duplicitymemes | TDM #34

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TDM #34

« « « TEST DRIVE MEME » » »

« « « ALL ON DISPLAY

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 LIEs 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 LIEs 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 high-rise. 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.

Submissives are provided with a plain black pleather collar to wear and Dominants are given bracelets made of the same black pleather. The simple design is an immediate visual indicator that they have not yet signed a contract and they will be informed that more elaborate or personalized styles are a privilege reserved for those who do.

Enjoy your free time until Orientation! Participation is mandatory for all new and past arrivals.

Winter is here and snow flurries are common in the Up while the slush collects in the Down.

» » » ALL ABOARD

After stepping through the door and participating in Orientation, LIERs are assembled together in the Up for a tour of Duplicity in its entirety. Seats are in pairs and randomly assigned to Dominants and Submissives alike. Traveling from Fiddler's Square, the train journeys through various parts of the Up, showcasing society and examples of lifestyle. Along the way, frequent stops are made; a variety of passengers can be seen exiting and entering the doors. A Dominant with a kneeling Submissive takes a seat near the front of the train at one stop. A small group of Submissives board and sit closer to the LIERs at another, all seemingly content in their roles. As the tour continues through the Up, the train passes close to the Market and White Wall Bridge and zips by North Park before heading into the Down and bypassing Red Wall Bridge and South Park.

The train makes a "final" stop at Riddler's Square, where inhabitants of the Down are instructed to return to their temporary housing. Those who live in the Up are permitted to stay on the train and revisit the same locations while returning.

« « « LOVE IS BLIND

(cw: sensory deprivation, coercion, dub-con/non-con)

One of the workshops at this month's Orientation pairs Dominants with Submissives for an exercise in blind chemistry. Literally — they'll all be blindfolded before meeting their partner and the blindfolds must stay on! They will be encouraged to explore with their other senses, such as touch and taste. Kissing is the bare minimum of what's expected, though no one will stop them should they want to take things further…

Each pair will get around 10-15 minutes together (unless they really hit things off) before switching to a new partner.

Some participants may also be tapped for a secondary exercise in which Submissives remain blindfolded, while Dominants are not. Dominants may do as they wish with them and may choose whether to keep their partner or swap blindfolded Subs back and forth with other Dominants.

» » » DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

(cw: aphrodisiacs, public sex)

With fresh snowfall blanketing the city in white, a festive winter feeling still hangs in the crisp air. Throughout the Up there are horse-drawn sleigh rides being offered on discount to Dominants and their Submissives to enjoy. Newcomers are also given tickets at Orientation in their goodie bags to use for a ride, so long as they do it with someone else, whether it be a person of the opposite designation or even as a Submissive pair. Just no pairs of Dominants! Sit back, relax, and cuddle up close to your companion as you listen to the sleigh bells and the muffled clip clop of horse hooves through the snow.

The weather is finally cold enough for Duplicity's outdoor skating rink to open for the season and it does so with free skate rentals, so long as skaters attend as a Dom/Sub pair. It's common to see pairs skating together, holding hands, or Submissives dutifully on their knees to help lace the skates of their Dominants. Those who don't have a partner to skate with are not so subtly encouraged to find one by the staff. There is a small coffee stand inside adjacent to the skate rental counter that sells snacks and warm drinks, most of them laced with mild aphrodisiacs. Pay no mind to those who decide to warm themselves up in other ways in the stalls of the locker rooms — there's plenty of room for everyone.

The New Year seems to leave people in high spirits and it isn't uncommon to see citizens of all ages playing in the snow together, whether it be making snowmen (some rather well-endowed), snow angels, or whipping snowballs at one another. The fun seems to be infectious and, even if you're not the type to indulge in such frivolity, you may find yourself compelled to. The more one plays in the snow, the stronger the urge to warm up with someone else may become.

« « « MERRY AND BRIGHT

(cw: aphrodisiacs, dub-con, sadomasochism, altered mental states, sexual compulsions, excessive fluids, spontaneous orgasms, bondage, cockwarming)

Snowflakes are falling on the tents and stalls of the annual winter market that lines the streets around Fiddler's Square. Strings of light criss-cross the square, providing a cheerful glow against gray winter skies and the cold nights, and there are tables set up in the street itself for people to sit and chat while having a snack — if they can stand the cold. Booths selling everything from soaps, scented lotions, candles, jewelry and other crafts to colorful bondage gear and winter themed sex toys are arranged in neat, easy to navigate rows.

The most popular food and beverage stalls are giving away free half-size samples — in limited quantities, get them while you can!

Candy Cane - Licking these sweet candy rods will quickly make characters want to lick all kinds of other things — depending on the amount consumed, this may be silly or sexual.

Hot Chocolate - Comes in three flavors: milk chocolate increases masochism, dark chocolate increases sadism, and cinnamon spice increases either dominance or submission in accordance with one's designation.

Eggnog - May cause heavy production of sexual fluids, a desire to be filled or covered with someone else's cream, or all of the above.

Mulled Wine - Leaves one feeling warm and aroused and compelled to engage in dirty talk.

Toffee - Sticks to your teeth, doesn't it? Characters will become incredibly clingy, both physically and emotionally.

White Chocolate Cranberry Tart - This is an odd one. Those who consume it will find themselves suddenly orgasming from unexpected stimuli. Maybe it happens when they laugh, when they get into an argument, or even when the breeze hits them just right. The only consistent factor is that it wouldn't normally be considered something sexual.

These effects tend to last an hour or two and may, in some cases, linger for up to a full day.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for something a little more lasting in terms of warmth, why not try one of the booths hawking some winter accessories? Ranging from thick, plush scarves to soft mittens, there's nothing out of the ordinary about these offerings, at least at first. Those who do make a purchase might find their new knitwear comes with some unexpected urges, ones that only become more pressing the longer these items are worn and will persist even after their removal.

Scarves, for instance, will make the individual suddenly compelled to participate in some bondage (either giving or receiving), while anyone wearing mittens will experience a sudden and insatiable desire to engage in some type of fingering — even if it's not exactly specified where. Meanwhile, if you happen to be donning a winter hat, you could very well find yourself facing the urge to pursue some… warming, either with one particular body part or a more general exchange of sharing heat with someone else. It's cold out there!

The best thing anyone can do right now is bundle up and snuggle up. Effects from the winter wear will last until the specific desire is sated, and after that, there'll be nothing out of the ordinary about these knitted purchases at all.

» » » 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 the assignments are OOCly 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:

If your character is more inclined to fight, they are a Dominant. If your character is more inclined toward flight, they are a Submissive.

To Note: Characters can only swap their designation for one of the following reasons: an event occurs that allows it or there are OOC reasons that make it a necessity. Any swap always requires mod approval and each character can only ever switch once. Characters that are being reapped will keep their previous designation but players can choose to tag on new TDMs with different designations for fun!

Test Drive threads can be used as activity proofs for characters currently in-game.

Please remember to mark any necessary content, and have fun!!

» » » MAIN NAVIGATION « « «

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh good. This is exactly what he needs right now.

Cloud knows he isn't in any position to turn down help, even if it's coming from a Turk, but the discomfort he's in heavily outweighs the alternative, feeling the warmth spread through him at the very point of contact Rude initiates between them. By the time they make it to the bench, he's having a difficult time thinking straight, and it's annoying. This sensation is unfamiliar, and he doesn't like it.

"I've been through worse," he mutters once he's sitting, obstinate enough to sit on his own before tugging off the cap he's wearing. The cool air does nothing to ease his discomfort. "How are you here?" Questions first, problems later.

"The same way you did, I guess. Doors, people with labcoats, the train..." Rude watches him carefully. He still doesn't know when Cloud is from but from the fact that he clearly knows who Rude is it can't be too far back. And the last Rude had seen of him Cloud had very nearly killed Reno before they had collapsed the plate so it is better to keep his guard up. "I've been here seven, maybe eight months now."

He reaches into one of the bags he had been carrying, he had been doing some shopping for him and Dorian and pulls out a water bottle before he offers it to Cloud. "Which one of the drinks did you have? Free stuff tends to be spiked around here, most of the time aphrodisiacs of some form or another."

If it's any consolation, Cloud is surprisingly docile for the moment. He doesn't particularly view Rude or any of the other Turks as a problem these days; things had changed enough over the last couple of years that there wasn't much point to fighting the remnants of Shinra. But he does clock the way Rude watches him despite the warmth under his skin.

"That's a while," he answers unhelpfully, eyeing the bottle like he's deciding whether or not to take it. "It was cherry and chocolate? I don't remember." Sweet enough but also tart, and finally, Cloud makes a move to take the water from Rude. But in the process, their hands brush, and the sudden intensity of pleasure that rushes through him is too much.

He pushes out of his seat on the bench and hits the ground hard on his knees, breathing heavy. "Is it always like this?" He's so uncomfortable right now.

Alright, that is an intense reaction. Rude takes a breath and then crouches next to Cloud, careful not to touch him. "No. You got it bad it seems. They like to do these sort of things to encourage us to... well.. fuck, play our roles, be honest, all that sort of stuff. When you're new here there is a bit more of it, classes and stuff. After that it is a bit more limited."

Eyeing Cloud on the ground he feels a little bad for a moment, remembering how fucking disorienting it had been when he was new here.

"I live not too far from here. Could get you off the street and who knows, maybe a cold shower would help. Or should I call someone?" Then after a second. "Have you met Zack yet?"

It's too much information to try to process all at once, knowing it probably has everything to do with the collar around his throat. So, rather than do that, he forces himself to breathe, resting his hands on his thighs and trying to swallow down all of the intense emotions that well up to the surface. At least he's currently much too warm to think about it.

"There's no one I..." He tries to get the word 'trust' out, but it falls flat. The look he gives Rude is nothing short of a glare, filtered with annoyance and discomfort and confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Zack's dead. He's been dead for years. Why would Rude ask him that?

Rude takes a breath, alright, that answers that question.
"People come here from all over, including not the same point in time. You and I are probably from different times."

He moves to stand. "Let's get you off the ground before any dominants get ideas. How long have you been here?"

"But I saw you recently," Cloud protests quietly, hating that there's so little control in all of this. He can't even calm the heat in his body, using the bench as leverage to try to get to his feet. "It hasn't even been an entire day since I showed up."

Maybe about that, give or take. Trying to explore had made him more comfortable, but now, he's starting to regret it.

"So you still barely know your way around. You know how to get back to the submissive housing?" Lack of control is something Rude can understand, it had been the issue he had had too when he got here. He still does sometimes.

"They say time stands still back home while we are here. Which I guess it has to unless we're both from the same time, what is the last thing you remember?" He reaches out to offer Cloud a hand to get up.

Cloud offers a rather unhelpful shrug at that first question. This place isn't nearly as complicated as some older parts of Midgar, and he'd always managed just fine then. He could find his way back when the time came. And he doesn't take Rude's hand either, hoping to avoid another repeat of what had just happened. It takes him a little longer to get to his feet, but he manages.

There's a quick glance his way. "Have you heard of Geostigma?" It's the easiest way to determine where they are in the timeline without explaining everything that's happened in the past couple of years.

Rude frowns, he is pretty sure he hasn't heard of that and still somehow he doesn't like the sound of it. "I'm from not long after the sector seven plate." He is sure Cloud would remember that.

He takes a step back to give Cloud space.

The plate? Cloud attempts to stand up straighter, looking at him with a mix of confusion and uncertainty.

"That was over two years ago for me." So much had happened since then. The plate falling had merely been the beginning of worse things to befall Midgar and the world as they knew it, and the reminder of that is so sudden that he eventually turns his head away from Rude. "Which way is it?"

Now it is Rude's turn to look at him with confusion. Two years? It is hard to imagine how much had changed since then. After a few seconds he collects himself and then answers with a gesture. "Left here. It is one of the bigger places along that road. And it isn't my house, it is my dominant's. But he wants me there as well so..." He smiles slightly, fondly even when he mentions the guy.

Walking shouldn't be this difficult. It's not even the heat burning through him; it's how uncomfortable everything feels against his skin, deciding then that he would trust this place even less than he already did. Still, Cloud says nothing and struggles forward without complaint.

He has too many questions and eventually settles on one to ask. "Is he going to be there?"

"Dorian? Probably not, he got multiple jobs, two other submissives and a lot of friends. And besides, if I needed the place to myself for a while I could ask." He watches Cloud carefully, noting the struggle.

"Just a heads up, whatever you're drugged with, those things don't tend to go away until they are dealt with. Which around here tends to mean orgasms. Let me know if you need help with that."

Cloud frowns at the name, the list. They're just things of note, really. Nothing too strange aside from the mention of other(?) submissives. When Rude mentions orgasms, however, he staggers and nearly loses his balance.

"I don't need help." Except the thought has him even more uncomfortable and not for reasons he first believes.

Alright, catching Cloud by surprise is enough to make Rude smile a little. "Alright, except that sometimes solo fun isn't enough. But do whatever you need."

He leads the way to a rather large house sitting in what probably in the summer is a nice garden. "Here we are. Do you want any food or anything to drink?"

He doesn't tell Rude that he hadn't planned on doing anything at all, remaining quiet as they approach the house. It's a huge place, noting details here and there that are certainly different than the structures and cities back home.

Cloud stops just short of going inside, still sweating beneath his clothes.

"I think I've had enough of that for today." Even if he's thirsty. "Where should I..." Well, he isn't sure what the right word to use is in this situation, so he doesn't even bother finishing that question.

"We do have non-alcoholic stuff too, a coffee might help. If you want a cold shower there is a bathroom right there." He points to the one closest to the entrance as he opens the door.

He moves to the kitchen to put away the few things he got and start brewing coffee for himself, no matter if Cloud wants it or not. "Given that you are not trying to kill me I assumed a lot has happened between where I am and you are."

Cloud is already on his way towards the door Rude gestures to when he stops, hand on the frame to steady himself. He turns to glance at him, following his movements.

"Some things are more important than a handful of Turks." It's been over two years, after all. So much has happened, and Cloud really isn't in the mood to relive any of that right now, disappearing into the bathroom and leaning against the door once it's shut. He doesn't move from there however, disliking the choices laid out in front of him. What does he do now?

That is plenty of an answer. Rude sighs and then heads for the kitchen to get some coffee together. He has an idea what will help Cloud but he is also pretty sure Cloud won't accept it from him.

So instead he sets about making sure there is coffee as well as water ready for when Cloud comes out of the bathroom,

He leans against the door and tries to breathe, looking around as that feeling of heat intensifies. If he decides to jerk off there, would it even help? Rude doesn't seem to think so, which means he has to try. Cloud gets as far as undoing his pants and slipping a hand in to touch himself before it somehow intensifies uncomfortably, and he stops, breathing heavily.

It isn't going to work.

"Hey," he calls through the door several minutes later, loud enough for Rude to hear. "I might need help after all."

Rude isn't surprised when the call comes and he nods to himself.

"I'll be right there." It only takes a few seconds to walk from the kitchen to the bathroom and soon he knocks on the door before opening it.
"Cloud?"

He looks him over without any comment and instead meets Cloud's eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

Cloud is not having a good time. He's shaky and flushed, leaning against the sink.

"What's going to help?" He isn't going to outright say what he needs because he doesn't actually know if that's a line he should cross without getting knowledge of exactly what's going to happen. "I feel..." There's a frown. "Worse."

"That depends, let's start easy. I am going to just touch you and you tell me if it makes it better or worse. And if you need me to stop you just say so, alright?" He waits a moment to make sure Cloud hears him before he reaches out, the gloves left behind the kitchen and just strokes Cloud's cheek.

He supposes that's easy enough, but his thoughts are too muddled to really do much beyond offering the shortest nod in response. Rude's hand is warm against his face, which is strange considering how hot he is. Cloud blinks and tries not to lean into the contact.

"Better," he says quietly, reaching up to lightly grip Rude's arm. Not to stop him but to hold on.

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