Duplicity Game Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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duplicitymemes2020-01-12 10:22 pm
duplicitymods) wrote in duplicitymemes2020-01-12 10:22 pm
Entry tags:
TDM #10
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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. |
 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. |
 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. |
 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. |
 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. |
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!! |
no subject
He looks down at his clipboard - which does require him to lower it a bit, at which time Aziraphale will be able to read the suggestion of Ask me about my lack of self-worth, as Lyall does not endevour to continue concealing it - and then back up.
"Ah, yes, I am supposed to get your name as well. Which is, of course, the polite thing to do in any case."
no subject
For example. He widens his eyes only very slightly and fortunately while the fellow is bent over his clipboard. No, he doesn't believe that he shall be asking that question at all. He smiles pleasantly when he lifts his head again.
"Indeed. I'm Mister Ziraphale, and you are?"
no subject
It's an odd name, isn't it? Lyall looks curious, trying to determine what sort of provenance it comes from before he swiftly remembers that the exercise might be futile. This man does sound like he's British but that doesn't mean much of anything in Duplicity.
He notes the name on his clipboard, then gets to what he would like to know, though perhaps it isn't exactly what LIES would like to know.
"Do you have a particular genre or subject area that you find particularly interesting?"
no subject
"I specialize in books of prophecy, first editions when I can track them down. The hunt is a large part of the fun of it. Most of them are rubbish, of course. So vague you could read anything you like into any one of them. I believe it's the fact that so many interesting people covet them." And that so many of those people are terribly unpleasant people. It's enjoyable to give them a black eye and get to something first.
no subject
...He is also beginning to see where the idea of them being an obsession might not be far wrong. Well. Possibly. Still, he smiles at Aziraphale with an expression of polite interest (which isn't actually feigned at at all).
"I see. That isn't an area I am well acquainted with, but I can certainly imagine that it would make for a very interesting fraternity of collectors. That is, I assume you are?"
A collector, he means.
no subject
Lest he give the wrong impression, he decides it's high time for a subject change. "So a professor? What's your area of study? Where do you teach?" There. It fits into the topic rather nicely after all without being too abrupt.
And if it's a university he's familiar with, he can continue giving the impression he isn't obsessed with books without having to lie.
no subject
Truly, at all or ever. However, Lyall is disinclined to admit that right out of the gate. It's something he's rarely asked at home - probably because at home, he is known as the London pack beta instead - but seems to have to dodge left and right here. Perhaps he should stop introducing himself as such but it's...habit, now.
He perhaps deliberately misconstrues the question a bit, too, reaching for a moment to gently rest his fingertips against the line placed down his throat. Implying, of course, that as a submissive he is unlikely to be allowed to teach.
However, there was another question, one he is happy to answer.
"My field of study, however, is biology. Genetics, more specifically."
If he is being very specific, the breeding of sheep. But he'll allow Aziraphale to ask for more details if he's so inclined. Lyall finds his research very interesting but he is aware it isn't a topic for everyone.
no subject
"Oh, genetics. Very technical. Surprising how far it has come in such a relatively short amount of time." He thinks. It's nothing he has ever paid attention to, save for the rare BBC documentary on late nights as background noise for something or other. He hopes he'd heard that correctly, that it was a field with rapid advancements.
"Were you affiliated with a laboratory?"
no subject
"In truth, my employment for some time before arriving here has been of a non-academic nature. Although I haven't abandoned my research and the University of London has allowed me access to their laboratory space."
Not a lie either. Being the Beta to the largest pack in England does open certain doors. Especially after he lost his laboratory on the Woolsey Castle grounds when they became the London pack.
He's more interested on latching on to the subject of his research. "It certainly seems to have. I will say, the one thing this dreadful place has going for it is the scientific advancements. The field was rather in its infancy back home."
no subject
"In its infancy? Hmmm. I'm not so sure that was the case where I'm from. Not that I made much effort keeping up with anything beyond a lay interest." Not that he kept up with most things even to that level.
"I'm coming to understand in my very short time here that many of us are from different worlds altogether. You seem English and speak of London. What year is it for you?" Perhaps it's merely a time difference and not that of place.
no subject
Unbeknownst to both of them, of course, it is at least slightly a case of different worlds. Perhaps not different planets, but different realities.
no subject
"I'm from the early 2000s. Well, what I mean is that was the decade from which I was brought. The 2010s. Obviously, I'm older than that. Not to say I'm old. Distinguished middle age. Yes. You were speaking of the technology. It has come such a long way. Humans, people are so ingenious."
no subject
Lyall listens to Aziraphale's rambling lie with his head tilted ever so slightly to one side. Privately, it's a bit amusing, watching him stumble through it. Amusing but also vaguely endearing. It's done so inexpertly and seemingly entirely without malice. At the end of all that, he nods. Though he is inwardly amused, his outward expression is still placidly polite.
"Certainly." But instead of the most polite thing to do - which would be taking Aziraphale up on his attempted diversion of the topic - Lyall continues to regard him for a moment or two more, and then continues on conversationally. "You know, another very interesting thing about this place is the wealth of diversity amongst those of us who have been brought here. The experiences and types of people."
Lyall gestures out demonstratively at the other people milling about.
"For example, a number of people who happen to be particularly long-lived. For a variety of different reasons. There are quite a lot of vampires."
Not that he believes that Aziraphale numbers among them of course. He does not smell like old, musty blood. In fact, he smells...strangely clean. Lyall thinks, at least. There are a number of more human smells on top of that, including cologne so it isn't as easy for him to tell. But in any event, it is nothing like a vampire.
no subject
"Really." He looks out over the crowd, wondering if he'd know one on sight. Would they feel evil? Have a deathly pallor? Aside from his one reading of Dracula, his knowledge base is rather weak on the subject.
"Now, Professor, I do hope you're not having a lark. These vampires, do they readily make themselves known here? Are there any in the room with us today? I don't believe they exist where I'm from as anything more than stories. Much like werewolves, or the Mummy. Oh, there are mummies, to be certain, just not the animate sorts."
no subject
Lyall smiles politely and then sends his gaze out over the crowd at the questions that follow. The visual search is not strictly necessary, since he can smell any vampires currently present (who aren't heavily covering their scent, anyway) but he carries it out for show. A very superfluous show, considering that he's likely to out himself shortly but some amount of mystery is attractive to him. If only for the suspense of things.
"The degree to which they make themselves known varies. Of course it ends up being rather futile to conceal much of anything. Secrets do tend to out, here." A faint scent is coming from another corner of the room, one of a vampire that he doesn't actually recognize. There were more earlier and he makes a note to at least go investigate this one at some point in the evening. At the moment, though, he turns his attention back to Aziraphale. "There is one. Forgive me if I don't point them out, I am not familiar with them and don't know how amenable they would be to it."
He is nothing if not polite. There is, too, the possibility of it getting back to this unknown vampire that he was the one who outed them to a stranger and that is a complication he does not need. His smile continues to be polite, shading to ever so slightly apologetic...though there is, perhaps just the slightest hint of amusement too. It's the mention of werewolves.
"I don't believe animate mummies exist where I come from either."
There's an implication there.
no subject
He is not at all good at lies or subterfuge. It doesn't mean he doesn't recognize them in others. There is something entirely too convenient in how the professor picks the vampire out, yet claims a lack of familiarity with him. With his attention focused in the proper direction, he can sense it now, what he couldn't before. A subtle tug of evil, nothing as obvious as any demon, even Crowley.
"No animate mummies. Pity for both of us, yes? To come from such dull and lacking places." He widens his eyes briefly for emphasis.
"Still, I notice. I can't help but to notice, can I? That you say nothing of werewolves?" He's almost gleeful, feeling clever.
no subject
"Yes, well, I can't say that they do not exist." A pause, and then with a slight nod of his head. "That we do not, that is."
He could make the information more of a challenge but he would rather observe Aziraphale's reaction to it.
no subject
Now there are new suns, apparently, and new kinds of people, some of them werewolves. Vampires, although he finds that a touch less compelling. There's only one evil creature who has ever held his interest.
"If so, then I shall not, of course. Good manners are the backbone of civilization. But if not, then consider this a gentle probe for whatever you feel you can share. I only know what's in literature, and well...that can hardly be considered an accurate account of anything."
no subject
Certainly asking for details of his situation could be considered rude but Lyall hardly thinks that any request made in the manner that Aziraphale has could ever be classed as such. It's an entirely genteel way of going about it and Lyall finds no objection to indulging the man's curiosity. His smile shifts again, slightly, back to merely polite.
"I suppose that does depend on the literature. Certainly the myths about werewolves that existed in my world - before we came out of the night, so to speak - were wildly incorrect. For example, humans claiming to use ointments to turn into wolves. Or having magic belts." Lyall huffs softly after that, the expression on his face briefly long-suffering. Granted, all of that was just before his time but really, magic belts. And the men who claimed to have been turned were simply vicious killers. The nerve. "One thing I have discovered that seems to be unique to my own experience is that we are immortal."
no subject
"Now that is not anything I've ever heard." It's rather exciting to meet someone else immortal. He manages to hold back the impertinent question of how old Professor Lyall might be. He's not sensitive about his age. It doesn't mean some might not be.
"Later myths tied lycanthropy to the cycles of the moon." He's digging for more in his own mind. It's not something he ever studied extensively and has never been a fan of horror films, with a few campy Hammer exceptions. The Devil Rides Out was endlessly entertaining.
((OOC: Figured I could give you a tie in to the distraction, and then we can have them continue the conversation at tea.))
no subject
The source of his worry, more apparent a moment later, is a raised and clearly annoyed voice that seems to have the quality of an Italian accent. It's coming from across the room and Lyall sighs after a few moments.
"I am terribly sorry, you must excuse me, I have something that needs attending to."
Or someone, at least. With another slight bow, only barely waiting for any kind of acknowledgment, he makes his way towards the source of the disturbance, slipping into the crowd.