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!
With narrowed eyes, Nyla's gaze fixated onto the small black creature who slowly recovered from the sharp kick. The pipsqueak's eyes glanced around, eventually landing on the fox shifter who kicked it. A hiss escaped the terror's mouth, the creature clearly displeased with the current situation. The blonde's ears remained pricked, her glare standing as she maintained a tight grip on her pocket knife. Even the meager pipsqueaks could be problematic should somebody recklessly took action without maintaining some precaution. While some would be terrified of any form of terrors, Nyla's breaths remained even as she focused, her heartbeat remaining regular as she observed the creature. The sounds of a few retreating footsteps down the concrete and the shouts of frightened parents beckoning their children from where they played filled the park. A single sighting of these heinous spawns easily sparked fear in the hearts of numerous citizens.
After a while, the female shifter's senses remained trained on the small black creature as it stood, claws prepped to attack her. The situation's tenseness increased, the female hunter's knuckles turning pale as her thoughts rushed through a plan of attack, however, she avoided attempting to determine the terror's movement. On the battlefield, opponents were unpredictable, thus the shifter prepared herself for anything that occurred. Before the blonde could advance on her target, her mind prepped for the oncoming battle, a hand touched her head. The action startled the shifter, her turquoise eyes flitting towards the person who suddenly decided to touch her head. Suddenly, her heartbeat increased tenfold from the unexpected touch, the shifter believing somebody affiliated with the Assembly managed to ambush her. Her glare remained as she prepared to attack whatever decided to lay a hand on her, the woman is far into attack mode.
The advancement of her pocket knife ceased as instincts were wheeled by the blonde's sense of judgement. Immediately, her eyes widened as she recognized the unique appearance of the TRS general. The knife was pulled back, Nyla staring at the purple-haired man with a surprised expression on her face. Naturally, General Jester had gained infamy among the Lorsette branch of TRS agents, as expected for somebody who assisted in numerous affairs of the TRS. Furthermore, the man himself was rather strange, evident by the suspicious clothing and a large bag of candy which made the blonde theorized the concern on the parts of citizens. The spike in the woman's heart rate was maintained as her concerns about accidentally threatening her general in the heat of a battle with a mere pipsqueak entered her mind; she should have paid more mind to her surroundings, but somebody bothering her in the instant was unexpected.
"G-general?" She mumbled out in surprise. "What in the name of Akari are you doing here?"
The general's hand remained on her head, the shifter's ears folding back in slight annoyance. This apparent appraisal felt rather belittling to Nyla, but she held her tongue. Technically, Jester was her superior which meant there was little the blonde could do than begrudgingly take the appraisal while wearing a sheepish smile. The unexpected arrival of her general was peculiar, the hunter wondering how the busy man managed to receive a vacation day while the persistent efforts of the Assembly of Phantoms existed. When the large sack of candy was handed to her, Nyla was forced to have her other hand occupied, her left hand holding tightly onto the bag while her tight kept hold of her pocket knife. A soft sigh escaped her lips, inaudible to the citizens who curiously watched the spectacle.
A few fluent movements of her dexterous fingers allowed her to close the blade of her pocket knife smoothly and returned it to the pocket of her sweater, her turquoise eyes shortly focusing on her general who approached the terror. Suddenly, a blackening pit of fear began developing in her gut, the shifter's ears pressing against her head. Concern clouded her face, every instinct screaming at her to flee as her legs began to tremble slightly, but she stayed her ground. There were few concepts that resulted in this intense of fear, but none were evident in the instance. Truthfully, there was nothing to be frightened of, but the pressing sensation of terror continued to torment the blonde as her turquoise eyes remained fixated on Jester; the strengthening of the emotion arrived from him. Logic was blurred, Nyla being forced to use a majority of her willpower to remain planted, her hand tightly holding the bag of sweets despite the slight tremble.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end while her tail attempted to wide between her legs out of concern. Inside the blonde's chest, her heart was thumping against her rib cage in pure fear. The dagger her general held was plunged into the terror and removed, shortly cleaned before the pipsqueak disintegrated to mere dust. Afterwards, the peculiar sensation disappeared and the fox shifter's body slowly eased as she took extensive breaths to calm herself. When the general turned around to provide a smile, Nyla found it oddly off-putting after the intense sensation of fear that transcended her. The child-like attitude of her Jester as he provided thanks, even going lengths to use her first name as he returned to snatch a chocolate bar from the bag of sweets and promptly offered her some. Unfortunately, the temptation to indulge in some sweet delights was lost after the sudden terror spell.
"Um... no thanks," she responded.
Witnessing the display was peculiar, the fox shifter wondering how the child-like general managed to spark such an intense fear. Rarely, would things manage to frighten Nyla, especially after years of courageously serving the TRS and fighting the monstrosities that attempted to use her fears against her. This would definitely require researching once the chance was provided, but currently, the blonde was attempting to resolve a way to begin a conversation with her mysterious general. However, the terror spell still left a shock on her mind, resulting in a few moments being required to sort her previously panicked thoughts.
There was a sickness being harboured inside the female shifter, but she continued to power through. A headache alongside the stomach pains were merely insignificant signs of illness; even though those, she would care for her adorable younger sister. A few extensive breaths were taken, a calming method as she worked towards soothing her body. Carefully, her fingers pressed down on the correct keys, the sound of the piano resonating through the room. Her turquoise eyes fixated on the keys, ignoring the arms around her and the sickness that gradually increased. Time progressed, the song passing with its wonderful melody and once it ended, Vincent released her, the words he stated resulting in her lifting a brow. While she would have struggle should a reason to sympathize be unprovided, it was unlikely she would act violently unless it was persistent. A soft sigh escaped her lips, the blonde pausing while the ill sensations dissipated slightly, although, remained evident. After a few moments, she managed to flash a warm smile at him.
“Don’t worry about it,” she responded, hoping it would not become a habit.
While she spoke, her turquoise eyes lingered in Vincent before slowly returning to the keyboard. There was still the possibility of a strong charm being able to counteract the curse, although, Nyla could not be certain. She knew her friend was influential when it arrived at making charms, even if he required assistance from a friend. Hope remained, the female shifter having certainty in Zephyr’s abilities. Currently, she needed the sanction of calm, the shifter knowing she could achieve it with a familiar song and her own singing capabilities.
“Mind if I play a song I know?” She inquired quietly.
Her delicate fingers hovered over the keys, anxious to begin playing a song she knew from memories. Years of enjoyment in video games forged her enjoyment of this particular song, thus she hoped Vincent would warrant a moment to play it.
Already her thoughts were orbiting around how to present Zephyr with the information about the mysterious man's curse. The opportunity to spend time with the attractive weapons smith was something the blonde refused to pass. There was always a thrilling sense of nervousness whenever she was around the fellow shifter, her heart racing and thoughts whirling as the seconds passed. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she daydreamed, her eyes locked with the plain, white piano keys. A smile remained on her face, only breaking when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her, Nyla tensing from the unexpected hug. Suddenly, she glanced back, preparing to exclaim and perhaps squirm from Vincent's grip until seeing the tears as his hands reached around to settle the music sheet, his head shortly being hidden. There was something oddly nostalgic about it, the female shifter finding it reminded her of her sister.
Whenever Ines would grow upset, Nyla oftentimes sang to soothe her worried nerves or assist in allowing her to drift into the land of sleep. Instead of rebuking against the sudden close proximity, the shifter's eyes drifted back towards the keyboard, her fingers taking their position. A moment was taken to analyze the music, the fox shifter's hands smoothly gliding over the keyboard while she fought the growing aches of sickness; she hopes her hunch was correct and Zephyr could create something to assist with the issue. The blonde dared not utter a complaint, her fixation being on continuing to play the piece. Admittedly, Nyla could always be suckered into abrupt hugs from tears or even quick connections created between herself and another individual, thus she merely remained passive towards the action.
Captured in the expansive blue of the skies above was the yellow orb, radiating sunlight down onto Lorsette. The daily ritual of the sun's return was always expected, the rays trickling through the blinds of Nyla's window, signalling the beginning of the morning. Hastily, the female shifter had prepared herself a few hours prior to dawn for a pleasant jog to keep her athletic body in proper condition. A pair of grey jogging sweats hugged her waist and a large, black hoodie was tugged over the pale pink t-shirt; mornings were usually rather cold. Her hair was promptly tied back into a tight ponytail, locks of blonde hair being tamed by a red ribbon. She descended the stairs, grabbing her red water bottle before heading to the shoe rack to lace up her red running shoes. Smoothly, her fingers weaved the strings together, drawing them tight against her foot before she rose.
Once the door was opened, the activity began with the fox shifter heading down the lane of the small abode she occupied. The jog began shortly, Nyla rounding the corner and finding a suitable pace to arrive at her destination. Automatically, her fox-like ears pricked, scouting the area for possible danger; it became hunter's instinct. After being apart of a variety of battles over the numerous years, the shifter oftentimes found herself going through the procedures of defending herself from ambushes by listening and analyzing the results of her other senses. Her turquoise eyes would flit about, observing and verifying her current location while her sensitive sense of smell sniffed for off-putting scents. The sharpened senses she possessed always assisted her throughout her occupation, granting her faith in their capabilities. Imagining her time without them appeared impossible since they assisted in tracking and detecting, commonly leading to an avoidance of sneak attacks.
The female shifter continued down her regular route, passing a few familiar faces to which she provided a smile and a brief nod. These were the people she desired to protect, the citizens of the wonderful city of Lorsette which became her home after the unfortunate demise of her parents. While she always missed them, she prayed for their life in Purgatory would be satisfactory and that they did not suffer for an extensive period of time. A soft sigh escaped her lips, the blonde's thoughts promptly shifting to her younger sister. The rhythm in her jogging was maintained as she pondered the necessity of her life; Ines still needed her. Despite the hardships, Nyla kept a steady determination knowing her little sister needed to be protected from this horrible world and taught to survive the terrible occurrences.
Naturally, her younger sister was growing up, but Nyla was adamant about being the parental figure she required to grow up happy and healthy. Their lazy aunt and uncle could never successfully raise her incredible sister; in fact, without Nyla, their home would be a disgusting mess. Another corner was turned, the fox shifter entering through the large arches which signalled the entrances to Crow Feather Park. Immediately, her thoughts gradually calmed from her constant fretting over her younger sister as her turquoise eyes glanced around at the beautiful nature spot. A grin touched her features, her jog slowing down to a simple walk as her eyes began admiring the incredible scenery. There were trees that stretched towards the sky, their leaves spiralling down with the arrival of fall. With the arrival of the chilling air, flowers were beginning to wilt, dying before the suffocating cold of fresh snow.
Children scurried around on a nearby play structure, giggling and screaming as they participated in their childish games. A moment of the blonde's time was spent observing them, the young woman releasing a heartfelt sigh at the thought of children of her own; she always wanted a family. The shifter's hands clasped together, Zephyr entering her thoughts and promptly sparking a slight blush followed by a sweet giggle. While Nyla observed the children, shouting abruptly entered the air, the blonde's eyes hastily flitting towards the source. In the far corner of the park was a small, black creature swiping towards a surprised man who had merely been walking down the stone path. The blonde's eyes narrowed, her hunting experience allowing for her to recognize the creature as a pipsqueak, a feat eater type terror. While they were not extremely dangerous alone, they could result in some nasty cuts and bruises should somebody be reckless.
Instinctively, Nyla turned away from the playground, running forward, her water bottle being dropped because of the sudden pursuit. From the depths of her sweater pocket, she procured a small pocket knife. While the weapon appeared pathetic compared to her usual daggers, Nyla knew it would be satisfactory for the job. Once the distance was closed, the female hunter sharply kicked the creature away from the poor individual.
"Get back a bit, these little guys can make some nasty cuts," Nyla informed the stranger.
Instantly, her eyes fixated on the terror which had been forced to backpedal from her abrupt kick. The knife was grasped tightly in her hand, the shifter possessed a calm expression despite the possible danger about to ensue. Due to the sudden commotion, a few other individuals glanced towards where the fight would shortly occur.
There were positive vibes entering the air as Nyla spent more time with Zephyr, finding the mysterious man's company particularly charming. A smile remained on the blonde's face as she watched her fellow shifter grin. The smiling was becoming contagious, constantly promoting the requirement to bare a countenance of happiness. These emotions remained unfamiliar, but Nyla found herself enjoying the peculiar mixture of nervousness and joy. The mentioning of travel arrangements irked the female shifter's attention, a moment of thought crossing her mind. Afterwards, a broad grin touched her face as she looked back towards the weapon's smith.
"Any method of travel works for me," Nyla stated cheerfully. "But, we could always walk or run after we eat."
The suggestion was giving, the blonde intentionally attempting to gain more time with her new companion by suggesting walking or running after the meal. Her slender hands opened her bag, doing a quick mental checklist of the items inside. She had taken the responsibility to have her wallet and cellphone in case of emergencies, alongside a spare ribbon and her DS; her mobile game system rarely left her side. Once content with the belongings, she closed the bag and slowly walked towards the door, only pausing to wait for her company.
There was an extensive list of activities that Nyla was required to accomplish on her day off from the strenuous efforts of hunting. The primary objective was to purchase some new clothes then to purchase paints alongside some new paint brushes. The opportunity to buy pencils and sketch books existed and perhaps even a special present for her darling little sister, Ines. Mere thoughts brought a large grin to the blonde's expression while she prepared for a shopping excursion. The long locks of blonde hair were tied back into a tight bun with the use of bobby pins and a piece of red ribbon. Attention was given towards the temperature, the shifter dressing herself appropriately for the warm spring weather by wearing jean shorts and a pale red t-shirt. Her wallet and phone were procured and placed in separate pockets before speedily descending the stairs and exited the front door.
Today's destination was Halo Crown Mall where the numerous items she desired could be purchased without the hassle of constant travel; not to mention there was a sale at her favourite art store. With haste, she ventured down the monotone sidewalks, her turquoise eyes sweeping through the numerous people with trained ease. As a TRS hunter, her instincts always insisted on occasionally checking her surroundings, thus the area was surveyed. There were the usual groups of people chattering between one another with a casual grace which brought a peaceful atmosphere for the shifter. The walk itself brought a calming to Nyla as sunlight touched her fair skin and the slightest wind tousled her blonde hair. As she drew closer to her destination, the amount of people increased as various other individuals had taken the opportunity to shop or enjoy a pleasant walk.
The tall girl was hasty to weave her way through the crowds, periodically providing an apology or polite 'excuse me'. Once she entered the large glass doors of the mall, the air conditioning transcended over her, bringing out a long sigh of relief. There was always a peculiar pleasantry when entering a building with excellent air conditioning; it was oddly refreshing. Gradually, she managed to get through the doors, her eyes analyzing the interior of the mall with efficient ease to discover the crowding; perhaps noon was bad time to arrive. There was a momentary thought to the concerns over her younger sister since Nyla frequently found herself worried whenever she left her in the care of her aunt and uncle. While she weaved through the crowd, her phone was fished from the depths of her pocket, the blonde doing a quick check of the screen, the lack of notifications being reassuring.
For a moment, her eyes peered over her phone, noticing a blond male sitting alone while others conversed. The shifter's eyes locked there, finding a mild shining of pity by witnessing the man sit by himself. A quick gaze was given back towards her device, noticing the thin, large text that displayed the time; there was plenty. Smoothly, Nyla shifted her lips into a large grin before shoving the phone back into the depths of her short's pocket. There was a certain jovial aspect to her walk while she closed the distance between herself in the table; she always enjoyed meeting new individuals. Once she arrived, the shifter provided a small wave in case the man noticed her beforehand.
"Hello! Are you waiting for somebody?" Nyla asked.
There was a nosy aspect to questioning, but a benevolent intent display in a pleasant tone and amiable expression. As a social young woman, the shifter always felt sympathy for individuals who appeared lonesome in some manner; even if they desired solitude over company. At least by obtaining an answer for her suspicion, she could decide what actions to deploy from there since the shopping could always wait.
The time was provided, Nyla's intellectual mind hastily planning around the occasion, balancing plans to somebody caring for her younger sister and avoiding possible hunting assignments. Stoically, she remained in Vincent's presence with no intentions of leaving until the practice was completed since extra practice brought confidence to the blonde. When the man directly began speaking to her, the shifter's turquoise eyes drifted towards him while her ears subtly twitched. The question was interesting, allowing for selection in the spontaneous practice session together. Her back was straighten while Nyla's mind delved into thoughts about the possibilities of songs to practice; she did not desire to throw the musician into deep water with the different songs she practiced. They tended to be featured around popular bands that she frequently listened to in her room or via headphones.
"Pick whatever you like. I would rather get a feeling for the genre you prefer before suggesting something," Nyla responded with a smile. "Besides, I'm the newcomer, I still need to earn my keep, eh? I know quite a few songs, so feel free to attempt whatever your would like. My parents were musicians after all, so I know my way around a keyboard."
There were tones of happiness captured in Nyla's voice despite the edging feeling of sickness. When the man mentioned the Jinx again, a minor softness touched the shifter's eyes. There was pity in her expression as she gazed at the unfortunate soul who had become a victim to the sinister intentions of some individuals. Only for a moment did her smile break into a frown, shortly returning as she prepared to respond.
"Don't worry about it, I have a buddy who is beyond influential in charms. I could probably talk to him about it," she began. "Besides, I'm a hunter, not just some silly damsel in distress. I'm certain I can handle myself if anything bad happens."
Reassurance touched her voice, being backed up by undertones of confidence as she smiled towards Vincent. While she remained uncertain about how she could possibly defend herself from the unknown magical elements of a curse, she remained void of fear. After roughly a year of being a hunter, the social young blonde kept a rather fearless disposition and was formulating possible plans to defend herself from the curse, if possible.
There were no thoughts taken towards possibly leaving Zephyr's presence since Nyla found herself enjoying it. A foreign vibe transcended over the fox shifter with the weapon smith around, making her feet feel lighter and butterflies in her stomach. Despite these peculiar emotions, there was something pulling her towards remaining near the man who made her heart flutter joyfully. This was definitely different, making the blonde easily believe that there was something significant about this weapons smith; something that managed to obtain her attention on several levels. Attentively, Nyla listened while Zephyr explained that work easily kept him busy, nodding occasionally to display acknowledgement. A mild disappointment was discovered in the revelation of Zephyr's work distraction considering it suggested the possibility of leisure time alongside him being difficult to gain. The notion sounded frustrating and Nyla prayed that she could discover a method to thoroughly earn his attention.
"That makes sense. Somebody needs to do repairs and if you made the weapons, you would be the expert," Nyla responded. "Probably makes getting distracted a whole lot easier."
For an instance, the blonde was wondering if the time arrived for her to leave. There was an extreme likelihood that Zephyr had numerous tasks to accomplish and she was being a distraction from them. Before she could piece together a sorrowful farewell, the weapon smith blurted out an offer. Instantly, her turquoise eyes flitted towards him. A smile stretched across her lips, the offering to get some food before continuing idea discussion seemed pleasant; even the locations concept was wonderful.
"That would be wonderful," she agreed hastily; perhaps a bit too fast. "I have never heard of the place myself, but it sounds awesome! Probably helps a lot of people considering nobody needs to provide ingredients."
A broad grin remained on the female shifter's face, making it obvious that she was content with being asked to attend a restaurant with the weapons smith. Certainly this meant she was not a major distraction, right? A newfound confidence arrived with being asked since it brought the belief that Zephyr was enjoying her company; at least to a degree.
A straightened back and open body language was displayed by Nyla as her hands remained by her sides. There was stiffness in her position, making her hunter background obvious to those gazes at the youthful blonde. Distance was kept from herself and Vincent, the female shifter attempting to maintain comfort in the man's presence despite the lingering threats of the curse. Initially, the effects had remained unnoticed, but as time proceeded they made themselves more prevalent in minor discomforts. A mild churning feeling in her stomach, the faintest grasp of a headache and a weak case of nausea; nothing the woman could not handle. Even during days where she felt sickness claiming her, Nyla was still required to care for Ines, making her capable of stoically accept the ill sensations.
"Friday? I can definitely do that," she responded cheerfully. "What time? I can plan my schedule around it."
There were numerous tasks to accomplish before leaving home or work for Friday night entertainment. At the mentioning of practice, Nyla's ears twitched as she witnessed the performer immediately get prepared and start without waiting for an answer. Perhaps he expected her to disagree and return home to practice alone? For a few moments, Nyla scrutinized him with her turquoise eyes as she began making a decision. If they were required to perform on stage together, allowing herself to grow acquainted with the curse's negative side effects was necessary; at least until she purchased a charm to lower or negate them. Without asking permission, the blonde's slender fingers began tracing the keys, joining into the practicing session and using the opportunity to mend any faulty notes from her audition.
The door was opened, revealing the young lead singer of the band. Initially, there was mild concerned over being viewed as a crazed fan considering she never arranged a proper appointment, which led Nyla to believe that perhaps she should have avoided waltzing into backstage with her USB. Her expression remained cheery, the corners of her lips being tugged up into a lip-tight smile. Mentally, the fox shifter was running through various introduction methods to provide the leader of Jinx. The initial impression was the utmost importance and would hopefully allow for paving the way down the road of friendship. When the entertainer inquired about her enjoyment of the show, Nyla broadened her grin and provided a pleasant nod in an attempt to maintain her friendly personality. There was a slight adjustment to her position, the tall girl bringing her feet tight together and straightening her back to create a professional vibe.
"Yes, I must say, your work is splendid. I enjoy how you decide to dedicate songs to those who you find significant," she began, keeping a sophisticated voice.
A majority of the time, Nyla remained her sociable, loquacious self, but currently she was attempting to avoid rambling. The blonde's heart fluttered slightly with anxiety over attempting to join the music group. Deep breaths were taken as the fox shifter provided herself a mental confident boosting talk. When the introductions began, she was hasty to shake the man's hand as he granted her a name, although, was surprised at his presumption. There was never an instance where Nyla contacted anybody related to Jinx about the audition, which was definitely unprofessional actions on her part. For only a moment she paused, continuing to address Vincent with hints of surprise.
"I'm Nyla Korvich, and yes... I am here for the keyboard position," Nyla began. "I am surprised you were prepared for an audition, since I did not make an appointment. I apologize for that, I have been juggling hunting and babysitting my sister, but she is reaching that age of being able to be home for longer periods of time. Makes me miss when she was younger."
A silence followed on the fox shifter's end as she felt mildly embarrassed from rambling on slightly. Naturally, the blonde's sister remained her sunshine and somebody she swore to protect. Shortly, she was motioned over to an electric keyboard to which she slowly walked over to. Her turquoise eyes gazed alongside the piano, lingering on the various keys as her fingers gently traced over the smooth surface. There was a mild clouding of sadness in her eyes, her memories reminding her of nights spent downstairs inside the walls of the music with her parents, now deceased. Immediately after realizing the audition would a performance for an audience of one, the USB was slid back into the pocket of her jeans. Attention was returned immediately when the curse was mentioned, Nyla's eyes flashing with surprise and concern over possibly bringing her younger sister to witness a concert.
Afterwards, she listened to the explanation about how the scenario for joining the band would proceed, the blonde nodding in acknowledgement of every word. Her eyes gradually drifted towards the page, the instructions towards where her keys would flutter across the keyboard. Personally, the fox shifter would have preferred a song more familiar to her, but there were no complaints uttered.
"No, this works," she stated, attempting to take the initiative.
A few moments were taken towards analysis, the blonde softly in order to gain a feeling for the tone. Once completely, her fingers hovered over the keys before beginning to push down the various keys with precision. The melody was followed, the shifter's ears twitching subtly as she played the keys. When she finished the song, the blonde took a singe step away from the keyboard as she remained certain in her excellent playing ability. Her eyes flitted to the singular audience member with confidence remaining both in posture and countenance.
Being apart of the energized crowd caused excitement to pulsate through Nyla's body. There was always an essence that arrived with music and crowds of cheering fans that generated intense amounts of energy for the extroverted girl. Witnessing the creative styling of the solo performer was incredible, even going lengths to vaguely remind her of nights spent performing for the cafe in town. The chanting of a song title was expected, but due to her own lack of familiarity, the blonde remained excluded. Despite the verdict of being unaware of the possibly extensive list of songs the band performed, Nyla remained mesmerized by the incredible atmosphere created with the spoken words of each song. There was a superhuman essence that appeared whenever she listened to the wondrous voices of others. The blouse was tugged tighter around her curvy body while a gentle wind tousled her hair and she became entranced by the scene.
With pricked ears, she remained joyously listening to the wonderful words that artist sang, a smile remaining upon her face. The jovial expression was obvious to those around her, although, nobody bothered to comment as they merely listened to the words. Eventually, the concert closed and the music died down, creating a jabbering of fan-based muttering. For a few moments, Nyla's turquoise eyes glanced around the crowd before slowly weaving through the various bodies. Some had departed, others lingering in hopes of a sudden encore or fantasized alone time with the singer. Those fantasies were something that Nyla was spared off since her more romantic thoughts remained fixated on the weapon smith from work, Zephyr. The only relationship related hopes she possessed with the singer were ones of friendship perhaps forged from playing in the same band.
Carefully, Nyla grabbed a USB stick that had been safely procured in her jean pockets that acted as a resume for the young blonde. Videos of her playing the piano in various types of music genres alongside some clips of her singing to maintain an extra edge over anybody else who applied; another singer opened the opportunity for duets after all or backup singing. Once she reached the lead singer's chamber entrance, her open hand was clenched into a fist to rap on the door. After the knock was made, the fox shifter took a step back, maintaining a wide smile on her face while she awaited the answer.
There was excitement transcending over Nyla over the concept of being capable of witnessing the performance of an upcoming band dubbed Jinx. Being musically inclined herself oftentimes caused the female shifter to enjoy watching the uprising of newer bands within the community, although, there was a position she desired to fill. The group required a member to play the keyboard, and considering her love for the piano, the blonde was hoping to take the position with pride. Her reasoning for taking the piano slot was sparked from her deceased parents mutual enjoyment in the instrument, and lastly the lower demand that arrived with somebody playing keyboard. Songs had a variety of instruments, but not all required a piano which left Nyla's involvement limited; something that worked perfectly for the TRS hunter and caretaker to Ines.
There was haste in the blonde's steps as she approached in a white t-shirt, red plaid blouse and a pair of lightly coloured blue jeans. Brown boots acted as her footwear, reaching to mid-calf with plain designs being sprawled across the surface. On her right cheek was red face paint shaped in the double scythe joker card style that appeared to be the band's logo. Her eyes were given a similar colour treatment, red eye shadow with black eyeliner framing her yellow eyes. As usual, her long, blonde locks were tied back with the use of a vibrant red ribbon. Once she arrived on scene, she noticed the group of civilians forming for the concert and based on the display, it was a one man show. Quickly, the shifter inserting herself into the crowd and with her sound sensitive ears listened to the cheering crowd alongside the beautiful words of the artist who sang about his mother.
Hearing somebody display their affection towards their mother spoke to the shifter's heart, a lip-tight grin marking her face as she listened to the first one. She found herself being caught into the emotions of crowd, feeling their excitement and amazement swell and mingle with her own emotions. There was a peculiar sense of comfort discovered in the booming noises and shouts of compliments towards the singer. When the song arrived towards its end, Nyla joined the crowd in a cheer in compliments towards the singer; this appeared to be an excellent idea to participate in. Gradually, the blonde felt reassured in the method of which she decided to spend her day away from the stresses of hunting.
Once the wooden board was properly set up, people began filtering into the gym with intentions of an early morning training session, but Nyla ignored them. Instead, she performed a quick stretching of her arms and shoulders to make certain the muscles were prepared for the coming task. As she stretched, her turquoise eyes remained lock on the red circles of the wooden board, trailing around them as she analyzed the numerous deep slits into the wooden material. The blonde shifter tightened her ponytail while she positioned herself to be enough distance away from the board and where she would be throwing. Once the distance was suitable, a few deep breaths were taken to relax Nyla's muscles as her pale hand reached for one of the throwing knives. Automatically, her feet adjusted their position as the knife was carefully adjusted so her thumb remained on top while the remainder of her fingers below.
There were approaching steps that caused the shifter's ears to twitch subtly in reaction to the noise. With knowledge that the gymnasium was safe, Nyla managed to ignore the noises as her body relaxed again. After a final extensive breath was taken while the blonde's arm went back before swiftly throwing the knife with the required moderate strength. As expected, the knife twirled in the air, end over end, before landing with a thunk on the edge of the red center circle. For a majority of people, the aim was magnificent and would definitely be severe and perhaps lethal if not properly handled. Alas, the dexterity in the throw remained inadequate for the young shifter who immediately grabbed another knife for a second attempt. Similar steps were followed with minor adjustments to the aim, which allowed Nyla to inch closer to the middle circle.
Gradually, the throwing speed was increased with pauses being extinguished as the blonde's practice turned more intense. Each thrown knife managed to hit the marker with a smooth precision until the number of knives dwindled. When her entire arsenal of throwing knives were transferred from her possession to the wooden board, the shifter straightened. Her eyes were hasty in analysis, noticing that all her knives landed within the outer ring, most orbiting the pure red center circle. The display was incredible to a majority of standards, but Nyla was keen on narrowing her aim. She took a few steps closer as she surveyed her surroundings for ceasing when she noticed the individual who had been observing her. The appearance, as to most hunters, was familiar as the shifter took a few moments to analyse the blonde woman who had scrutinized her throwing session.
The long coat accompanied by the trio of red stars confirmed the woman's identity as Nyla stood stalk still with mild shock. Being observed by a high ranking individual was deemed as an honor and the hunter found herself mildly horrified at the display that was merely average or below in her opinion. Blame could be placed on her own desire to wake incredibly early or on the fact they remained the first throws of the day, but Nyla refused to state those irresponsible words.
"Hello, ma'am," Nyla began, attempting a professional air. "My apologies, I did not think the general would be watching me."
Friendly tones remained in the shifter's voice, alongside confidence in the words she stated smoothly. Fetching the knives bound in the board were forgotten a moment while Nyla turned fully to face her general. Her feet were snapped together as she squared her shoulders to make professional social conduct. Patiently, the young woman awaited for the response the general may provide while maintaining an air of confidence as she relaxed her stance. Admittedly, there were nervous emotions churning in her gut over the concept of the highest rank in the hunting division observing her. Breathing was forced into extensive breaths, kept steady despite the slight increase in heart rate from the activity and startling discovery.
Narrowly, Nyla managed to rouse herself from her slumber during the early hours of the morning; her alarm clock having been her solace in the instance. Upon awakening, the fox shifter managed to dress herself accordingly in her TRS uniform that possessed minor altercations for the sake of her bushy tail. Minutes were spent gazing in the mirror, adjusting the various features of the coat. Once pleased with the appearance of her coat, the female hunter tied her hair back into a simple ponytail with some red ribbon. Her daggers were shortly added, being adjusted until the young woman was satisfied with their locations; caution was required in case a terror bothered her walk. After making a quick few slices of toast and hastily devouring the delicious breakfast, she left home in order to travel towards the TRS training center.
The gymnasium at the TRS headquarters always seemed to possess the correct materials for her solo training unlike the small house that belonged to her uncle and aunt; they were probably unaware of the definition of exercise. The routine began with the usual walk in the brisk morning weather, a red backpack from her school years accompanying her. Slush and puddles covered the streets and sidewalks due to the steady arrival of spring. The air itself had grown warmer, making the walk comfortable enough without her temperature regulating bracelet or a heavy jacket. A single interruption arrived with her walk in order to purchase a large coffee at a cafe that she enjoyed immensely. The remainder was spent in a wondrous comfort as the warmth radiated from her cup, tickling her slender fingers. Upon arrival at the headquarters, a soft smile touched Nyla's lips as she began to walk around the headquarters itself and towards the training building.
Light poured from the windows in the darkness, guiding the young shifter towards the training center. There was a sense of nostalgia as drew closer to the building. Thoughts of days spent in class and being taught by her wonderful mentor caused the smile to broaden. As the distance between herself and building was closed, the fox shifter's ears began to subtly twitch in search of sound. From what Nyla was capable of hearing, there were few occupants inside the building and were probable to merely be cleaning staff based on presumption. Carefully, the blonde pushed open the entrance doors, only pausing a moment to allow her turquoise eyes to adjust to the different lighting. The hallways were navigated quickly, Nyla providing a greeting towards those she was familiar with. When she finally reached the gymnasium doors, the smile broadened a hint more as her fair coloured hand pushed open the door.
Upon entry, her eyes scrutinized the location to make certain that there were no early morning apprenticing classes. What she found was pleasing considering the gymnasium was empty, the various students had probably retired to their dorms many hours before her arrival. The female shifter entered, walking towards the bleachers to set her backpack down, her coffee joining the bag after a the hunter took a sip. Warm, bitter liquid covered her tongue and trailed down her throat, the caffeine assisting in waking her body. The habit was unhealthy, but Nyla already found coffee to be an addictive morning beverage on days when she was required to awaken early. A few moments were taken to remove her TRS coat, draping the article of clothing over the red backpack. Beneath she wore a simple black tank top that she oftentimes wore during training.
A brief moment was taken to perform some quick stretches for her arms, shoulder, and legs before heading towards the equipment room. The door was slowly open, the fox shifter's hand quick to flick the light switch for the room, almost as though it had transformed into nature. Various shelves that stored training weaponry, targets and some smaller pieces of exercise equipment lined a majority of the walls. Larger pieces of equipment occupied space on the floor, creating a disorganized maze due to the apprentices hastily cleaning the gym for the next class. A sigh escaped the blonde's lips as she weaved easily through the mild mess to fetch a wooden target board with various slits on the flat surface and several red circles. The target board was old, threatening to give anybody who touched it a nasty splinter should they not maintain caution. Nyla was hasty the grab it, the target board's weight not being a problem for the fit young shifter.
With a few strides from her long legs, she excited the equipment room with the target board. She carried it to the furthest corner in order to be courteous to anybody else who desired to use the gymnasium during the morning hours. Once she occupied her favored corner, the fox shifter began working on setting up the oak wood target board with plans to practice her knife throwing. From years of practice, her aim had grown incredibly sharp, but practice remained necessary nonetheless.
For years, Nyla had been the respectable parental figure in her uncle's home. Neither her aunt nor uncle cared enough to clean, both becoming absurdly lazy caretakers. There was never a moment when the female shifter was bored considering the numerous chores to accomplish in the house and personal time required with Ines. Although, this mess seemed to at least possess reason considering Zephyr's time was occupied with work. The slight embarrassment in the laughter was detected by Nyla's ears which twitches subtly in response. It sparked a soft giggle from the blonde as she found the embarrassment to be somewhat endearing. A gentle smiles traces her lips while she looked at Zephyr, an amused glint in her eyes.
"Man, you must love working if you get so focused on it," she said. "At least you can say it is something you are devoted to."
There was almost always a positive in Nyla's mind and after the slight embarrassment. The blonde was attempting to make a more comfortable atmosphere, partially for Zephyr and partially for herself. She was praying that perhaps creating a more amiable essence to the conversation would sooth her rapid heart beat; at least to points that each flutter did not feel like an escape attempt. Although, relief arrived in the statement of the weapon's smith connection to the mysterious charmer. It was difficult for Nyla to comprehend her relief, but she did not allow it to appear on her happy expression.
"I see," Nyla responded.
There was understanding in the interesting team dynamic, but relief remained in the distance the pair had. There was little thought taken towards the reason as the female shifter decided to think about it later.
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The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
