duplicitymemes | TDM #10

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TDM #10

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « LIFE WILL GO ON

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

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

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

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

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

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!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Enough to know I've got the more difficult end of the bargain," though, really, the concept of the Down doesn't seem to bad to him. At least he won't have to worry about vaporization and he can protect himself from all but the absolute worst of the crime down there just fine, he's pretty sure. Eventually, he's going to have to deal with what it means that Guni and Yayoi and Riho aren't here and are probably worried sick. He's the most worried about Riho, she doesn't do well without him. But there's nothing he can do to help any of them if he gets himself killed here, either.

"I'm torn between being horrified and thinking 'well, at least they don't hide from the truth'. There's always the haves and the have-nots, anywhere I remember. It's a bit too on the nose, maybe, to codify it like this, but," he shrugs slightly, careful to not move the umbrella too much, "it's not as though the idea itself is anything new."

He's definitely got that right, at least. "Yeah, being a Submissive is definitely the shittier end of the bargain. Best thing you can do is find someone you like and trust who's a Dominant and hope they don't abuse any power over you. Most LIEs people probably won't, but you can't really be sure." Being a Dominant has its downsides too, but he never feels like they're really worth mentioning like this.

He snorts, giving the man a slight smile. "Yeah, there is that. Though they're really, really serious about the divide here sometimes."

"I imagine I'll be able to figure it out," it's not as though he's unfamiliar with the concept of someone having absolute power over him, though the memories of all of that are still hazy at best. Given the circumstances, he's definitely not sure he wants to remember any more now.

"I can't say I'm thrilled about any of this, but it's not as though I'm a child. I've survived before, I'm sure I'll continue to," he looks over at the young man a bit closer than he has previously. Perhaps the comment was a bit cold, all things considered, so he smiles slightly, "Though I shouldn't ever forget how much I imagine I'll have to rely on the kindness of strangers." They're passing completely under the shadow of a building so he feels safe enough to hold his hand out, "Shido Tatsuhiko. I'm usually more polite," he jokes.

"I can't blame you for not feeling up to much politeness right now," Phillip says with a smile, giving his hand back, "Phillip Durand. Nice to meet you, though as always in this place the circumstances could be better." But that's kind of the nature of the beast here.

He wasn't bothered by the comment; they were all cranky when they got here so if Shido says something a little off putting he's likely to ignore it for now. "But yeah, there's definitely an element of relying on people no matter which side of things you wind up on." Especially with how often they can get thrown together out of nowhere.

Considering how cold it is outside, the chill in his touch is likely less noticeable. More noticeable is how little the cold outside seems to bother him, almost as though he doesn't particularly understand why it would - he's not even bothering to fake it. His grip is pleasant though, as though he either shakes hands on a regular basis or has deliberately learned how to shake hands well, comfortable and comforting.

"Really? My understanding was the whole point of the... Dominants was it called? ... was that you didn't do much relying on anyone. Is it not actually like that?" there's no snideness to the comment whatsoever, he seems genuinely curious.

He also looks relieved as the elevators to the Down come into view, which if nothing else paints him as someone who lives in a time where he knows what an elevator looks like.

"Yes and no. There's definitely less of it, you can do stuff on your own without a Contract. But you still need to make quota. And it's better off for both parties if they have a good relationship." As he has recently been reminded.

He moves to the elevator, watching for Shido to join him before starting it up. "The Down isn't necessarily the nicest place," he says, giving him fair warning, "especially the housing they give you. They're kind of trying to encourage people to contract. But I like it more than the Up a lot of the time. They're a little less strict about everything."

"It's a bit strange to me that it's a requirement, here. In my world, it was definitely something that would be frowned upon, at least somewhat. Well, for the morally inclined, I suppose. Something like 'quota', I mean." He's not really worried much about it at the moment. Clothes first, then thinking about the deeper implications of the society. He's not particularly opposed to anything he's seen so far, but he's not exactly overly enthusiastic about any of it either. Sex has always been something he's enjoyed but it's... a bit fraught, for him, in his own world, considering he's very likely to kill anyone he has sex with. There are exceptions, of course, but he mostly has to abstain entirely to keep everyone safe.

"I'm sure it will be fine," he says of the Down, as they step on the elevator, "A bit of discomfort in my living arrangements is hardly going to bother me as long as they're suitable at all and I doubt I'm likely to have trouble with any gang violence or the like," he smiles at Phillip, immediately seeming much more at ease now that they're out of the sunlight entirely, "I was a private investigator, back home, mostly dealing in unsolved homicides. I'm thinking there's a good chance I've seen worse."

"I mean, most places it seems like it would have been weird to enforce it. Especially as heavily as they do here." Phillip's never had any trouble with it himself, but he is well aware that he is not in the majority there.

Phillip nods- those skills might not be as generally helpful as he might hope here, but he's also probably not wrong about seeing worse. "Yeah, if you think you'll be fine then you probably will be. Some people stay down there for a while, even after they get contracts, so." He thinks he would have been fine down there too, but he's never had to actually had to so.

"Really? People are allowed?" Some of the terminology is new to him, unnatural still for him, but the relationship itself isn't... exactly something he's unfamiliar with. "There's clearly a lot I have to understand still about how all of that works, I suppose."

He thinks about it for a moment as they walk,

"If it's not rude of me to inquire, how did you meet your Submissive, then? I'm in no particular rush, I suppose, but the sooner I learn how all of this works, the better."

"I think so. Until you graduate from the program, maybe? That might just be for Dominants, though." He would like to assume there's a place uncontracted Submissives can go back to if they lose their Dominant supported housing, but...

Ah. "I don't have one right now," he says, skirting part of the issue, "but in the past, usually I've been friends with them first."

"It just surprises me a Dominant would let their Submissive stay down here, I suppose," it's an odd comment, not really in the comment itself but how off-handed it seems, as though he really can't imagine why someone would have a contract without then making sure they knew where the other person was, or allow them to live separately.

"Friends..." he considers that for a moment then smiles, a bit wryly, "I suppose I should start making friends, then. I've no desire whatsoever to allow the city to pick something like that for me." There's a vehemence there that doesn't quite match the smile.

"I mean, if that's what they'd want...." Phillip prefers living with whoever he's Contracted with, mostly because as he said he's usually been friends with them and he's a very affectionate person who likes to be near people, but he did have one who didn't want to live with him and it wasn't like he was going to force anyone to do anything. He's starting to wonder if Shido has some kind of experience with this dynamic in a more specific way than he's use to hearing about. Or at least, a lower opinion generally of people who hold power.

He gives the man a smile. "Yeah, most people don't want that outcome. I'm sure you'll find people you get along with and trust enough."

"Hmm, I suppose," he says to the first, but he still sounds somewhat skeptical.

Some kind of experience with this dynamic. Yes, he'd say he has. And it's not like he had any say in that matter, either. But this isn't Transylvania and there's not some megalomaniacal vampire after him (unless this is all a plot, he's still not convinced it isn't) so he's planning on continuing to steer his destiny as much as he can until something like that catches up with him.

"Friends are often more difficult in new situations. But it seems like there are at least some people who have been here a while. What about yourself? You don't talk like you're native, but you know where you're going. How long have you been here?" it's a presumption, but he is a detective, after all.

If he doesn't want to talk about it, and it sure seems like he doesn't, Phillip won't press. He only just met the man, after all, and he sure hates being grilled about personal details in new introductions.

"Yeah, I've been here... about a year and a half, at this point?" He shrugs. "Far as we can tell, most of the 'natives' were actually brought here like us at some point, though no idea when. I was in the first group after they started it all up again."

It's not as though it's a secret any more than his vampirism is, which is to say, he sort of conceals it half-heartedly at best, mostly to make other people comfortable. It's not as though "the creature that turned me into an unholy creature of the night also kept me locked in their castle and forced me to hunt people for bloodsport because he was obsessed with me" is good casual conversation for a stroll.

"Really?" he looks around at the buildings as they pass, "That's... a lot of people being brought here at some point, to have a stable population. But... a year and a half? Really?" the second really is a bit more skeptical than the first. He doesn't really think Phillip is lying, but it does seem kind of incredible, to him.

Well, if all of this isn't some kind of elaborate illusion, anyway.

"Yeah. That might not be the whole truth, but most people who are 'native' don't talk about where they were originally from so it's hard to keep track." Not that many of them would likely tell him anyway; even those graduated from the more recent batch of LIEs seem to have a reputation. One that's earned, but makes it harder to get people to trust them with much.

He nods- he does kind of get the reaction, seeing as most people want to believe they can leave within the month. "Yup."

"And other people have been here decades or more, from the sound of it. Long enough to be more citizens of this place than wherever they came from. Not exactly a particularly comforting thought, I suppose," he's a bit more sanguine about it than a lot of other people might be, though. He does want to get back to his friends, no, his family, but he's also pragmatic enough to recognize that as far as he knows, he's not being hunted here and also as far as he knows he doesn't have to hunt, he doesn't have to hurt people, and if he has to put up with this weird setup in order to have that... well... a year and a half doesn't seem horrible, really.

Though there is the nagging thought, there, that he's something eternal. Would he want an eternity of living here? It's too soon to tell, but the idea makes him a bit uncomfortable. He chuckles, though it's likely obvious he's changing the subject,

"So is this a hobby of yours? Helping poor new arrivals figure themselves out?" it's not mocking, he's genuinely curious. It seems like a reasonable thing for someone kind to do.

"No, it's really not." Phillip has a... difficult relationship with this place, doesn't like how people are essentially trapped here, but to an extent he does understand why some of the 'natives' have adapted they way they have. Keeping up outrage is exhausting, and for many people being here is legitimately better than being back in their worlds. But it does bring a lot of questions with it about the timeline of things.

He gives out a little laugh and shrugs. "Sort of. I don't go to their orientation anymore so it's mostly just when I run into people, but when I got here people didn't have a goddamn clue what was happening and it was rough. I like to get people up to speed when I can."

"Well, I appreciate it," he says, sincerely. "Good people are hard to find, sometimes, particularly in times of crisis. I'm glad to know that this place doesn't simply harden everyone who comes here."

Bad choice of words, maybe, but if the innuendo is intentional, he shows no sign of it.

"Do people die like this?" he can't help but muse, because it's cold, even though he's not bothered at all by it and he can't imagine having to make this walk basically naked if the cold was a concern to him. He seems to realize what he's said a moment later and waves it off with a bit of a nervous laugh, "Ah, forgive me. That's a bit morbid."

Phillip almost makes a comment about that. Almost. But he's distracted by the question. "I mean, I guess they could? I haven't heard of it happening." He wouldn't be entirely surprised if LIEs did something to prevent that, considering- "It's possible they've done something to prevent it though. They can bring people back to life here, and do, so it's not out of the question."

He is completely ignoring the apology about it being 'morbid.' He doesn't want to get into that right now.

"They can... bring people back to life?" congratulations, Phillip, you've finally found the thing that will stop Shido in his tracks. He turns and looks at him with a growing feeling of unease that borders on alarm. "How... do they do that? Bring people back, I mean."

He's aware that this is too intense of a reaction, but he can't help it, can more feel the reaction happening to him than feels like he's in control of it in any way, like everything has narrowed, abruptly, down to Phillip and to this information.

Then again, if Phillip has his suspicions about Shido's nature, it's likely that such a reaction, while not really proving anything, gives a really good look into his own feelings about his vampirism.

Well at least Phillip considers 'alarm' to be the appropriate reaction in this scenario. "I have no idea," he says, and he sounds a touch disgruntled about it, "We haven't even really seen any side effects from it. Or at least, nothing noticeable." Maybe if you die enough 'integration' into the city becomes easier or something, but everyone he knows luckily has had very few experiences with that.

"But they don't come back... different or anything?"

In his world, there are only a few ways to cheat death, none of them good, but there are countless ways to come back from the dead. Or at least, to come back as some kind of shadow of yourself, doomed to endless hunting, hurting. He's one of the more human versions of that, one of the few undead things that retain their minds and, he sincerely hopes, souls, though his own is likely tarnished beyond repair.

"No... side effects at all?" it sounds too good to be true. And then, immediately, it doesn't.

"Wait... no one can die? Everyone's just... condemned to all of this... until...? Until what?" maybe this is Hell.

Oh good. Someone does see why this situation is terrible.

"As far as I can tell, yeah. Which is part of how the 'natives' have been here for decades before us, I bet." Enough to forget their original homes, or at least fit better in this one. What will happen, he can't help but wonder, when people have lived here longer than they ever lived in any other universe? Maybe it really is just time wearing people down.

"Oh... god..." he looks away, not because he's got anything to hide on his opinions of the subject, but just because he needs a moment, sick to his stomach in a way that isn't actually physically possible for him anymore but is apparently emotionally so.

"Everyone..." immortality is great if you choose it, but if you don't, it's the worst curse Shido can imagine. He's known for a while now that he's un-aging, but as a vampire he's not unending, he can commit suicide, he can screw up and get himself killed. He's killed other vampires.

(He'd thought he'd killed the only vampire that mattered.)

Now, even that choice has been taken from him. There's a defeated slump to his shoulders for a moment, the weight of that too much to bear up under. But after a moment, he does, taking a deep breath and setting them back up again.

"How does everyone stand it?" he muses aloud, since it's obvious that Phillip understands from the way he's talked.

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cw: light suicide mentions