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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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I guess we're all pretty past any kind mortality, I just don't wanna get dicked over.
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It's never going to last. Krakoa. We both know it, we all know it. [ humanity won't let mutants have their own nation. not in the long run. x-force can only do so much to deal with the threat, and that's not even including all the shit out there. other planets, cosmic forces, gods.
not to mention the time-honored mutant tradition of self-sabotage. ] It's just a matter of how long we can keep it going, and what it looks like once it falls apart. [ he picks up his beer, tilting it briefly toward josh in a kind of salute. ] And as long as I can help keep it going, I intend to. [ until the phoenix takes him, maybe. ]
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It sounds... nice, though. Like - having our own language, our own writing system, our own real culture. Everybody actually working together... That makes it seem, like, real y'know?
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he scrapes his thumbnail over the label of the beer, then peels it away with a little tk push, shredding it absently into long strips. ]
People are happy. You're happy, best I can tell. I try not to look without asking. [ these days. with other mutants, at least. ]
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[ as evidenced by. that. ]
It has to be pretty good if it made me come back. I swore never again.
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[ he's not ready to be its host. he doesn't really want to be its host, but he's probably not going to get a choice about that. he treats it like a joke most of the time, he pretends it's going to be fine, but the thought of it's terrifying. he's seen what it does to its hosts, and even just holding a part of it inside him had done so much fucking damage--
fuck. he's not supposed to be thinking about this shit. ]
Probably helps that as part of the Five, you guys don't really have to take shit from anyone. [ the chair rocks back and forth, the label shredding into smaller and smaller pieces, like telekinetic fidgeting. ] Everyone knows if not for you all, Krakoa wouldn't really exist.
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[ shit. quentin is another omega level - makes sense that it'd target him if hope or jean weren't around. josh spins his bottle absently in his hands and takes a drink. ]
And it's kind of that. The use. The way they use me up and need me and then kinda forget about me. [ he takes a swig. ] That, and I'm not over the fact that they buried me and nobody thought twice about it.
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We have.. an agreement.
[ his glance flicks away, and he reaches for the bottle again, sipping it to give himself a few moments.
.. that makes sense enough. foley's powers are useful, vital even, just like the rest of the five. they're basically worshiped on krakoa for what they're capable of, but how much of it's what they are? quentin, at least, is aware of what it's like to be valued solely for one's abilities. the difference being that josh is actually likable, so it's kind of fucked up. ]
I don't know what made you decide to stick around. Hope, maybe. Most people are pretty sure you're all involved in some kinda poly thing. All your friends are there. [ he shrugs. ] I assume it had to be pretty compelling, considering.
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[ to both. his brows pinch together. he knows hope isn't the eight year old he'd met anymore, she was his age now - time travel's weird that way. And he's not too familiar with any of the other ones, save for Proteus and that's only because he'd read comics instead of done his homework. ]
I was thinking of trying. Like - without the Five, or whatever. Omega level, y'know. Sky's the limit on what we can do. [ a pause. like it just really dawned on him. ] You, like, literally know. Obviously. Phoenix and all.
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I know that people have no concept of what kind of danger I could make myself if I really wanted to be one. [ and the same goes for foley.
he's sure logan has some idea about quentin, at least. he's sure he thinks about the day that the phoenix finally comes for him, about when he'll have to--probably, eventually--kill him. quentin's given it plenty of thought, himself. it's.. comforting, in a weird way. ]
You have a lot of problems you'd have to solve without help, [ he adds after a moment, mildly. ] Lost bodies, memory decay.. [ a flick of his fingers. ] But you don't owe anyone shit, either, you know.
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[ omega mutants. walking weapons. he leans back in his chair, swallowing the rest of his drink down. it does absolutely nothing. ]
It wasn't a perfect solution. It kinda got scrapped due to Nate - developing a Jesus complex.
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[ whether he was dying or not, the unfounded arrogance of what he'd tried to do--what he'd done--had been fucking wild.
he tilts the mouth of the bottle toward josh again, brows lifting. ] Does that even do shit for you? Alcohol.
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[ thanks, subconscious powers. ]
If I drink something really hard I can get trashed for a while, but I gotta keep drinking it.
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[ he's just saying.
he leans back in his chair again, the hand not curled around the bottle picking at a fray in his jeans. ] Not that I'm promising anything, but I guess I owe you.
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... Nah. I probably shouldn't. [ he'll just... wave down another drink. ] My control's kind of fragile when I'm stressed, and people touching my mind usually causes some sort of freakout. And the last thing we need is me having some total mental break.
[ but he smiles. genuine. ]
I appreciate the offer, though. Seriously, man.
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Whatever, your loss. [ the bottle floats up into the air along with the shredded label and a napkin he's added to his collection of dumb shit he's playing with. ]
You should probably get that looked at, though, before you wind up on Krakoa. [ the reaction to psychic contact. ]
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[ which is just... a lot to process. he drums his fingers on the tabletop. ]
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[ he glances away once more, toward the window and the rest of the city beyond. ]
So who do we have to fuck up to get sent home?
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Fucked.
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Let me guess: Logan got tossed in jail? [ he's not stupid, there's no way logan wound up here and just went along with it. ]
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[ Christ and he's embarrassed remembering it. ]
They drugged him, basically drove him down to his animal instincts, then set him loose on some subs who I guess also needed to be 'realigned'.
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well, anyway, the news doesn't sit right with him. ]
Of course they did. [ he's going to kill the people in charge here if he ever gets a chance. ] He's done with all that shit now, though?
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[ he spins the bottle absently on the table, mulling it over thoughtfully. ]
He'll probably toe out of line again and they'll do it all over again. And like, he's not all puppies and feelings so its not like we've talked about it, but its not hard to think how that'd fu- mess a guy up.
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I'm going to kick his ass if he gets caught again. [ it's not going to be that easy and he knows it, but for fuck's sake. he pushes his glasses up on top of his head with his thumb, then pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes shutting. ] As if we didn't have enough to deal with at home.