duplicitymemes | TDM #24

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TDM #24

« « « 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 LIEs 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 LIEs 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 high-rise. 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 for all new and past arrivals.

Skies are clear and the weather is warm.

» » » 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.

« « « REACTION MECHANISM

(cw: sensory deprivation, coercion, dub-con/non-con)

One of the workshops at this month's Orientation pairs Dominants with Submissives for an exercise in blind chemistry. Literally — they'll all be blindfolded before meeting their partner and the blindfolds must stay on! They will be encouraged to explore with their other senses, such as touch and taste. Kissing is the bare minimum of what's expected, though no one will stop them should they want to take things further…

Each pair will get around 10-15 minutes together (unless they really hit things off) before switching to a new partner.

Some participants may also be tapped for a secondary exercise in which Submissives remain blindfolded, while Dominants are not. Dominants may do as they wish with them and may choose whether to keep their partner or swap blindfolded Subs back and forth with other Dominants.

« « « COMPANY PICNIC

(cw: aphrodisiacs, drugs, altered mental states, public nudity)

With the arrival of good weather and sunny skies ahead in the forecast, LIEs has decided to sponsor a post-Orientation BBQ in North Park. Picnic blankets and picnic tables are set up for use around the park and there is a main food station handing out catered food, as well as a few small charcoal grills available for those who wish to grill themselves. Sausages, burgers, and kebabs (vegetarian options available) are either ready to go or laid out to be cooked, along with stuff to make sandwiches (did someone say PB&J?). All the usual sides and condiments are available as well.

In addition to flavor, many of those condiments contribute a little something extra to one's meal. Does the jelly in that PB&J make you feel a little more jealous than usual? Does that mustard get you all hot and bothered? It just might. Perhaps most nefarious of all is that a few batches of the condiments have truth serum mixed in with them, making people open up about their true wants and desires. See someone you wouldn't mind kissing? Feel like baring it all? Maybe you should tell them — or simply go for it. Inhibitions are lowered and tongues loosened so stuff that hotdog down your throat and get ready for some fun.

There are a few different games being played in the park that LIERs can join in on, such as three-legged and wheelbarrow races with Dominant and Submissive pairs, capture the flag, and something that resembles a raunchier version of Twister.

If games aren't your thing there is also a hot yoga class that is taking place, open to anyone who wishes to join. Some people are fully nude as they pose and stretch while others wear workout gear that seem more scandalous than those who are naked. Of course aside from your traditional yoga poses the instructor encourages Dominants and Submissives to practice what are clearly Kama Sutra positions with one another. Hope you're flexible!

« « « FEELING SUPER

(cw: transformation, body modification, drugs)

There's a lot of buzz surrounding a store from one of Duplicity's sister cities, Insincerity, setting up a temporary pop-up location in Fiddler's Square. The store in question is the Supermarket and they deal in temporary upgrades, enhancements, and all things extraordinary. You can sample what it's like to be super at the Supermarket!

Staffed by enigmatic Insincerity natives, the mini market is open to Dominants and Submissives alike. In order to entice buyers to visit their home location, the wares on offer make up a limited selection of their full stock — a carefully curated selection of the Supermarket's best-selling products and seasonal specials. The staff won't elaborate too much, but there are rumors that something big is happening soon in Insincerity. This month they've come to you; next month you may be coming to them.

Products fall into three broad categories: power-ups, transformation/body modification, and sexual enhancers. The most common form they come in is a colorful glowing syringe, but potions, pills, and topical creams are available on request. The menu is as follows:

Something Super:

Invisibility

Super Strength (2-3X average human)

Fire/Ice/Electric Touch

Transform:

Wild Side (grow animal ears and/or tail)

Tongue Twister (tongue lengthens and becomes fully prehensile)

Flutter (sprout wings; limited flight capabilities only, more like hovering)

Enhance:

Shiver (increased sensitivity)

All Night Long (enhanced stamina)

Multi-O (frequent, cascading orgasms)

Effects can be mixed and matched with the application of multiple products — though the Supermarket employees caution that buyers do so at their own risk — and may last up to one full day.

« « « 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 the assignments are OOCly 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 jelly, they are a Dominant. If your character prefers peanut butter, 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

[Perhaps it is a bit hard meeting others. G'raha is friendly--perhaps more than most--but he's seen as eccentric, and thus in the past has often found himself alone. His dedication to his studies, his penchant for talking too much in technical terms most wouldn't want to pay attention to... He can relate a bit. Perhaps not exactly the same as Hermes, who seems far quieter and more reserved.

Which is why, to G'raha's surprise, Hermes suggests they get to know each other, that they might be able to help one another out. And G'raha certainly could use an ally in this place--a friend, even--where it seems the system is designed to punish those who don't conform to the rules.]

I would like that very much, I think. You seem quite pleasant, and I'd be more than happy to offer any of my own assistance... though I cannot say it seems worth much here. Ah- [His name!] My name is G'raha.

I try to be. _{[Pleasant that is.]} It is a pleasure to meet you, G'raha. _{[His smile softens, albeit somewhat sadly as he thinks about the other man's comment. Even though Hermes was quite lacking in the self worth department himself, it didn't mean that he liked hearing others put themselves down.]}

I am sure you have much to offer. Every being has their own set of strengths and weaknesses that make them unique.

[G'raha's smile softens, and he nods his head. Quite right; he's of the same opinion. It's just much easier to believe that about others than to keep it in mind for himself.]

You're right, of course. Having lived alongside such great companions, I often end up considering myself hardly anything special... But! That's hardly relevant. [It's not that G'raha considers himself entirely useless; he simply doesn't think he can compare to people who have had history books written about them.]

It is hard to compare one's accomplishments to those who excel so magnificently. _{[Hermes gets it. Oh man does he get it.]} I am much the same toward myself.

_{[Gingerly holding his plate with the second sandwich that had been made for him, Hermes decides to push out of his comfort zone. What's the worst that could happen if he invited G'raha along to sit with him?]}

If you are not tasked to make more sandwiches, would you care to join me under one of the trees?

[Oh? Is he being invited to sit? G’raha’s tail makes it clear that he’s pleased with the idea, even if his smile hadn’t given it away.]

I think that sounds very pleasant. Thank you for the offer.

[He’d really only stayed by the sandwiches for lack of anything else to do, and now that he has eaten, G’raha is more than happy to join his new acquaintance—-perhaps friend?—-under the trees.]

_{[It would be nice if they could become friends, Hermes thinks, but he's not one to get ahead of himself. The number of friends he actually has he can count on one hand, Hythlodaeus being the main one. Hermes was a loner by design but that didn't necessarily mean he enjoyed being alone. He's happy then, that G'raha accepts his offer to join him - what a relief.]}

Let us sit beneath that tree over there. There seems to be no one else.

[G'raha, on the other hand, makes friends quite easily, and so he already considers Hermes a 'friend'. Perhaps not in the ride or die sort of way, but he's a pleasant man, they seem to get along well together, and... G'raha doesn't really have anyone else in this place. Not that wouldn't consider Hermes a friend even if he did!]

I must admit, the atmosphere here is... rather difficult to get used to.

[Standing up, G'raha dusts off his pants--rather threadbare, basic things, because here, he's doesn't have nice clothes unless he can afford them himself, and he's not allowed a job without the permission of a Dominant. It's all very frustrating, to be honest.]

It is. I will admit I still am quite unused to much of what this city deems normal.

_{[Most of it is anything but normal as far as Hermes is concerned...but different cultures had different priorities. It's just how things were. As soon as G'raha is upright Hermes leads them to one of the picnic blankets that's set out, sitting down cross legged, sandwich plate balanced on one of his knees. He's so long limbed that he can't help but feel a little awkward - hopefully he wasn't taking up too much room.]}

Would you tell me about your world? I would like to hear about it. Ah, and of course I am more than happy to tell you about my own.

_{[Y'know. If he wants to hear it.]}

[G'raha has been many, many places by now, across countries and even worlds, but this is something he's never encountered. He wonders why he's here--him, of all people!--but at the end of the day, simply wondering doesn't solve problems, and it's difficult for him to access much advanced information. Most of it is curiosity, but he'd also like to further study the laws and customs, the history, and-

Oh, he's gotten distracted.

Tucking his tail behind him, G'raha joins Hermes on the picnic blanket. Honestly, he's a bit jealous of those long limbs; they certainly would have served him in the past.]

I would love nothing more than to exchange information about where we're from! Let's see... The difficult part is thinking of where to begin. [And a lot of it is quite complicated.] I suppose compared to this place, we are far more in-tune with nature. Our cities are widely dispersed, and each boasts its own unique culture.

[He might ramble forever if left unchecked.]

_{[G'raha isn't the only one who could ramble on forever if left unchecked. Hermes is equally guilty of doing just that numerous times over topics that interest him. Right now though he's eager to listen to everything G'raha has to tell him about his world - about the cities, the cultures and its people. It sounds like a vibrant, unique place. A place Hermes would very much like to hear more about.

Taking a bite of his sandwich he encourages G'raha to indulge him further.]}

Please, do continue. How do people travel within your world? What of magicks? Do you have a favourite place?

[Perhaps someday, they would ramble on and on at each other. G'raha is just as content to listen as he is to talk; the new things he learns are fascinating, and he only hopes he can recount all of them to his friends back in his own world. He'll return, he's sure of it! He just... has to figure this one out first.

Hermes' interest is encouraging, certainly.]

There are a vast amount of ways to travel--by air, by sea, by chocoback. Ah, that's a sort of... well, it's a rather large bird. By far the easiest is aetheryte travel, which provides near-instant teleportation. It's really quite convenient. I cannot tell you the amount of times it has saved me from getting lost in the more complex cities.

[As for his favorite place...]

I've been so many places, it's hard to name a favorite. I suppose... the city where I was largely raised, and where I studied. It's always pleasant to return home.

_{[Hermes listens diligently, eager to learn more about his company's world. Knowledge is something he always craved, especially about places far beyond his time and space itself. How interesting would it have been, if one of the Meteia had touched down upon G'raha's world? Mentions of a large bird certainly have him getting excited, as does the word 'aetheryte' strike a cord with him. Could this mean that G'raha's word was one of aether as well?

He doesn't ask right away though, letting him finish, finding his excitement somewhat dimmed at mention of how pleasant it is to return home. Even if he had the opportunity to return to Elpis...it would cease to exist eventually. Ah, but he shouldn't focus on that. The last thing he needs to be is dour before a new acquaintance.]}

This aetheryte travel sounds familiar to me...would it be wrong to assume that your world is one that possesses aether?

_{[In fact...if he actually takes a moment to look at G'raha he's certainly made of aether - but it's less dense and his soul is...well. Well it's something unusual, that's for sure.]}

[G'raha's expression goes from one of surprise to one of excitement he fails to hide, finding a similarity between their worlds. He has felt rather lost here, so any sort of connection is one he wants to cling to, leaning a little closer as they speak.]

Why, yes! Aether is one of the most important components of the world I come from. Yours as well?

[That they should even call it the same thing! How fascinating. Perhaps there's a reason they have gravitated towards each other.]

It is, yes!

_{[Ah. This is exciting. He puts down his plate with his half eaten sandwich to the side of himself, fully focused on the man across from him.]}

Aether and its form or flow is what dictates most of creation. It isn't the only force of energy to be utilized but it is the most well known and abundant source. Dynamis is another type of energy but most of my people know not of its existence, let alone how to utilize it.

_{[Except Hermes of course.]}

[It is exciting. And the mention of Dynamis--though those in his world also call it by a different name--is something G'raha knows, too.]

We have something similar in my world as well! Or rather... it sounds exactly the same. Do you think, perhaps...

[Are they from the same world? It's possible, right? G'raha has no idea how he was brought here, or why, but it stands to reason that there must be someone else from his world among the population, possibly. It's not out of the question.]

That we are from the same star?

_{[The thought is exciting, so much so Hermes cannot help but lean forward somewhat, glowing eyes widened with wonder.]}

Perhaps...although I have never come across a concept or familiar such as yourself. Although if I do give it some thought...Meteion was unknown to those outside of Elpis...it is entirely possible someone else was working on a concept such as yourself. Who made you, G'raha?

[They're both leaning in, and anyone who would happen upon them would be able to see that they're clearly excited about whatever it is they're discussing. Some of the things Hermes has discussed seem foreign to G'raha, so perhaps... And the mention of Meteion further sparks realization. But-

Ah. What sort of question is that? Perplexed, G'raha's head tilts slightly to the side.]

I... I believe my parents made me.

[Not that he remembers his parents well at all, but he's fairly certain that's how it worked.]

Ah.

_{[That has Hermes pausing as he sits up a little straighter, blinking silently for a moment back at G'raha. His parents. Of course. Perhaps he was a concept that was already at the stage of self population. Which made things even weirder.]}

So did mine. My apologies if that was a strange question...

[G'raha is working hard to put the dots together, though it's clear he and Hermes, if from the same world, occupy different places, or different times altogether. It's quite possible; he has seen people from a number of different worlds here, and G'raha is certainly no stranger to travel between them.]

There are no strange questions here, my friend. If I may ask... what sort of place do you hail from?

_{[He gently rests his hand over his heart, giving him a small smile.]}

The name of my star is Etheirys. It is a beautiful world, or was...where my people create all sorts of life and non-life alike. Everything we do is in service to bettering our star and civilization. My job is the Chief Overseer of Elpis, which is a place where concepts are created and vetted before being approved for release to the rest of our star.

[Oh, those words do ring familiar to G'raha. So it would seem they are from the same world... or at least, a version of it. G'raha may only be from a splintered shard, but they come from the same source, and he is unsure whether to be happy for that, or not, because... well, it is a rather sticky situation.

If only G'raha were better at acting...]

I see! I do believe I've heard of Etheirys. That must be what you meant by asking who created me.

[It's evident by the way Hermes speaks that his world means a great deal to him. How much does he know, exactly? G'raha absolutely does not want to slip up and say anything he shouldn't.]

It sounds like you have a fascinating job. I would rather like to know more about what you do, if you're every up for discussing it.

You have? Truly? You've heard of it?

_{[Hermes knows of the Final Days and he knows that his world ends up shattered...but as far as he's aware there isn't life after such destruction. The way Emet-Selch had described it to his wine addled brain nothing with any merit had survived. Needless to say G'raha confuses but intrigues him all the same.]}

I would be more than happy to discuss it with you.

Yes indeed, though... Er, I've never had the pleasure of visiting myself.

[He's sweating here, not knowing whether or not Hermes knows the fate of his home. Letting him know at an inappropriate time could cause a crisis that G'raha does not want to be responsible for.

...more importantly!]

Tell me of these 'concepts', I would quite like to know exactly what they entail.

Nor will you...unfortunately my star no longer exists.

_{[It's obvious there's pain in his eyes as he says as much. It's obvious he's not thinking too clearly either. G'raha's origins should confuse him but he's far too caught up in himself to think too hard about it.]}

Oh, of course. A 'concept' is, at it's core, an idea. With our creation magicks we can manifest this 'concept' into reality, whether it be food, a living being or an object of sorts. These 'concepts' are then submitted for review and deemed acceptable or not to be used within society.

[Ah, so Hermes is aware. G'raha wonders if he should offer condolences, but that seems like far too little--but he seems distracted enough to talk about concepts, which is a relief. G'raha would not mind offering comfort at all, but for something as large as one's world ending... he's not sure he would be good at it.]

Ah, so... You could, in theory, create anything?

[He remembers something similar with the Loporrits' creation magic. Perhaps it stems from the same thing?]

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