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!
[attr="class","emmersonsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","emmersontext"]
Pain, it was something not always created through the traditional means of a bunch to the face or the slice of a knife. Rather, mental anguish could suffice those receptors to critical points. Through the months, Emmet discovered his heart aching tremendously. As though somebody grasped it and squeezed hard. The sensation was blinding, especially when his thoughts trailed towards him. Sergeant Severus Cross, a man serving beneath his command and somebody who gathered his attention through both physical attractions and mental enjoyments.
[break][break]
The pair were compatible, their courtship seemingly something of nature. Two people brought together through frequently working between one another and personal joys. Yet, the weight of Emmet's previous marital status always left him hesitant about these matters. A hesitance the demon discovered himself cursing over the torturous months... The day they returned, a patrol with a member short... The day they apologized... The day they told him Severus was captured and hauled away by the Assembly of Phantoms as their prisoner...
[break][break]
Saying it stung was putting the entire ordeal lightly. The numbness of his body as the entire world seemingly crashed down around him. He rallied for rescue missions, yet, they fell through seemingly every single time. Each failure and refusal left his heart trembling painfully inside his cage. Every second hurting him as he wished he confessed those long boiling emotions... Yet that was easier spoken rather than put to action. Losing Marina resulted in many difficulties in confessing those feelings, a pang of subtle guilt over feel love again haunting him...
[break][break]
Yet, as another promise of heroism arrived, Emmet discovered himself worrying... A majority of his troop held back with the dark-haired half-noble walked ahead. He mentioned scouting, yet, part of his wishes for a brief separation was to clear his head. They were a little under midway to Assembly territory, testing their boundaries in complete honesty. There was a tightness in his chest as he ventured away, struggling to compose his emotions... So many failed attempts... Alas, part of him was certain Severus had not perished by the Assembly of Phantoms' hands.
[break][break]
Perhaps it was a refusal to believe the possibility of another lover and coworker being gone or perhaps a little voice chattering away in his mind. A burdened sigh breathed through Emmet's lips as moved through the brush, hands inside his pockets and yellow eyes gazing about. Scouting was not a good excuse for his absence, however, without other available possibilities offhand, Emmet struggled to provide. The pain of missing Severus ached intensely inside his heart and at times, he caught himself tearing up...
[break][break]
He loved that man, wanted to rescue him, be his knight in shining armour... yet... every attempt refused to allow him the prison. The cold air embraced Emmet as he moved forward, in the darkness of night... completely unaware of what watched from the shadows. The rustling of brush caught the demon's attention quickly, darkness crawling to his arms to create the ever-familiar constructs used to carry out his battles. The fear in his heart spiked as worries of another failed attempt weighed heavily upon his shoulders.
[break][break]
Every time they were ceased before entering the Assembly of Phantom's true territory. Rather, they skimmed the border, praying for an opening to provide a proper chance of getting through and freeing Severus. The man's high rank made him a prisoner they wished to maintain, therefore, the heightened security efforts were comprehended. The sheer notion of soldiers coming to rue their chances was fathomable, although, a thought of which pained the lieutenant. Inside his head, he pleaded to whatever listening gods that an Assembly face would not drift through those bushes.
[break][break]
If anything, he wanted the individual to merely be a worried coworker and nothing more, yet, it was something astonishing. From the darkness arrived a face of familiarity and seemingly endless pain. The air drained from Emmet's lungs as he stared at the person parting through the bushing and falling to the ground. Shock entered his yellow eyes as he resisted every urge to begin crying at the sight. A tightness consumed his chest, the similar constriction, but one accompanied with the release of grip at the person.
[break][break]
"Severus..." The name quietly left his gaped mouth.
[break][break]
The constructs dissipated, fading into the darkness surrounding him. There he was, the man his heart endlessly pined for through those horrid months. The demon failed to take a moment to survey his surroundings, the pain of his heart demanding alleviation. A sheep shepherded to the slaughter. The writhing of his sergeant's body only prompted the quickness of his steps. His crush required his assistance, someone to hold him, inform him it would be okay and get him medical attention. He seemingly escaped on his own or perhaps off the pity of another.
[break][break]
Once the closeness was reached, he heard the question. His heart quaked, the lieutenant assuming Severus was angered by his failures to arrive earlier... He should have been their sooner, hugging and comforting him well ferrying him home. A pained smile, awkward in creation, cracked onto Emmet's face as he watched the sergeant. The demon kneeled, grabbing the raiju's arm in hopes of pulling helping him up and finally bringing him home.
[break][break]
"I'm sorry, Sev... I understand if you're mad, I really do," Emmet informed him softly. "Let's get you home, okay?"
[break][break]
Jubilee flowed through the demon's veins as he attempted to coax Severus into taking his assistance. The sergeant's anger could be soothed later. The requirement pedestalled in the lieutenant's head was procuring Severus with medical attention opposed to endless groveling. He wanted to grab and leave. With their present location and his assumptions on Severus breaking himself out, the lieutenant believed the Assembly of Phantoms would be following hot on his tracks. People who would attack him and place Severus in risk.
[break][break]
In safety, he could plead for the brunette's acceptance of his apologies. Shower him in them and promise next time he would preserve the man's safety. He would allow this instance to be the only time; never again! Sooner would Emmet sacrifice himself than allow Severus to enter the hellhole known as the Ivory Fortress. After this they would be together again, and whether as friends or two strangers, Emmet would endlessly campaign for his crush's safety... If he only knew the depths of what happened in that dank cell.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Fresh from rounding the corner, Emmerson's brilliant, yellow hues locked on the slender hourglass figure of the infamous Christina Johnson. Somehow, the mysterious woman managed to slip into the party without hassle from the people overlooking the sign in. Gorgeous locks of long, white hair flowed from her scalp in long tressels of magnificent hair. The phantom herself, the woman who always escaped his grasp at the other end of the hallway. He paused in the hallway, watching another blonde disappear to retreat.
[break][break]
The lieutenant's eyes narrowed when Christina mentioned him interrupting a conversation, however, Emmet made no remarks on the situation. Chances were, the individual associating with her were involved in the Assembly of Phantoms. There were slow steps taken to approach the young woman with plans of capturing her if anything. Alas, the Ice Queen made her comment on the party before turning heel to leave. Instantly, the demon began running after her, sprinting and ducking through people in hopes of catching up to the infamous soldier.
[break][break]
Unfortunately, keeping pace with the woman proved difficult as he attempted to weave through the corners. He exited the manor, eyes glancing around until he noticed the white-haired woman. Quickly, he followed her, hoping he could catch her, alas, destiny called for Christina to slip away similar to a ghost.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"]Silently, Emmet ventured the hallways of Halogan Manor, haunted by old memories and thoughts of a white-haired woman who was almost ghost-like in nature. Memories of a previous spouse managed to shift to those of Christina, the Ice Queen, someone who escaped his grasp several times. One moment she would be a mere few steps in front of him, the next, gone as though she vanished like a spectre. The white-haired Assembly soldier was capable of disappearing without a trace, becoming untraceable in a matter of seconds from her swift disappearances.
[break][break]
As he wandered the vacant hallways throughout the remainder of the manor, Emmet struggled with his thoughts. His escape from the primary ballroom for the party was inspired by his unwillingness to admit he lacked the desire for a love interest to replace his sweet Marina. Yet, other emotions accompanied those bittersweet thoughts of seeking a new individual to spend his life with. An unknown force seemingly laid claim to the lieutenant's heart, pulling him towards conclusions and actions he never dreamed possible...
[break][break]
And... prompting him to kiss her on Valentine's Eve... The softest hue of red brushed his cheeks, painting them subtly as he wandered through his home. A deep breath was sucked into the depths of his lungs, held there before a gradual release of air. There was no time for those thoughts now, there were more pressing matters. Rosalynn's party required tending to, specifically the security aspect of it and that was among his duties. Thus, he focused, rounding the corner back towards the boardroom, where the washrooms were.
[break][break]
There he heard it, the familiar sound of her voice as smoke was mentioned. The demon's brilliant yellow eyes widened as realization dawned. Down the hallway was the spectre herself, Christina Johnson. The woman he divulged time into searching for stood down the hallway...
[break][break]
"So you did come," he mumbled.
[break][break]
The demon them hurred forward, intending on arresting Chris and perhaps the mysterious blonde beside her.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Matters of the heart or romantic implications were never easily handled by Emmet. Despite his so-called "tainted" noble blood, the demon possessed a respectful, albeit, controversial background... however... it lacked the expected lessons of courting and furthermore, his mother's protective nature made him somewhat of a sheltered child. Situations that manifested embarrassment or hinted at love always created an awkward, nervousness to transcend over his mind. Marina always teased him about, a smiling face framed by straight black locks as she giggled.
[break][break]
Emmet, we're married and you still get a little red if I so much as kiss your cheek?
[break][break]
Phrases from his deceased wife were imprinted in her mind, those sweet words as she playfully flirted and teased. It never bothered him, oftentimes making him smile. Infectious laughter would always fill the air between them during those playful moments. A majority of memories retained from their relationship were pleasant, however, whenever they surfaced a sad smile would breach his lips. The demonic nobleman kept his eyes away from the crowd, awkwardness consuming him, alas, there were no sorrowful smiles in response to the memory of his marriage.
[break][break]
There was merely an awkward frown accompanied by the subtle redness to his face. The present circumstance was ill-favoured for Emmet, his desire to disappear increasing with every second. Fortunately, the lion mask obscured the nobleman's face, alas, it brought hardly a sense of comfort. Floor tiles were fixated on in the dark-haired man's bashfulness as he remained silent, uncertain how to dispel those baseless rumours. Part of him refused to search for a different lover, alas, a lingering name drifted through his head...
[break][break]
Christina Johnson, the white-haired woman who somehow managed to thoroughly capture his attention could easily get his heart beating hard. There was something between them, however, Emmet remained skeptical... His occupation was to capture Assembly members, lock them up and question them in hopes of saving the innocent. Unfortunately, he failed in capturing Christina under many circumstances, but the Valentine's Day Dance stood out from the rest. Their sudden closeness because of a broken radio followed by her plush lips brushing against his.
[break][break]
Only moments later did a changed messaged reached his ears, the nobleman glancing at the crowd. It specifically mentioned his nasty smoking habit, going lengths to state he should consider quitting. Then another thing was mentioned, a clue to somebody hiding amidst the crowded room. Eyes widened, the umbra-skinned man's thoughts shifting to Christina. Was she truly here? Only moments later did a painful sensation enter his wrist, Emmet flinching and grabbing it, slowly lowering the cuff of his uniform, however, nothing was there.
[break][break]
When somebody stumbled and spilled a milkshake on Danika, the demon's attention returned briefly. As expected of a hostess, Rosalynn offered to take Danika to the washroom to clean her milkshake-covered dress, however, as Rosa stated her departure, a decision was made.
[break][break]
"Okay, I should get back to work. I'll meet up with you later, Rosa," Emmet answered with a faked smile.
[break][break]
Only moments later, the dark-haired demon left the quiet area, surveying the crowd briefly. A soft sigh escaped the lieutenant's lips upon failing to see those gorgeous white locks amidst the crowd. A frown touched his lips, the nobleman heading to the hallways, specifically the ones where guests could enter freely. The demon genuinely believed Christina was still on the premise. Somewhere inside these walls was the woman who captured his attention, the person who he wished to converse with again for an unknown reason.
[break][break]
Inside, something insisted he spoke with Christina and potentially smooth over the events which occurred during Valentine's Day... when he stated their kiss was wrong. Nothing about it felt wrong per se, but rather, the nobleman knew everything about the instance was forbidden. They were on opposite sides of this nasty war, expected to fight, not fraternize when possible. Alas, Emmet craved the white-haired woman's attention, something inside insisting on some magical reason for those peculiar desires.
[break][break]
Silently, the dark-haired man walked down those corridors, arms at his side while his yellow eyes flitted around, searching for the familiar face he sought. Somewhere around the Halloween party lurked a familiar woman with white hair and dazzling purple eyes, however, he needed to discover where.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"]Chatter amidst the party-goers was unavoidable background noise for Emmerson as he remained near his younger sister. Occasionally, he listened to the variety of topics being discussed, impart for protection purposes and because of his curiosities about if his assumptions were correct. Their kiss shared many months ago maintained a desire to speak to the white-haired woman again. The playful manner she teased him during the Valentine's Day Dance intrigued him meanwhile the kiss they shared thoroughly flustered him. She was a flirtatious one when pursued by the TRS, but yet, there was something else about the white-haired enchantress. Endearing, oddly pleasant and unexpectedly enjoyable to spend time with, they were traits Emmet never expected of Assembly soldiers. Usually, the enemy forces were preoccupied attempting to kill him during their battles. It was the expected consequence of fighting back and trying to conquer their forces. Those surveys of the immediate area displayed no evidence of Christina's presence, much to his displeasure, however, he supposed it was for the best. A large manor filled with TRS affiliates, hunters of his unit, was a dangerous location for an Assembly soldier.
[break][break]
A small smile remained at Emmet's face as the infamous nickname 'Emmie' was complimented. The nickname created by his younger sister was always welcomed, especially since Rosalynn appeared to adore calling him 'Emmie'. A nod of acknowledgement was given to the compliment, the lieutenant uncertain of what he could say in response to the name he did not create. Alas, Rosalynn's desires to playfully tease him forced fixation on the current conversation between the pair of girls and himself. Otherwise, he risked his younger sister mischievous innocence could potentially embarrass him. The male demon assumed the younger demon was quite pleased with her playful teasing, they were siblings after all. Teasing comments were naturally shared between the pair, both growing together and adjusting to one another's personalities. A soft sighed escaped his lips at Rosalynn's response, relieved his shout of denial over the appalling accusation worked. Alas, the amused giggles proved his younger sister's plan was also successful, however, he spoke nothing more on the subject. Promptly, his eyes returned to the moving crowd, partially searching for Christina, but also observing for problems.
[break][break]
A child was being stared at because of a previous situation involving a tall boy fleeing the manor. There was a soft frown on Emmet's face, however, he merely glanced away to observe the remainder of the interior. The rumours amidst the crowd were unheard by the male demon who proceeded to conduct a quick survey of the area, although, when Rosa pointed out the curious peeks, realization dawned. Red touched Emmet's cheeks, hidden by the elaborate lion's mask. Words were absent from the nobleman's mind, the fake news undoubtedly being considered scandalous considering this would be the "first love" since his wife's unexpected passing. People could be nosy beings, an obnoxious trait when propaganda would spread similar to a wildfire. A closed hand arrived at his mouth as he awkwardly coughed, uncertain of what response to provide.
[break][break]
"Well... that's awkward," he murmured.
[break][break]
Disputed claims would arrive later, once the nobleman figured out the wording. Matters of the heart were not Emmet's strong suit, even when they involved allegations of who he was dating. Thus, he resigned himself to silence despite knowing that his hunters would inquire about his date. Already, it was confirmed Emmet would blush and deny their statements about having a date that evening. Predictable were his responses to romantic notions or rumours involving around his crushes, and it was oftentimes a deep blush followed by an awkwardly stated denial. Alas, he pondered the possible questions, fearing the possibility of somebody interrogating him about who he genuinely liked, solely because of the truth. While his feelings were mixed about the situation, he knew the woman he liked had long, white locks and was among the most wanted in the TRS.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Somewhere in the crowd was the beautiful Christina Johnson with her long white hair. It ended at her waist in long, straight locks which gave it a heavenly appearance. She had a natural perfection to her face, void of makeup allowing for her flawless complexion to shine. Those incredible purple eyes which sparkled in the light and possess the majesty of nobility. There was a certain charm to her personality, despite the limited amount of exposure he had to it. Merely hearing her name was distracting for the lieutenant as his thoughts fixated on her and diverted his attention from his little sister. After the Valentine’s Day dance, Christina had managed to maintain a place on his mind. He had pushed her away, claiming the spectacular moment their lips met to be nothing, but wrong. Unfortunately, the demon was clueless on how to start a conversation after the despicable way he pushed her away. While he stood, distracted by the notion of Christina being here, he debated on the actions he would take. Would he attempt to arrest her, or merely talk in hopes of patching Valentine’s Day Incident?
[break][break]
Constantly, Emmet’s eyes glanced around the crowd, although, he refused to search in fear of upsetting his precious younger sister. Ultimately, it caused the demon to feel torn between the two significant duties he brought upon himself. Spending personal time with Rosalynn and searching Christina in the massive fray of people were both important tasks; especially if his suspicions were correct about this ‘Chris’ being the infamous Ice Queen. There were a few members of his family who genuinely cared and would not take kindly to her presence in Halogan Manor. The Assembly of Phantoms were the enemies of the TRS, thus entering the abode where a lieutenant lingered was already a disastrous plan. Certainly, this Chris would be different and the Ice Queen would keep her distance, right? When Rosalynn answered his question, Emmet was only half-listening, the thoughts of Christina’s possible presence distracting him. He proceeded to silently observe the surroundings and picking faces from the crowd to analyze, although, nothing appeared awry in the throng of people enjoying the festivities.
[break][break]
The crowd itself was nearly endless with Emmet detecting a new face, which was mostly unfamiliar with some exceptions. The lieutenant's eyes lingered until Rosalynn exclaimed an introduction of his full name, promptly turning his attention back to his younger sister and the mysterious woman. A faint hint of red touched his cheeks, the demon finding himself embarrassed over his lack of attentiveness, although, fortunately, his face was hidden by the elaborate lion mask. After the introduction, Emmet attempting to perform a better job listening to his sister and the stranger who Rosalynn announced as Danika, Dee-dee for short. Despite a portion of the servants seeming disappointed at the introduction provided by Rosalynn, Emmet proceeded to smile; he still viewed his younger sister as a little kid. While the young demon had grown and learned plenty, the lieutenant still allowed her to easily get away with childish mischief under the belief of her still being a child. Those beliefs managed to exist despite Rosalynn being old enough to marry.
[break][break]
After a few moments, Emmet straightened himself up before performing a professional bow. Despite his mixed blood, his family still expected formal attitudes and excellent behaviour.
[break][break]
"A pleasure to meet you, Danika," he began before standing up straight. "Feel free to just call me Emmet."
[break][break]
There was a broad grin across Emmet's lips, however, it was obscured by the mask which made it incredibly difficult to read his expressions. After a few moments, the nobleman surveyed the surrounding area until suddenly hearing the accusation Rosalynn stated. A sharp cough echoed through the mask as the lieutenant immediately glanced back towards his sister in horror of the sudden accusation. While cigarettes were frequently smoked by the nobleman, he never considered anything more mind-altering and detrimental to his perception of certain situations; he needed to be focused considering his position as a TRS lieutenant. Dealing with those sorts of substances prior to working a significant event could become enough to get him fired from the TRS for his negligence in assuring his brain was prepared to handle the quickly-timed decision making needed for his occupation. A horrified expression was hidden beneath Emmet's mask as his eyebrows raised and his mouth gaped. There was a sudden stiffness to his body from the shock of Rosalynn stating the accusation loudly.
[break][break]
"ROSA!" Emmet shouted before stopping to clear his throat. "You know I would never indulge in anything like that... It would tamper with my work too much."
[break][break]
The nobleman was upset by the accusation, especially considering it was completely false. While there were plenty of moments he would inhale nicotine, allowing the disgusting and addictive substance to damage his body. There were numerous occasions he received healing, thus Emmet could never notice the effects of the harmful chemicals. A soft sigh escaped the male demon's lips as Rosalynn fished for an appraisal on the bronze lion mask she had designed specifically for him. The lieutenant lacked the ability to decide on a proper mask, thus he allowed his younger sister to pick a design she wanted to see him wear. After a few moments, Emmet's gaze returned to the moving crowd, allowing him to notice a rather tall and lanky boy have the sheets pulled off of him. The rather tall man's face reddened before he pushed his way out of the manner, resulting in the lieutenant raising a brow to the peculiar action. It was evident the tall boy was extremely embarrassed over his sudden costume malfunction, resulting in him making the sudden decision to leave.
[break][break]
Afterwards, his eyes returned to Rosalynn as she claimed to know the boy and stated vaguely that he possessed 'issues'. The lieutenant silently accepted the explanation his younger sister provided, presuming perhaps it related to something more personal. Before he could return his attention entirely to the massive crowd, his sister inquired about him truly believing the Assembly would attend the party or attempt to sneak in. There was complete silence from the lieutenant as he pondered the notion, finding it difficult to believe it was impossible.
[break][break]
"Well... it is unlikely, but I wouldn't completely doubt it either," Emmet murmured quietly as he scrutinized the crowd.
[break][break]
There were times the Assembly agents would make themselves present despite the outstanding number of TRS agents, thus the lieutenant never doubted their bravery. If they could discover a reason to benefit from attacking a large manor filled with numerous people and TRS agents, Emmet could believe the possibility of them accomplishing the task. As Rosalynn proceeded to converse with Danika, the lieutenant silently watched the crowd, wondering if his suspicions about Christina's presence were correct.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] There was no intention to hurt Christina, but Emmet believed their opposing sides made it difficult to accept the peculiar brew of emotions. They were not designed to be together throughout the years, but rather to fight through the ages because of their chosen occupations. The Assembly of Phantoms and TRS would proceed to fight endlessly, and as a lieutenant, the demon would be expected to follow suit. The strings of fate supposedly held them apart in his mind, yet, every second of their lingering kiss was incredible; it felt right. There was a lingering sensation of sparks across the nobleman’s lips, a nostalgic feeling from years ago, back when Marina was alive and well. Unfortunately, the demon was aware possessing these sorts of emotions were forbidden because of their opposing allegiances. A single option was left, which was to attempt to forget and capture the Ice Queen and have her placed in prison as required. The quick step away caused Emmet to flinch as Christina retreated, vanishing hastily into the crowd. [break][break] Despite not having a radio, the lieutenant attempted to follow, struggling his way through the crowd and slipping out of city hall. The cold air of winter embraced Emmet as he exited city hall. He glanced around the area, only discovering small mounds of snow and people filtering in and out of the dance. The white-haired beauty was nowhere to be found, resulting in a frown gracing Emmet’s face as he shook his head. Within seconds, he managed to break the brief positive relationship they had, causing Christina to runaway because of his cold words. For a few moments, the lieutenant surveyed the area after informing a fellow hunter, but the Ice Queen was nowhere to be found.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"]There was nobody waiting on Emmet, nor was he necessarily searching for anybody whenever he glanced away from Christina. For years his wife had been gone, Marina appearing to have no plans to return to the living world; it made him wonder if she discovered her soulmate. While the nobleman felt slightly hurt from the notion, he would be pleased with his former life finding the individual she was destined to stand beside. Although, there was something inside supporting the entire idea of everything being alright despite Marina’s absence. The woman he absolutely loved being deceased would not herald the ending of his happiness, evident by this acute pang of joy he felt when around Christina. There was a special quality to this white-haired beauty which resulted in adrenaline pumping through Emmet’s veins, his heartbeat spiking because of her presence. She was a woman who brought thrills into his life, making it difficult for him to feel comfortable around her; he found himself nervous and energetic instead. Joy was evident throughout the entire duration of time which she was present, as though a force was insisting towards a hidden connection. Between them, there was something important and magical, an unexpected transpiration considering they were opponents on the field of war. [break][break] Presumably, these notions were the reason Emmet was hesitating to weave through the crowd and search for another hunter of his unit. Capturing the Ice Queen was important, yet, he desired more time to interact with the enchanting woman beneath the alias. She managed to make the dance less unbearable, his thoughts deterring to those fixated on his dead wife. While he remained close to Christina, a slight blush on his face, the nobleman was uncertain what his emotions were towards her. Everything mixed and violently brawled against one another, his lieutenant half reminding him that associating himself with the enemy like this was wrong while something inside screamed otherwise. These inner emotions kept the demon stationary, the magic of this enchanting moment gaining his fixation with ease. When the white-haired woman inched closer, the red on his face increased as he recognized the movements she made towards him; they were ones his deceased wife made numerous times. His yellow eyes fixated on her, the entire party around them disappearing as her lips moved closer, the magic captured at the moment keeping his attention. [break][break] Chains bound him to his spot, the lieutenant allowing her soft lips to press against his. Kissing Christina was a thrilling accomplishment, Emmet’s heart palpitating wildly the instant her delicate lips touched his own. The moment was spectacular, a thousand tiny fireworks exploding across their lips from the spark created by the action. Rapidly, the demon’s heart thumped against the sternum of his chest as he enjoyed the blissful opportunity. Since Marina met her demise, he failed to feel these types of overwhelming emotions for what felt like centuries. The duration of their kiss increased, Emmet releasing her wrist to gently wrap his arms around Christina’s waist, pulling her closer. These emotions were addicting, the lieutenant becoming mesmerized by the feeling of their lips being pressed together. Blood pooled in his cheeks, turning them a deep red as he got fully distracted by the white-haired soldier’s presence. Eventually, the lieutenant side of his brain spoke, reminding him of the objective, shock abruptly touching his expression. [break][break] Suddenly, the demon pulled away entirely, releasing Christina to place distance between them. They were enemies, destined to fight on the battlefield until somebody was captured or died. The dark-haired man stared, surprised by his inability to resist the temptation during those few moments of kissing. [break][break] “I… I… that… that’s wrong,” he mumbled. [break][break] Fraternizing with a known Assembly soldier was entirely against TRS protocol, Emmet easily imagining how quickly he would be relieved of his duties should his co-workers find out. There was hesitation before the nobleman’s face turned serious, his hand reaching out to try and snatch Christina’s wrist. He needed to find a TRS member with a radio or procure a new one; he needed to arrest the Ice Queen for her crimes against Lorsette. It was simply the way things had to be.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] While everybody else enjoyed the festivities and danced to the flow of the music. Couples were pressed close, whispering their sweet nothings while they moved around the dance floor, enjoying the company shared between them. From a distance, Emmet watched the happy faces, each pairing staring lovingly into one another's eyes. There were plenty of happy people participating jovially in the wonderful activities featured for Valentine's day while himself and Christina stood near the door. Most of the focus was fixated on the dancers littered across the dance floor, those not participating remaining on the sidelines, awaiting their turn or jealous of those with significant others. When Emmet's yellow eyes stared towards the dance floor, he was hit with pangs of sorrow as he missed his wife, Marina. Her beautiful dark hair, graceful figure and splendid personality always made his heart thump wildly. Part of him continued mourning, wishing he could have taken her slender hand, leading her to these majestic nights. He doubted he could fully recover, even believing that perhaps he would never love again.
[break][break]
Mending his broken heart took time, Emmet even returning to the Halogan manner, where he remained after the death of his wife. While he stood inside the city hall which was decorated in various reds, pinks and the occasional purple, he found nostalgia from those days spent alongside Marina, yet, something fended off the sorrow now. After leaving his lonesome corner to follow Christina in hopes of foiling any plans the infamous Assembly soldier could have, there was a peculiar comfort. A strange, new sensation had transcended over him, as though his emotions were telling him this was where he was supposed to be. There was an odd amount of comfort which soothed him from the white-haired woman's presence, as though somebody dragged those emotions out of him despite the sadness in the situation. They had spent a limited amount of time together without attempting to capture or kill the other individual, yet, something pulled Emmet towards her. The notion was strange, but the male demon knew there was something supernatural occurring between them, alas, possessed no information to formally state what it could possibly be. Perhaps it is an Assembly trick?
[break][break]
The concept of these strange connections being the result of magical tampering between them, Emmet found himself hesitant to believe the notion. Everything insisted this was a new reality without meddlesome forces attempting to create an illusion between himself and this beautiful woman. The nobleman's eyes flitted towards her, lingering for a few moments before searching the crowd. At the mentioning of making paperwork fun, a faint blush painted Emmet's cheeks as he fixated on the distant wall to hide his reddening cheeks.
[break][break]
"Y-you could?" he stumbled out. "... I cannot allow a soldier in my office..."
[break][break]
There was purposeful vagueness towards Christina's occupation when Emmet spoke, the lieutenant admittedly wishing they could test the theory. Everything about her presence felt special, causing the male demon to enjoy this limited amount of time they could have together. When the nobleman was forced to step closer, there was a minor increase to the red of his cheeks. Bashfully, he glanced towards the tiled floor of city hall, desiring to keep his flustered behaviour towards subtle romantic queues a secret; even if they were unintentional queues, it proceeded to fluster him. The mentioning of her losing a purpose for arriving at the dance earned the nobleman's attention, his eyes slowly glancing towards her face in surprise. Could this perhaps be a ploy to hide her true objective? Unfortunately, the TRS lieutenant could not be certain until she made possible motions towards starting mischief. After a few moments, the Ice Queen stepped closer, Emmet staring at her with shock as a faint red touched his cheeks.
[break][break]
Her hand reached up to touch his cheek, soft against his face as the blush continued to increase, but Emmet could not look away. The young woman was mesmerizing, earning his attention through the movements she made and the divine nature of her appearance; he wanted to know more about this enigmatic woman. There was no effort to move away when Christina's lips pressed against his, the nobleman's blush increasing as his heart slammed against his sternum. The instant was incredible, the feeling of the kiss possessing an unexpected pleasantness as the softness of her lips pressed against his, but was this not suppose to feel wrong? They were enemies, yet, everything about this moment resulted in Emmet's heart singing in joy.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] Promptly after exiting the lacklustre staircase, Emmet’s eyes glanced over the massive fray of bodies moving around the room. Music thundered through the speakers, partially concealing the conversations around him; only the occasional few words managed to make themselves heard. Vibrations shook the floor as music reverberated through the foyer, filling everybody's ears. A quiet sigh escaped the lieutenant's lips as he continued to gaze over the guests, analyzing the current citizens occupying the area. There were a variety of people, each wearing their masks, but none appeared to have the hair and figure he desired to see. The flowing white hair, hourglass figure and brilliant purple eyes of the magnificent Assembly soldier he desired the attention of. There was a thrilling aspect to being around Christina, alluring Emmet to her whenever she was present. Everything about her possessed a perfection, the male demon desiring to witness her grace and enjoying her delightful company, yet, the yellow-eyed man could not find her amidst the crowd as he secretly hoped. After a few moments, Emmet moved towards his fellow TRS hunter to exchange commands.
[break][break]
There was a small group of hunters discussing near the far hall, their voices rather hushed, but laughter was evident. Once lieutenant approached, their conversation ceased, the group stiffly turning around and providing a crisp salute to provide professionalism. Each wore their selected mask for the evening, extravagant pieces handed out by Halogan corporation for the event. They were specially made, even possessing lenses to enhance the eyesight of the hunters under his command. Already, the lieutenant's eyes analyzed their masks in hopes of recognizing them, even going lengths to glance over their nametags to reacquaint himself with each hunter. Each footstep brought him closer, the hunters beaming at their lieutenant, preparing for the commands they would be granted. The instant Emmet was before them, each barked up a 'Lieutenant' before patiently waiting for their commands of the evening. A small grin touched the hunter's lips, although, it was obscured by lavish mask requested by his younger sister.
[break][break]
Before Emmet could provide his demands and the hunter's their information, the male demon stiffened as he listened to a name called over the crowd. There was a pause as the lieutenant glanced towards the large crowd, praying he could catch a glimpse of her. A prayer was sent, but the nobleman was interrupted by a cough from one of his hunters, his yellow eyes glancing towards his hunters again. The lieutenant cleared his throat, prompting his hunters to provide some information. There was limited data gathered from the hunters, little occurring prior to his entrance, resulting in Emmet providing a small nod. Commands were given, the group promptly disbanding to accomplish their tasks. A soft sigh escaped his lips, the nobleman taking another glance towards the massive crowd. There remained the immense amount of people, all conversing and possibly hiding the person he desired to see from his sights. While Chris was a gender neutral name and belonged to millions of people, Emmet prayed that perhaps it was Christina, the woman he desired to see. There was a sigh when Emmet failed to notice the Assembly soldier in the crowd.
[break][break]
He turned away from the crowd, shortly hearing his sister beckon him towards a green-haired woman in a witch costume. A smile touched Emmet's face, the male demon walking towards his sister to converse before the party proceeded. While he walked, he stared at the door in hopes of noticing Christina among the crowd, but people blocked the lieutenant's view. There was a slowness to his walk, the male demon hoping to noticed the white-haired beauty. He desired the thrilling sensation of her presence, the intense beating of his heart and odd mixture of nervousness and joy over her presence. When he arrived in the corner near the snack table, he provided Rosalynn and the green-haired woman a smile, although, it was hidden beneath the lion mask.
[break][break]
"Are you enjoying your party so far, Rosa?" Emmet asked.
[break][break]
The demon was curious if the Halloween party was living up to Rosalynn's expectations, Emmet knowing the importance of the hosted event. He wanted to assist his younger sister where possible to make the party successful. There would be relatives scrutinizing the entire event; Emmet hoping he could manage to avoid his relatives. Considering his status in the Halogan family, the lieutenant had concern over those relatives causing him frustration throughout the evening. Despite years of receiving the obnoxious torment, Emmet found it difficult to tolerate them. Quietly, the male demon stood, occasionally glancing over the crowd in desperate hope of noticing Christina among the numerous people. There was something about her which lured him closer, thus the nobleman wanted to converse with her throughout the event because of his dislike of parties; after losing his wife, there was little entertainment in these types of events. A majority of Emmet's attention belonged to the crowd, the nobleman merely providing a quick glance over Rosalynn's and the stranger's costumes while he searched for Christina.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"] There were few things that could work for making a dance enjoyable for Emmet, but currently, Christina's presence made it tolerable. It kept the nobleman's focus away from the unfortunate early death of his dearest Marina. While plenty of beautiful women had attempted to gain his attention over the years, they paled in comparison to this mysterious Assembly soldier. Everything about her maintained the demon's endless curiosity, his yellow eyes frequently peeking over to gaze over the breathtakingly magnificent woman to stood beside him. There was something special about her, but Emmet could hardly describe the incredible sensation overpowering his emotions with positive vibes despite the Ice Queen being regarded as an enemy. Several things were wrong with the situation, yet, standing beside the white-haired woman felt significant, necessary even. The reason behind its importance was beyond Emmet, but nonetheless, he refused to move, making no motions to attempt to drag Christina near a TRS agent who could possibly possess a radio. [break][break] The lack of effort made towards getting the Ice Queen arrested would likely cause problems in the future, however, the TRS lieutenant proceeded to stand beside her, hand locked around her wrist. Extensive breaths were taken in an effort to sooth his rapidly beating heart, this peculiar infliction onto his body being oddly nostalgic; this explosive mixture of emotions had been felt before. The thrilling delight accompanied by harsh pangs of nervousness, particular around mistakes that could possibly upset Christina. Happiness, anxieties, thrills, they were all evident in a confusing brew of various emotions and feelings. The lieutenant's mind fixated on the reasoning behind these feelings until his thoughts were interrupted by his company. [break][break] "Lighten up?" He murmured, believing himself to be a rather laid back lieutenant. The mentioning of paperwork resulted in Emmet exclaiming. "Paperwork is never enjoyable! Several hours of a pencil in your hand while you fill out those accursed sheets. By the end of the night, my fingers are sore." [break][break] The joke provided by Christina was taken entirely seriously, the demon's extreme hatred of paperwork making jokes referring to it difficult to enjoy. Jokes were frequently taken with ease by the lieutenant, but paperwork would always be the most villainous foe he was expected to face. Fieldwork was thrilling, providing Emmet with an incredible adrenaline rush he had grown used to after years of service for the TRS. Unfortunately, somebody needed to spend hours filing through paperwork and the duty was handed to him. When the white-haired woman began playfully teasing him, the demon lifted an eyebrow since the notion perplexed him; he never expected the enemy to tease him unless it was absolutely hurtful. The moment Christina attempted to pull away, Emmet's grip tightening, a step following to avoid unbalancing her. [break][break] "Well... you have to have some reason to be here," Emmet murmured. [break][break] There was a genuinely curious tone to the demon's words as he spoke, wondering why exactly the Ice Queen would attend a dance and not ensue mayhem. Quietly, he listened, hoping to be provided with a true answer to the nature of the mysterious woman's visit to the Valentine's Day dance.
[attr="class","statsub"] merely one amidst millions trying to help.
[attr="class","stattext"]Expectations were a looming horror in the homes of nobles, failure to succeed frequently bringing scrutiny from family members and fellow noble families. Rumours lingered as people would exchange their thoughts, purposefully mentioning topics they looked at with great disdain. They wanted to speak about their dislikes, install their opinions over others by cleverly articulating their words to persuade others into their arguments. Volos knows they still mumbled rumours about Bernadette and her mysterious lover from a vacation long ago and continued to mention false statements about her firstborn son, Emmerson Halogon. A questionable, infatuation resulting in the ill-received eldest child never provided an opportunity to be heir to the Halagon household, yet, still held to the expectations of a nobleman. Lessons on manners, posture and other ridiculous teachings crammed into the male demon's head were still provided; they even taught him to read Latin. These expectations were thankfully lower than the true heir to the Halogan household, Rosalynn Halogan, Emmet's adored younger sister.
[break][break]
While the nobleman could only imagine the stressful situation for the lady of the household, thus the lieutenant proceeded to be supportive, going lengths to assist in his sister's ventures. Naturally, Emmet recruited some assistance from the members of unit three when the mission arrived and hastily volunteered himself for guard duty. On the lower floors, the party was in full force, the male demon sparing a few moments on the balcony of his room. A smoke was captured between his fingers while he leaned over, elbows resting on the stone railing. Beside him sat a dull, black ashtray, wind tousling the remnants of former cigarettes and their butts in the ceramic bowl. Below, people began flooding through the wrought metal gates, stationed guards requesting invitations to confirmed their allowance into the lavish Halogan Manor. Nobles and common folk of varying ages intermingled, all marching towards the front door to be escorted the first floor's foyer, where the Halloween party would be taking place throughout the evening.
[break][break]
There were few details Emmet could distinguish from his position from the balcony, but his yellow eyes remained fixated on the group nonetheless. The cigarette returned to his lips, the demon sucking in a breath, allowing the bitter taste of nicotine sooth his body. The adjacent end of the smoke burned bright, ash accumulating at the tip until the nobleman promptly flicked the end into the ashtray. A sigh escaped his lips, smoke spiralling up from his lips and disappearing into the cold outside air. Enjoying dances was difficult for the demon even if he attended to please his younger sister with his presence or arrived to support her endeavours. After losing his wife and high school lover, these events left him both uncomfortable and saddened by the reminder; even Halloween despite it being designed for games and fun rather than romance. While he stared over the crowd, he wished to see the graceful figure over the Ice Queen weaving through the mass of bodies, the mysterious woman bringing him a jubilation.
[break][break]
While they were expected to be enemies, Emmet found his yellow eyes endlessly staring at the enigmatic woman. The divinity of her beautiful appearance kept his attention and the thrilling sensation of her presence caused his heart to palpitate; her mere attendance was an adrenaline rush. These sensations were vaguely familiar, as though somebody managed to generate the incredible reaction, but on a lower tier. The nobleman proceeded to stare towards the individuals filing into the manor, praying he would manage to spot the long, white hair of the Assembly soldier. Would she manage to slip through and attend the Halloween party? A few moments passed before the lieutenant's eyes focused on the horizon, shaking his head in dismay to his ridiculous thoughts. The Ice Queen brought mayhem wherever she went and she should not be welcomed in the home of a high-ranking TRS agent under any circumstances. She was a malicious individual, heralding the death of unfortunate TRS agents and citizens wherever her presence graced; she could not be allowed here.
[break][break]
Thoughts paused as Emmet turned away from the balcony, squishing his cigarette between his fingers and the bottom of the tray. The nobleman stepped through the threshold into his room, shortly closing the elaborate, glass double doors that lead to the balcony; the smoking balcony. He glanced towards the bed where his TRS uniform sat quietly beside a bronze lion mask, his own uncertainty about the Halloween dance resulting in Rosalynn choosing a mask on his behalf. Both would Bernadette and Rosalynn assisted on his attendance, the nobleman wondering if these occasions were used as social attempts or possible date setups; most noticed his incomplete recovery from Marina's death. The manner of melancholic regarding of dances being a distinguishable feature for those who knew the demon prior to his wife's demise. Despite this, he believed volunteering to become a guard would result in him avoiding unsavoury interactions and allow him to keep to himself. A decent amount of time was spent changing into his TRS uniform, the lieutenant going lengths to secure the fancier adornments designed for moments of prestige in the TRS.
[break][break]
The finicky additional pieces were secured, the lustrous pair of red stars attached to left side of his chest. There was a crisp, eye-catching beauty to the freshly cleaned uniform. Each implement was cleaned to excellence for the occasion, providing Emmet with a professional appearance. Red accenting contrast against the dark primary shades of the uniforming, allowing for his hunting division colours to pop against the black and navy of his uniform. A pair of polished combat boots encompassed his feet, hands drawing back the laces tight before tying them into double knots. A soft sigh escaped the demon's mouth as he entered the washroom, grooming his hair back into a formal style before returning to the main bedroom. He ventured closer to the bed his eyes glancing to where the bronze lion mask was stationed. Hand-crafted, being brought from Venice as requested for the occasion. There was a moment spent staring at the stunning creation forged from metal, worked with excellent to capture the regal beauty of the lion.
[break][break]
Slowly, the mask was lifted and secured to the lieutenant's face, obscuring his face. Once his preparations were completed, Emmet attached his radio to his side and headed towards the door, exiting his bedroom. Fluently, the nobleman weaved through the hallways, heading down a different flight of stairs to make an unceremonious entrance into the foyer. Grand entrances were reserved for the pureblooded nobles of the Halogan family, thus he entered through a different area to avoid anything eye-catching. Similar to the nobles, the illegitimate child to the Halogan family possessed an altered sense of expectation with acute changes. He was expected to be polite and charming to those around him but designed to be a ghost amidst the crowd, forgotten and not introduced with the utmost professionalism. Instead, he was looked down upon, suffering the fate of his mother's actions, but nonetheless, a fate he had grown adjusted to. When he entered the foyer, he noticed the massing fray of bodies in the foyer, judging the festivities.
[break][break]
There were no doubts in Emmet's mind that the planning was solely done by Rosalynn, considering the unique choices for the masquerade. The gothic styling accompanied by the melodic metalcore that blared over speakers. Masks were worn by everybody in the room, most making certain the masks matched their costumes. Guards, servants and guests alike wore their masks, perhaps to defend themselves from the harsh tongues of opinions and rumours while formulating their own. As expected of a lieutenant, Emmet proceeded to check in with the various guards, quietly going about his duties to achieve professionalism as expected.
Do not use drama to get attention in the chat. Nobody appreciates it.
2
No advertising, we have a perfectly fine board for that.
3
Please try and keep swearing to a minimum in the chat.
4
All chat usernames should be PG-13 and not break the ProBoards ToS or site rules.
5
A Chatango account is not required, but it is encouraged.
6
Please avoid spamming the chat; accidents are understandable.
7
You may use the in-character chat prior to acceptance.
8
Be respectful to anybody who enters the chat, including guest, fellow members and staff.
9
Guests may speak in chat at anytime to ask questions or get a taste of our community~!
resource sites
affiliates
credits
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.
