duplicitymemes | TDM #17

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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 « « «

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As they begin their trip off the train platform, Riza doesn't bother to ready her umbrella. The lift, after all, is attached to this central station for ease of access. She's still learning her way around, but it's becoming easier. She heads towards the queue for the lifts. She's appraising Mey-Rin as they walk--those scars are definitely those of someone who's participated in combat, even if Mey-Rin claims to be a mere maid.

"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."

A military officer, huh? While she wasn't in the military ever before herself, quite the opposite in fact, she knows better than to underestimate someone with that kind of training. Though there is a bit of hesitance in the kind of mentality that sometimes went along with that sort of position.

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?"

"The text function is useful, but the typing takes a lot of getting used to. Typewriters are more in my court," Riza admits.

"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."

Considering Mey-Rin can't see what Riza's assignment is, she isn't too eager to push it. Carefully she steps onto the lift, hands linking together in front of her as she glances up toward the sky.

"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."

"It's strange," Riza shrugs, doing her best to explain as they step inward. A last call is made by the attendants and then the doors close and the lift begins its descent into the Down.

"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."

Ah, so she was a Dominant. In a way that feels fitting, even if Mey-Rin doesn't know her that well.

"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..."

"I suspect that's the point," Riza says in a quiet voice meant only for Mey-Rin.

"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."

She takes note of the lowered tone, eyes glancing slightly around at the blurred figures around them. It probably was for the best to not outwardly get upset about the situation in public. Even as a new 'visitor' here, she doubts she has too much leeway if things are as oppressive as they seem.

"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.

"No. I have three months to find one, but I haven't really met anyone that feels appropriate. Or at least no one that I've thought I want to have connected to me in that way," she says. Riza waits as others filter out around them and readies her umbrella. Gently, she hooks an arm through Mey-Rin's and guides her out of the lift with the rest of the crowd. It's a close fit, if only because of the others pushing past around them. She pauses, then looks at Mey-Rin.

"...Do you know where your motel is? An address maybe, or a street?"

"I can understand that," the link of arms makes her gasp slightly, but she uses the opportunity to keep her bearings as they make their way through the crowd and out onto the platform. "I wouldn't want to rush to serve someone else..."

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.

Edited (typo) 2021-03-11 03:33 (UTC)

Riza releases the maid so that she can take the printed paper. She scans over it briefly, then offers it back over to Mey-Rin.

"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?"

Paper again tucked away and she's quick to return to Riza's side, arm cautiously relinking itself to the Dominant's if she'll allow her. It would make not only sharing the umbrella easier, but also make it easier for Mey-Rin to keep up in case she potentially loses her in a haze of people shaped blurs.

"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.

"You'll manage. Even if things here aren't ideal, most of the people I've met seem pleasant enough on the surface..." Riza says. "Well. The people brought here like us. The natives are all a bit odd," she adds after a moment. She follows the motion of Mey-Rin's hand as she lets the rain drip into her palm.

"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."

It's actually a bit comforting to hear Riza speak so openly like that for the Submissives. A few years ago she may have thought that she deserved it... living in a place flooding with disgusting water filled with dirt and bugs. Eating nothing but moldy, hard bread and rotting food that left her more hungry than before.

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."

The covering sound of the rain and the relative intimacy of their walk together helps make Riza feel bolder. If they were in the Up, she probably wouldn't say that sort of thing. Or at least, she wouldn't say it nearly as loud.

"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."

"I imagine in the military you come across people like that fairly often..." Another sharp turn and she nearly stumbles, but manages to keep her balance thanks to her hold on Riza's arm.

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.

"I guess you could say I met them," Riza says. "Mostly I shot at them." It's a grim admission, but one that she feels needs to be made. There's something worthwhile in being honest about her past sins, even if it might turn people against her. Nice people, like this girl. They should know who they're dealing with.

"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.

"That's part of a job like that, isn't it?" Just part of the unfortunate job. Mey-Rin had killed people... often. From a very young age she'd been forced into it, but she's hesitant to say anything like that. Despite Riza's admission though she doesn't move away from her or even loosen their linked arms.

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?"

The question of how honest to be hovers at the front of Riza's mind. Telling someone she's just met of her worries and fears would be dangerous. It would open her to having her vulnerabilities exploited and perhaps even used against her. So... she settles for a half-truth.

"I like the people I work with. I like my career. I'm not sure I would choose it again, if I had the choice."

Her brows knit slightly together as she thinks it over, though. She also liked her coworkers, even if her superior could be quite strict with her at times... but she often caused him enough trouble to make up for it and she was eternally grateful with how patient he was with her when cleaning up the messes of her inexperience.

"Someone told me once that bein' a maid and bein' an assassin weren't that different. I think though... if I had the choice, I'd be a maid again." If her circumstances were the same and she was extended the same hand again... she was positive she'd take it even with the way life was now.

She follows up quickly with a wave of her hand and a meek smile. "Not that I'd compare my work to be anythin' like yours, Miss Hawk! I can't imagine the discipline it takes to be a solider!"

Edited (Changed my mind and added some things.) 2021-03-11 17:54 (UTC)

The sudden flustered response tacked on at the end of Mey-Rin's comment actually draws a laugh from Rika. She glances sidelong at the other woman, smiles.

"Mm. I imagine being a maid has its own sort of discipline you have to adhere to. I spend most of my job keeping others in line. Like that troublesome colonel of mine. He really needs someone to look after him." Someone to make sure he doesn't stray into cruelty and barbarism and militaristic excess in their pursuit of justice and truth.

"I don't think of being a soldier as being something above others. It's a job like any other. A military should be a shield that protects the people of its nation, not a cudgel to beat them down with."

When they stop Mey-Rin has to assume it's because they've reached their destination. She carefully unhooks her arm from Riza's, hands clasping together in front of herself instead as the humidity under the plastic fortunately fogs up the clear material a bit.

"That's a nice way of thinkin' about it. I wish more people thought that'away." Ah, she considers correcting her speech a bit, but decides to leave it in favor of glancing over toward the motel. She's honestly a bit hesitant to step away. "Lots of people back home join up for power or the like... or the ability to oppress people without gettin' in trouble. If more people thought like you, it'd be a nice change." She fortunately didn't have to deal with the military too much considering her Earl's place as 'The Queen's Watchdog', but she'd certainly had her share of trouble with officers and enforcers in her youth before she got taken in by the Qīng Bāng.

Riza holds the umbrella out a little further, just to make sure that Mey-Rin is still shielded from the rain.

"I do too, Miss Mey-Rin. It would be a better world, wouldn't it?" Riza's smile is a little sad, a little wistful.

"You're very kind to say that about me, but I don't think of myself as any better than any of them." There's too much blood on her hands.

"Ah! There's no need for you to show me that kind of respect, Miss Hawk! I'm just a maid!" Her hands come up defensively, but her eyes dart to the side as if some stray Dominant might see them together and think that Riza was possibly acting unfitting for someone in her position.

Things were different where the red-head was from, so there is a touch of social acceptances lost on her. Though it's the next comment that makes her tilt her head a bit.

She says the next part a bit more seriously, her tone a bit different than her usual more carefree sounding one. "You say that, but if you're thinking differently... you're already kinder. Most people in authority I've met demand respect but don't respect people back unless it suits them. You've been nothin' but kind to me since we met."

"Everyone deserves some respect. Even the people at the bottom of the ladder, so to speak," Riza says with a slight smile.

"I understand your concern, though. They can be oddly strict here. Be careful, alright? If you ever need to look me up, I'm on the network device as elizabeth-dot-hawk. Or just ask for Riza. I'll do my best to keep an eye out for you, should you need it." She reaches out and gives Mey-Rin's shoulder a pat.

"It's the least I can do. Really."

(no subject)

longsight - 2021-03-12 04:23 (UTC) - Expand

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