought crossed his mind and his yellow eyes clouded over with sorrow; an effect of pondering over his lost parents.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
The fortunate in being provided the opportunity to spend a more extensive amount of time with the gorgeous blue-haired man was already causing Dexter's heart to skip beats. Books took several days which suggested the possibility of more meetings with Maxi, although, that was if the redhead's heart did not escape the prison that was his chest. Simply ever action his fellow introvert accomplished caused a series of palpitations to erupt in Dexter's chest. Being able to narrowly hold a conversation with the attractive man was already making him increasingly nervous, but perhaps going into depths on a literary piece would allow for smoother conversing. Spending time with Maxi was alluring despite the consistent nervousness Dexter felt in his presence, although, he was praying his anxious emotions would settle with the assistance of a book.
The hasty and apologetic response made the redhead wonder if perhaps he should have avoided questioning the book's genre. There was always a chance that Maxi enjoyed the romantic stories and the least Dexter could do was respect that and give the genre the opportunity to impress him. As the blue-haired man recovered, the redheaded introvert's cheeks kept maintaining the red colouring from the adorable bashfulness the man displayed. His eyes flitted towards the book when Maxi mentioned it being unsuitable for two people and found himself uncertain of the verdict due to his lacking in familiarity.
"Well... I... um... am not too sure about that. I mean, if you really want to read it, I will still read it with you..." Dexter responded in an awkward tone, shortly being proceeded by a nervous smile.
Eye contact was attempted again while he spoke as he tried to assist in Maxi's recovery towards the suggestion. Accidentally making the adorable stranger anxious because of his words caused Dexter to feel guilty. The reaction to his questioning of the genre was an unintentional side-effect that the redhead desired to man. His yellow eyes strove to remain locked on Maxi, but despite the trying, the bespectacled man found his gaze flitting away as his heart rate skyrocketed with each glance. Before more endeavors for the goal of eye contact could be created, a bell tolled. The gently ringing alerted the arrival of new cafe occupants who planned to enjoy the quiet scenery. When the redhead's eyes drifted towards the pair of blondes, his yellow eyes narrowed in annoyance since they did not appear to be regular library goers.
They wore pompous dresses that displayed their tanned skin and obvious wealth based on the material and general design of the clothing. Proper equipment for cold weather was forgotten, traded for the opportunity to demonstrate their higher class of wealth. Jewelry adorned their fingers, necks and wrists to further the image of grandiose. Each element of their style made it obvious that they believed the modern society's definition of beauty in woman; which was a topic Dexter lacked comprehension in. Heels were clicking obnoxiously on the floor, causing the redhead to roll his eyes at the ridiculous requirement to flaunt wealth. Then the voices caused Dexter to flinch as the valley girl voice reached his ears, sparking an irritated groan from the him.
The bespectacled man was not impressed by the display since as a rather wealthy individual himself, he did not require to flaunt it towards everybody. At the mentioning of leaving to find a different book, Dexter provided a nod of agreement.
"I don't care if we find a different book, I just don't want to hear those damned voices anymore. Heck, I would read anything to avoid hearing that, so go ahead and pick whatever you want," Dexter mumbled. "Let's find a different place to read while we're at it, I don't think I would be able to focus hearing those pompous gossipers."
The porcelain cup returned hesitantly to Dexter's lips for the final time, the redhead being hasty to finish the beverage before rising from his seat. The cup was left for the cleaning staff while the bespectacled man snatched the book he planned to read before moving around the table to wait for Maxi.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
The concern on the other man's countenance was surprising to Dexter, which became obvious from the subtle changes of his own expression. A complete stranger displaying concern over his health was a peculiar and incredible rare event for the redhead to witness. There was oftentimes disdain in the eyes of fellow citizens and malicious laughter from his friend, but never an expression of worry. The correction towards his inquiry caused Dexter to raise an eyebrow at the kindness he was receiving. Hints of confusion over the question had littered Nicholas' expression, almost as though he remained not familiarized with the rudeness of humanity. Hesitantly, the bespectacled man reached for the hand being offered to him with astonishment remaining in his yellow eyes as he was assisted to his feet, a silence falling over him.
There were still feelings of shame orbiting Dexter as he stood near the stranger with guilt quickly accompanying it. Despite the rude conduct he displayed towards the white-haired man, Nicholas had managed to retain a kindness towards him. When the answer was furthered with an explanation, a vestige of admiration glimmered across the redhead's expression at the hunter's pleasant attitude. A moment of wonder was taken towards pondering if he was worthy of the kindness after the discourteous behavior he used towards the man.
"Most people don't tend to help somebody who spent several minutes being a rude jerk," he grumbled. "Do you even know who I am exactly?"
The inquiry was spoken for sole curiosity reasons since Nicholas lacked the usual mixed emotions that Dexter witnessed in the eyes of who recognized him. Those who had probably kept tabs on the news months prior were aware of the exploits he involved himself in during his lazier, more crime ridden days. With crossed arms, the redhead glanced away from the benevolent stranger as guilt made attempting eye contact too difficult, especially considering his introverted attitude.
An irritated sigh aimed at his own conduct escaped the introvert's mouth. "Listen, I wasn't very nice to you and that doesn't sit well with me since you seem like a pretty nice guy. So is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
There was a tone of bluntness held within the words as Dexter requested a chance at redemption. It felt required given the symptoms of guilt (something the redhead had grown familiar with) were spreading like wildfire through him, even going lengths to leave a pit of uneasiness in the depths of his stomach. Redemption felt necessary to obtain in order to banish the ill emotions, and Dexter was praying the stranger would allow him to it.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
Concerns over Maxi's health seemed to erupt naturally from Dexter. The concept of the attractive man being in a position of misfortune caused heartaches. Beats were being skipped all as a result of his worry, his heart pounding against his ribs like a prisoner desiring freedom. There was a temptation sparking from the depths of his mind, a longing to hastily make his way around the table to assure the blue-haired man's safety, alas, he remained still. Self-conscious fears of appearing overly attached managing to drive away Maxi; that notion made the redhead's heartache worse. Even after Maxi grumbled that he was alright, Dexter continued feeling immensely concerned. He craved more reassurance towards the stranger's well-being, his fear over his acquaintance's possible ill-health making him desire an examination.
As he remained stationed in the chair, his legs subtly tremble. The worry he felt was obvious in his expression, remaining for a few moments even after the second insistence. There was plenty of effort placed into making his breath's more extensive, but his circulatory system begged for more oxygen. Eye contact returned to being averted as hints of heat and red returned to the redhead's face. An odd sensation remained in the air when Dexter was around Maxi which caused him to strive for closeness with the attractive man. It remained something that the bespectacled man could not explain with words. When the silence settled for a moment, the redhead found himself listened to the increased rhythm of his heart. Despite the attempts to sooth the rate, it would continue palpitating at times, although, it mostly occurred when he interacted with Maxi. Interacting with the blue-haired stranger contained a special feeling, something that caused his heart to beat immensely.
When the silence was broken, Dexter managed to glance towards his table companion to notice his gesture towards the book. The title was unfamiliar, but the cover made the romantic theme of the book obvious. The question that in the similar bashful manner as his other sentences caused the redhead's yellow eyes to flit back towards him. Hearing the following question caused heat to flare in Dexter's cheeks, the red painting itself across his face. Speechlessness was the only reaction that he could muster at first, finding the concept of reading with Maxi to be alluring. Notions of being able to sit close to the adorable stranger caused his heart to flutter and the idea attractive. Once again, those threads pulled him towards the idea, but anxiousness caused Dexter's words bated his words. Before an answer could be spoken, the redhead listened to Maxi nervously ramble which made his heart rate elevate. The rambling was endearing, especially with the socially awkward manner that the blue-hared man possessed.
"Um... that actually sounds nice..." Dexter began awkwardly. "Although... I have not read a romance book myself... I... uh... am really up for anything. We could even browse and see if there is anything else we may enjoy, that's if you don't mind. As said, if you want to read this one I wouldn't mind sitting through it with you."
An anxiousness settled over Dexter as his mind replayed the stutters and awkward pauses that has littered the beginning of his speech. Self-consciously, he thought about how Maxi may find his clumsy speaking unattractive, possibly going lengths to back out of the reading idea. Accompanying those thoughts was the immense feeling of heat rising in his face, making it clear that he blushing; would that make the interaction awkward? An awkward conversing could result in difficulties with creating a bond with Maxi, which caused Dexter's heart to skip a beat over the concept. A momentary prayer was sent, the redhead begging for social grace due to his immense feelings being generated hastily towards the man who remained a mere stranger. The explainable growth of emotions targeted at this beautiful blue-haired man expanded every second as an endless growth.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
Narrowly, Dexter had managed to notice the clinking of the ceramic mugs as the table was bumped. The panicked tone and questioning of well-being made Maxi's concern obvious to the redhead, even during his struggle to unclog his airways. There was a pause once the taller introvert found freedom to breathe fully, gently touching his throat in response to the revelation. A soreness remained which was the result of hot beverage that had started the momentary restriction. After a few slow breaths, his yellow eyes gradually drifted over to Maxi, a minor guilt sparking over worrying the adorable man. The amount of concern was strangely touching, almost as though its worth increased because it arrived from the lips of the blue-haired beauty stationed across from him.
"I'm fine... sorry for worrying you," he spoke softly. "Are you okay? It sounded like you smacked into the table."
A few forced coughs were taken, Dexter covering his mouth during the attempt to clear his throat. Once the final droplets were cleared the action was ceased as comfort was found. The slight irritation had fled, which secured the redhead's voice and banished the minor tickling sensation. When he heard his bashful company explain his hatred towards choking, the bespectacled man's eyes locked onto him. Concerned marked Maxi's countenance, obviously over thoughts about the statement he made towards the concept of suffocating. The terror within the notion was sensible considering at times it could generate a paranoia in merely consuming food. Dexter's yellow eyes softening as he found himself capable of comprehending the fear; a rarity for him.
"It's definitely something that can get rid of your appetite. Sometimes makes it difficult to trust something a trivial like food," Dexter added. "... If it makes you feel better I wouldn't stand by and let that happen."
Shortly after the statement, the redhead's pale hands retreated from the warm mug, instead settling on his lap. They bumped into the pocket of his sweater, Dexter's phone prodding at them. There was only a moment of thought taken towards the device as the redhead pondered if his grandparents had texted him yet. Although, when he listened to Maxi's high-pitched voice and witnessed the enchantingly bashful expression written across his face, he ignored the device. The concerns over his grandparents texting him was quick to flee when gazing upon this wonderful man. Thoughts were locked on Maxi, the redheaded introvert wondering if the connection between the author's first name and this man were indeed connected. Attentiveness was taken towards listening to what his acquaintance was stating about the book, a gently smile forming on Dexter's face as the atmosphere shifted to a more lighthearted one.
"Yeah, I guess it is a wonderful thing. I just wish that they would calm down over it a bit. The fact they are enjoying it so much is great, but when they get to points of trying to bust into my room to check if I have read the book is a step too far," he responded. "I swear, there will be a tiny indent in my door from all the knocking they do."
Unexpectedly, the inquiry about Maxi's favourite book seemed to cause another bout of bashfulness. The thought-based speaking possessed an endearing quality to it, which already caused the redhead's cheeks to gain a tint of red. Those mental compliments about Maxi being adorable were starting to embarrass him tremendously. The option to avert his gaze was taken when his yellow eyes noticed the red painting Maxi's face. Dexter's eyes descended to stare at his hands, noticing the phone still tucked cozily into his pocket. Only a thought was taken towards checking his messages, but the manner of which Maxi stated that he did not hold a favourite was adorable. The passionate speech caused the redhead's heart to flutter immensely, his face turning a deep shade of red while the heat of his face increased. Speaking was difficult for the bespectacled man, his company's attractiveness making the concept appear impossible.
When the familiar sounds of ceramic slamming onto a wooden surface and sudden coughing caused Dexter to straighten, turning alert. Similar to what had occurred earlier, Maxi had began coughing on his own drink which immediately brought a concerned countenance to the redhead's face.
"You okay?" Dexter inquired in a worried tone.
The redhead was prepared to hastily rush towards Maxi's side should assistance be required. He rose from his chair, eyes locked onto the blue-haired man who had began coughing. There was a slight trembling as concern overtook Dexter as thoughts of their earlier conversing over the hatred of choking flashed through his mind as he feared for the bashful man's safety.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
After the accidentally and mild admittance of attraction by referring to the actions Maxi accomplished as cute was causing Dexter to feel incredibly nervous. Within his chest, his heart pounded, threatening to escape his rib cage or rupture from the anxious influence the blue-haired man brought. His cheeks hoarded blood, painting his face a deep red to symbolize his embarrassment. There was an immense heat accompanying the heart fluttering, a warmth that caused the redhead to believe his face a set ablaze in a fiery glory. His yellow eyes remained locked on the swirling hot chocolate, watching the steam rise from the ceramic piece. Constantly, his mind insisted that he had successfully messed up the entire interaction. Self-conscious thoughts absorbed him, insisting that the acquaintance was bound to be disgusted and leave. The very notion of Maxi leaving caused Dexter's heart to ache. This mysterious man in all his divine beauty and bashfulness made the craving for conversing intense, but only with him
Anybody else lacked the release of the strange vibes; those invisible strings that seemed to pull the introverted redhead towards Maxi. The comprehension of this social desire and swirling emotions seemed unattainable. Breathing was slowed in desperation to sooth his flustered emotions, but that seemed impossible when Maxi stated it was kind of him. Everything Dexter was feeling seemed the spike in an instant. A deeper red shaded his face, the heat intensified, his heart skyrocketed in rage, and the anxious emotions went wild over the concept of Maxi liking the compliment. There was mild hope sparking from the concept, although, the redhead did not have the courage to spare a glance at his companion. With his face still flushed, he opted to continue staring into the depths of his hot chocolate.
A small sip was taken from the cup with caution taken towards keeping his face hidden; he remained unprepared for gazing upon Maxi's beautiful face. The warm, sweet liquid enveloped his tongue and trailed down the back of his throat, soothing those nervous emotions to a small degree. He continued drinking, tilting his head to unintentionally witness the blush on the blue-haired man's face shortly accompanied by the bashful response. That was when the tickle entered his throat as Dexter began choking on his hot chocolate. The mug was slammed back on the table while the redhead took a moment to cough, the condition gradually improving.
"Sorry... went down... the wrong hole," Dexter narrowly choked out.
After a few minutes of coughing, the problem was resolved and once again he found his eyes averted. Choking on hot chocolate was rather unimpressive, causing Dexter to become terrified over any negative thoughts that Maxi could possibly possess. Instead of staring at his hot chocolate, his yellow eyes moved towards the book he had picked out. When the blue-haired man mentioned his dislike of horror, the bespectacled man merely nodded in response as his mind became occupied by thoughts of how pathetic he appeared when he had been choking. Although, his curiosity shortly returned when the man began to critique the book in a rather harsh manner only to insist against it by stating it to not be his place. A soft smile curved Dexter's lips as he offered a shrug.
"Whatever, everybody has an opinion. What is medal earning in some eyes may not be in others. Besides, yours is better than the squealing my grandparents give... They are practically obsessed with this book," Dexter sighed gently. "Honestly, I wouldn't doubt if they desired me to read it all because of the gay themes in it, almost like some sort of 'hey, we accept you' kind of deal. Anyways, why don't you think it deserves it?"
There was the slightest tint of pink painted across his cheeks at the indirect admittance towards his sexuality and the amount he spoke; the redhead was usually not a talker. Years ago his mother had accidentally informed numerous people in a blunt manner at a party when she insisted towards him dancing with a girl and perhaps dating. Ultimately, it ended with Dexter refusing and his intoxicated mother remembering and blurting it out in a loud voice. When shyly inquired about his favorite book, the redhead's blush deepened.
"Uhh... I don't necessarily have a favorite. Sure, I read a lot, but I find it difficult to pick one. The ones I really enjoy are those that bring something new, not those cliche filled pieces," Dexter answered. "What about you?"
Slowly, the redhead's gaze drifted towards Maxi's book in curiosity of what perhaps he enjoyed reading. When he noticed the romance genre book, Dexter lifted an eyebrow in surprise, although, did not question it. There was the temptation to perhaps pick up a romance or drama book in hopes of relating since strangely, the bespectacled man desired an extensive amount of time with Maxi. Relating to the blue-haired man and delving into the ventures of his chosen literature genre seemed like an excellent plan to create a bond.
- - because it's difficult to find people who understand.
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