duplicitymemes | TDM #34

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«tdm

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 « « «

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No. ( he isn't sure he wants zack to know either. ) That happened after I saw Zack for the last time.

( there's more to it, but cloud tries to brush it aside, shrugging lightly. )

I can't tell him. He's been through enough.

[ that's true but . . . ]

He'll want to know.

I can't tell him today, ( he adds, convinced it had to be as good a reason as any. they're meeting after all this time, and cloud... he isn't going to start spilling such awful news to zack and blindside him. ) That doesn't seem right.

( hopefully dolph understands. )

[ it makes sense and he can understand that. but dolph still finds himself concerned. the thing about big truths is that there is never a good time to deliver them. and they come out in the worst ways.

but it's not his place to force the issue and it seems . . . painful. the way alex was painful. ]

I won't say anything. And I don't envy your position. He thinks about you a lot. You and her.

( he doesn't want to keep it a secret, especially not if time is so easily malleable to the ones who brought them there in the first place. so much has already happened, and cloud needs time to process it. )

I... she thought about him too. ( what would zack think if he told him about how aerith had died? ) And so did I. I still do.

[ he wonders what this would mean for zack and himself. should he be pulling away? break it off? zack wanted love. a true love he could hold onto. dolph can't give him that. the person he loved shattered him and everything he could believe in. ]

That doesn't surprise me.

( cloud stays quiet, not knowing what else to add to that. but as they walk, his curiosity gets the better of him. )

What did he say about me?

That you were a friend.

[ and if he recalls correctly, tied to his death, but zack doesn't regret that so dolph won't either. ]

I tried to be.

( it's said with a nod, and after that, he falls silent. there's not much else he can add to any of this that would be appropriately light conversation. he doubts having mentioned sephiroth is, but it had felt necessary. now, occasionally, he watches dolph and can't seem to help the question that pops out of his mouth a few minutes later. )

How long have you and Zack been, um... dating? ( the word is strange in his mouth for some reason. )

[ dolph pauses at that, his expression inscrutable for a moment. ]

About a month. It just . . . sort of happened.

( so zack's been there for at least a month. probably longer? it's strange to think about. his tone shifts, almost thoughtful. )

Things usually do with Zack. ( and he gives dolph the slightest bit of a smile. ) It's good that he has someone to look after him.

[ for a moment he seems uncertain, even vulnerable before it's gone. dolph's never had to take care of someone. no one's ever put their life in his hands.

. . . no, that's not true. he had alex. they took care of each other. loved each other. until alex tried to kill him. dolph no longer trusts that part of himself. ]

I try. At least.

( cloud knows next to nothing about dolph, but he's assuming that knowing zack and having some kind of relationship with him means he can trust him. that's extended to everything else, glancing at dolph silently before giving another nod. maybe as time goes on, he'll learn more about this man and why he is the way he is. )

That's all you can do. ( because zack being zack... well, it's probably a fulltime job. )

[ he huffs, a little self-derogatory. ]

It's never been good enough but I put in the effort.

( cloud slows just a little, eyeing him. )

If he's still with you, it's good enough. ( that much he knows to be true. )

[ he pauses, deliberating on his next words. ]

I was . . . betrayed a lot.

[ which is putting it mildly. there hasn't been a person in dolph's life who didn't betray him. and anyone who hadn't died quickly. ]

I guess thinking about being good has been the furthest from my mind.

( it feels momentous somehow, dolph's words sitting heavy in his chest. cloud doesn't think it's his place to speak on any of it, but it's also important. )

It isn't my story to tell, but so was Zack. ( and he died because of those betrayals. ) Just be honest with him when you can.

( maybe it sounds like relationship advice, and cloud wonders if he should even say any of this. it's not his business, not really, but he isn't going to let someone else hurt zack the way he'd been hurt before. so, there's that quiet line he's drawing without saying it: don't do it to him again. )

[ he nods. he knows where cloud is coming from. ]

If I'm anything, it's that.

[ he doesn't lie. not that he doesn't know how, but it sits poorly with him, a person who has been lied to about everything. ]

( cloud had assumed that much. dolph had been exceedingly blunt with him, and he appreciated that. and it doesn't feel as if there's much more to say, though his next words are soft. )

If you're worried, just talk to him. ( advice for the both of them, really. )

Worried's a strong word.

[ zack will be fine. he's the optimist. he can handle a lot. he seems to be fine with dolph's whole . . . deal. ]

Things are fine. We're fine.

( if he was the kind of person to pursue such things, he would have pressed. but he isn't. instead, he has to keep himself from shrugging. )

Then it's fine. ( though he figures he's given dolph something to think about. )

. . . Yeah. I'm sure it is.

[ things are going well. that's not always the sign of something apocalyptic. probably. ]

( cloud remains quiet for a while, only glancing up when they come to a particular building. )

Is this it?

[ he nods. ]

. . . You should go on ahead. You probably have a lot to catch up on.

Sure. ( there's an awkward sort of pause before he heads towards the door. ) Thanks, Dolph.

( cloud believes he'll be seeing more of him around, but he doesn't say so. instead, he moves forward and doesn't look back. )

(no subject)

laserhawk - 2024-02-01 03:07 (UTC) - Expand

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