duplicitymemes | TDM #4 ( revised )

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«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

Oh! You found the fish tank. It's really cool, right?

_{[He's grinning now, eagerly joining her side, pointing at the various fish behind the glass.]}

I didn't catch them, but A2 and I bought them. There are stores here that sell fish and other aquatic animals. A lot of research was put into the setup 6O, but I think it worked out well.

_{[And then because he knows she'll say yes he offers:]}

Wanna try feeding them?

And you did all the research yourself, right?

[That's so cute and soooo 9S. Seriously, though, it's a good topic he can't possibly get in trouble for, very good, 6O approves.

And damn right she'll say yes. She claps her hands together excitedly before he's even finished his sentence.]

That sounds great!

Sure did. A2 didn't want to bother looking things up sooo the task was left to me.

_{[He does sound a bit proud of their combined accomplishment though. Catching fish was one thing, but keeping something alive? That's a lot harder.

Let's just say 9S has grown pretty fond over their fish.]}

Here, take this. _{[He hands over the container of pellets, bare fingertips touching hers as they make the transfer.]} If you give it exactly three shakes it should be enough food. I haven't fed them today so it'll be fine.

Edited 2019-01-13 03:30 (UTC)

[There's a little skip in her pulse, just enough to register on her sensors, when his hand brushes hers. She still has her own gloves on, but her fellow units go without them so infrequently that touching someone's bare hand feels a little special.]

Three shakes. Got it.

[shake-shake-shake... She passes the container back to him and watches, fascinated, as the first fish come to investigate.]

_{[If he knew what she was thinking he'd honestly agree - being able to touch another unit's bare hands is, well...amazing. He gets it, really he does. If anything though, he'd probably have his own pulse skipping if he knew he'd caused such a reaction in her.

She does exactly what she's told to the mark and 9S can't help but smile softly at her while taking in her expression. It's rare to see an Operator without their veil and the rumors among other units are that they have the prettiest smiles. At least that's what circulates among his fellow Scanners. They're a gossipy bunch.]}

Perfect. Just like that. See? They love it! Thanks 6O.

[6O would argue combat units can actually have the most beautiful smiles, despite their visors... but she's also very, very biased. In any case, she's beaming now, radiating pride and excitement over the feasting fish.]

Thank you, 9S. [She looks at him and her smile turns a little softer. What a cutie! He should leave his visor off more often, she thinks. It's a shame to hide eyes like those. When it wouldn't affect mission efficiency, of course.]

Sooooo... what do you want to show me next?

I wanna transfer you the data, if that's all right with you now.

_{[Straightening he gestures to the sofa not far from the tank. It's deliberately put there so one can sit and watch the fish. He does this a lot now, in a bid to keep himself calm. It works, most of the time.

Hopefully they'd do the same for 6O after the bombshell he was going to drop on her.]}

Get comfortable, you're going to want to.

Okay...

[That's... mildly ominous, but okay. She settles onto the sofa, taking a moment to poke at the cushion. Nice. Soft seats weren't exactly everywhere back home. When she's gotten comfy, she pats the spot next to her.]

Ready when you are. [she says confidently, being a sweet summer child who has no idea what she's in for.]

_{[He's going to ruin her and he knows it, but it's better to not remain ignorant in this place. She should know what he knows, at least about A2, especially if he's going to try and suggest what he's going to suggest to her after all this is said and done.

Joining her on the couch he lets out a sigh, venting hot air in the process. Unlike when he interfaces with Connor there's no need to reach out and hold her hand but...it seems like a good idea. So, he does just that, gingerly taking her gloved fingers into his own. It's then that the connection is open, that he removes the permissions and restrictions on his memory bank to transfer her a specific memory in particular.

The scene plays out, the two androids on their first day of arrival, squabbling in the back of a cab, only to come to an understanding between one another thanks to the revelations shared. It's all there for 6O to take and digest at her own pace, and he knows it might take some time. It's only when he's sure it's completely uploaded that he speaks, casting a glance her way to make sure she's okay.

He doesn't expect her to be.]}

6O...?

[The prototypes, built to die. A backdoor into the Bunker. The Council of Humanity— no, no, no. She can't know this. 9S can't know this—does he know how much danger he's in? They can't know this. They can't know this. She wants to pack it into a little ball and bury it deep, encrypted and walled off somewhere in her memory banks where she can pretend she never heard a thing. Where she never has to consider it, even though connecting the dots is exactly what her analyst's brain was built for.

She feels a little bit like she's going to just shut down here.]

9S.

[She grips his hand tightly, and her voice sounds terrified.]

[There's more than one reason to feel terrified.

The door opens, and A2 doesn't say so much as a peep before she can sense something that sends chills down her synthetic spine. Another android. YoRHa.

Why are they here?

9S.

He's in danger, if they're here. He's in danger of being reset because he knows too much, and A2 is in danger of losing him, the one person who could possibly understand what it's been like for her.

The one person she considers a friend.

The one person she's finally let close to her.

Her processors overclock, and A2 moves faster than she ever has without Berserk Mode activated, and she snarls as she closes in on 6O, who is currently a threat.]

Get away from him!

[She'll hoist 6O up by the neck if she's not stopped. She won't kill her, but there's clear intent to harm.]

_{[It's times like this that 9S wishes A2 would check her inbox more frequently. He hears the door open and knows immediately she's home but as soon as she rounds the corner to the sitting room she's screaming a threat at 6O and lunging at her.]}

A2 no wait-!

_{[Oh god this is exactly what he wanted to avoid. With 6O processing the shock from learning the truth only for A2 to go at her to live up to her type's namesake...talk about bad timing.

Immediately 9S scrambles from his spot on the couch, standing up as he attempts to block the other android's grab. Whether or not he's successful is another matter altogether. A2's quick and so is 9S, but she's quicker.]}

Stop don't hurt her she's not a threat!

What—

[6O doesn't know what hit her, literally. One second she's sitting here trying to hold her world together and then she's off the ground, with hands just shy of crushing her throat and an unsettlingly familiar face snarling at her.

This is more than she can handle. She hangs limply in A2's grip, just looking at her with shock-glazed eyes.]

Two...?

Not a threat? [A2 turns her anger on 9S in one swift moment, but 6O is hardly forgotten in her grip.]

This is another YoRHa android! Where we live, 9S! How is she not a threat!?

[Her processors are in a tizzy, trying to sort through this information and that, but if 9S looks close, there's more fear on her expression than anything else. She's afraid. She's afraid for 9S, she's afraid for herself, for losing him.

She doesn't want to be alone again.]

You're going to kill her! Please A2 just put her down-!

_{[Fear. He can see it in her eyes. On her face. A face that's so familiar to him for so many reasons. It hurts him to see her looking like that, even if he's wanting to recoil from her anger, but the one being literally hurt right now is 6O.]}

She's an Operator, A2! She's not even a combat model! I know her, okay?! Please!

[An android doesn't need to breathe like organic creatures do, but crush their throat hard enough, for long enough, and they'll still break down. Terrified, confused, in shock, 6O has just enough of her senses to register her system's warnings about the strain on her delicate neck and she finally starts to struggle and pry at A2's suffocating hands.

She's never died. Not like 2B and 9S have, again and again while all she could do was sit at a workstation and watch their signals blink out. Please, don't make her experience it from the other side.

Please please please

Static clouds her vision as her body diverts power from her visual cortex to the more immediate needs of staying alive.

this isn't fair I only wanted to help

There's a pressure building in her chest, thwarted urge to exhale and vent her overheating components. What's going to happen to her if she dies here?]

[She debates it, for a few seconds longer. She wants to believe 9S, she does want to trust that this YoRHa unit isn't dangerous.

It's hard.

But she does feel the heat rising underneath the smooth metal of her crushing grip. The sign that if she doesn't let liquid cooling do its job, the android she has will expire.

She drops 6O in an unkind manner, but she turns on 9S entirely in that moment.]

Explain.

_{[6O is dropped and 9S does his best to scramble to catch her. He manages to snag her shoulders, gently lowering her onto the couch. His fingers are trembling and the Operator can surely feel them do so against her. This has probably happened in the worst possible manner it could've. This isn't how he wanted it to play out.]}

Can you check your inbox more?! Please?! I sent you a message letting you know I was bringing her here so something like this wouldn't happen!

_{[He's shrill as he answers her, moving to put himself partially in front of 6O, wanting to look her over, wanting to check her vitals and do whatever might be needed for whatever damage she might've took but-

He can't. A2 is staring him down. Explain, she says. Fine, he will.]}

She's the Operator that was assigned to 2B during our missions. Her name's 6O. She's harmless. I know her. I found her down there, okay A2, and like hell was I going to leave someone like her down there! I brought her here to tell her about YoRHa, okay? God dammit-!

[Suddenly, 6O is free, and she collapses like a marionette with broken strings. She lets 9S move her with no resistance, briefly lifting her hand to brush over the back of his before she slumps back into the cushions. Some of the alerts are still there: dangerously elevated core temperatures, above optimal pulse rate, error connecting to locomotor systems due to heavy system load. Nothing fatal. Oh god, that could have been fatal. Trembling, still breathing hard and ragged as her body tries to cool itself, she shuts her eyes and bites back her sobs.

The pair's argument goes right over her head, only a key term sinking in here and there- "2B", her own name, "tell her about YoRHa". It's too much. She has to get out of here.

Just as soon as her limbs start responding again.]

[There's a multitude of things A2 could say to him. Like why did he think it was a good idea to bring her here before she'd responded? But honestly, she'd have probably chewed him out anyway, would have lost her shit on him for it anyway.

She looks between 9S and this Operator, this 6O, and she scowls.]

You trust her?

Of course I trust her!

_{[His own head is spinning, his flight or fight response jamming, not knowing what option to decide on. He knows by now that A2 won't do anything to really put him out of commission, but he can't afford to be knocked out right now.

Not when 6O needs immediate attention and this is, by and large, his fault.

Moving he positions himself before 6O, back turned to A2 for now as he reaches out with his hands, resting them atop her shoulders. In an instant he's hacked her (it's not hard, considering her systems and defenses are in complete disarray) and immediately begins to work on bringing her core functions back online, to send nanomachines to the areas they need to go first. Vitals need to return to normal and should within a few moments. He's panicked and it shows on his face, but what hurts him the most are the emotions and thoughts that bombard him louder than the system warnings he does his best to get under control.]}

I know...I know 6O...this has been a huge misunderstanding I promise. I swear it has I swear...please-

_{[Of course she thinks A2 is a threat, despite what he'd shown her. Of course she wants to leave this place. Of course she's afraid of dying. That last emotion hits too close to home as he finds himself choking up, blue eyes wet around the corners with synthetic tears.

It's only when her vitals register as normal that he closes the connection and takes her hands instead, the gesture pleading.]}

[6O blinks as they come out of hacking space, the static cleared from her vision and her head clearer than it's been in the past several minutes. She can't even force a smile for him, but she squeezes his hands and hopes that gets the idea across.]

Thanks, 9S. Don't cry, okay? [Even though she hasn't managed to stop herself, tears still rolling down her cheeks as she looks up at him with a plea in her eyes.]

Can I... go now?

[Whatever 9S and A2 are going to do now, she'd rather leave them to it. Just... go into low-power mode for a bit and start processing it all. Shove certain information in the memory cage and leave it the hell alone. That kind of thing, and do it well away from A2, because she wants to believe 9S but she just can't in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.]

[A2 shuffles her weight uncomfortably as she watches both 6O and 9S speak, as he hacks her to help root out the damage she'd caused to the other unit.

There's something that simmers in her, just below what she cares to acknowledge, feelings of jealousy that she just doesn't want to deal with right now. It's not appropriate anyway.]

... I'm sorry. For attacking you. I thought you were a threat to 9S.

[An apology comes, and she does mean it, but its stilted and awkward and it's clear it's been a long time since she's done anything like it.]

_{[A2's apology reaches 9S' ears and he almost looks back to her for it, but his attention is on 6O still and unfortunately, her request is something he'll have to deny, at least somewhat. He shakes his head sadly, still gripping her hands.]}

You can't leave but...you can go rest in my room, if that's all right? Take some time and process it all and then the three of us can sit down properly and talk.

_{[She told him not to cry but it's impossible not to. His cheeks are damp despite himself.]}

I'll take you there, okay?

Edited 2019-01-13 07:58 (UTC)

[6O forces herself to look past 9S and meet the Attacker unit's eyes. She's not sure how she feels about it, but she'll at least listen to her apology.]

I would never hurt him.

[Her tone is flat. Drained. Completely unlike her usual self. She's better off than she was before 9S's hacking, but a long way from 100%. It's all the acknowledgment she can afford to give A2 right now.

Focusing on 9S again, she frowns at his denial but doesn't argue. Anywhere in this apartment is closer to A2 than she'd like, but it's better than nothing. Her temporary accommodations in the Down are an awfully long way away in this state, anyway--she'll see the sense in it later.]

Okay.

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i have no suitable icon for this have the crazyface instead

awful

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