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duplicitymemes2023-07-10 08:51 am
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2023-07-10 08:51 am
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TDM #31
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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 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. It's the hottest part of the summer. Prepare to sweat. |
 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. |
 (cw: aphrodisiacs, dub-con, groping, public nudity, public sex) It's summertime! To beat the heat, LIEs has decided to throw a pool party directly following Orientation at one of the city's public pools! Attendance is mandatory for new arrivals and strongly encouraged for everyone else. New arrivals are provided with (skimpy) swimsuits to wear, but LIERs who have been in the city a while have the option of bringing their own gear. Of course, skinny dipping is allowed as well, and there are many spots on deck for people to tan themselves. Speaking of tanning, why not help out a fellow LIER by rubbing some lotion on them? Or, if you want to avoid a burn, get someone to put sunscreen on your back? The formulas of the complementary products that LIEs provide may or may not have a mild aphrodisiac added to them, but at least you won't burn and you may get that nice golden tan you've been chasing — all over! While one end of the pool is reserved for people to splash around in or float casually, there are numerous games and water activities for people to join in on as well: In a sexy twist on Marco Polo, though in Duplicity the call and response is "lucky" and "get me," the seeker must try and tag other players by tugging at their swimsuits. They'll be rewarded with 30 seconds of foreplay, groping and whatever else they can accomplish within the time frame. Dominant and Submissive pairs face off against one another in piggyback chicken fights or jousts using inflatable toys and suggestively shaped pool noodles. Are those dildos stuck to the bottom of the pool? You bet! Dive down and retrieve them before handing them to the next person behind you to toss in and dive for or just collect as many as you can. There is, of course, the option of using said dildo on yourself or someone else for others to watch and enjoy on the pool deck. No judgment here. For those who prefer a slightly more private option, there are curtained cabanas available and it's easy enough to duck inside with a partner for a quick tryst. |
 (cw: aphrodisiacs, dub-con, altered mental states, miscellaneous kink) Whether it's the obnoxious, telltale jingle that signals the arrival of ice cream trucks, or the vehicles happen to be spotted in their various parking spots all around Duplicity — including some smaller carts made to navigate the narrower streets of the Down, it's obvious that they're popular considering the warm summer weather. It seems the locals can't get enough of the cool, sweet treats on offer — and, even better, the trucks are offering free samples in addition to selling regular sizes. Popsicles and soft serve ice cream are on the menu, and each frozen bite has its own unique set of effects. The menu: Want sprinkles with that? Enjoy your added aphro! |
 (cw: dub-con/non-con, pet play, leash and collar, training/discipline, exhibitionism) A new public park has recently been built on a formerly empty lot in the Up. The bigger sign on the gate reads "Dog Park," and the smaller sign adjacent to it includes the posted rules that all people need to abide by in order to enter. If you're curious about what such a structure entails (after all, there are dogs in Duplicity), you're in luck: today, there's a meet-and-greet being hosted for pets and their owners, sponsored by a local "pet" shop, with banners advertising the event posted at each end of the park. This is a Dog Park, alright, but it's intended for a very specific kind of play involving the LIERs who want to wear the collars in question as well as the LIERs who are interested in holding their leashes. Even if you've never harbored an interest in it before, don't worry — random bystanders will be enthusiastically pressured to join in by event volunteers, so you might find yourself wearing a collar or holding a leash in very short order regardless. All pets must be collared and leashed properly in order to enter the Dog Park, and owners must remain in close proximity to their pets at all times. There are toys for tugging and fetching, a few pieces of special playground equipment, and more than enough space to run around. There will also be obedience challenges issued to various pairs at random, just to see how in sync both pet and owner are with one another. If you decide to participate and remain on your best behavior, you might even earn a nice treat in addition to a pat on the head. The pet shop will be handing out goodie bags consisting of take-home collars, as well as animal tail plugs and other sex toys and gear, to everyone who takes part in the event, willingly or not. |
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 a night owl, they are a Dominant. If your character prefers the daytime, 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 tag on 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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"Oh, I would make a terrible hostage. Terribly annoying when I wish to be, you see."
Which leaves only the other option, though admittedly Hythlodaeus doesn't know what kind of 'job' he's supposed to be working here; but Joker's casual talk of hostages doesn't have him hopeful that this is a very virtuous job. What kind of person has he stumbled across this time?
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But that would be missing out on some potential fun en route. And, sure, sure, it's not always about the journey, but on a hot day like this one, in a delightful place like this one, why not take a moment or two to indulge in a little chit-chatty sidebar?
"Enlighten me," Joker says, amused. "What would make you annoying, precisely?" One corner of his smile creeps a little higher. "You don't really come across as a sniveler or a screamer. Don't look like much of a blusterer, either." He considers. "You're not one of the ones who wants to use the vending machines or the toilet every half hour, now, are you?"
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"Tell me, what would you gain from having hostages to begin with? Forgive me, I'm... unfamiliar with the practice. If you'd like more friends, surely you're better off asking. I've found that a sense of humour and a little compassion works wonders."
He's never heard of anyone being a hostage back on Etheirys. He was, of course, not privy to everything happening on the star, but he had a pretty good idea of what happened in Amaurot at the very least. Most would shudder at the prospect of kidnapping someone!
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Violet here doesn't particularly look or sound like an idiot. Smart-ass, maybe – jury's still out on that one – but idiot? No. So either he's fucking with him, or he's come to Duplicity from some magical, flower-filled world in which nobody ever walks into a bank with a bunch of clowns and firepower and grabs the nearest civilian.
Could be either, really, at this point.
"You know, I would like more friends, now that you mention it." He moves closer, tossing his popsicle to the side en route. "But I'm not familiar with this 'compassion' thing you speak of. Not sure we have it, where I'm from."
His brows rise a little, his expression opening up, hopeful. "Don't suppose you could teach me how it works?"
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"Of course I can!" He opens his arms, smiling wide. "'Tis a simple thing, really. If somebody needs help, you assist them! Whether it be a kind word, or simply showing somebody how to do something- my aiding you in learning about compassion will, in itself, be an act of compassion."
But if Joker has never experienced it before, then compassion may be harder to learn for him. Hythlodaeus hums as he thinks on it, then chuckles and pats Joker cheerfully on the shoulder.
"Hm... perhaps a demonstration would better suffice. If you would accompany me- I am sure in this city, we shall stumble across someone who needs help quite quickly."
Duplicity is simply that sort of city, after all.
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Of course, it's also possible that Skipper is just nuts. But all things considered? Joker doubts it.
He resists the urge to shift his shoulder away from the patting, and instead simply accepts the touch. Whatever's about to happen is probably more entertaining than what he'd had going on five minutes ago, so what the hey? Let's see where this goes.
The sweet ones are always good for a laugh, if nothing else.
"Oh, I daresay." Joker's smile has taken on a slightly bemused quality, but his overall expression remains hopeful and open. "Though I imagine in this city, the sort of help strangers are looking for might not be the sort we wish to provide." One corner of his smile crooks up. "Not as a team, at any rate."
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Hythlodaeus starts walking, assuming Joker will follow him.
"I never got your name, though. I am Hythlodaeus, but... well, if you couldn't recall Bob, what chance do I have?" Laughing, he shakes his head. Yes, he knows by now that his name is quite difficult for most others here.
"For what it's worth, I shan't be offended if you forget. These things happen!"
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He really shouldn't be following this kid, because come on, where is this going to go? Hythlo... dithius... clearly isn't the sort who's going to end up on payroll, and he quite likely is the sort who's going to get all sorts of unpleasant as soon as the weapons come out.
But, hey, he's vaguely amusing, and he's clearly about to offer up a tour very unlike the one Joker received on that train. So why not just take this as it comes? They can always call it quits if it starts to feel too wholesome.
"Let's shorten it a bit, shall we?" Joker strolls along beside him, his lanky stride easily keeping pace. He could get the name, he assures himself. If it mattered. "Hyth, perhaps? Maybe Lodi?"
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It makes a change for someone to be able to keep up with him, too. Joker is only a little shorter than Hythlodaeus, after all.
Of course, when someone almost deliberately walks into Hythlodaeus despite his height, whereas others are avoiding walking into Joker... well, his smile goes tight. Especially when the man in question grunts and mutters under his breath about Submissives getting under his feet. Still, the cheery way Hythlodaeus continues speaking almost hides his irritation.
"Ah, as I'm sure you've noticed, the people here tend to treat Submissives rather poorly. Do you happen to know anyone here with that designation?"
He wonders if Joker has any friends here the same way Hythlodaeus does.
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Under different circumstances, someone beelining for a six-and-a-half-foot-tall man with purple hair could be hilarious. When the Skippy in question happens to be Joker's tour guide, however, the disrespect is anything but.
Joker hasn't been in Duplicity long, but it doesn't take a weatherman to notice when it's raining, and he doesn't need any more expertise than he already has to understand what he just saw. And he could let it go – he should let it go – but Hythie's cheerful voice afterward seals the deal for him.
Ignoring the question, he turns on his heel and puts on his trademarked done-fucking-around Joker smile. "Excuse me," he calls after the offender, and while his voice is all theatrical amusement, there's absolutely nothing kind in it. "But that's my wretch you just stepped on."
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The rude man turns to grunt at Joker- as if he hadn't paid him much attention to begin with, and only now sees the disturbingly unnatural smile. You find it funny or something? Want me to do it again?
For his part, Hythlodaeus steps forward and gives Joker a strained smile. He doesn't want this to become a full blown altercation- but of course he's unaware of if Joker can handle himself in a fight or not.
"Ah, 'tis no worry, my friend... let's leave this be, hm?"
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"Quiet, wretch." He says this gently, as if to his beloved, and he never looks away from Grunty.
Easily, almost lazily, Joker begins sauntering toward the offender.
"I'm sure you weren't aware it was mine," he offers Grunty. "You look like an intelligent-enough man. Too bright, at any rate, to go deliberately stepping on another man's property! And I'll grant you, too," and he's really getting going now, that showmanship kicking into full gear, "that it's not much to look at, this pitiful creature of mine. But it's mine, you see."
He comes to a stop about three feet from Grunty, well within acid-shooting range, and puts on his biggest, brightest, most brilliantly go-fuck-yourself smile. "And I'm going to need you to apologize to it."
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For what it's worth, the guy looks like he might apologise- he wrinkles his nose at Hythlodaeus as if in thought. Then he laughs. Not happening, buddy. Tell it to get out of my way next time. Train it better.
And he pats Joker on the shoulder condescendingly and turns to go on his merry way. Hythlodaeus gets the impression that was the entirely wrong thing to do, but perhaps the man feels safe in knowing that there are plenty of others around and that it's broad daylight; it feels a lot like dancing with danger regardless, though.
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He really doesn't care for being patted.
And to be laughed at – and, oh yes, he is most certainly being laughed at right now – as if this all will be permitted to pass? As if Joker and his faux property are simply a couple of helpless suckers out for a stroll, to be walked into and patted and laughed at with impunity?
As if he's still Jack...
No. No, that's not going to fly. Not one little bit.
Which is exactly the way Joker wants it.
His smile widens, sunny as any Pollyanna's, as he deftly removes one of the two nearly (but not quite) identical revolvers from beneath his jacket. Grunty has time to make it about a step away before the gun is leveled straight at the back of his head.
"I think you misunderstand me, pal." And despite his sunshiny smile, Joker's voice has slid into the low, cold purr of the true psychopath. "You apologize to it, or you dance with me."
His other hand, the one not pointing a gun at a stranger in broad daylight, shifts almost imperceptibly as he moves something down into his palm.
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The man turns and seems to finally realise the gravity of the situation as he's looking down the barrel. He breaks out into a sweat and raises his voice, nervous. Wh- he's gonna kill me! You all see this, yeah?
No doubt the guards will be on their way soon if they find out about this. Worried, Hythlodaeus comes forward again just incase...
The man looks at Hythlodaeus- admittedly he looks at him like he's something he stepped in, but he seems ready to acknowledge him. I'm sorry, okay!?
"We should go." Hythlodaeus barely acknowledges the apology. He's more concerned about his fellow LIER. "The guards will be here soon."
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Joker thumbs back the hammer on the revolver, the barrel still pointing directly at Grunty's now-sweaty face. The thumbing-back is completely unnecessary here, mechanically speaking, but he wants to see the look in Grunty's eyes when it happens. And he wants to make sure the cameras, if there are any here, have time to get a nice clear view of exactly what he's holding.
"That was better." One purple-suited shoulder lifts in a shrug. "I mean, marginally. And ordinarily, my crude little friend, I don't settle for 'better.' Not when you and I both know you're capable of so much more."
He holds the gun where it is for just a moment, then winks and lowers it. With an ease that suggests he's done this many, many times, Joker decocks the hammer and makes the gun vanish again beneath his jacket. "But fortunately for you, I'm learning about compassion today."
He doesn't take his gaze off Grunty, and he doesn't turn his other hand to reveal what's hidden in his palm. If Grunty's going to do something stupid, Joker knows, it will happen right about now.
"So I'll think we'll call it good enough. If you're satisfied, that is, wretch?"
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"Watch out!"
If nothing else, him grabbing the man's arm slows him down, but it also gives Joker the perfect opportunity to react too. Not that Hythlodaeus really knows what might happen next, he just doesn't want to see his new friend hurt by some brute with bad manners! Of course, Hythlodaeus isn't really trained in hand to hand combat outside of some sparring with Chris, so if the man swings for him next he's in trouble. He doesn't really want to use magic to retaliate, because that's... kind of overkill.
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Whenever Joker finds himself considering such uncomfortable existential questions as, Is it possible I was wrong about humanity?, which admittedly is almost never, it's the memory of countless moments exactly like this that squelches the thought in its tracks.
No, he isn't wrong. He's never wrong, not about that sort of thing.
His smile looks perfectly unsurprised and self-satisfied as he squeezes the bulb in his hand. A particularly nasty acid sprays from the carnation in his lapel directly at the face of his attacker.
It's good that Skippy only grabbed the fellow's arm, rather than getting into the line of fire. What a pity it would have been, had the acid gotten both of them! Particularly since – as Joker realizes properly right as the acid sprays – Skippy has just done the unthinkable and defended him.
So even as he's standing there, flashing that smug smile at Grunty, Joker's eyes are shifting in Hyth's direction with a subtle look of confusion: Why the devil did you just do that?
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"Ah-" There's no time to explain what he's about to do. He grabs Joker's arm, and the pair of them are teleported further into the Up in a cloud of inky darkness. Best to do that before they're both apprehended and Hythlodaeus' powers nullified.
Once they appear in their chosen spot, concealed in the alleyways of the Up, Hythlodaeus looks over at Joker with a frown.
"What happened back there? Not that I don't appreciate it, of course- but I'm unsure of what you did to him."
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A teleporting Skippy. You don't say...
Even the frown Hythie's giving him doesn't diminish Joker's obvious pleasure at this new revelation. Now this, see, this is precisely the sort of friend he's been looking for.
And because a man who set out to teach a stranger about compassion seems unlikely to respond favorably to an answer like I just sprayed him with a little face-eating acid, Joker does what he does best: he lies.
"Oh, I just blinded him for a moment or two. Which, admittedly, is a bit on-the-nose, considering his crime, but..." He shrugs. "If I'd known you could do that little trick, I wouldn't have bothered."
Then, with a slight frown: "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
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"He didn't, but it wouldn't matter even if he did. Nothing I can't heal, I'm sure." He smiles again, a little hesitant but at least glad that nobody got truly hurt.
"My thanks. For defending me, that is. Are you unharmed?"
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There are so many conversations they're going to need to have.
But not right at this moment, when it might give the (very accurate) impression that Joker's interested in pursuing a friendship due to ulterior motives. No, the what can you do for me talk will be best undergone in a more casual, relaxed setting, ideally after they've had time to chit-chat about this or that. Over some takeout, maybe. While watching something inane. When they haven't, you know, just fled the scene of someone having his face taken off.
That sounds like a plan.
"I'm fine, perfectly fine." Joker frowns, as if contemplating this. "Thanks to you."
He shakes his head slightly. "You know, I can count on one hand the number of times someone's put themselves in danger just to make sure I was all right." That's a lie, but he tells it with apparent sincerity. "And you're a stranger, at that. They really do make 'em different where you're from, don't they?"
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"Etheirys was very different to this world, it's true. That said, we were not entirely defenceless."
And yes, Hythlodaeus had refrained from blasting their attacker into a red mist, but it's something he wouldn't have wanted to get them both in trouble for.
"Do you have a place to stay yet? We can retire there until this blows over."
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But he's not in Gotham anymore, and, more importantly: the stranger in question in this particular scenario can teleport and heal, and who knows what else, besides?
"A grand idea." Joker beams. "We could order up some munchies, even. Least I can do is get you a meal, after all of that..." He glances around, trying to figure out where, exactly, they've wound up. "The apartments where they stick all the new folks. Those are... what, thataway?"
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In the lift, Hythlodaeus leans against the wall and smiles at the other man. "I'm afraid I'm no good at giving nicknames, myself. I only ever thought to name one concept, and that was... well, a good few thousand years ago now. So if you'd like to spare us both the discomfort, what might I call you?"
Hopefully his persistence pays off. As for the mention of a concept- well, he realises that Joker won't know what he means yet. But he doesn't want to distract from his question, so he will elaborate afterwards.
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