Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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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No, no one knew about each other until then. We all have dinner together now sometimes though.
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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.
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Me too. I don't really have any idea who I'd be if I'd never met the rest of my team.
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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?
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Tommy says he's from later than me and that it ends up okay, I guess.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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 completely misread that last tag, my bad!
[ That version might be better. ]
Have you done something like that before?
Pulled someone in from an alternate universe?
No worries!
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.
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[ 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.
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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.
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It is weird, [ no sense denying that ] but I will let you know, if that's alright?
[ Though Wanda does find herself wanting to get to know him better, she's also going to need some time to fully wrap her head around all of this. And now's not really the best time to have family from an alternate timeline brought into her life, her being barred from Pietro as she is. (Or maybe that's why it's the best time? Who knows.) ]
And you're welcome, for listening.
I hope it helped some.
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It did, thanks.
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[ She considers leaving it at just that but, despite her request for time, Wanda feels compelled to send another message a few minutes later. ]
If there's anything I can do for either of you, please let me know.
I haven't been here as long as some, but I will do what I can to help.
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momWanda. I promise I'll tell you. You too, okay?no subject
[ Except she's already leaning into mom-mode where she wants to protect them from everything, so maybe not so much. ]