duplicitymemes | TDM #17

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«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

Right. That's what people are saying.

You're Wanda Maximoff right? You don't happen to know me, do you?

[ No matter how many times this happens, Wanda will never get used to it. After a small delay: ]

No, I don't. I'm sorry.
But that happens a lot here.

I take it you know a version of me back home?
I don't think I have built up that much of a reputation here.

[Yeah. Billy kind of figured. From the ID, she looks too young. But it's worth a shot.]

It's okay. Multiverse is weird. I'm kind of used to it.

Yeah, I know a you back home. Pretty well actually but I don't have to talk about it if it weirds you out.

[ It does weird her out, but not necessarily in the way one might expect; she's more worried about how she measures up to the other versions of herself that are out there, if they're better than she is, if they fuck up as bad as she does. Not that she's inclined to admit as much, or as it outright.

Regardless, her curiosity is too intense to take him up on his offer. ]

No, that's alright. You're not the first this has happened with, as I said.
Unless you would prefer not to?
We don't have to talk at all, actually, if that would be better for you.
I promise that I won't be offended.

No, I don't mind.

You're sort of kind of our mom. Or the other version of you. But even then it's pretty weird. My twin brother and me are reincarnated versions of twins she magicked into existence. More or less.

So. Complicated and weird but that's pretty much our whole family. But hi, it's nice to see you.

[ There is a... significantly lengthy delay before Wanda responds. So long, in fact, that Billy would hardly be faulted for thinking she's never going to. Even when she finally does, there are a lot of starts and stops, scraped messages as she tries to not only comprehend what he says but also figure out what she should even say in response. ]

I'm your mom?

[ Yep, that's all she's got. "Magicked into existence" is something else she'll have to follow up on, get more clarification for, but first things first. ]

[Billy had in fact assumed he'd run her off, so when she does answer, he's surprised.]

Not you, but a version of you? It doesn't have to mean anything for you, promise!

[ "A version of you." As if that makes it better, somehow. Easier to wrap her head around. Wanda can't imagine the possibility of children in her life right now (ignoring where she is at this current moment, thinking only of everything that has happened back home). But then, those other versions of her out there might have had better lives — easier lives, lives that could fit children.

Even if they evidently were not birthed but instead somehow popped into existence by powers she doesn't even have.

She might need to check Quentin's medicine cabinet for some painkillers. ]

I'm not sure that's true, but I appreciate you saying as much.

You said you knew her [ me? ] pretty well.
Are you close?

It doesn't, I can just stay quiet and away from you and you can pretend I don't exist if you want.

Yeah. It's always a little weird, but that's just how it's going to be. We've gotten closer over the years. ~~Not at the moment.~~

No, that's not necessary.

[ The response is immediate, no hesitation when she types it or sends it. It's not until the message has gone through that Wanda actually considers the offer and even then, it's briefly. ]

It may just take some time for me to adjust.
I don't have children back home.

[ Not to mention the city they're both in now; it's not exactly an ideal place to meet your sort-of-but-not-really son. ]

Did you not grow up with her?
Or was it just that difficult of a childhood?

No, we didn't really. She created us with magic, but that version of us died, or ceased to exist. The essence or souls of us or whatever it is though, they got reborn into two different people. So I grew up with my family, and I didn't even know about her until I was sixteen, and I didn't know about my twin until we met each other and we looked identical, even though we were from different families. She recognized us when she met us though. I think we sort of recognized each other but didn't admit it for a while.

I had a pretty good childhood. But take all the time you need.

[ Wanda has no idea how she would even go about creating a living human being, let alone two, but she's unsurprised that this other version of her decided to make twins. Pietro's the most important person to her and she could see wanting her children to understand and experience that connection as well. ]

And your parents didn't know of her, either? The ones you grew up with?

[ She has a million more questions, honestly, and more will come as she actually manages to wrap her head around this. ]

[Honestly their history is a lot for anyone to take in, let alone someone who is sort of their mom and knows nothing about them. Billy's impressed she's gotten this far without deciding she's had enough.]

No, no one knew about each other until then. We all have dinner together now sometimes though.

[ Her head is genuinely spinning with all of this and she's honestly not sure how she hasn't hidden her device away somewhere, but Wanda's always fallen prey — usually to her own detriment — to her curiosity. ]

The conversation must be riveting during those dinners.

[ Although maybe it's no different than open adoptions. People have those all the time and they work out alright, somehow, don't they? ]

I am glad that you all met, though.
Especially you and your brother.

It's a little awkward. We try to sort of keep things not-too-power-related or complicated since I have little brothers, but it's pretty nice.

Me too. I don't really have any idea who I'd be if I'd never met the rest of my team.

[ A little awkward is better than nothing at all. Wanda very nearly types that out, a sharp edge of bitterness cutting through everything else she's feeling about this strange, sudden situation she finds herself in. But she refrains, if only because she has no interest in explaining herself.

Although she can't help but wonder: is Pietro alive in Billy's world? Does that version of her not only have children but also her own twin, breathing and whole without whatever brought him back here?

Surely there's no term for feeling jealous over oneself, but Wanda certainly feels that right now, a burning resentment towards some alternate her. ]

You're all on a team as well?

Well we were. Not with our-You, but Tommy and me with some others. But we quit for a while, and in my timeline we just got some of us back together. Tommy's missing though, we're looking for him while we're trying to fix a pretty big screwup I made.

Tommy says he's from later than me and that it ends up okay, I guess.

At least you know that here.
Though it won't help much back home from what I understand, if they ever let you go.

[ She doesn't really like the idea that he's following in her footsteps as far as "big screwups" go, though. ]

What happened?
If you don't mind me asking.

Yeah. That's what people are saying.

But you still have your powers right? Maybe if we worked together we could figure a way out of here with memories intact?

[Billy ... doesn't really want to get into it. But he's dumping a lot on her, he probably owes her at least answering what she does want to know.]

I tried to bring my boyfriend's mom back to him and sort of unleashed a parasite that's taking over the minds of all the adults we know and maybe destroying everything.

Maybe, although I doubt it. They're incredibly powerful and many have tried, unsuccessfully, to get out.
Why do you think anyone is still here after all this time?

[ It's more than memories that Wanda needs intact, regardless; she needs Pietro alive and that seems even less likely than finding an escape route. ]

That certainly sounds like a difficult issue to rectify.
I'm glad that it apparently works out okay.

How were you trying to bring him back?

Yeah but I mean, we're us?

His mom died and I tried to pull her from another reality, before she'd died, into ours. But I pulled something else instead and now we can't go home until we figure out how to stop it.

I may not be as similar to the me that you're used to as you think.

[ That version might be better. ]

Have you done something like that before?
Pulled someone in from an alternate universe?

Maybe not, or maybe you're just at a different point in your timeline. It's hard to tell stuff like that.

Not really. I searched universes for one that was right before when she died and tried to take her from it, but it didn't work, and I got an interdimensional parasite that's controlling all the adults whenever we go home now.

It's bigger than what I usually try, but everyone keeps telling me all this stuff that I'm capable of and I thought what was the point of power if you can't save someone innocent and help the people you love. So I just tried, and screwed it up.

I suppose you're right.

[ But her timeline ends with her dead, turned to ash scattered to the wind after Thanos snapped half of the population away, so she doubts it. No sense arguing that point with him, though. Traumatizing her... son? Son-adjacent? She's not entirely sure what to label him as, but traumatizing him with something like that seems like a really bad idea.

That's not the reason for her pause between messages, however. It's the last part of what he says that hits somewhere deep in her chest, shocked not only by how in-line it seems to be with what she would do if she could yield that sort of power but also how much her heart breaks for him. ]

We all make mistakes, Billy. Some of us on a much larger scale than others, but they happen.
The most important part is that you're trying to fix it.
And from the sounds of it, you will, you just have to give yourself time to figure out how.
Then learn from it, and do better next time.

I know. I just don't always think I SHOULD be able to make those kinds of mistakes. If I keep doing it then should I ever have the ability to do it in the first place? Maybe I just learn too slowly.

Sorry, you don't even know me! I shouldn't be complaining to you. But thanks for listening. If you ever want to hang out or anything, me and Tommy are around. But you don't have to, I know it's weird for you.

TDM #17

network | text | un: sorcerous

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i completely misread that last tag, my bad!

No worries!

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