duplicitymemes | TDM #22

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TDM #22

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « ALL ON DISPLAY

It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Yet, solace is found in the lies we tell each other, comforted by the peace of knowing that we're not alone in our depravity, and once on this path, sin itself becomes the lesser of two evils masked in a cloud of normalcy.

This is how Duplicity has functioned since the beginning. The divide of power and social standing is overt in that Dominants influence the decisions made both publicly and privately while Submissives cater to the rules presented to them. It is the way of Duplicity to assign random designations at birth with no leeway in altering what has been given. Climate in the Up is far stricter than that of the Down; violating outlined personas for a Dominant or Submissive while in full view of others is punished by degree of infraction. In the Down, many tend to turn a blind eye to these sorts of offenses.

To counteract the discovery of the Deceit Gene – a natural "negative" response to all stimuli – the L.I.E.S. program was founded. The program had been designed to introduce new subjects to the current environment and test for the Deceit Gene through immersion in Duplicity's standing society. Sexual impulses and encounters increase the chances of detecting the gene within these individuals. Participants are typically released from L.I.E.S. after a year; however, results have remained unsatisfactory and testing still continues.

... and you’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity.

After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation.

If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your 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

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

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

(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

(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

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!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Even temporarily.
I can make anything work for as long as I have to.

If you keep it under the radar, you can stay somewhere else for one or two nights, but they keep track and those consequences don't just come from open rebellion

Believe it or not, I'm familiar with doing that. Being on the run, I mean.
A few days isn't anything compared to a couple of years.

Got any suggestions where I should start?

Limited options give you somewhere abandoned (but freezing), a friend's if you know anybody already here
Stranger
I have a second bedroom you can stay in
Most Dominants do

The first one I've got covered already.
But I wouldn't want to take up that space if you've got someone else with you.

I don't
My friend who might use it contracts with someone
It's free right now
When Miracle isn't claiming it as his own
You're not allergic to dogs are you?

No. Dogs are great.

If you're sure, I'll take you up on that offer for now.
You won't even know I'm there.

( he'd say 'slow your roll,' but dean has been converted. at least when it concerns all things miracle. )

Yeah, I'm sure.
Anyone asks, we can call it a trial run
I bartend tonight at Crimson in the Down

[ trial run. that's a weird thing to consider, but there are worse things. ]

You want to meet there?
Might be a good idea to talk in person.

( he's biding his time for his own contract, but he knows that Doms can take on multiple. either way, he's helping Steve Rogers. if this isn't a win on a win.

be cool. )

Yeah, we should meet there. I'm there today and tonight. 3 - 3.

I'll stop by then.
See you soon, Dean.

[ which is probably going to be harder than it sounds since he doesn't actually know what dean winchester looks like. but if he's tending the bar —

steve takes his time, having gotten only a little familiar with the places in the down. the up, while nicer in regards to structure and general sanitary protocols, isn't that much better for anyone. it's not a place he likes or a place he enjoys being—if he's being honest. still, it's something, and things could always be worse. at least people are thriving here in their own way; he's still trying to pick of the pieces of his own life and the others around him back home. and when he walks into crimson, it's a lot nicer than he'd been expecting considering its location.

at least he doesn't look all that uncomfortable approaching the bar, only slightly lost. definitely looking for someone. ]

You too

( dean spends his day keeping his mind and body busy. he gets a workout in, takes Miracle for a long walk, and avoids anything and everything having to do with the winter market and all it's trappings. the bracelet he'd bought still sits on his night stand. he should shove it into the drawer or throw it away.

instead, he busies himself with cleaning the suite and doing a load of laundry for steve should this work out.

when dean first set foot inside Crimson he thought it was like something out of a SciFi novel. totally up his alley. dean arrives at two to set up the bar and then he's off to the races. miracle sits in a dog bed by the entrance to his bar. he pops a head up as steve approaches, curious. steve's presence is calming and miracle sees nothing to bark at. (he barks at literally no one. he's a good dog. terrible for home invasions, though.)

dean greets steve with an empty shot glass as he makes the approach. )

Steve. ( He clarifies. ) Your picture's attached to your messages. Welcome to Crimson.

( he's probably already been welcomed to duplicity. )

[ if the man behind the counter hadn't been an indication of him being in the right place, then the dog certain would have tipped him off. as it is, he gives miracle a cursory glance and continues on until he can lean slightly against the bar. it gives him a better view of the inside of crimson, at the very least. ]

Right. [ he really needs to pay attention to things like that more. ] Thanks. It wasn't too hard to find.

[ he had stopped to ask for directions though, just in case. talking to people in the down is a lot easier bearing the submissive mark than it is in the up; he isn't sure how many times he's been ignored (or looked at or propositioned). it's the same in this part of duplicity too but less, as if the subs don't want to be bothered by such things unless they're actively seeking attention. steve doesn't want that though. not right now. there will be time to get acquainted with things like that another time.

a glance at dean, and he wonders what kind of place he must come from. he's been thinking that a lot lately with people he's met or run into. ]

Nice place too. You stay busy here all night?

[ subjective night since it's pretty dim in the down most of the time it seems. ]

( it will help him not be catfished, that's for sure. )

Busy enough. The locals come here, too, and down on their luck Submissives. Qi'ra is generous to Submissives. ( He indicates the shot glass. ) What's your poison? On me.

[ someone has to be considering how badly they're treated. ]

Whatever you'd have, [ he answers, not quite so interested in drinking. not that it would do anything anyway; he's just being polite. ] Qi'ra's the owner? They must have been here a while to be able to do something like that.

( he pours him not quite well bourbon, but just about. a nice burn for his predicament. he grabs a glass for himself, too, pouring himself some. )

Coupla years. I worked with her my first trip through here. Coming back, I didn't remember anything. She still offered me my job back.

[ steve thanks him for the drink with a nod and offers a silent (and slight) tip of the glass before swallowing the contents. it reminds him he hasn't had a proper drink in a while, and certainly not like this. meaning in a bar with other people around. ]

And that happens? [ he sounds a little surprised. ] No one's mentioned that to me before. Leaving and coming back, I mean.

( dean does the same, sucking through his teeth before pouring them each one more. )

Happened to me and my friend, Cas. People remembered us, we did not remember them. Still don't. We're also taken from different worlds and times. And different times from the same worlds.

[ another shot, and steve relaxes a little more. it's the small things that make it feel comfortable, like he could be back home. ]

I do know about that. [ he recalls orientation, the market. ] There's a few people I know that are here and have been for a while. Different times though, like you said. I wonder if that affects whatever data they're after.

I don't think they care. Everyone lies. Everyone -

( He gestures. Screws each other. )

I only know one person from home, but more people know me. How many are here that knew you?

[ it's a bitter topic, but he understands. mostly. another month and he probably would. ]

Maybe six? I haven't met up with all of them though. [ he's a little hesitant to, if dean thinks to ask. ] At least you have someone. Might not be a good place to be, but you're not alone.

We're not.

( it's #complicated and timelines are involved and future sexuality maybe but this isn't a therapy session and what steve says still rings true. )

And you're not. Gives you a leg up.

[ he lifts a shoulder in a slight shrug, his smile thin. ]

Or more to worry about. [ it's something else to focus on though. ] Anyway, I appreciate you offering up a place to stay. I owe you.

Yeah, way I see it. I should pay it forward. I'm fortunate. Not everyone is.

( In more ways than one. Something he's done for years, though, is probably something Steve can relate to. It sounds like. )

Worrying's built into my DNA.

Good way to see it, but my friends are your friends. If anything comes up, all you need to do is let me know.

[ they're not quite the avengers in this place, but steve can't stop helping those who can't help themselves. ]

No point worrying on your own when you don't have to.

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