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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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still, he shakes his head. ）
Nah. I ain't inclined to trust anything on tap here, an' all.
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( but he lifts his shoulders, moves towards the counter and raises two fingers. black coffee, two sugars. figures if gene won't go for the second one, jasper can finish it off himself anyway. )
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（ also, he sees what you're doin' there pal an' his expression is faintly sour about it, but he just ain't gonna touch on it at all. he's too much a creature of pride at the worst of times, an' havin' lived through the depression ain't nothin' much hunger can do to him anyhow but make him tighten his belt. ）
You seem a lot more at ease with this place than I'd've expected. The Hell kinda boats were you even on, Howell?
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( he doesn't like it. doesn't like the way this place is segregated, but they've seen plenty of injustice for their lifetimes, too. one man on the ground floor of this place isn't going to be enough to really make a dent in how duplicity operates. they'd have to find something to hit, and keep at it until something stuck.
which isn't anything jasper can do right now. so instead he's taking both cups and finding a nice safe corner to stand himself in while he sips at one of them. )
Boats were a rough crowd, but not this kinda rough.
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（ jasper can probably tell he's madder than hell. it's the same species of it that lead to him knockin' lieutenant haverson up the head with the butt of his 1911, an' jasper was plenty present for that. it's the curtness to what he's sayin' an' the set of his jaw an' the rollin' storm behind his dark eyes.
angry ain't even the half of it. ）
I've spoke to a few people that've mentioned just how infractions are punished hereabouts. Ain't somethin' we want to tangle with.
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that'll go on his list. but first there's--well. )
It ain't. ( voice still a nice, even tone. he's angry about their arrival here, too. angrier that it even exists. but anger isn't going to do him any good. ) So we'll just have to figure something else out for now, yeah? And work on the rest when we get there.
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Look at you lecturin' me, huh? Gain a few inches an' forty pounds an' you think you're sittin' at the big boys' table.
（ it does bother him a little — but it amuses him more than he finds it an irritation. ）
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Sorry, sir. 'll stop right away, sir.
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You oughta.
（ a knock to his boot beneath the table. easy, warm, affectionate. but after a moment his expression sobers, an' he exhales faintly before askin': ）
I know it's like as not we didn't meet up much after the war, what with you bein' all the way out in California an' all, but do you know if Al made it out?
（ he hates that he's askin', he truly does. but knowin' about his brother's safety is altogether more important than his pride. ）
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but pauses when gene asks because he -- doesn't have a satisfactory answer here. )
Wish I had an answer just to give you somethin', but I've got no clue. Haven't heard from you since we all packed up our bags an' went back home.
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ain't no reason for him to tell anyone outside his family what happened to albert.
gene pinches the bridge of his nose briefly, an' then drops his hand, looks rather pointedly out of the cafe window. ）
Guess you would'a been hard to get ahold of anyway, galivantin' across half the known world.
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( on occasion. wasn't exactly a foolproof plan to get ahold of him, but. jasper did just--go off on his own adventure all on his own for a while. explored the world. met new people. got into some shady business a couple of times.
made mistakes, learned from them. )
Meant to stop by your corner of the world but haven't gotten there just yet.
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（ it's a sleepy little town, three hundred souls if there's a one. gene knows every person that lives there by name, an' more of her dead than he generally admits. ）
But I'd be glad to see you just the same.
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( nowhere near the same area as gene's, but. he's counting it as close enough. )
'sides, I wanted to meet your brothers.
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（ he's heard plenty of stories, thanks!! ）
John an' Robbie — good kids. They'd like you, though you're damn near John's age. （ don't think he didn't know you signed up underage, fella. ） Christ, ain't seen them since '44.
（ they'd all been back in the states for february, an' then it was off to ireland for their overlord trainin'. it felt like a whirlwind, goin' home. ）
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( it's been a good ten years since he joined, no point in hiding he fibbed a little to get through the front doors. nothing anyone can do about it now, and jasper's shit at spinning tales on a good day regardless. )
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（ christ, it occurs to him that jasper might actually be younger than that. he never asked outright, because he would'a felt obligated to report him if he knew the truth of it absolutely, but he was still aware. there were plenty of nights where he tasked reggie or some other helpful ghost (angel, after he passed) with keepin' an eye on jasper, just because gene couldn't bear the thought of his luck finally runnin' out. there were so many other boys just like jasper, down to the lyin', even, but jazz was the one he'd taken under his wing. ）
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( which is funnier than all getout, considering how much older he is than gene now. what a flip of the tides, honestly. not that it means much of anything, considering it's still eugene hicks, and jasper knows damn well gene at any age could shoot him a look worth a thousand words and jasper'd immediately get to whatever it was that needed it. )
So guess you're not too far off.
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（ he mutters that with an idle rub to his temples. without thinking about it, he lights up a cigarette an' takes a drag, ignoring the look he gets from a dame across the way. ）
Always my greatest fear, you know? Not John — he was never the enlisting type. But I knew if the War went on long enough, Robbie'd get it in his head to go. Couldn't stand the thought. Every word I wrote home was about how awful an' miserable it all was, because I didn't want him thinkin' that it was somethin' to aspire to.
（ he ain't naturally one to complain, so it took a lot outta him to write those damn letters, to say nothin' of how he can't hardly read or write his own name. but reggie'd helped, an' that — eased it, some. a little. ）
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It didn't. ( the war. he doesn't know how much of an age difference's between john and robbie, knows gene's still trying to figure out what the hell happened with al, but--he can at least try and offer a bit of reassurance here. ) An' Hell--if I heard you bitchin' about how shit it was, doubt I would've done it either.
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You know I don't need you lookin' out for me, right?
（ it's said — gently. of all the folks here, he's most inclined to trust jasper, but even then there's a lotta ground to cover between trust an' reliance. ）
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I know. ( a lift of his shoulders, easy. ) You're more'n capable of handling anything thrown at you. Hell, bet you'll do better figuring shit out here than me.
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Now you're just bein' patronizing. Christ, was I ever that bad to you?
（ probably. ）
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( not just from gene either. he's been shoved into the little brother role since the day he was born; jasper's gotten this sass from near everyone. )
You don't need me to have your back. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna anyway.
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and then he reaches out and takes that second coffee. ）
You know, you're intolerable when you're tryin' to feed me my own medicine, an' I want it stated plain for the record I object.
(no subject)