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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!! |
no subject
he hesitates just short of taking the man's hand, wonders briefly if that's rude. decides that it is, and shakes his hand firmly, the right way, just like his parents taught him. they didn't teach him to talk with his mouth full, but really he can only be expected to pay attention to so many rules at once. )
Cain, I've got the directions covered. You just worry about the umbrella and we will be all good. ( he smiles himself, trying to make himself at ease as much as he is trying to seem friendly. ) I'm Nick. Be careful, I think the rain does weird shit.
no subject
the hesitation doesn't offend him. he's aware of what he must look like: the strange marking on his brow, his prosthetic limbs, even the collar ringing his throat that he hasn't bothered to remove yet. he still isn't entirely convinced the foundation won't show up to retrieve him. given the priceless information they keep in his head, it's doubtless one of their top priorities if they even know he's missing.
he waits, patient, as the boy--nick--finally takes his hand, returning the shake with a short, friendly squeeze before releasing him. ]
It's a pleasure, Nick. And yes-- [ a glance up through the clear plastic at the rain falling as they walk. ] --I noticed about the clothing. And the.. amorous urges that resulted. I think I'm a bit too old for that sort of desperation.
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It's kind of their whole thing here, you've probably gathered. ( casually, like it's a fun fact about the city, a weird little holiday custom and not habitual aphrodisiac dosing.
maybe the glow is the root of his strange impression from the guy. it'd be rude to ask, just like it's probably rude to eye the blue hue he can see below the wrist of cain's glove. nick doesn't do either of these things, difficult as it might be, and things don't exactly change but it certainly doesn't feel as jarring to be walking next to him after a few moments as it did when nick first approached.
good thing, too. it's not like the umbrellas are massive. )
You don't look old. Anyway, I don't think the city minds. Good thing you don't eat, I guess, feels like half the food is laced. Sorry, how old are you?
no subject
I have, [ he murmurs, and chooses very carefully not to think of the years of his youth. .. well, relative youth. the first rise and fall of humanity.
his lips part to respond again--he eats occasionally, to keep up his strength, his diet is just very particular--but the boy is easily distracted and jumps from the subject before he can address it. he finds himself smiling again, amused and a little charmed in spite of himself. people are never so easy with him anymore-- but then, he's one of the foundation's artifacts, not technically considered a person. and foundation personnel are the only ones he gets to speak to any longer. ]
Very, [ he says at last, when it seems as if nick wants the answer to this question. ] Millions of years. Billions, perhaps. One has a way of losing track of years after long enough, even with my memory being what it is. Are you familiar with the story of Adam and Eve? [ he doesn't really like using it as an example, given how terribly inaccurate it is, but it's technically correct about some things. ]
no subject
( it's not that he doesn't believe the man exactly, because he has no reason to lie to nick, and it's not even that his overly complex belief system doesn't allow for the possibility of some truth existing in the garden of eden story. it's just that it's one thing to think about things in theory, and it's another thing entirely to be talking to a person claiming to be more or less as old as existence.
and nick offered him an oreo. )
Oh, shit. Cain? Cain. ( nick had never attended a school with a particularly dedicated world religion department and as such doesn't remember a whole lot of the story, but he knows enough to raise an eyebrow at the man.
as the story is told, he murdered his brother. now that story could be wrong – the man is awfully polite, after all – but if it's rude to stare at a glowing wrist then it must be rude to ask about...that. it absolutely kills him not to ask. ) Dude, you're probably the oldest person here. That's– wow, I would have thought you'd be like...insane after being alive all this time.
no subject
as for insanity-- ] My curse prevents me from losing myself that way, [ he admits, reaching up to tap the mark on his brow with his index finger. ] Though admittedly, I've disassociated for centuries at a time, out in the wilds. [ with nothing to do, no way to occupy his mind, eternity stretching out before him in all its infinite dread. ] I prefer cities when it's safe, although it usually takes a long time after civilization falls for humanity to advance itself significantly enough for cities that large.
[ and he's seen humanity develop and rise and fall.. more than once now. ]
.. Why the beach, by the way? Do you have a home there?
no subject
( that part he actually knows a lot more about, though it's by virtue of the witch thing and not the history knowledge thing. he's certainly not going to test it, but that's as much about nick not being a jackass as it is the curse.
still, it's all very curious, interesting stuff, that absolutely puts into context the enormous amount of strange that he's unable to ignore from the man. it probably explains why something about his magic itches in the presence of him, at least. nick can't even begin to fathom that kind of time passing, so he doesn't even try. he just eats another cookie and points the packet emphatically at Cain as they walk.
he realises that he hasn't paid a lick of attention to where they're going, but in a stroke of pure 'luck' it seems, they're going in the right direction anyway. )
Oh! Yeah, I don't visit the beach in the middle of horny rain downpours. Well it's not my house, I just live there. Can't own property. But you could, maybe you should scope the market while you're there.
no subject
[ it certainly does that, keeping him alive and well no matter his or others' intentions. forcing him to live in barren places, not allowing him the comfort of the flowers and trees he'd once loved, giving him no choice but to eat animal flesh for strength.
he politely pretends not to notice the oreo packet thrust his way, instead, glancing out toward the street they're about to turn down with a thoughtful hum. ] I suppose that I could, [ he agrees mildly. ] I do like beaches. Particularly the volcanic sorts. [ after the eruption, before flora takes hold once more. ] But I believe it's safer for me to remain in the city. [ a brief pause. ] .. Well. Relatively speaking. [ until someone tries to hurt him here. and there will always be someone.
he makes a musing sound after a moment, vivid blue glance finally flicking back to nick, a thoughtful sideways look. ] You're.. contracted? To someone you like?
no subject
Why would the city be safer?
( there's gangs in the city – leaking into the up too now, apparently, if the chatter is to be believed. there's nowhere safe in duplicity, but he can't imagine why the beach would pose any more threat than anywhere else.
...there is that rumour about sea monsters, but he doesn't think cain is talking about that. )
To– yes, I guess. ( he looks a little pink around the edges, vaguely embarrassed in a way that doesn't really fit with nick's usual shameless self. )
I asked around a bit first. Found someone that didn't seem like a total psycho, you know? You'll have to do it too, eventually.
no subject
he shakes the mess off his palm, smiling mildly, then turning to get them walking again. ]
That was a rather dramatic demonstration, I suppose, but you get the picture. Living flora--trees, flowers, plants of all sorts--die when I'm nearby, usually within twenty meters or so. Even things like microorganisms. [ he should be beyond the weary resignation he feels at the thought of it, of the countless memories he has seeing it. he shouldn't be able to feel anything anymore, and yet.. ] I literally, as the saying goes, salt the earth where I step. So it's easier in cities, where no one is trying to grow things on sidewalks anyway.
[ his shoulders lift once more, neutral expression twitching into a faint frown. ] I do feel a bit badly about any houseplants my neighbors will try to keep, though.
[ he'll have to explain to them, he supposes. but that's a problem for another time. ]
We have three months, yes? [ it's such a short time to attempt to get to know someone, but he supposes, given his position here, he doesn't need to know them overly well. it's enough to help someone achieve some independence, even if it means signing some sort of contract with cain. ]
no subject
and yet, he's very polite. and quite nice really, so nick curbs his look of stunned shock and instead replaces it with something more reflective. )
I grow things on the sidewalk, but point made. Do you just live off jerky?
( nick is a vegetarian. this is going to be a hard friendship. )
Three months, yeah. There's people who will just sign like...contract only type deals. You don't have to be friends or live with each other or anything. That freaked me out a bit though. I guess it's different if you're a dom.
no subject
he'd starved himself at first, long stretches of time spent not eating, but all it had done was make him weak and ill. he hadn't been able to die, even at his worst.
he shakes himself of those thoughts, then breathes a laugh. ] It's unfortunate, really. There are so many interesting foods in the world. So many curious snacks and things that smell delightful. [ chocolate's an incredible scent, for one thing. even the kind one finds in oreos.
the city's beginning to thin now as they near the beach, and cain keeps a close eye out for gardens or beds of plants he should avoid even as he listens to nick's perspective on contracts. ] The idea of a business-like contract doesn't sit well with you..?
no subject
( he has...not an idea, exactly. but a thought at least. something that could maybe develop into an idea, though he'd probably need help. at any rate it's probably not good to engage in experiments with curses older than time – or whatever the mark of cain is, but nick certainly thinks of it as a curse.
so it's not a good idea, but it's an intriguing one. maybe he'll do some research. it just seems unjust that the man doesn't get to eat cookies, after all. )
The idea of a contract doesn't sit well with me. Actually nothing in this place sits right with me, but– I don't know...( he corrects, scrunching up the top of the packet and squirrelling the food away into one of his pockets. now that he knows that cain can't eat it, it seems almost cruel to just carry on munching away in front of him. )
Signing with someone without knowing a bit about them creeps me out. What if you think you've signed something that's pure business and turns out they slipped in all these freak rules?
no subject
cain's head tilts, waiting as nick puts away his cookies and sounds out his concerns. he can see where the fear could come in, the idea of signing your life away to someone you've known only a short time. three months is nothing, even to a human with a normal life span. still-- ] Presumably, one is expected to have a lawyer take a look at the contract, but given the shamefully limited rights submissives seem to have, those options seem few and far between.
[ he doubts there are any lawyers here that aren't dominants, and in his experience, people in power would like to remain in power. but perhaps some of those brought from other worlds might.. qualify to practice here if they remain trapped here long enough. he doesn't know for certain. ]
I suppose I'll make it a point to take a look at laws and regulations here. Perhaps my memory will come in handy for helping others with their contracts.