duplicitymemes | TDM #4 ( revised )

Entry tags:

«tdm

TDM #4 ( revised )

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « HERE WE ARE AGAIN

It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Yet, solace is found in the lies we tell each other, comforted by the peace of knowing that we're not alone in our depravity, and once on this path, sin itself becomes the lesser of two evils masked in a cloud of normalcy.

This is how Duplicity has functioned since the beginning. The divide of power and social standing is overt in that Dominants influence the decisions made both publicly and privately while Submissives cater to the rules presented to them. It is the way of Duplicity to assign random designations at birth with no leeway in altering what has been given. Climate in the Up is far stricter than that of the Down; violating outlined personas for a Dominant or Submissive while in full view of others is punished by degree of infraction. In the Down, many tend to turn a blind eye to these sorts of offenses.

To counteract the discovery of the Deceit Gene – a natural "negative" response to all stimuli – the L.I.E.S. program was founded. The program had been designed to introduce new subjects to the current environment and test for the Deceit Gene through immersion in Duplicity's standing society. Sexual impulses and encounters increase the chances of detecting the gene within these individuals. Participants are typically released from L.I.E.S. after a year; however, results have remained unsatisfactory and testing still continues.

You’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity.

After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation.

If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your highrise. Here, it is two Dominants per floor with separate apartments. If you enter Duplicity into the Down, congratulations! You’re a Submissive, which means you are directed towards public transportation with the address of the motel you’ll be living in. Here, it is two Submissives per room with a shared common space for all rooms.

Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals.

Oh, and one more thing. It's fucking cold. Better bundle up.

» » » LIES TRAVEL IN COMPANY

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.

« « « END IN THE DISCORD

While the societal climate between Dominants and Submissives remains somewhat neutral throughout Duplicity, there has been the occasional whisper of defiance and call for equality. Yet, demonstrations and visible proof of this unhappiness spreads faster by word of mouth on a day exactly when you need it most.

Welcome to Autonomy, a "traveling" nightclub that is never in the same place twice. People wanting to attend only learn of its lucrative location and password hours before it opens for business. Tonight, I choose the third door will get you inside and into the temporary freedom club Autonomy has to offer. In this circle, there are no assigned designations and no consequences for taking a role that isn't the one given by society. So, a Dominant may become the Submissive they've always wanted to be—or vice versa. Dominants and Submissives alike are able to mingle without repercussion and be themselves. Food, drinks, and private areas for more intimate – or if your preference is sexual – encounters are provided. Donations are accepted at any point during the night to further Autonomy's attempts of spreading the fulfillment that comes from being untitled.

On the night you choose to visit, Autonomy is holding a random lottery for temporary connections. When entering, you have the choice of submitting your name into this drawing to be paired with someone else in the club regardless of designation. A short while later, a message will pop up on your device with the name and information of your partner, and whether or not you choose to meet them is purely at your discretion. Having more than one connection isn't completely unusual either.

» » » TABLE IT FOR LATER

Gratification of being a successful Dominant or Submissive isn't necessarily simple. Learning curves are to be made, and mistakes will happen. Led by a Dominant and Submissive couple – Miriam and Victoria, who have been paired for twenty-two years – a monthly meeting for unattached Dominants and Submissives is held in the conference room of Morning Wood motel in the Down. The meeting starts a few minutes after nine and has no designated end time. The couple introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the meeting: learn the proper method for a new kink and possibly find your perfect partner. The space is intimate and well-stocked with refreshments.

To begin, Victoria, while blindfolded, balances on her hands and knees with her back perfectly level. Her partner, when ready, places various items on the level surface–a full cup, a plate. The Submissive is meant to hold the items until the Dominant believes she's reached her limit. The exercise is one of trust and understanding. The demonstration is a short one, followed by Miriam removing the blindfold and soothing her Submissive. The words are whispered low and with care, clearly a method that is specific to this couple. The process is concluded with the pair handing out workups, videos, and answering questions. Anyone wishing to practice Purposeful Submission can do so in the open room with a random volunteer, aided by the couple, or can find someone to take to one of the rented rooms. Sex may follow any scene but is not necessarily included. Experimenting with unattached Dominants and Submissives allows for new relationships to form.

« « « MOD & OOC NOTES

Please read carefully.

On each Test Drive Meme, there will be a section noting character roles based on birthdays; these will vary each TDM. On an IC level, character will still have gone through the doors but assignments OOCly are still randomized. When applying, there is a section of the application that denotes whether the character chose "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. All characters who have blue eyes or one blue eye and another color are Submissives. All characters who have brown eyes or one brown eye and another color are Dominants. Characters with any other color eyes are Dominants. To use this TDM as a door pass please link this on your app and place whether it is Dominant or Submissive.

Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Geralt’s introduction to the bed is slightly more dignified. He drops onto the edge and spends several minutes fumbling to remove his shirt and trousers, which he then replaces with warmer, looser nightclothes. Just a simple t-shirt and trousers. If Julian has enough control of his facilities to notice anything Geralt is doing, he may note that Geralt looks like someone who has been mauled by, like, eight bears. There’s a lot of scars.]

Haven’t fallen asleep, have you?

[Geralt joins him on the bed, stretching out. He’s rather drowsy himself, so he wouldn’t be terribly disappointed if Julian had managed to drop off in the time it took him to change.]

[it's something vaguely discerned, the shape of the other man made out through his one bleary eye, and whilst he takes in the myriad marks on him, it's unlikely to be anything he has the capacity to dwell on until the morning. He'll think of it then, most likely, how he came to receive them, the battles he likely endured but for now...now it's becoming an effort to think clearly about much of anything.

He is awake though, and lifts a gloved hand to his head as though to steady himself (never mind that he's sprawled now, flat on his back), just as the question comes.]

I'm not quite so far gone as that yet, no.

[Not quite.]

[Within seconds of lying down, Geralt is comfortable, warm, and pleasantly adrift. There are some perks to this place, he has to admit, and not least of them is the plushness of the bed.]

Starting to think this Hanged Man gave you resilience in other areas. It’s rare to meet a man that can keep up with a witcher.

[And since Geralt currently has his eyes closed and looks like he might nod off any minute now, it’s all the more impressive.]

Edited 2019-01-20 05:46 (UTC)

[He laughs in response to that, a blurry, soft-edged sound. Despite lying perfectly still the room is spinning dangerously now and he distantly suspects he looks as though he's taking it better than he actually is. If one discounts that he's in bed with his gloves on, that is.]

Maybe, maybe. But I'm inclined to think it's just all the practice I've put in. Hanging around in dive bars and day drinking with pirates has to raise one's stamina eventually.

[Though he's already beginning to think that tomorrow will bring Regrets.]

Might be that I’m out of practice.

[It has been a while. He’s had little alcohol to speak of since acquiring a little girl. Geralt might not be the most knowledgeable or sensible of guardians, but he at least knows you shouldn't drink to excess when you have children reliant on you.]

I haven’t had much need, nor desire to drink over the past few years. Too much responsibility. But, ah, I’ve nothing but free time here.

[With that in mind, he's likely to have just as much Regret come morning.]

Perfect opportunity to indulge yourself then, eh? Consider this a holiday. A holiday involving veritable human slavery, but one should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

[And then he laughs, because considering some of the specifics of their stay here, it may be hard for most people to see it as such. in the next moment he's flinging his arm over his face dramatically, groans loudly.]

Damn, but I'm drunk.

You are. Very drunk, and courtesy of me, so you are forgiven for the inapt comparison.

[There’s not a hint of reproach in his voice. He’s in too comfortable a state for that.]

Though you are right in one respect. This is the perfect opportunity to indulge. Perfectly unavoidable. Everything here is an indulgence, even things as basic as drink and food. This place is pampering me by sheer quality of lifestyle.

[He idly traces the points of his medallion, looking pensive.]

Meanwhile the submissive are living with dregs. Makes me feel like a complete ass.

[He turns his head with the deliberate slowness of the extraordinarily drunk at that, casts his bleary eye across the other man's face.]

Whilst I can't speak for anyone else, if it's any consolation at all, I really don't mind it. The being rendered unable to buy anything for myself is marginally frustrating, but as we already discussed, it poses a challenge to be overcome if nothing else.

[But he smiles his roguish smile then, arches a brow.]

A good deal of the rest sounds positively thrilling.

[If he's being given a chance to indulge his own subservient inclinations then he's going to damned well make the most of it.]

[Geralt casts him a look of exasperation. Dandelion would love this guy.]

I’m thrilled for you, truly. I suppose this place has to pull in the occasional person who isn’t atrociously mundane or they wouldn’t get far with their program.

[Says the man who regularly had sex on a stuffed unicorn. To be fair, it wasn't he who proposed the idea.]

[If he ever finds out about the unicorn thing, he's going to be deeply displeased that Geralt chose to withhold the information.

For now though...despite the alcoholic haze that has well and truly settled over him, he still discerns the shape of that look, the exasperation written there. And so he laughs, reaches over to playfully shove Geralt's arm.]

Don't give me that look. Maybe even you will get into the swing of things, once you've spent a bit of time here. There must be a reason for it, after all. Our designations.

[It's what he believes at any rate, what he can't help believing-- that even outside of his own raging masochism, something like this is what he deserves. That he is a second-rate citizen, and that the system here has seen through him, down to the worthless centre of himself.]

[To some extent, Geralt does fit into his designation; he’s often pushed into the role of a protector, guardian, nurturer, and leader, so it’s only natural that his designation is one that feeds into these qualities. Obviously that isn’t the area of ‘domination’ to which Julian is referring, but if he tried to refer to himself as a dominating force in a romantic relationship, Yennefer would probably laugh from somewhere beyond the ether.]

They’re just as likely to be arbitrary. [As he speaks, he lightly elbows Julian in retaliation.] It’s a popular sentiment among the people here - primarily those with the submissive designation - that they were incorrectly sorted, and I’m inclined to believe those people know themselves better than whoever runs this place.

[Julian makes a show of rubbing his ribs where the other man's elbow caught him, but even through his inebriated haze, he's listening. His expression grows thoughtful, turned inward-- he hasn't had time to speak much with anyone else in his position, though he has heard murmurs of dissent, briefly, in passing, whilst caught up in his own black cloud of confusion earlier in the day.]

Perhaps. But then again, a lot of people aren't prepared to admit what they really want. And even then, it's not all about sex and masochism, is it? Something deeper than that, like untrustworthiness, the kinds of people who should be kept under close control because left alone they just make a mess of things. Maybe it has more to do with something like that. Not many would admit to being that kind of person, would they?

[He scrubs a hand back over his face, trying to clear his head, focus his thoughts. It's a lost cause, however-- too much gin runs through him now to be pushed aside so easily.]

Whatever the case, they made no mistake when they decided my designation.

[Perhaps it is just a matter of chance, but he finds it hard to see it that way. Takes any iota of proof that he's trouble for anyone who comes into contact with him, and runs with it.]

[Now, Geralt’s no therapist, but-]

Sounds like you’re projecting.

[Even through his drunken haze, it suddenly becomes apparent to Geralt that Julian thinks very little of himself. He isn’t quite sure where to go from there, from that realisation; he’s never been good at words of commiseration, often resorting to touch and empty platitudes to try to sooth another’s troubles.

He’s quiet for a long moment, thinking. Eventually he settles upon a question.]

Are you untrustworthy and prone to messes, Julian?

Projecting. I thought I was the doctor, here.

[Never mind that he's not that kind of doctor, and never mind that he knows there's a sizable slice of truth in what the other man says. He's only been thinking about this in his own terms, assumes they've seen down into the centre of him, know what he is and have acted accordingly, and because he's more ready to admit to what he sees as his own faults and failings than most, it only makes sense to come to the conclusion that it must be so for others here, too. That perhaps they're just less prepared than him to admit to what they are.

He sighs, though. Answers the question.]

Well, um. Yes.

I advise you, then, that such feelings are ultimately pointless, for simply believing them has no bearing on how other people think of you.

[Geralt certainly hasn’t been given any reason to think Julian untrustworthy or prone to messes, and he isn’t expecting any either.]

Unless you happen to have proof of these failings?

Edited 2019-01-20 18:25 (UTC)

Oh, but I do have proof. All the countless dead during the plague, and the things we did, whilst searching for a cure, down there in the dungeons.

[Sickly, he shudders.]

There's a little island, you know, just off the coast of Vesuvia. You can see it from the dock, the tower out there. It's the place where Lucio sent them, the plague victims, by the hundreds. The lazaret...a place of quarantine, and ultimately cremation. It's...well. It's a fairly stark reminder of everything I did wrong. And then there's the mess with Asra, and with his...it's my fault, you know, that his...friend died, he was apprenticed under me, trying to learn more about medicine. And I was too busy to even notice he'd become ill until he'd already been packed off to that place, the lazaret. And there are countless other things, over the years. Trust me, if I get near it, things go wrong. If I were you, I'd kick me out on my arse before I poison things for you, too.

[But then he laughs, a little bitter-edged, runs leather-gloved hands across his face a second time.]

But listen to me, I'm rambling aren't I? A regular sodden drunk. You ought to tell me to shut up.

That’s proof of something, certainly. That you like to blame yourself for things beyond your control, for example, and hold yourself to impossible standards. There is, as of yet, no substance in your claims.

[Geralt raises himself onto his elbows, casting Julian a surprisingly sober look. He folds a hand over Julian's upper arm, in part to draw his attention, and in part because troubled people do often need to be touched.]

Do you have anything else? Go on. Keep rambling. I’m going to need something better than that if I’m to make a judgement call.

[He isn't sure what he'd been expecting - too deep in the gin to be capable of that depth of thought right now - but it isn't quite this. He looks softly startled when the other man props himself up on the bed, reached to grip his arm. And it takes him a moment in the wake of that, to try to regain his momentum. Doesn't, exactly, make it.]

I'm um...ah, well. I make bad decisions and people end up getting hurt. That's what I do, I...

[He looks up at Geralt through his one blurry eye, brows furrowed.]

You don't have to be so nice to me, you know.

[That's it. That's the best he's got.]

Edited 2019-01-20 19:34 (UTC)

I can be nice to whoever I please. And you should be glad of it, because I’m told I can be a right ass.

[A broody and stubborn ass, to be specific. But he has his moments, and this seems to be one of them.

He waits a beat before speaking again.]

You don’t register as poison to me, Julian, and even if you did, by your own standards I would be one of greater potency. But if you insist on that being what you are, we can agree to mutual intoxication, which rather fits in well with our preexisting plans.

[He's silent then for several long, drawn-out moments as he turns the other man's words over in his head, trying to see them clearly despite the mess the gin has made of him. It's a difficult thing, though, he's fighting a losing battle with his own inebriation, and as such he can find no better argument than the one he's already made. He isn't prepared to say that he isn't poison, that he isn't as toxic to be around as he considers himself to be, but--

--but. He can make a concession, at least.]

Mutual intoxication. Hah. Well, all right then. I suppose I could agree to that.

It's settled then.

[Geralt finally removes his hand and transfers it to the blankets, which he proceeds to pull over his legs and stomach. He sinks rather unceremoniously into the mattress and pillow.]

I think it's about time we got some sleep. Preferably before the alcohol spurs us into another another heart to heart.

[One whole heart to heart. That’s his entire quota filled.]

All right.

[With the dangerous way his head is spinning and the doubled-up quality his vision has taken on, he isn't about to argue. And so he stretches long and languid as a cat before rolling over onto his side and for once, insomnia is unlikely to bother him, too much has happened in too short a time to leave him anything other than exhausted.

He'll pass out quickly, probably apologise for his ranting in the morning, would have done so with early morning coffee ready and waiting, but as Geralt apparently hasn't heard of the stuff and he's without the means of going out to fetch some, he'll have to make do with words instead.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #4 ( revised )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject