duplicitymemes | TDM #18

Entry tags:

«tdm

TDM #18

« « « 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 paper gown 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 quite pleasant for once actually. Sunny and warm. How nice.

» » » 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.

« « « BACK ON TRACK

With the train system up and running again after the damage that was done to it thanks to the Rubies, Duplicity’s Department of Transportation has decided to partner with LIEs and their Orientation program for the next batch of new arrivals being processed at the facility. Their aim is to raise a bit of money to help cover the cost of repairs and much needed construction, and they’ll be enlisting the help of LIERs — whether they want to volunteer their time or not.

There aren’t many vehicles in Duplicity, but those who do own cars or even motorcycles are encouraged to take advantage of the warming weather by coming out to get a free washing, courtesy of the city’s first official charity car wash. Should anyone care to make a donation, all proceeds will be going to benefit continuing restoration efforts at the various stations that were impacted by last month’s events. Of course, new LIERs aren’t the only ones invited to volunteer their time and efforts to soaping up some chrome — and there might be some fun perks involved for anyone who pitches in to help get these cars all squeaky clean.

« « « ZOOM ZOOM

(cw: aphro, voyeurism, exhibitionism, public humiliation, fluids, coercion, dub-con, transactional sex)

Even though Duplicity is a place ripe with debauchery and filth in many regards, that doesn’t mean that those who have the means to own vehicles aren’t inclined to keep them clean. Targeting those who clearly have cash to spare, the car wash in the Up put on by the Department of Transportation is an enticing spectacle to behold, whether one is having their vehicle catered to or not.

Volunteers are encouraged to strip down to underwear or a swimsuit and get scrubbing! If they don’t have something skimpy to wear, don’t worry — there are spare hot pants and bikinis to go around. Hoses, buckets, and a variety of colorful liquid soaps have all been provided as well, along with sponges for washing - although using one’s own soaped up body is even better - and towels for drying.

Getting all sudsy and wet seems to come with some added effects depending on which soap is used, such as:

Lowered inhibitions/increased libido
Substantial increase in production of bodily/sexual fluids (saliva/lactation/cum etc.)
Wanting to be humiliated
Voyeurism
Willingness to engage in public sexual displays

Some of these cars are going to get dirtier before they get clean. But who doesn’t love a show? In fact, one of the services offered is a bit of backseat action with the volunteers, anything from riding the gear shift to stationary road head. Car owners may request to have volunteers get it on in the back while they watch via a dashcam set up on the rearview mirror. It may seem counterintuitive considering the point of a car wash is to clean the vehicle, but engaging in such an act could earn a pretty penny for the fundraiser.

There are other tasks to do at the car wash aside from, well, scrubbing vehicles with your body. Volunteers are also needed to collect donations, greet those who come to the event, hold signs to advertise and entice passerbys, help direct people where to go, etc. These volunteers are encouraged to wear as little as possible or white clothes, especially if they want to enter the wet t-shirt contest held at the end of the day.

All those who participate in the contest will receive tickets for admission to a drive-in movie coming to a parking lot in the near future.

« « « STATION MASTER

(cw: public sex)

To celebrate the return of regular train service, for a limited time, special cards with a magnetic stripe are handed out to riders. At first, it might be unclear what they’re for, but printed on one side is a list with every station between the Up and the Down. Inquire further and their purpose will become a little more obvious: “check-ins” at each station, with special prizes handed out to the riders who manage to achieve a minimum of five (the most common of these being a complimentary night for them and a plus one, if desired, at the Stay and Play Hotel).

However, checking in won’t be quite as simple as a single swipe of one’s card. Scanning the card at any turnstile will offer up a specific sex act that riders must complete, either on the train itself or, if they’re quick, in the station before hopping on. Some acts might only require one person — solo masturbation to orgasm, for example. Others may demand two or even three participants. Better hope you’ve found a riding buddy, or even a possible friendly stranger, because all acts must be completed by the time the train reaches its final stop in the Down before looping back to the Up.

« « « ESCORT ESCAPADES

(cw: coercion)

Following the recent conflict that took place in the Down, LIEs has begrudgingly ceded control of the lower portion of the city to the Rubies and other gangs. Although some territory, including the public housing for LIERs, remains neutral, the area on the whole is seedier than ever. Thanks to this development, LIEs has decided to pair new Submissives up at Orientation with a Dominant to escort them safely to their housing in the Down. Whether the Dominant is just as green as the Sub they’re escorting or a longtime Duplicity resident, adhering to the buddy system is necessary in these tumultuous times. There may also be a few instances where Submissives are paired with one another and entrusted to the care of a native Dominant to help them to their new place of residence. Regardless of who goes with who, no one is to end up going home alone!

Of course, in the spirit of matchmaking, Dominants are encouraged (if the chemistry is right) to spend the night with their Submissive charge, either in the Down or, if the Dominant is feeling generous, back at their place. If they wind up getting it on, both will receive $50 deposited to their bank accounts the next day. Sure, it may not seem like much, but for Submissives especially, who have nothing, it’s better than being empty-handed.

« « « 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:

If your character would rather live in the country or out in nature, they’re a Submissive. If your character is a city slicker or would like to be, they’re a Dominant.

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!

Test Drive threads can be used as activity proofs for characters currently in-game.

Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have a good time!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Interesting. His hand itched for the tricorder as McCoy realized there was something off about that hand. Probably a prosthetic from the feel, but what was it made out of? It didn't feel as integrated as it out to be if someone had used good materials. Then again, there were cases when the problem was mental, not physical. Not that he had any business speculating over someone he didn't even know. That was rude. It was tempting, but it was rude.

"Nice to meet you, Luke. You with Starfleet too then? I was surprised to meet someone earlier who was. And yeah. I think we lucked out somehow, although I can't figure out what criteria they're using for deciding who gets a mark and who doesn't. Don't suppose you've found someone that knows a few more details?" Might as well ask, right? The kid had been in the city longer than he had.

"... I have no idea what Starfleet is," Luke said quietly. "I'm sorry, but you're from a space faring society? I haven't met anyone from one of those unless they were from my own place."

He shakes his head. "Also haven't found anything about the marks. It seems to be pretty random?" He rubs his right wrist. "Lucky and unlucky."

"Oh. But you have space travel where you're from still?" Huh. McCoy thought about it for a minute and just couldn't conceive of a world with space travel but no Starfleet. It just wasn't possible. Starfleet had been around practically forever! Still, it wasn't like he minded talking about what he did.

"Starfleet is basically a peacekeeping and research force back home. My ship, in particular, we're explorers. Out on a five-year mission to see what's out there basically. Making diplomatic contact with unknown races. Helping cultures that happen to be in a spot of trouble. Stopping natural disasters that would wipe out whole civilizations without exposing ourselves . . ." He scowled at that memory. Damn fool captain stunning their god damned ride!

McCoy noticed the way the man rubbed his wrist, but he didn't comment on it. Yet, "Yeah. I certainly can't see why I'd be picked to go without against someone else. It's not due to talents or profession as far as I can tell, since they didn't seem to give a damn when I told 'em I was a doctor." Yelled it actually. Screamed it even. Didn't seem to do any good though, "So does everyone just fly around in space ships where you come from? Or is there some greater purpose?"

"Oh, yeah. For thousands of years." Hyperdrives were a basic technology, really. It was safely navigating it that was a little more tricky.

Peace keeping and research. Making contact. It sounds so strange, to not have large portions of the galaxy mapped and accessible. In a way, less understandable than those who haven't reached space yet. He can grasp that, has seen those cultures. But this is different. "Why hide that you're helping them? Why not just do it? And what do you mean, greater purpose for flying?"

"Wait wait! Did you just say thousands? Thousands of years?" Thousands of years? How was that even possible? What kind of world did something like that create, when going to another galaxy was as easy as walking down the street? McCoy couldn't even begin to conceive of something like that. The chance to get back to what he knew and understood was a godsend though, and he grabbed it with both hands, relief obvious on his face.

"What, the Nibirans? That was all the Prime Directive's fault." He sighed and shook his head, "Starfleet doesn't interfere with other cultures or races unless we get invited in. Non-interference and all that rot. We let every culture develop on its own. We're never supposed to interfere no matter what, even if it means watching a whole people die." McCoy snorted and shook his head, amusement creeping into his expression.

"Some people don't strictly adhere to the letter of the law though. More like just go with the spirit. Hence having me and Jim down on the surface to act as a distraction while Spock tried to stop the volcano. Didn't exactly work the way we planned." He shrugged and gave a smirk, "Saved all their asses though. And got us all back on the ship." And if a story like that didn't illustrate the need for a greater purpose, McCoy didn't know what would.

"Thousands," Luke agrees. Tens of thousands, at least. His history isn't the best, despite prompting from Leia and Ben that he should really learn more.

They let... "Well, that's bantha shit," he states blandly. "You can't just let a whole planet or culture die just because they don't know to ask for help. Why would you ostracise a people for not having reached where you have, technology wise? That's awful." He can't imagine doing it. He wouldn't do it, Jedi or no, you don't let people suffer if you can help. "Not you and your friends, they're not awful. I'm glad you helped. But telling you not to help is just so... wrong."

And moments like this, it might show just how young Luke is in some ways, full of earnest bewilderment that any good people could take that stance.

It was nice to see someone with fire, and McCoy couldn't exactly argue with the kid's view of the Prime Directive. He didn't like it much himself even if he could understand where it came from historically. In a purely logical sense, the laws set down were good and had a real purpose. The problem was that people like him only saw the beings when he was on the ground, not the nice clean words on a page.

How did you stand there and watch en entire race die?

Well, the crew of the Enterprise didn't, that was the point. Most captains never faced the sorts of things he did, and that was one of the reasons he never faulted Jim when he did make a mistake. The man couldn't stand the idea of losing anyone, and McCoy was generally right there with him. His Hippocratic oath meant a hell of a lot more than the damn Prime Directive! The thing was only good for papers and debates, not real life. Well, sometimes anyway.

"Look kid, I don't think you're wrong. On the other hand, sweeping in and solving all a culture's problems in one fell swoop, and giving them access to technology generations beyond what they currently have, can be just as destructive as a natural disaster. They don't progress when you do that. In fact, they usually self-destruct. The Prime Directive was created to stop us, and them, from making the same mistakes over and over again. In most cases, it's a good thing, honest. But sometimes . . . sometimes you want a man like Jim at the helm. Bastard comes up with the craziest schemes, but somehow they always seem to work out!"

"Didn't do the Jawas any harm," Luke mumbles, but he can see the point. He doesn't agree with it, wouldn't live by it, but he can see why someone might take that stance of non-interference.

He loses interest in having a talk about the Prime Directive and why it sort of sucks (since they both agree it does) and instead focuses on the way McCoy says 'Jim' and talks about him. "He's your captain but he's also a good friend, isn't he?" McCoy talks about Jim with the same sort of emotion that Luke speaks about Leia with.

"Jawas? What's a Jawa?" He liked learning about new races, and he was used to listening for little asides; Jim was pretty big on muttering to himself. It made him smile a little, the passion, the mutters. Luke was a lot like Jim and it was . . . nice. Cute really.

McCoy chuckled at the question, the amusement obvious. If Luke only knew! "You could say that. I've known him since the day he joined Starfleet. All through the academy and on all his missions. You could definitely call us friends. What about you? What's it like on your ship? Got a good captain?"

"Oh, um, jawas are sort of a galactic nuisance. If there's technology, there's jawas. They're a small, scavenger species." He indicates about a meter tall. "If they can take it, they will. If it's too big to take, they'll break it down into pieces they can take and then pile them up in their crawlers. They hoard all kinds of things. Not bad at putting things back together, but much less interested in it."

Some people thought they were native to Tatooine. There was no real proof, but it was possible. They certainly thrived there.

"Oh, I was a fighter pilot, commander of a squadron. X-Wings are self contained, have their own hyperdrive, don't need a base ship to launch from, so we sit outside the command of any individual ship. And since-" He trails off, shrugs a little. "It's complicated. I'm not part of any squadron anymore. Or the military structure, technically. I'm individual peace keeping with authority from the Alliance high command and government, or something. I don't know. Leia sorted it all out. They ask me to do things, I do them if I can and don't have something more pressing to deal with."

"Huh. I know a coupla races like that back home. Scavenger species I mean. Useful if you need what they're selling, but they can definitely be a pain." Aha! So the kid was a loner! That explained so much! It also sounded like a lot of technology speak that McCoy just let flow over him. He knew the basics of how the starships worked and that was plenty. He assumed Luke's enthusiasm meant that the ship he flew was impressive. But the military? That sounded . . . hmm. And as the kid went on about being outside the main force and special missions, McCoy got more and more concerned.

He knew what Luke was, the kid was a pawn. He had fire, probably talent, and he didn't mind breaking the rules. That was a dangerous combination, and it didn't sound like they had a Federation or a Starfleet where Luke came from to keep him on the right side of general morals. Luke was Jim with no stops. Shit.

"So . . . you're special operations? For the military? Covert missions and all that?"

McCoy's concern hits Luke harder than he expects. He knows the man feels things strongly, but he hadn't quite realised how much he had relaxed his own shields as they talked until he feels the wave of worry, ebbing and building like the start of a sandstorm.

"Oh, no. No. I mean, a little, but that was before I had my Jedi training. Now... well, I'm the last Jedi. So it sort of falls to me to do what the Order used to. Whatever that is. I'm still trying to find that out." he gives a small, sad smile. "I wasn't governmental military most of my service. We were the Rebellion. I was a rebel fighter and pilot."

McCoy probably still has good reason to worry. Luke is just young enough to not really see that.

"Jedi training? Is that another secret organization?" He was trying to make it a joke, but McCoy was worried. Luke was the perfect patsy and it sounded like someone had scooped him up. Shit. Shit. He blinked at the idea that Luke was now the sole member of his organization because it didn't sound like the guy had a clue what he was supposed to be doing. And if he was the only member, who'd trained him? And where did they go? Who would leave a kid all alone with no clear idea of what he was supposed to do with his life?

God, it made his blood boil to think of how many people had been using the kid! McCoy focused on the last thing Luke said, trying to put away the worry and the anger. It wasn't going to help Luke to be upset with things he didn't even fully understand. The guy didn't even seem to understand he'd been used!

"You were a rebel? Against who? Who were you rebelling against? And did you win?" He could do this. He could pretend nothing was wrong with a kid being dragged into a war and told he was a super special operative. Sure he could . . .

"No. Not a secret." It's hard to explain, he hasn't given context and he's letting McCoy's worry become his worry, which he knows is not good for either of them.

He closes his eyes and takes a slow breath, feeling the concern, acknowledging it and letting it go. "My galaxy was ruled by a tyrant. There was a group who could have stopped him, so he had them wiped out and everything about them destroyed. That was the Jedi. I joined the Rebellion when I was nineteen and the Empire murdered my family to try and recover something we had found. I found out I have the same abilities as the Jedi and eventually started training with one of the last surviving members. He died recently, shortly before the Emperor was killed. The fighting is still ongoing, but the balance of power has been tipped and more planets are openly turning on the Imperial power structures."

He looks up at McCoy's face, meets his gaze. "Among other things, I can feel what people feel. Usually I can control it better, but you feel things really strongly and my mental shields are a bit rubbish."

The calming techniques were familiar, but McCoy wasn't exactly sure why Luke was using them. The kid hadn't seemed too worked up, just passionate, and he hadn't been deliberately provoking. At least McCoy didn't think he was being especially provoking . . . He listened intently as Luke explained himself more though, and it helped to calm himself down to concentrate. It was probably the surest way to get his emotions to settle. For a minute anyway.

It was like a plot for one of those old Earth novels. A young boy discovers he's the chosen one and gets whisked off with the freedom fighters to retake the throne from the evil overlord. It sounded impossible, but there was no doubt in his mind Luke believed every word he was saying. It bothered the hell out of him that Luke's reality was so . . . messed up. McCoy was in the process of reaching out to the boy, to at least leay a hand on his shoulder to offer some comfort. Losing your family was . . . He knew. And then Luke dropped a bomb.

McCoy froze, hand halfway to the kid's shoulder as he stared, "An empath? Aw hell." He let his hand drop, aware that contact often intensified something like empathy, and he started to work very very hard to stop feeling, or to at least stop projecting it so loud, "Sorry kid. I'm sorry. Just . . . just gimme a minute." Because it wasn't the first time he'd encountered a being that needed him to stop shouting emotions. He had some basic training and he focused on what the seminar had told him, basically to calm down and not be as emotional. Which was really hard for him, especially at the moment. But he tried.

Less chosen one and more sole survivor as far as Luke's concerned. Nothing chose him for what he did except crappy circumstance.

(Ben would tell him the Force guided everything that happened, but Luke believes free will and the desire to do evil still counted for a lot.)

"No, no, it's okay. I'm not really used to people worrying about me." Except Leia, Han and Chewie. "I'm usually better at tuning people out, but you're friendly and easy to talk to and it means I'm not doing the things my Master would tell me to do." He shifts slightly. "I can't read your mind. Even if you touch me, I can't read thoughts or that. Maybe some Jedi could once, but my training was a crash course on surviving being hunted down."

He glanced at Luke, still trying to work on toning down the emotions he was feeling. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't something he'd practiced much at all, but he was trying. They didn't have any especially empathic people on the ship, so he'd sort of let the training go stale . . . "No, I know you can't read my mind. I mean, I assumed you meant you were an empath, which is emotions. Telepathy is thoughts. But I've heard sometimes contact makes things stronger . . ."

McCoy reached for the kid again, slow enough that Luke could stop him by moving or just saying something, "Luke I'm sorry. I'm so sorry you've had such a hard life. And I'm sorry I'm influencing you. Not used to tryin to blunt my emotions." He wanted to give the kid a hug. As curmudgeonly and bitchy as he often was, McCoy cared. He cared so much he had to hide just how deeply he felt things.

Luke smiles. Most people don't realise that empath means only emotions, that he can't read their minds and thoughts, because that's usually the next assumption. That he can and will. He makes no attempt to stop McCoy, but his head cants slightly. "It's not- I mean, I was raised with love. Biggs would joke that he never knew of an orphan raised with so much love."

And for the gruffness and bossiness, Luke had never doubted he was loved by his aunt and uncle. "And it's all right. It's not, influence. Exactly. I can feel it. But I know it's your emotions, not mine. And I don't know if contact makes it stronger. The only people who really touch me are my family and I don't need Force powers to know what they're feeling."

Luke vaguely wants to bottle this feeling and shove it into a blanket and sleep with it every night. So much compassion and care that it bubbles around McCoy, fizzing and sparking.

"But you said . . . mn." McCoy wasn't going to remind the kid he'd said his family was murdered. If Luke wanted to pretend they were still alive for the moment, let him. He still gave the guy a hug, pulling him into a nice, firm hold. His hand lifted to cup the back of Luke's head, cradling it against him. McCoy gave a damn good hug when he wanted to!

"Well, I'm gonna touch ya. Probably a lot and often. Force of habit from being a doctor." Partly from being a doctor. Partly from being Southern. Partly just being himself. McCoy had trouble saying things sometimes, but he could always squeeze a shoulder or pat a back or give a hug. He wasn't shy about platonic touching at all, but he did try to keep it minimal with strangers. Some people really took offense at being touched.

Luke is expecting a hug.

Luke is not expecting this. Leia hugs him with hard angles and strong arms and a love he can't deny but is rarely careful with him, because she knows he doesn't need it. Chewie hugs the only way he knows, which involves being picked up and nearly crushed to death. Han hugs with all the awkwardness of an emotionally repressed scoundrel.

This isn't any of that. This is genuine and un-self-conscious and tender like nothing has ever been in his life. He's stiff for a moment, but then relaxes as McCoy's warmth starts to seep into him and his left hand comes to curl in the man's shirt at his back, head tucking in and brow pressing to his shoulder.

"There. There we go. That's better."

He felt the tension and the release. McCoy sighed and cuddled the kid closer. He'd never had kids and was normally glad of that, but sometimes he missed having family. Luke felt like a little brother, something McCoy had never had, and he enjoyed the hug at least as much as Luke seemed to. Until Luke pulled away, he'd be standing there soaking up the warmth of holding someone.

It's been literally years since anyone held Luke like he was vulnerable, or precious or needing protection. Even after Bespin, Leia had been loving, caring, but nurturing didn't come naturally to her. Her care was efficient and demanding and tempered by her grief.

Careful, McCoy, or you'll never get rid of him. Skywalkers get pretty clingy when they feel wanted.

And Luke wasn't likely to pull away. Not while he was wrapped in so much warm care.

Eventually, McCoy started to pet Luke's hair since he couldn't think of anything else to do, and it was nice. The kid had good hair! And clearly Luke needed the comfort of a hug as much as Mccoy did. Being on that ship eventually got to everyone, even him. When he spoke his words were muffled against the kid's crown, and there was more amusement than anything in his tone.

"You know, I don't mind standin around huggin you Luke, but we're not exactly accomplishin much besides seein how long we can do just that."

Realistically, Luke would've just stayed there until moved, but they were starting to get looks and when McCoy speaks, it draws a small chuckle from Luke, who finally lets go and leans back, rubbing his face with his hands. "Sorry. I hadn't realised how long it had been since anyone held me like that."

McCoy reached out and ruffled the kid's hair with a grin, "I liked it too. Never had a younger brother but I always wanted one. Guess you'll do."

"So. How about we do that at least once a week? I think we'll both be the better for it. Humans need touch to stay healthy you know. A baby that isn't touched won't thrive, so a man needs at least one hug a week to be at his best." Probably. Most people really did need regular physical touch to be healthy and sane. McCoy knew he'd been getting less than he should and it was painfully obvious Luke was in the same boat. So he might as well hug his new little brother a lot for them both, right?

TDM #18

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

assuming facts not in direct evidence because it's reasonable?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)