duplicitymods: (Default)
Duplicity Game Mods ([personal profile] duplicitymods) wrote in [community profile] duplicitymemes2021-01-10 07:56 pm
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TDM #16


« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « ALL ON DISPLAY


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 high rise. 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 rather cold and icy.



» » » WALKING TOUR




The cold, icy winter weather has seen to it that there is an unfortunate interruption with the usual city tour for the newest arrivals to Duplicity. Some of the train tracks have a dangerous amount of ice coating them and sections of travel are now unavailable via train.

City officials still believe that the tours are important to integrate new LIERs to Duplicity so they have organised personal walking tours held by current LIERs. New arrivals will be paired with their own tour guide; they can take the suggested path or take their barely dressed charge on a more ad-hoc tour. It might be considerate to let them change into something warmer first!

Important landmarks and checkpoints like Fiddler’s Square, North Park, The Up and Down Courts, the People Zoo and of course S.L.U.T. need to be marked off on the tours but there have also been fun local stores which have set-ups for free samples and information booklets. What order and how people travel to them is up to them.



« « « GALLERIA OF SEX


(CW: exhibitionism, voyeurism, dub/non-con)

One of the stops along these new walking tours is a temporary educational art installation that has been set up to display and talk about the rich variety of kinks that are popular in Duplicity. Newcomers are invited to come inside the building, sit on the human furniture to watch and learn or volunteer to participate themselves.

Each section has local LIERs and graduated citizens there to help walk those new to the program through the displays, explaining the appeal and draw of each kink.

Live demonstrations or performance art are carried out by LIERs who have volunteered, been conscripted or are fulfilling a sentence that would normally land them in the People Zoo. They can and will ask anyone and everyone to step up and be part of the artwork themselves.

Some of the displays set up will feature:
  • Naked Submissives have been bound and posed with their bodies arched in visually pleasing positions. They are surrounded with candles burning around them and guests are invited to drip the hot wax across their bodies to add to the artwork that is their naked skin.
  • Zap your lover or the volunteers with an electrical wand and discover the way it can make the skin tingle and muscles tense in just the right place at just the right moment.
  • The image of cum dripping from a well used Submissive is considering something to appreciate visually so stations have been set up with glory holes and kneeling participants to have their faces and buttocks painted over the course of the day.
  • A variety of whips, canes and paddles have been set out next to padded benches for Submissives to bend themselves over. The marks they leave are something to be proud of.
  • No art display in Duplicity is complete without an ode to bondage, one room will be entirely devoted to participants being suspended from the ceiling, held in positions that will test their stamina and flexibility and leave the most gorgeous bruises.

We encourage players not to limit themselves in regards to what is on display. There are many more kinks than the ones listed, and Duplicity considers all kinds of sexual acts a form of art.

Photo taking is encouraged throughout the exhibition, especially when your own participation is concerned. If you missed the chance to do so, in the moment, you need not worry as the gift shop at the end of the gallery will have many different prints taken over the course of the exhibition available for purchase. Take home a keepsake of your first day in Duplicity.




« « « ICE TO SEE YOU


(CW: exhibitionism)

Winter does make it harder in Duplicity to enjoy all the pleasures of the flesh that could be on offer in the warmer months. Most who live in the city still need to wrap up with many layers when the weather turns so chilly. But that’s not saying that the city can’t find ways to help keep its residents in the mood.

It will first be noticeable to those trying their hand at streaming or posting video footage onto the network. Regardless of a character's state of dress while recording, they will appear completely naked to those watching and no amount of covering up with more articles of material will change that.

Others might see it as they set about on their first days getting used to the city’s layout, glancing into a shop window they will notice their own state of undress in their reflection. You might even see it in a particularly shiny bit of ice but no matter where you look, all reflective surfaces will show everyone in their birthday suits, naked as the day they were born.



« « « BLADES OF GLORY


(CW: exhibitionism, dubcon, drugging)

In a bid to encourage individuals to get out and keep active despite the chilly weather, the city has transformed one of the large tennis courts in the Up into a makeshift outdoor skating rink. In the recreation building attached to the courts-turned-rink the change rooms have been outfitted for people to change into more appropriate clothing. There is also at the front of the building an area to rent skates.

Many who get on the ice see no reason to keep apart, as many contracted couples can be seen holding hands or chasing each other as they skate. In the change rooms it isn’t uncommon to see a bit of hanky panky or people getting off at helping others in and out of their skates. There also seems to be a small hot chocolate stand set up inside the building where characters can buy a warm drink to sip on while taking a break from skating. The drink may leave those that consume it feeling especially warm and frisky, with perhaps a bit of extra energy they need to burn off - skating might not cut it.




« « « MOD & OOC NOTES


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: If your character would rather have a dog for a pet they are Dominant. If they would rather have a cat for a pet they are Submissive. If your character is from a canon that has neither, pick the choice you believe they would prefer more.

To Note: Characters can only swap their designation for one of the following reasons: an event occurs that allows it or there are OOC reasons that make it a necessity. Any swap always requires mod approval and each character can only ever switch once. Characters that are being reapped will keep their previous designation but players can choose to use new tdms with different designations for fun!

Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have a good time!!




» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «
notrosecolored: (A1)

[personal profile] notrosecolored 2021-02-07 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Then we'll start with finding my apartment and figuring out what they left - and if they're counting my glasses as an item.

[ He isn't sure he had three things with him when he arrived, and if his clothes options are X-men uniforms and prison uniforms he's going to have... not the first single concern, actually. ]

Consider that the tour.
justkind: (Default)

[personal profile] justkind 2021-02-07 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
That would be unfair, so probably. [ Not invalid, but he's also just grumpy about not having his own sunglasses. ]

We might get a citation for that. [ He's already walking. ] I'm game if you are.
notrosecolored: (11)

[personal profile] notrosecolored 2021-02-07 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Me telling you to do it means, if I understand correctly, that I get the citation.

[ What's new about that. He gives the Doctor the addresses and follows. ]

The Doctor can't mean you're the doctor for Duplicity.
military_dog: (interest)

For personal reasons couldn't tag, but here all night

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
Mustang cocks his head fractionally when the leash changes hands, and he feels the collar loosen slightly. The face of a young man hovers into view. Sporting dark, asymmetrical hair and startling blue eyes, his new babysitter stands before him, his face an open question even before he voices one. As sympathetic as the man seems to be, Roy withholds trust until it’s been earned.

Within this bizarre cosmos, this city, this world, the universe surrounding him that is not his, the man's offer surprises him, twisting so many of his assumptions about this place inside out. Recognizing that it's easily the best option available, Roy lifts his eyes to meet the other's gaze, dropping his chin in a brief nod of acceptance. He may not trust the guy, but he’s hungry and cold and needs to clothe himself. Whatever else the young man might be, he's calm and offers help, which is more than he’d expected from anyone here.

The growl Roy’s stomach issues is embarrassingly loud. Locking the feelings of uselessness and degradation deep into his psyche as irrelevant, the colonel rattles the shackles around his wrists and tries to smile around his words.


Sure. Mind helping me with these?
Edited 2021-02-07 04:32 (UTC)

[personal profile] hisownmaster 2021-02-07 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Adam doesn't expect that answer to fly. He's not sure he would have accepted it but given this place and all he had dealt with in those first days, maybe he would have for a while.

Which is what he believes. He has for a while. Until things started coming out. But the biggest hurdle is down given what Gansey remembers. Now to deal with the others.

Yet he holds all the cards here. Like when he'd gone to Cabeswater. Why he'd gone to Cabeswater. Like needing to have that control, needing to have a way to save Gansey, he wanted to protect him from all of that here if he can. Because that is one thing, the first thing that hits him in that moment.

Gansey can't die here.

That, for now, is a start.

He nods though at that question.]


It's built from there. Cabeswater awakened something in me when I made that choice. I became more in some ways.

[He lifts his hand, focusing for a minute. He's nervous and his focus isn't entirely there, but there's a kick up of air and a swirl of it in his hand like the tiniest tornado.]

Water is a little more flashy but nearly drowned myself recently. Haven't tried with fire yet. Knot magic works better for me.

[In so many ways.]
ortecho: (big grin)

[personal profile] ortecho 2021-02-07 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ The snort brings a grin to her face. She thinks she knows exactly how he feels. ]

Stranger than this? Oof. You lead a truly exciting life, sir. I know what you mean, though. You go out to buy a gallon of milk here and you wind up with someone trying to sell you sex toys.

[ It isn’t an exaggeration. Nearly every business in Duplicity has some sort of sexual theme to it. Liz could easily do without that. ]
carrythetorch: (103)

[personal profile] carrythetorch 2021-02-07 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm relaxed," Lio assures him, though given the rising growl in his voice is probably a bit more evidence of his need than actual relaxation. But Galo's lips are a pleasant, delicious distraction, and Lio's hands shifting to settle on either side of his neck, shifting to grip instead at his shoulders when Galo begins to push inside.

"Ga...Galo..." he whimpers, breathless, letting himself be guided down inch by inch until he's fully impaled on Galo's cock. It's slow, maddeningly slow, but it's good, too, even if there's a moment or two where it's almost too much, but even that is good, and Lio lessens his grip at Galo's shoulders.

Instead he leans in to him, running his hands up into his hair, down over his back, through the fabric of his shirt, tugging. "Take this off," he murmurs. "Then mm. I'm ready. Give it to me."
cryfrustration: (43)

no worries

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
Ahh, the shackles. Vrenille had made a quick, private inquiry about those and gotten some version of an answer from the Dominant he's just traded with, though not necessarily what he presumes to be the most reliable one. He's reserving judgement, but he's not naive. A man who'd (apparently) threatened some kind of violence once might well do it again, so the trust that needs to be earned is, on some level, mutual.

That's one thing, but the other is that there's only so much that Vrenille can get away with in public with so many people watching and judging. He's already struck the bargain to swap jobs. He's already taken a Submissive who was going to get flogged and is removing him from the whole display. It's much better for them both if taking the shackles off him in front of everyone isn't his first act.

His eyes make a quick little sweep, subtly indicating the audience on all sides. "Let's start with a change of venue, yeah? Then we can work on it."

Reaching up slowly so that the gesture won't come as a shock or appear to be attempting something it's not, he does unclip the leash from the collar at least, looping it in his hand. That much he can offer. And the collar does stay securely in place. "I'm Vrenille. What's your name?"
military_dog: (neutral)

<3

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Alright."

Mustang falls into step with Vrenille, trying to keep his cool in sight of all that flesh. It's not as though he takes issue with sex; it's a joy second only to alchemy. It's just... this display is so utterly outside of his experience, he's a little shocked by these people's willingness to perform with so few inhibitions. For all his own arrogance and positive self-image, Roy can't be sure whether he'd be willing to pose and perform in public as he'd witnessed so many of them do.

At least he's off the leash. For a moment there, Roy had been confident the one to muscle him from the building planned to string up for flogging, especially after scorching more than half a dozen of the doctors. He's pretty sure; no, he's positive that his "friend" here had saved his ass from taking any punishment and who knew what else.

He shouldn't think about it. He doesn't want to think about it. In fact, all he wants is to get the hell out of here before someone revokes his freedom.

"I'm Mustang. Where are we headed?"
cryfrustration: (19)

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Mustang," Vrenille repeats the name, committing it to memory. "Glad to know ya. Let's start with someplace warm."

Vrenille's smile carries the sort of patience and openness that tends to disarm people. He seems totally at ease in the space, amidst all the displays of sex--he's not paying them any particular mind, but he also seems to do so effortlessly, like they're simply the wallpaper. There's a quiet, modest confidence in it, like he doesn't need to throw his weight around or try and prove himself to anyone.

He leads them back towards the entrance, gestures with a raised hand for his companion to wait on the steps in the relative shelter of the building, and then hails a taxi. When it pulls up to the curb, he opens the door, gesturing the shackled man inside. He's patient about it, since he knows from experience that not everyone who arrives here comes from places with cars (or trains, or communications networks).

Once they're both settled in the back seat and he's given the driver his instruction (We're going to Fiddler's Square, and could you put the heat up back here please), he turns his attention to the man beside him properly, a certain ease and relaxation coming into his posture.

"Right, so clothes first. Your old ones'll be waiting for you in the room they give you in the Down, but it ain't exactly the lap of luxury. They'll feed you there too--I've eaten worse, but..." His expression and tone say plainly enough that the food leaves something to be desired.

"So let's make sure you get at least one good meal today. And I'm guessing your 'grand tour' got kinda re-routed 'fore anyone told you much or showed you 'round the place, so I'm gonna try 'n tell you what you'll need to know. You can ask me anything as we go, taboo questions, whatever, I'm cool with it." So that's their agenda. "All right?"
military_dog: (perturbed)

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
“You’re right about that.”

Roy wants to rub the back of his neck, but these cuffs won’t allow for much more than laying his hands flat against his thighs, and while they’re there, he may as well try to warm up by rubbing them. Glancing outside through the windows at the strange, clean architecture of the buildings they pass reinforces the alienness of the place. It hits him almost as hard as waking to strange faces in some extraordinary facility and being told he had to fuck for a living.

Mustang’s stepmother is a good woman, and although he’d been raised in a bordello, he’d never felt more like a whore than he does right now. Until he collects allies and learns enough about this place, he needs to keep his temper in check. Eventually, he promises himself, he’ll return to Amestris to dig through the bowels of the military’s corruption and take his inevitable place as Fuhrer there.

Keeping his eyes locked on the passing scenery, his curiosity regarding wherever they are gnaws at his insides, or perhaps it’s just hunger. Probably a little of both. “I guess I need to know what the network is and how to use it.”

He’s finally, gratefully warming up, and rubs his thighs with a little less ferocity. “Your accent doesn’t Amestrian. Are you from Aerugo or Creta or farther away?”
cryfrustration: (39)

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 10:15 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm from Tyria. Stronghold of Ebonhawke. Don't worry if you never heard of it--I never heard of none of those places you said either. It's a whole thing here. Different worlds. You'll meet a lotta folks from a place called Earth. Pretty sure more come from there than anywhere, but they come from all different versions of it, different times 'n timelines."

He makes a mental note to show Mustang how to use the network later. He can demonstrate over lunch after he's got the guy some pants. For now, he continues, "Some of 'em are from places that got tech 'n infrastructure a lot like here. Others not so much. Was the latter for me. When I got here, all these buildings, everything made outta so much glass 'n all the neon lights--was all strange as hell."

He's noticed the expression on the man's face as he looks out the window, in other words, and he's sympathetic.

"You got magic where you come from?"
military_dog: (alright)

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 10:46 am (UTC)(link)
“No, although people who’ve never seen alchemy performed before usually think it’s magic. It isn’t. Alchemy is a science, and I’m a State alchemist. A damn good one.”

Roy finally begins to relax in the other man’s presence, as relaxed as he could be wearing an open back paper dress. He looks harmless enough and hasn’t given any indication that he wants anything from him. But what the man just said makes him uneasy in a way he finds disconcerting and a little troubling. “Different worlds and different times. That’s a lot to digest. And since you asked, should I assume there are magic users among the others here?”

Mustang doesn’t know what to make of that, but he knows that of all the State Alchemists, he is the most dangerous, and that helps assuage some of the anxiety. “You mentioned taboos. We have three taboos in Amestris. No alchemist is to transmute lead into gold or use human transmutation. The final taboo is never to make an artificial human. Are there others I need to be aware of?”
cryfrustration: (44)

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh." Vrenille takes a moment to process all of that, filing some of it away to potentially ask further questions about later.

"We have alchemy where I'm from." It's an incredibly different sort of alchemy, though he's not to know that now. "Brewing of elixirs n' such. Only we'd say there isn't a divide 'tween science 'n magic. They're all part of the same thing, least in my world.

"Best I can tell, that's the case here too. It's a good way to think 'bout this place at least--lotta stuff that happens here's a mix of science 'n magic both. And given all the worlds you got represented, you'll run into all sorts of magic 'n powers that people brought with 'em from all over."

And then Mustang mentions his three taboos and Vrenille snorts a laugh. He's not trying to be rude, there's just such a divergence in their thinking, "Yeah: don't send women unsolicited pictures of your dick."

A beat and then, "Sorry. We're just definitely on different pages there. I'm not tryin' to say I think you're that kinda guy. Just most of the taboos here're things to do with sex, maybe things you'd never dare do back where you're from but that you'll see happening all over in this place. It tends to be a sorta culture shock at first."
military_dog: (...)

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
“Oh.” Mustang doesn’t know what to do with that. He blinks a few times, a little stunned by the idea. “If I were the kind of person to take such pictures and send them unsolicited, I’d be concerned that someone in the post might open the envelope.”

In that moment, he almost laughs outright thinking about Hughes’ photo obsession.

Which he shouldn’t do.

No, he’ll think about Hughes when he tracks down his murderer and... he just can’t think about him right now.

“Besides, I prefer men.”
cryfrustration: (20)

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 12:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Like he said: culture shock.

Best way to get over it, in Vrenille's experience, is simple immersion. Not necessarily throwing a guy in the deep end, but the way he sees it, remarks like these aren't the deep end. They're more like wading in from the toes on up. The deep end would be getting tied to a St. Andrew's Cross and flogged with no preamble, and he's already saved Mustang from that.

"Most people who do it text 'em--use their phones 'n send 'em electronically. No postman involved. There's a whole etiquette 'round it. 'Sexting.' But then you got the worry that what you meant to keep private might get splashed all over the network or on that damn 'Fibber' app anyway." That is probably getting into gibberish territory, so to explain he says: "Bottom line's just to remember that even the stuff you mean to keep private doesn't always stay that way in this place, no matter how careful you are."

As for their respective sexual proclivities, Vrenille smiles at the disclosure and says, quite honestly, "Yeah, me too." Exclusively men, in his case. But he doesn't belabour the point, just allows it to be a simple commonality, a point of consonance between them.

"So you wanna tell me 'bout those?" he nods to the shackles that Mustang still wears. He's inclined to take them off, and he thinks that they've perhaps built enough basis of rapport for him to trust doing so, but the first thing he wants is to hear the man's side of the story about why they've been put on him at all.
military_dog: (This IS my happy face)

[personal profile] military_dog 2021-02-07 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
“I see.” He doesn’t, not really, but he supposes he will, eventually, work out how to use a phone to... Wait. What’s he thinking? He’s a gentleman who wouldn’t dream of taking such pictures, much less sending them.

This place is dangerous, it’s already infecting him.

Mustang is a smart man, at least intellectually. Perhaps not always wise, but undoubtedly a quick study. He’d proven his lack of wisdom earlier today and look where THAT got him. Still, he knows how to keep his secrets close to his chest, so there’s no way he’d be stupid enough to broadcast any plans.

When Vrenille gestures toward his cuffs, he stares at them momentarily, remembering Hughes’ words about how he needed allies, and if he needed them in Amestris, that went double here. The guy deserves an explanation, so Roy smiles at him, genuinely pleased he’s been found and assisted by someone friendly who understands what it means to love other men.

“I specialize in fire alchemy. See this?” Roy shakes his left hand, the one with the scar carved into its top. “It’s an alchemy circle. The alchemy from my world is based on a structural matrix laid atop a circle like this one. Before I found myself waking here, I was in the fight of my life with a homunculus, also known as an artificial human. Usually, I wear ignition gloves to create a spark, and I manipulate the oxygen density to set my target ablaze. The lighter I used in their stead was still in my hand and although those people healed my wound, they refused to return me to Amestris. I tried diplomacy first.”
cryfrustration: (60)

[personal profile] cryfrustration 2021-02-07 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Vrenille understands what Mustang says by articulating it to things in his own world, drawing associations and comparisons that allow him to make rough sense of it all in metaphorical terms. It's an approximation that more research-minded people would probably want to explode and pick apart, but for him operates as perfectly sufficient, especially for now:

The symbol on the back of Mustang's hand that he calls an alchemy circle makes Vrenille think of the Antikytheria--the All, as people more commonly call it--in his own world, or what the asura call (and isn't it an illuminating resonance) the Eternal Alchemy.

The way that the man manipulates it, what he says about specialising in fire alchemy, amounts, in Vrenille's mind, to elementalist. And an elementalist who specialises in fire attunement? Well, that's certainly plenty familiar to him.

"So if I take these off, you gimme your word you're not gonna blow the place up or turn anyone into a human fireball or suchlike?"

His gut already tells him that the man won't, that he can trust his good behaviour, at least for the time being. He's asking him mostly because it will form something of a little pact between them, like a commitment to deal with each other in at least a basic degree of good faith going forward.
deadthing: (catch me on a better day)

[personal profile] deadthing 2021-02-07 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[He casts an apologetic look at Gansey in return. Coming up with convincing lies on the spot isn't really something Noah's good at, unfortunately. This one is... halfway working at least, but it's also backfiring on him—on both of them—spectacularly. Arguing about whether they need an escort or not doesn't seem like a good idea though. It feels like he's already pushing his luck, so all he can do is duck his head and nod.

Then his shoulders slump in defeat as, following an impatient gesture from the guide, he sets off toward the bondage room. God... This is still better than what might have happened to Gansey otherwise, Noah thinks, but that doesn't make it not mortifying.

Though there's not much opportunity for talking on the way over, he manages a quick and quiet question:]


When did you get here-?

[The rope display isn't far. Inside the long gallery, artfully tied submissives dangle from the ceiling and pose on top of small platforms and plinths. Guests move among them, stopping now and then to do sketches or take photos, sometimes boldly reaching out to adjust a sub's positioning. It's a kaleidoscope of bright ropes and bare flesh.]
policier: 𝓭𝓷𝓽 (fifty six)

[personal profile] policier 2021-02-07 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
If they asked it of me, I would do it.

( He doesn't want the other man to get the wrong idea. He wouldn't be disobedient unless he has a good enough reason to be, and his own personal comfort and dignity is not a good enough reason. )

But I will not degrade myself willingly for the amusement of others. If that makes me poor sport, then so be it.
fanoperator: (eyeing you)

[personal profile] fanoperator 2021-02-07 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Moving to the side offered, Huaisang links his arm through Doul's, pressing close against his side for warmth as they walk. He's a good tour guide, pointing out landmarks of interest and chattering enthusiastically about the best shops and restaurants. "We ought to tour the down as well, but perhaps you'd like to stop for lunch before we do? It will be my treat, don't worry."
cygnetsignet: (serious 2)

[personal profile] cygnetsignet 2021-02-07 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
At this she shrugs, apologetic rather than unknowing. She knows that this is a lot to handle, but at least it's better off for people to be informed about while they're still new, before they've become attached to who they've become in this place.

"I think it's been discussed that we're unlikely to retain our memories of this place upon our return to where we come from."
frommindoirwithlove: (Arms Crossed)

[personal profile] frommindoirwithlove 2021-02-07 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[She takes them to the nearest store that would likely have clothing his size which, while not far, is a fairly silent walk. He'd put out parameters and none of them included companionable small talk. Which was for the best, idyll chatter wasn't her kind of game.

As soon as they're inside, she pulls up a piece of wall and waves about.]


Have at it. One outfit. One set of shoes. Whatever you arrived in will probably get dumped on you later, so it should be enough to start.

[Plus, he was a dominant, he'd be able to buy his own stuff soon. Her charity only extended so far.]
syllables: (100)

hermione granger → hp crau → submissive

[personal profile] syllables 2021-02-07 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
galleria of sex
[ museums are nothing new. they offer opportunity to observe, to learn, to take in curiosities in a safe, controlled setting. this museum happens to be one of the strangest hermione's ever stepped foot in, though.

but unlike house elves or centaurs or falsely accused hippogriffs, these are adults, fully capable of getting themselves out of sticky (pardon the pun) situations; in turn, hermione is all too careful to tamper her initial instincts. she remembers from the orientation the importance of safe words and nonverbal cues, and upon better review, she can acknowledge the dominants remaining at a distance, observing in silence while others participating, remaining in equal parts protective, possessive, proud all at once.

it may not immediately be her cup of tea, but she's hardly launching an underground rebellion against the horrors of duplicity. instead, she's watching, lingering on the edges, ever-so-gently stepping forward in curiosity to the things that catch her attention:

• there's the wax, for one, hot against her own palm as she tentatively pours it over her skin
• or the shock wand, held gently against her forearm, its electricity illuminating a word carved over her veins
• or, in one last adventure before ducking back into the cold, the surprising warmth of recently used leather handed off by a passing dominant, its smooth surface a respite to her dry hands

whatever the surprises may be, the reaction is always the same: keen curiosity, a deep reverence for knowledge, and a quiet, delicate, ]
Oh.


ice to see you
[ walking gives her purpose. mapping the city in her mind requires boots on the ground, no matter how worn-in they may be. walking allows her to learn where the train stations and offices are, to take into account any familiar faces (none thus far) or promising shopfronts, and to feel more comfortable little by little in this new place.

well, she was feeling comfortable... that is, until she catches sight of herself in the reflection of a tea shop storefront, her carefully repaired jumper no longer covering the sight of her bare skin — or any of her other clothes, for that matter. it doesn't seem to matter how she rearranges them, or what spell she enunciates. the clothes aren't coming to this reflection, nor to the next one, nor the one across the street...

they're not coming to anyone, as a matter of fact. so when an unfamiliar face rounds the corner, minding their own business, what should greet them but hermione's stern voice and firm expression, louder than it has any right to be? ]


Don't look at the windows!

[ does it occur to her that telling someone not to do something is the fastest way to get them to want to do it? honestly... no. it's the prefect in her. she's got to enforce some measure of civility, or this whole place is bound for the dogs. ]


wildcard
[ yolo... hermione's coming off the end of a 3 year post-war game, so she's mostly the same as you know her save for some ministry ambitions. hit me with your best shot. ]
sphecophobic: (11)

[personal profile] sphecophobic 2021-02-08 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
[The answer wont last for long, but it buys Adam time to figure out the other pieces. There's enough going on that it's not the thing that Gansey fixates on, lets himself worry at the edges of it instead of what it hides, but it's not something he'll forget, either.

The fact that Adam has magic is more pressing, is something anchored in the familiar. It leaves him with questions, things he wants to pick apart for answers. But instead he just listens for a moment, watching as Adam shows him, the visible swirl of air in his hand, and it catches his breath, puts something bright and fiery in his eyes.]


I wish I had my journal.

[Is what he says outloud, voice warm at the edges. His fingers itch and he wants to commit it to paper, to weave the pieces of this, of Adam into the tapestry of it. The magic he's been chasing for years. The book that was his truest self, reflection of the things that he cared about, easier in his hands than anything else. The lines of Adam's fingers and what it means.

He grins a little when Adam mentions that he nearly drowned himself recently- mostly because he was clearly fine and he expects it's more exaggeration than anything. But still, it's fascinating. As many troubling feelings as he still has about the part where Adam sacrificed himself, the idea of Cabeswater having touched something in him, given him this--

He remembers words about how the ley line favored both the one who sacrifices and the sacrifice. And Adam had been both, hadn't he?]


Knot magic? Like with the old hand-fasting ceremonies?

[He doesn't know much about it, but he'd stumbled on the edges of a lot of different things in his search for Glendower.]