Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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duplicitymemes2021-07-10 08:20 am
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2021-07-10 08:20 am
Entry tags:
TDM #19
« « « 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. ...At least, this would normally be the case. Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals. The weather is stormy and miserable. There's flooding. Quite a bit of it. |
» » » VIRTUAL VOYAGE
 (cw: voyeurism, privacy violations)Ordinarily, new arrivals to Duplicity are sent on a tour of the city by train, but with the tracks currently underwater this month's tour is a little different. Instead they will assemble in a conference room on the third floor of the Orientation Center and watch a video that highlights the many beautiful locations of the Up, such as White Wall Bridge, Fiddler's Square, and North Park, complete with cheesy voiceover. The video also displays some… less beautiful landmarks in the Down, though that segment is shorter and much less complimentary. After the video concludes, it's time for the interactive portion of the tour! Tablets will be handed out, though there aren't enough for everyone so some people will have to share. These tablets are set up with a program allowing characters to look through various cameras in public areas around the city. They can click from one camera view to the next to explore or tap the 'randomize' button and see where they end up. There seems to be a glitch with the latter feature, however, that enables it to tap into camera feeds that aren't part of the carefully curated tour path. Security cameras in the lobbies and hallways of apartment buildings, hidden cameras in hotel rooms, webcams, and even the cameras on the communication devices that they all carry — any of these might pop up amidst the regular street views. Characters may suddenly find themselves a silent third party to a video call or spying on another LIER in an intimate moment. The question is, will they keep watching or click away? |
« « « SOGGY SLEEPOVER
 Due to the ongoing watery crisis, temporary accommodations have been arranged for until new arrivals are able to move into their assigned housing. Officials explain that the Submissive housing in the Down is partially flooded out and that the Dominant building in the Up, while not faring nearly as badly, has been experiencing electrical issues. As the apartments available to new Dominants are mainly on higher floors, this means an exhausting climb when the power goes out. In either case, the situation is not ideal. For now, Submissives are given blankets and sleeping bags in a hastily cleared-out hotel ballroom. There's plenty of floor space to spread out, but little else with which to create a sense of privacy. An adjoining set of restrooms provides the basic facilities (including a lube dispenser!) though a bath in the sink is as good as it gets for hygiene. Several room service carts loaded with bottled water and suggestively-named cheap pre-packaged snacks are refilled twice daily at meal times. If the Submissives sheltering here wish to better their circumstances, well, perhaps they should find a Dom to shack up with and sign a contract. Dominants each get a room to themselves, though LIEs haven't exactly sprung for the fanciest accommodations. Five star? Not even close. The rooms are small and garishly decorated, with minimal amenities. There's a tv on the dresser that only gets five channels — four of which are porn and the remaining channel is local news and weather. (No matter which channel you're watching, the immediate forecast is: wet.) At least they have a full bathroom. The hotel isn't serving food, but a few complimentary meal vouchers for a nearby restaurant can be found on the nightstand along with a 'sexy' welcome basket consisting of lube packets and a cheap vibrating dildo. All Dominants are strongly encouraged to visit the emergency Submissive shelter and rescue a Sub in need. PSAs featuring sad stock photos will be sent to their devices as a reminder. |
« « « TAKE THE STAIRS
 (cw: aphro, dub-con)With the steadily rising water and heavy rain, Duplicity’s utilities are feeling the strain of being increasingly waterlogged. The city is dotted with pockets of temporary power outages lasting a few hours at a time. It’s concerning, but there isn’t much city officials and engineers can do about their soaked infrastructure. All they can do is try to manage the blackouts and pray that a citywide one doesn’t befall the Up and Down. The area where the Orientation Center is situated is unfortunately prone to losing power, and those characters who decide to take the elevator instead of the stairs while attending Orientation may find themselves stopped in the dark with the doors sealed shut. The emergency system kicks in after a minute with dim red lighting and a voice over the intercom tells those trapped to keep calm. In addition to the emergency lights, a recording of smooth jazz will play over the intercom and air laced with a special blend of aphrodisiac will filter into the enclosed space. One last message over the intercom from whoever is on the other end reassures the stuck parties that the main power should be back on in an hour and in the meantime they should relax. So, what will you do with your trapped elevator buddy? You may find yourself wanting to sit next to them and open up about your feelings. Maybe you're feeling blabby, ready to get some things off your chest, or maybe you're more touchy-feely and you'd prefer to let your body do the talking. You have time, so why not take comfort in one another while waiting for the power to resume? |
« « « GET WET
 (cw: aphro, altered mental states, dub-con, exhibitionism)With the water level now at an all time high and with no sign of stopping, the locals are trying to avoid going out in it as much as possible. This need to stay dry (or at least not wade through murky water on the streets) has created quite a few job opportunities for those looking to make a quick buck. Whether it’s helping transport someone on a makeshift raft by pushing them slowly through the street or delivering food and other orders to customers, the demand is there. New arrivals will be offered these gigs, regardless of designation. Whether they decide to take on the jobs is up to them, but the incentive to do so includes an offer of better accommodations in a penthouse suite of Somass Hotel for those who provide the best service. It’s certainly an upgrade compared to the other lodgings that are available. Of course, there’s good reason the locals want to stay as dry as possible, aside from the annoyance of soggy clothes and pruney fingers. The murky water is contaminated with run-off chemicals from the waterlogged storm drains, that, with extended exposure, may cause irrational and impulsive behavior, especially with regards to sex. Get in an argument? Better fuck to make up. Want to bargain for a deal? Use your body. See someone whose rain boots are pretty stylish? Compliment them by offering yourself. Cause a problem with sex? Solve it with… even more sex. There’s also an even more unexpected side effect that’s cropped up - the urge to sing and dance in the rain, as if putting on an impromptu burlesque show. Wet clothes will be shed and tossed aside in the fervor of the act, baring it all to the elements and whatever audience might’ve formed in the process to watch the spectacle. |
« « « 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 can swim well and independently, they’re a Submissive. If your character cannot swim at all or needs assistance (flotation device), 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!! |
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a line straight down the neck ain't what he would call stylish in any sense. lookin' at it makes him feel a bit like a fool, but he supposes that's the point of it, ain't it? slap a fuckin' line on submissives' necks to ensure everybody can see that they're eligible sex merch.
he wouldn't fault anyone for wantin' to cover it up, but he has too much pride in him to let a marking make him conscientious 'bout what he wears.
he doesn't look particularly surprised that she has chosen to forego calling him by his nickname in lieu of a more formal address. she is all propriety, ain't she? neither has it escaped his attention that the little spark of somethin' when their hands connected may be worth noting, especially seeing how they aren't any closer to getting out. on a far more enlightened level, he is well aware of what is expected to happen in this tightly confined space.
he doesn't need the traces of aphrodisiac permeating the air to tell him that.
but since danny tucker isn't nearly as perceptive, he carries on: ] I'd like to know more about you, Miss Ives. How have you settled in this city?
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Whether she senses anything more to him that exists beneath the surface is unclear, though she does discern something that could indicate him as being more than a mere mortal — and it would have likely been more easy to distinguish had they maintained that contact of hands, direct skin-to-skin contact always furthering her ability to perceive such things.
Still, she anticipates that he'll ask her questions about the city, want to know about the place he now finds himself in. Hearing him inquire about her is a different subject altogether, and it prompts a certain incline of her head before her response follows. ]
I suppose my answer would be different two years ago than it is now. [ Which is her way of being honest about exactly how long she has been here, and she briefly waits to let that information sink in before continuing. ] It seems rather cliched to say that... one finds a means of enduring, eventually. But you strike me as a man who can likely adapt to his circumstances, Mr. Tucker. Am I correct in that assumption?
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[ 'cause he sure does.
despite his lack of hesitation in using his gambling debts to make his current situation in duplicity seem better, he wouldn't choose to stay here for the long term — not for the rest of his life anyway, which more or less brings him to his next question. ] Has no one tried to figure out a way to return us all back to our worlds? There's gotta be some sciencey or magic types here — or have they tried and nothin' has worked out so far?
[ it ain't workin' out for him, that's for sure; but he isn't exactly surprised either. he doesn't believe for a second that he's here accidentally. none of 'em are. this is all part of His Plan. if He wants him here, then he guess there ain't much he can do 'bout it except to stay here 'til He thinks it's time for him to go back. he has never been more than one of his Father's puppets to pull, but it would've been nice to have had a heads up this time 'round. ]
no subject
That is not such an easy thing to consider, for me.
[ If the choice were hers to make, and she did not know what she was moving towards in her own world, perhaps she would elect to return home, but knowing that her life as she understands it will be over the moment she is sent back has made her reevaluate her considerations. She wonders if she needs to elaborate on things for him even now, or if he can sense enough of the cause of her indecision without her needing to say much more. ]
And there have been... attempts. None that have met with any level of success. [ Portals that have been opened, only to let in threats rather than offer a potential route home. ] This city often seems to be capable of dampening the abilities of those who would normally have enough power to free all of us.
[ She glances to him, the brief shift in her expression something like commiseration, gentle even in the otherworldly crimson glow of their surroundings. ] I'm sorry, Mr. Tucker. I wish I had better words for you along those lines.
no subject
he could try to pry her for more information, especially since her answer leaves him wanting to know more, but it would be tactless even for him. he ain't any of his business, so unless she offers more of her own accord, then he's happy to move on. no point in makin' things awkward. ]
I take it that we don't know how they're dampenin' abilities either.
[ he felt it the moment he arrived in the city — a limitation to the extent of his power's reach. it feels like it has been slightly watered down, but not enough to cause him any real concern. he rarely uses his powers as danny tucker, preferring to stay true to his human form. ]
Don't you worry a thing, Miss Ives. I'm pretty used to bad news. [ they tend to have a snowball effect too, but hopefully that won't be the case here. ] Since it's out of our hands, the best we can do is try to stay alive 'til someone comes around and finds a solution.
no subject
[ She doesn't believe her abilities are significant enough to truly be impacted, but has heard tell of others with powers that could normally level entire buildings being rendered incapable of such things here. They would all have likely been released from this prison long ago if one of their fellow captives had possessed enough strength to free them from their circumstances.
Still, the man standing with her now doesn't seem truly phased by his situation, even if it is far from an ideal one. She wonders, then, how often he has been forced to endure misfortune, because the ones who have faced true adversity always seem to know how to endure it the best. ]
I guess you're right about that.
[ She pauses for a moment, but, since they are confined here in the elevator with little else to do, decides to engage him further. ] I must say, Mr. Tucker, I find your optimism... refreshing. So many others want to see the hopelessness of our situation, without choosing to simply make the most of it. To live. [ Another pause, as she glances around their limited space. ] Which one could say extends to our current predicament as well, in a manner of speaking.
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he always pays his dues — they're usually just paid very, very late. ]
I've just learned to roll with the punches. Throwin' myself a pity party ain't gonna get me out of a jam and it sure as hell ain't gonna make me feel better. [ he folds his arms across his chest. ] I don't know if I'd call it optimism, but I do right by myself. [ it's the most anyone can ask for. ] What about yourself, Miss Ives? [ he regards her intently. ] Do you consider yourself more on the optimistic or pessimistic end?
[ seems like maintenance is takin' their sweet ol' time with fixin' the elevator. it doesn't bode well, does it? ]
Now, I wouldn't want to ruin that pretty dress of yours, but we still have the option of climbin' our way out. [ it's mostly a joke. ]
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The attentiveness of his gaze is something she isn't entirely prepared for, and she glances away for a moment, feeling the intent behind his stare — not necessarily scrutinizing, or ogling, but a perceptiveness that seems to take the measure of her even now, while it is the two of them alone together. ]
It is... difficult for me, at times, to see the joy that can be found in certain circumstances. I suppose because my life has been home to its own tribulations, things that make a soul slightly more wearied by comparison to others. [ She chooses not to go into detail, but her eyes find his again in the crimson light. ] But there have been delights too. So I suppose I have had my hopes, and I have also resigned myself to the knowledge that things may not always turn out for the better. Can one be both, do you think?
[ Her mouth quirks up at the corners in response to his quipping. ] It would hardly be the first time I've had a dress ruined here, and for activities involving far more exertion than climbing. [ She does not believe she needs to mention specifics for him to garner the implication behind her words. ]
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[ only a fool would choose to stubbornly cling to hope and see nothing but the bright side in things while ignorin' the true reality of any given situation. it may keep the spirit high, but it's superficial at best — more a denial than actual strength. likewise, people who only view the world in a negative light will inevitably bring about their own destruction. the healthiest method, possibly the most sustainable one, is to simply find a workable balance between the two. ]
That's... good to know, Miss Ives. Got a wild side to you, don't ya? [ there's a spark of somethin' akin to interest in his eyes before it disappears behind an easy smile. ] We'll give 'em five, ten minutes more. To show us how competent they are. If they don't fix this thing by then, we'll just have to get creative. [ don't worry, he wouldn't actually make her climb out of an elevator. ]
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[ And perhaps it's because she sees herself more as a woman of faith over the sort of individual who would wait for the truth to be proved beyond any shadow of doubting, but she does think she might be more inclined toward wanting to see the prospect of hope, rather than always dismissing it. ]
Does that surprise you to learn, Mr. Tucker? [ Then again, given their surroundings, perhaps it doesn't necessarily come as much of a shock to divulge the truth as it might be were she still in her own world, a place where the only ones who speak so freely of such things are the women who make their living doing them. ] Call it necessity of adapting to one's surroundings, I suppose. But you're right. There's no need to assume our situation has become so dire just yet. We could very well be rescued at any moment.