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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!! |
Wildcard - let me know if this works, if not it can be adapted.
First it was Gansey showing up and not remember so much of their life and all they've been through. Then within a month, Blue. Now, as Adam stands beneath an umbrellla by the boutique that sold him the very pastel green suit he's wearing from the purity ball, he spots another familiar face.
If it wasn't for them not being stuck in this place, he would probably laugh. What had that talk been between him and Ronan the first day he arrived here? Talks of how they had both cared for the other so much, that they had already been caring about others, loving them, and so they could handle how this place was. Because they'd loved them all. Even Henry. As much of jerks as they could both be and had been, going off together and still... the others were theirs, and always would be in one way or another.
Stepping away from the building, he moves to stroll up alongside Cheng, curious as to what he's up to.
"You know you shouldn't draw untoward attention to yourself. I mean, you probably will like everyone else but still..."
dw pls let me live
So Henry does what he always does when faced with an unacceptable problem coupled with feelings of hopelessness. He tries action. It's the third business that had turned him away so far when he heard someone talking to him. Hey, he knows that voice.
Looking over as Adam approached, Henry smiles, feeling warmer already. He feels an urge to touch him somehow, like Ronan had and like Blue had. A confirmation. Extending his hand for a handshake is what he goes with, even though it feels too formal for what they are to each other. Even though he cannot find a word for what they are to each other except connected, invariably, and somehow incomplete otherwise.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Parrish, my good man. I'm trying to explain to some of our esteemed local businesses how easy and beneficial it would be," Henry turned toward the door again and raised his voice, "to set up umbrella sharing stations indoors. But as usual, the people are not ready for change."
Maybe he should try a petition.
no subject
And then reminding him that they're here, and he hates that so much.
Taking Henry's hand, shaking his it and yet lingering to hold his hand for a moment. Not even thinking twice about it, shielded mostly from rain but not entirely impervious to it.
That explanation though makes him smile. A small, true smile though.
"Unless your idea involves nudity, they're not going to listen. Especially locally owned businesses," he says, looking at the place and making a face. "They only care about pushing us towards nakedness and... well, you know," he says, blushing a bit. "You might try it with LIERs owned businesses."
He's been working with them all since he started working in marketing for a radio station there and had learned a lot.
"The rain's too important to enforcing things," he says, his accent much more natural than the one he had cultivated at school. Not many here know what that accent means and he's slipped more and more back to it in his time there. "I mean, just so you know..." He looks at his drenched hair. "Others are saying it's probably drugged."
Better to let him know now instead of being caught off guard by it.
no subject
Henry is very grateful. He returns a smile.
"Well listen to you, slinging around lingo like a native," Henry immediately recognizes that might be a sensitive thing to say, he doesn't know how long Adam has been here and he wouldn't want to suggest he's been assimilated. More like a double agent. Even though, he must admit, authority does look good on him.
So Henry does what he always does when he might have said something sensitive, he presses on. "It sounds like you're just the man I need. Maybe you can point me in the right direction, and-"
Hang on. Did he say drugged? Henry grows much more serious suddenly, considering possibly ramifications. "I noticed the dissolving effect of course, but drugged how?" If it's true his efforts would be both more urgent and inadequate.
no subject
His hand lingers on Henry's for a moment, after just having Gansey arrive in this place and then seeing Henry and Blue, it's changing so much and Adam is hateful at this place and thankful at the same time.
"You can't open a marketing firm here without being able to pretend you know what you're talking about," he allows, his accent a bit more natural and fuller rather than his carefully clipped accent that he had practiced for so long.
He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing with the motion because this is never easy to talk about.
"They dose things a lot here. Like with aphrodisiacs. I'm not sure if it's possible the water could be but I've seen things here that I never imagined could be real. I know I've been dosed before here. They aren't playing games in getting what they want."
no subject
He can't decide whether Adam's voice sounds comfortable or merely comforting.
"I had no idea you were interested in that kind of thing," Henry says cordially. Neutrally. "The residents are lucky to have you." As am I went unsaid.
Henry wraps his arms around himself, considering the gravity of the situation anew. It seems like a bad supervillain plot, poisoning the water supply so that not even the rain is safe. So absurd and diabolical that he almost wants to laugh. And he doesn't even know how that would affect him, but he's not interested to find out.
"I-" he cuts off and then reminds himself that he trusts Adam. "I'm having a hard time with that idea."
no subject
For a moment he considers that, looking down and then back to Henry. "I hadn't picked my major from Harvard but I wanted to have something here where I could try and help others." He nearly smiles at that, thankful to hear it even if he's not good at saying it. "Least it seems to be paying the bills in the position they've put me in."
Adam's expression changes then, watching the way that Henry kind of curls in on himself. It takes a moment, thinking about home and about how much he had been through in those first moments in this place.
"Hey. Come on. You're not alone, okay?"
He steps in closer, stopping short of wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him in close.
"You're stuck with us and we're here for you." He's definitely in his space, speaking softly to him and trying to do the best he can to help. "Come on. Let's get somewhere warm and out of this rain and work through things to try and help you. What we do for one another, right?"
He hadn't thought. Not before. He'd been in such places during those days that he hadn't been this person, but he could be now.