Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
duplicitymods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
duplicitymemes2018-09-12 11:51 am
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2018-09-12 11:51 am
Entry tags:
TDM #1
« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »
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. |
 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. |
 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. |
 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. |
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!! |
no subject
What was happening in there was so far from either sex or parties. [ it was weird human furniture. it seemed more like performance art, which is not sexy in the least. the motel, however, being 'morning wood', does seem like it'd be host to more actual sex parties. ] The least they could've done was spike the free coffee.
[ the free coffee that jack lost somewhere between bucky introducing him to the wall and this point, he realizes, as he pats at his coat pockets. everything else seems to be in order, though (knife in place, flask still settled in the inner coat pocket (just because he complained that they didn't spike the coffee, doesn't mean he didn't)). ]
I take it this is the first instance you're seeing of this. Think it's safe to ask one of the city representatives, or try the comms they gave us? [ tugging out the network device he was handed, jack raises it to give an indicating shake towards bucky, before taking to scrolling through the posts thus far, searching for anything relating to their particular issue. arrogant brat he may be, but he understands reconnaissance and information gathering.
as for safe, well, he can't think of a reason why the city would be surprised by their existence, or that they're roaming the city freely, but the natural paranoia in him wants to be wary. they know nothing about this place, really, aside from what the representatives wanted them to know. ]
no subject
Jack goes for his phone, and Barnes can't help the instinct that flares in him. A metal hand shoots out, but it's gentle by the time it reaches the place Jack's fingers curl around his device. Carefully, pointedly, he pushes both things down. ]
Yeah, not so much.
[ He mutters darkly, a scowl on his face. ]
You wanna talk to the people that brought us here, leave me out of it.
[ Because he doesn't trust them as far as he can throw them- which is a really bad analogy, he can probably through them pretty fucking far. The point is so long as there's a re-education center up and operational that fucks with your mind and reprograms you in any way whatsoever? He'll be pointedly avoiding anyone in league with that mess. No government, no cops, no officials.
No. ]
no subject
I'm not talking, I'm listening. [ and reading, and watching. just because he's not putting entries in himself doesn't mean the others arrived with him haven't started up with the social networking and jabbering. a lot can be learned from just listening to confused people ramble. ] And you can stop touching me any day now.
[ it's a Thing, okay? he doesn't even hug his own mother back half the time, unsolicited touching of his person just bugs him. ( the longer version: a lot of touching he never wanted to do happens in his life, jack deals with it by deciding he'd chosen it, so the stuff that comes without his bidding is just irritated, keep your old guy mitts to yourself, homie (not that jack would be openly admitting to any of this)). it's only spoken in a mild voice, though, and he continues pacing along at bucky's side, eyes on the phone in his hand as he scrolls through the latest posts, absorbing. ]
If there's others with the same issues we have, I'd like to know. With luck, they may be less paranoid than us.
[ us, because the point of asking if it was safe to talk about it on the network was the fact he had doubts. if he thought it was, he wouldn't have asked at all, just done it. you're not his real mom, bucky barnes. but, if they can find others experiencing the same bizarre DNA twin thing, maybe they can do some investigative stalking. hopefully, they aren't the only special case here. that leads to a lot more possibilities jack would rather not think of. ]
no subject
The hand disappears, but his eyes stayed narrowed at the phone in Jack's hand.
Less paranoid than us. Less paranoid than us.
Okay. Fine. ]
Brooklyn.
[ He says finally, slowly, like it's an uncomfortable admission. ]
Three sisters. World War Two, army national guard. Hydra. Anything?
[ He doubts it. The only Gilboa he knows is from the god damn bible and he averts anything remotely close to religeon after his stomping catholic father's enormous boots crushed his mother's spirits. ]
no subject
at the list bucky gives, through, Jack frowns down at the device, eventually looking upwards, down the street they're pacing along, digging through his memory for any of those phrases. ]
Three, Christ, you poor forsaken soul. [ one twin sister was difficult enough, and Michelle was fairly mild as far as girls go. Three must have been hell. Anyway - ] Army, is about the only one, but it was the Gilboan Royal Armed Forces - Royal Guard, Infantry or King's Own. I assume when you say 'hydra', you don't mean the Greek myth.
[ maybe he does, who knows? even World War II has him frowning, because what happened to World War I? how severely skewed are their realities from one another? and how is it their DNA alone that links them between it? ]
Birthmarks. Twins don't typically share them. If our genetic code is identical, you should have one right here. [ he points on himself, somewhere on the lower half of his stomach, to the side, beneath his navel. he's not saying strip, he just wants to know if it matches. ]
no subject
It is what it is. They're long since dead. ]
Army national guard, 107th infantry.
[ He comments inscrutably, tonelessly, because hey. Look. They're relating. Fuck those air force guys, right?
A hand comes up absently to touch himself over the shirt at the birthmark, lips parting. Strange how sharing eyes, lips, nose, and jawline don't feel quite as bizarre as sharing a god damn birthmark. The implications that follow it- the idea that their genetic makeup is identical rather than just similar? Up until now, he could have almost dismissed it all as a cosmic coincidence, some kind of joke, a happenstance of breeding and the concept that there can only be so many unique faces in the universe.
Under his breath, he murmurs a softly awed: ]
Jesus.
no subject
127th infantry. [ similar number, and jack's tempted to be weirded out by that too, but it isn't close enough to mean anything, really. ] Moved to the city, promotion to Major. It gets complicated from there.
[ patricide, regicide, bloody coup, exile. at least, he assumes this is exile. by 'complicated', it's clear jack means 'I don't want to talk about it'. by bucky's reaction, jack's guessing they have the same mark, and that's... that's actually pretty terrifying, for what it means. breathing out a slow sigh, his pace stutters, wanting to lean back against a wall and try to keep calm, but he remembers they need to get somewhere safe and secluded. ]
Genetic replicas, then. Our finger prints and retinas are probably the same as well. [ all those wonders of biology that differentiate even the most similar individuals, identical twins and so on and so forth. new two people are exactly the same, no two people but them, apparently. so this doesn't speak of blood relation by any stretch - it speaks of cloning. ] That's not something that happens naturally. Not within the same... universe, anyway.
[ so, maybe this crap they're spouting about multiverse is real, but even still, out of all the billions and trillions of possibilities that they'd both end up here, how? ]
Do you know any doctors or biologists you trust? [ jack knows no one here, and anyone he'd meet here would be subject to his distrust. their only hope would be if Bucky had someone to look into this. try to find some kind of scientific trail, figure out how the hell this happened or why? it seems utterly impossible, but where else do they start? ] Even just scientists?
no subject
Happy to follow that lead.
His lips twitch in clear discomfort as he considers the implication of a matching set of fingerprints, a matching set of retinas. He can't for the life of him imagine having a security system requiring either of those two things, but simply the fact that it would come with a gaping hole if he did crosses his mind. The idea of a crime scene with his DNA all over it- well, you know what? Being suspected of murder isn't exactly a new feeling, so maybe he shouldn't let that get to him so much.
Either way, it's unsettling. ]
Trust? Sure. Here?
[ Not so much. Shuri or anyone from her team in Wakanda would have a god damn field day analyzing this. She could probably break it down into an exact explanation and pinpoint their universal divergences using hair follicles or something. ]
My doctor's on the other side of the god damn galaxy right now, and she's not pickin' up for house calls.
[ Public transportation looms closer, the train that circles this place is up ahead. Presumably, since neither of them has lines down their necks, they're given starter rooms in relative proximity to one another. It seems like a safe bet to hedge them that way. ]
no subject
Fantastic.
[ jack thinks while they walk, probably nearly shoulder checking a passerby or two, as his eyes watch the air in front of him, but they're unfocused, not really taking in any information. he's thinking of the city representatives that brought them in, if they might have files, or medical records, where they might hold them, how they might get to them. ]
If you don't mind me asking, [ jack starts, careful, and this is the most polite he's been thus far, ] How did the arm happen?
[ because he knows asking a war veteran about an amputation can be opening a can of worms for them, and if there's one thing jack respects, it's military service. but, it's less the injury he's concerned with, more the cyborg prosthetic he has. if it's genetic fuckery they're looking for, something that complex seems like it should be looked into.
jack hardly wants to face what it would mean that one or the other of them aren't... "real" isn't the correct word but, yeah. real. especially considering the age discrepancy would make it seem like jack was the second creation rather than the first. strange set of memories to instill in a clone, though, with all the details of his less functional parts. to what point? he can't really know until he understands what exactly they are. ]
no subject
Or maybe it's because he's got a metal fucking arm, people tend to steer clear of that.
Eyes flicker over Jack impassively at the question. He's not offended, when he doesn't cover it he gets looks. The replacement they gave him here isn't as advanced as the one Hydra had supplied, but it's still well beyond base level back home. It's functional. It's still just as much of a sore thumb, too. ]
Prisoner of war. [ He says tonelessly, like he's detached. Like he's pointing out that the sky is blue. ] Fell off a train behind enemy lines. They chopped it the rest of the way off.
[ In a nutshell, to make a very long story very short. A flight of stairs leads them down beneath the sidewalk like the subways of New York, and it's there that heads them, one step at a time.
Justing by the fact that Jack has both his arms, he's incorrectly assuming he can't relate. ]
no subject
he's right in that Jack can't really relate. he'd been a prisoner of war for a short time, yes, but he hadn't been tortured. not in the way bucky was, not nearly. ]
Shit. [ is all he says eventually. you can't really say 'i'm sorry' to that, because it doesn't change anything, and sympathy feels too much like pity to a soldier, at least, in jack's experience. the simple 'shit' acts as acknowledgement that it was fucked up, as well as the fact bucky's a hardass for surviving it. a moment of pause is what settles as that sinks in, out of respect, before he pries again. ] So they made the arm.
Did they do anything else to you? Experiments or anything, I don't know, strange?
[ jack hardly knows anything about what the enemy bucky fought had access to in technology and science, and they clearly didn't come from the same universe, but even across a multiverse, it still seems so mindblowing and bizarre that a perfect clone of another, completely separate, individual would exist. ]
no subject
Doesn't seem all that put-upon by them, either. Far more distant from it all than someone ought to be, probably. Stoic and almost vacant. ]
They made an arm. Not this one. Better.
[ But that one got blown off, and it's a hell of long (wholly unrelated) story.
Experiments, he says, and there's a telling period of silence that follows it wherein his face somehow doesn't twitch but still seems answer enough. ]
Yeah.
[ He says finally, with only the slightest shifting of his lips into a forced line. ]
If you're wondering whether or not they're behind this... I don't know. I don't see why they would. If they could make you, they wouldn't have left you like you are. You'd be stronger. Faster. Different.
no subject
Sorry. [ he murmurs, seeing the reaction that came from Bucky, not for the fact it happened (we covered that reasoning) but for making him think on it again by asking. reliving those memories can't be fun for him, least of all when Jack's bringing it up for a dead end rather than a lead. ]
And why would I remember a completely different world than you? Why so specific of one?
[ He's not doubting that memories, or brainwashing, could happen if they have the technology to completely fabricate a human being, but more so what sense does that make? Why Gilboa, why David Shepherd, why his sexuality, and his sister, and his uncle? Why any of the minute details? ]
Why let us meet this easily, unless Duplicity was something no one saw coming?
[ yeah, this rationalization is making him feel much better. the less sense it makes that he's legitimately a fucking clone and his entire life is a lie, the better Jack's feeling. imagine that. at least, the less he feels like his mind's about to fall apart. ]
no subject
He can, through context, understand the existential crisis Jack is probably feeling right now. The idea that if Bucky's older he must have been the original - sure, it makes sense he guesses. The stirrings of empathy and understanding take root, and he speaks for the first time to affirm Jack's rationalized stance. ]
It makes no strategic sense to falsify an entire irrelevant backstory. If you were some kind of artificially recreated construct they'd give you an agenda- a purpose. That, or they wouldn't give you anything at all, just enough hatred kill, and they'd leave out anything but that.
[ Like they tried to do to Bucky. To erase every single emotion from happiness to sadness and everything in between. The only thing a pawn needs is a mission and rage. If they made another version of him they'd have learned from their mistakes and they wouldn't have given it memories.
The words that come out of his mouth, while designed to make Jack feel better, somehow lack anything remotely resembling pity. He's all exhaustion and resignation when he tonelessly murmurs toward the floor: ]
If you're upset right now it means you're you.
no subject
Right. Doesn't make any sense.
[ Dropping it. Not picking it up until some kind of evidence makes it relevant again. Back to the drawing board - what options does that leave?]
So, if not by design, then what? [ he's still not sitting, because he's thinking. thinking means standing. ] Actual multiversal coincidence? Out of all of the infinite people in infinite universes, the two of us show up here, at the same time, and it's pure happenstance alone?
[ and that sounds... equally insane. Jack frowns, brows knitting together and he shakes his head. After another moment - ]
Or what brought us here targeted us. But then there should be others like us, or something strangely similar in more that came in. Maybe not in terms of appearance.
no subject
Likewise, he sees no advantage to having two here. The only thing special about Barnes is the serum in his blood and the weaponization of both his mind and his body. Without those two things, there's nothing special about him, nothing worth cloning, nothing worth anything to anybody except maybe Steve.
Well, that's not true, he'd made for a damn good sniper in the war, but that wasn't exactly warranting of human cloning. He's got nothing.
It doesn't stop him from shaking his head at the happenstance question either, though. Too paranoid to believe in coincidences like this. ]
Just 'cause you think everybody's out to get you doesn't mean you're wrong.
[ He mutters to himself absently, tilting his head like he's repeating a quote he's heard and stewing on the implications behind it. In other words, he has no fucking clue.
Distantly, the screaming of train brakes can be heard. ]
no subject
he does share each sentiment on happenstance, though, or the lackthereof. if he'd learned anything from Shiloh, it was if something looked suspicious, it's probably because it fucking is, and everyone is out to get someone. being born into the royal family was a hazard all its own. ]
Truer words were never spoken.
[ the train approaching derails any further discussion, and distracts jack for the moment, at least. they wait while the other passengers unload, mostly Submissives returning to their homes that eye the two of them warily. Jack hardly blames them. Once it's clear, he gives a sweeping gesture. ]
After you.
no subject
Barnes doesn't eye the submissives so much as duck his head and sidestep out of their way in an action that does not quite meet the expectations of a dominant. One area they differ, then - aside from slamming people into walls, Barnes has no interest in asserting his place over anyone at all.
Perhaps Sergeant Barnes would have been a dominant, but Bucky realistically probably ought to have a line down his neck; one submits when broken.
He slides onto the train once it's clear, opts for a paranoid spot at the back of the train car. ]
no subject
jack hardly misses the body language bucky gives when the Submissives pass, and considers it for a time. does he do the same for Dominants, or is he just trying to appear non-threatening? there's very distinct ways bucky seems to care and display himself, jack's starting to realize, now that his mind is less on the crisis at hand and has time to wander.
he follows behind him onto the train, hands in his coat pocket, posture straight but relaxed, nothing stuff. Bucky almost seems to perpetually duck his head. the seat at the back isn't surprising, and Jack takes one nearby, with perhaps one between them, lounging back somewhat to watch the train windows. after a while, he asks, idly - ]
Anyone else here from where you came from?
no subject
Not terribly dissimilar to Jack's own lounge, honestly. ]
At least two so far. [ He murmurs with a nod. Both submissive, but he's not sure if he should mention that. Doesn't know if he trusts Jack enough to make Steve a potential target for any antagonistic tendencies he may have.
...Although honestly on second thought, Jack's the more vulnerable party in the likely event of a Steve Freak-Out. ] One of them... If he sees you before I can tell him, he might overreact. You might wanna brace for that. But he's... good, he's a good person.
[ Sort of like how Bucky did. Oops. ]
no subject
his brows arch when bucky discusses this over-reacting friend, and he can already foresee more annoyance in his future. god, this is really ruining his exile-vacation. ]
If he over-reacts like you do, I need you to tell him sooner than later. [ because jack's likely to over-react in the same method back. he isn't going to assume every person who acts like they're freaking mugging him is one of bucky's friends and should be immediately forgiven.
so yeah, please make that call some time soon, bucko. ]
no subject
[ He murmurs, sliding his hand into his pocket to feel for his phone. It isn't in there; maybe he left it back at his hotel room. He's not really a cell guy, there aren't very many other places it could be. Steve's the biggest concern but as prone as he is to leap before he looks Barnes knows him well enough to expect that he won't actually do any harm to a guy wearing his face. Maybe give him a little interrogation, but nothing rough.
Natasha's more likely to just creepily stalk him from a distance, probably. Learn his favorite color and what time he takes a shower every night by heart before she makes any kind of move. He'll have plenty of time to debrief her before then. Neither of them are likely to greet him quite as aggressively as Bucky himself did. ]
What about you? Anyone I need to worry about?
no subject
[ he won't ask about the second person, as bucky didn't seem to be too concerned about their reaction. with luck, they'll be the only two with this particular face.
jack shakes his head - no, no one came in with him from home, which is the best for the both of them, really. anyone from his world would either be looking for his head, or looking to turn him over to his father. it's definitely preferred this way. ]
None. It's just me here, as far as I've seen.
[ if anyone else showed up, they somehow missed him on the train ride in. ]
no subject
He's on a train in a weird sex city with a guy who shares his DNA, and he's getting contracted to Submissive Steve. He inhales long and slow, exhales audibly. Pinches the place between his eyes to try and gather his composure. Really, really wishes he could get drunk, or that he'd at least snagged a cup of that coffee to go. ]
Starting to miss the days when the weirdest thing I'd seen was aliens.
[ He murmurs it flatly, not so much to Jack as it is in his general direction. Before that thought can really be explored further he shifts, settling his eyes on Jack again earnestly. ]
Level with me- this... Is this gonna be a problem? You're not gonna pop up out of my shower curtain, or grow your hair out and cut off your arm, right? I really wanna believe this is as strange as it's gonna get, so if we can work that out... Maybe get all the surprises in the air all at once, that'd be... Ideal.
no subject