Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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duplicitymemes2022-01-10 07:43 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2022-01-10 07:43 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #22
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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. Winter is here and snow flurries are common in the Up while the slush collects in the Down. |
 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. |
 As a particularly heavy snowstorm blows across the city, Duplicity finds itself blanketed in white. The morning after the storm, many citizens seem to be in a particularly mischievous mood and snowballs are a common sight flying through the air. A projectile meant for someone else may hit you square in the face if you're not careful — and then it's on. Joining these impromptu snow battles is encouraged, no matter a person's designation, and even Submissives teaming up to pelt unsuspecting Dominants with snowballs is generally taken in the spirit of good fun. Not everyone is throwing snow, of course — some are rolling much larger balls and shaping them into lewd snow figures. Those feeling chilled after playing in the snow may experience the urge to warm up with someone else, skin to skin. Whether they're a stranger or a familiar face, holding hands, kissing, or getting down and dirty with the nearest willing partner is invigorating. It might even be the only way to really feel warm again. |
 (cw: aphro, humiliation kink) Want to make some quick cash? After exiting the train in the Down, there seems to be a questionable character hanging about the station. Dressed in a trenchcoat and looking more like a flasher than the businessman he claims to be, this shady recruiter offers easy money in exchange for a simple delivery. Just take a package and drop it off at the address on the label. Really, that's it! Stop asking questions. Should characters decide to open the package themselves instead, they'll discover one of the following: glitter — so much glitter, lube (appears normal, but actually contains hot pepper and will cause more than a mild tingling sensation if used anywhere sensitive), a package of flavored condoms mysteriously labeled "every flavor" (none of them taste good), candy or perfume containing an aphrodisiac that, in addition to the usual libido-boosting effect, will also cause an intense craving for humiliation. It seems to be one of those services that allows one to send anonymous prank gifts, and they're hiding behind LIERs as couriers. There's no return address or company information on or inside the package, except for a card marked Encoded Sin Corp — which does not seem to be a real company if the name is searched. Whether characters end up delivering the package — maybe even to a fellow LIER — or get into some trouble along the way, someone is getting a nasty surprise. |
 (cw: aphro, dubcon, excessive fluids, exhibitionism, public use)A small winter market has been set up along one of the major streets in the Up with stalls selling a variety of goods ranging from knitted hats and scarves, soaps, scented lotions, candles, jewelry, artwork and assorted crafts to hand-dyed bondage rope and kinky leather accessories. Food and drink stands are plentiful as well. Strings of lights crisscross the street between the roofs of the shops, providing a cheerful glow, and there are tables set up in the street itself for people to sit and chat while having a snack — if they can stand the cold. Some of the most popular treats being sold are hot chocolate, eggnog, marshmallow snowmen, and sugar cookies decorated like snowflakes. Of course, their popularity may have something to do with the effects they produce when consumed. • The hot chocolate simply gets one all hot and bothered. • The eggnog may cause heavy production of sexual fluids, a desire to be filled or covered with someone else's cream, or all of the above. • The marshmallow snowmen will make those who eat them want to invite others to use them as they please, desiring nothing more than to be molded into the perfect fucktoy. • The sugar cookies seem to induce all sorts of different cravings — after all, no two snowflakes are alike! These effects tend to last at least an hour and may, in some cases, last up to a full day. One of the jewelry shops sells an unusual selection of compass pendants and bracelets. The compass arrows spin round and round lazily while the pieces are on display. Once worn, however, that changes. The arrow will settle on a direction, but instead of pointing north it will lead directly to another person. Perhaps you should speak to them? You may even begin to feel magnetically drawn to them yourself… In the event that two people have compasses that point them at each other, the attraction will be even stronger — nearly impossible to deny. There is another shop which sells intricately designed pocket watches and small clocks. When these timepieces are stared at for an extended length of time or picked up and handled, characters will feel a brief but strong connection to their past and experience a vivid flashback to some moment that was, in whatever way, meaningful for them. After reliving the memory, they will feel compelled to speak about it to whoever is nearby. |
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 likes it hot, they are a Dominant. If your character prefers the cold, they are a Submissive. 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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We can move, as long as we stay in proximity. But since it seems to be working so far, maybe we should discuss adding preventative measures as well. I haven't seen your room yet, let's check in there for threats. If it's safe that seems like a good place for... reassessment.
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[ Val manages to restrain his laughter this time, but his own smirk is just as audible in his voice when he answers. ]
Mm, yes, that seems to me like a suitable course of action. Better to cover all our bases.
[ He goes to pull away just enough that they can get to the bedroom without falling over each other trying, but he pauses and adds, first: ]
Oh, but first, love? Our room.
[ Because like hell Kazu will be sleeping in the spare room. And then he steals another quick kiss, if you can really call it stealing. Call that one a pre-emptive measure. ]
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Our room, of course.
[ He does pull back, then, taking Val's hand again to venture through the last door he hasn't checked. Sure enough, it's the master bedroom. And although the bed looks temptingly comfortable, for safety he turns to peek into the closet... and spots his guitar leaning innocently up against the wall.
Oh. His grip on Val's hand tightens slightly. ]
...engaging emergency protocol.
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[ It takes Val a second to realise what he's seen, and he's already smiling and moving to kiss him even before it registers. The guitar—he was relieved to find it had followed him here; sitting and playing had been a comfort after everything that happened, losing it would have been like losing another part of Kazu.
But Kazu's here, now, and yes, this definitely warrants emergency kisses. He holds this kiss longer, cups Kazu's face and brushes his thumb across his cheek. ]
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When they break apart again he smiles at Val and ignores the closet for now, stepping forward to pick up the instrument. ]
Should I play you something?
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[ Val nods, immediately. ]
Yes. Yes, I would like that.
[ He does so enjoy actually hearing Kazu play, for all that he has definitely teased him fondly in the past about his music taste it's not as if it hasn't become Val's taste, too. It's not like he hasn't played that first song he learned thanks to mindshare over and over to himself. ]
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Come sit with me.
[ He settles on the bed with his legs crossed, facing towards the headboard so Val can lean back as he listens. Let's see if it's in tune... ]
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[ Val situates himself up by the headboard, and it's easy enough to get comfortable, settling with his legs positioned so that he can still have contact with Kazu. Yes, he's definitely being clingy, but he really doesn't care right now.
His expression is so very fond, looking at Kazu sat there with the instrument in hand again. It's clearly been well taken care of, in the short time since Kazu last had it himself; Val could never do anything less. ]
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The guitar tuned, Kazu is quiet for a minute while he thinks of what to play... and settles on something soft and melodic. It's been years since he played anything fingerstyle and he starts out a little clumsy at it, but the technique comes back as he goes on. He'd learned songs like this for his mother in thanks for her tolerating the constant raucous rock he'd always leaned into, and playing it for someone else feels strangely vulnerable but better for the moment. ]
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[ Val sits there and watches, just as much as he listens; he watches the way the technique comes to Kazu as he plays, he watches Kazu’s face, he just… takes it in. Takes in the different experience, after being so used to what Kazu usually plays. It’s calming, in its way, and it’s nice to share a moment like this with Kazu again. Music has, just as much as dance, been one of those things that has connected them since that first mindshare. ]
…that is beautiful.
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[ He finally looks up from the strings, dropping his strumming hand to Val's leg. ]
And it's good to know I can still surprise you.
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[ Val rests his hand on top of Kazu’s and squeezes, smiles at him. ]
Surprises are fun. And I’m sure you will keep finding ways to surprise me.
[ Especially here, which he thinks not even because of the city and all its… quirks, but because there’s no mindshare. A part of him already misses it, it is such a unique closeness that he had so come to enjoy with Kazu, and it also means they will not learn things about the other simply by memory osmosis, now, as they sometimes did. Things will, he supposes, be a lot more ‘organic’. It’s not a bad thing, in itself, but it is different. ]
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He sets his guitar down carefully against the nightstand and shifts to sit beside Val, wrapping an arm around the other man's shoulders. ]
Is that your way of saying you want lots of presents..?
[ He's very obviously teasing, but also? It's doable. ]
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[ Val nestles up against his side, head resting on his shoulder. Though he tilts it so he can nose against Kazu’s jaw, for a moment, before settling again. ]
Mm, well, I certainly wouldn’t say no to being spoiled.
[ He’s clearly teasing, too, but hey, when do you think the last time Val ever really got gifts was? Most of what he can count in recent memory, are, well, Cammie upgrading things for them all—the Holons, the Hubs, and those are a rather different kind of thing. That he is also not going to dwell on thinking about, because thinking about where Cammie may be only raises his blood pressure. ]
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Then I guess you'll just have to wait and see what happens.
[ He already has a few ideas for once he has friends who can make purchases for him without Val knowing something's coming. ]
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I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
[ That they can say this, that they can plan for any future things at all is... the future's always been a rather nebulous thing to Val, anyway. It's no secret, if often masked in humour, that he often doesn't expect to make it to the end of the war, as is the nature of such conflicts. Kazu dying only made the future more distant, after it had maybe come back into reach, but now...
It's the first time he has actually felt truly guilty, today, because it is the first time he really considers what it would mean not to go home. He tries not to dwell on it. ]
It will be nice to actually share a bed with you. This is certainly much more comfortable than barracks, or our pods.
[ Sleeping-sleeping in the pods is never ideal and the barracks are well, military bunks. Decent ones, but still. And it's not like they've ever got to sleep truly beside each other before, it will be nice to snuggle up. And you know, other things, but he is actually thinking of sleeping and cuddling right now. ]
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[ The truth is, Kazu has set the bar even lower. He'd be fine with the floor if it meant he could keep Val at his side, a sentiment far too sappy to say aloud. There are other things they should talk about, anyway.
Obviously they're contracting as soon as possible, that's just practicality. He's going to live wherever Val is. Quota likely won't be a concern. But those are just conditions set for them by this place, it doesn't define their relationship. Although they hadn't had a chance to discuss anything back home, Kazu was definitely thinking of them as nebulously together before all this. ]
Should we figure out... uh. Ground rules?
[ Kazu Iida, master of romance. ]
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[ Val chuckles and raises a brow at him, a teasing look more than anything. ]
Ground rules?
[ Oh, he knows what he most likely means, he understands Kazu far more often than he doesn't, but he does have to tease a little for that. ]
You mean we should talk about this, us, yes?
[ He shifts his position just enough that he can look at Kazu more easily without pulling away from the arm around him. ]
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Yes, that is what I mean.
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[ The amusment shifts to something softer, fonder. He reaches to take the hand not attached to the arm around him to squeeze it. ]
Yes, yes we should. We did not get to talk enough, before.
What do you want to talk about, love?
[ He recognises, yes, that Kazu clearly is not used to this, but he still wants Kazu to try and voice what he most wants them to talk about, here, for himself. Val could rattle things off, but that won't necessarily help Kazu put words to his own thoughts and feelings. ]
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He smoothes his thumb over the back of Val's hand and decides to begin with something simple. ]
What should I call you, with other people? I don't want to be... potentially inaccurate.
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[ It would be very easy to tease him again, for his phrasing, but this time Val does have mercy on him, both because he's not looking to discourage him and also because the intent there is sweet, clumsy wording or not. He just can't tease for that. ]
You do not want to give a term that may one day conflict with my presentation, yes?
Partner. [ another squeeze of his hand ] You can call me your partner.
Otherwise, talk about me as I am now and we can cross other bridges if they arise.
[ The shifts that drive him towards real change are not overly frequent, but they are unpredictable. And that's not even getting into that Kazu is one of relatively few that has been in his life through a transition, who has known him and has stories of both Valentina and Val. That he considers the problem at all, when he had once been the most confused about it all, makes something in Val warm. ]
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Partner.
[ Val will notice he just says it in English, rather than going with a literal translation that could have a different implication. He seems to be trying it on for size for a moment, then smiles and squeezes Val's hand back. Yeah, that definitely works. One issue down! Time for something a little tougher. ]
I also get the impression that this place will be a challenge to physical monogamy...
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Yes, that is certainly the sense I have been getting.
[ There's no doubt they can handle this whole quota business entirely between themselves, but it's not exactly hard to see that the city has its own ideas about how freely you should be sleeping with others. ]
Does that bother you? Or— does that worry you?
[ There's a subtle difference there, but there's a difference, and either would be understandable. Val has little concern about such things; he's had relationships that were looser, in such ways, in the past. But he knows well that him having that experience, being equipped to handle it, does not at all mean that Kazu does. ]
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Right now it's worry.
[ What if he's jealous, or possessive, or selfish? Part of him, the part that's been told throughout his life that he's not good enough, is scared of screwing things up and the more complicated things are the more likely it seems.
How the hell does he explain that to Val? ]
...this is a lot of new things at once for me. I trust you. I just don't know how I'll handle it.
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