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Duplicity Game Mods ([personal profile] duplicitymods) wrote in [community profile] duplicitymemes2021-03-09 06:59 pm
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TDM #17


« « « 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 clear plastic top and pants along with clear plastic boots 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 wet and rainy. Very, very rainy.




» » » ALL ABOARD




It's time for the monthly Duplicity train tour. Seats are in pairs and randomly assigned to Dominants and Submissives alike. Traveling from Fiddler's Square, the train journeys through various parts of the Up, showcasing society and examples of lifestyle. Along the way, frequent stops are made; a variety of passengers can be seen exiting and entering the doors. A Dominant with a kneeling Submissive takes a seat near the front of the train at one stop. A small group of Submissives board and sit closer to the LIERS at another, all seemingly content in their roles. As the tour continues through the Up, the train passes close to the Market and White Wall Bridge and zips by North Park before heading into the Down and bypassing Red Wall Bridge and South Park.

The train makes a "final" stop at Riddler's Square, where inhabitants of the Down are instructed to return to their temporary housing. Those who live in the Up are permitted to stay on the train and revisit the same locations while returning.



« « « RAIN RAIN GO AWAY


(cw: aphro, dub-con, violence, marking)

Ice and chilly weather have begun to give way to rain instead, with overcast skies and dark clouds a seemingly constant sight. While the overabundance of rain is an annoyance and comes with the usual series of problems, such as leaky ceilings, mold growth, and gutters or storm drains overflowing, this time the rain carries with it another problem altogether. A weather advisory warning is broadcast to every device, as well as on news networks and radio. The rain, at least for a few days, is not ordinary rain. Whether you're in the Up or the Down, when the water hits clothing it eats away at it. The more water it absorbs, the more the material disintegrates until the wearer is left naked.

When the rain comes in contact with skin (or is ingested) the effects seem to differ depending on where you are in Duplicity. In the Up, it's relatively harmless and merely has an aphrodisiac effect, leaving individuals feeling hot and bothered, more sociable and touchy feely.

Those in the Down, however, are not so lucky. As the rain seeps through the soil from the Up, it ends up laced with toxins, causing a range of less pleasant side effects for anyone unfortunate enough to come into contact with it. Aside from the aphrodisiac, those who get caught in the rain may develop an uncomfortable, itchy rash, leaving them looking rather spotty for a few days. Those who can't resist scratching at themselves will find a newfound pleasure to the relief it brings and start to crave the feeling or sight of similar marks. In worst case scenarios, individuals will become addicted to marking themselves and others, perhaps even to the point of breaking skin.

Effects may last for several hours after exposure and will stack with repeated exposures. In all cases, getting off will bring temporary relief but will not alleviate the symptoms entirely.

Plastic coverings seem to be unaffected by the rain and, as word spreads, the Natives in Duplicity form a mad rush buying up umbrellas. Unless a character is lucky, they may find themselves unable to purchase - or even borrow - one. Theft of umbrellas becomes widespread in the Down, often escalating to violence, and even the Up isn't safe from thugs trying to steal and resell this suddenly hot commodity.

There's another side to all of this, however. Due to the shortage of umbrellas, it isn't uncommon to see Dom/Sub pairs sharing umbrellas together. If anything, it's encouraged as a means to strengthen their bond. Enterprising Subs and Doms alike may even sell their "services" to escort individuals who would otherwise end up soaked.



« « « SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME


(cw: substance abuse, altered states, coercion, fluids, physical body changes)


A new "holistic" pharma company named SQuIRT is opening up in Duplicity and is paying a pretty penny for people to trial run their new line of supplements. These supplements are supposed to increase a person's vitality and energy levels, but the side effects are what the company is really looking out for.

Some of the side effects aren't so bad and could include:
  • Prolonged erections
  • Lactation in both men and women
  • Size enlargement of breasts or genitals
  • Copious amounts of ejaculate or sexual fluids
  • Sudden interest in previously unexplored kinks

While others might find their own reaction to be a little more severe:
  • Shrinkage of breasts, genitals, or entire being
  • Inability to cum
  • Uncontrollable hair growth or hair loss
  • Temporary loss of one or more senses
  • Spontaneous weeping

Subjects must take the supplements for at least a week, otherwise they'll receive no compensation for their troubles. All new arrivals will find themselves automatically enrolled in these trials, whether they want to be or not, and expected to report to the clinic. Of course they don't have to take the supplements, but the payout is certainly enticing, especially for those unfortunate enough to be branded Submissives.



« « « STICKY FINGERS


(cw: violence)

Crime runs rampant in the Down as always but now, with the nastier side effects of the rain creating an ongoing problem, some unsavory types are sneaking their way into the Up where the effects aren't so hazardous.

The result is an uptick in crime in places that are usually considered safe. Be careful how you carry yourself - and your valuables. Those who look like easy pickings may find their pockets empty. Cameras in public areas are being vandalized as well, while homes and businesses are seeing a rise in graffiti. Most of the graffiti is merely obscene, but some is outright seditious. Good luck explaining the latter to the authorities if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

One of the smaller gangs that has a presence in the Down is taking particular advantage of the rain's disruption to expand their territory into the Up. Known as the Bulldogs, their members are young men and they have a reputation for violent muggings and assaults - mainly targeting Submissives. They loiter in groups near the train and the elevator between the Up and the Down to ambush the alone and unwary. At night, they also prey on those walking home from bars or clubs who may not fully have their wits about them.

In addition to beating up their victims for money, some of the Bulldogs are engaging in an informal competition over who can steal the most umbrellas - with bonus points awarded for whatever else they feel like. LIERs are worth double points by default, so watch out!



« « « 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:

Players can choose whether to assign their character as a Dominant or Submissive on this TDM for the Door Pass for March Applications only. For May's Application round, threads started here may be used as samples however they will not be eligible for a Door Pass in May. Characters will need to use a thread from May's TDM, using those Door Pass rules, for an application after the March round.

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!

THERE WILL BE NO APPLICATION ROUND IN APRIL

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




» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «
fireshow: fireshow. (pic#14741503)

text; un: firebeatsice

[personal profile] fireshow 2021-03-16 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
it's like the literature here
all shit
goldtoxicity: (000000000235)

[personal profile] goldtoxicity 2021-03-16 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ now that's - more than he was expecting, really. josh swallows tightly, his eyes on the shift of julian's muscles underneath his skin. of the marks his nails are leaving behind.

he digs a little deeper. forces down his body's reaction to this, because what the fuck. you don't just see a guy after six years and get hot and bothered because you're scratching his back. the fuck, body. ]
mph: (Default)

[personal profile] mph 2021-03-16 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah well, everyone keeps telling me that Billy's cosmicly powerful so, we'll see about that.

[ is that...a hint of disdain on Tommy's face as he talks about Billy's phenomenal cosmic super powers? It sure is. ]

Yeah that's me--wait.

I know you, you're one of David's friends.

goldtoxicity: (000000132)

[personal profile] goldtoxicity 2021-03-16 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ his face lights up. ]

Yeah. I was his roommate back at Xavier's. Y'know... when it was called Xavier's.
fluky: (Default)

[personal profile] fluky 2021-03-16 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
( green is new, but jasper's not one to judge so he doesn't let his eyes linger too long on that, and instead focuses on the important part here: )

Y'sure? Wouldn't want you to get drenched.
vexant: (uELCCzM)

[personal profile] vexant 2021-03-16 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Speed.

( he remembers sitting in front of a tv with the squad, while santo went on about how he needed to fight hulkling. you know. as kids do. then the incident with the interdimensional horror that they'd all gotten called in to help the young avengers with, and the party after. )

Green suit?
unfriendlygreen: (014)

[personal profile] unfriendlygreen 2021-03-16 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm using magic to keep the rain at bay.

[ he steps back out into the rain to demonstrate, there's an invisible barrier, when the rain drops hit it, it briefly glows green. ]
artificialis: (002)

[personal profile] artificialis 2021-03-16 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Severely disappointing. And not a single kidnapped band is my guess.
ortecho: (crashdown tilt)

[personal profile] ortecho 2021-03-16 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh. She clenches and unclenches her fist. This guy is all kinds of disgusting. If he were just an average asshole in her father’s diner, Liz wouldn’t hesitate to spill hot coffee into his lap to set him straight. Unfortunately, he’s a little more than average and this isn’t a typical situation. She has to step lightly and he’s already ordered her not to draw attention to herself.

Liz leads the scumbag down the stairs to the gambling area, disappointed to see it humming with activity as usual. She doesn’t like the thought of there being so many people around this man but at the same time maybe a crowd buys her some safety.

His words catch her attention and she glances back at him. Liz shakes her head. “I pour drinks and wait tables.” She doesn’t like the thought of him influencing any of her co-workers, but it looks like he’s headed in that direction whether she deals or not.
mph: (Default)

[personal profile] mph 2021-03-16 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There were a lot of people at that party that Tommy is never going to remember were there. You know, bit of a blur given how he'd gotten there. Lots going on. ]

Yeah that's me
fireshow: fireshow. (pic#14480731)

[personal profile] fireshow 2021-03-16 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
not that i've seen
entertainment around here is pretty porn-y


[ the lengths a guy has to go to just to get his hands on some gothic literature is ridiculous. ]
artificialis: (011)

[personal profile] artificialis 2021-03-16 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Truly, I find the sexual requirements of living here to be reasonable, as demands go, but as the earther saying says.. there's a time and place for everything. They're going to take all the fun out of it.
fireshow: fireshow. (pic#14626675)

[personal profile] fireshow 2021-03-16 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
you get used to it
just as long as you don't get feelings mixed up in it all
earther saying huh?
guessing you're not from around there
artificialis: (Default)

[personal profile] artificialis 2021-03-16 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think there's a strong chance of that. At least, I hope not. I have a boyfriend at home. [ ... that's the appropriate term, isn't it..? ]

No. I'm a Kree designer super-soldier, although I've spent a great deal of time on earth in the past.
fireshow: fireshow. (pic#14626485)

[personal profile] fireshow 2021-03-16 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
well unless he shows up here
that's not gonna matter much


[ just saying. but oh. a non-human. that's good. ]

i have no idea what that means
but there's plenty of other non-humans around here so
jizzledim: ᴅᴀʀᴋᴡᴀᴠᴇ | ᴅɴᴛ (🛹 096.)

[personal profile] jizzledim 2021-03-16 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ whatever amount of space marcus attempts to leave in between the two of them goes almost entirely ignored by billy, who seems more than comfortable letting their shoulders bump together. admittedly, billy's just glad to have found someone willing to share their umbrella without white-knuckling the fuck out of it like they assume he's going to snatch it and run at any minute (which is a fair assessment, so he's not all that bothered by those who have side-eyed him as he's passed by so far), and glad he can stop holding that trash bag over his head, even though he never really needed it. at least he can give his arms a rest

truthfully, he doesn't really need the umbrella either, not with his fashionable, plastic outfit keeping him dry, but - there's an odd, comforting relief that comes with marcus' closeness and the silent, unspoken offer to look out for him, just by simply sharing his umbrella. marcus always looks out for him - whether it's by giving lex shit for being a prick and fucking up his attempt to talk to petra, or by - by killing billy's fucking dad for him so he wouldn't have to carry the weight of that guilt on his own, marcus has been there for him more than probably anyone else ever has. and here he is again, holding an umbrella over the both of them and tolerating holes in his clothes when billy doesn't even really need it.

he needs to thank him. here and now probably isn't the place for it, but billy needs to thank marcus for what he did for him. it feels kind of twisted and fucked up to want to thank someone for murdering the shit out of one of his parents, but at the same time, billy understands the gravity of what marcus did for him, what he'll now carry with him, probably for the rest of his life. ... or maybe not. gene wasn't the first person marcus has killed. maybe it gets easier, the more and more you do it.

billy rustles the trash bag in his hand a little bit, realizing kind of belatedly that he's been staring marcus for a little too long, zoned out and only half listening. the fingers of his other hand are wrapped around one of the trucks on his board, his thumb absently pushing a wheel around. he scrunches his brow, finally registering what marcus has told him.

no one's here, not even lin, and billy's not sure what part of that seems less believable. he shakes his head a little his lip curling slightly, like he thinks marcus is pulling his leg, even though he has no reason to. maybe maria, saya, and willie fucked off, maybe they found out what the trip to vegas was really about and left both their asses in the dust, unwilling to get caught up in something that could, potentially, lead to them getting thrown out of king's. lin not being here, however, just seems - well, billy doesn't really know how to make sense of this place if lin isn't behind any of it, like he originally assumed. ]


Dude - what? [ he makes a motion with one of his hands, garbage bag fluttering again. ] We went from Vegas, where we just freaking[ murdered someone ] —to, to Hornytown, USA, where they take all your clothes and push a bunch of mystery drugs into your hand and you're trying to tell me that's not Lin trying to test our will? Come on, Marcus.

[ as much as he argues, billy doesn't seem all that motivated to keep it going. he doesn't really want to believe that his friends aren't here, he doesn't want to believe that duplicity isn't as easily explained as he'd hoped, but what reason would marcus have to lie about the two of them being here alone? billy trusts marcus more than anyone.

so he lets it go for now, pushes past the mild anxiety and moves on, stepping in closer when marcus tugs on his plastic jacket and slinging one of his arms over the back of marcus' neck, letting his arm hang loose over his shoulder. he thumps his closed fist (and the trash bag) lightly against marcus' chest, letting him lead him, and only just realizes, belatedly, that marcus said— ]


A while? [ he turns his head, looking at the side of marcus' face, close enough that he's slightly blurry. ] ... Why's that sound like you mean more than like - six hours? How long's 'a while'?

[ long enough to know people, apparently. and then, apropos of nothing, he shakes the bag in his hand a little, and says, ]

Here, free poncho. Put this on.
mph: (say that again?)

[personal profile] mph 2021-03-16 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tommy doesn't quite light up like Josh's does, but any discomfort at all of that Xavier's positivity is a high speed microexpression among a practiced air of not giving that much of a fuck. ]

Cool.

[ There's nothing cool about being an X-Kid. ]

So what's your thing, what do you do? I'm guessing you know all about me.

[ A useful line of questioning to find out a. what kind of arsenal against their kidnappers they have collectively, b. how much about him and David Josh knows, and c. how much someone he doesn't actually know knows about him--which usually tends to be more than he's comfortable with. ]
goldtoxicity: (0000010)

[personal profile] goldtoxicity 2021-03-16 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Nnnnot really. I know he was running around with you guys when I last, like... looked at what he was up to. I haven't really been, uh... around?

[ or, y'know, alive. for huge chunks of time. he scratches the side of his face. ]

I'm biokinetic. I heal things.
aemula: (gasp)

sticky fingers

[personal profile] aemula 2021-03-16 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
On this particular rainy day, Marlo is in the Up doing some casual shopping. She isn’t due to perform at Crimson for another couple of hours and her cello is waiting for her at the club, so she can walk around town toting nothing more than a big umbrella and a shopping bag full of cute new clothes in anticipation of the coming season. Then something awful happens.

Seeing the kid walk into traffic makes Marlo’s jaw drop and nearly causes her to drop her umbrella, as well. She puts a hand to her mouth and nearly walks out into the street to see if he’s okay along with his friends, but stands back when she sees that he has plenty of support with him already. This city is insane, but she doesn’t usually see people behaving suicidally.

Marlo looks around, still shocked, and glances over at the man who had spoken to the oddly impulsive young man before he’d headed into traffic. “My god, did you see that? What was he thinking?”
formerlydead: (pic#14715441)

that's so kind of you to say, thank you!

[personal profile] formerlydead 2021-03-16 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I got... distracted.

[ She won't elaborate how. There's been enough judgement from Lilith today. ]

A year? [ Ava's face says it all, close to catching flies with her open mouth. ] We haven't got time to be here with all the shit that's going on back home... I have the Halo. There must be a way I can use it to get us out of here. [ What good is having it if it can't get her out of situations like this? ]

...So we're gonna be roomies. [ Roommates, but she heard someone use roomies on a TV show once and it sounded cuter. ] Do we get bunk beds? [ No, Ava. ] I want top bunk. I like the idea of a bed that requires climbing. [ Because she can actually do that now.

She can't help but frown a little when Lilith doubts whether she's a Sister anymore. It's enough to make her touch the girl's arm comfortingly. ]
Hey, whatever happened to you, you're still one of us. [ Us. She's come a long way to be grouping herself with the rest of the OCS. ]

But if you ever say 'carnal desires' again, I'm gonna tell people I don't know you. [ She's teasing you, Lilith, and even goes as far as elbowing her side playfully. ]
high_warlock: (005)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2021-03-16 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He is immediately taken by her smile. Not that he's needing more pretty people to admire, but it's an easy thing to do when she has that look on her face.

He grins and takes the umbrella, tempted to make a move like he might run off with it. But that would probably involve getting her wet by accident and he doesn't know her well enough to do so, even if he might fix it with magic after.

He heads them in the direction of home, Swallow Wood, but it's a bit of a walk, so they have time to chat. ]


So what's your name, darling? Are you new or have I simply not had the privilege yet?
artificialis: (011)

[personal profile] artificialis 2021-03-16 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Sexually, no, it doesn't much matter. We do need to survive here, after all. But emotionally, I like to think that it will keep me honest.

Oh yes, I realized. I've already spoken briefly to someone that I once knew. There is one mutant, at least, and one Kree, and many humans.
snikthatch: (civives; smoke)

[personal profile] snikthatch 2021-03-16 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
couple months

there's a few others here but they ain't from our universe
fireshow: fireshow. (pic#14741518)

[personal profile] fireshow 2021-03-16 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
let's have this chat again in six months time
if you're still here
there's a couple mutants here
so i guess that answers my question on whether you know mutants or not
mph: (he bad touched you where?)

[personal profile] mph 2021-03-16 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That's actually...really nice to hear. It's one thing for David to say he's as much of a private person as Tommy is, it's another entirely to find out from an external source that he hasn't been breaching privacy. It's sweet. That's how Tommy's interpreting it anyway, with what little information he has. ]

Cool! That's useful! Except for like, right now, where that's really not useful at all.