TDM #22

[duplicitymods]

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « ALL ON DISPLAY

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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.

» » » ALL ABOARD

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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.

« « « WINTER WONDERLAND

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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.

« « « DUBIOUS DELIVERIES

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(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.

« « « SURPRISES FOR SALE

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(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.

« « « MOD & OOC NOTES

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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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» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Comments

Val Romanyszyn | gen:LOCK | Dominant

[gen_derfluid]

1. All Aboard

It's not exactly the first time that Val has found himself in a place filled with debauchery, in fact such places were once his favoured way to pass the time. But those were bars, and clubs, and places he wandered into of his own accord. Still, he may have found a certain novelty in this place, mere months ago; as it is, he's in quite a foul mood.

There's a recent loss still clinging to him like a dark shadow, and a bone-deep frustration that's resurfacing from where he's been keeping it buried for months. He has a team who needs him, a team to whom he had barely resolved to stand beside despite the urge to flee, and now— he's here. Torn away from them, anyway. What sort of sick joke is this?

He doesn't care about the paper gown, or the displays of the city's sensibilities from the citizens on the train—he's not the modest type, and he's certainly seen worse at some of the parties he's been to—but the way he holds himself is tense and uneasy.

It's been a long time since he felt so on edge about not fighting and, though he's neither the impatient type nor is it like he can get where he wants to be, he still mutters: "I can think of about a thousand places I would rather be right now, maybe even some in the city. Could this not hurry up and be over already?"

2. Winter Wonderland

Val does not care much for snow. It reminds him far too much of the harsh winters of his youth, of which he has no real fond memories, and he wouldn't be out and about at all if the idea of sitting around inside didn't make him so damned restless. So, he's managed to dress himself like someone who's no fan of the cold, and has resolved to try and get a sense of the city on foot, if nothing else.

He has to admit, some of the snowmen are certainly... creative, and get a smirk out of him if nothing more, but the snowball fighting is a hazard. He's dodged worse things than snow, before, yes, but bullets have becomes less of a hassle in recent months and honestly he would prefer the familiarity. He pointedly avoids getting involved in any such fights, but if a stray snowball finds him, or someone deliberately throws one his way?

They might want to watch out. Val is not above fighting back. Anyone who does catch him out will quickly find a tightly packed snowball heading for their head, and Val's aim is very, very good. When he speaks, his accent is Russian.

"Perhaps you should work on your targeting skills."

3. Network, un: wraith

so, what are the chances that this is some alcohol induced nightmare that i'm going to wake from

and if those chances are zero, i'm going to need to know where best to get that drunk

Wildcard

[ Will match style. Open to other prompts, just accepting I've only got so much prompt writing ability in me today. bluecitrine. ]

Network, UN: Notrosecolored

[notrosecolored]

Try Scratch, but the hangover doesn't help.

[gen_derfluid]

ah, but the hangover is a problem I know how to deal with

it would be practically a comfort

[notrosecolored]

Then scratch. Or any of the smaller places in the Down.

2

[sometimespawnskillkings]

Temple tries to dodge but the snowball hits him anyway.

Temple winces, and replies, frustration in his voice, “Trust me, I’ve tried.”

And it’s never done Temple much good. His aim’s always sucked, no matter what weapons or projectiles he’s tried, to his eternal frustration.

But Temple throws another snowball anyway, hoping that, maybe, this time, it will actually hit his target.

[gen_derfluid]

Val's a very agile man who is far too used to being in active combat zones not to make sure he doesn't end up caught by any other poorly aimed snowballs.

"Then perhaps you would have better luck aiming for something you don't want to hit."

It's almost completely deadpan, just with an edge of what isn't the kindest humour, but isn't outright mocking. He's really not enthused about being caught in the crossfire and dragged in, here, but he's also not really the type to simply disengage.

[sometimespawnskillkings]

“That’s an idea,” Temple mutters to himself.

He’d been hoping just for a fun snowball fight, hoping just to play for a bit in the snow. But this fight seems like it’s somewhat more intense than that - or maybe Temple’s just a little sensitive about having his aim (justifiably) insulted.

Temple fires off another snowball, far too proud and determined to back down, even if there’s no chance of him scoring a hit.

[gen_derfluid]

In hindsight the sensible thing to do would have been to simply walk away instead of throwing a snowball back in the first place, but here he is. So, fine. He packs another snowball of his own, and yes, does avoid Temple's next throw.

Val's aim really is quite the contrast to Temple's. This is a man who is an expert with a rifle or throwing knife in his hands; it's not like it's a one-to-one transfer of skills, but it really doesn't diminish his ability to hit exactly what he's aiming for.

Perhaps luckily for Temple, he does not aim for his head again. He considers it, but he decides on centre-mass instead. Bad mood or not he's not actually aiming to give some random guy a black eye with a hard snowball to the face.

[sometimespawnskillkings]

When the snowball hits Temple, he’s grateful that Val decided to aim for his centre instead of his head.

Temple makes another snowball and throws it at Val. He tries his best to hit his target, but Temple’s sure that this ball won’t be any more successful than the previous ones.

[gen_derfluid]

If Val were the pitying sort he'd almost be tempted to just let this guy get a hit, because this just seems like it's only going to be frustrating. But he isn't, he doesn't even let Cammie get in hits in training if she doesn't actually earn them, it does her no good to coddle her and she'd honestly probably have a go at him if he did.

Val bounces his next snowball in his hand, doesn't even throw it yet. "Surely this cannot be any fun for you."

network

[braveoff]

do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Re: network

[gen_derfluid]

oh always the bad news first

[braveoff]

you're not gonna wake up, this is real and it's gonna get very weird.

good news? most LIERs are real generous to new arrivals. I'm happy to bring a bottle of whatever you like over, company optional.

[gen_derfluid]

that is about what I suspected

I will certainly not say no to a bottle of something or company, I can at least promise that I will be in a far more agreeable mood than when I asked this

[braveoff]

really? it's a rough adjustment for most people, you'll have to tell me your secret.

text; un: sharkattack

[requiemshark]

low. and depends whether you've got the money to spend.

[gen_derfluid]

well, I am no longer feeling the need to make myself quite so numb to the world, so I should hope I do by the time such an urge arises again

[ He's joking. Or he'd say he is, anyway. ]

[requiemshark]

dare to dream. you got a line on your throat?

[gen_derfluid]

I don't, no. on that front, I appear to have been 'lucky'

[requiemshark]

good for you. it'll make things easier. though you'll need to make a contract sooner than later

wildcard!!!

[collateraldamaging]

It's honestly kind of enraging how much nicer Val's Up apartment is than the room Kazu was given in the Down. To the point that he feels awkward about moving so quickly -- well technically not moving since they're filing the paperwork in the morning, so he's left one item back at the shithole to cover their asses legally -- because that's exactly what the city wants from them. His rebellious side is bristling at all this immediate compliance to a bullshit system, but... it's to be with Val. The principle of the thing isn't more important than staying by his side.

They've never actually slept together before. Kazu realizes it while he's washing up before bed, and it seems like an odd thing. They're practically getting married tomorrow, intending to go straight for a permanent contract, and they've never slept together. In the same place, sure, but this feels different. Feeling oddly nervous about it he dries his face and turns off the light, heading back out to find Val standing at the window watching the snow fall.

"It's still going?" He comes up behind Val, wrapping both arms around the other man's waist and looking over his shoulder. "It'll be knee high by morning, at this rate."

[gen_derfluid]

One of Val's arms settles over Kazu's and he tilts his head to nose at Kazu's jaw, letting out a content sigh before turning back to the view outside. "Most likely. It has been a long time since I've seen snowfall this sustained."

Not at all the first time, but his hometown and the worst of its winters is years behind him now. There's a weird, almost melancholy, quality to watching the snow fall in this strange new place; just watching it gather makes a chill he knows isn't really there settle under his skin. Still, it isn't enough to stop him watching.

Nothing much matters to him tonight outside the confines of the apartment, anyway. Kazu is real and warm at his back, and no matter how many hours pass since they found each other that never becomes any less of a relief. In the moments Kazu is out of sight it is far too easy to start to wonder, again, if this is all some strange dream he'll wake up from in the morning, but when he's right there those thoughts all but disappear.

"Hopefully it does not get so bad that going out tomorrow becomes... inadvisable. Though there are worse things than being trapped inside together, I suppose."

But he would like to get the paperwork signed as soon as possible. Everything is moving so fast, now, and yet somehow not fast enough because as frustrating as the system they're stuck in is, he has no actual hesitation about the commitment they're making. Not in and of itself. Ah, how very surprised the him of only a year ago would have been to hear that.

[collateraldamaging]

That gets a little grumble from Kazu as he snuggles closer against Val's back, which might seem like a strange response put together.

"As much as I'd enjoy that, we'd risk a citation. Inadvisable or not, I've got to go out tomorrow, so the contract office had better be open."

He has no intention of spending nights apart in the foreseeable future, not if they can help it. A little snow certainly isn't going to stand in his way.

"Are you tired?"

[gen_derfluid]

Val makes his own little frustrated noise at the word 'citation', but the stubborn determination to deal with it one way or another makes him smile. He squeezes the back of Kazu's hand, and lets his head fall back against him.

"I haven't had a full night's rest in days. Yet I do not know if I'm quite prepared to sleep just yet."

In other words: yes, he's tired, but he's not sure he's ready to fully surrender the evening to sleep right away, either.

[collateraldamaging]

"I could drag you to bed anyway," Kazu teases lightly, but he didn't miss that the actual answer was a yes. It's not exactly hard to figure out why Val would have been troubled since they were last together... there must be something that would help, though. He turns his head a little, lips brushing against Val's temple. "What would you rather do?"