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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"1423 Cockburn Street." Were it anyone else, they might have not managed to say it with a straight face, but Akutagawa treats it with the same intensity as he would anything else. A job is a job, regardless of what it is, and he's going to take it seriously. "If you insist on helping, we will split payment." They're both unfortunate enough to be Submissives in this world, and Akutagawa isn't going to let his boss suffer more than they both have to.
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He actually doesn't think he'll be of any help. The address sounds vaguely familiar, but considering that all the streets have that same theme when it comes to names, that doesn't mean much. He could be getting it confused with at least ten other places. Really, the Japanese method of numbering districts is much more effective.
"Do you want to return to your old job?"
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"I would prefer to have a job that would utilize my skillset." Going from a mafia assassin to serving food hadn't been his ideal, but he'd been desperate at the time. As a Submissive, he hadn't been given very many options. "I was working as a waiter at Fangtasy." The vampire host bar fit him based on his appearance alone; he'd even had a few fans of his icy attitude. It was a job he hated though.
"I was investigating a crime syndicate in the Down. It might be worthwhile to infiltrate their ranks." What they'd do after that, he doesn't know, but he's never been the brains of the operation.
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"Our first priority is money, and finding Dominants who can be used." Much as he hates it. He's not supposed to need anyone else's permission, and he has no intention of submitting to anyone. The only one he follows is the Boss. "But if that syndicate is still running, we should check it out as well."
The man Chuuya worked for last time isn't here now, and his business is gone as well. It's too bad, because that would have been a good place to start.
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However, he's willing to swallow some of his pride if it means getting out of the slums. It's far too familiar to the life he used to lead, a life he swore he would never go back to.
"I'm sure the boss at Fangtasy would hire you, even if it's only temporarily. I believe we could use a bartender." Legitimate means of earning money, however, was neither of their strong suits. "I'll run any candidates for a Dominant by you." Regardless of what the city said, the only superior Akutagawa had here was Chuuya.
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He also doesn't like the idea of working at a place like Fangtasy. It feels insulting, considering his skillset. "I'll consider it. I'll look into what jobs are available, but we're going to need more money than a submissive can earn in a place like that." That could be solved through crime, of course. "It's a good cover, at least."
He rubs the back of his neck, thinking of Akutagawa's Dominant last time. He definitely doesn't trust him with that decision by himself. "Good. Don't feel pressured to contract until we find someone good enough."
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Come to think of it... "I might know someone that can help." It had only been just before he had left, but there had been someone... "I met a man before I left. He was brought to this world as we were. He was yakuza. He had the intention of restarting his organization here. I aided him, but it was new at the time. Since it's been at least several months since I was last here, it's possible that his attempt has blossomed into something more."
Working with the yakuza would surely use both of their skill sets. "If he succeeded, then I imagine he might be able to be of some aid to us."
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"Find out if he's still here. Try talking to him. Since he knows you already, it's less suspicious." Even though negotiation is not at all one of Akutagawa's skill sets. Chuuya at least has some experience, but he'll leave it to him for now. "We can decide what to do once we know for sure."
And having a plan is already making Chuuya feel better, even if it's only the beginnings of one.
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He glances up to a street sign as they pass. They're going in the right direction, he thinks, but it's hard to be sure.
"I had an offer from a Dominant." It's probably something he should have brought up earlier, considering their topics of conversation.
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"Who? Are they still here?" he asks. He considers it for a moment. If Akutagawa is even mentioning it, that means he either considered it then, or thinks it's worth considering now. He's definitely curious about the kind of person who'd get close enough to Akutagawa for that. "Would you want them as your Dominant?"
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"Her name is Claudia. She was one of my bosses at Fangtasy." Was he considering it? It isn't his ideal scenario by any means, but it's a possibility. "She wouldn't meddle in my business, but she does come with a... requirement." He hesitates, as if he's mulling it over. "She's a vampire. She would need someone to feed off of."
Akutagawa is already frail. He's not sure what kind of toll it would take on his body, but he's certainly not about to admit that he'd be too weak for such an arrangement.
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Chuuya doesn't even hesitate before he answers. "I need you at your strongest, Akutagawa. Especially when there's just two of us."
Had it been Mori, or Dazai, they might have considered the advantages of having a vampire on their side, but Chuuya doesn't actually care about that. Gaining strength is important, but not at the expense of his current subordinates, and that wouldn't change no matter how desperate the situation was. Akutagawa, he thinks, deserves better.
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Still, while it should have been a simple no, there was still something that held Akutagawa back from denying her outright. Agreeing to her terms meant avoiding life in the Down and avoiding the painful memories that came with living somewhere that was all too similar to the slums he'd grown up in.
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Though if Akutagawa is going to find a Dominant, whether it's someone they can use, or for his own sake, there's another issue. "Try to be friendly towards people unless they give you a reason not to. We need all the connections we can get."
He doesn't want to outright order Akutagawa to make friends, but that much should be safe, he hopes.
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What Chuuya does get is a look of mild confusion. "Be... friendly?" Akutagawa could be polite, but friendly is something else entirely. He understands the concept, but in practice, he draws a blank every time. Even the times he has tried to be nicer to people have wound up with others saying he'd been too harsh.
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"Try initiating conversation sometimes," he decides. It's probably still going to end with Akutagawa unnerving people, though. "And only insult them if they really deserve it."
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And he likes it that way.
"What do I talk about?" There's something almost innocent about the question and the way Akutagawa seems genuinely bewildered. Then: "Perhaps I should just sleep with them instead." That made friends. Right? Right.
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"You'll have to sleep with people anyway," he says. It's just a damn fact of life in this city. Chuuya is trying not to think back to having sex with Akutagawa himself, to being tied up by him and Dazai, though it's difficult to ignore. "But... Just try asking them about their interests."
Chuuya isn't exactly an expert at making friends himself. But he can handle talking to them, at least.
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That doesn't mean he's particularly good at it, nor is he suave.
"I don't care about their interests." Even Akutagawa knows he's just being difficult, now, though, and he sighs. "I'll..." He can't say 'try,' because Akutagawa doesn't try, not when it comes to an order from a superior. "I'll do it."
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"Keep yourself safe first of all." Other than that, he'll have to trust Akutagawa. And if anything does happen, Chuuya can take care of it.
And he does feel a little mean now. "Try to find people who actually interest you. Otherwise you don't have to."
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Having Chuuya backtrack slightly catches Akutagawa off guard. He doesn't have to? Had he made some sort of mistake? "I apologize," he corrects himself, staring straight ahead as they walk. He doesn't want to look Chuuya in the eye right now. "It won't be a problem. I'll do it without question."
Something as simple as 'go make friends' really shouldn't feel so complicated.
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He reaches out to touch Akutagawa's arm, lightly, just to catch his attention. "Don't apologize. Did I say you did anything wrong?" He very definitely didn't. But reassuring Akutagawa in any way is most likely going to keep backfiring. "Why would we waste our time with uninteresting people?"
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He hadn't done anything wrong, but it felt like he had.
"No, sir," he answers finally. "We wouldn't." He sighs softly. "I understand the value of allies though." Friends, maybe not, but he can understand at least that they need people around them.
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"And we will find allies. As long as the Port Mafia has a single loyal member left, we will always come back strong." He means it as a compliment, because Akutagawa needs more of those. "I know I can count on you, Akutagawa."
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When it does not, and he gets a compliment instead, there's a noticeable widening of his eyes. Chuuya can count on him? Akutagawa isn't sure he's ever been counted on to do anything but be a beast for slaughter. It's what he does best, after all. This is a different feeling, one that's odd to him that he can't quite place.
A feeling... How strange. Akutagawa does not have many of those.
"Of course. I won't fail."