TDM #1

[duplicitymods]

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « OUT OF CLUTTER FIND SIMPLICITY

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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.

» » » LIES TRAVEL IN COMPANY

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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

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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

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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

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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. For characters with a birthday falling in the months of January to June, their designation will be Dominant. For characters with a birthday falling in the months of July to December, their designation will be Submissive. For characters with an unknown birthday, their designation will be Dominant. Arrival into Duplicity has not been used as a prompt as it is a rather large part of introducing the game and will be saved for the first in-game log. But feel free to thread it on the TDM. Also, any locations throughout Duplicity are available for TDM prompts as well! Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!!

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» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Comments

Luke Skywalker | Star Wars | Dominant

[neverjoinyou]

» » » TABLE IT FOR LATER

As a newcomer, and new to all of this, in fact, Luke had been strongly encouraged to attend this training session. Perhaps because the only context in which "training" had applied to him previously was Jedi training, he'd been woefully unprepared for what he found. However, refusing to bow out now that he'd committed, he'd stayed. If only in the sense that he hadn't left--Luke ranged about the perimeter, barely able to look at anything actually going on, only making eye contact with those who spoke to him because that was easier than potentially staring at a human piece of furniture.

Can anyone possibly like doing that? he asked himself. And why would anyone think I'd be capable of making someone?

It went against everything in his nature, this "dominance" thing. Not that he'd know from experience, sexually. It was more that the idea of telling anyone what to do, of being in control over another living being, felt wrong. More so now that he was aware of the Force, could feel the flow of energy between all living things, and had a certain advantage when it came to control. Himself, he was comfortable controlling.

He didn't think he'd ever feel comfortable taking control over anyone else. He'd seen first hand what that looked like, and it terrified him.

So he'd come here, hoping that by "training" he'd learn something about how to perform this "role" he'd never asked for. And now that he was here, he felt stupid, unsure where to look, and a little bit hot under his tight-fitting collar.


[ooc: or any other scenario, come at me and my space virgin!]

Technically Disney-owned Characters Unite!

[princessascended]

Why had she even come here? Okay, no, that was a stupid question, she knew why. She was trying, fairly desperately at that, to figure out how to fit into this "dominant" role and not make everyone side-eye her at best and punish her for failing at worst.

But now she was abruptly quite certain that failure was probably inevitable, and she was just wandering blindly, unsure of what to do.

Until she suddenly found herself standing next to a man who looked just as unnerved as her, but who somehow she felt some sort of... deep, untouchable peace coming from. Something she felt with her heart as strongly as when she'd been standing next to King Mickey. Standing there for a moment, she tried to emulate that.

"It's, uh... a little intense, isn't it?"

Wow. That was really the best she could do.

[neverjoinyou]

For once, Luke was flushing with relief instead of embarrassment.

"That's one way to put it," he agreed. Unspecific, but then, did one have to be specific when there was someone literally being sat upon not three meters away? It wasn't that Luke was a prude, exactly. It was more that he had had no idea this was even a thing until half an hour ago. It was kind of nice to be next to someone who also seemed to be out of their element. Not that he wished what he was feeling on anyone. He stood there a moment longer, fishing for something to say, before he ran a hand through his hair. "You know, I can't think of anything to say that isn't either really stupid or a bad pick-up line, so... I'm Luke."

[princessascended]

"Kairi." Extending her hand for a shake, she managed to go from awkward and fidgety to awkward and smiling, which was at least a step up. "Nice to meet you, Luke. Circumstances aside. Though, frankly, I'm just glad to see someone else having basically the same reaction to this that I am."

Not that nobody else was responding negatively, but she wasn't really sure that she wanted to get close to someone who was actively growling or in some other way making it clear they didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. Seemed kind of counterproductive.

"Honestly, it's a good thing she doesn't seem upset about the whole thing, or I might have been tempted to do something about it."

[neverjoinyou]

"Yeah," Luke half-laughed, after shaking her hand. Making eye contact with Kairi, he smiled. "Honestly, I'm not sure if it's rude to look, or... not to. You know?"

In truth, speculation about what he'd do in other circumstances was sort of moot. He couldn't imagine where he'd be that this would have been happening, back home. But maybe he was just being naive again.

"I'm just glad to meet someone who probably doesn't think I'm horribly naive."

[princessascended]

"I mean, no more naive than I am." Which wasn't necessarily saying he wasn't, but at least he was in good company now.

"It looks like we've both got a lot to learn... really quickly." After all, they had to get at least one sub in three months, and if this was the sort of thing they could expect, it was going to be difficult and awkward at best.

"But if we learn enough about what they expect, maybe we can... I dunno, fudge it a bit?"

[fervoreous]

There's another in attendance that seems to be just as confused and appalled as he is. Argilla seems bewildered by the whole proceedings, and more than once nearly got up to start yelling about it but managed to calm herself with a deep breath or twelve. Her world wasn't anything like this, to the point where she doesn't know what sex is, and this display isn't helping her comprehension whatsoever.

"This is stupid" She says to no one in particular once it was all over, still more than a little frustrated at the whole thing.

[neverjoinyou]

The woman's agitation thrums like a badly-tuned radio, though given the range of emotions in the room and his own discomfort, Luke doesn't quite focus on her until her muttered words. He's a little surprised to hear such a blunt opinion given voice, given how polite everyone's being about, well. Whatever this is.

"I think they want us to think it's just... different," he says quietly, though he's unsure if he himself believes that.

[fervoreous]

"Well it's certainly different." She says, folding her arms indignantly as she eyes the dominant who'd given the demonstration. Unfortunately, Argilla's life experience is exceptionally lacking, so there's a lot of misunderstandings and assumptions being made on her part. If anything, she clearly doesn't trust the woman.

"That doesn't make it right."

[neverjoinyou]

If nothing else, Luke admires the certainty with which the woman expresses herself. He's not entirely sure it's prudent, but he's also never had a lot of need for prudence. Though that last part might depend on who you ask.

"Then why are you here?" he asks politely, but with genuine interest.

[fervoreous]

She knows how not to get herself killed. That's about as far as her own prudence extends. Usually.

"I thought learning something about what's expected of us would help things make more sense, but if anything it just made it worse."

[littlelives]

Renfield had come on a whim but he finds himself staring at the submissives with wide eyes, feeling like he's at a buffet he should not touch. He craves blood, but he won't eat human, that's wrong. He can understand being a willing follower, but the dominants themselves- there's nothing in their faces to suggest to him that they're worthy of this.

In short, he's deeply uncomfortable and he can't just run out on a hostess. That's rude. So instead he finds someone who looks nonthreatening and not comfortable himself.

"What do you make of all this?"

Renfield has one finger in his collar trying to loosen it and his eyes keep darting towards the door.

[neverjoinyou]

Luke's feeling a little hot, too, but probably not for the same reasons. It's more that he's not sure where to look, and he's confused about whether he's seeing sexuality on display or... something else.

But the little man who's spoken seems agitated in another way, almost shifty. And Luke's not sure what to make of it, but something about him sets him on edge, like he needs to be ready. Then again, almost everything here does so far, just because he has no idea what's going on or why, so he's trying to be generous with those stuck in it with him.

"Honestly?" He shrugs. "I'm not sure what to think. I... don't want to be rude."

Part of him thinks that's like wondering if standing against the Empire is 'rude,' but he also has no idea who he's talking to.

[littlelives]

"Of course not, we shouldn't be...rude. But are they all doing it for someone? What on earth are they getting from it? What have they been promised? Where are their clothes?"

Is this some kind of vampire pyramid scheme? Then again, maybe these people also badly don't want to be alone. That's reasonable.

"Or maybe the world has always been like this and I've just never noticed."

[neverjoinyou]

Luke raises an eyebrow. "I don't know where you're from," he hazards, "but I really doubt that." He looked back over the figures in the room, and shakes his head. "I honestly don't know.... any of the answers to those questions. I suppose..." He bites his lip, thinking, more really for himself than the man, but it doesn't much matter. "People want all sorts of things from other people. I know I enjoy feeling like I've made someone feel good, or proud. But that doesn't really seem to, ah, cover it."

[littlelives]

"Oh good. At the very least, if this is madness I am not alone in it."

"You do? Enjoy making someone feel proud?" He blinks slightly, faintly surprised, but at least he seems more relaxed now.

"This-" he gestures behind him, not turning his head. "does not cover anything at all. It is like water instead of wine- or no, water is necessary. It is...a glass of sand? Yes."

[justicedevil]

The longer that Videl stayed at this demonstration or listened to those that were from this place, the more she wanted to throw someone through a wall. No matter that it wouldn't actually help anything and if anything it would only make things worse, but nothing that she had seen of this place so far had even a hint of changing her mind about how this place was set up.

She was about to leave the building, since staying her and watching what was going on wasn't something she thought she could stomach for much longer, but before she did so she paused as she caught sight of someone at the edge of the demonstration. Looking quite a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing.

So instead of just storming out, she ended up walking over to him, forcing an uneasy smile to her lips as she did so. "You look like you're as uncomfortable here as I am. Want to go outside and get away from this?"

[neverjoinyou]

"Gods, yes," Luke breathed with visible relief, as if he'd required permission. It wasn't until this moment that he realized he had been waiting for something like that, frozen to the spot out of some sort of internalized guest protocol. The idea that he could be leaving with any sort of person didn't really occur to him, not least because there wasn't a whole lot he was afraid of, anymore.

They slipped out together, Luke trying not to make eye contact with anyone int he room, until they hit the street and he felt he could take a deep breath.

"I don't know what it was," he said, "but I felt like I'd... accepted an invitation without knowing the end time. Thanks."

[justicedevil]

Videl nodded, completely understanding what he meant as they walked down the street. Honestly, she knew pretty quickly that the demonstration wasn't anything that she wanted to be a part of, and the only reason she had come was because it had been "highly recommended". But enough had been enough, and hey, she had shown up. That had to count for something.

"Don't mention it," she said. "But you do seem to be a bit too polite. You know you could've left by yourself at any time, right?"

[neverjoinyou]

"Oh, yeah," Luke said, running a hand through his hair. "It's more that I'm still at the stage where... I don't know which information is going to be important later." He sighed. "I really hope that is not in that category."

Truth be told, he felt more disoriented every day. "I'm Luke, by the way," he says, holding out a hand. "Not that you need to stay--you've done your good deed."

[justicedevil]

"Yeah, I can understand that too," she admitted. He did have a good point about not knowing what exactly they really needed to know. For anything that they were worrying about while here. "If it makes you feel better though, I doubt knowing how to do that exact thing probably isn't something they absolutely 'need' us to know."

Videl took his hand when it was offered, a quick handshake before pulling back. "I'm Videl. And it's fine, personally I'd rather stay here and talk to you than potentially run into someone else from here right now."

[shieldofrohan]

Éowyn had found herself here through similar chance: attending in hope of something very different, and now too proud and stubborn to leave, she watches the display with increasingly visible distaste. At last, she turns to the nearest person who looks as uncomfortable as she does, frowning.

"Do you feel as I do? I want no part of this. Tell me that it is not what it seems!" Not that she really hopes or expects that he will - she just wants someone to commiserate with, to share her view on this truly unsettling sight.

[neverjoinyou]

Luke raises an eyebrow as he glances over at her, relieved to see a visible disgust he doesn't quite feel he can express. He's trying to be low key, after all. The woman's displeasure feels genuine, and direct, and he warms to her.

"I'm afraid I can't, seeing as..." He gestures helplessly. "I'm not even sure what it seems. I'm not sure I understand any of this."

[shieldofrohan]

"It seems, to me, an exercise in humiliation." She shakes her head, scoffing low in her throat. "Like all of this. 'Tis as if they set all the masters of this land to discovering how worst to be a master." Her lip curls further, and she glances back over at the couple, huffing quietly. "With sex as a flavouring, lest it were not dishonourable enough. Would they truly have us be such masters?"

[neverjoinyou]

His attention is all on her, now, fascinated. He's certain of himself, of who he is and what he believes, but he's not at all certain of where he is or what it means. But this does not seem to touch her, and it's impressive.

"I couldn't," he says with quiet certainty. "I won't use power in that way."