TDM #17

[duplicitymods]

« « « 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 « « «

Comments

[goldtoxicity]

Shitty. Like everything else in the Down.

[ but he doesn't really stay there. he wanders. and that's why he's covered in rashes and itchy and here. ]

[vexant]

Rules say Submissives can't stay here unless we're contracted together, so don't get caught. If you fuck shit up for me, you're not going to hear the end of it.

( once the elevator stops and they step out, julian's. immediately leading josh over to his own apartment. pulls out a key to open the door. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ yeah he knows. julian never lets anything go. ]

If anyone asks I guess you can say you're like, trying me out, or whatever?

[vexant]

( sorry hold on, he's got the door open now but julian's pausing just inside the doorframe to lean over and gag. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ jesus christ. ]

Yeah, yeah, I'm gross whatever, dude. Welcome to the reality we're in.

[vexant]

You are gross.

( josh didn't like nicer julian so nicer julian is gone, because julian also hates nicer julian. this is what he gets stuck with instead. the apartment itself is in--pristine condition. clean and well put together, not a throw pillow out of place. julian kicks off his shoes and leaves them in the space next to the door, before moving towards the living area. )

Room service menus are on the kitchen counter.

( where there is no actual food. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ please bring nicer julian back, he misses nicer julian.

he toes off his shoes and shoves his damp hair out of his face, grimacing as his fingers brush against his scalp. he grabs a menu and leans againsts the countertop. ]

Yeah, well, this gross dude doesn't want to get re-educated. [ he glances down. ] So maybe striking some kind of fake contract is in both our interest.

[vexant]

( nicer julian can't come to the phone right now. why? because he's DEAD.

what's left of his shirt gets thrown off into a corner, which just. leaves julian with even more room to start scratching at, so don't mind him as he wanders through the living area towards his room stopping to use every corner wall to try and scratch at his back, forearms rubbing against his chest.

god this is going to drive him fucking nuts. )

There's no fake contract. Either you have one or you don't.

[goldtoxicity]

[ unfortunately the other side-effect of the rain is making it hard to look away. he watches with half-lidded eyes, managing to yank his gaze away once he catches himself staring. ]

Yeah, well, I mean one where we don't have to... y'know.

[ you know. ]

[vexant]

So, what. You want to take my only spare room, in my nice apartment, and stay there. While I have to go outside to find someone else to fill in quotas.

Am I getting this right?

( this isn't saying he wants josh in the least this is just. how dare you want his nice things he's supposed to save for someone mildly useful. )

[goldtoxicity]

You're the one who said I was gross, remember?

[ fake gags and everything. really know how to make a guy feel special.

but what exactly is the alternative he's proposing here? a stupid one. he and julian weren't - well, they hadn't left on the worst terms they'd ever been on. but it wasn't like they were best friends again either. ]

[vexant]

I said trying you out or letting people think I was would be gross. I didn't say gross until you did.

( just an fyi. josh called himself gross first. julian only decided to make a big deal out of the former. there's more welts starting to form from his scratching now, down his chest and over his shoulders. but he doesn't seem particularly bothered by them. )

I'll think about it.

[goldtoxicity]

[ god, julian. he itches just looking at you.

and he

itches in general. he sighs and gives in, scratching at his neck. ]

Yeah, well, I'll be fine with whatever you pick.

[vexant]

Of course you will. ( he says, sarcastically. because josh is a mess at the best times, but being a submissive actually--does suit him. he's better when given orders and a direct line to follow. not when he's left on his own. )

Fine, but there'll be rules.

[goldtoxicity]

Yeah?

[ he takes a few steps closer. ]

[vexant]

( wow, don't follow him. he's--pacing, uncomfortable in his own skin and the urge to dig more deep marks into it is impossible to ignore. julian digs metal fingertips in along the side of his neck, down over his arm. moves through the living room back towards the kitchen. )

Yeah. Rules like, don't bring anyone back here. Pick up your shit.

[goldtoxicity]

Okay, easy enough.

[ jesus, julian. he extends a hand. ]

Is it in the, like, water system? Would a shower help?

[vexant]

Third rule's mind your own business.

( though really he's. starting to draw a little blood so maybe it is becoming josh's business. josh extends his hand out but julian shoves right passed him to get to the sink. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ christ, julian. he steps aside and...

and scratches. because watching julian is making it impossible to tamp down his own need to scratch. ]

[vexant]

( that's right, move out of his way. he does take josh's advice and runs his hands under the water, then. shoves that against the welts on his neck. it doesn't do anything but the cool temperature does help relieve some of the stinging, so there's. that. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ boy. ]

Look, if I'm gonna be your sub or whatever, at least let me like - take care of that before you rip all your skin off.

[vexant]

( mm. he stops to tilt his head back, eyeing josh over his shoulder. seems to consider that for a moment, then opens his mouth again, )

No. I like the marks.

( doesn't really know why he does but he does. )

[goldtoxicity]

[ likes the marks

his eyes drop to them without thinking. ]

Yeah?

[vexant]

( angry scratch marks over the his neck, down his chest. the rashes are still there, but they're not--as red, there's not broken skin over them. just in the places julian clawed his way through. )

Yeah.

[goldtoxicity]

[ yeah. ]

Let me get your back.