TDM #10

[duplicitymods]

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « LIFE WILL GO ON

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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 weather is a brisk negative seven during the warmest parts of the day.

» » » BLINDLY WE'LL FOLLOW

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It's time for the monthly Duplicity train tour. 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.

« « « ASK ME ABOUT X

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Along with the usual Dom and Sub seminars and demonstrations, the powers that be have decided to try something a little more friendly. After attending the mandatory classes, all characters are invited to a (mandatory) social mixer! There are beverages and light snacks, and mingling is highly encouraged. Also, all participants have had their clothes removed and replaced with long shirts ( they are allowed to keep their undergarments, but nothing else is allowed ). Said shirts have the phrase “Ask me about _____!” plastered loudly and proudly on the front. It could be a character’s deepest, darkest secret, their most negative trait, or something embarrassing they had happen to them. Each participant is given a clipboard, pen and a piece of paper and are tasked with “asking” three others about what’s written on their chests. Once they’ve completed the task and handed in the assignment they’ll receive their clothes back. Of course, the long shirts can be removed, but that means you’ll be stuck in the nude or in your undergarments until you cooperate.

« « « ON A FLIP CHART

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Not into your long shirts? Want to complain or refuse to participate? There’s another option! Unruly Dominants and Submissives will find themselves locked in a private room with a bed, stuffed together into a get-along-shirt. There’s no escaping the garment either, until certain conditions have been met. Written on a flip chart in the corner of the room are the tasks that need to be accomplished to “get along.” Are the two supposed to share a kiss? Sing a romantic duet together? Say the alphabet backwards in sync? The whole point of the exercise is to find that synergy a Dom and Sub pair are supposed to have. Maybe this isn’t the best way to find it, though… When the conditions are met the shirt is removable or rippable. Otherwise no matter how hard the characters struggle they’ll find themselves unable to get the pesky thing off.

« « « THE LONG WAY AROUND

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Many local businesses have adapted to the timing of newcomers, and take advantage of the incoming crowds to do a little marketing. Stationed throughout Duplicity in LIEr-adjacent places such as the train station, the Up Apartments, the Down Motel, and the orientation center are representatives for local businesses and companies handing out free samples and hoping to attract business later. This month, there’s a particular presence by Harbroken Industries, a cosmetic and beauty company. They’re pushing free samples of their new pheromone perfume sprays, delicately scented and guaranteed to work. Sample bottles are freely available, but some overeager volunteers are taking the department store approach and spritzing unwitting passersby. The citrus scent is energizing and bright, inducing a talkative state where users cannot get enough conversation, and lose any internal filter for their words. The strawberry-vanilla scent is sweet and comforting, like a warm hug, which users will get a lot of with their new obsession with physical affection. Cedar-sandalwood makes those who use it tough as nails, angry and ready to pick a fight over the smallest slights. The cinnamon-pear scent makes its users feel adventurous and curious, and maybe a little TOO bold about trying new things. And predictably, the patchouli spray inspires “free love,” with an aphrodisiac effect that gets worse over time, unless taken care of quickly. The scents will wane and the effects will fade after six hours, or after the urges they cause are fulfilled. These volunteers are so eager to make a sale that it’s entirely possible to be hit with more than one spray at a time, so maybe take the long way around these areas if you’re looking to avoid them.

« « « MOD & OOC NOTES

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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: Count the letters in your character's full name ( first, last, middle or whatever combo that they have ). If it totals twelve letters and below they are a Dominant. If it's thirteen and higher they are Submissive. Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!!

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» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Comments

Daniel Tabor Arlington V | Ninth House | Submissive

[subjulio]

blindly we'll follow

For maybe the first time in his life, Darlington feels completely out of place. He's been in situations before that were new, frightening, uncanny, but he's always felt like he could fall back on his intelligence, his charm, his breadth of knowledge. Lethe prepared him for much, but not for this, not for an entirely different world. Certainly not for a world that looks like this.

The mark down his throat puts him at a disadvantage, one he's not used to, and it makes him cautious. There's magic at work, certainly, and he doesn't know the rules yet, doesn't have a Virgil to explain it to him. He watches the city flick past in the window, watching passengers as they come and go, noting the way they interact with each other, the pairs of Dominants and Submissives. He doesn't know the rules of the magic, but he's learning the rules of the society.

Turning to the person next to him, he smiles, doing an excellent job of pretending he feels comfortable, even in his paper gown. "Not quite the welcome wagon I would wish for, but the views are spectacular."



ask me about x

Even the shabbiest of Yale's dorms is a world away from the flophouse Darlington is being housed in. He'd happily attend the orientation only to escape the motel. More than that, though, he wants answers. He's not stupid enough to think their captors will willingly provide them, but neither does he think he'll get any keeping to himself. The orientation itself is tedious, the afterparty...unexpected.

Darlington finds himself wearing a long t-shirt reading "Ask me about that night at Manuscript." He knows it doesn't mean anything here where no one knows about Manuscript or Lethe or Galaxy Stern, but his cheeks burn with shame as he's handed his own clipboard, and he avoids looking at the shirt as much as possible. Perhaps he can quickly ask three people about their shirts without having to answer for his own.

Anyway, no one said he had to tell the truth when questioned.



on a flip side

Darlington is not the sort to refuse participation out of spite, but there are some things he's not prepared to divulge to strangers, so eventually he'd taken the shirt and turned it inside out, keeping his statement hidden. Apparently this is frowned upon because the next thing he knows, he's ushered into a smaller room and forced into a massive shirt with a stranger.



the long way around

Darlington has never been much for cologne, and he does have to wonder why there are so many scents being advertised around the motel when its inhabitants can't possibly afford to buy them.

He arrives at the train station smelling of patchouli and pear, and trying to shake off the feeling he's let a ward down somewhere.




[ooc: Feel free to throw a wildcard at him. Will match format.]

My dearest idiot - I mean, ask me about x

[occultatum]

Nick's own shirt, cheerily stating ask me about demonic bindings is so blisteringly boring that Nick almost wishes he had something more interesting in his past. You know, a deep dark secret that was more than my girlfriend's dad both set us up, and is also inside of me. But whatever.

He's not paying too much attention, until the word manuscript catches his eye. It catches his eye, in fact, so completely he barely notices the strapping young thing it's attached to.

Nick looks up - he's always looking up - and then back at the shirt. "I am dearly hoping Manuscript isn't a bar."

[subjulio]

Darlington's attention is equally caught by the lure of demonic bindings. It's the first open admission of magic he's seen here, and it promises a magic beyond even what Lethe dips its toes into. He only just manages not to stare at the shirt when he finds he's being addressed by its wearer.

"If I told you it was a secret society, would you believe me?" Most people wouldn't, and either way he'll get an idea of how seriously he should take demonic bindings.

[occultatum]

He smiles, charming. What the heaven is this? He's intrigued already. "Yes, actually," he says, pleased. "That's a much better answer than it's a bar," he adds a moment later.

He raises his head. "Is it the kind with forbidden magic?"

[subjulio]

"Isn't it just?" He's not naturally flirtatious, but he does have a couple year's worth of pretending to be a player under his belt, so he smiles that smile.

"The thing about secret societies is, they don't like you spilling their secrets." Neither does Lethe, though he hardly thinks that applies here. "So demonic bindings?"

[occultatum]

"That does mean I'm going to have to seduce you for them, aren't I?" he says, laughing. If this very tall stranger wants to take it as a proposition, that's definitely okay. But he looks down at his shirt.

"It depends on what kind of binding you want to talk about. The Lesser Key of Solomon is a good compilation, but the only thing in there that I'd say is worth reading is the Ars Goetia."

[subjulio]

Darlington laughs as well, like it's a joke. Is it a joke? He still doesn't know all the rules, but that seems like the safest assumption.

"You use the Ars Goetia?" He's read the Lesser Key of Solomon. Mostly rubbish, so far as he can tell. Skull & Bones uses bits of it in some of their prognostication, but it's nothing on the level of binding demons. Nothing from the Ars Goetia. "And it works? Where do you do your binding?"

[occultatum]

"I mean, I have," he says, and offers his hand. "Nick," he says, introducing himself with a smile, this one wider. This is a better conversation than he thought it would be, so-

"It works. It's not entirely accurate; some of the binding seals were edited in 1868 by Ezekiel Jackson, although it's suspected it was actually his sister Minerva who did a bulk of the research," he says, practically bubbling with enthusiasm. It's just. Dorian doesn't give a shit about the details, and Prudence finds it very tedious, and there is literally no one to talk to about the particulars. "And it sort of depends. On the kind of demon you want to summon."

▶ blindly we'll follow

[hexploits]

Prudence is, of course, fully dressed -- this boy may be brand new, but she isn't anymore -- and only barely manages to resist the impulse to roll her eyes when spoken to. She rarely rides in trains and only did so today for the novelty of it (and admittedly, it's a little exciting), but she had hoped no mortals would dare try to speak to her.

Admittedly, though, he is a cute one. She notes the stripe down his neck briefly, then raises her eyes back up to his.

"I know I am," she says with a casual confidence, assuming he's flirting. "And who might you be?"

[subjulio]

Another day, Darlington might be flirting with her. She certainly catches his eye. If he notices the way she glances at his throat or in any way feels self-conscious about his lack of clothing, he doesn't show it.

It's easy enough to slip into the flirtatious role, though, and he smiles, turning his attention from the city to her. "Darlington. I take it this isn't your first ride through the city?"

[hexploits]

"I don't normally ride in trains," she says simply, a little primly. It's true enough, but for a number of reasons Prudence sees no reason to explain just now. "I take it this is your first of many firsts."

She tilts her chin up slightly, regarding his clothing again with a cool glance.

"Prudence," she says upon resuming eye contact, and gestures to his gown. "Would you like some help with that?"

[subjulio]

Darlington doesn't normally take public transportation either, not in New Haven anyway, so he nods, easily accepting that. He tilts his head when she looks him over, and he smiles. "What makes you think paper's not in vogue in my world?"

He looks her over, gaze flicking quickly from head to toe in a polite assessment rather than a flirtatious once-over. "Are you keeping a pair of trousers somewhere?"

ask me about x;

[high_warlock]

Magnus hates this event, but there's nothing to be done about it except grin and bear it. Which is exactly what he does. As per usual, he greets every challenge with a carefully crafted air of nonchalance and confidence. As if the bold words "Ask me about my father" pasted across his chest mean nothing to him. (They mean less and less. He's told a few people here, about his heritage at least. That doesn't mean he wants to discuss it with strangers against his wishes.)

When he finds the cute young man with the enigmatic message on his front, Magnus decides to glide over, smiling. He stashes his clipboard under his arm and lifts two flutes of champagne from a passing server, so he's well-armed when he approaches.

"You're in trouble, you know," he says with a coy smile as he offers out one of the flutes.

[subjulio]

This is Darlington's first orientation, so he hasn't yet had time to grow to hate them. He can see how they could easily become tedious, but for now, it's useful. He's good at people-watching.

Ask me about my father is a relatable question. Darlington would almost rather talk about Manuscript than his father, except that Manuscript is more recent and therefore a fresher wound. With a quick glance at the stranger's shirt, he smiles and waves off the champagne. "Oh, no thank you. I rarely drink at parties." He's rarely at parties where he doesn't have to worry there's a potion of some sort in the refreshments.

"What sort of trouble am I in?" he asks, playful if not quite flirtatious.

[high_warlock]

That's not the first time that someone's turned down a drink from him, of course, but it happens rarely enough that Magnus does look a touch surprised. But, smoothly as ever, he moves his hand in a circular gesture and the extra flute disappears.

He helps himself to a sip of his own champagne. Just because this young man isn't going to drink doesn't mean Magnus can't.

"I love a good blush," Magnus explains. "You look quite becoming like that. I'm going to have to make an effort to make it stay that way, but for better reasons, I hope."

[subjulio]

Darlington's gaze flicks to where the glass disappeared and back to the stranger's face, and it's his turn to look a touch surprised. He'd been ready to write this man off: beautiful, possibly wealthy, overly familiar. He's met the sort before. He's even met a number of magic users who fit that description, but none who could do that sort of magic so far from a nexus.

He's not particularly pleased his blushing was noticed, but he'll roll with it if necessary. "And what reasons might those be?" He knows, of course. It's blatantly obvious, but that's how this game is played, and it keeps him having to admit how mortifying that night had been once he'd come to himself again.

[high_warlock]

"By telling you you're beautiful," Magnus replies. And it's expected, perhaps, but no less true. He's not simply beautiful but cute, the way his hair falls and the big brown of his eyes.

"And I don't really care what happened at the Manuscript," he continues. "I can ask you other questions that would probably satisfy our captors."

There's a hundred questions that Magnus could ask that would result in blushes, none of which have anything to do with whatever place it is labeled on the young man's shirt.

[subjulio]

It is not as easy to get Darlington to blush as it might seem. What happened at Manuscript was mortifying, not because of anything done to him but because of what he did himself. He's ashamed, not embarrassed. As for being beautiful, "And if I already know that?"

He does, after all, though he doesn't consider it often. It's something he was born with, not something to be proud of. "I won't ask about your father then, unless you'd like to tell me. For the sake of the exercise."

[high_warlock]

That's more than fine. Magnus is always up for a challenge. When he notes the young man's reaction to his compliment, he smirks, amused more than challenged or dismayed.

"Then I won't bother with shallow compliments," he replies. "Even if I do find confidence attractive. But thank you, for ignoring the shirt."

He doesn't say a word about his father but carries on as though the topic is completely thrown away.

"What's your name, darling?"

ask me about x

[ibiza]

Attending one of these events was too much for Margo, but here she is once again, and in a shitty shirt nonetheless. For a while she wanders, her 5’4” form getting lost in the crowd rather easily. That’s how she likes it. She isn’t getting out of her by getting lost, though. Participation, as always, is the only way out of here. As much as she hates this shit…

Margo wanders until she collides with Darlington, looking up at him with uncharacteristically wide eyes. Her t-shirt is on clear display, reading Ask me about my missing eye! To anyone who doesn’t know Margo, this one should be a head-scratcher, as she clearly has two eyes.

She wipes the doe-eyed expression off of her face in favor of a sassier one and reads his shirt, then looking back up at him.

“Do I wanna ask about the Manuscript?”

[subjulio]

"Ah, excuse me," is Darlington's immediate response to the collision, but he takes the moment while she reads his shirt to do the same. He likes a riddle, so this is the first of these shirts that has intrigued him.

He smiles at her question. "I'm hoping the answer is no, honestly." It's not a funny story. Not yet. Maybe in a decade or so. "What are your feelings about this missing eye?"

[ibiza]

His answer only intrigues her, but she’ll respect his boundaries for now. If there’s one thing Margo is big on, it’s consent, and if he won’t consent to share his tale with her then she won’t force him. As for the eye, it’s nothing she’d want to share with a potential beau, but a stranger?

She rolls her eyes and then brings her hand up to her right eye. Margo only holds it there for a moment, but a moment is all it takes to remove the enchantment. When she removes her hand, the eye looks entirely different. The pupil is much larger, making the eye almost entirely black.

“It’s not my eye. It’s a fairy eye. A gift, you might say, if a gift is what you give after you totally steal something else from the recipient.” Nah, she’s not still bitter about that at all.

[subjulio]

When the enchantment is removed, Darlington's eyes widen in surprise and then in wonder. Is everyone here magical? Is he going to be left out of the best parts of this world for being nothing more than human?

"I hope at least it gives you something in return?" A fairy eye must be useful in some way. Fairy gifts always are, even if they're dangerous as well.

[ibiza]

Margo is quick to repeat the action and once she does her eye appears normal again. She isn’t keen on looking anything like a fairy. The last time she met with the fairy queen might not have been such a bad meeting, but she was left with vague, negative feelings about the race in general.

“As a matter of fact, it allows me to see magic. Anything magical glows.” Maybe it didn’t sound like it, but it was very useful.

[subjulio]

As a matter of fact, it sounds incredibly useful to Darlington, who is often left to guesswork in finding magical objects. You get a feel for it after a while, but being able to see them would make his job so much easier.

"That's marvelous. I'm left to potions to achieve the same." A tiny voice in Darlington's head goes: THERE ARE SO MANY MAGIC USERS HERE. It's wonderful and intimidating and so many other things Darlington will unpack later.