duplicitymemes | TDM #25

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TDM #25

« « « 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.

« « « SUMMER SPECIAL

(cw: aphro/drugs)

LIEs has once again partnered with a local coffee chain, Peek-A-Brew, to promote their summer menu and help play matchmaker among those in the program. Along with the usual goodie bag, each character will be handed a small slip of paper after Orientation with a date and time, location, and three fun facts about a mystery partner they're to meet for a coffee date. These "facts" may or may not actually be true — they're simply meant to spark conversation. For the duration of the 1-2 hours the pairs are expected to spend getting to know one another, they will receive unlimited free iced coffee, tea, and lemonade and a discount on any other menu items. Seasonal specials include fruity parfaits and popsicles in a variety of refreshing flavors.

Naturally, all goods are spiked to make the consumers more agreeable, more truthful, and perhaps a bit more handsy than normal. Though the meetings are not mandatory, contact with the paper brings on an inexplicable sense of curiosity about meeting their partner and discovering who they really are.

« « « BEAT THE HEAT

(cw: aphro, temporary body changes)

With summer heat building, the natives are looking for a reprieve from the sweltering weather. All manner of frozen treats are being sold and consumed and it's not uncommon to see Submissives fanning their Dominants as they walk down the street or ride the train.

Sprinkler systems are running day and night in North Park and other city-owned patches of green and plenty of people are taking the opportunity to run and jump through the spray with little care for soaked clothing — or perhaps they aren't wearing clothing at all. Others have taken up squirting one another, as well as whoever is passing by, with water guns or hurling water balloons at anyone who looks like they need to cool down. Especially on the streets near the park, it's a wet and wild battle royale and all are welcome to join in.

Getting hit with some of those colorful water balloons and squirt guns temporarily causes those who get splashed to taste like sweet, mouth-watering summer fruits. It's not just their skin either — the effect extends to their sweat, saliva, and even sexual fluids and can last for several hours. Those around them will find it hard to resist having a taste.

« « « HANG ON TO YOUR HATS

(cw: violence, public nudity/exposure)

If you're out on the streets of the Down, it's not just your wallet you have to worry about losing. It seems that one of the local gangs, the Bulldogs, has set a new test for their junior members and those hoping to join: steal an article of clothing right off the body of someone in a public place. From snatching the hat off their head to slicing the shirt off their back, it's anything goes!

These junior initiates quickly get competitive, one-upping each other on who can complete the task in the most ballsy or outrageous manner. Some compete over who can collect the most clothing, either certain articles or overall, or who can score a full set first.

As word spreads and more people are going around suddenly missing part of their outfits, the Sparrows, a rival gang, decide to get in on the action purely for bragging rights. Rather than taking the clothing by force, they pride themselves on using stealth and trickery, leaving more than a few people naked and confused.

« « « 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 is more of an optimist, they are a Submissive. If your character is more of a pessimist, they are a Dominant.

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

She points at him.

"Don't you worry about my quota. I'm perfectly capable of figuring that out on my own." Just to be clear, especially when he's the one basically refusing so he can get arrested.

"...but tell me more."

"Dark hair. Well dressed, moves like he has a lot going on that he cares about." That's his first impression, at least. Maybe it sounds like a rough description of a suspect more than any explanation of why he's attractive, though.

"Is that a euphemism?" she drawls, mouth quirking.

"I'll talk to him. We'll see what you think my taste is in men."

"I'm assuming your taste is attractive, not likely to try to mug you," he says, grinning.

Seriously, though: "...What is your type?"

"Well they can try all they want."

It's a joke from their world for now, but she sees - god, what even is being back in a proper city doing to her - how it could be a joke that goes here, too.

"Honestly? Way the world is now: willing. I don't know where I'm at with options anymore."

He grins and shakes his head. "That's a given. You can be pickier now."

"I'm being serious!" she protests, then smiles, slow and sweet and mischievous. "Why choose?"

"A smart way to play it here," he'll give her that. "But who do you notice first at a party?"

"Usually the one being the biggest dick," if she's being honest.

This is not the joke that it could be.

"Even in the old world?" He raises an eyebrow, but he can see it. Rosita's tough; it means she's been around people who needed her to be.

"Especially in the old world," she laughs, the faintest hint of embarrassment in it, but not enough to catch. She heads for the kitchen - the clean, spacious, bright kitchen - to get them both some water. Out of a faucet, that she turns and doesn't worry about what's coming out of it.

"They were exciting, you know?" She knows, she knows. "And it felt... nice when someone who was being an ass to everyone else was sweet with me, sometimes."

"I had a few like that," he admits, so there's absolutely no judgment on his part. "It's a bad habit, but it's fun while it lasts."

He follows her, just to get a look at the rest of the place. "Most people here are pretty good, though. Even the people who seem like they have a reputation have been kind to me."

She doesn't mind his curiosity, and after handing him a glass makes a motion to give him free rein to poke around. Go. Explore. She lost the habit of being possessive sometime before Alexandria burned down the first time.

"You don't think part of that's bias from what we're used to?"

He shrugs. It is. "You mean, we like people who can handle themselves now, even if it means they're yelling at us as often as they're yelling at everyone else?"

She arcs a brow at him. Cheeky bastard.

"I've never minded people barking. It's the biting you gotta watch - and no one's snapped at you?"

Well...

"I thought Carver was going to push me off the roof," he says, but like it's no big deal. It's not, really. They both know how people are from their world.

Yeah she's not terribly surprised.

All the same: "Yeah? Tell me more about that." Jesus brings people together, but he also tends to piss some of them off.

"He was dangerous back home." Dangerous even for the people they know. "And I think being here has settled him, so now he's left with the things that don't work in a city anymore. He wants there to be a fight, and there isn't one." He frowns. "I think he doesn't know how to just exist anymore."

Rosita sighs. It was a familiar story even before the old world ended, and then she saw it even in the one they had to get used to.

She makes a mental note to watch out for it in herself.

"Tale as old as time," is her comment instead. "People love to make work for themselves."

"Yeah," he looks away, looks down, guilty. "I'm not going to adjust well once the adrenaline wears off."

"Which is why you're already picking a fight."

Oh, she noticed the parallels as he was saying them. She was just going to let it go for now.

She softens, ever so slightly: "Me too, probably. It hasn't sunk in yet for me, but I did get up this morning thinking I needed to get outside the walls and get going."

He could argue that the fight he's after is strategic and thought out. But it's still a fight he doesn't have to have.

"I keep hoarding things." And he's going to keep on doing that, too, but he's aware it's not needed.

She nods.

"I don't think it's bad to be prepared. I mean - we're here, now. Which means the virus is too." Which means maybe this world is just the new old world on a long enough timeline.

"But we're still getting some spa treatment in before you try to take down the man from the inside out. That's happening."

"I promise I won't make any big moves until we've had some fun." He won't make any big moves on his own, regardless. Unlike the Alexandrians, he won't rock the boat unless he's sure everyone has a lifejacket.

She smirks, looks down.

"You know how many people would be super pissed off to find out the afterlife is a weird sex city with all the heathen amenities?" Poor Gabriel.

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