duplicitymemes | TDM #4 OVERFLOW

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TDM #4 OVERFLOW

« « « 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 « « «

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(continued from here)

[Is there? Yes. Another vampire is the only one Armand would be willing to give control to and after the hell he went through with Akasha, what felt like the end of everything, with Daniel, with his first fledging--yeah, Armand is exhausted. And getting brought here has only made that frustration worse.

Sex has been so distant in his life before and when he was human, it had been his favorite pastime. It isn't as good as the blood and Armand still prefers feeding to sex but sex has been like an old friend he got to say hello to again. He'd never forgotten how to, that was impossible. But the last time Armand tried to give control to someone else, it was thrown back into his face and then written into a goddamn book where everybody could read about his humiliation.

Being straightforward about this is hard.]

What a good question. [Armand smirks to himself.] Probably.

[ It's not a good answer, at least in a way that Larus wants. But he's had to deal with people like this before, though it's been quite some time since it's been another vampire. Sun had been involved before that, and his own curiosity had led to his death, to the life he now lived that really couldn't be considered living at all. It's an existence, he supposes. That's all it is and all it's going to be until he finds his way back home and takes hold of it with an iron fist.

Larus' expression tightens before he sighs, the gesture an old habit he's never quite rid himself of. He doesn't want this to continue to be trying, so he's going to have to press enough to get more out of him. ]

I'm not particularly good at guessing. So, if you do, just tell me what it is.

[If Armand wants to be able to have allies, he's going to have to try to open up to people who might possibly be one. He can tell that Larus would be a powerful ally and so Armand takes a moment. If he takes longer, he thinks Larus may get sick of this and leave. Part of Armand thinks about how easy this could be if he just used his powers. They were always something of a crutch to him. But he had told Larus he wouldn't.

His face is unmoving, like stone, as he sits there before he finally looks to Larus.]

While you're here with me, you can forget your mark. Do as you please, if you like. [He leans back on his hands, tilting his head just a little.]

[ If Armand had taken any longer, he might have left. He's wasting time in this room when he could be out there listening and watching and learning as much as he could about all the other people who inhabit this city. He needs to reestablish a base, collect informants and people he can pseudo-trust, but he also needs someone like Armand to support him in the context of this place's rules. Larus isn't entirely sure he'll ask that just yet, but he does take advantage of the way he leans back, shifting so that Larus is closer to Armand than he's been since the start of this conversation. ]

It's not mine. [ He drops his voice lower. ] I don't need you to tell me what is allowed here either, but – [ Larus thinks that sounds wrong; yet, he keeps his gaze a bit softer, wanting to press the importance of his own will to choose. ] But I think we can come to an understanding. I'll help you if you help me.

[The attempt that Larus is making isn't going without Armand's notice. Larus will be a good ally. He's intelligent and it's respectable how straightforward he is.]

In our situation, this is our only option. [His eyes meet Larus' and his smirk softens into a smile. It's a deliberate action. Other vampires complain he's too cold and usually Armand doesn't care too much about those opinions. Vampires have a right to dislike him but he would rather not give Larus a reason to dislike him.]

You like information and being able to read minds does help with that. I haven't tried so far with too many, the last thing I need is someone to discover that's what I'm trying to do.

[ Briefly, he wonders if that's true. Is it the only option they have? Larus hasn't been here long enough to know, though he suspects he's probably already found the answer, and that smiles does what he supposes it's meant to do. It draws his attention to Armand's mouth, to the smooth column of his throat and the obvious lack of a heartbeat he can sense there. ]

You know as well as I do that it's better to be informed. [ There's a pause, debating his choices. ] But that brings us back to the question I've already asked you. If you give me information, what do you want from me in return? [ It's not an unreasonable thing to want to know. If it's only an ally he'd wanted, then he could have just said so at the very beginning. Offering their terms now makes it easier to navigate the future, and Larus is very determined to not be here in this place overly long if he can help it. ]

[Armand notices where his eyes go and he moves his face closer, just tilting his head slightly with a small chuckle.]

Do you think your support isn't enough for me? You offer me information you receive as soon as you do. You offer me your strength and your intelligence. Is that not an alliance? [At this point, he's close enough for their lips to be brushing against each other. Doing this with another vampire is fun. With humans, it's almost too easy. Especially with his powers. But he said he wouldn't do that to Larus and so he won't. Using his own charm is its own game and it reminds him of his days before he was turned.]

[ There's no warmth from the gesture, the slight graze of Armand's mouth against his as he speaks sparking nothing in him but curiosity. He wants to know more, craves it more than anything he could be offered, and if he's willing to work with him... It's a risk. Larus knows it is because they hardly know anything about each other, and for all he knows, he falling once again into a trap similar to the one Sun had set for him. But back then, he'd been mortal and very easy manipulated; considering his power, it's a wonder he'd escaped after his death. ]

So you want to trade information. [ It's not a question. He does consider it though, reaching out to grip the front of Armand's shirt and pull him closer without any effort whatsoever, and Larus presses his thumb against Armand's throat, a light touch that implies a lot more. ] I'll agree to those terms until I'm forced to do something about this mark. After that, we renegotiate. [ Because the orientation had given him a limited amount of time to act freely before he had to contract himself to someone else, and by then, if he was still here, it might require a completely different set of rules. ]

It's a fair deal. What kind of idiot would I have to be to turn it down? And you did say I didn't look like someone who loses.

[Armand hasn't turned his eyes away from Larus once. With no need to blink or breathe, it makes it easy to do so. He doesn't really react to anything that Larus has done. It feels a bit like a game of chicken. Armand had learned about that game when he had been going to clubs with Daniel. It was a very easy game for a vampire to win.

The memories of those times makes him wish he hadn't remembered them. If he was honest with himself then there was nothing waiting for him back home. Nothing at all. But a nothing you knew well was better than this. A place full of unknowns.

He sits up, brushing a hand over Larus' hair, much like a pet.]

I think we'll work well together.

[ Larus doesn't respond right away, drawing back and turning his head away from the fingers sweeping over his hair. If this is all that's going to come from his arrangement with Armand, he should be thrilled. In a way, he is. He doesn't have to give more than he wants, and in return, he has someone else in a position to do something more if it's required. He puts distance between them once more after a second or two, moving to stand; if Armand wishes for something else, he's going to have to make the effort to entice Larus instead. ]

Then I guess we're in agreement. [ He debates leaving it at that, but he needs to be a little more open to interacting with others if he's going to remain unassuming to everyone else outside this room. ] If there's anything you need me to look into, at any time, send a message. We can discuss it in person. [ Because he certainly doesn't trust these devices they'd given them to be entirely secure. ]

[That's new. Had anybody ever just turned him down before like that? The answer was yes but Armand liked to consider that one an oddity. But the difference between this instance is that he isn't angered about it. It's more just interesting to Armand that this is how Larus reacts.

He stays where he is, in the exact same position as he was before, and looks to Larus with that same smile on his lips. But now it's more amused.]

Don't you think it's possible that any of these rooms could be bugged? The streets? Discussing it in person makes no difference. Nothing can be trusted here. Perhaps this lottery was all one big ruse for all we know. Which I doubt. [But it's worth mentioning.]

[ A frown crosses his face at the comment. This is like having a conversation he's had before with someone else back home, someone just as stubborn, and as much as it pains Larus to think of him, he pushes it from his mind to focus on what's before him. ]

I don't doubt that they're keeping tabs on everyone they bring here. Why give them more to work with by using the things they've given us? [ He doesn't like the charity, if he's being frank. There's really no point unless it's an attempt to lull them into a false sense of security, and what then? ] But you're wrong. I think we can come to trust each other, and that's better than nothing. [ Maybe it's a little too optimistic for him, but he's not quite ready to stop the fight he'd left back home. ]

[It feels good to be trusted though at the same time, Armand wonders if Larus will ever regret it. Have any of his relationships, platonic or otherwise, ever worked out?

But even Armand knows he's overthinking this. This partnership has barely even begun. Why damn it before it's ruined?]

I don't trust anything we've been given. That's for certain. Not even the housing. If I didn't want to raise suspicions then I wouldn't be using it.

[ They have, in fact, not worked out well, but this is also why Larus tends to put everything else before any sort of personal relationship. He doesn't need that mess here in Duplicity, not when there's still so much to sort out with certain things back home. Yet, he doesn't classify this as anything like that. He doesn't care as long as he benefits, and he assumes Armand feels the same. ]

I've already started looking for safe houses. If it's something you want, I might be able to get it for you. [ He isn't sure he'd be willing to share, but it hasn't come to that yet. It's only a suggestion, and besides, he doesn't plan to live in the public housing they've offered anyway. ]

You're thinking of everything. [He is smirking but it isn't mocking at all. It's impressive, if he's honest. Armand wouldn't consider himself dumb or the type to not plan. But Larus is a good partner to have in this regard.] Having a roommate is a concern.

[In his case, he's usually in a dead to the world sleep during the day. How does he avoid uncomfortable questions about that if anybody went to his room? Somebody would have to take notice how he was never around during the day or other immortal oddities about him. He can play at human just fine. That wasn't hard but extended periods would definitely require some of the mental gifts vampirism had blessed him with.]

But I always find a way.

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TDM #4 OVERFLOW

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