duplicitymemes

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«tdm

TDM #1

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « OUT OF CLUTTER FIND SIMPLICITY

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

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. 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!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Hmm... This was funner with Ritsuka, but he doesn't relent. ]

Was I asking about something else? If you want to answer a question I haven't asked, I won't stop you. That makes things easier.

Then, as consolation for fumbling at the end of your fight, I'll give you a couple freebies: I like sweet foods and soft beds over the alternatives. And as for Classes, I have too many amazing Servants around me to really like one over the others. They all have important advantages.

[She takes a moment to sum up what she knows for sure, ticking off the fingers of her free hand.]

Let's see... not an Archer, not a Caster, not a Ruler or Saver, if you were a Saber it would be pretty obvious... Your skill seems too detail-oriented to be meant for somebody manifested as a Berserker...

[She has to start ticking down, out of free fingers. It's a little nostalgic, flexing the old investigation muscles like this.]

Lancers are usually pretty straightforward too... So, that would leave Assassin or Rider, assuming I haven't missed a clue and drawn a wrong conclusion.

[ Sweet foods, soft beds, no preferences. That's easy to remember! Though he kind of hates the last part. His current Master is like that too, but he can't feel their presence now...

... ]

Wow, you're pretty sharp! I'll ignore how you can't forget my mistakes and give you that. Now it all comes down to two. Which one will it be, I wonder?

Overall, I'd say you're more like Li Shuwen than Iskander or Drake, so... I'll guess Assassin. It fits the disguises part, too.

[She pokes at his bare chest with a finger chilled from holding her drink.]

Assuming this isn't another illusion, and going with how you took those men out successfully, [she stresses that part, since he's so pouty over it] I'd say you're from a Chinese legend or event. How am I doing?

Edited 2018-09-16 07:31 (UTC)

[ He's pretty sure that's his own face blushing this time, so he takes Hakuno's hand to move it away. ]

You know, Hakuno, not all martial arts experts are Chinese. [ beat ] Even if I am. [ Then quickly, ] Also, there are Servants who are Riders because they ride men. Didja ever ask me what I ride? I got a Riding skill too, you know! Sorta.

It's the tattoos and the martial arts. Or are you denying that you're an Assassin?

[She tugs at his hand idly, her brow furrowing.]

I'm pretty good with history, but I haven't brushed up on Chinese legendary figures since I was up against Lu Bu. Flower tattoos, flower tattoos... I'd guess Lu Zhishen just off the top of my head, but you don't have a beard. I could see you maybe punching a butcher to death, but still. I suppose you could be more modern, like Li Shuwen, too. ...though, all bets are off if you actually are a Rider. You could be a pirate or a horseman or a general or, yeah, a male courtesan fits too, I guess.

I know that's the point I was driving at, but when you say it like that, I don't know if I should be flattered or not.

[ He's quiet for a moment. Hakuno is intelligent. Her wisdom alone makes him want to yield. But part of him wants her to arrive at the conclusion on her own. After all, Lu Zhishen does make a lasting impression, doesn't he? It's hard to stand out when there are a hundred and eight to remember. ]

Heh. Brother Lu sure is popular. Maybe I should start drunkenly destroying monasteries too. [ He snickers. ] But I don't have that sort of temper...

[ So he says, but from the corner of his eye, he spots the bartender reporting him to the authorities for his earlier scuffle. ]

All I got is instinct. Come on!

[ He grabs Hakuno by the wrist and starts tugging her toward the exit. ]

Edited 2018-09-16 08:08 (UTC)

There's nothing wrong with being a courtesan, and plenty of those would qualify as Assassins from what I recall reading about those Imperial inner courts.

[He yanks her along, and she just barely manages to put her empty glass down before she's running, too well trained to heed the warning of a Servant to even think about refusing.]

So you are from Water Margin.

[She's surprisingly quick and has good stamina, he might note, largely built up from running for her life through death mazes.]

Uh... Shoot, give me a minute.

[She's not talking about the running, because her pace doesn't falter. He might be able to hear a lilting murmur as she runs through what sounds like a mnemonic device for a long, long list of names.]

...Shi, Xie, Xie, Yan, and then the next set was Zhu, Huang—no, no wait, Yan. Tattoos and infiltration. Yan Qing!

[He's lucky she has a soft voice.]

Edited 2018-09-16 08:17 (UTC)

[ She says something Wu Zetian would wholeheartedly agree with, but Yan Qing is too busy trying to look for an escape route to acknowledge it. But yes, Water Margin, of course he's from Water Margin. Did she think a lowlife like him was from Dream of the Red Chamber? His life would be much easier, he thinks, if he was Jia Baoyu: an aristocrat with nothing to worry about but the women in his life and jade in his mouth. That would be the life, wouldn't it? There would be no need to run. Not then, not now.

But in his defense, the guy who grabbed his ass started it.

Still, there are few things he would give up for the rush of adrenaline and blood pumping through his veins when danger is only moments away. Hakuno runs faster than Ritsuka. If she can keep this up for a while longer, they can make it to the train and back to the Up. His heart beats so loudly in his ears, he nearly misses her when she says it.

Yan Qing.

He pulls her around a sharp corner, holds his breath and covers her mouth, keeping her close to his heaving chest until the bouncers miss them entirely. ]

... The 36th Heavenly Star, the Skillful Star. Personally, I didn't think you'd guess it so fast. Should I double your prize?

[She's still and silent against him, well-versed in the importance of hiding too, until he breaks the silence.

She looks up at him, still breathing a little hard; her cheeks are flushed from the sudden exertion, her bangs are mussed, and her smile is probably as bright as he's ever seen it this evening.]

I'm good at working under pressure. And I won't say no to a bonus, either.

[He sees her smile and he wants to snuff it out. Maybe if he wraps his fingers around her neck, he can stop this mistake before she makes it. Didn't her mother tell her not to talk to strangers? A ruffian is hardly the sort of friend she should be making. There is more to him than his lust for blood. He licks his lips. Instinct: what leads his eyes to her flushed cheeks and unkempt hair. What would happen if he took her then and there? His heart races at the thought. After all, to steal was in his nature. That's what they said when they left him to the dogs.

But Hakuno... won't do that. Will she? Of course not. She barely knows him.

And yet his eyes are trained on his lips. Instinct. He is so parched.]

Haha... What kind of bonus you want?

Before that, are you all right?

[The adrenaline and victory surges are dying down, and she can feel his heart beating hard in his chest, pressed together as they are. Her entire life, she's always had to be well-attuned to the health and wellness of the Servants around her, and now is no different.]

I don't know how fast mana expends itself in this world, but I don't mind topping you off, if you need it.

[He... sort of helped her?

Well, no, he dragged her into trouble along with him, but she can't say it wasn't a fun little thrill.]

Don't you think you should say something smarter?

[He doesn't need a refill yet, no, but does he want it.]

I might do something you'll hate.

It's not like I'm facing down another extinction level event. I think taking a little time to make sure you're okay is fine.

[She tilts her head to one side.]

How do you know I'll hate it?

[She doesn't understand. Almost no one ever asks if he's okay. Yan Qing tries not to shiver in delight, but he can't help it.

He shoves her back hard against the wall.]

Sometimes I don't ask for permission.

[The pain doesn't matter. She's not his Master.]

Edited 2018-09-16 19:39 (UTC)

[Oh, she thinks as her back hits the wall, and her perceptions of this situation abruptly shift.

She looks up at him, thoughtful but without any apparent apprehension.]

No, but you certainly do like to give warnings. It's pretty nice of you to make sure people know what they're getting into, Yan Qing.

[He traps her against the wall with one arm at her side, keeping her from slinking away. Nice?

His tone remains even.]

You got a lot of guts, saying my name like that. I'm just nice 'cause I like you. Everyone else can go to hell.

Hey, I worked hard to figure it out.

[She bumps her shoulder against his arm, playful and calm even now.]

...wow. Now I feel kind of special. That's sweet of you...

[She pauses, and looks him in the eye, still smiling.]

Yan Qing.

[Between her earnest efforts, her candid smile, and the nostalgic sound of his name, he snaps.

His lips seize hers, prying them open as he moans and drinks in her taste. Hakuno is no Ritsuka but she says his name so sweetly and he can't help it. It's like a spell all on its own, intoxicating him with a dream that will never come true. But fleeting as dreams are, he prays they never stop. His tongue dances against hers, licking the hot underside in the hopes he'll coax out a moan before she says it again. Maybe he'll burn the name into her throat when he's through. ]

[Something finally connects in her brain, a little oh, right sort of realization. Something about him had been familiar, beneath the posturing and preening, and now, pinned and kissed breathless, she understands what that was.

He has a bit of Tamamo in him, this Assassin.

It would make sense, if she had the time to really remember his story and the type of Heroic Spirit he'd logically be. That desperation for acknowledgement, that question—do you have a preference—the clear and present desire for monopoly and ravenous need for attention. It's all so very, very familiar to her.

It softens her, and she can't help but let her hands slip up to cradle his jaw, urging him closer as she sighs, soft and pleasant, against his mouth.]

Edited (whoops) 2018-09-17 00:51 (UTC)

[Foxes are the sly sort. For anything, they will lie, steal and kill. Hakuno certainly has a Servant to go back to and Yan Qing has a Master to serve, but when both are not here, he can't stop his mouth on her mouth so clever with its words, so smart as she coaxes him in. She is gentle and giving and he is desperate in his taking. Did she need this like does? His voice and affection pour into her like honey as hips pin her to the wall and fingers thread through her hair as if to keep her there, keep her. The temperature rises and he's tempted to melt her down and mould her to his shape, a shape that fits him. She makes it so easy.

But it shouldn't be.

A string of spit forms and breaks as mouths pull away with a smack. He's breathing hard, feverish, but he's sober. The mind forgets but the body remembers and he thinks he remembers himself a little better.]

Thanks for the snack.

[But they are inches apart, his collar is gone, and he can't stop a hunger with much else.]

Let's do this again sometime. You know what to call me, don't you?

...

[She blinks up at him slowly, her eyes large, dark, and endlessly hungry.

One hand idly shifts from his face to hers, touching her lips as if to press the memory of what he's just done there, pinned and preserved. There are large, calloused hands in her hair for once, a frame more than a head taller than her pinning her down, her mind is fogged over with nostalgia and exciting new experiences, and perhaps that's why the first thing that actually comes out of her mouth is:]

So that's what it's like with a man.

[She blinks again, a tiny bit more rationality trickling in, and tries to actually focus on what he's saying instead of the lines of his face and the warm, sweet way his breath puffs against her lips as he speaks.]

...oh. So that was just a 'snack'?

[She smiles again, and pretends her knees don't feel like they're melting. If Tamamo were here, she'd be dragging her away.

If Nero were here, she quite possibly might cheer Hakuno on, in favor of indulging in all things beautiful.]

The bonus I've got coming must be something pretty stunning then, huh, Yan Qing?

[What, so he's her first? He cracks a twisted smile. Oh, he's forgetting again.]

Not here.

[A Heroic Spirit still has secrets he needs to keep. He brings his lips close to her ear, his voice like smoke:]

If you're gonna say my name, it'll be for me alone. Got it?

[A shiver dances down her spine and she leans in a little, running on pure instinct. She nestles her mouth just as close to his own ear, obediently softening her voice even more. It hasn't been so long that she's forgotten the anxiety of having to his a Servant's identity, banter aside.]

...is this the part where I'm supposed to invite you somewhere private, then?

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