duplicitymemes | TDM #35

Entry tags:

«tdm

TDM #35

« « « 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.

Submissives are provided with a plain black pleather collar to wear and Dominants are given bracelets made of the same black pleather. The simple design is an immediate visual indicator that they have not yet signed a contract and they will be informed that more elaborate or personalized styles are a privilege reserved for those who do.

Enjoy your free time until Orientation! Participation is mandatory for all new and past arrivals.

The first hints of spring are in the air.

» » » 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.

« « « KNOT WORK

(cw: bondage/shibari)

The featured workshop at this month's Orientation is a trust-building "ropes course." Deepen your bond with your partner and explore the balance between restraint and freedom, as well as the power dynamics inherent in this hands-on learning opportunity. You'll discover the beauty of patience, communication, and connection as you weave intricate patterns of rope around each other's bodies.

The class portion of the workshop is brief, featuring demonstrations by NPC Dominants and Submissives, after which characters of opposite designations will be paired up and expected to replicate what was shown. Printed handouts from LIEs will be passed around with step by step instructions for their reference—though some may be less than clear, or only include pictures and diagrams without written directions. Do your best!

» » » SPLATTER PAINT

(cw: sexual fluids and other body fluids, sexual art, body paint)

Want to escape the unpleasantness of the Down? Arrivals are encouraged to partner up and participate in an ongoing public art installation in the Up where they will be invited to shed inhibitions and embrace the raw essense of self-expression through a unique medium: their stained bed sheets. The exhibition is being held in Fiddler's Square's very own Stay & Play Hotel where pairs may rent time in a special reserved block of rooms to work on their intimate canvases. Uncontracted pairs may get a steep discount, or even a free room if they are convincingly passionate. All sheets in these rooms are reactive to moisture of any kind, and each room is stocked with complimentary lubricants and body paints.

Through tactile engagement and artistic interpretation, attendees redefine the unity and celebration of their designations coming together and celebrate the complexity and beauty of their experience. Unleash your creativity, and join in defining the art of expression.

« « « TAKE WHAT YOU GET

(cw: gas leak, aphrodisiacs, altered mental states, hallucinations)

The Down isn't a very pleasant place to be, especially for newcomer Submissives who are forced to live in public housing. While the state of the building complex is nothing to phone home about at the best of times, this particular month it's abysmal. Much needed repairs on the plumbing have been ignored for far too long and, after a particularly chilly winter, the hot water heaters are bust. They need replacing, but who is going to pay for that? It'll take some time and a bunch of bureaucratic red tape before the water in the city-provided housing turns warm again. Enjoy your cold showers for the foreseeable future! Or, y'know, suck up to a Dominant and ask them to use their shower.

But wait! There's more! As if the plumbing problems aren't bad enough, there is also some kind of gas leak, and a nasty one at that. It doesn't seem to be flammable and no one will be dying in their sleep, but that's the only good news. The fumes from the gas are invisible and also odorless, leaving unsuspecting Submissives (and anyone else who visits the building, for that matter) at the mercy of the effects. In the common areas of the building the exposure is the strongest, but it still seeps into character's rooms as well.

Inhaling the gas will leave characters feeling loopy and more open to interacting with others. Some may find that they're feeling extra cuddly and needy, if not outright horny because of it. The rarest—and one of the least pleasant—side effects are the hallucinations some characters may experience, causing them to mistake others for people they may know.

After a few days the leak will be repaired, but it'll take a few more days following the fix for the building to be aired out completely.

» » » 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 lawful, they are a Submissive. If your character is more chaotic, 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 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!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This side of Cater--
It's worrisome. Not that Lilia would comment on it right away, to ask Cater what was up or what was wrong. Instead, Lilia just offers a slight smile, meant more to comfort than anything else.

The only person who mattered right now was Cater. To Lilia, it didn't matter whether eyes were on them or not. If someone had a problem with the two of them not completing the task, they'd have to take that problem up with Lilia himself. ]

Of course.

[ Slipping off his oversized jacket, the man quickly pulls it around Cater, to hide him from the world and allow him to keep some of his dignity. In another movement, he grabs Cater's clothes from the ground, before looking Cater over again. ]

My assigned housing is nearby.

[ Could Cater even walk, with how shaken up he was...?
With that thought in mind, Lilia Vanrouge does what anyone with his particular skillset would do - he picks the taller man up, hoisting him to allow him to rest against his shoulder and upper body. ]

Mmh-- here we go.

[ He didn't seen to be willing to negotiate this positioning at all, carrying both Cater and his earlier discarded pieces of clothing, his own jacket being all that's around Cater. A small laugh escapes him, at the hilarity of their position, as he begins to make his way out of there!

This isn't a kidnapping, he swears. ]

[Is it embarrassing to get carted around like a child by a man who is a whole head shorter than him? Maybe, but it isn't the first time that he's been picked up and carried home and it probably won't be the last. In his rattled state of mind, Cater doesn't even have it in him to protest.

He'll just hide himself in Lilia's jacket as much as he can, closing his eyes and letting that be an escape from this awful city for as long as the trip lasts.

It isn't his first time in the Up public housing, so the sounds and smells are familiar enough for Cater to tell once they've gotten where they need to be. Maybe it's that he's gotten so compliant as a sub or maybe it's because of the extreme level of stress he just displayed, but Cater waits for Lilia to decide where he's to be deposited, whether it's on a couch or bed or even just on the floor.]

[ As it wasn't Cater's first time being picked up and carried home, it wasn't Lilia's first time carrying someone so much taller than him. He has an easy time, easier than most passerby would assume, explaining the looks he got easily.

He's silent the whole trip. There was no need for words, not in this moment. Cater needed the time to calm down, he's sure... and Lilia, himself, needed the time to figure out how he was going to deal with this.

Upon getting to his assigned apartment, Lilia does his best to unlock the door with one hand, shoving the door open. The shoes he wore would prove to be too difficult to take off like this - he ignores them for now, wandering into the apartment.

Only when he'd gotten to the bedroom does Lilia drop Cater, along with his clothes. He's set down gently on the soft fabric of the bed, only for his face to immediately be cupped with both of his hands, as Lilia leans all too close, until their faces are mere centimeters apart. ]

Rest, dear. I'll be back in a moment. You can change into your clothes or keep wearing my coat, whichever you prefer.

[ A quick kiss is pressed to Cater's forehead. Truly, Lilia was showing his fatherly side, without realizing. ]
Do you need anything?

[Cater's breathing a lot easier by the time he's put down on the bed. He takes a deep breath, sighing out a small laugh as Lilia places a kiss to his forehead. That, more than anything, is embarrassing enough to make a flush return to his face. It was just such a gentle, familial gesture...and Cater isn't particularly used to those. Especially not these days.]

No...I'm good, thanks. I just need a few minutes.

[To chill out. Already, though, he's feeling a lot better. There's a sort of tremble to his limbs now that the adrenaline has ebbed, but that, too, will work itself out. Whatever Lilia's planning on stepping away to do, Cater flops backward, not bothering to change for the moment.

He'll just lay here looking sexily exhausted.]

[ Lilia's hands fall away from Cater's face before the other flops back onto the bed. Stepping back and out of the room, Lilia heads to the front door again, making sure he could lock it up. Leaning down, he unzips his boots, stepping out of them and placing them neatly by the door.

With the heeled boots off, he was a good few inches smaller, even, than usual. Would Cater notice? Probably not, while he was resting at least.

The last stop before returning was to the kitchen, retrieving a cup of water for Cater. It's really only a total of five minutes before Lilia returns, holding that cup as he moves over towards the bed. ]

Here, sit up. You should drink. [ He all but demands, not yet joining him on the bed. ]

[Once Lilia returns, Cater's found enough wherewithal to slap his smiling mask back on. He sits up as he's told, accepting the offer of water. As he sips it, he curls his legs up to his chest.]

Thanks, bestie. I'm pretty parched.

[If the loudly fake smile on his face is any indication, he's hoping to sweep that entire episode under the covers.]

What a way to start your new life in a whole new world, amirite?

[ Did Cater expect to get away with that? Lilia wasn't one to trifle with when it came to things like this.

Lilia's annoyance is brief, yet still visible on his face in the brief moment it lasts. With the other holding the water cup, he's able to climb up onto the bed, sitting on his knees near Cater. Both of his hands press between his legs onto the bed, as he leans up, staring at Cater with a look that told the story: Lilia wasn't going to let it slide. ]

Cater.
[ How to approach this? ]

Are you sure you're alright?
[ The ball would be tossed back into Cater's court. It was his choice whether or not to confide in him, after all. Lilia couldn't force him to. ]

Sure.

[Why wouldn't I be? is a stupid thing to ask, so Cater clears his throat instead, eyes glancing away from Lilia's looming face.]

You don't need to worry about all that; I'm already over it. You should be more concerned about adjusting.

[ It was just like him to dance around the topic, to push it away. It was all Cater ever did, when his own emotions came into question. No matter if it was during their club meetings or during a moment in private, not that there were many of those back at the Academy. ]

I haven't a single worry about how I'll adjust. What I am worrying over is how you are adjusting.

[ One hand is brought up, a pointed black nail directed at Cater, almost touching his nose. ]

If you won't be honest with me --
The least I can possibly do is provide you with as much support as you'll allow me to. [ That hand falls back down, to rest against his chest. ]

We are friends, are we not?

Of course we're friends.

[Why did Lilia have to be so perceptive? Why did so many people in his life, these days, have to be so conscious of his deceptions? It made everything so much harder, when he couldn't lie his way out of being emotionally vulnerable. Things were bad enough with Idia and Silver--he already relied so much on them. If he let anyone else in...how could he possibly take it?]

I'm thriving, remember?

[Cater sighs, smile falling. Maybe if he was new to Duplicity, he'd fight harder. Lately, he just hasn't had nearly as much of it in him.]

I've been here for nearly a year, I've adjusted. You just saw a hiccup, that's all. I didn't think it would happen, either. Now I know I'm not ready for bondage again, yet.

[ His own words thrown back at him. That stung, a little. Almost like Cater was trying to make a point with that. Anyone else might get annoyed with him, even with his earlier little 'hiccup'.

Reaching out, he plucks the cup from Cater's hand, setting it on the nightstand. Cater'd be able to see him vanish in a flicker of lights. Despite his magic waning, he still had some tricks up his sleeve, of course.

Cater would be able to feel the tell-tale pressure of arms falling over his shoulders from behind, a hug that he couldn't escape. ]

Again?
[ The question is breathed out, almost quiet enough to be a whisper against Cater's ear. His cheek presses against Cater's head, as he makes himself comfortable laying against Cater's back there, despite them being sat up. After all, to wrap his arms around his neck over his shoulders in that position, Lilia had to sit up on his knees. It was far easier on him if he was able to lean his weight on Cater. ]

Hm hm hm. I see! [ The tiniest of hums escapes Lilia, as he brings one of his hands up to play with some strands of Cater's hair from where he's at. ]

I won't ask you to tell me what happened, if you don't wish to. It's not my place. [ And something tells him Cater would deny it anyways.]

[Surprised by Lilia's disappearance and then the hug, Cater jolts slightly before his body slowly starts to relax again under the easy weight of the smaller man.]

...no, it's okay. I guess you might as well know.

[Everyone else that was here from NRC already knew about it. There wasn't much reason to hide what happened, even if he didn't like to talk about it.]

A few months ago, I went to bed with someone knowing that he'd be rough with me. After he had me restrained, though, he tortured me instead and left me disfigured. Someone used magic strong enough to heal me, but...I guess I'm still kind of messed up about it.

[It's beyond frustrating. He presses his knees a bit more closely to his chest. Why isn't he better? Why can't he just be better?]

[ The story is listened to. Every word of it. Lilia's hands rest in different spots, one playing with Cater's hair, his other fingers curling against his own jacket, on a spot where it rests at Cater's chest.

As Cater finishes, it's easy to tell that the story absolutely pissed Lilia off. Why wouldn't it? Someone had hurt a friend he cared so dearly about. A friend who, he'd consider, was one of the closest he had aside from his own family.

His nails can almost be felt through the fabric of the jacket, as he shifts against Cater, just slightly, trying to get his anger under control.]

Did someone already get payback against that person? The ones who are here -- our classmates. Silver. [ If ANYONE, he was sure Silver wouldn't let that stand. Not at all. Lilia huffs out a sigh, shaking his head before leaning it back against Cater's head. ]

Anyone would be messed up after experiencing that. [ This anger was all-consuming, enough that Lilia had to force himself to bury his face against the back of Cater's shoulder, to hold back any crueler words he might hold within himself. ]

[Even without seeing Lilia, it's hard not to feel the sudden tension in the room. It's enough to make Cater a little nervous, even when he's the victim of the described situation and not at all the object of the fae's hatred.]

Yeah, they went after him. [Not that it made Cater feel better. He hadn't cared about revenge; he'd just wanted to distance himself from what had happened.] Silver was insistent on it.

[He turns slightly, even though it's not enough to actually see Lilia.]

I already learned my lesson about trusting others too easily. Now, I just want to move on, you know?

[ Angry tears prick at his eyes, threatening to soak his own jacket, the one they'd wrapped so close around Cater. He refuses to let them fall, taking in a sharp breath.

Pulling back from the hold he had on Cater, he ends up sitting upon his own legs behind him. A small *SLAP* can be heard as he slaps both of his own cheeks. Why? To move on, of course. That's what Cater wanted to do... and so, that's what they'd do. ]

Alright. I understand.

[ Leaning forward, he rests his forehead against Cater's back. Now, in a position that'd let Cater turn around if he liked.

He hoped, silently, that this lesson wouldn't prevent Cater from trusting him in the future.]

Let us move on, then.

[Moving on from the topic now, of course, left for a bit of an awkward pause. Still, Cater wanted to try and lighten the mood back up if he could--for both their sakes. He turns around more so he can look at Lilia, putting his hands on his friend's shoulders.]

Hey, but seriously, I'm so stoked to see you again! The days weren't half as fun without my PMC buddy.

[ The hands on his shoulders are more than enough to force Lilia's gaze back up to meet his.

A cheerful laugh escapes him, mischief easily returning to Lilia's expression, clear in his smile and those piercing eyes of his.]

Khee hee! You missed me that much? Oh, I'm flattered, to think that I'd be in your thoughts at all during your time here. [ Hm... a year, though. For Lilia, it felt like he'd just seen Cater, in their world. Perhaps there was some sort of time magic involved, then. Strange.

Tilting his head back slightly, letting his eyes wander again, down Cater's bare chest, his lips curl into a smirk.]

I must say. I did not expect to have you in only underwear and my own coat in my bed on my first night here. [ This little shit. ]

--pfft!

[OMG, Lilia! Unrepentant slut or not, it's such a different vibe to have someone you've been friends with for years suddenly ravage your body with their eyes like that. And, admittedly, he'd kind of forgot that he was basically naked. So, maybe the flirty boy is blushing, kind of thrown off his game for the time being.]

Bruh, I totally forgot about your coat. Guessing you're wanting that back?

[He makes to slide it off of his shoulders, casually asking:]

What would you have expected?

You may keep it on for now.

[ Lilia was nothing if not willing to adapt to a situation like this city thrust him into. It showed in the Orientation's workshop and it showed here, with the unabashed way Lilia took in every inch of Cater's exposed skin, eating up the sight of him.

Leaning forward, Lilia brings up one hand to act as though he was trying to keep a secret, whispering to Cater.]

My plan for this first night... you really wish to know? [ Gotta have that pause, for the dramatic side of it.]

You might not be ready to hear this from me, though I don't plan to sugarcoat it. If anything, the plan was to find a sweet little Submissive to keep my bed warm tonight. There must be plenty who'd just about die to have a night with little old me, don't you think?

Edited 2024-03-21 04:15 (UTC)

[Cater stops before the coat slides any farther down his arms, smile quirking to the side as Lilia reveals his plan. Lilia Vanrouge! He's surprised at you...almost. Actually, this behavior is only unexpected because of the sexual angle, but if he had to pick and choose which of his peers were virgins, Lilia wouldn't be one of them.

Yeah, he'd believe that this shorty fucks.]

Well, I don't know about sweet and little, but it looks like your OG plan's still halfway fulfilled.

[Shame? Cater lost that when he fucked like three of his classmates on his first day here.]

Little, perhaps not. Sweet? I could see it.

[ Speaking of shame... there wasn't an ounce of that in Lilia's body. From head to toe, it never lurked within his bloodstream. If asked, he'd tell anyone that he's not even sure he can feel the emotion.]

Dear me, are you trying to imply you want to become a part of my 'OG' plan? How adorable. That in itself implies you think you could handle me.

Is that true, Cater?

[There's a single, simple way to bypass the awkwardness left in the wake of way-too-personal admissions: going absolutely wild in the sack. Cater's here for it.]

Only one way to find out.

[And he's just starting to lean in and either steal a kiss or see if Lilia does so first, when a thought jolts him from his whoring.]

--Silver! Shoot, we can't do this.

[ Oh, he was so ready. Lilia leaned in, waiting for Cater's lips to lock with his -- only for Sweet Cater's realization to dawn on him. Lilia giggles, for how pure that thought was from Cater. ]

And why not? Have you and Silver gotten that much closer during your time here? Oh-- have you and him...?

[ 'Become an item', he refrains from finishing the ask. The implication is there, and, for what it's worth, he is a little surprised himself by the idea.
Lilia supposes that, if that was the case, he'd prefer not to hurt his darling boy by getting wild in the sheets with Cater. ]

It's not like that!

[Isn't it? He'd break poor Silver's heart for a second time to hear him say that so emphatically. Still, his face goes red.]

Silver and I live together and we have sex, like, a lot.

[And it's just sex, Cater wants to make perfectly clear! Nothing romantic!]

Given the relationship the two of you have, doesn't that make this weird for you? And, like, I'm sure he'd be pretty upset...

[ Silver and Cater had sex a lot, but not in a romantic way. It made sense, for the context of this city, especially if they lived together.

But, ah, that last part. That's enough to make even Lilia pause, blinking several times in surprise at Cater. It wasn't expected of Silver to reveal the nature of their relationship to anyone outside of those who already knew. ]

If there's no romantic feelings involved between the two of you, I don't find an issue with it. I believe Silver will understand, as well. After all, you and I are friends. [ And this is what Friends do here, isn't it? Lilia caught on too quickly to this city's rules.

Still, even with what he'd just said, Lilia's eyes begin to water, one hand coming up to cover his mouth.]

But.... my sweet boy Silver, he told you?! Oh, I couldn't be more proud...!

[ There he goes, allowing his feelings to shine through, struggling not to burst into tears from pride.

It wasn't like Silver kept it a SECRET, he just... didn't tend to tell people at the Academy. This was a big step for him!! ]

Edited 2024-03-21 05:31 (UTC)

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