duplicitymemes | TDM #17

Entry tags:

«tdm

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 « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah, I was here for almost a year before Guerin showed up. And he was from a few hours before the last time I remember seeing him. Time...doesn't work the same here. A lot of things don't work the same here. I mean, Bass used to work with the actual Han Solo. It's kind of become my mantra. Things can't be that weird because Han Salo. If a fictional character can be alive and living in the city - and I've met more than a few - then you have to redefine what you think of as strange."

"Sebastian is..." He smiled softly. As much as there was confusion because he was still in love with Guerin, it didn't mean his feelings for Bass had changed any. "He's a soldier. A marine. From a post-apocalyptic kind of world. Actually, from a post-apocalyptic kind of Earth. Apparently their power just vanished one day. Nothing would work. Not even batteries. But he's kind of one of those 'hard on the outside, soft on the inside' kind of people. He took Liz in because she needed someone."

Best not to get into it about Max and Liz. The less said, the better.

"But this place is... a lot." He took a breath and glanced down at her-- At where her necklace should have been. The only time he remembered seeing it off her was when it had been in Guerin's boot. Shit.

"I guess I should ask what the last thing you remember is."

Maria nods initially, listening to the first few sentences like she knows already. But then she stops short at the mention of Han Solo.

"Guerin definitely did not mention the scruffy nerf herder. Is he still here? Can I get his number? Apparently I have a quota to fulfill." She says it with a wink as she steps back, allowing him into the apartment fully. Like this is all a joke and this is just about to be a friendly gossip session. It's really the only way she's going to stay sane through this, she thinks: if she lets some levity in, despite how dark it all is.

She follows his gaze down to her chest and, knowing what he's looking for, she places her hand over the empty space.

"It's serving its purpose with someone else," she explains with a little smile, before shutting the door behind Alex.

"From what I can figure, I'm from several months in the future from most of you," she explains as she walks into the main room. She has limited funds, but she did get herself a bottle of whiskey with said funds. She holds it up as a question.

"And I'm not really into keeping those secrets, unless you want me to."

Alex shrugged a little. "I know some of it. This last Christmas, I got a newspaper in my stocking. About how my dad, the retired veteran, died. Since he was both still alive and not retired the last time I saw him, I figured something had happened. I just don't know what." He watched her walk ahead of him for a minute, brow scrunched up in confusion and wondering what kind of 'purpose' her necklace could be serving. But he caught up to her quickly.

"Being back in this apartment is like deja vu. It wasn't this one, but we were on the top floor. Highest I ever lived for more than a few days." There'd been a few hotels, sure, but whether it was Roswell or Baghdad, he'd always lived close to or on the ground.

"It won't change anything if I know or not, so if you want to tell me, I'll listen to whatever you have to say."

Whether that meant that he didn't think he was going home, even if they took him out of the city or not, even he wasn't entirely sure.

Maria exhales through her nose as she pours them each more than healthy measures of whiskey. She nods for the couch, sits down, places the drinks on the coffee table, and then pats the place next to her. They're not going to have this talk from separate sofas.

"Your dad... Okay, I can't believe I'm starting here, but I figure if you got the newspaper then you deserve to know the whole thing.

Your dad had people developing a bio-weapon that would kill anyone with a specific gene sequence. Like, say..." She spreads her hands and gives a pointed look, like, guess who. "Anyway, it's a long story, but Helena Ortecho found out about it. After Caulfield and your father getting locked out of Shepherd, I guess they needed her help, the money she had from her new family. Anyway, she worked with Flint to get it off the ground. Only she had her own version of the bomb that targeted Manes DNA."

She pauses in her story, feeling overwhelmed herself, and grabs a sip of whiskey.

"She was still pissed off that your dad effectively killed Kyle's dad, who was her lover. I think you know that. Anyway. Long story, your dad was going to stage an alien terrorist attack at Crash Con and then use the alien bomb to destroy the threat. Be a big hero. Whatever. Only Helena had gotten the Manes bomb into his hands instead of the alien one. You tried to warn him but he had a gun. You fought and...

Greg shot him."

Alex followed her onto the couch, sitting close and turning himself toward her. He opened and closed his mouth a few times during her explanation. At the mention of a bio-weapon. At the non-mention of the weapon targeting Guerin, Isobel, and Max. At the idea of Gregory being both in town and having killed their dad. He took a deep breath and, instead of saying something, took an even deeper sip of his drink.

"So I'm guessing Guerin finally clued you in about what was going on?"

Technically it could have been either Isobel or Max, too, but she didn't have the relationship with them that she did with Guerin. Which meant it would have had to be Guerin. Kind of like when he'd told Alex, even though Alex had already known at least some of what was going on.

Better to ask the easy question than the other ones, the ones that felt like shrapnel tearing into his heart.

She cocks her head at him, mildly disappointed that that's the first thing Alex says in response to what she just laid out for him. Sure, she thinks, he's allowed to process in whatever way he wants, but there's also just sidestepping the issue entirely and not processing. That's what she worries about.

She reaches out to rest her hand on his knee and give it a squeeze, gives him a meaningful look. They're going to talk about this, about his father and what happened. In his time, but it's happening.

Her lips purse and she takes another healthy sip of whiskey before deciding to set it down on the coffee table again.

"No. Rosa broke into the Pony to steal booze and I caught her. Rosa told me. And then Guerin realized the secret was out and said he'd wanted to tell me, but..."

She sighs and shakes her head. "I was ticked."

Alex chuckled a little. "Talk about seeing a ghost." But he was glad that some future version or another version of Kyle got to actually get to know his sister as his sister. And he was glad that they could all stop hiding the truth from Maria, even if it put her in more danger than he would have ever wanted for her. From his father of all people.

"He didn't even tell me. Not until he found out I already knew." Or at least he'd thought that Guerin had figured it out. Maybe it just happened that Guerin was going to tell him anyway and Alex just happened to know because of what he'd found out through his father and Project Shepherd.

He smiled a little and reached forward and squeezed her hand.

"How long was it before you ended up talking to any of us?"

Maria shakes her head a little, looking down for a moment.

"You? Not that long," she admits, then sighs softly, looking back up at him. "It wasn't your secret to tell. Guerin, Liz. They should have told me. Liz, especially. I felt like... such a fool. Mourning her when she was right there and--"

She cuts herself off and purses her lips into a brief look of disappointment. Then her features smooth out again and she gives Alex a vaguely sheepish look.

"Besides. You kept a secret, I dated your ex. I figured it all came out in the wash between you and me."

"She wasn't, you know. Alive. Or, at least not that I knew of. Not until Max did whatever he did. I don't know. That entire year was kind of crazy. Finding out that my father was the reason that Kyle's dad is dead. Finding Michael's mother. Realizing that my father had set up the base to blow in case anyone tried to get out." He went silent, then. He wasn't going to get into how Guerin had tried to stay behind. It hurt too much.

Thankfully, Maria provided a neat distraction that had the side effect of tearing Alex's heart a little.

"Wait, what? You two dated? When did this happen?" He knew about them sleeping together, of course. It had been the reason he'd felt so driven to try to give him and Guerin another chance. To start with all those moments they'd skipped the first time for fear that he would miss his chance. But he'd been under the impression that it had just been that once.

She looks even more sheepish, wincing a touch. Perhaps trying to casually slide that fact into the conversation was not the best way to go about it, but Alex hadn't, as far as she knew, been angry that Maria and Michael were together. He seemed fine. She hopes the same can be said for this Alex.

"Yeah, that... happened," she admits, looking away a little. "After the sleeping together, after... a few bumps, we decided to start over so to speak and give it a go. You and he weren't a thing at the time, obviously. It wasn't like that at all."

She does lick her lips however and give a small, halfhearted shrug.

"But it still happened. I'm sorry?"

Alex took a deep breath and then forced a small smile onto his face. She didn't know, then. Couldn't know as far as he was concerned. That he'd wanted to go all the way back to the beginning with his relationship with Guerin and that Guerin must have...not. It was a harsh blow, but it was the answer to a question that had been in the back - or front - of his mind since he'd first showed up here and especially since Guerin showed up and couldn't give him any kind of answer.

"I can't really blame you. Guerin can be..." He waved a hand in front of him. "Guerin." And then he frowned for a minute.

"But you said 'dated', past tense. So what did he do?" As much as he loved Guerin, he had a hard time believing that whatever had happened was Maria's fault. And she didn't seem mad at him, so it wasn't like he'd gotten that do over that he'd wanted.

He took another sip of his drink. Jesus, barely a 'hello' and already this was a heavy conversation.

She smiles wryly, huffing out a short, dry laugh at the statement. Guerin. It's like an art form or a style that only one man in the world had perfected. Both infuriating and intriguing, alluring all at the same time.

"Yeah, even so."

But at the question, how Alex picks up on her tense change, Maria picks up her glass again and sips. Her gaze notably wanders.

"I ended things. Just..." She waves a hand, a slight movement, dismissive. "He didn't do anything. Nothing at all. There was not fault involved. Just that." Another sip, then she cradles the cup between her hands, on her lap, and keeps her gaze down there for a moment.

"He had made me so happy. And I'm pretty damn sure that I made him happy. But I was also pretty sure that someone else could make him happier."

For him, Alex realized. Maria had broken up with Guerin because of him. Alex knew he should say the words. It wasn't like she didn't already know that he was with someone else. But as much as he wanted her to be happy, as much as he wasn't angry at her for Guerin, he couldn't bring himself to give her the go-ahead. Even if she'd listen to him.

Instead, he put his cup on the table and took hers gently from her fingers and put it down, too. And then he touched her shoulder gently and opened his arms.

"Hey, come here."

He did feel guilty. For a future he might never live that had caused them to break up in the first place. For a present where he had this awkward relationship that was hurting both of the people he loved but was making it impossible for him to give his best friend peace of mind. Not that it was really his fault. He'd tried not loving Guerin. Had even thought he'd managed it. Right up until the point that they'd found each other again.

Does she want him to tell her it's okay? That she's being dumb in breaking up with Michael and that it's wholly unnecessary? Of course. Of course she does. Because she still wants Michael, loves him, terribly so, and breaking up with him had been hard despite the strong face she had given things. She wants to be with him, if she didn't have the nagging feeling that Alex and Michael wanted to be with each other, too.

And a part of her had been holding out a thin hope. When Michael had said he and Alex weren't together, that Alex was with someone named Bass, Maria had thought maybe, just maybe they had each moved on in their own ways. But now she thinks... Well, now she thinks she's going to need to rethink the way that drink date with Guerin is going to go down.

But for now, she's not thinking about that. She's thinking her heart hurts and her friend is here, someone who understands the particular brand that Michael Guerin can leave on a person. So she lets him take her glass and she scoots closer on the couch to get herself situated in Alex's arms, head resting on his shoulder.

"I won't sugarcoat it," he said, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "This place can get bad. A few weeks after I first showed up here, they had an actual civil war. I've..." There was a pause and he sucked in a deep breath as the memories and all the associated images came rushing back as if it had just been yesterday. "I've drowned. Death might not be permanent, but disappearances like Max. Well, let's just say that if the person comes back, they're kind of reset."

He went quiet again for a minute. Most of the time, he did his best not to dwell on the things that had happened to him here. Most of the time, he was struggling with the fact that he hadn't figured out a way to get them all out of here. There were some days he just wanted to give up. Other days when he thought that maybe he had.

"Is there anything you didn't ask Guerin that you want to know about?"

She doesn't shift from her place in his arms, but her arms weave their way around his middle and hold tight. She lost Rosa ten years ago and still grieved her, never forgot her. Liz nearly died, would have if not for Max. And here's Alex, her best friend who went to war telling her that this is the place that got him.

What was it with her friends? Why was death always following their group?

She doesn't think she would have managed very well with Alex dying on her here, even if he did, apparently, come back.

She's quiet as she thinks over the question.

"Tell me about Bass," she says finally. "I'm sure you're in good hands, but I want to know for myself. I didn't get a chance to interrogate you when this first started, so consider this my due."

"He's...Okay, I don't want you to take this the wrong way. He might remind you of my father. Or men like him. That hard 'doesn't stand for shit' kind of person, you know? But underneath that, he's nothing like my dad. He's kind. Bought me a puppy and a kitten for Christmas the year before last." He smiled a little, thinking of her reaction. "He named the kitten, but I named the puppy. Max." Because they all knew that's exactly what Max was. A giant puppy in a cop uniform.

He took a breath. "But he gets me." That wasn't the entire truth, but it was part of the truth. There were some things that Bass got and others that Guerin got. Or maybe it wasn't even as defined as that. Guerin had just been in him too long for him to ever really escape until he'd finally realized he didn't really want to. But Bass understood all the darker parts that Guerin never seemed to. Both men could connect with Alex's traumas, each from their own desert. But Guerin hadn't been here. At least not at first. It sounded like not back home, either. And Bass had.

"He works at a club in the Down, Crimson, as a general manager. That's how we met, actually. He was around and it was my first night. Naked but for those damn hospital gowns they put you in. And I got jumped. One or two I might have been able to handle alone, but it was more than that. And he stepped in and helped."

She pulls back and gives him a look at that opener. Because that is really the worst way to endear someone to her, Alex. Especially after Jesse Manes had just tried to eradicate her and the other aliens from the planet. But the story softens as he goes on, so she allows him a small smile of appreciation and chooses not to interrupt his storytelling.

There's a lot to that simple sentence. He gets me. She knows only a fraction of what that must mean, given that they're both soldiers, both seem battle. Maybe even more. It still makes her a touch uncomfortable to think of him as a "Manes man," or whatever bullshit Jesse Manes spouted. But if he makes Alex happy, protects him and cares for him, he can't be that bad, even if he is rough around the edges.

"Your knight in shining armor," she says with a teasing little smile. "How sweet."

She presses her hand to his chest and her smile stays small but goes warmer.

"I'm glad you've found someone like that. I just want you to be happy, Alex, to feel safe and loved with someone. That's what matters."

"I do," he said, even if there was something troubled about the words. Not about his relationship with Bass, but about being safe. Because you couldn't guarantee safety in this city. That and it brought back something that Guerin had said. About being settled in this city. A cat. A dog. A boyfriend. A house. There was a part of him that was happy with what he had. But there was always a part of him, a large part, that wanted to be anywhere but here. Not because of the cat, the dog, the boyfriend, or even the house. But because of the environment that house was in.

He could learn to roll with a lot of punches. God knew, he'd had enough of those in his life. But what he couldn't live with was this chaos that had them trapped for nothing more than pure whim. If there'd been an explanation, any explanation, it still would have gotten under his skin, but he could have understood that this was extremism. But he knew the LIARs program was a lie, so they were here for…what?

"So let me tell you about my puppy," Alex said, deliberately wanting to move away from all of the darkness that could be here and into something a little lighter. "His name is Max."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #17

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject