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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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What she says next has him arching his eyebrow in that faintly disappointed way, as if he expected better of Mey-Rin.
"Yes. The new footman. I would imagine he's quite hard to miss due to his entourage of snakes that he's assured me won't bite the other staff," Sebastian replies. "Perhaps it slipped your mind or your glasses needed cleaning again."
Or she hadn't been paying attention. Which can happen with the Phantomhive staff - ignoring Tanaka's always exemplary work - but he imagines that getting a new coworker would stand out even to the most scatter-brained employee. By now they have reached a corner, Sebastian neatly stepping over a muddy puddle. He'll turn and easily assist Mey-Rin as well with one hand, less out of chivalry and because he means to protect her only set of presentable clothes.
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When she's over the puddle safely she retracts her hand and glances back up to him with knitted brows---genuine bewilderment. "A lot of snakes... I'm positive I don't know what you're talking about."
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"Curious," Sebastian will allow. "Perhaps Orientation did something to your memory. We can discuss the details in private."
He has heard that some have been taken from different time periods, but it had always been differences of decades and centuries, not something as small as months and weeks. Perhaps it could be that. Regardless, what matters is Mey-Rin continues to remember her manners and her place, and that she represents the Phantomhive interests until she is no longer under its employ. Sebastian glances around, the gesture as unhurried and collected as it always is.
"For now, I must ask if taking on a Dominant will hinder your true duties?"
Those being to the young Master.
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"A Dominant?" She'd, of course, been informed of all of the basics and expectancies but it's clear from her face that she's not thrilled about the idea in the least. She mumbles a bit under her breath, "Truthfully, I don't want to take on anyone at all."
Fingernails again pick at the skin of her wrist as her eyes glance up to the Butler. "I can't imagine you servin' anyone but the young master either." But, faint as it was, she could see that he was assigned as a Submissive as well. Perhaps fitting for a pair of 'servants' as they were.
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"I must for the time being, as regrettably I haven't been able to secure passage back to London," Sebastian says. "As we have both been designated Submissives, we must obey the city's laws or draw undue attention and punishments that would be most...inconvenient."
And further limit their movements. Speaking of movements, she's doing that thing again - the little unconscious scratch, just moments after he told her to stop. Humans and their fidgeting, Sebastian sighs.
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"You haven't been able to find a way back at all? Now that's a bit surprisin'..." She can't help but frown. "I would've thought that outta anyone you'd be the one to find a way." She's careful to step over another puddle, grateful to have her glasses back to at least be able to see a fair bit closer.
Oh, the rash is burning now and she slaps at it instead of scratching. Progress. Sort of.
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"Indeed. However, the authorities here are difficult to negotiate with and the Phantomhive name seems to have less weight. I haven't discovered a monetary value that would be enough to sway them."
Unfortunate, that. Perhaps slaughtering his way might be more expedient, as crass as that would be...
Then again, he did just recently learn that death here is only temporary. Hard to threaten a mortal with his, well, mortality if he knows he'll survive if Duplicity wills it.
"Keep an eye out for the others. And please keep me appraised of anything interesting someone might let slip around you."
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That does lead her to pause as she looks toward him. He still looked in as perfect shape as ever despite having lived down here in this... well, dump. Naturally, he'd be able to mend and fix anything on his clothes, but to look as good as he did despite how long he had supposedly been here?
It's easier still to not bring that tidbit up, so instead; "Are you livin' in the Up, Sebastian?"
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"Yes, I was recently contracted," Sebastian says. A demon has no need for food, drink or even money - but as he's still bound by the young Master's request to appear human, he has to play at it. Money has been the biggest issue, forcing Sebastian to take on odd jobs now that he doesn't have access to the Phantomhive purse.
It does make it more difficult to bribe people when he isn't backed by an Earl.
"My Dominant is a man called Wataru Hibiki. I can introduce you if you need help securing a contract of your own."
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"I wouldn't want to put you out like that... would it really be okay to say we know each other?" She hadn't outright said that they did to anyone she'd met so far, but she hadn't exactly thought to hide the fact either. They were in a strange place with equally bizarre expectations.
She would at least attempt to get a contract, but the thought of the stipulations that went with it were enough to make her brain feel on fire.
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That said, he has set a certain professional standard. If she works somewhere without him to supervise - somewhere where her unique skillset isn't at all needed - then he does have some reservations about her ability to housekeep without either burning the place down, drowning it in suds, or somehow a combination of the two. Mey-Rin has a certain remarkable creativity in getting herself in all sorts of trouble with common household tasks.
Sebastian looks thoughtful, pursing his lips. "Of course, we can cross that bridge when we get there. Before you find a Dominant, I heavily advise you to educate yourself on the use of the marvelous communication device you were likely given."
Of course, he would be happy to show her how to use it. Mostly to make sure she doesn't break it somehow if she gets her glasses smudged.
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and Sebastian cleaning up all of their messes.At the mention of the communicator her hand goes to the front pocket of her plastic jacket. Removing the small foldable device to hold it in her palm. "I admit I 'aven't touched it much at all yet..." It was... a lot to take in. "Fascinating little thing, isn't it? The people here really live in their own world..." She adjusts her glasses before tucking it away into her pocket again to protect it from the rain. Just in case.
She'd probably certainly need his help later in figuring it out, but for now the spreading rash took a bit more of her brain power than she was willing to admit. Especially when she could already feel it moving into the palm of her hand. "I can't even get a job without a Dominant, can I?" The itch lures her hand, but she manages to rub at it versus scratch at least. "Even if we find somethin' for this I don't have any money..."
And if she were back home she would have still been paying off that stack of plates from two months ago anyway.
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Perhaps the next Master to follow in his bloodied footsteps?
"You would need to be vouched for by a Dominant," Sebastian says, watching the gears clicking away in Mey-Rin's mind. Yes, it was rather inconvenient. Not any professional reference was good enough in Duplicity. No, you needed a Dominant, and it didn't matter if the Dominant was an idiot - all that mattered was that caste designation. "As your rash, I do have funds to cover some soothing medication."
He stops in front of a shop, dingy but at least the roof doesn't seem to be leaking too much. The demon holds the door open, a hand out as if he's ushering Mey-Rin in before she realizes that this will be tacked onto her running debt.
"At least try patting it instead of rubbing or scratching," the butler adds. "Rubbing it still aggravates the irritated skin."
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Once inside she tries to pat at the itching again per his direction, fingers twitching from the growing intense desire to dig her nails in instead.
"I'm sorry... it just really, really itches." Her voice clearly displays her discomfort. "I appreciate ye taking care of me, Sebastian... I'll find a way to get a job and pay you back right away!" Being tacked onto her tab at home would be far too much. She already accepted that the stingy demon had every plate and cup memorized, even now. Possibly even ones that hadn't even been dropped by her yet.
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The only reason he cared about the tab is because it would be inappropriate not to, as a butler of the Phantomhive estates. Money is a meaningless concept to a demon. He abides by it because he has lowered himself into a position where it, suddenly, is a necessary inconvenience, a challenge. Where a human like Mey-Rin might find it necessary, a fact of life, Sebastian finds it a...strange little novelty, like a tourist coming back to his old stomping grounds to realize they still use the quaintly backward customs as they did all those years before. The only reason Mey-Rin must suffer a tab is because of appearances and custom. Not because he couldn't easily replace any silverware or furniture she has damaged or will damage.
Sebastian leads her down the row of shelves, after a point picking out a small jar of soothing lotion. A stop at the counter with the shop-keeper and then he'll lead Mey-Rin back to the landing, out of the way of the most egregious leaks in the roof.
"Here. Apply that to your arm," Sebastian says. "Generously, but do try to save some for later."
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Just barely managing to catch the jar before it hits the ground. The cap, however, rolls itself a little distance away as she lets out a small, strangled sound of distress.
"I got it!" She reaches out carefully, tapping slightly at the wrong spots of the ground thanks to the blur of her vision. Fingers only getting more wet thanks to the small puddles of rain.
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"You don't seem to have it, Mey-Rin."
All she seems to be doing is slapping her hand around in the muddy puddles. One of these days he truly must get proper lens for her; yet another thing to add to his always growing To Do List. After watching Mey-Rin continually fail to find the lotion cap two feet away from her, Sebastian takes matters into his own hands. The demon sweeps down from the store's small landing and, in one smooth motion, he plucks the cap up, cleans it in a motion that would be too fast for mortal eyes, and then clears his throat.
"Mey-Rin. Hold out your hands."
He'll gently place the runaway lotion cap in the palm of her hands once he's certain she won't fumble it right back onto the ground.
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The thought of it ruining the top of her maid's uniform really only made that thought even more terrifying. Jar carefully tucked into the pocket of her plastic coat and she stands. Soaked hands wiping themselves off on the plastic despite the burning feeling already raking through her palm.
"Thank you... I appreciate all your help, Sebastian. I'll make sure to keep it safe and use it later. I'd hate to drop it and waste your generosity..."