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duplicitymemes2021-11-10 08:44 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2021-11-10 08:44 pm
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TDM #21
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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 highrise. 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. Autumn is in full swing and the weather is cool and damp. |
 After stepping through the door and participating in orientation, LIERS are assembled together in the Up for a tour of Duplicity in its entirety. 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. |
 (cw: coercion)With the days growing shorter and the weather chillier, LIEs has decided to partner with a popular hotel chain in Duplicity to showcase its new themed rooms and encourage those who have recently arrived to get warm and cozy (if not hot and heavy) with one another. Rather than taking place on site at one of the hotels, a demo area has been set up in the Orientation building for a limited time, making use of three of its many empty rooms, transforming them for lucky pairs to enjoy. Of course it's not just new arrivals who are expected to participate—both current and graduated participants may find themselves roped in as well, paired off with fresh new faces or familiar ones. Pairings are randomized, though always a Dominant and a Submissive, and the demo sessions last 1-2 hours. There are three different themed rooms to try — Azure, Malachite, and Scarlet — each with a distinct color palette. Though they vary in decor and amenities, all three have a queen sized bed, en suite bathroom, minibar (stocked with aphro treats), complimentary aphro mints on the pillow, and a standard array of sex toys to choose from (dildos, vibrators, plugs, cock rings, etc.) Each room will also have its own special atmospheric effect on characters, though how strongly it will influence their desires may vary from person to person. All those who participate will receive coupons for a discounted stay at the actual hotel chain if they wish to book a room overnight after enjoying the demo rooms. 'Tis the season, after all, to indulge in one's deepest, darkest desires. |
 (cw: aphro, dubcon, potential for various kinks including but not limited to age play, pet play, other types of roleplay, medical kink, bondage, temperature play, electrostimulation, large insertions, and monster dicks) The Azure Room is decorated in sleek futuristic style with blue lighting and lots of clean lines. The walls and ceiling are mirrored and most furniture, aside from the bed and certain… specialty items, is made of glass. The bathroom is tiled in dark blue and features both a glass-walled shower with multiple adjustable and detachable showerheads and a freestanding bath filled with ice water. All sorts of toys, kinky implements, costumes, and accessories are available for use—including, of particular note, a large collection of brightly colored silicone dildos with unconventional shapes reflecting alien or monstrous anatomy. Dragon dicks? Of course. Tentacle dildo? You bet. Some of these even have a special base that allows them to be connected to various fucking machines in place of the standard attachments. A padded leather exam chair (blue, naturally) with ankle stirrups and a ceiling-mounted sex swing round out the room's more niche furnishings. Upon entering, both characters will feel a general willingness to experiment. They may feel especially drawn toward roleplay (of various kinds), pet play, leather/lace/latex clothing fetishes, temperature play (ice or wax), medical kink, or electrostimulation—but really, anything goes. This room is all about broadening one's horizons and it has a little something for everyone. |
 (cw: altered mental states, aphro, dubcon, service (sexual or domestic), bondage, human furniture, face-sitting/forced oral, orgasm control/denial, master/servant roleplay, shaving kink)The Malachite Room is stunningly opulent with ornately carved dark wooden furniture, rich fabrics, and damask wallpaper. There's a crown motif running through many of the designs and nearly everything that isn't wood or metal is some shade of green. The bed is a massive four poster with an emerald green canopy, and directly across from it sits a lavish velvet throne. The bathroom boasts a large sunken tub with an array of soaps, scented bubble baths, and massage oils lined up within easy reach. A selection of toys are laid out on silver serving trays on the dresser: butt plugs with jeweled bases and glass dildos, the aesthetic ranging from elegant to outright gaudy. Silk scarves are draped across another tray along with neatly-looped bundles of rope. The throne, upon closer inspection, has a semi-circular opening in the seat cushion and a fabric sling below where someone lying beneath it might rest their head. When a pair enters the room, one will feel an inclination toward service and submission, while the other will feel the desire to be served or simply exert control. They may wish to engage in master/servant or royalty roleplay, body worship, massage, bondage, human furniture kink, shaving/washing/grooming kinks, orgasm control/denial, and other kinks of a similar nature. The role each character feels inclined toward does not have to match their designation, e.g. a Dominant might feel the urge to get on their knees. |
 (cw: altered mental states, aphro, dubcon, sadomasochism, bondage, caging/confinement, humiliation) The Scarlet Room is, well, vibrantly scarlet, with mood lighting to match. The style is closer to a dungeon than a hotel room, though still a luxurious one—all red leather upholstery and gleaming stainless steel. The bed sits inside a floor-to-ceiling circular metal cage with a door that latches from the outside. The bathroom has no door, leaving it in full view of the rest of the room at all times. In addition to the basic amenities, it also features a heart-shaped jacuzzi. A padded table with attached restraints and a smaller cage underneath, a spanking bench, and an x-frame bondage cross make up most of the other furniture. One wall is dedicated to a rack of toys and equipment, such as stainless steel dildos and plugs, sounding rods, anal hooks, spreader bars, rope, cuffs, chastity devices, clothespins and nipple clamps, gags, hoods, blindfolds, paddles, whips, floggers, crops, and canes. There is also a small selection of knives and tools for branding. When a pair enters this room, one will feel an inclination toward dishing out punishment and the other will feel a desire to be punished. These sadomasochistic urges can take many forms, such as impact play, knife play and/or blood play, branding, nipple/breast torture, genital torture, bondage, caging/confinement, and humiliation. The role each character feels inclined toward does not have to match their designation, e.g. a Submissive might wish to take a Dominant over their knee and spank them. |
 (cw: aphro/drugs)In a bid to boost local businesses, as well as make contracts, LIEs has partnered with the coffee chain Peek-A-Brew to help play matchmaker this time around. Along with the usual goodie bag, each character will be handed a small slip of paper after Orientation with a date and time, location, and three fun facts about a mystery partner they're to meet for a coffee date. These "facts" may or may not actually be true — they're simply meant to spark conversation. For the duration of the 1-2 hours the pairs are expected to spend getting to know one another, they will receive unlimited free coffee and tea and a discount on any other menu items. Naturally, all goods are spiked to make the consumers more agreeable, more truthful, and perhaps a bit more handsy than normal. Though the meetings are not mandatory, touching the paper brings on an inexplicable sense of curiosity about meeting their partner and discovering who they really are. |
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 prefers tea, they are a Submissive. If your character prefers coffee, they are 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 fun!! |
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Somehow, he keeps the smile off of his face. Instead, he leans in, keeps his voice low and soft. ]
Well, I think you'll have to have a firm hand. You'll have to apply yourself. But I do have faith in you, sir. I think you're quite capable of giving it a long...hard...try.
[ He sits back, affect light again. ]
It could begin with a confession. Would you like to hear about the things I've done? Do you wonder, sometimes?
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His lips purse and eyes close, briefly, so that he can exhale slowly with as much patience as he can manage himself to force, because surely provoking him to anger is exactly what Hickey wants. It's what Hickey does.
When Irving opens his eyes again he settles them right on Hickey's, unflinching from the eye contact and feeling almost emboldened by his certainty that Hickey is underestimating him; assuming he'll be easy to exploit, to seduce, which only makes Irving all that more determined not to let himself be fooled by him. ]
There is much of you to wonder about. Puzzles you no doubt prefer to encourage, I'm sure.
But if you wish to unburden yourself, then yes, I will hear you. Though I may be unable to absolve you of your many sins, I can help release you from them. I am listening, Mr. Hickey.
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Well.
[ Stalling, Hickey smiles at Irving. There are certain things he's not inclined to unburden himself with; certain things pertaining to Irving specifically. He's not about to confess to a murder in a shop. But he has a strange sort of feeling, suddenly—one that he hasn't had in a long, long time. An urge to be honest. It spills out of him before he can hesitate. ]
Perhaps we ought to double back to your earlier inquiry. It's never been a career pursuit, for me, but it's a way to make a day's wages, once in a while, when you catch someone looking. On my back. [ He drums his fingers across the scrap of paper with facts, eyes dropping to it for a moment, before he flicks his gaze back up at Irving, amused. ] In the missionary position. Or on my knees, or with my mouth, or—in some other arrangement. If you're good at it, it's quick. If you know what you're doing, like I do. You officers think you're above it all, but...I've had lieutenants. They spend the same as the rest.
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And then Hickey actually begins to unburden himself, spinning a yarn that makes Irving practically turn to stone in his efforts not to react; hands clasped in front of him, he sits there in silence, lips twitching at the corners and eyes staring with the (near-)unblinking severity of a deer caught in headlights. ]
Right. [ Irving clears his throat. ] How very... illuminating.
[ [ screams internally ]
No, no, it's... fine. He's fine. He can do this.
(He can't do this.)
Irving gulps down the rest of his tea in one desperate swig, which seems to help, as does pointing his gaze off-center of Hickey, since he really needs to not be looking him in the eyes right now. ]
We... [ A pause, Irving's eyes trained at a spot somewhere above Hickey's head. ] W-we need not discuss it further, you know. Do not feel obligated. What you do on land, or who with, is of no major consequence to me.
[ He doesn't actually believe that has anything to do with why Hickey's confessing these particular details to him, but Irving also can't work out for what reason it must really be... nor has he tried to, because just thinking about the story -- the subject matter -- at all is something he cannot bring himself to do, he can't let the images of men's mouths, men on their backs, fronts, knees, into his head. ]
I only regret that the Discovery Service has not been a more... enriching experience for you by comparison.
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But Irving's transparent horror is enough of a balm that that strange feeling fades fast. Amused, Hickey studies him. ]
You did inquire. Twice, if you count that first time.
[ Relaxed again, he laces his fingers together, leaning forward a bit, trying to catch Irving's eye. ]
But fear not, Lieutenant Irving. I'm quite sure that with your help, I'll be able to change my ways here, although...there is the matter of the quota. But I'm sure your God will steer you to some way of managing that. You'll have to enlighten me.
[ He smiles, and then his eyes drop to the scrap of paper in front of Irving. ]
What else does that say about me?
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[ "Unnecessary detail," to Irving, of course referring to anything that happens to be just detailed enough that he may happen to picture it in his mind's eye as he's listening -- whether by accident or because it actually does merit some contemplation -- and as Hickey himself might remember Irving telling-him-without-telling-him once, Irving is very... rigorous about what he does or does not, can or cannot, allow into his mind.
Though he's still quite certain Hickey is most likely doing this all on purpose, deliberately going out of his way to make Irving as uncomfortable as possible, part of him also questions if maybe Hickey simply can't help himself, like naughty children who know of no other way than tantrums and violence to draw attention to themselves-- and, rather conveniently, being a lieutenant isn't too unlike having to help mind large groups of rowdy children either, so Irving is at least up to the task. Lucky for Hickey (maybe) and unfortunate for himself (definitely) that there are no other shipmates apart from Jopson here to compete for Irving's attention.
Clearing his throat, Irving lifts Hickey's fact sheet so he can read from it aloud, glad actually to have something other than Hickey's insinuations about quota to acknowledge, at least for however long as Irving can put that off. ]
One: That you have more scars than the "average person."
[ His tone invokes the air-quotes that his fingers do not, clearly a bit skeptical, because... well, these things are all rather relative, aren't they. ]
Two. You have received payment for sex. [ Voice clipped, lips pursed. ] And finally, that you evidently... like tall men. Fascinating.
[ He's sooooo uncomfortable right now. ]
And given your... history of employment, Mr. Hickey, as is in fact, once again, noted here on this very paper, you'll surely have very little trouble here.
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The next fact, though, is something of a surprise. ]
Tall men? [ He mulls this over. Well— ] I suppose. If you went by the numbers. Referring, of course, to the sorts of men I prefer to engage in Christian pleasures with, I presume.
[ He smiles at Irving, doubly amused as he continues on. ]
Oh, I'm not worried. But perhaps you ought to be, Lieutenant. There might very well be a shortage of good Christian women here who want it in missionary from— [ His gaze drops to his own piece of paper. ] —an aspiring choirboy. Although...I suppose it depends. Are you any good?
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Do not call what you engage in Christian pleasures. [ His tone is both stiff and somehow also slightly wry, but in a vaguely patronizing sort of way. ] And that would actually be former, not aspiring.
[ Only Irving, probably, would find that an important distinction to make-- as if maybe the only reason he isn't still a choirboy is due to aging out. Jaw clenched, he does not smile, not at all enjoying the turn of direction their conversation is taking even though he also knows -- and this is a very painful admission for Irving make even silently, within the privacy of his own mind -- that Hickey is not... wrong. ]
So I've been told. Yes. [ Good at singing or at--? Well, Hickey hadn't specified, so neither is Irving. ] And you may keep your false pity; I am not so deluded as to think myself singularly spared of-- this, and I am perfectly able of... performing, as is required of me. If and when I must. And only then.
[ Time will no doubt tell soon enough about how true that ends up being. ]
If you really must know.
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[ Hickey rests his chin in his hand, the skepticism on his face as plain as the amusement is. ]
I don't imagine that it's a...'perfectly capable performance' the women here are after, though. You might find that you have to turn to a friendly face. Jopson would be willing to martyr himself for the cause, I'm sure. He does so love to help.
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Irving takes a long moment to try composing himself behind his tea cup, happy to slurp down more of whatever secret ingredient has been so effectively relaxing him up to now-- never mind the less ideal "truthfulness" side effects, but Irving hasn't yet connected that aspect with the drinks anyway. ]
As I have said to you before, courtship and marriage is of little interest to me-- I do not have want nor need for female companionship. Beyond, of course, what shall inevitably become simply a... means to an end, while we're here. Though nothing more than that.
[ So far he is conveniently still not addressing what Hickey is actually getting at, but Irving's just about run down the clock for how much longer he can continue doing so.
His protest, when it finally does come, is rather weak in comparison to all his earlier objections, voice significantly more quiet. ]
Do not suggest such things.
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[ He says it seriously enough to throw any degree of sarcasm behind the reassurance into question. But it's the next thing that Irving says that's far more interesting; how he goes quiet and hesitates. Hickey fixes his attention on that—and Irving—like a magpie would a bright bit of glass. ]
You don't find Lieutenant Jopson to be a handsome man?
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Not quite well enough though, maybe, given that wide, frenzied look that Irving always gets in his eyes when he's flustered, agitated. Perhaps even slightly cornered. ]
Mr. Hickey. [ He leans forward over the table so he can still be heard despite the quieting tone to his voice. ] I seem to recall we were meant to be talking about your sins here, were we not? So I strongly suggest you not continue changing the subject.
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[ A very manufactured sort of earnestness settles over Hickey's face; he leans in to explain, seemingly unbothered by Irving's tenseness. ]
If I knew someone who was grappling with these same inclinations, and had come out on the other side of it, I might have faith that I could manage to rehabilitate myself. How can you help me if I don't trust that it's something you might understand? It's just logic.
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He makes eye contact again, saying nothing at first, just regarding Hickey quietly like he's something to interpret, to solve. ]
Is that really true? [ He says it slowly, at a murmur-- nearly a whisper. ] That's all?
[ Something almost like a laugh, though also vaguely like bile, rises in his throat, because despite the persistently underlying compulsion to be honest, Irving suddenly feels another faint spark of hope pop-off in his chest like a firework. ]
Hickey, that... [ Hesitating, Irving purses his lips, then reaches to put his shaking hands over Hickey's if one is available. ] Th-that's great news, I'm-- I'm so proud of you.
[ He sounds vaguely amazed, but sincere, and now Irving does laugh just briefly, a soft huff of surprise and relief. Smiling at Hickey, eyes wide and earnest, he goes on: ]
Listen close to me, Hickey: I can help you with this. I promise you that. Never once have I-- [ Er. Wait. He's forced to correct himself slightly: ] O-only once, have I... have I ever weakened before these very same inclinations that you speak of, so yes, perhaps I more than most can understand precisely the grip they can hold upon a man's mind. I do.
[ Irving nods idly for emphasis, a manic, zealous energy burning in his gaze. ]
And, yes: do have faith, Hickey. Hold onto it. Because honor bright, I can guide you through to the other side.
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His gaze drops on Irving's hand, settled over his own. He's too thrown off to tug it away. There are a number of things he can say, here, but he fumbles for the first thing that had stuck in his mind. ]
'Only once?'
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(If anything, emotional honesty makes John Irving extremely uncomfortable.)
He snatches his hands back quickly, rearranges his expression to look impatient and cold. ]
Only once. In a moment of weakness. [ He clears his throat. ] So you see, it is not that I'm... indifferent, to what weight of some of your burdens must be causing you.
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[ Now that Irving's not going on about being proud at him, Hickey settles a little bit, lacing his fingers together and studying him across the table, deep in contemplation. ]
Well, I do have an idea, sir. I don't mean to be forward, but...perhaps you ought to detail to me, here, that moment of weakness. That way I can see where you erred and learn from it.
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He exhales out slowly, jaw tense and molars grinding as he considers, carefully this time, how to respond. ]
Indeed you are forward, Mr. Hickey. [ A pause. ] And it would be highly inappropriate of me, as both your Lieutenant and now presently acting Commanding Officer, to be confiding in you such... lurid details.
I... allowed temptation to lead me into bed. That is where and how I erred-- surely no more need be said than that.
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[ He turns the earnestness on his face into something else: shame. Rounding his shoulders, eyes dropping to the table, he continues on, haltingly. ]
Because...I daren't describe it in any detail, Lieutenant. But my soul is drenched in sin. If you've managed to divert your course back towards salvation after, perhaps, the temptation of a kiss, as much as I commend you for it, I'm starting miles off from where you are.
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He frowns, biting his lip indecisively as he glances briefly aside, weighing his options, because he had told Hickey that, and he'd also even meant it, too. If Irving can help show a wicked, wayward soul -- particularly one under his charge -- the way towards righteousness, then how can he possibly deny them that? ]
You're right. [ He sighs, tone of voice soft, a bit demurring. ] If I am to set for you a proper example, then I must be straight.
[
No pun intended.]There was no kiss, no tenderness to the encounter. Merely... [ It's hard for him to say, one hand raising to briefly cover over his eyes in shame. ] I'm quite certain your impression of me shall sour irrevocably once I speak the word.
no subject
My impression of you is set in stone, Lieutenant Irving.
[ That feels good enough. He smiles at him. ]
I don't think anything you could say would shock me.
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Sodomy.
[ He says it in a flat, low tone, expression grave and vaguely solemn, looking a bit like he might suddenly become ill at any moment. ]
And that is as much as you should have any need to know-- moreso, I am still convinced.
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Were you giving it to him, or was he giving it to you? I'm only asking because it does make a difference.
[ It doesn't really. He pauses, and then adds, for the sake of respect: ]
Sir.
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As for sodomy, though, there isn't exactly an equivalent scriptural breakdown as to the particular sinfulness levels of each particular act, so on that matter, he begrudgingly defers to Hickey's authority.
(Before he gives an answer, because he's still not a total fool.) ]
This difference being what, exactly?
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When a man takes on the man's role, it's—convenience, sometimes, I've found. He shuts his eyes and pretends it's a woman he's doing it to. The act is against God; the desire isn't.
[ Or so such a man believes—making it nearly the truth, so far. Hickey's known men who tell themselves those sorts of things, even if he doesn't understand it, personally speaking; he lies with men because he likes men, in any configuration. ]
Even for some of those men, I've found, it's unimaginable that any man could take his pleasure in the reverse. If you can't imagine that, given the...variety of my experiences, I fear that you won't be able to understand what needs to be mended.
[ A beat, before he adds, helpfully: ]
In my soul.
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