duplicitymemes | TDM #16

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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 « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Take comfort, Arthur. At least Vrenille doesn't look like an alien.

"Listen. As crazy 'n screwed up 'n overwhelming as this all is, you do get used to it. I promise. Which I know probably doesn't feel like it's worth much right now, considering I'm just some asshole you dunno from some foreign world you ain't never heard of, but you will be all right." For what it's worth, he sounds like he really means that.

"And if it helps any to hear it, I'm still human. Not everyone you'll meet here is. Not everyone where I'm from is. But I am, 'n I'm guessing you are. So at least there's that."

"Sure."

If he were that kind of person, he might have asked forgiveness for being sp curt. As it is, though, Vrenille will just have to deal with it, because he can't even begin to think of where to start. It's been some time since he felt like life made any sense, but this is really trying his ... sanity.

As for patience, he has little left but that, if only because he is too tired to be anything else.

Well maybe they can manage to be mutually patient with each other through the experience. For his part, Vrenille isn't going to try and press too hard or insist on filling every silence.

He gives Arthur some time to process, turn his thoughts off, whatever he likes, until the car draws near the fist stop on their tour. Not really a stop, in this case--more like a drive-by.

"See that shaft 'n those doors over there. You wanna get to the Down on foot, that's your way to do it. City elevator system. Takes 'bout ten minutes.

"You been down there yet?" To the lower, subterranean half of the city.

"I ain't been here five minutes yet."

It's probably been a couple of hours at this point, but he hasn't even thought about going down there even if he might have had the time to do it. There have been plenty of other things on his mind.

"An elevator to transport people?"

Not sure about that ...

Fair enough. He wasn't really expecting it, but always better to ask.

"We'll get down there later. Wouldn't be doing right to show you 'round 'n not to let you see how half this city's made to live. It's-- Well if you're not used to people living underground it's maybe a bit of a shock. All depends where you're from. I've known guys who say the Down's closer to home than the Up for them."

His guess about Arthur is somehow that that won't be the case from him, but he's prepared to be proven wrong.

"Far as the elevators go, they're plenty safe, but if you don't like 'em you can go by bus or by the train when it's running, just takes a little longer."

"So far, none of this is close to home for me."

The Down is actually underground, though? That really would be worse. At least here there's at least a sky, even if he's certain there will be no stars at night because of the lights.

"Wasn't for me either, when I got here," Vrenille admits. "All these tall buildings made of glass, cars 'n trains zipping 'round everywhere, and the bright lights, the neon, the technology." He shakes his head.

There were plenty of other things too--like all the humans. Not the number of people per se, but the fact that there are so few obvious members of non-human races. No asura, no charr, no sylvari. Given what he's learned about most versions of Earth in his time here, plus the reaction he got simply mentioning Tyria, he opts not to bring any of that up to Arthur though.

"For me, the culture was actually the more familiar part," he gives a dry breath of laughter. "I did better with that than some folks, right off the bat."

Cars. Vrenille has to mean the thing they're sitting in right now. It just travels differently than it seems either of them are used to. Trains and buses, on the other hand, are familiar to him.

"Which parts of it?"

What is this feller's impression of the 'culture'?

"The sex," he says frankly. "What it's used for, the way it's baked into life in this place, the power exchange that's right out in public." That's not always what he'd call culture, but in this context.

"I mean, this city's got its own special manifestation, don't get me wrong. I'd be surprised if anyone was familiar with that 'fore they got here. But it's like with the tech--you can't get too caught up on the superficial bits. Once you slow it down 'n look at the structure of it all, you can sorta start to unravel it. More or less."

"Anyone? If it exists here there ain't no reason it don't exist somewhere else."

He'd had a passing thought like that too. Separate people into two different groups and make rules for what that means. They're a bit more open about it here than he's used to, because it tends to be somewhat more quiet from his experience. Emphasis on somewhat.

White can still steal a black doctor's wagon in broad daylight without anyone batting an eye or lifting a finger to help him.

"Hypothetically, sure. But nobody I've ever talked to here in, well, nearly two 'n a half years has ever told me 'bout a world that's got something that looks like it--the whole quotas on sex thing 'n BDSM as the norm of a place."

Not that he wants to drop that bombshell about how long he's been here right out in front, but he's not going to disguise it either.

"The thing is, it's not just 'bout two groups of have 'n have-nots, which yeah, sure, that's common enough. That's not the crux though."

There are several things there that are both surprising and confusing, but one thing in particular that stands out. His eyes widen slightly as he raises his hands.

"Whoa, whoa, how long?"

"Yeah, sorry. I hate to have to be the one to break the news, but surprise surprise, the group called LIES ain't telling you the truth when they say you're done after a year."

It's deeply shitty, he knows, but best to get it out there, like ripping off a bandaid.

"For me it's two years, four months, 'n counting. They make you a 'full citizen' of the city after your first year's up--technically eases up on a few of their rules, but not by much."

The more time passes, the more Arthur doubts that this is Hell. He's not entirely convinced, but everybody talks like they'll end up going home one day. In a way, that idea is comforting. It means that, at some point, he might actually get a chance to rest. Even if he still can't understand how they managed to save him from the brink of death.

He doesn't entertain the idea that, when he goes home, their 'treatment' might be permanent. Best to expect the worst. (Dutch would tell him to have some faith, but he can choke on it.)

It's not surprising, really, that an organisation that apparently takes people against their will for their little 'experiment' wouldn't be entirely truthful. Doesn't make it less irritating. But he just shakes his head.

"Whatcha call it? BDSN?"

"M," Vrenille clarifies. "Like in master or masochism. The rest of it--B's for bondage. D's dominance or discipline. S is sadism or submission or slave."

And maybe that all speaks for itself, but in case not, "It's a whole bunch of different kinds of kinky sex 'n playing with power 'tween people, and I'm pretty sure you'd find some version or other of that wherever you go. What this city does with it though--this whole system it's got--that's where it's particular."

"How is it?"

Not because he doubts it, but he's not seeing it yet. Even the split between the Up and Down is no different from Saint Denis, at the end of the day. Saint Denis might not have the one half underground and far away from the rest of the city, but the divide is there nonetheless.

"You been told 'bout the contracts?" Vrenille returns the question, because so far he doesn't know what Arthur does or doesn't know any more than he knows about the sort of world he comes from.

Ultimately, he's not going to break his head to convince him if he doesn't want to see it. His role is to be a guide, not a preacher.

"Sure. Is it particular 'cause it's explicit about sex? To me, it don't seem all that different from a marriage contract."

Whether it's written down or not, it decides who's in charge both when it comes to sex and when it doesn't. A lot of it is, ultimately, up to the person who holds the power. It all depends on how they choose to interpret and approach it. Some, like Mr. and Mrs. Adler, might not care for the supposed difference in power at all. Others would.

At the end of the day, a woman has little power or control over her own life if she doesn't have a man to control it for her. Sounds like the submissives here, to him.

Vrenille smiles, "And that's exactly where the dupe is."

Not that marriage works in quite the same way where Vrenille's from--human culture in his world is far more egalitarian about gender overall, but he understands the concept plenty well, especially after more than two years here and speaking to so many people from various and sundry Earths.

"On the surface, this place looks like we--the Dominants--got all the power 'n everything's set to make the Submissives need us. And they do need us, sure, but we need them just as bad. We got all these privileges, swanky places to live, get to work 'n spend our money as we choose, and that sure ain't nothing. But it ain't everything either.

"The city draws an arbitrary mark down the necks of half the population then uses that mark as its reason to treat 'em like shit. I'm not saying it's ok, or they ain't got it so bad, or any of that bullshit. I'm saying that if you see all that 'n think you do got the power here just cause they call you 'Dominant,' this place has already pulled the wool over your eyes."

Edited 2021-01-21 06:38 (UTC)

"Don't you worry about that. I know how this works."

Everybody in the Van der Linde gang were people that didn't have power, that didn't fulfill what society had deemed their responsibilities. The reason they didn't have power might have been different, but at the end of the day, they were more similar than different. No matter that some would insist on pretending otherwise.

He was born into a poor family and his father was a criminal. Then, he was orphaned. He never had much power to speak of. Couldn't even sway Dutch, in the end.

Instinctively, he reaches for his satchel to grab a cigarette, only to find his hip empty. Right. He gave that to John. With a sigh, he sinks further into his seat and closes his eyes.

"Well I'll take your word on that," Vrenille says amicably enough. He's starting to form an impression of Arthur as a man who needs to be left to come at things in his own way and his own time--even on a tour, he seems to be far more the sort of person you lead to the vicinity of water than right to a drink itself. So if a lighter touch is what's called for, a lighter touch it shall be.

Unfortunately though, not being a smoker himself, he can't help with the cigarette.

Turning down side streets, the taxi presently comes to the drop-off point near the start of a pedestrianised quarter with boutique-lined streets leading up to a large square beyond. Vrenille pays the driver, giving him a good tip, then opens the door, stepping out and holding it for Arthur.

"Welcome to Fiddler's Square," he says. "That way takes you to the city records office 'n the White Wall bridge. There's a nice market on the other side. I figure we're gonna go this way," he gestures in the opposite direction.

"Dunno what your taste in clothes is, but for me, buying off the rack's one of the marvels of this place. I got a few favourite shops if you trust my lead." If the way he's dressed is anything to gauge by, his personal style is smart but casual--today he's in jeans and a soft cashmere jumper over a white button-down shirt, plus the sharply tailored coat and the lapel pin that Oswald got him for Christmas. So that's at least a hint of where following his lead might go.

He gives Vrenille a once-over. While he's not sure about the jumper, the rest looks fine, so he shrugs.

"Sure."

As long as he's covered, he can deal with it.

Vrenille leads them to a menswear store near the entrance to a shopping arcade, the key benefit of which being that it's not too far to walk in the cold and that he knows the sorts of things it has on offer. It's also distinctly less overwhelming than dragging Arthur into a department store which, Vrenille's gut tells him, would likely be a bit much. There's already plenty to be getting on with without trying to navigate the guy through a load of perfume counters and racks full of brassieres.

This way, he figures, there's just the initial display of grey, headless mannequins dressed fashionably in the shop window and then racks and stands of clothes displayed within.

"So," Vrenille gives Arthur a moment to take it all in before he asks, "Don't suppose y'know your waist size 'n inseam offhand?" Somehow he's guessing not, which is why he's giving Arthur the once-over, trying to size him up as best he can beneath what he's currently wearing.

It's not too different from a popular tailor, everything considering. A bit bigger, perhaps, and with a lot more clothes out for show. Some of it is a bit different from what he's used to. Beyond that, it's far from overwhelming.

"Sure."

At least unless this city uses measurements he wouldn't recognise. And, technically, he only knows what his measurements were when he was healthy, but he has a belt, and he has time to recover. He's not really worried about that.

"Well have at, man. The shop's your oyster." Vrenille extends his hands in a gesture of welcoming Arthur into the space, encouraging him to explore, touch, find things that he's drawn to.

He's already making his way over to one display of neatly folded shirts, "I shop here a fair bit, so they know me. They'll give you credit if I ask 'em to, 'n you can come back 'n pay for the stuff whenever--once you're settled 'n on your feet. I'm trusting that you're good for it, mind, 'cause otherwise I'll probably have to cover it for you."

Frankly, that wouldn't be a tragedy for him and he wouldn't even mind simply loaning Arthur the money or just buying the stuff outright, but he knows that not all men find that that sort of charity squares with their pride. An arrangement like this, by contrast, is more a gesture of good faith on both sides, with the debt being to the shop rather than between them personally.

Still, a lot of people wouldn't make that sort of offer with someone they only just met. Maybe it will seem like a mark of naiveté, but Vrenille's not at all naive. He just comes from a very particular background, and he holds to its ethos even now, when he's so far from home.

TDM #16

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