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 « « «

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[ Oh, so this whole thing is mutual, huh? No one not interested in someone else does an eyes-to-lips thing, especially not while not pulling back from a real close lean. Ramir smiles, but it's directed out over the city. ]

Yep, that's the general survival strat around here.

[ She hates to say it out loud to someone she's nowhere near trusting yet, but — well, it's a pretty common mentality, at least. Can't get jailed for just that much. ]

'Course, you can't see the Down from here. But you'd probably never show up in a place like that.

[ Distressingly mutual, from Ainslie's point of view. For all her schooling and intellect, she somehow didn't plan for chemistry or attraction still affecting her after marriage. Pretend to be straight with a husband in the public eye? Fine.

Pretending to be straight while under-dressed and alone in a bedroom with a beautiful woman is a different story. ]

And what sort of place is it? [ A.K.A. "Sounds like a challenge." She gives a slight wave, dismissing what she thinks must be the first answer at hand: ] I don't mean what the pamphlets say about it.

[ Ramir quirks a brow, because she wouldn't have figured Ainslie for someone who wants an actual answer to that kind of question. Not the lady with the millions-or-whatever dollar wedding dress, surely.

But, she's been wrong before. ]

A shithole. Not half so looked after, crime down every dark alley. [ She grins a little. ] A pretty dom like you should definitely not go walking there alone after dark. Sometimes the subs get rowdy.

[ She doesn't like this city, but ... she's glad a place like the Down exists within it. It's familiar, almost comforting. ]

[ She only sees the expression in the reflection of the glass, but doesn't let her attention linger. Look through the glass, not at it. It works well enough until Ramir mentions subs getting rowdy and the quick glance Ainslie shoots towards Ramir in response betrays the fear still present just under the surface.

She may be doing the best she is able to view the current situation as a solvable problem, but she is still human. ]

Well, a pretty dom like me should have no trouble arranging for an escort, [ Mask back on, Ainslie The Ice Queen. ] Should I find reason to venture there.

[ So far, she has one reason standing just behind her shoulder. ]

I suppose the disparity between the Up and the Down is by design, as just another element of the social experiment. [ A slum by design is as distasteful as the rest of this place. ]

So, where would I go to procure clothing, or food, or other such necessities?

[ Alright, Ainslie is kind of catching onto how the city works. Ramir steps in closer still, close enough to just brush against the woman's back, as a hand grazes feather-light against her hip. The opposite hand taps at the glass in front of them, a lazy point. ]

Grocery store, the big white one with the grated roof. Clothing stores are all over the fucking place, walk outside and you'll find three. Linens and shit, two blocks down from the grocery store.

What about funds? [ If Ramir gets any closer she'll have Ainslie pinned against the window, and the thought of it is simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. But Ainslie can't seek that excitement; she daren't seek it.

She exhales and steels herself, then gently grasps Ramir's hand and moves it away from her hip as if swinging open a door through which she might walk. She steps sidelong away from the other woman, putting more than an arm's length between them. ]

Are we expected to hold down jobs while we're here? Is there a stipend? [ She will be getting back home, but for the time being she's here and she needs to be in control and fully abreast of the circumstances. ]

[ Ramir could stop her, easily. She would barely even have to consciously do it. But that's not the vibe she's going for here, and she just watches Ainslie go like all this is totally normal, totally casual.

(And for a place like this, it kind of is.) ]

Yeah, there's a stipend. [ Probably better not to tell her it's based on a clone of Ainslie doing webcam work and sending over the earnings. That's all sorts of weird. ] But it's not enough to live on, so, better get job hunting.

[ She steps forward — past Ainslie, toward her abandoned jacket on its borrowed hanger. She pulls it on smoothly, and already she's headed for the bedroom door. ]

I'm gonna go get you some normal clothes. Then when you can step outta here not looking like a runaway bride or an escaped massage client, you're on your own.

[ She's following after Ramir, walking purposefully and absently saying: ] I have dual Masters degrees in economics and business management, job hunting isn't a concern—

[ But then she has to jog to catch up with Ramir as they cross through the living room, and Ainslie reaches out to catch her hand. ]

Wait—

[ Wait for what? She only holds onto Ramir's hand until she knows Ramir will wait (or knows she won't). She holds her gaze a moment longer. ]

Thank you.

[ She does indeed obligingly pause, obligingly look back. The thanks is — well, kind of unexpected. But it tugs a small lift into one corner of Ramir's mouth, and she offers a shrug. ]

It's Ramir. Ana Ramir, but — not Ana, just Ramir.

[ Just to make that clear. She didn't go giving herself a cool new name to get it said wrong.

From there, though, she gets a stupid, probably Anduin-inspired idea, and tugs that hand forward to kiss the back of Ainslie's knuckles. How princely of her, right? Her crooked smile grows to a crooked grin, then with a quick salute and a quicker be right back, she disappears through the suite door. ]

[ Oh.

That's how it should have felt, back when Dae-Jung had kissed her hand for their engagement photos. When they'd gone on "dates" as teenagers.

Like butterflies.

Ainslie is too stunned to do anything but watch Ramir leave and it's only after the door closes that she says: ]

Thank you...Ramir.

[ With that, she's once again alone in the apartment, and instead of sitting around pacing and anxiously wondering like she did when she was escorted here, now she rolls up her sleeves — uselessly, because they're silk and kimono-style and just flop back down — and picks up the mobile device to begin her research. By the time Ramir returns, she'll even have found something to tie her hair back with. ]

[ This part is fun, actually. It wasn't so hard to gauge Ainslie's sizing while Ramir was in all close on her, and she remembers what kind of fashion she was into. You know, back when Ainslie was back in her natural habitat, and not on Fuck Planet. Ramir is working on a submissive's budget here (she's lucky she can even buy anything, and that she can is only thanks to her contract), but she likes to think she has an eye for this kind of thing.

What she settles on is just one outfit, carefully selected. A lose, white, billowing sort of blouse, sensible high-waisted and well-fitted dark pants (she'd been paying pretty close attention for the estimates), and a pair of sleek, tall boots. They'll make Ainslie a little taller than Ramir, which is bullshit, but some things can't be helped.

She even throws in a lacey pair of bra and panties, because she wants Ainslie to wonder just how Ramir knew to size those right, too.

Thirty minutes, and she's back at the door. Her hands are full of bags, but even if they weren't, she'd still kick at the door with the toe of her boot instead of waste energy with a knock. Who has time? ]

[ The door opens quickly to reveal Ainslie — still? mildly flushed — but with her hair tied back and the mobile in her right hand. She was expecting Ramir back, of course, but usually when she expects someone she also knows what to say to them when she sees them. ]

Welcome back, [ Welcome back? Ridiculous. ] I suppose you weren't kidding about clothes being available everywhere.

[ She ushers Ramir through the door and closes it after her, and pauses at the start of the two steps down into the sunken living room. She's doing an admirable job of looking at ease, all things considered. ]

I found that the kitchen is partially stocked, if you'd care for some coffee, or...tea.

[ It's kind of an interesting experience having the door opened to a barely-dressed, classy-looking lady like Ainslie, who then invites her inside. Ramir is pretty sure she's had exactly this fantasy before, actually. And Ainslie pulls off the robe look, she really does, all she's missing is the glass of wine for the high-rise condo behind her.

Ramir steps in, making a beeline for the nearest chair to unload boxes and bags into. ]

Does "partially stocked" mean beer?

Sadly, no. [ She tsks softly. ]

Though there is a bottle of vodka in the freezer. You can help yourself, since I don't know when I'll be able to repay you for the clothes.

[ Speaking of, Ainslie approaches the chair to inspect Ramir's choices. She definitely didn't expect her to have gotten everything in the right size, much less to buy —

When she spies the lace, Ainslie reaches right for it, curious what it might be. A bra. Matching panties. The paper of the bag crinkles audibly when she shoves the intimates back inside, closing Pandora's box.

If Ramir was able to guess what size those are... Ainslie's face heats up, and when she picks up the rest of the bags she holds them against her chest like shields. ]

[ Oh, hey, she sure will help herself, thanks. Ramir swings toward the kitchen, digs into the freezer, and has rescued the bottle in record time. She reappears in the doorway with it uncapped, and has not bothered to stop and grab a glass. ]

Whatever, you don't have to repay me. [ Even though she's definitely taking this whole bottle. Whatever, it's from one friend to another, not repayment. ] Just remember someone helped out, and pass that on whenever.

[ She pauses for a long swig from the drink, which chugs in its bottle like water. ]

[ Ainslie is familiar with the concept of paying it forward, but...wasn't Ramir assigned to help? It's her job, not something she's doing out of some sense of philanthropy. ]

That's all well and fine, but I insist on paying you back, [ She starts towards the bedroom again so she can change, once again leaving the door open just a little for ease of conversation. ] I don't like owing anybody anything.

[ The underwear goes on first, which...infuriatingly, fits fine. And while they eliminate a little bit of the fear of flashing anyone a view of her nethers, they also come with the knowledge that Ramir picked them out, knows what they look like, and will know that Ainslie is wearing them. ]

Stars above, Ramir, you estimated the sizes on these by sight alone?

Her eyes track Ainslie across the apartment as she heads back for the room, but Ramir doesn't make any attempt to see any more in through that cracked door than eying what's already visible. It's tragically not much, but sometimes that's life. Another swig leaves her with half the bottle left, and a pleasant burn in her throat and stomach.

"Sure," she says with a shrug in her voice, since Ainslie would miss one in her shoulders. "You know, I've worked in clothes. You pick it up."

Though, admittedly, she doubts Ainslie has ever worked any kind of menial job, and probably does not know. At least she appreciates the sizing, and Ramir appreciates appreciation.

Unfortunately for Ramir but fortunately for Ainslie, the most that can be seen from Ramir's vantage in this instance is a glimpse of the silk robe being tossed from behind the door to land on the edge of the bed. The only mirror in the bedroom itself is angled to bounce the light from the windows around and give the illusion of a bigger room — which seems like an unnecessary trick of interior design when the architect already allowed for ample floor space. But Ainslie has to take a moment to look at her reflection after putting on the bra, appreciating the lay of the gorge against her sternum, the lay of the lace over the swell of each breast.

Damn you, Ramir.

"Did you really? You know, I wouldn't have guessed that—" Enough admiring, Ainslie, get dressed. She uses her teeth to remove the tag from the shirt and puts it on, checking in the mirror that the bra isn't clearly visible through the fabric before she continues on with the trousers and shoes. "—I thought you seemed more the type to be a bouncer at a club or working a private security detail."

The bedroom door reopens and Ainslie steps out in the midst of freeing her long dark hair from the confines of her shirt so she might then fasten the collar. It's a good look. One she might have chosen for herself and spent five times as much money on. The trousers are the right length and lend the illusion of an hourglass figure when balanced against the light, flowy blouse up top hiding the size of her chest.

"Yeah, you'd think."

That might be more her type now, after recent improvements -- but when you don't have much to back up the bluster, you tend to take quieter jobs. But Ramir only smiles, happy to be distracted by Ainslie's reappearance.

Yeah. She knew all that shit would look good on her, and congratulates herself on clothing well picked.

"Looks good." Looks really good, but, no need to get ahead of herself. She pushes out of her lean, capping the bottle again. She's done info, she's done a brief by-sight tour, and she's even gone clothing shopping, she's pretty sure her due diligence is covered. But just in case, "So, you need anything else?"

"A great many things, I expect, but you're free to go," Ainslie gives half an eye-roll, which really is just a sidelong glance cast towards the windows. Who was anxious to be rid of whom?

With her boots on, she manages to be a few inches taller than Ramir, though it may not be obvious to Ainslie as she approaches with her attention on buttoning the cuffs of her sleeves. It's hardly a notable difference, anyway. Ainslie is used to standing taller than her friends — and even her husband — when wearing heels.

"Thank you for the tour and...well," For being familiar? She already thanked Ramir for her help. "I suppose for everything."

Ramir casts one last, lingering look over Ainslie, admiring her own handiwork. And, of course, the canvas. It's gratifying to know her estimates were right, and even more so that she seems to be fine with the fashions.

The look finishes off with a quick wink, then Ramir pushes off the wall (bottle in hand) to head for the front door.

"No problem," she says over her shoulder. "Lemme know if you got any questions or need anything, or whatever. I'm still kinda new, but I'll do what I can."

Resourceful as she may be, it gets a disclaimer, just in case Ainslie gets it in her head that Ramir is some kind of errand boy.

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TDM #16

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