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

max briest | original | submissive

[thephix]

«« blindly we follow
[[appearance]]

[There's a mark down her throat.

It's an unpleasant situation for someone who's never had to carry a mark before in her life. Anything can be smoothed away, from bruises to freckles, nothing marring her skin that she doesn't want to be there. She can't remove this one, regardless of how hard she tries. Some kind of magic, perhaps, as loathe as she is to attribute anything to something so... esoteric.

And yet here she is, marked, on a train in another world. Dressed well despite her status, hiding the collar they've insisted she wear, seated by a window and watching the world go by. She's brimming with rage, but none of it shows on the surface. Max looks calm, curious but not troubled, her attention focused without being anxious.

When someone claims the seat beside her, the smile she gives them is warm and sincere. Or at least it appears so.]

Is this your first time taking this journey?

«« ask me about x
[[appearance]]

[The shirt had been removed the second she was out of sight from any LIES staff, torn up and left in a corner to rot. It leaves Max in her lingerie (matching bra and underwear, in black lace) but she's worn far less clothing in far worse situations. Any qualms she may have had about being exposed were beaten out of her a long time ago.

Still, that doesn't stop her approaching the nearest person, clipboard in hand.] I'm sorry to intrude, but might I ask after your shirt? I realize this should be a quid pro quo, only mine was far too personal. Perhaps we could come to some other arrangement?

[The offer is open to interpretation, as much about fairness as it is about allowing her to get a read on the person she's talking to.]

«« the long way around
[[appearance]]

[She wears a different face, today, though the mark stays. Her style is a little different, too, more suitable for this identity. It gives her a freedom that she doesn't have as Max, though she isn't foolish enough to assume that the city itself isn't tracking her in same way beyond what face she wears. For now, the small amount of freedom is enough.

When she walks by a stall and the attendant goes to spritz her with perfume, she strikes quickly, grabbing his wrist and twisting arm behind his back until the pain forces him to drop the bottle.]

I know what these things do, if you attempt to force that on another person, I'll slit your throat.

[So.

There's that.]

► ASK ME ABOUT

[sathan]

( the fact that people still approach her despite how harshly she's glaring or shooing others away amazes her, makes her remember mortal stupidity but this time her back had been to the woman, expression only visible once she turns to her )

Personal is what they're supposed to be.

( considering that hers says ask me about eden and she's very pissed about it leaves no room for anything else )

According to our-- hosts.

[thephix]

[As soon as she sees the expression Lilith is wearing, Max's own softens, a hint of apology in it.]

I was hoping some may be innocuous enough to discuss. [Her own had been horrible for so many reasons, the worst being that it meant their 'hosts' know who she is.] Does your shirt refer to the novel by Hemmingway?

[This may be another world, but she can't imagine it could be referring to the literal Eden. That doesn't exist. It can't.]

[sathan]

That would depend on who owned the shirt.

( she'd encountered an angel who'd been more than happy to discuss his book obsession.

she sighs, recognising the woman's attempts, knowing that she isn't behind this. answering a woman, if cryptically, was much more preferable than a man )

It isn't. It refers to something far older.

[thephix]

[Max nods, understanding the response for what it is, and reaches out to lay a hand on Lilith's arm. She doesn't like touching people, but it's important for playing a role.]

It's okay, please don't tell me if you're not comfortable sharing. [She might press the point, were Lilith a man, but she'll leave it for now.] Perhaps you could tell me of our hosts, instead?

[sathan]

( whilst the contact is gentle there's a part of it that's not entirely welcome, a stranger's touch on her. though she doesn't necessarily pull away she does gently step, turning first to look around her before moving her arms by her side )

Our hosts think little of our wishes, our comforts.

( it wasn't particularly that she wasn't comfortable in sharing the information but that she'd just rather avoid it. not that anyone else cared that )

They have their desires and they bring those out-- intimately.

[thephix]

[The reaction is noted, filed away for future need.]

Yes, that was quite obvious after they stripped me upon my arrival here.

[She says it calmly enough, it may have been unpleasant, but it's hardly the worst thing that's happened to her.

Lilith's next words are considered carefully. After a moment:]

You're referring to the sex, I assume?

Blindly we follow

[afraidtofall]

[Aziraphale has his nose in a book, almost literally, swaying and stepping around the press of people entering the train without ever looking up. Somehow, he has no collisions or close calls. He is simply never where they are and vice versa.

As he takes the seat beside her, a waft of an old fashioned Victorian fougere, Fougère Royale to be precise, drifts and settles. His waistcoat is worn and lovingly tended. The shirt may be newer, the bow tie crisp and perfectly tied.

He blinks behind the glasses when she speaks, peering up and over at her just above their wire rims.]

No. I take the train at least twice per week. Yours?

[thephix]

[It isn't enough to stop her from being wary, the fact that he looks as though he stepped out of some Victorian novel, complete with that accent, but he seems harmless enough.

So does she, though, and she knows how carefully appearances can be curated.]

It is, yes. It's beautiful up here. [In the Up, at least. There's something a little regretful in her tone, in the way her hand drifts towards her neck before she catches herself and folds them carefully in her lap, instead. She shakes herself out of it and offers another smile.] I like your bow-tie, it's very fetching.

[It is, surprisingly, a genuine compliment. It's hardly her style of fashion, but it does suit him.]

[afraidtofall]

[Ah, yes, the Up versus the Down. It's something he tries to avoid thinking of when he can, and when he can't, well...

He closes his book with a soft thump and draws it in closer against his waist, Advanced Physics and String Theory, removes his glasses, polishes them, and tucks them into his coat pocket.

She then has more of his attention.]

Thank you. It's kind of you to say.

[His gaze drifts past her to the window and back again.]

I take it you've seen where they've decided you're to stay.

[thephix]

[She makes no effort to hide the way her gaze drifts to the title of his book, a small raise of her brows in curiosity, though not doubt. She updates her mental impression to include smart, or at least pretending to be.]

I've spent the past few days there, acclimatizing as much as I can. I haven't had need to share a room since boarding school, at least my current roommate doesn't snore the way my friend Trish used to.

[Humanizing herself is important.]

[afraidtofall]

I'm not entirely sure the accommodations are meant to feel accommodating to anyone.

[Perhaps it's poor form to cast aspersions on what was given him in some sort of misguided deference to his arbitrary assignment in light of what she's dealing with.

He can't help it. He has never been one to eschew complaints, especially justified ones in his mind.]

I've yet to meet anyone, marked or not, delighted with their quarters or their situation. I'm sorry. I'm being terribly rude. I'm Mister Ziraphale.

ask me about.

[frostfromfire]

[ Emma looks extremely comfortable, in her long shirt. It's a shade of white that suits her, with the words Ask me about my father written quite elegantly. It's tolerable enough — parental issues, she thinks, are not that wholly unique and therefore not striking. ]

Oh, I'm certain.

[ She smiles at Max, and unfolds herself from her satisfied position to something more welcoming, and pats the seat next to her. ]

Sit down, dear.

[thephix]

[Max isn't much the type to be intimidated by other women, regardless of how beautiful they are, but there's something about the way Emma holds herself that gives her a sense of power that even the Sphinx won't ignore. That doesn't stop her from taking a seat, legs crossed at the ankles, clipboard set down on her bare thighs. Up close, there's almost an airbrushed quality to Max, a little too perfect to be real, except there she is.]

Thank you. [Her smile remains polite, tips into something grateful.] I would have kept mine if it had been similar to yours, my father was a lovely man, if somewhat distant.

[Offering information freely is an old tactic, but one she's had success with. It makes her seem open, trustworthy. People don't look too closely to see if she's lying.

Joseph Corelli was anything but dull.]

[frostfromfire]

[ Emma has changed herself to be artifically beautiful — a telepathic projection is useful, but only so much. Every single scrap was cultivated and presented, and it's somewhat relieving, honestly, that she doesn't need to start from scratch in this world. She thinks the same of Max — cultivated, scrubbed perfectly, and that either hides something cold and sharp under the surface or something empty. She'll find out soon — she always does. ]

We've all got our conversation openers.

[ She cants her head lightly to someone nearby, whose worst quality is on display. ]

Yours must have been quite interesting. What's your name?

[thephix]

Interesting isn't the descriptor I'd use.

[She purposefully glances away from Emma for a moment, something hurt and ashamed crossing her face before she seems to push past it, looking back up, offering a smile that sits between sad and determined. The point is to look vulnerable, but not weak. It's a fine line to tread, and a somewhat more dangerous gamble with another woman, especially one who's beautiful and seems to know it. But she doesn't want to immediately lean into cold and hard, that's more difficult to come back from if it falls flat.]

Max Briest. [She smooths her hands over her clipboard as if fixing the paper despite the fact it's already sitting perfectly, then offers one to shake.] And yourself?

[frostfromfire]

[ Oh, she's very good, isn't she? Emma watches her, taking it all in, and offers a sympathetic expression. She is very good at sympathy, and always has a soft spot for anyone who looks like they might be fit for a little life coaching. ]

Emma Frost. Charmed.

[ Her handshake is perfectly timed, perfectly pressured. The well-manicured nails and regularly moisturised skin also give her away, but they're meant to. ]

What would you describe it as? Be as vague as you prefer.

[ After all, she doesn't need to be told the truth to see what's going on in someone else's mind. ]

blindly we follow

[envien]

[ the woman in question is petite and dressed as if she might be on her way from her work as a ceo to an afternoon in a dive bar, and slightly terrifyingly beautiful in some strange way. there's something.. heavy about her presence, something that isn't human.

frankly, lucifer just isn't trying that hard to blend in here. he doesn't have to for one thing; the natives don't have the same concepts of heaven and hell that exist at home, and in large part, he's just another person in the lies program.

as he's addressed, he glances toward her, bright eyes interested and ancient in his face. ]

Oh, no. I rather like the train, so I take it often enough. [ he smooths the skirt over his thighs, glance flicking to the mark on her throat, then up to her own eyes, red-painted mouth curling in a small smile. ] It's all a bit shocking at first, though, isn't it?

[thephix]

[Max has met fascinating people in her life, but this is... something else entirely. Though she's faced off against Moriko before and the woman had used pheromones to trigger a fear response in Max, assuming that would work better on the Sphinx than much else. Looking at Lucifer evokes a similar response. At least she's confident in her ability to keep any honest reactions hidden behind the mask.]

It is, yes. [A little breathless, a reaction she's allowed herself, to play into the part where she's a bit overwhelmed and out of her depth. It's bullshit, of course, but that isn't the point.] A remarkable feat of engineering, the underground city, though I will admit I'd have preferred the open air.

[She didn't miss the way Lucifer looked at her throat, not that she can blame anyone. Social markers are important, as unfortunate as it is to have all the wrong ones.]

[envien]

[ the slight smile widens, but that's lucifer's only response at first, the only hint that there's more to this conversation than their outward reactions would reveal. he takes as much care as he can not to know, not to let himself be aware of those around him and the sin they indulge in, but there's still something.. interesting here. ]

It's a very minor kind of hell, [ he says bluntly, referring to the down, ] but one that can be useful at times.

[ if you find it necessary. lucifer being what he is, he doesn't need any of the services one might find in the down, but it isn't a good idea to simply dismiss them, either. after all, who knows? lucifer could still be affected somehow by the very things that brought him here. ]

Still, I would suggest making arrangements to leave as soon as possible.

[thephix]

[If she knew her sins could ever be on display, Max would be horrified at the prospect of someone being able to see over a decade worth of violence and sex and well, almost every crime under the sun.]

I've found that true of all places. [There's something about Lucifer that makes her want to stop playing at being soft, to show her claws, like he might appreciate them more than other people would. It's an odd thought, and she wonders if he has a gift of some kind, like her own, but that isn't something she can sense in others.

She feels out of her depth, suddenly, and it's unpleasant.] I plan to, though there must be something said for taking care in that regard. Three months can be a very long time, with the wrong person.

[One hour can be a long time with the wrong person, she knows that from experience, and that isn't getting into dynamic here.]

[envien]

[ the smile takes on a sharklike quality, wide and white and sharp somehow, lucifer's eyes bright and vicious in his face for a moment. ] The wrong person can be the right person if you're angry enough. [ and lucifer has been very, very angry for a very, very long time.

but thankfully for any asshole dominants in the city, lucifer came in as a dominant himself.

he breathes in slowly through his nose and allows his expression to smooth once more. ]

Regardless, you seem to be a capable young woman. I'm certain you'll handle yourself.. as well as anyone you contract with.

ask me about

[feckers]

Another arrangement?

( she'd kept the shirt on out of mild modesty, a little disgruntled at just having that but there were worse things that it could have said. ask me about winemaking. it was harmless, unusual and whilst currently true it did present an interesting curiosity. it was why rather than actually trying to talk to anyone else in the room laris had been observing the room itself, trying to look for any hidden recording equipment or other signs that someone was watching them. security was too lax for there to be nothing in place.

which is why even as she looks at the woman her focus isn't entirely on her, manner pleasant, conversation there enough to make it seem as if she's focused unless the woman is very good at spotting something else )

Do you have something to offer?

[thephix]

[Max is, equally, focused on more than just her current conversation partner, there's a lot to take in, and while hardly ashamed of her lack of clothing, she knows it makes her more vulnerable.]

Everyone has something to offer. [If she were talking to a man, she'd lean on familiar skills, but that isn't a game she plays with women.] Are you new here, as I am?

[There's a purpose to the question, it might change what she offers.]

[feckers]

( everyone does have something to offer though whether or not laris would see it as valuable would be a different thing entirely. she's particular, partially from her culture and partially from her own skills )

I am.

( and it seemed that all of this kidnapping that was going on was a little more widespread than she'd first thought. and not just limited to romulans )

But from what they've told us-- it's not a very believable tale.