duplicitymemes | TDM #4 ( revised )

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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

[Well, that's unexpected. The rakish grin falters around the edges at the sound of his own name combined with that exclaimed question, his one visible eye going wide in momentary confusion. This certainly, definitely, isn't someone he knows, but--

--but. He's had some things explained to him by this point, has encountered the confusion amongst the people he'd known from home, and whilst he still can't really grasp the finer points of it all, he at least has some idea of what may be happening, now. It doesn't make it any less uncomfortable, any less strange, but at least he has some kind of precedent for how to react. Kind of.

His smile stabilises, leather-gloved hands spread wide in a gesture of apology.]

That isn't me. Or rather um, yes I'm Julian but not perhaps the Julian you're thinking of. Or he's me only...different....

[This sounded a lot better in his head.]

Different copies of the same book, with divergent choices? Something like that.

[It's how Portia and tried to explain it to him, but somehow it made more sense when she said it.]

[Luckily, Phillip is familiar enough with the concept that he gets the point. It's... disappointing isn't quite the right word, but he can feel a bit of the worry eating away at him again, fresh with the reminder. But if there's something Phillip is good at, it's separating different versions of people from each other. Not that he has any deeply personal reasons for that or anything. Nope. None at all.]

...Right. Sorry, then. You're probably going to get that a lot. [At least he has, presumably, run into people who've already explained it to him. That's good.

After a moment, he holds out his hand.] I'm Phillip. [It's not really fair to keep this knowledge one-sided, after all.]

[There's some small measure of relief to be found in that, though it seems an odd thing, to have someone so easily accept what - for him, at least - still sounds like nonsense and gibberish. But here they are, and this stranger who apparently isn't quite a stranger extends his hand.

Julian takes it readily enough, shakes it firmly before releasing the man and, just softly, he laughs.]

It certainly seems that way, um, Phillip. It isn't getting any easier exactly but at least I know what's going on, now. Sort of.

That's good, I guess.

[Phillip's going to have to try a little bit harder than he normally would here, because the last thing he wants to do is freak Julian out- he'd gotten used to not avoiding eye contact with the man, but he's making extra sure now that their eyes don't meet for more than a passing second or two. The previous Julian didn't seem to mind staring down Death (if 'didn't mind' was what he was going to call the reaction he got), but Phillip doesn't want to make any kind of assumptions.]

You just get here, then?

[Unaware of the thoughts running through the other man's head and assuming that the limited eye-contact may be a result of being faced with someone he knows but doesn't know (perhaps something happened between them that he ought to know about, but for now he decides it's best not to ask and risk further confusing himself), Julian leans back bonelessly against the bar behind him and lets out a dramatic sigh.]

That's right, just got here more or less, and let me tell you it has been a day. All very odd and, quite frankly, exhausting.

[There were definitely some things that happened between them that Julian might want to know about, but given the nature of this city it's probably not all that hard to guess.]

I believe it. It was bad enough for me when I got here. [And so far he's been the only version of himself that he knows of. Well. Other than the fact that he's reincarnated from someone but that doesn't count.] ...Have you seen Portia and Asra already?

[Knowing himself it isn't especially hard to guess, but that can all wait for another time, or perhaps just later, or even after a good stiff drink.

For now the question comes and Julian nods, thick auburn brows pulling together around the strangeness of everything that's occurred here today, of all the things he's trying - largely failing - to wrap his head around and make sense of.]

I have. Which I'm glad of.

[Because for all that he'd rather they weren't here in this mess, that he could do something for them, it has made things that much easier to bear. Knowing that he isn't alone here.]

That's good. ...I think if you hadn't I would be obligated to drag you off to go find them.

[Asra's one thing, but he really does not want to see what Portia looks like when she's mad at you for not getting her brother to come see her.

He hesitates for a moment, before adding.] I know the whole thing can be a lot, so... if you need help, with anything, I can try? ...That includes getting you a drink, if you still want that.

[he never has been the best at accepting help, is, in fact, quite terrible at it, and so whilst there are myriad things that currently seem difficult but which he'll try his best to surmount on his own...there is one thing he will, at this point in time, accept.]

Darling, if you get me that drink I'll consider you the man of the hour. I'll make it up to you some other time.

[Or other way, if necessary.]

[Phillip didn't expect anything else, at least not at the moment. He is, essentially, a stranger in a new city and no more or less trustworthy than any of the other nameless faces in the bar. But at least there's one thing he can do.]

I know you will. [And he can't help but make that sound like a flirtation as he leans over the bar, waving the barkeep over to get Julian whatever he wants.]

[It's a response that has him flashing his very best salacious grin, one brow raised in overt suggestion and when the barkeep approaches he leans over to rest one elbow on the bar, drops his chiseled chin into the open palm of his hand.]

Something good and strong, if you'd be so kind.

[The barkeep obliges, and Phillip orders another of his own drink- even if he went along with the explanation easily, he still feels like he needs a bit more alcohol to properly deal with the situation at hand. Especially with Julian shooting him a look that is so very familiar to him.

He leans against the bar, looking over the other man.] Do you want to talk more about this place, or do you want to switch the topic? I completely understand wanting either. [One to understand what the fuck is happening, the other to pretend none of it exists long enough to maybe get a chance to process it.]

Oh, the latter. Most definitely. If I have to hear anymore about it I might just expire from mental exhaustion.

[He's spoken about it, of course, has been given a good deal of information and it's all so overwhelming that pretending none of it exists long enough to try and process it is certainly the way he wants to go, at this stage in the day. A point he not-so-subtly punctuates when his drink arrives, knocking half it back in one deep pull.

It's been that kind of a day.]

[Yeah. Phillip definitely gets that. He'll just take a sip of his drink when it comes, watching Julian with his head tilted ever so slightly, taking him in as if he's never really seen him before. Which, in a way, he really hasn't.

The problem, unfortunately, is reaching for topics that aren't about the city, and sound reasonably natural. There is one that comes to mind, but it's mostly brought up by some prior knowledge.]

Are you into theater at all? [The other Julian was, but again, double checking.]

[Double checking that pays off, as some of the tension held high in his broad shoulders seems to melt out of him at the mention of it. It's something familiar, something known, and in this moment the familiar and the known are in short supply and so feel very much needed.

Something brightens around the angles of his face, and he turns a little more fully to face the man beside him.]

I am as it happens. I've even dabbled a little, myself.

[Phillip grins in return, pleased to see a bit of that tension fading. It's a start.]

Oh, good, that means my chosen topic might actually be relevant. [He laughs a little, shooting Julian a charming smile.] You don't happen to remember any of the plays from your world, do you? One of my friends and I are starting up our own theater in the Down, and part of the idea is to put on shows that would have appeared in the worlds we come from. [Most of the idea is to stick it to the man and use Art to question the status quo, but.]

[A charming smile that leaves Julian charmed, and warming to the topic now, he takes another swig of his drink.]

What a splendid idea! The place looks as though it could use a proper introduction to the arts. I'm sure I could think of a few. And uh, well. If you're in need of any actors, I could always lend you my skills. If I'm going to be here indefinitely, I suppose I'll need something to pass the time.

[You know, besides being fucked into oblivion.]

[Oh good, Phillip didn't even have to try and bully him into it. Not that he thinks either of them would have minded the bullying.]

You'd be welcome, if you wanted. It's pretty much just me and Syeira right now, and we're good, but we could probably use some help covering some roles. Doubling up on parts kind of gets ridiculous at a certain point.

[No need for bullying in this particular instance it seems, but no doubt there will be plenty of time for that later.]

Just as well I arrived, then. I'm fairly decent at it, if I do say so myself.

[Phillip grins, raising his glass in something of a toast.]

Cheers, then. I look forward to seeing what you can do. [That's definitely not a double entendre. Not at all. He'll just oh so innocently take a long sip of his drink.]

[Julian raises his glass in turn, takes another, smaller swig of his drink as he eyes the other man speculatively over the rim of his glass. Given the nature of this place, the nature of him, he doesn't really have to wonder in what capacity they knew each other, but the thought insinuates itself into his mind, nonetheless. He considers asking regardless, because even if the Julian the man had known wasn't precisely him, the two of them must be alike enough as to be physically interchangeable.

And that's a strange thought, isn't it? To wonder - to know - that someone may have intimate knowledge of you whilst you have no knowledge at all of them.

After a moment he clears his throat, sets the glass down on the sticky bar top.]

So, um, I suppose I ought to just get it out of the way. I'm assuming, and I apologise if I have it horribly wrong, but I'm assuming you knew me...or some version of me...rather well?

[Well, that is definitely the question of the hour right in the open, isn't it? Phillip doesn't mind- it's not exactly a secret, but also not really the kind of thing you bring up. Hi, nice to meet you, another version of you used to get turned on by seeing Death in my eyes and I got really good at putting on a commanding voice around him since he liked it so much.

But it's out there now, so Phillip nods.]

Pretty well, yeah. We spent a... decent amount of time together. [In bed and out, though Phillip was considerably less... rough than a lot of Julian's other partners.]

[Unless your name is Julian Devorak, and then you throw yourself headlong into situations that should have required more thought, you push at things that are better left alone and then pull yourself apart over them later. So here they are, and whilst he manages to appear calm enough as he reaches for another swig of his drink after all (because on second thoughts he needs it), there's the tell-tale colour in his cheeks and across the tips of his ears that denotes his flustered state.]

Oh, uh...I see, I see. I suppose this is the place for it, isn't it?

[After a moment he looks up from his glass though, manufactures a rakish smile.]

Though there seems something unfair in that, doesn't there? You knowing so much about me whilst I know so little about you...

[Phillip has seen that look on a face very much like Julian's before, and it makes it all the easier to lean with his elbows on the bar, conveniently putting him a little bit closer to the other man with bright blue eyes looking up at him over the rim of his glass as he takes another sip.]

Yeah, I can see how it might be. You're free to ask me questions, if you want... unless you have a better idea of learning more about me?

[And this is...easier. Falling into familiar patterns, giving himself over to flirtation-- it's better than dwelling on things too deeply, of thinking and fretting and wondering and driving himself half-mad with it all. That can wait for the depths of his sleepless nights, where it usually belongs. And so the smile remains, one auburn brow rising higher.]

My dear, I always have ideas. The question is whether they're good ones.

hi! the confusion of previous cr is very welcome <3

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