TDM #1

[duplicitymods]

« « « 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 « « «

Comments

Mai | ATLA | Dominant

[maipokerface]

END IN DISCORD

[The day has been a whirlwind of confusion, learning and thorough doubt. Mai's head had been too full of new information to do much more than follow near mutely along during the tour. And then when people disembarked in the end in the Up, it was all she could do to be ushered to where she's intended to live so she can sit and just process it all.

One can only mull over things for so long though. And Mai is restless, far too restless to even dream of just sitting and trying to figure out what being dominant actually means here beyond a nice home, a nice town and the idea of having to take on a submissive in three months time.

Instead it seems better to escape the questions about roles for a moment and Autonomy offers just that. When the random lottery of connections is brought up, Mai enters half-heartedly and without really mulling over what she may get in the end. It couldn't hurt to talk to someone about their experiences so far, right?

She's easy enough to find once a connection does pop up at least. How many women with her sort of hairstyle are mulling around the bar?]

TABLE IT FOR LATER
[Mai spends a good deal of the demonstration looking curious. Thoughtful maybe? Her gaze is a little distant and at times it seems like she's thinking more than she's watching Miriam and Victoria demonstrate anything. Her expression seems neutral and untouched, save for the distance in her gaze.

When the workups are handed out and questions begin, Mai finally breaks her thoughtful look to flip over said workups. And then she huffs, the edge of her lips quirking into a slight smirk.]

It doesn't look that bad really.

[At least not from her point of view. The way Miriam had soothed Victoria was kind, gentle and kind of loving in her opinion. Was that what these partnerships were ideally supposed to be like?]

WILDCARD
[Feel free to throw any prompt you like at me.]

Table It for Later

[pissedkringle]

[Mai might notice a white-haired young man somewhere nearby, and he decides that what she's just said deserves his ridicule. So he sneers, not really caring to keep his voice low:]

Are you kidding? We're stuck in Kink City, and we just sat through a seminar on fucking.

[Of course, it might have been a liiiittle more palatable had he not been assigned the role of Submissive. But whoop-de-goddamn-doo, life is just so whimsical!]

You're not actually gonna go along with this shit, are you?

[Because in any case, there's no way he is.]

[maipokerface]

[The moment he spits out the word 'fucking', Mai doesn't even attempt to conceal the way she rolls her eyes.]

For someone who thinks it's so shit, you sure are suddenly upset that it may not look all terrible.

table it for later

[abracadont]

[Stephen's been watching more or less impassively, though his mouth draws tight at a few moments. This is not -- this is clearly not within his repertoire. Humbled though he may be by everything life has thrown at him, it turns out becoming a piece of furniture is still beneath him. That is a line he didn't expect to need to draw. Of course, he didn't expect the line down his throat, either, but here he is. Lines galore.

The comment from the woman beside him gets a goggle-eyed stare.]

Are you volunteering to be the table?

[maipokerface]

[Mai quirks a brow in his direction for a moment, looking curious.

And then the smirk returns, larger and more pronounced this time. He seems somewhat uncomfortable and Mai just can't help herself.]

You offering?

[abracadont]

Don't joke.

[If anything, his frown deepens, though not as much in embarrassment this time. In a way he's lucky to have been assigned submissive; part of him worries that he might actually have been a little excited about some of this if he were on the other side of it.

His gaze flicks to her throat, though he's already taken in the lack of a line there.]

[maipokerface]

[She huffs out an amused breath.]

Then don't ask.

[Still, that smirk slides off her lips in the next beat as the quietly contemplates the pair now handing out videos and giving advice to others.]

They seem comfortable with each other though. I mean that's not that surprising if they've been partners for that long.

[The expression she has now is... wistful? That sounds about right. Mai is one for such apathetic and neutral expressions that tints and ranges of them are hard to grasp sometimes.]

[abracadont]

I don't consider it outside the realm of possibility that there are some here perfectly content with their lot. Consider, though...would she have chosen to be used as furniture if this culture hadn't told her this was the appropriate way to show love? If she hadn't needed this relationship to get out of the rat-infested hellholes they've put us in, would these two have become partners at all?

[maipokerface]

[Mai pauses there. He asked her to consider and she seems to be doing it for at least a moment. Her attention turns to the women themselves. They seem to be gathering volunteers to try out this whole table thing.

In the end she gives her shoulders a slight shrug.]

Maybe not. Maybe she still would. I can't tell you what may or may not have happened in an alternate world. But I'm also not saying this is the best thing ever. I don't want to make anyone be a table or chair or whatever for me and I don't really have any interest in making someone that society says is submissive to me serve me either.

[She casts a curious look in his direction now.]

So is it wrong for me to appreciate what they do have, even considering how unfair this place is? Or would you rather I not find any kind of light in this place and just spend all my time hating everything?

[Again, the edge of her lips quirk.]

I can do that too but I'm going to guess that's not the kind of person you want being dominant in a place where we're forced to play out roles.

[abracadont]

Wrong? No. I think it's dangerous.

[His gaze skitters away when she makes that comment about the kind of person you want being dominant. It could have been him. He could have been the one without a mark. Would he be questioning it so closely if he were the one on the top of the heap? He hopes so.]

You don't need to hate everything in order to question it. Take it at face value, and you might miss something important.

[maipokerface]

Trust me, I question everything. Don't assume you know me by a comment or a look.

[There's just the tiniest bit of vitriol there. It rubs her the wrong way even if her whole life has been based around assumptions from others.]

[abracadont]

[Stephen gives her a closer look now, seeming perhaps a little surprised by her tone, perhaps like he's looking for something in her face.]

You asked if it was better to find the light in this place or to hate everything about it. What I mean to tell you is to do neither.

[maipokerface]

[She pauses at that, her expression still the vaguest bit sour. The tension that had gathered in her shoulders and in her posture, drawing her up into something straight and angrily formidable, has eased away a bit.

And then the sour expression fades off for the tight press of her lips together.]

I'm pretty tired of never feeling anything.

[She even sounds tired. Because that's what she is to people, right? Apathy incarnate? Even here?]

[abracadont]

That's not what I...is everything taken to an extreme with you?

[Apparently not to him, she isn't.]

I just don't trust this place.

Table

[nahtscared]

[Nah sniffs disdainfully next to her and rolls her eyes.]

Easy to say that when you're the one on the good side of the leash.

[Granted, she's in the same position herself, but it's the principle of the matter, dammit.]

What's the point anyway? People aren't going to make as good furniture as... well, actual furniture.

[maipokerface]

[At that Mai shrugs a shoulder.]

You've got a point. I can't say how I would handle it as a submissive.

[But she thinks she gets the idea of it regardless. Her arms cross and she taps a finger against her elbow.]

It's a trust exercise.

[nahtscared]

[Well at least she admits it. Nah's scowl fades a little, and then she just gets perplexed at Mai's conclusion.]

A trust exercise? You mean like... standing with your arms crossed and falling into someone hoping they'll catch you?

[Seems like a leap from that, but then again, if you're going to trust someone to keep you from getting skewered on a battlefield... except none of these people are soldiers so there goes that idea.]

[maipokerface]

Something like that. You have to trust someone for the whole blindfold thing to work for starters, right? Sure the table part of it is weird and isn't exactly what I'd want to do -- or put anyone else through for that matter. I get the idea of the exercise itself though.

[She turns a glance in Nah's direction, then gestures towards the couple with the hand formerly at her elbow.]

They're obviously pretty close to be partners for that long. And the fact that Victoria goes through with it probably isn't so much the chance to be furniture but the chance to make Miriam happy. Or to please her or to just be with her or something like that.

[Mai pauses there, then sighs out a little as she rubs her forehead.]

Sorry, that sounds pretty cheesy. That's just what I was thinking though.

[It's stupid and downright strange to think this to herself in the middle of this situation and this activity but she's probably never missed being in love and with someone more than she does right now.]

[nahtscared]

[Nah's gone from appalled, to confused, now to considering. She taps her chin with one finger.]

Alright, I think I follow you. I'm not sure that's how I'd choose to express it... in fact I'm almost entirely sure it's not, but at least it's a decent explanation.

[Now her eyes are entirely on Mai, curiosity in them.]

You seem to have put a lot of thought into this.

[maipokerface]

I had a lot of time to think while they talked about furniture.

[Ah, there's the slight tinge of apathy. Clearly Mai just didn't give a damn about the furniture portion of the discussion.]

Seeing how they treat each other is more educational than the rest of it. Like it or not, you're eventually going to have to partner up with someone. And figuring out how to treat them is part of it.

[nahtscared]

That's... true, but I still feel a touch out of my depth. The furniture thing doesn't appeal to me, and nothing else comes to mind that would serve the same purpose. Maybe I can do some research.

[Those'll be the weirdest books she's ever read.]

I mean, I haven't seen a library around, but in a city this size there's got to be one.

[maipokerface]

Considering how nice the Up is, you can probably buy books if you can't find a library with them.

[Her brows perk up some.]

What sorts of books would you even start looking for though? The way it's part of the culture here, it's probably in every book.

[nahtscared]

Well that makes my job easier then. I can probably go into literally any section and probably end up finding something I can use. But perhaps there are some books on the basics... I bet in this world they'd get filed under the young adults section.

[Or... well she doesn't want to pursue that line of logic any further, frankly. Her skin's crawling enough as it is.]

Honestly, I'll probably do better with that than this. In book form, I might actually find all this intriguing.

[maipokerface]

You're more of a book person then, I take it?

[It's asked curiously.]

[nahtscared]

Exceptionally. And yes, I realize that's going to be something of a problem here. I'll figure out a way to deal with it.

[Easy to say, of course.]