I’ve let it slip elsewhere that I’m slowly grinding away at a lapdragon novel.  While the tone of the setting is still pretty optimistic and noblebright, this story introduces elements of organized crime and has a tone more akin to Batman Beyond - while the setting is definitely a nice place to live, it’s not without its high-tech low-life and corporate criminals.  

I don’t want to use my usual brain-trust for this, but I’d like to get feedback on this specific question in order to help set the zeitgeist for the novel.  

[quote][b]When is it okay to fix kits?[/b][/quote]

Do they have to ask for it, unprompted?  Do they need to convince their parents?  Can those parents just take them to the vet and have it done?  And is it different if they’re also fixed, and want their kits to be like them?

I guess I need to figure out what the general American public thinks, living in a world where they’re used to dragons on leashes - consensually - would think about a whole spectrum of situations, starting most sympathetically with “What do you do when a dragon kit, a cub, or a minor wants to be fixed?”  WPATH standards of care should provide some insight for this, since it’s preferable for trans-kids to socially transition before starting school so they can start establishing an identity consistent with their internal self-concept.  Puberty-blocking drugs are used to delay puberty until the age of majority, when it becomes legal to do bottom-surgery, and the results are … beautiful, and natural, and you’d never suspect Stephanie was born Steven.  Or vice-versa.  

In the real world, we only tolerate such treatment because we don’t like children making irreversible decisions.  In this case, few decisions are irreversible.  Suicide, reproduction… that’s about it.

Perhaps I should start a spectrum of most-to-least sympathetic situations, on three axes, and take a poll where my followers draw the line they prefer?


AXIS 1:  Volunteering - How voluntary must it be on the kit’s part?
1. The kit brings it up, and displays an understanding of what’s involved.
2. The kit brings it up, but is hazy on the details.
3. Their parents want them altered, and they agree
4. Their parents want them altered, and they don’t disagree
5. Their parents want them altered, and don’t ask for input
6. Their parents want them altered, over disagreement.

AXIS 2: Motives - Parents’ motives for suggesting or permitting it are relevant.  How noble must their intentions be?
1. The kit was diagnosed by a specialist as a recognized (DSM or WPATH standards of care) variety of transgendered
2. Their parents were altered, and they like the result and want some for themselves.
3. Their parents are altered, and they want to be like their parents.
4. Their parents aren’t altered, but think it’s the best thing for their kit(s).
5. Their parents aren’t altered, but prefer fixed kits.
6. Their (unaltered) parents want them adopted out, and fixed kits are more in demand.

AXIS 3: Screening - how much should be involved?
1. Independent psychologists interview each client and they require a sign-off for consideration.
2. Company screening professionals ask open-ended questions, and are trained to spot signs of coercion and trafficking.
3. Any staff member available administers a questionairre and interview, listening for keywords.
4. No screening is carried out, only the clerk and medical staff’s “gut checks” must be passed.
5. Procedures performed by a vending machine, incapable of asking questions.

AXIS 4: Conformity - How much conformity pressure should there be, and how important should conformity pressure be?
1. It’s something you do for yourself.
2. It’s something advertized in places that deviants frequent.
3. It’s something advertized in many places.
4. It’s something that is subject to peer pressure.
5. You can be legally compelled to be made to modify yourself for pethood.

AXIS 5: Societal Expectations - how seriously should a lapdragon’s role be taken after the procedure?
1. It’s about both parties enjoying the power-play; a pet is only in character during specific “sessions”.
2. It’s about both parties enjoying the power-play; a pet is in character most of the time but is free to break character at will.
3. It’s about a lifestyle; a pet is in character more often than not, and should carefully consider whether breaking character is necessary.
4. Pets are expected to be “in character” 24/7 unless given specific permission to break character.
5. It’s how they should *be* - it’s not a matter of acting a character.