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

[freightcars]

Seventy-two, huh. He lived through the seventies, sure, but they were a hell of a blur. They kept him off the market for a while after that whole JFK thing, kept him on the down-low because the war in Vietnam was plenty of chaos for Hydra to operate behind. It is, at least, a lot closer to the forties than anybody he knows back home in what he considers the present these days, and he finds even thirty years of discrepancy relatable.

"Mostly forties," He agrees around a mouth full of smoke, flicking ash off into a tray. "Some two-thousands."

A hell of a statement to just throw out there, one that's fortunately derailed by the expectant eyebrow of a waiter with a line drawn down from chin to shirt collar. A submissive serving tables, even though there is no real designation in this club. He levels Bucky with a look as though daring him to try some shit, and Barnes is happy to raise his hands in surrender. Dominant by chance only, pal, don't look at him like that.

"Whiskey, please. Whatever's well." Because whether he's paying his own tab or that's Paul's way of offering to buy a round, he doesn't plan on running up anybody's bill either way. The politeness and lack of a domineering attitude seem to earn him some favor from their server, which is good, he supposes. It means their drinks probably come spit-free.

[freightcars]

He'd like to pretend like he was gonna protest the little interjection, but Paul's easy and charismatic about it and- hey, he tried, right? All his politeness points were spent up on the attempt, so instead he manages an appreciative smile. He wouldn't mind a nice drink, honestly, and the company isn't half bad either.

After all, his new pal isn't wrong - they're locked into a weird sexual caste system and he's a god damn time traveler.

So he stretches a hand out (flesh, not metal), because now seems as good a time as any to get on a first name basis.

"Bucky."

[freightcars]

It's an interesting experience, one that lasts infinitely long as it's happening but seems over in a split second once their hands fall away. He doesn't know what to make of it, how he feels about it, why it ticks a little box in his mind that has no label, only that it does. And then the drinks come, and he curls that hand around it like he otherwise wouldn't know what to do with it.

He laughs at the question, a low and thoughtful chuckle that gets hair falling in his face for a second before he shakes it back again.

"Uhh-" He starts, clearly waffling, tilting, considering. "It's somethin'. It's... In the two thousands it was- almost kinda hard to wrap my head around, you know... the differences. Gay marriage. Sexting- that's where people use-"

He nods toward the device laying discarded on the countertop, but he doesn't go into much more detail about it.

"This place... this is a whole 'nother level. Not so sure about how they're picking who they brand and don't brand either."

Because Jesus, they made Steve submissive and Bucky dominant. What the hell kind of system is that?

[freightcars]

"Jesus, I don't know," He mutters, a little shake to his head. Evidently Paul spacing out of the entire world for a minute there went unnoticed in favor of absent commentary on the state of social affairs in the twenty-first century, or maybe in favor of taking that last drag off of his cig before he stubs it out in the ashtray. "I don't really feel like crawling around on all fours or beating someone with a horse crop, whatever that makes me."

Somewhere in the middle like a sensible person, maybe?

He eyes Paul, an assessing gaze searching for something beyond the lack of tattoo that might indicate what his real preferences are. When he finds nothing discernable he opts for his people words and simply asks, "What about you?"

[freightcars]

Barnes laughs in turn, a scuffy little chuckle of surprise because he really hadn't expected the conversation to sway back toward that little throw-away line. Fair enough, though, he supposes. A metal hand slides forth for the first time, catching the device by a corner and pushing it along the bartop toward Paul.

"Welcome to the future, these are phones." Which, obviously, that part's already been clearly established. "You type out messages on them to people, normal stuff's called texting. What's your address, what do we need from the store, how's your day. Text, texting, not exactly a stretch of the imagination."

And you're welcome for the dry commentary on popular trends of the twenty-first century, not necessary for this little lesson but freely given anyway.

"Except when it starts turning into what are you wearing and how big's your dick apparently it's sexting. Which- again, nobel prize to the genius who picked that."

[freightcars]

His grin widens just a little at the disappointment, amusing as hell, no doubt about that. He can relate, though, to the thought of a breathy voice seeming more appealing than text on a backlit screen. What are you wearing, oh just your underwear? Not quite visual, not quite audio, not quite enough.

Paul thrusts his phone upon the table and Bucky can't stifle the little laugh that pops out of his throat. Flesh fingers curl around the thing, thumbing over the number pad. He doesn't enter anything in yet, opting instead to level Paul with a mock-suspicious look.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're picking me up." He knows a line when he sees one, after all. He used to be an expert in delivering them.