duplicitymemes | TDM #17

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«tdm

TDM #17

« « « 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 « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luke gives her a small, sad smile. He can't imagine how this must be for her, even if he's somewhat aware of her emotions. It's weird enough for him, to be sitting here with his mother who is probably only his age.

"I never met him," he admits. "I don't know how much I should say. Or can say. But I never got to meet Leia's parents and she never met Owen and Beru." Both them orphaned twice. "But she's happy now. She's bossing around large numbers of people, including her partner. I don't know if they'll ever get around to marrying but they're for the long term." He can't give Padmé much in the way of good news, but he can give her this. Her daughter is happy. "She really looks a lot like you."

There is so much that she wishes to know, from his first words to his childhood to his hopes and dreams. What was he like as a child? Did she even get to hold him, give him his name? She'd grown up surrounded by the love of her parents and her sister, and to think that any child of hers would barely know anything about her. Her heart aches for that, for what he must have gone through, although Owen and Beru had been generous enough, if a little rough, and Cliegg seemed to have loved Shmi.

"Say only what you want to say, what feels right. I- I won't push you for more than you want to give." Although she would know everything that she could, leaning in a little as he speaks again. It seems that they've both known much hardship, losing those that cared for them more than once. Padmé knows that life isn't always fair, but it is a fierce protectiveness that she has always felt for those close to her. And then he is here as well, trapped with the rest of them, unable to depart. She does find a hint of a smile caressing her face as Luke speaks of Leia, and Force watch out for any child of Anakin and Padmé. They are both headstrong and stubborn in their own ways.

"Does she?" It does make her wonder, mind turning to Sabé, who bore the most striking resemblance to her of all her handmaidens. "You've Anakin's blue eyes and his lighter hair."

There are things he'd share if he knew she'd want to know. But he just has no idea what to say, what she might want to know, what she can't imagine in his life.

But he grins at her comment, head ducking again. "Yeah. Everyone who knew Anakin tells me I look like him. Except the height. Apparently we both got that from your side." Luke had barely reached Vader's shoulder. "Leia's tiny. Really tiny. And terrifying. She had big dark eyes and long dark hair and she's pretty slender." It doesn't really encompass Leia at all, but it's what he has.

"I don't know what to tell you. Most people these days just ask me about the Jedi thing."

It is a little hard to gauge, but Padmé hadn’t been going to be the one to bring it up, even though she may have been thinking it. It is not as if her height had ever slowed her down. If anything, people tended to underestimate her for it, along with her looks. She’s always more than happy to prove them wrong. It is a little ruefully that she does admit, “My parents were rather short, and my sister and I are as well.”

Yet there is a startled laugh from Padmé at Luke’s description of her, or more so the terrifying part. She wonders if Bail had had his hands full with her, and whether he was reminded of Padmé. He’d been one of the only few people to see through the disguises that she and her handmaidens had, catching her at just the right angle to figure it out. “Oh? You’ve the ability to use the Force then?”

"At least with Leia around, I'm never the shortest." Unlike back on Tatooine, where he had always been the youngest and the shortest.

"She was a Senator when I met her. Youngest one ever elected at eighteen. She was involved in humanitarian efforts and relief organisations and then she became one of the leaders of the Rebellion, and that was before twenty." Look, Luke loves his sister and thinks she's pretty damn amazing. Like, really, really amazing. "I- Before he died, Yoda called me Jedi. Said I was the last Jedi. I didn't really know anything about the Jedi until recently. Even my training was a bit rushed to try and get me ready before Yoda joined the Force."

It is nice that they can have a relationship, despite growing up apart. Padmé knows that her sister and herself had been close growing up, even if their lives had taken them in different directions. She still talks with her, when she can, which is far less than she wants to, but she does adore her, and her nieces. "I've a feeling you don't remind her of that though."

Leia's history does sound a fair bit like Padmé's own. She'd been involved in humanitarian efforts when she was younger, moving into politics when she got older. Not as young as Leia though. "Bail, and Breha, always cared for their people, and the people of the Republic."

But she does pause. Rebellion. He has spoken of that before, but Padmé doesn't quite understand what that falls into. The war ends, but there is a rebellion? And how is Luke the last Jedi? It is true that their numbers had never been too large, and with the war they had dwindled as well, but there had always been some, the keepers of the peace. "I don't- what happened to the temple, to all the Jedi and Padawan learners?"

Luke does not remind her of that because he has more sense than to remind her of that. "No. Han does, but Han has a death wish. Han's her partner. Han Solo."

He's quiet for a bit. He's never managed to find out the full details of what happened. There was a purge, but how? He doesn't really know. He knows Vader was part of it, but it seems unlikely that Vader personally hunted down and killed every Jedi who died. Ben has only spoken of it occasionally and Yoda not at all.

"The Sith. Dark side Force users. The Emperor was the master. And his subordinate was Darth Vader. I don't really know what happened to most of them. The temple is gone. Most of the Jedi were gone and those who put up a fight were hunted by Vader. Ben only survived by going far from the Core worlds. Yoda hid by going to a remote planet, full of life and with a powerful Dark side cave that helped mask him. I don't know of any others. If they survived, they hid well enough that even after the Emperor and Vader died, they haven't come back out."

Bantering then, between lovers. Padmé knows that Anakin and her do it, although he teases her more about being a senator than about anything else. She doesn't love him any less for it, as she can take as good as she gets in regards to that.

"Han Solo." Memorizing that along with Leia, as one never knows what may happen here. Padmé wouldn't know them anymore than she knows Luke, but at least she could know of them, for whatever that counts for.

It's that silence though, not pushing or making him feel forced to share, if it isn't something that he doesn't wish to speak about. It would puzzle her, but there are many things that do, so she wouldn't fret overly about it, aside from the obvious. If he is the last, then all the rest...?

She nods at the mention of Sith, as she is aware of who they are, although confusion surfaces again with the Emperor statement. Emperor of what? And Darth Vader? Padmé stills though. Gone. Just what has happened to the galaxy? How could things get so skewed? "I know a little about the Sith, but I- don't really know what to say about the rest. The Jedi have always been pillars of the Republic, keepers of the peace. It's just hard to believe that they aren't around, that the Sith would..."

"I don't know if I should really tell you about the politics of it. Specifics, I mean." Does she know Palpatine? Would he change things by telling her what he would become? Or maybe is already? He doesn't know. He just doesn't know much at all about it. "I also don't know a lot. Tatooine is pretty far out, I grew up with pretty little awareness of politics and galactic affairs. The only thing that really mattered was who was ruling the syndicate and so who was extorting water from people."

Tatooine just doesn't change that much.

"There's an Emperor. And he disbanded the Senate four or five years ago. Around the time I left Tatooine with Ben and started learning about the Force. Vader, he's called the Emperor's lapdog by a lot of people who really don't get how dangerous he is. How powerful."

She does know Palpatine, and would say quite well at that. He had helped her when she was queen, and had continued to be a mentor to her when she became a senator. If asked, she could describe him as a servant of the Republic who was modest and grandfatherly. Padmé had no idea of the truth behind him.

She nods, accepting his answer, because she had been genuine earlier. Only what he wanted to share, or what he thought best. There's little that Padmé could do with the information here, although it troubles her, this talk of an Empire. She had once spoken with Anakin about different forms of government, and an Empire... It would take a certain individual to be an Emperor, to rule with a just hand and not become a dictator.

"I wasn't long on Tatooine any of the times I had been there, but I do understand that." How Shmi had worked, and even Anakin at such a young age, slaves. He had always complained about the sand, but he was true in his observations. It was a harsh coarse planet where people struggled to make end meet, or most anyway. "I know we seek an end to the war... It is what we had been working towards still before my arrival here. I just never would have thought that events would transpire for a rise of an Empire, nor have I heard anything about a sith with that name. Although I'm also not privy to all the information in the galaxy."

She wouldn't know Darth Vader. If she wasn't pregnant, then Anakin was still a Jedi and Darth Vader was yet to rear his head.

"The Clone Wars. They're over. I was born just after Empire day, the day the Emperor's grip and rule was solidified. Codified? Maybe that's the word I want. I dunno. But Vader only appeared when he brought down the Jedi Temple. Or so the stories say. The Emperor made his Imperial Palace out of the old Temple on Coruscant, but Coruscant is still disputed territory." He's only been there in fleeting missions, never to linger.

The train is slowing again. "I'm the next stop. Do you, want to come to my apartment and keep talking?" People around them might think it's an invitation in another way, but he's completely sincere. He wants to keep talking with Padmé. His mother.

Empire day. Her lips purse a little at that. She can start to piece together some based off of what Luke has said, that this Empire isn't for the people. Padmé has wanted the war to end, but never once had she thought that it would end in such a way. Her heart lurches again, thinking of Anakin and Obi-Wan, and that the temple means to them, at the sheer loss that it entails...

She does glance back up, out of her thoughts over that, before giving a nod. "I would like that." And she would indeed get to speak with him more, learn more about him. She would need to track Anakin down later and speak to him, but for now, she doesn't want to leave just yet.

"They've put me in this apartment that I have no idea what to do with. It's bigger than anywhere I've lived in my life." He's spent years living on ships and sharing quarters and crashing in his X-Wing when it was too noisy to get decent sleep. "I've heard the quarters for submissives aren't nearly so nice, I assume to encourage them to move into the big places with people like me."

The privilege makes him uncomfortable, but he's spent enough years with a rebellion to know not to just open his mouth and openly talk dissent. Especially in enemy territory.

As they get near the stop, he stands up with that effortless grace Jedi tend to have, balancing against the movements of the train like they didn't exist. And he offers her a hand up.

There is a distinct difference between where one starts if they are in the Up or in the Down. Padmé isn't one to complain overly, although it is stark difference from anything that she is actually used to. Her apartment on Coruscant had been plush, whereas her room at her parent's home on Naboo had been cozy.

She has tried to speak with some of the native staff at various businesses in the Down, but she hadn't gotten too far. Not that it has stopped her, but she has changed her approach a little after Obi-Wan had had to help her. Padmé pauses though, before offering a soft smile, taking his hand as she rises in turn. "There are many things that they like to do for incentive. Living quarters is just the one. Food. Employment. Shopping."

"... food?"

Luke has not been here long at all. Most of what he knows is from reading the network and official information, which emphasised that submissives were taken of for basic needs until such time as a dominant took over providing for them.

"Please tell me they don't starve you down there."

"Oh. No. It's not quite- there is food." Not that it's good, exactly, but they do get food and shelter. It isn't always the best, although she does try to look at the brighter side. It isn't a cell with bars, and it could be a lot worse. On the opposite side, it could also be far better. "It's a little questionable at times."

That's... marginally better? Yes, it is marginally better, not good, but at least they're not starving them to force them into compliance as fast as possible. "Well, I'll give you all the ways you can contact me and if you need anything, I'll do what I can."

It's the least he can do. Aside from help her up as they pull into the station.

Padmé has learned to pick her battles, and so far, this isn't a battle that she's willing to take on. She has been trying to learn the lay of the land, to fully understand the culture, customs and beliefs. Some aspects may be familiar, but the general set-up is vastly different.

"Thank you." Moving towards the door. "Thankfully most of the people here are helpful to each other."

Luke's learned to pick his battles a lot more wisely. Diving headfirst into active and overt rebellion is a really good way of getting killed, betrayed and strung up as an example.

"I'm glad. I think those of us who have the privilege and power owe it to others to help them. Protect them when they need it, provide when they're denied the chance to provide for themselves." He helps to usher her off the train, finding himself making the comparison with Leia and concluding. "You're taller than Leia."

"It is a good sentiment, and we are lucky that many share it." Such events either work to band people together, or work to tear them apart- and have them tear each other apart. It's not that it's all pleasantries, but the overall effect has been one of mutual aide.

There's a soft amused noise as she glances over to him again as she steps off onto the platform. "Hopefully not by too much... Although you look similar in height to Obi-Wan." Which yes, is a little shorter than Anakin.

Luke hesitates and then lifts his hand to indicate just how short his sister is when standing with him. "She's pretty small. And I'm not as tall as Ben. I know that for a fact." Even as he got older and lost some height, he still stood taller than Luke.

"Han's tall as well. It's easy to forget seeing him next to Chewie all the time, but he really is."

Padmé gives a little arch of her eyebrows. While height doesn’t mean anything, she truly does take after Padmé more than Anakin. A part of her assumed that any children would average taller than she.

She hums, contemplative and a little teasing. “It is a benefit sometimes. People tend to overlook you, especially when you are in the company of giants.”

And instead, both of them are definitely shorter than average.

He ducks his head and smiles. "Yeah, I've noticed that. They don't see you as a serious threat when you're smaller than them." They usually didn't get a chance to learn how wrong they were.

"Can I get you anything before we get back? Drink, food?"

"Not usually, and not until it is too late." More than a few had underestimated her. Too young. Too pretty. Too new. They had thought that she might be bought or would be weak, breaking before them, but that wasn't Padmé.

"I wouldn't say no to a light snack, if we pass something."

He gives her to innocent farm boy look that so many people fell for. Big blue eyes, butter wouldn't melt my mouth, how could this young, small man be that dangerous?

He definitely gets it from Padmé.

"If you see something likely, sing out and I'll get some." He's still working out the foods here.

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