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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Doul looks this young man over and then, with a certain measure of solemnity places his right hand up over his heart and returns the bow. His own voice is soft, almost sweet, and when he speaks there's some heavy, undefinable emotion. "And Liveman Doul of Armada greets you."

He doesn't smile so much as incrementally relax, which is basically the same thing for him. "I would appreciate some manner of clothing."

"Come on," Huaisang beckons, rolling his hands toward himself and stepping backward to lead Doul on. "As breathtaking as you look nude, it's a bit cold out today."

After walking backward for a few steps, Huaisang turns, leading him on across the square. It's fortunate that most of his tours have started from Fiddler's Square, since he owns a business on the square. It's a glamorous shop, striking even from that front windows with their luxurious displays. "This is Plumage," Huaisang explains, giving Doul a bright smile. "I own the place. Let's get you something nice."

Though Huaisang is very interested in profit, he's warm-hearted and generous, quick to give away freebies to his friends. Leading the way into the shop, Huaisang picks out a pair of pants and a hooded poncho that he thinks will be effective and practical for a warrior type person in an urban environment. "Go ahead and put these on."

Quiet, but not self-conscious, Doul follows Huaisang through the square to his shop. He looks over the window, assessing what he sees, and once inside seems almost pleasantly bemused. It's all quite strange, but he has no qualms about accepting charity. As he dresses, he is reminding of a voice hissing into his ear about his pride, Liveman, revolting, prick-filling pride.

With the poncho in place, he rolls his shoulders, testing out the range of movement. It's not his own, but it will do and he feels comfortable in it. The lack of clothing bothered him far less than being separated from his sword, but there's little to be done about that but to wait.

"I am not one for speaking freely. Please do not mistake my laconic ways for rudeness. Thank you."

"You're quite welcome. My shop is rather expensive, so you may need a dominant with good employment if you want to shop here often, but this outfit is a gift."

Giving the price tags to the cashier to have them put to Huaisang's account, he leads Doul back outside, smiling cheerfully up at him. "Now we can continue our tour. This is Fiddler's Square, the only place where uncontracted submissives are openly allowed in the Up. Otherwise you may need some kind of permission from a dominant you're visiting. May I take your arm as we walk?"

While Doul is not particularly fond of gifts, he will accept it as such and not feel any lasting sense of obligation. If he is able to help Huaisang at some point, he will, but if not, it's no matter or shame.

"Yes." A pause as he holds out his left arm - it's the one without wires and brads woven through the muscle. "While I am unarmed, I would rather not have my sword-hand restrained."

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."

As they walk about, Doul mostly listens with rapt interest on his surroundings. He knows that his attention can be unsettling for other Livemen, so he sparingly watches Huaisang.

With an incline of his head, Doul graciously accepts the offer of lunch. "When I am able, I would like to repay your kindness." Again, he would like it, but he isn't promising anything concrete.

"There's no need," Huaisang reassures him, giving Doul's arm a squeeze. "It's my pleasure."

He turns toward one of the restaurants he just pointed out, drawing Doul inside and speaking with the hostess with calm assurance, a dominant taking a submissive out for lunch, as is right and proper. "Are you accustomed to restaurants like this in your world?"

The restaurants of Huaisang's world are very different, though there are certain similarities. He finds the local restaurants--especially in the Up--to be more formal than the tavern-restaurants of home, more like a refined teahouse.

"Somewhat." He's more used to an inn or buying off a street hawker, but the idea of a restaurant is not unusual. There were several on Armada, although he rarely bothered with going himself.

"I am more used to standing guard than sitting to eat, but I can puzzle out what's needed." That's a joke! Or something close to it.

Huaisang blinks a bit at the thought of always standing guard while eating, but it makes sense along with his initial impressions of Doul as a soldier. Perhaps a soldier for hire. Those scars seem suited to a mercenary, though he still doesn't know what to make of the metal that runs along Doul's arm.

"The local specialties are very strange compared to what I know," he explains. "We'll get a variety so you can see what you like and fill your belly as much as you please."

When the waiter comes, Huaisang orders generously for them both, featuring plenty of meat dishes and some wine.

Huisang is entirely welcome to ask about the metal. It's not the sort of thing he's likely to hide.

"I've been at sea for years and grown used to eating anything we catch, grow, or raise. If it's not sentient, I'll eat it." There's something that might almost be a smile there, as he thinks back and remembers some of the more unusual things he's eaten. He has preferences, of course, but when it comes down to it, all that matters is that there's enough to keep him going.

"I've known men like you," Huaisang agrees, though usually he doesn't know them closely. There have been a few exceptions. Huaisang has an eye for usefulness, and he's brought in a few questionable adoptions to the Nie Sect because of it. They've always turned out useful, and he knows that often it is the men with the most reason to be grateful who are the most loyal.

"Things are harder in the down, as you'll see in our tour, but food can gotten, especially for a hard worker. Or you find a dominant to take you in."

When their wine arrives, Huaisang lifts his glass gladly. "Do you have any familiarity with the finer things of life?"

"Some." Doul considers the wine and how much he'd care to say. He knows that he could say almost anything with a ring of truth. Even on Bas-Lag, there were so few that truly knew anything about his homeland he could be honest or lie with impunity.

"I am from a noble house. A minor one, but we had a crest and three miracles."

"Oh!" Huaisang's eyebrows lifted in pleased surprise. He'd been raised in a society that valued nobility and considered highborn people to be inherently more valuable. Even though his sect in particular was more egalitarian than most, Huaisang still automatically respected nobles more than commoners. "What are 'miracles' among your noble houses?"

"Among my people, a miracle is what raises a line from the Quick. Those who exist to breed, to work, to be snuffed and recast to work again." While he knows that stories of High Cromlech are used to frighten children in his world, Doul speaks of these things as if they're perfectly normal. "The first of my line was due to be skinned, and that when she was, and the hide tanned, it turned as clear and glass and smooth as soapstone."

"Her offspring were found, given a name, and raised in Liveside."

Huaisang just blinks at all of this, utterly bewildered by the phrasing of all of this and the world that he depicts. The last of it makes a little more sense, but he still doesn't understand any of the why or how. It doesn't matter, though. Not right here and now. Those details of their world are no longer relevant. All that matters is what has come here, and those have brought in their hearts. "Your world is very different from mine. I understand none of the things you have said to me."

The wine arrives and Huaisang lifts his glass gladly, sipping at it and picking at some of the appetizers that almost instantly follow.

"Ask what you wish." Doul looks over the food and drink, and appears to have no problems or questions about it. It's not only food, but it is clearly designed to be eaten by humans and that covers his concerns.

"My home is very different from others on my own world. For us, there are three castes: the Quick, an undifferentiated mass of the living that are raised to work, be snuffed, and brought back to work; the Dead, the nobility who have been snuffed when they chose it and preserved as thanati; and a handful in Liveside, for families that have been raised from the Quick, but don't have the right to be preserved."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #16

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cw: body horror, slavery, bad ideas all around. (hi.)

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