Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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duplicitymemes2019-09-12 04:47 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2019-09-12 04:47 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #8
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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. ... and you’re here! Finally! Welcome to Duplicity. After choosing a door and stepping through to the other side, the first thing that greets you are the enthusiastic faces of people in medical scrubs and pristine lab coats. Their enthusiasm translates to eagerness as they strip you of your clothes to perform a thorough examination—you will be healed, bathed, and given a paper gown to wear until your items can be processed and delivered to your residence later in the evening. You are also given a device that accesses the network as well as the time and location of orientation. If you enter Duplicity into the Up, congratulations! You’re a Dominant, which means you are immediately picked up by a limo after processing and taken to your highrise. Here, it is two Dominants per floor with separate apartments. If you enter Duplicity into the Down, congratulations! You’re a Submissive, which means you are directed towards public transportation with the address of the motel you’ll be living in. Here, it is two Submissives per room with a shared common space for all rooms. Enjoy your free time until orientation! Participation is mandatory by all new and old arrivals. The hellish summer heat is finally starting to subside, and the cool breeze suggests autumn is approaching. |
 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. |
 The weather’s getting cooler, and people have begun transitioning from summer clothing to the sweaters and jackets of early fall. With jackets come pockets, and with pockets come a bizarre uptick in robberies. Then again, perhaps the correlation is flawed. In the Down, getting robbed is a constant threat. Gangs of street toughs look for lone or inattentive people who look like they’ve got valuables on hand. Uncontracted Submissives are particularly easy to rob, since authorities have little time to bother with a lowly Submissive without a Dominant to advocate for them. One particularly nasty gang of young adult men, the Bulldogs, hangs out near the train, looking to ambush unwary Submissives fresh out of Orientation. They are prone to violent muggings and will simply beat up their target and leave them in a gutter when they’re finished robbing them. In the Up, the streets are nominally safer, but there have been reports of a group of college-aged Submissive women taking advantage of their designation to attack travelers. They, too, stand near the train and the orientation center, looking to seduce passersby into an alley where a group of them can beat and mug their victims, usually Dominants looking to capitalize on their pretty appearances. But you’re truthfully at risk anywhere in the city. The new arrivals are easy targets, and any brazen thief might get the idea to make some quick cash. The authorities are spread too thin to help, but perhaps LIErs can look out for one another? Or they might just get in on the thievery. Everyone’s out for themselves, after all. |
( CW: potential dubcon, drugs, BDSM/sexual torture, prostitution, public use ) Surrounding a large building near the orientation center in the Up, banners and fliers announcing the beginning of the inaugural Duplicity High Tech Sexpo, a trade show for businesses and manufacturers of adult novelties. Since this is the expo’s first year, admission is free and many excited volunteers are handing out vouchers all over the city. These vouchers can be exchanged for goods and services within the expo, but have no monetary value outside of it. Even if you refuse them, you’ll likely find two or three of them tucked into your bag or pocket. Inside the expo hall, there are dozens of booths pitching a variety of entertainments. Many offer interactive demonstrations, showing off their tech for the crowds of interested onlookers. Competition is fierce, and booths try to attract attention and customers through any means necessary. There are private rooms all around the expo for potential customers to try out the products. Booths will also happily accept volunteers for demos, or try to recruit them by bribing them with cash or free samples. There’s a nasty rumor going around that some are recruiting volunteers via more illicit means, like drugging and dressing them up, but surely that’s an exaggeration… Some of the smaller booths sell more traditional toys and accessories: leashes and collars, specialty lubes and massage oils, fetish gear, strap-ons, dildos and vibrators in myriad shapes and sizes, and other basic items. Others advertise apps for the devices, the most notable of which is HUGGR (which LIErs may recognize as a poorly rebuilt sex-themed version of a certain other app.) The closer you get to the big-ticket sponsor booths, the more elaborate and fantastic the products become. One of the most eye-catching demos is for the Climax VR Headset. You and a partner both wear a VR headset, which displays a collaborative virtual scenario. Both partners can alter the setting and surroundings however they like, and any sexual activity conducted in VR transmits real sensations to their bodies. You can come together without ever physically touching. Symphony Hydraulics have a large, loud booth where crowds gather to watch perhaps the most outrageous demo: a variety of fucking machines. Volunteers get stripped, strapped in, and turned on, brought to screaming orgasms in front of the whole crowd. There is a fifteen minute break between demos on each machine, as some poor intern hurriedly washes and sanitizes them between uses. In the interim, they offer smaller, portable versions for sale or rent at the expo. (Some may note that a few of the Symphony Hydraulics staff members look a bit familiar.) Does all this high-tech equipment have you overwhelmed? Wish you could go back to a simpler time? Sir Robert’f Bedroome Provifionf (sic) is helmed by historical reenactor Robert Plum, who has also created his own line of medieval torture device-themed sex toys. Need a chastity belt to keep your Submissive all to yourself? A rack with an attached spreader-bar? An iron maiden with soft vibrating silicone ticklers inside? All the stocks and whips and chains you could ever need? Sir Robert has you covered. Of course, everything on display is harmlessly altered for sexual novelty purposes, but one might also ask to see Sir Robert’s “special” merchandise in the back. Perhaps the most unassuming booth at the expo belongs to Grandma Hattie’s Snacks and Sweets. Grandma Hattie, a kindly old Submissive, has partnered with a tech company to produce what appear to be completely normal vending machines, stocked full of her tasty homemade bread, snack cakes, and other baked goods. Vouchers are good for a free sample of any treat from a vending machine. They taste amazing and have no apparent odd effects-- until 10 minutes after consumption, when you suddenly gain an insatiable craving for a random kink. Your craving will dominate your thoughts for three hours, or until it is appeased. |
 (CW: potential dubcon, objectification) By far the largest and shiniest booth comes from expo sponsors Sexy Metal Incorporated, who have set up a display of their incredible high-tech sexbots. These life-sized dolls are made of extremely realistic material that feels like warm human skin, and come with state-of-the-art mechanics that give them lifelike movement. Engineers show off how the bots can be plugged into a computer and programmed to act any way the buyer likes. They come in a wide variety of customizable appearances and eerily, some of the bots on display look exactly like people you may know. Booth staff encourage customers to buy these dolls, or to rent them and give them a try onstage in front of the fascinated crowds. If that’s not kinky enough, one of the engineers has purchased a VR headset from another booth, and programmed it to interface with the bot’s controls. Care to slip inside the silicone skin of another person? |
Please read carefully. On each Test Drive Meme, there will be a section noting character roles; these will vary each TDM. On an IC level, characters 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 chooses "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: In celebration of our one year, pick whichever role you want for your character! » A Pocket Full of Pennies: Feel free to come up with any free-roving gangs or petty criminals you like for your characters to tangle with. » New Flesh Like A Glove: Characters can spend money on items at the expo, or may exchange vouchers for what they want. Each voucher has a value of about $5 within the expo and they may be acquired by finding them, having them handed to characters/stuffed in their pockets or bags by expo volunteers, or paid them in exchange for “volunteering” at booths. Characters may indeed try before they buy, either out in the open or using one of the provided private rooms with a partner. The expo has a staff of unpaid student interns tasked with cleaning and sanitizing products if they are used but not purchased. Grandma Hattie’s snacks can inspire characters to have any kink you may desire. » Perfection of the Digital: Sexbots can resemble any player characters, including brand new arrivals/test drive characters. They can also resemble characters that yours knows from home. The engineers have no explanation for this, and the one who identifies himself as the designer will shrug and say he gets inspiration from many places. The sexbots are hot-ticket expensive merchandise, so security is tight around the booth. Characters who attempt to steal or destroy a sexbot (for instance, one who looks like themselves) will be quickly set upon by guards, who are meant to eject them from the expo. However, many of the guards will take bribes from other booths to provide them model “volunteers,” drugged into complacency. If characters want to acquire a sexbot permanently, they will have to buy it or exchange a hefty 50 vouchers for it. Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!! |
no subject
[ That's why he's living in the Down with a roommate. He's a pretty enough guy, so the lack of a contract is either by his choice or because he's even thorny than he's letting on. Even with the latter, a handsome face is enough to make people overlook a lot of things.
Adjusting his hold on the wound to allow for more pressure, Ash takes in the building Laurent motions to. ]
Skip the cuddles and get to the bandaging. After that, I'll see what you got and decide if you're a lost cause.
[ It won't be his first time teaching. He'd managed to teach Skip a bit, and the men under him could hold their own against someone normal. ]
no subject
It pricked more than just his pride knowing that thus far, no Dominant had thought him worth a second go-round.]
Yes. Clearly. And I assure you, I'm much more impressive than I look. You won't be wasting your time. Your wound won't be untended much longer. I'm on the top floor. You can manage stairs, can't you?
[There was a hint of challenge in his expression as he glanced back at the man, one brow raised. Laurent wasn't the nicest person and he wasn't above a little petty revenge for mentioning his un-contracted status. Just because he didn't like being someone's property didn't mean he enjoyed being considered not good enough either.]
no subject
If you think that's supposed to be some kind of challenge, you're going to have to do better than that.
[ He's managed a lot harder situations with a lot worse wounds. Ash starts on the stairs without a hint of pain aside from a slight flinch on the first step. It doesn't slow his gait at all. ]
If you're right about your skill level, it's a big payment for one treatment on a wound that won't kill me either way.
no subject
[His smile was sharp as he started up the stairs, climbing them easily until they reached the correct floor. Laurent lead the way to the room he was currently sharing, pausing for a moment to listen before opening the door. Thankfully it was empty when he entered and his things still appeared to be in place, not that he had much. Laurent pointed at the bed after retrieving the small medical pouch he had, lifting a brow.]
Sit. And remove your shirt. As for the lessons, I don't expect them to be free. Only a fool would consider a minor wound treatment worth that kind of effort. I assumed we'd discuss payment in private rather than on the street. If you feel light-headed, speak up. I'd rather avoid you knocking yourself out by falling off the bed.
[Laurent actually knew at least one man who would offer a lifetime of lessons for a single bandage, but Vash was an anomaly, not the rule. Sensible people expected an equal value when they gave something, whether property or time. As long as Ash didn't ask for something beyond his ability, he'd hopefully end up with a personal trainer.]
no subject
Are the men in your world that weak? I'm not going to pass out from this much.
[ Ash pulls the shirt over his head and allows it to fall to the floor. Ash is slender but in a sculpted way. It's proof that he could help those with less muscle mass learn how to defend themselves. ]
You don't seem like the healer type. Did you learn first aid for yourself?
no subject
[Laurent watched the shirt fall on the floor with an internal sigh and took out the cleaning liquid. He hadn't bothered to learn the names of the things in the box, just the uses. Laurent was not a good patient or a very comforting nurse. He was, however, competent. Between watching and listening to Vash and what he'd known from back home, he could do basic medical treatment. Very basic.
He answered Ash's question as his hands moved on bare skin, no visible signs that he might be thinking anything but the most boring of thoughts.]
Not exactly. I learned from observation on the field back home, and there was a man here who . . . helped me. When I had a small accident.
[Laurent cleaned and bandaged the wound fairly quickly, packing up the leftover supplies. His little accident had been a lot more dangerous than he was making it out to be, but that was between him and Vash and V, and V was no longer in the city. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking cold and beautiful and untouchable.]
There. Now, what do you require for payment?
no subject
[ Is this Laurent's way of saying he preferred honesty? Or just an unintentional reveal in the midst of a rant? ]
But if that's what you prefer, don't worry. I'm really good at being disrespectful to people's faces.
[ It may be a bit of a joke, but it's also completely true.
Ash endures the treatment silently, patiently. If he had trusted Laurent more, he might have allowed any discomfort or pain to show. As it is, they're strangers. ]
That depends on how much I need to teach you. Hand-to-hand? Knive? Gun? And how much you already know.
[ Grabbing his shirt, Ash slips it back over his head and approaches Laurent, thoughtful. Their builds are similar. That'll help a little. Ash was young and particularly runty when he was taught by a giant of a man. ]
What's your fighting experience?
no subject
[Laurent was perfectly content to spend his life in silence for the most part. It was rare that he felt the need to speak. He did it mostly because it was expected. So few people in the city had become real to him in some way, it really was the safest course of action, especially considering his sharp tongue.
He studied Ash, taking in both the outside and the impression the man generally gave. The man was handsome, and reasonably polite when not actively being provoked. If they could work together, it might well be very worthwhile.]
I have someone teaching me knives, and I already know the sword. If I was forced, I could even manage a bow, though I'm much better with a sword. I'm interested in hand-to-hand. As for active experience, I've been to war and fought in skirmishes. Duels. Sparring. I'm not unblooded.
no subject
[ But Ash isn't going to push. A lot of people have issues, and he isn't about to pry into a stranger's life. Laurent's secrets are his to keep, his problems his to hide should he so desire.
Outside, Ash is a bit of a contradiction. He's slender, with a waist slender enough that it slopes inward from shoulders that look slightly broader for the narrowed lines. Muscles are etched into his skin, deep lines that show his strength, but it's not the usual bulge that comes with strength. Despite the skill painted across his body, his features are delicate and fine. Platinum blonde hair covers his ears and frame his frame, highlighting the somewhat cold jade eyes as they study Laurent. He dresses commonly enough, with a white shite and jeans, but he wouldn't be out of place should he be in a tux.
Unblooded. He's killed people. Ash has too so there's no room to judge. He can also understand the need to protect himself in this kind of city.
With a fighter's grace, he stands. ]
How many of those were fistfights?
no subject
[He was being himself, unfortunately. Laurent often threw random information into a crowd, just to see what happened. He'd said the things he did for the same general reason. To see what happened. Apparently nothing much, which didn't bother Laurent a bit. It was just something he did sometimes. To see.
Laurent watched the man stand, absently appreciating the grace with which he moved. They were very similar in build, though Ash was slightly taller, and both quite lovely. It almost made him wish sex was a viable option for payment, but he doubted Ash would enjoy what little he could offer. Laurent looked thoughtful at the question, thinking.]
If you consider using primarily a stool instead of fists, one. If not, none. I avoid being without a weapon at all costs because I have no real skills otherwise.
no subject
You're already a step up from a total novice. The best fighter goes in prepared and knows their skill level. Keep a weapon. Even after you learn the basics, don't stop carrying it.
[ Jade-like eyes drop to Laurent's legs. Legs have a lot of hidden power in them, and Ash uses them to fight more often than his fists. Ash is a tight sort of slender but is by no means small. Still, it seems like most of his opponents are much bigger men, and he learned most of his skills when he was a very small, not-yet-developed 14-year-old. ]
Are you flexible?
no subject
[Laurent noticed the way Ash looked him over, focusing on his legs, and felt a slight smile curl the corner of his lips. It was almost flattering. He snorted at the question, a smirk gracing his face briefly. What a charmer.]
I'm flexible enough. What would you have me do? Bend over backward? I assure you Ash, I have much more practice folding in the opposite direction.
[And sometimes he just couldn't seem to help himself.]
omg, that's cracked me up
Still, the joke does expand the mood of their meeting. It's a simple jab, but it's a better ice-breaker than a knife wound.
He smirks, showing Laurent the joke doesn't go unappreciated. ]
That might work if you're trying to distract them, but unless you're a donkey, using your hind legs to kick won't get you far.
[ Admittedly, that would probably be a funny distraction as well. ]
You're not broad. Learning the vital points in a body is going to help when you use your fists, but unless you plan on hitting the gym and become a commercial for steroids, your legs are going to be one of your leg weapons. There's a lot of strength in them.
[ He kicks lightly at the air, just chest level. ]
You can get by with stopping there, which you can probably do, but if you can get your legs limber enough to fully vertically extend it, you're going to catch a lot of people off guard.
[ Ash should show him, but the medium kick already had the knife wound smarting somewhat. ]
i couldn't help it XD
[There had been a time, before the loss of his father and brother, that Laurent had the potential, and the luxury, of being someone who was dependent on others. Unfortunately a war stole both men in the same day, within hours of each other, though Laurent's mind skittered away from those memories. He frowned for a moment, wondering why he couldn't seem to remember . . .
Laurent shook his head slightly, wiping away the confusion and the faint worry in a moment. He could examine himself later, when he wasn't so potentially vulnerable. One brow went up when Ash suggested he go and attempt to change himself into one of those muscle-bound figures everyone always seemed to idolize. If that could have happened, he'd have done it seven years ago. He didn't even blink when the man threw a kick, too stubborn to allow himself to flinch.]
I'll need to practice. I am flexible, but I've never spent much time . . . kicking. Is there anything special that I ought to do to extend how high I can get my legs?
[The innuendo was automatic, as was the look he gave the man, but there was no genuine heat behind it. Ash was very pretty, and competent, but Laurent just wasn't that easy. The fact that the man could probably break him did have a certain appeal, however. That strength and skill reminded him of . . . well. Laurent knew he'd likely always have a certain weakness for men taller and well-muscled, not to mention dark haired and eyed. Ash was none of those things, but the man was still damned impressive.
Not that Laurent was likely to ever say so out loud.]
sorry for the delay; family emergency came up
[ Maybe if he tried, Ash could have become someone full of muscle but frankly, he doesn't like the look. Beyond that, unless you're Blanca, it usually comes with a loss of flexibility. Ash, skilled as he may be, knows he isn't Blanca.
Laurent probably would have loved him. ]
As long as you can kick with enough power, you can usually get by with a strong kick to the stomach. Being able to kick them in the face is a bonus. [ He smirks. ] And it scares the piss out of whatever friends he might have.
[ Ah, but this isn't very organized. ]
Don't take this as an official lesson, but the stretching part is important to any class. It'd be pretty embarrassing to be laid up because you pulled something.
i'm happy to wait forever for your tags. don't stress <3
[He wasn't a fool after all. Being told to shave his head and dance in a circle would net him nothing but embarrassment. But within reason, he was willing to trust Ash's superior knowledge of how to reach his goal. Laurent's lips slowly lifted upwards, eyes sparkling with amusement. It just seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a joke.]
You know, it might be worthwhile to see just how far I can stretch as I am now. And oughtn't you to check me over, to be sure my body can withstand your training? A physical exam, I believe it's called?
<3
Sounds like you're hot for teacher.
[ He can play the game well, but he's more guarded than that. Laurent is beautiful, without a doubt. Probably, he catches the eyes of many. Likely, with his level of beauty, more than he wanted. Maybe it's another reason Ash is willing to go this far is because he recognizes that. ]
We'll test it out then: get against the wall.
no subject
Laurent leaned against the wall, hands pressed flat against the cool surface as he tipped his head in challenge.]
And why shouldn't I appreciate my teacher and wish to give him a little something extra? You're certainly gorgeous enough to get more propositions than you could possibly indulge Ash. Don't think I haven't noticed how pretty you are. I'm not blind.
no subject
You have eyes so I assumed you had noticed.
[ While he may have confidence issues in other areas, Ash has no lack of confidence when it comes to his appearance. It's both his weakness and his strength.
If he was home, it would be an easy refusal. Not because Laurent isn't beautiful, he certainly is, but because sex doesn't interest Ash. Here, he has a quota to meet. It's odd, to actually consider it. ]
When the time comes, I need three people to keep out of the training center. I'm good enough at sex that I don't need the training.
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He lifted a brow at Ash's words, curious about the man's attitude. Finding another man who thought like he did was rare.]
I write it into my contracts. It becomes my Dominant's responsibility to see that we meet the quota. If you don't want sex, I'm not complaining. It's messy and pointless and I'm not eager to get undressed, but I am curious about how flexible I actually am. Since neither of us plan to get hard, you might as well start putting your hands on me.
[Of course at the moment he had no Dominant . . .]
no subject
Laurent's answer is a bit of a surprise. Ash knows that not every person will want him, but this sounds like a distaste for sex in general. That makes this place even more difficult to accept; he knows from experience.
Moving forward, he stops when he's within kicking distance. ]
Kick out. We'll find out how flexible, but if you haven't trained your leg, you're not going to be immediately able to fully extend it.
[ But Laurent is slender enough that if Ash has to bet, he would assume good results. ]
What do you do between Contracts?
[ They can test and talk at the same time. ]
no subject
Was that sufficient? And thus far I've managed to find a Dominant in time not to suffer any ill consequences. Why do you ask?
[Sort of. He'd had some close calls, and more than once he'd indulged the desires of others to make absolutely certain he wouldn't end up in re-education. It was terrifying really. Laurent lived in fear of being shipped to the rape center and tortured for being a deviant, when the opposite was quite the case. He suppressed a shudder at the fact that he was actually skirting the edge of re-education at the moment. Dear gods, he'd rather kill himself . . .]