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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!! |
All aboard
"Who the hell are you?"
no subject
"Is that how you were taught to go about introductions?" Nobody raised children correctly anymore. He knew this from firsthand experience. "Try again, but more politely," he said.
They had gotten off the train in Fiddler's square, so there was plenty to see and do. Kilgrave almost wanted a tour guide to take him to all the hot spots, show him where the connected people congregated. This boy obviously wasn't that. He would do alright as an umbrella stand if he could manage his manners properly, however.
no subject
"I'm Tommy, who are you?"
That's...better? He doesn't even rush through it, because that's polite. Damn, how long is he going to be stuck here, holding an umbrella over a stranger's head? He shoves his free hand in his pocket, and keeps his eyes open in the very unlikely case that someone who could help him walks by.
no subject
"Kilgrave," he replies. "Have you been here long, Tommy?" he asks.
no subject
Observation number one: Tommy is glad he figured out that the rain destroyed clothes earlier, and wrapped himself up in that plastic thing they gave him when he arrived. Otherwise this would get really awkward, really fast.
Observation number two: He's starting to itch. First on his face where the water from his hair is dripping down, then on the back of his neck.
no subject
"I'll have you know I de-escalated a hostage situation where I'm from," Kilgrave preened. "Saved a family from their psychotic husband." He would have had the husband take care of himself if not for Jessica. Such an odd problem solving methodology she had. Save the gun-toting psycho, but murder her soul mate. He had no idea what he ever saw in her, really.
no subject
"Okay, wrong assumption then. I just figure people who use their powers for good don't also grab randos off the street and force them to do their bidding. So you're not a bad guy, you're just...what? Rich and used to bossing people around?"
no subject
"Is that how you see the world? 'Good' guys and 'bad' guys? That works out for you, does it?" Kilgrave imagines that must get so tiring, seeing everything so black and white. It was really easier to see everything as just one solid shade of grey. "I'm guessing you read a lot of Captain America comics."
no subject
"So I just want to shield you from the rain out of the goodness of my heart? Seems fake." And he does want to. Like, the idea of leaving and not keeping this guy dry seems abhorrent to him. Which is weird. Tommy takes a second to scratch his face--why is he so itchy?--and then continues.
"Nah not really. Cap's kind of a dick, he tried to bench me and my friends because he thought we were too young to be out helping people. But the whole good guys bad guys thing comes with the gig. You're either helping people, or you're hurting people."
no subject
Kilgrave had never met Captain America but the man had always come off as a twat. Right off the bat, obviously, he's a hyper Patriot symbol, and america's superiority complex had a way of rubbing anyone the wrong way. Don't get him wrong, Kilgrave loved America: there's a reason he moved here. It was the best thing England had ever made. He just wished they weren't so goddamn obnoxious about it.
"But don't you hurt people while you're helping other people?" Most of the coverage he saw involving the avengers had a lot of collateral damage. Not even just the 'bad guys' getting hurt, but lots of 'innocent' bystanders.
They entered the entryway of a jewelry store. Kilgrave had noticed a selection of rather interesting watches he was interested in.
no subject
Captain America is a twat, Tommy can confirm. But then, he's always been more into the Punisher types than the star-spangled assholes. Honestly, it's a miracle he didn't end up a villain. But that's besides the point. The actual point is that he keeps needing to scratch his face, and the thought occurred to him very suddenly that this weird British mind control freak is actually kinda hot. Which is also weird, because this isn't something he's into, at all.
"We try not to hurt people while we're helping people, but yeah it's kind of a thing. I think it's like, a big topic of discussion in hero circles if you're into sitting around and discussing your problems. That's why it's good to have a guy like me on the team. I don't like just standing around doing nothing so if I'm running around, moving people out of the way of flying rocks, then I'm helping people."
He ignores that passing attraction for the moment, pushing his wet hair back from his face as they head into the jewelry store. With Tommy's hand still holding an umbrella over him.
"So. Since you're in here, out of the rain, can I go now?"
no subject
"So what you're telling me is you don't like thinking," Kilgrave comments.
no subject
"I think faster than you do. Just because I don't want to spend my time going around in circles talking just to show off how smart I am doesn't mean I don't think about stuff. You wouldn't get it, trust me."
no subject
He tries on the watch, and then another. Normally he'd just tell them, You'll let me have this for free, or Charge this to your account, but that wasn't a safe option here. There were cameras everywhere, and his powers were well-documented by the Powers that Be. His actions were traceable, and his control only lasted a few hours now once he left. What was to stop the woman from reporting that she gave away a valuable watch to someone inexplicably, not even before her shift was over?
He put the watch back and directed Tommy to take up the umbrella again as they headed back into the square.
"So what exactly is it you can do?"
no subject
But then he's being told to follow, again, and he wants to for some reason so okay. Back into the rain as rain water deflates his hair and presses it down against his face.
"I'm a speedster. And I can go through walls, and blow things up, but that all comes with how fast my atoms go or something. My brother explained it to me once but he's a dweeb about this kind of stuff. How are you doing this?"
no subject
"So you go so fast," Kilgrave reasoned. "You could say... grab that watch I was looking at without anyone noticing?"
no subject
"Uh yeah, I go fast. But I don't really steal stuff anymore, trying to be a better person etc. Only like, really minor shoplifting sometimes."