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duplicitymemes2021-03-09 06:59 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2021-03-09 06:59 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #17
« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »
« « « ALL ON DISPLAY
» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «
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:
While others might find their own reaction to be a little more severe:
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!! |
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Soft...
"Thank you... Yes, I just arrived here a bit ago. I walked out and they gave me all kinds of pokes and prods before throwin' me out here in this... They said my belongings would be at a motel." She holds the handkerchief on her lap, thumbs brushing lightly over it as she at least manages to look in Riza's direction. "At least they gave me something to wear... though I don't feel quite right without my stockings."
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"Are you headed to the Down, then? Do you need help figuring out how to get where you're going?" Riza knows the feeling of disorientation and confusion that comes with arriving here, even if she got whisked off in a private vehicle to her new apartment and not shuffled off to some grungy motel.
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The offer makes her tense up a bit, fingers tightening slightly on the fabric in her hands. "I wouldn't want to put you out like that, Miss... though to be honest, they sent my glasses with my belongin's too... So I can't really see that well in closed spaces like this."
Once she was outside she could navigate herself around fairly well, but as the buildings got closer they just became the same blur.
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"Well, I managed it. It's just a shame that treat people so shabbily here," Riza murmurs thoughtfully. She glances up as the next stop is given, then looks back over to Mey-Rin with a warm little smile.
"I promise, you wouldn't be putting me out. I'd rather be of help." She offers a hand out--they shake hands here, right?
"I'm Riza," the fake name idea had been useful for the first week or two but as various circumstances had conspired against her, she'd slowly been dropping it--or at least telling people to call her Riza instead of Elizabeth.
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If she had gotten more used to the dynamics that had vaguely been explained to her she would have especially felt disrespectful to a Dominant. For appearance sake, at least.
"My name is Mey-Rin. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Riza. You've been here only for around a month then? Is it a lot different than back home for you?"
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"No need to call me miss, unless you want to use my last name, Hawk," Riza insists with a laugh. No need to give away the real last name just yet. If she could preserve it, anyway.
"And the way people are treated here is different too--" She pauses, glances up as the next stop is announced.
"We'll want to get off at this stop so we can take the lift to the Down."
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Her head does turn slightly toward the officer as they start the walk, though.
"I agree! We've got trains back home, but not like these... but I've never seen anything like this thing before either!" She wiggles the folded up communicator in her fingers, careful not to drop it as she tucks it back into her plastic pocket. There were lightbulbs at home at least, but their estate still relied heavily on candles. "It must be a lot to get used to..."
A brief pause.
"... At least they marked me as a Submissive, I suppose. I'm just a maid back home, so it feels right." A maid with scars like that all over her body that suspiciously looked like knife and gunshot wounds.
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"Electric lights are quite common where I'm from. So is radio, but not these sorts of devices. They can take photographs, record moving pictures, make wireless telephone calls, send messages by text almost like a telegram--it's an amazing bit of technology." They ease into the line and Riza looks thoughtful.
"I'm an officer in my nation's military at home, but I'm not sure that has anything to do with them assigning Submissive or Dominant. It seems arbitrary, almost random," she muses.
"I can't see how working in service would make you inherently a Submissive."
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For one, Mey-Rin was an illegal immigrant from China back home after all, and that wasn't often looked on too kindly by most branches of government.
"That all sounds so confusin'... I'm not sure I'll even be able to use the text function much." Too close to see well without extreme squinting and she was barely literate (but learning!) as it was. Being able to use the 'phone' function was certainly something she could see herself using more often. "Do you agree with your designation, Miss Hawk?"
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"The telephone function is really nice though, and it's so handy and mobile. I could get used to it. Am getting used to it, I guess." The question that comes next seems to take her a little by surprise.
"...I suppose? It's not something I ever thought about. I'm not sure how I feel about arbitrarily placed above others."
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"I can't say I've seen how people are treated here yet... but I think I can handle it. I grew up on the streets before I became a maid, so even if they put me in a hole I'll be alright." So long as she could walk, she could look for a way home. Or at the very least try to keep up and practice her studies so that she could at least leave with an extra skill or two.
Her gaze returns to Riza as the descent begins. "They don't treat you badly though, do they, Miss Hawk? I'd hate if someone nice like you was mistreated."
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"They divide us into Submissives and Dominants. I can't see any rhyme or reason to it, no particular pattern. I was assigned Dominant, though I couldn't tell you the reason for it. It gives me a bit mroe leeway in action, but it still comes with a lot of societal pressures." A smile.
"And don't worry. They haven't treated me particularly poorly."
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"It's a bit odd, isn't it? To divide them up but try to encourage them to partner up..?" It seemed a bit strange to keep them so separated, though as Mey-Rin glances out over the true expanse of the Down she can see in the distance just why some Submissives might be so desperate to escape it. It was almost amazingly bad. Though she'd been through enough that so long as she had a bed, she felt she'd be alright. Even without that... it would look bad on her young master back home if she fell to something like this.
"Though I suppose no one would contract if they all lived somewhere nice..."
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"Rather than providing for everyone, or at least giving everyone a fair chance, their system is meant to force everyone into their properly designated societal role. More blatant than most nations, but... Hm," Riza trails off with a shake of her head. With her hands stuffed into her pockets, she stares out over the Down.
"It rains down here, too? Interesting."
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"Even under the plate...?" Her gaze moves back out to the undercity, her eyes taking in the distance again. The rain certainly seemed present, but more... viscous? Certainly strange. "I suppose it would be all muddy from up above..." A bit of a shame. She'd have to be extra diligent in washing if that's the case.
The lift reaches the ground level and the red-head steps a bit closer to Riza to let some of the others out around her. "Do you have a Submissive, Miss Hawk?" She's not trying to be nosy, but perhaps just trying to continue their conversation in a way where prying ears won't automatically suspect that she's questioning anything.
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"...Do you know where your motel is? An address maybe, or a street?"
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But if making a contract could get her more resources to potentially find a way back home to her own master, she would consider it. She'd even offer to continue living in the Down if it meant that she could have a bit more freedom, even if she isn't entirely aware yet to just how intense the difference between the classes is just yet.
"Oh! Y-yes, one moment..." Her hand digs into one of her plastic pockets, pulling out a piece of paper with an address printed on it. Her eyes squint at the paper. "Ah... I'm sorry, I can't see it at all..." She offers the paper to Riza instead.
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"That should be quite close to where we are now--we can walk, if I remember right." That said, she makes a sharp military turn and heads towards the exit out onto the street. She opens her umbrella and holds it up expectantly, as if she expects Mey-Rin to share it with her.
"Coming?"
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"Thank you! I suppose I'll have to try to find one of my own when I get settled." A bit out of habit she reaches a hand out once they're under the 'sky', a drop of the water hitting her palm before she retracts her hand back under the umbrella's coverage.
It feels... off, somehow. Her fingers rub together a bit before rubbing it against her raincoat. A thought for later on.
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"Who knows what gets in that stuff when it drains from the Up? Egh." Riza's nose wrinkles in disapproval. "I don't see how they can make people live like this."
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Now, though, she was a bit more spoiled. Sebastian's and Baldroy's cooking more than enough to make her smile every time she ate. Sometimes she still teared up a little at how fortunate she was. She could manage moldy bread again, of course, but she at least hopes that she will at least have a bed to lay her head.
"People are resilient... It's a bit scary how much they can put up with when they have to. To be honest, I'm not as worried as I thought I'd be."
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"They are, it's true. I've seen that resilience first hand. It's amazing how stubbornly people will try to keep on living even while their circumstance crumble. I admire it."
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It really is much better out here than on the train, but once things get too close it starts getting a bit more difficult. So much clutter and debris on the ground that she's able to avoid only because she'd seen it coming and made sure to watch as it changes to a blur before her feet.
"I grew up on the streets m'self, so this feels a tiny bit like that." But worse.
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"Mm. I never lived on the streets, but living in a foxhole wasn't much better, I imagine. At least no one shoots at you out here," she murmurs softly.
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It's strange the kind of effect rain made on moments like this. In any other situation, she may have found it romantic to share an umbrella and walk along with someone in the type of 'private world' rain seemed to provide.
Maybe she seems almost too alright with the revealed fact. "You said you were an officer... do you like your job, Miss Hawk?"
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