Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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duplicitymemes2020-05-12 10:04 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2020-05-12 10:04 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #12
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It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Yet, solace is found in the lies we tell each other, comforted by the peace of knowing that we're not alone in our depravity, and once on this path, sin itself becomes the lesser of two evils masked in a cloud of normalcy. This is how Duplicity has functioned since the beginning. The divide of power and social standing is overt in that Dominants influence the decisions made both publicly and privately while Submissives cater to the rules presented to them. It is the way of Duplicity to assign random designations at birth with no leeway in altering what has been given. Climate in the Up is far stricter than that of the Down; violating outlined personas for a Dominant or Submissive while in full view of others is punished by degree of infraction. In the Down, many tend to turn a blind eye to these sorts of offenses. To counteract the discovery of the Deceit Gene – a natural "negative" response to all stimuli – the L.I.E.S. program was founded. The program had been designed to introduce new subjects to the current environment and test for the Deceit Gene through immersion in Duplicity's standing society. Sexual impulses and encounters increase the chances of detecting the gene within these individuals. Participants are typically released from L.I.E.S. after a year; however, results have remained unsatisfactory and testing still continues. ... and you’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity. After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation. If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your highrise. Here, it is two Dominants per floor with separate apartments. If you enter Duplicity into the Down, congratulations! You’re a Submissive, which means you are directed towards public transportation with the address of the motel you’ll be living in. Here, it is two Submissives per room with a shared common space for all rooms. Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals. The weather is a windy 69 degrees. |
 It's time for the monthly Duplicity train tour. Seats are in pairs and randomly assigned to Dominants and Submissives alike. Traveling from Fiddler's Square, the train journeys through various parts of the Up, showcasing society and examples of lifestyle. Along the way, frequent stops are made; a variety of passengers can be seen exiting and entering the doors. A Dominant with a kneeling Submissive takes a seat near the front of the train at one stop. A small group of Submissives board and sit closer to the LIERS at another, all seemingly content in their roles. As the tour continues through the Up, the train passes close to the Market and White Wall Bridge and zips by North Park before heading into the Down and bypassing Red Wall Bridge and South Park. The train makes a "final" stop at Riddler's Square, where inhabitants of the Down are instructed to return to their temporary housing. Those who live in the Up are permitted to stay on the train and revisit the same locations while returning. CAUTION On the second day that new arrivals have been in the city, the train will derail due to a malfunction in the computer systems. Anyone on board at the time, Noon, could be injured, stuck, or killed. Emergency services will light up asking for immediate assistance. |
 Two of Duplicity’s largest film production companies are out to recruit new, exciting talent. With the warring success of Subliminal, Sublingual, Sublime and You Scratch My Back, I Claw Yours, they have the influence and the funds to go big. They have reached out to the LIEs program for help with the idea that inclusion in local culture will make incoming LIErs more compliant, not to mention bring fresh blood into the industry. Orientation is just a little different this month. Welcome to the casting couch, LIErs and those unlucky graduates of the program mistakenly sent notice of mandatory attendance, or else… Not everyone has what it takes to be a star. Both Domination Station Films and Studio Hott are in need of plenty of extras to fill in the background of their newest productions. After an initial sorting in the lobby of the newly refurbished Orientation center, some newcomers, LIErs, and graduates are hustled into a quick and dirty costume fitting. The costumes aren’t as nice or detailed as those for potential stars and may be safety pinned in awkward places. Makeup is cheap and sometimes gaudy. It gets the job done. You may not have a speaking role. It doesn’t mean you’re any less important, so get comfy on the furniture or in the pool and get busy promoting the Dominant/submissive culture that drives Duplicity’s society. Unsure of how to act? Better listen closely to the director. There are shock collars and bracelets to “encourage” the unwilling, and the camera will keep rolling until the scene is right. Scenes may be sexually explicit or merely instructive, such as proper seating and kneeling, feeding and serving of Dominants, and keeping a respectful distance in walking. Extras fill any and all roles required by the director for that realistic setting feel. If you are a Dominant extra, be sure to claim elevated seating and show a firm hand toward any submissives cast as your partner. If you’re submissive, it’s the ground or floor for you, depending on where the scene is set. Be attentive to your Dominant’s needs. It’s OK to talk, as long as you keep it down. Anything you say will be taken out in post. Craft services has just what it takes to set the mood. Stop by for a drink or snack. Soon enough those pesky inhibitions will be a thing of the past. (Some, but not all, of the food and drink contains mid to high level aphro effects. The film companies are taking no chances. The scene doesn’t call for intimacy? Good luck keeping your hands to yourself. You may be in for a shocking experience. Repeatedly.) |
 You’ve caught the eye of the studio. You’re ushered into a small room to wait your turn. Whether you’re new to the city or not, you find yourself paired with someone for a screen test. Do they want you for Hungry Hearts or It’s in the Pizza? Read your lines convincingly, make some chemistry with your partner, and you could see your name and other things in lights very soon. Don’t worry if the dialog is cheesy. It’s part of the charm. Having trouble getting into your part? There are costumes hanging on a rack. Try one on. You may find the experience transformative, as though you were made for your role, or it was made for you… (Costumes may or may not affect the personality of the wearer. Those that do will make it much easier to get into character and greatly lower inhibitions when it comes to the more demanding scenes.) Be aware that any sexually explicit scenes will only be filmed between a Dom and a sub, or a Dom and multiple subs. If you are a Dom cast in the scene with another Dom, it will be gen only. (We’re assuming you’ve seen a porn or two, or at least a parody. Go crazy on the cheesy dialog and stupid set-ups. It’s just pretend, right?) |
 Some people just aren’t meant for film. If you don’t catch the eye of any of the studio reps, you are recruited to work on set building and painting, helping dress extras or potential stars, or providing that extra stimulation to keep them going between scenes. Individuals who complain too much about the circumstance may find themselves assigned to the more unfortunate jobs. Somebody needs to clean up those sets after they’re finished. (Just put your role in your top level if there’s something specific you have in mind you’d like to play out, like “set building” or “fluffer.” We won’t judge.) |
Please read carefully. On each Test Drive Meme, there will be a section noting character roles; these will vary each TDM. On an IC level, characters will still have gone through the doors but assignments OOCly are still randomized. When applying, there is a section of the application that denotes whether the character chooses "left" or "right". When participating on the TDM, there will be a third option. Players may link either a top level or a thread (five or more comments from their character) from the TDM and title the link as "Door Pass". This means that the player is choosing to take the designation that they were randomly assigned on the TDM, rather than taking the designation of a door. If the player decides to select a door rather than use the pass, then they are trying their luck; they may get the same designation they had on the TDM or the opposite. Once the application is submitted, players can't change their choice. To assign roles to characters for this TDM, use the following guide: There's a table with items on it. Your character selects one. If they chose the jar of pickles or ballpoint pen they are a Submissive and if they chose a clothespin or mini baguette they are a Dominant. Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!! |
« « « ASK THE ROAD
He turns away before the tirade comes to an end, staring at his script pages intently like they have anything on them that he actually needs to memorise. He cringes when he hears the shock collar go off and curses his own inability to leave well enough alone, spinning around he stomps over to Oswald and crouches down to help the man up.
"Get up Penguin. Don't yell, continuing to have a tantrum isn't going to help you." He just about orders.
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For a brief second, the focus of his ire shifts immediately, very based in a visceral don't you fucking touch me place until he hears the young man speak. And not only does he speak, he seems to know who Oswald is.
Confusion flits briefly across Oswald's face, his brow furrowed before it steadily starts to return to a scowl.
"How does EVERYONE here already seem to know who I am?!" he yells with a dramatic upward throw of his arms.
Did you mean he should have a bigger and louder tantrum, Tim?
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"People know you because your beloved Ed Ngyma does love to talk about being second to the mayor of Gotham." He grabs the man's arm again, a little firmer this time and tries to direct him away from the centre of the attention so that people can go back to ignoring just two submissives.
"Look, I know you just got here and being here is the equivalent to hell right now but you're not helping yourself but acting like a child."
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Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, Oswald brings his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose right between his eyes, taking in a long, deep breath, counting to ten--well, five--before lifting his hand abruptly like he's trying to swat something away. Or maybe just this new stranger.
"It's funny that you should bring up children, because you barely look old enough to be out here unsupervised yourself. Should we be looking for your guardian somewhere in all this mess? Hmm?"
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"Yes, I'm young. Congratulations, you have eyes. I'm still acting with more decorum than you were." Tim huffs, Ed is going to so happy and hopefully neither he nor Riddler will bring up their beef with Tim to Oswald. He can only imagine the annoyance of dealing with both of them suddenly deciding revenge might be a good idea after all.
"Unfortunately in this city, you've been randomly assigned as submissive, which means the very bottom of the power dynamic here. A lot of us have been kidnapped here and we know it's ridiculous but you play along as best you can to avoid punishments. Trust me, being electrocuted is the least of it."
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He narrows his eyes slowly, his chest puffing up as he pushes his lower lip up over his teeth and endures the stranger's assessment of assignments before Oswald gives a thin smile and makes a point to start straightening himself out.
"I may new here, but I think I have more than enough of a grasp of the severity of the situation, thank you."
He doesn't really, not yet anyway.
"And who might you be, anyway?"
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Tim doesn't offer a hand to shake or even a wave, he crosses his arms in fact, putting up a defensive barrier between them. Ed also never gave the impression that this man was such a child. Not that he really gave Ed's accounts of people too much weight but the rose coloured glasses the other man must be wearing.
"I'm Tim Drake-Wayne. I come from a universe parallel to your own where you're much older and more of a mobster than a mayor."
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At least that's the case until Tim starts to introduce himself, then the confusion returns to Oswald's face as he blinks a few times, squints as he frowns and leans forward, then straightens up again to slowly rub his temple with his fore and middle finger.
"Mm. Yes. Of course. Parallel universes. How very foolish of me."
That is one of the lingering points that has Oswald still half-convinced this is all some kind of fever dream, but the assessment of this other version of him, an older version of himself, makes Oswald smile as he takes a slow step closer to Tim, into that personal bubble he's maintaining.
"I would have imagined that any version of myself would have the skills and resources to enable him to balance both enterprises with equal efficiency. If that is what they have opted to do in your world."
He bites his lower lip for a brief moment, faux coy but intrigued.
"Hmm... Mr. Tim Drake-Wayne. Of the great Wayne empire, I assume. If you know an older version of myself, I have to assume you know a version of Bruce Wayne, who must be aaaaall grown up by now. Your father, is he? Grandfather, maybe?"
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"So you admit that in your world that the position of Mayor was only half of what you did in Gotham? That you maintained a criminal presence as well." It's good to get confirmation. Ed always skirted around that point even if the fact that Zsasz was also under Penguin's employed implied the need for a hitman.
"My adoptive father. I'm aware that the Bruce you know is probably about my age to you but he's a couple of decades older than that in mine. Not that there is a Wayne Empire or a Bruce in this world."
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He's had more than enough experience with the press and cops alike to know how to not indict himself.
"As for the Bruce Wayne I know, he is actually even younger than you are! Can you imagine!" He flicks his pointer finger in Tim's direction for effect, playing every bit the dodging politician at this point, "So it's probably for the best that he's not here, wouldn't you agree?"
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"Well, you must be a much more capable Cobblepot than my own world's because I believe the only reason this one keeps himself out of Blackgate is the fact that he also works as a snitch to Gotham's vigilantes." He shrugs, "But different universes are funny like that."
"I can imagine and that's one thing we can agree on. There are younger than I who have been kidnapped here and it's best there weren't more." Tim uncrosses his arms and picks off a bit of lint on Oswald's shoulder, "Now, it's really no skin off my nose if you continue to misbehave but it really would upset Ed if he found you locked up in the People Zoo so maybe just tone it down a little?"
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For good measure, he throws in a roll of laughter which ebbs off as Tim reaches across to pluck the fluff from his shoulder. His eyes track Tim's fingers from extension, to grasping, and flicking it away.
It takes a tremendous amount of willpower not to grab and snap Tim's wrist; even more so than usual, Oswald does not care to be touched. Instead, he forces a smile, slightly strained at the edges.
"Oh? And here I thought we were enjoying a nice little chat and cultural exchange? Is this not toned down enough for your tastes?"
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"It's not my tastes you have to tone down for, or haven't you been listening? This-" He indicates to his own Submissive mark before waving vaguely at Penguin's as well, "Means that you're expected to do as you're told. Which currently is read for a terrible porno."
He should just walk away, he wonders if Nygma or Zsasz are here or even Vrenille, he could foist the other man onto one of them and not have to feel responsible for Oswald getting himself into trouble.
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He pauses, running his tongue against his upper canines beneath his lip before giving Tim an expectant look with a sharp cant of his head.
"Which leads me to wonder, one behalf of whom, or for whose benefit, are you telling me to toe the line? Is this your version of heroism? Are you trying to save me from myself by falling in?"
Leaning in, Oswald lowers his voice to a cold whisper.
"Let me tell you, at age sixteen, your adoptive father would never have bowed his head to accept even a fraction of the injustice of a place like this. Funny. As a child, he was more of a man than you are now. Run along now and toe your own lines, young Master Drake-Wayne."
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"Yes, we're both submissives. You are quite fond of stating the obvious, aren't you? and you can view this as a version of heroism if you want. I would have done the same for anyone here," even if he regrets doing it, he knows he would have still done it again, "or you can decide I just did it for Ed or Zsasz if you want. It matters very little."
Tim rolls his eyes again, "My adoptive father would understand that certain situations require you adapt to survive."
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"Oh, I'm sure that you would. A good, upstanding member of society like you," he takes a purposeful step back then, outside of Tim's personal space and reestablishing their distance as he smiles with faux serenity.
Holding the silence for a few moments, his stare thins a little and the smile tapering off slowly.
"Did you know that the melting point of silver is 1,763 fahrenheit? Whereas steel won't bend until at least 2,500."
A complete non sequitur, maybe?
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Tim crosses his arms again but the non sequitur has him curious now so he's willing to bite on this hook. He presumes in this analogy that he's the 'silver spoon' for his place in society and Penguin is the 'steel' that can take so much more.
"And? everything still has it's a melting point in the end. They don't want to melt us, they're going to bend us into the shape they want of us."
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He doesn't sound like he could care less about that or finds it even remotely convincing, instead taking a hit to his own leg by letting himself sway back and forth slowly on the balls of his feet. He can endure the ache for a moment like this.
"You're right that everything has a melting point. Everything bends eventually. But, what you were saying about your dear ol' dad and his relative adaptiveness?" he pauses at the angle that leans him closest to Tim for a moment, a playful but not friendly smile on his lips.
"It just occurs to me, you know, that the hardest lesson of all is learning that when you melt down a silver silver and reforge it into a knife, it will still never be as sturdy or up for the job as steel."
The corners of his mouth tip down into an over-performed sad shape.
"All I'm saying is, the lengths to which silver and steel go to in order to adapt, melt, and be reforged? They are markedly different."
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"So I am silver and Bruce is steel in this metaphor?" He shrugs, "Is it suppose to bother me that Bruce is a better man than me at my age? That doesn't bother me. Why would I feel anything than pride for how strong Bruce has always been?"
"But if you mean to imply that you are steel? Well, perhaps you are but when melting and forging any metal. It is also important that the shape be the right one for its function. Maybe I am forged for a different use than you? Maybe you have been broken and not properly mended," his eyes flick down to the leg which Penguin limps on.
"Maybe you still work regardless of the abnormalities in your form?" He shrugs again, "Doesn't matter, we're not metal Penguin."
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Each question Tim asks, Oswald treats as rhetorical, offering only a annoying little chuckle, a small shrug, or a 'could be!' sort of expression with big eyes and an irritating, dumb smile.
But then Tim hones in on his leg and Oswald's attitude shifts, his expression turning grave and his lips turning inward as his face darkens, somewhere between reddening from shame and anger. Then, he seems to make a physical gesture to shake it off, his shoulders rolling a few times as he breathes out a low sigh through his nose and straightens his back.
"I will leave you to ponder the meaning behind my words. After all, some lessons are about being told, and others are about find the answer for yourself."
He pauses, not to consider his next words but purely to hold the silence before tilting his head forward slowly, looking at Tim from the sharp lines of his brows.
"And rest assured, Mr. Drake-Wayne, I am well aware that you and I are but flesh and bone. And we do bleed, don't we. In fact, I daresay those of us from Gotham--regardless of its time--know that better than most. Unless... that is another lesson you have yet to learn. In which case, oh boy! Do you have a surprise in store for you!"
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Did he think he was being clever? or profound? It was like a child walking up to him and thinking he'd devastated Tim with a one-liner and walking out pretending to mic drop. He tilts his head as if looking at the man at a dutch angle will reveal something new.
"You're.. very weird... I don't see the appeal." He says in the end before waves his hand as if dismissing the man and turning to return back to make up.
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"What?" Then, with a frown settling more firmly on his features, "Wait, what is that supposed to mean?"
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He turns and faces him again, "Nygma had given the impression that you were a good candidate for Mayor of Gotham. That you were a man of integrity and class, so being faced with you as you are." He leaves what Penguin is, in the air. "It's a very stark contrast."
"Tell me did Jim Gordon actually get you framed for murder? or was that a delusion of Ed's mind as well?" I mean he had always presumed it was but he's curious now what Penguin will say.
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Forcing himself to swallow down the initial wave of anger, Oswald straightens himself and shoots a glare in Tim's direction.
"As it happens, I was an excellent mayor. And I am purely speaking objectively here. Statistically speaking, while I was in office, Gotham witnessed a boom of prosperity."
He lifts his hand, counting on his fingers as he speaks.
"Crime? Down. Jobs? Up. Economy? Thriving. I provided historic highs and lows for the city in all the right places. I did that! And I didn't even get my head shoved in a box!"
The comment about Jim Gordon goes very much unremarked upon, but it's a worthwhile bit of information.
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"And how did you go about getting those record numbers?" He doesn't believe the man's words at all. "And I wasn't aware that getting your head shoved in a box was something that happened often to Mayors." Although it wouldn't surprise him either.
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