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

[braveoff]

I know.

[ But he's not in a place to discuss the part he can't accept, and that's okay. Drake pushes the conversation forward. ]

Is it rude to ask what they gave you guys to start out with?

[requiemshark]

You mean in orientation?

[ Orientation. Hah. Sharkface shakes his head. ]

Not much. Bag of sex toys, a map, and the communicator.

[braveoff]

Yeah.

[ That's... practically nothing. Drake frowns a little. ]

I guess at least the apartment is furnished. Hey, we're about the same size, you want some more clothes?

[requiemshark]

[ It is, in fact, less than what he got in prison. The irony is not lost on him. ]

If you've got extra, I won't turn them down.

[braveoff]

They gave me a whole wardrobe, I can spare some. If we wouldn't get in trouble for that.

[requiemshark]

These rules are arbitrary as fuck.

[ He curls his lip. ]

Prison I'm used to. This is just weird.

[braveoff]

It feels totally random how they choose our roles, too. But if I can use mine to help anybody, I'm going to.

[requiemshark]

[ Unconsciously, Sharkface touches the mark on his throat. He tried to get rid of it earlier. Nothing took. And now everyone who looks at him will fucking know. ]

Apparently they used to make people wear collars.

[ He is never, ever, wearing a collar. ]

[braveoff]

I think that's pretty traditional for this kind of lifestyle. But forcing it is against the whole point, from what I've understood.

[requiemshark]

Wouldn't know.

[ Wasn't ever his thing. He thinks it was Hunter's thing, or maybe pieces of it were, but it wasn't something they talked about. Not beyond that one time, when he was losing his shit after Paradise Falls and Hunter pulled him back from the edge. ]

Sick shit.

[braveoff]

[ It's not Drake's thing, either, but he lived in a current earth where there's 50 Shades romance novels about it. ]

There was a spotlight on it in the media awhile back, in my world. When this book came out that had the dom being really controlling and abusive. Apparently it's supposed to be about mutual trust, so forcing a collar on someone... sick's a good word, yeah.

[requiemshark]

[ He makes a face. ]

Doesn't surprise me. They probably like that shit here.

[ They being the people in charge. ]

[braveoff]

Maybe. I don't see the benefit to this kind of societal structure.

[requiemshark]

Me neither. It's not gendered, either.

[ He's seen plenty of misogynistic fuckery in the UNSC and after, when he was running jobs for Charon, but nothing like this. ]

Maybe it's how they've always done things. People get used to shit after a while.

[braveoff]

What do they do, flip a coin? Throw a dart at a board?

[ He rakes a hand through his hair, not actually expecting an answer but feeling frustrated at the lack of them. ]

[requiemshark]

Who fucking knows. Feels random.

[ He touches his throat again, scowling. ]

And I can't get this shit off.

[braveoff]

...can I see? Haven't gotten a close up look at anybody's yet.

[requiemshark]

[ Sharkface stiffens before he can think not to. No one touches him. Not unless it's a fight, or he has to save face. Follow those lines of expected politeness.

This is different. It would be so easy for another person to hurt him if he bared his throat.

But he'll have to get over that, won't he?

He's been quiet for too long. Sharkface twitches, watching Drake warily, and then nods. He lifts his chin, baring the mark. ]

[braveoff]

[ Sharkface is quiet for so long that Drake almost tells him nevermind, he can ask someone else... but then the other man nods and bares his neck. It's a show of trust, maybe. One Drake isn't going to betray.

He leans in to look, frowning slightly when he realizes it's not even a tattoo. Not feathered like the ink of one would be, anyway, it's a perfect line. ]

Huh. Can I--?

[ He isn't going to touch without explicit permission. ]

[requiemshark]

[ Breathe. Don't act like a crazy person. Sharkface tenses again, his hands clenching and unclenching, but he breathes out and forces himself to relax. To release the tension.

Breathe.

He nods once, jerkily. If he can't stand to be touched at all, then the quota will be that much harder to fulfill. And he cannot be seen as insane here. It won't serve him. It won't get him a damn thing worth keeping. ]

[braveoff]

...it's okay. Really.

[ He reaches up, fingertips resting on the scarred side of Sharkface's neck as his thumb strokes gently over the mark. It's not raised, it doesn't feel any different. It's enough for him to question if it's just something that some of the population here just wind up with, and who naturally has the mark is how they determine the designation. ]

I don't think this is something that can be removed.

[ Despite knowing he should pull back, his touch lingers -- he can feel Sharkface's pulse fluttering and just wants him to know that this is okay, contact doesn't have to hurt. ]

[requiemshark]

[ He flinches. It's a light touch, barely anything at all, and he still flinches like he's been struck. Like a goddamn crazy person.

Fuck.

Sharkface feels his breath hitch. It hurts to breathe. ]

I tried.

[ His voice cracks. He fights the urge to bolt. ]

Didn't take.

[braveoff]

[ Drake drops his hand, trying not to take the flinch personally. Sharkface didn't pull back, at least. Didn't lash out at him. That's still something.

He doesn't step away, just straightens up with his hands hanging loosely at his sides. ]

I'm sorry.

[requiemshark]

[ Sharkface backs away, putting distance between them and hating himself for it. The weakness. The way he fucking flinched.

Hah. Pathetic.

He jerks his hood up, covering the worst of his scars. It's the closest thing to armor he's got here. ]

It's fine. It doesn't matter.

[braveoff]

Eph--

[ No. Drake's voice hitches as he aborts the name. Because this isn't. He bites his lip, angry at himself. ]

I should go.

[ It's still pouring rain, but. Pulling up the hood is a pretty clear sign, right? ]