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So… he gave me more of them.\n\nThis is the biggest leak of Lapdragon related material to date.\n\nGot any questions for me? :D", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Nightstalker had a bunch of questions for me, and I was only too happy to answer them.  So… he gave me more of them.

This is the biggest leak of Lapdragon related material to date.

Got any questions for me?  :D", "writing": "[q=Nightstalker]I hope I'm not bothering you…[/q]Bothering me? I [b][i]love[/i][/b] notes like this! \n\nNow that my pizza is here and I'm sitting down to read, relax, and refuel, I'll take this point by point.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]… but I've been watching you and your dragons for a while now and would love to ask you a few questions about the dragons themselves and the world in general as an admirer of Lapdragons.[/q]Aw, shucks! :D\n\n[q=Nightstalker]What does a Lapdragon's skin feel like to touch, - scaly, leathery, or maybe something else?[/q]They tend toward a soft leathery dragonhide, feeling a bit like suede, but since transgenic technology is powerful and mature, and dragons are the most modified life form out there - they're the Honda Civic of bodies. You can get scales - light, heavy, bulletproof, refractory, intumescent - and more types of fur than you can think of.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Do Lapdragons like to kiss in general, or is it common to kiss a lapdragon as an owner?[/q]That's an open question - dragons are people too. Do people like to kiss? It's a little sloppier and more awkward than it used to be, but why not? And it's probably pretty common to kiss a lapdragon as a keeper.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Are Dragons in general common in society, do they need to wear clothing or something similar to hide their bits from everyone passing them in the street. Are Lapdragons held to the same conditions as Unlapped dragons or are they given a pass being exhibitionists and like to show off what they have or the lack of.[/q]That battle was fought ten or twelve years ago. Under the \"suspiciously transparent proxy\" doctrine, the use of clothing regulations as a pretext to discriminate against transgenic people - for dragons are almost impossible to clothe - is no longer acceptable. The aftershocks of that bit of jurisprudence still occasionally rattle the body of agreed-upon case law, but the inability to wear clothing is no longer an acceptable reason to refuse to serve somebody. Dragons are common in (parts of) society; they're the most populous single minority made by genetic engineering until elves finally catch up. Lapdragons are often held to the same conditions as intact dragons, but I'm not sure I understand the question. Neither wear or need much clothing; most of what they wear is solely used for adornment or for pockets. Lapdragons tend to have somebody else to help carry their stuff, so their adornments are almost all aesthetic.\n\nIt's also worth pointing out that many more dragons are gelded or spayed than choose to become lapdragons. For a period of at least five years, it's the single most popular form of birth control, and especially so amongst college-age dragons, for who the fact that the scars guarantee a safe lay with no lasting consequences.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Sorry if I have bothered you but I love your content and would love to have a deeper understanding of how your world works and have many more questions I'd love to ask.[/q]You didn't. Ask them all.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I hope to hear back from you soon or even see some more of your really well thought out content.[/q]How 'bout both? :D\n\n----------------------------------\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Thanks for the quick response and detailed answers, I never realised in your world that dragons came in such varieties let alone furry dragons too. [/q]Originally, there was just the one geneline, but being open-source, they were quickly modified to suit individual tastes.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I hope you won't mind another round of questions[/q]Not at all!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I have to admit I may have forgotten about how much genetic manipulation is involved what sort of costs are involved from going from a regular boring human to a regular dragon, What bout the cost of becoming a Lapdragon after all the Bodyshop doesn't seem to run on the cheep with all the experiments they perform on the Spokesbeast.[/q]Lots of genetic manipulation. Costs are surprisingly modest, and often covered by insurance policies - transgenics like dragons and elves are notoriously healthy and long-lived. Which is to say, an insurance company's costs go down markedly once someone is augmented. Many make transitioning to dragon, or especially elf, nearly free in order to reduce their payouts. (Not that they necessarily reduce your premiums... But in spite of that, this is very much a win-win.)\n\nOnce you're a dragon, becoming a lapdragon involves finding a keeper, which is often someone you knew ahead of time, but sometimes you're matched and introduced by a matching service, often a paid service. The rest of it is a series of \"relatively minor\" surgeries, the majority of which really are relatively minor. Only one, removing the wings, is not minor. And having said that, it all benefits from the economies of scale pioneered by modern high-volume / low-cost spay/neuter clinics. The cheapest human orchiectomy I could find was $3000 cash; a veterinarian will do the same thing for your furred friend for $100-200, and high-volume clinics charge a (possibly subsidized) $50. Dewclaw surgery for dogs is anywhere from $50 a leg when combined with another appointment, to $560 all-in. Declawing runs $100-500 depending on method and provider. Branding, piercing, and dental extractions round down to free with the package, since fixed costs of anesthesia is already paid, and labor requirements are so small, and consumables are nil. Microchip implants are $25ish.\n\nAll-in cost in 2017 dollars?\n$100 Neuter\n$100 Declaw\n$200 Dewclaws\n$ 25 Implant\n$200 Wing clipping\n———————————————————\n$625 Total\n\nThere's also two drug cocktails given, one fast-acting, and later on they add another one that's long-acting, but they're both relatively cheap. The long-acting one is given in an injection every six months, and sells for $40 a dose. I can easily see the other one being $35, bringing us to an even $700. Now, adding efficiency improvements, doing the same thing with less resources thanks to more advanced technology reducing the need for costly consumables, economies of scale, where there's fixed costs to operate a clinic, and the more patients you treat the less of those fixed costs each has to pay, and package discounts, where you only need one antibiotic prescription, one dose of anesthetics, and one surgical scrub-down, and we can probably cut that price tag significantly. Given that dragons are a designed life form, they are resilient, easy to work on, and hard to kill, we should also add corner-cutting to our list. For example, their claws are designed so that if badly snagged, they rip away cleanly rather than destroying a digit. This makes declawing something you can do without cutting or sedation or even anesthesia, if your patient has a strong stomach. (It's described as \"only hurting if you watch\" but feeling \"profoundly uncomfortable\" otherwise) Most don't do that any more, but it's an option. And it makes other kinds of surgical declawing quick and easy. An example of technological efficiencies, the heavy use of \"meat glue\" - transglutiminase - in place of sutures makes sealing wounds nearly instant and nearly permanent, and is an essential component of any modern dragon declawing, joining the tendons that attached to the claw to one another, and closing the incision without stitches or pain, reducing bruising at the site, and massively accelerating the full recovery. It's also cheap.\n\nAnother principle is that cutting is a loss-leader; the 'Shoppe makes much more money on transformation and regeneration, and they also operate a small network veterinary hospital that's treating injured parahumans who the medical establishment doesn't know how to treat properly - or at least optimally.\n\nI suspect that, if you don't get in on a free-for-volunteers event, but that if you're patient and wait for a sale, you could get lapped for $250-350, and normal pricing is around $500.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How are Lapdragons seen in society itself? …[/q]Initially, they were scandalous exhibitionists, but within ten years they were normalized by society. This was caused by reality marching on alongside the scandal - a generation of kids were born and raised with pet dragons in the family. Amongst those coming of age amongst this, it was just … normal. Elsewhere, outrage fatigue and fading novelty conspired to normalize the lifestyle. This is all to say, \"It depends.\" It depends on where you are, and when. Later in the story, they're just another small if charming facet of life in the suburbs and cities.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]…[and] do many find work or continue to work after being lapped or is it more common for them to go on to play the role of pet. I suspect it's more of a case by case base?[/q]Many play the role of pet, but there are many knowledge jobs that lapdragons can do even while playing the pet. Computer keyboards for those without thumbs and with only three-fingered paws are based on the Keybowl, originally built for people with carpal tunnel syndrome in the early oughties. Work-from-home jobs are favored, because on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. ;) Others are brought to work by their keepers, where they serve as assistants and gofers. This arrangement raised eyebrows at first, but the advantages of giving everyone unpaid secretaries quickly becomes apparent. :p\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Honestly I'd got to say id love to have a Lapdragon for a bed partner…[/q]Me too! :D\n\n[q=Nightstalker]…but would be a little hesitant to offer myself up to be lapped…[/q]Me too, but I think I'd still do it once I found someone I trusted to hold my leash. :D\n\n[q=Nightstalker]… does the Bodyshop deal with many customers with buyers remorse? …[/q]No. However, they offer what's colloquially known as \"My God What Have I Done\" insurance, so if your reaction is dominated by regret and dysphoria, you're not screwed.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Do the hormonal doses each Lapdragon receives keep them from speaking up…[/q]No.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]… or distort their view? More speaking of those given the surprise Lapdragon treatment.[/q]Yes. Later in the story, the personality altering drug cocktail gets stronger; this is not widely known even amongst people selling the drug and even those in the company taking it. The effect is subtle, if powerful. Still, it's not magic brainwashing like you see in cartoons. You have to start with someone who's at least open to the idea, and then sell them on it. The drugs just make it a little easier.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]If they do how much of the procedure is reversible, you've mentioned in the past having your own balls regrown.[/q]Essentially everything is reversible, given unlimited time and resources. They may not get every freckle just right when they put you back to human, but you'll be recognizably you. I mean, unless your time, resources, and patience really are unlimited, in which case you can keep going back for what's essentially cosmetic surgery every weekend to fix little things like that. \n\n[q=Nightstalker]Is that through a hormonal dose you are given or are they grown separately and reattached surgically?[/q]They're grown separately and reattached surgically, then you're treated with nanotechnology to help them integrate quickly and cleanly. The nanotech is still far too crude to grow them back like a healing potion.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How hard is it to get a Lapdragon to cum?[/q]Harder than it was before, not as hard as you might fear. Still, their stamina is one reason that they're not just sexual \"bottoms\" - get them going, and with a little preparation they can rock your bed all night. At worst, there's no such thing as a lapdragon two-pump-chump. However, like all things, this is negotiable. Implants can tickle nerves in just the right way, triggering a remote-controlled erection or climax.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I was thinking given the lack of testacies they would struggle to achieve erection with out significant stimulation with out the hormones produced there or getting a hold of a used gland or two.[/q]It's really all over the place. 90% of sex is between your ears; 10% is between your legs. Those who think that being a neutered pet dragon is fucking sexy may start lipsticking just by thinking about it; those who were cut with the goal of freeing themselves from an overactive libido will find the hormonal reduction the dominant effect. Typically though, the stereotype says that lapdragons are receptive, and won't take the initiative, but once given adequate encouragement, are enthusiastic lovers who make sure their partner is enjoying themselves.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Also how long does it take for the gland's effect to become evident after being eaten?[/q]Psychosomatic effects start immediately. I haven't worked out the pharmacokinetics, to be honest, but I'd guess it's within about 15 minutes, and lasting for a few hours.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Given the Bodyshop's target market I'm kind of surprised the don't seem to offer a range of bondage especially for dragons or is this something which hasn't been seen yet in the story arc.[/q]The Bodyshoppe sells implants, prosthetics, transformation, tattoos, piercings… that's their stock in trade. They're more likely to partner with somebody else who knows bondage accessories. However, the tack they make for their own use is available for purchase, and is of an excellent, workaday quality - not just decorative. As such, it MUST be of excellent quality, comfortable, and easy to wear, or it will cut into the ability of a working dragon to work.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Just realized many of these questions would've gone well under the Tv interview post you made a while back lol[/q]Ooo, you're probably right! Mind if I adapt this into a story like that?\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Love your work, sorry of the text wall [/q]Thank you! Nothing to apologize for, I enjoy these. :D\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Have a great day[/q]I plan to. :D You do the same!\n\n————————————————————————————————————————\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Not at all as I've said I love the world you've created and would be more then happy to see more added to it.[/q]Good, 'cause there's a lot to see. There's three prequel novellas being roughed out, a core novel, which may be something of a doorstopper, and a bunch of side stories (which are my current focus). This becomes relevant later in the interview…\n\n[q=Nightstalker]There's a matching service for Lapdragons without a keeper? Sign me up then![/q]Yup!~\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I will say this will I wouldn't mind going the full feral option I really don't like the idea of someone having ability to just take out the cheater box especially someone I'd just met.[/q]To be fair, debarking is not core to making a lapdragon; it is considered an add-on service, or something for the extra-dedicated.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Do many people/dragons use this service?[/q]Quite a few, especially later on in the story, when the lifestyle's more normalized and socially acceptable.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I mean price wise that's very affordable and with so few downsides I’d happily go in for that, when’s the next available date?[/q]We're constantly recruiting! Just stop by any Bodyshoppe location convenient to you to discuss your transition!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I’m curious is there legislation to protect Lapdragons from abuse from over zealous keepers, especially those who have gone full feral with new keepers in the matching service.[/q]No specific laws exist, but the health, safety, and welfare of lapdragons is covered both by animal welfare laws concerning the treatment of pets, and those covering the treatment of disabled people and dependents. Generally, their welfare is policed by the local department of children & families, and the adult protective services. They continue to have human rights in all jurisdictions they're made in - that's a condition of the 'Shoppe operating there - but also enjoy any enumerated protections for pets. Their legal rights extend to both sets, and are not constrained to the region where human and animal rights overlap - they enjoy the full protection of both sets of laws to the fullest extent feasible and necessary.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I understand its a risk someone would take but they are quite easy to take advantage of being unable to speak without aids.[/q]That definitely makes it hard to say the safeword, so like mixing BDSM with gags, you should trust your partner implicitly before you take that step. \n\n[q=Nightstalker]How big can a dragon get/ small (while still being an adult)[/q]Dragons tend to be surprisingly small; 135 pounds is considered a normal adult weight - this is the optimum weight for them to be able to fly most strongly, while having enough metabolic capacity to support a glucose-hungry human brain. Having said that, riding dragons exist. These are dragons grown up to the size of a pony, horse, or even clydesdale stallion. They often have their wings clipped so that they can support a saddle so flight isn't relevant, but unlike lapdragons, that procedure is considered optional. Some large portion of riding dragons are kept as flying mounts, though their stamina suffers compared to their smaller brethren. I've never really thought about the extreme lower end of a dragon's body size, but with a great deal of work and some potential trade-offs, I'd guess 50-60 pounds is achievable.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How do domestic dragons handle answering the call of nature[/q]Japanese-built squatting toilets are a popular option, but male dragons find using a urinal easy and paws-free. Using a Western-style seated toilet is also quite possible, but squatting toilets or urinals are the preferred method.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I'd wondered if any Keepers ever got the pointy end of their Lapdragon and now I know,[/q]Beg pardon?\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Honestly, I think I'd make both a great Lapdragon, but also a really poor one too. I'd be more the happy to see to may Keeper's needs first but I'd also be showing myself off much of the time so wouldn't be allowed out in public.[/q]Sure you would! Dragons are known to be a little vain and showy - kind of like anyone who's had a lot of cosmetic surgery - and lapdragons are used to being fawned over as animate artworks. You'd get on just fine.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Really there aren't too many down sides to signing up early on are there?[/q]No, not really.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Are there restrictions on how many Lapdragons a single person could own, or is it just dependent upon said person's own funds being able to support a herm of Lapdragons.[/q]I'm going to assume that was a \"herd\" of lapdragons. And the answer is there are no restrictions about how many a dragon keeper can support, but much in the same way a corporation is a legal person but that you can't marry it, keepers must be natural people, not legal constructs. A trust cannot \"own\" a dragon. First, dragons are not owned. Second, if a keeper dies, the relationship is over like a marriage, the dragon is free to depart, to be their own person, (probably with the aid of NGOs and/or charities to help grieving ex-pets in transition) or to choose to enter a relationship with a new keeper.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Speaking generally which gender is the more common to become a Lapdragon Males, Females or Herms? [/q]Males. There are simply fewer hermaphrodites to pull from, though they elect to become lapdragons nearly as often. Females choose that lifestyle at a lower rate, because sterilization and submission has the distinct whiff of antifeminism deterring many who would otherwise choose pethood. That said, it's not like either sprites (sterilized female dragons) or gib (sterilized males or hermaphrodites) herms are uncommon in the pet population, they're just less common.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Are engineered beings seen or treated differently in other countries outside of the USA?[/q]Yes. They have stronger protections in Western Europe, and exist in a legal gray area in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. Further, religions that venerate dragons as gods have strongly mixed feelings - and messages - about transgenic dragons, and it's somewhat risky to engage with them. Dragons are exceedingly durable, but not invincible, and one could find themselves becoming a sacrifice to the local spirits, or being burned as a heathen. Canada generally follows America's lead, but Mexico's laws have a few specific loopholes tied to the age of consent. In Culiacan, it's defined as \"puberty\" and that's awfully hard for people to judge, since dragons don't develop like humans do. For almost a decade, it's illegal to fix minors electively, and during that time, a veterinary clinic in Culiacan Beach becomes the \"world leader in treating precocious puberty in dragons\" - providing a bogus diagnosis that circumvents both the elective restriction and the age limit. Culiacan just coincidentally becomes the preferred beach vacation of dragon fanciers, though this quickly leads it to become the most dragon-friendly resort town in North America. What started as a scam soon becomes the honest truth.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I've got to say it, I know in the end the Shoppe, while it doesn't turn evil, but behaves more like a corporation going so far to drug its own employees - which is down right wrong - let along their customers. It's sad to see it turn out that way, when they started out they were helping people achieve dreams. It's just a bit sad.[/q]… Remember how I said that would be relevant later in the interview? Here it is. First, the drugs they use are not used surreptitiously. They're sold as part of the process. Early on, the Reindeer Drug (a cocktail, really) is given to only Christmas Lapdragon Surprise patients in a small dose. It becomes associated with the Reindeer Corps because they're given long-acting drug implants to keep them at peak performance while pulling sleighs. Eventually, it's available through a subscription, billed bi-annually, and they mail you a top-up syringe every six months at a cost of $40 (in 2017 dollars). This quickly switches to an autoinjector, though; some people don't have a knack for giving shots, and the epi-pen patents are [i]very[/i] expired now. You press the tip to a spot on the tail, squeeze the trigger (on the side, so no idiot ever gets a needle through the thumb…) and it goes CLICKticktickticktickticktickticktickCLICK and you're done. Neither party ever sees or touches the needle. A spring inserts it, delivers the pre-measured dose, and withdraws the needle when it's done, both times with louder clicks so you know it's actuated. The ticking is caused by a spring-loaded needle running along a sawtooth on the plunger. This is to provide the user with confirmation that the drug is being injected, and how fast.\n\nThere are a few versions in circulation.\n\nThe Christmas Surprise version comes in a \"jellybean\" implant, placed where the testicles were removed. It contains a graceful taper of testosterone, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and painkillers, along with the \"Warm Happy Tingly Feelings\" cocktail. It lasts one week at full effect, and tapers off over the next one to two weeks. It's intended to defer any decisions about hormone replacement until a week into the new year, when New Year related tasks and festivities are out of the way. And when vets are back from their vacations.\n\nThe Reindeer Corps' version includes most of that, but lasts longer. It replaces the testosterone transition with a steady dose of selective androgen receptor modulators - \"boutique steroids\" that maintain muscle tone and health while not acting on the brain or increasing libido. The Reindeer implant lasts for approximately two months, and comes in a \"jellybean\" for the newly gelded, and a subdermal rod, inserted like a birth control implant, for those who are already fixed. That version omits the drugs needed after surgery.\n\nThe Fawn Corps' version includes no testosterone or other steroids, and at a lower dose. The Fawn Corps was to be used as a giant stealth pilot program for pediatric alteration and lapping, with the intention of getting long-term followup data on the Fawns' health - physical, mental, and emotional. This is overcome by events, however. Like the Reindeer implant, this is a two month supply.\n\nThe subscription version is a depot injection, not an implant. It's a colloidal suspension of very fine grains of time-release drug. It's only intended as a top-up; if you have a bad reaction it cannot be removed, unlike an implant, and you're stuck with the effects for the next six months. This is fine, if you've been tried out on a short-acting dose or an easily-removed subdermal implant. It's actually considered a benefit, since becoming a lapdragon is something of a commitment in the company's opinion, and the depot injection is far cheaper to manufacture than the implants, even when they choose to spring for an autoinjector. The injection lasts for six months, and is more than ten times as potent as the label claims.\n\nLater, the virus-infected pharmaceutical production equipment is replaced, and the drug is exactly as strong as it's claimed to be. There's then a clamor, and the company is forced to bring back the extra-strength formula for customers dissatisfied with the \"normal\" dose, who were used to the intense friendliness that the drug produced in them.\n\nThat aside, there's a novel here. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It has conflict, and plot. And they drug their clients and employees because they asked to be drugged, and give the company money in exchange for the privilege. \n\nAnd the company engaging in shady practices? There's a Reason™ for that… ;)\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Kinda reaching spoiler territory here but want to leave off with something more personal in the end of the book will the Spokesbeast be alight after everything is said and done after all the Shoppe was his baby at the start wasn't it?[/q]He gets a therapist and a dominatrix. It takes him a little while to work out his issues, but he's back in business in the end.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]…And last one for today Will the end of the Shoppe mean the end of Lapdragons?[/q]No. Dragons are open-source, and there are other transformation shops. Especially in India, where they're small, independently-owned, hole-in-the-wall places that compete vigorously on service, and proprietary gene mods. (And dump untreated nanomachine waste into the Ganges…) Were the Bodyshoppe shut down, odds are their competitors would buy their assets and their trademarks and their IP, and relaunch the chain. Failing that, their clinics and hospitals would be split up amongst a large number of \"baby bell\" style biotech firms. The 'Shoppe would go on. Even if they were all burned down simultaneously, and the company dissolved, there are other transformation parlors, and any half-qualified veterinarian can perform all the surgeries involved. And many already do! \"Counterfeit\" lapdragons are a source of consternation for the company, but there's not much they can do about it.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]It's always fun talking to you, and I hope you have a great day.[/q]Likewise! :D\n\n————————————————————————————————————————\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Heya Chrontius[/q]Hey!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Back with another round of questions for you[/q]Cool!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I have a few questions regarding the younger dragons this time.[/q]Good, 'cause it's a moral morass, and thus it's dominated my thinking recently.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]You've mentioned and even ran a series with a young dragon wanting to get him self Lapped before reaching the age where he can make the choice himself, what age would he need to be in order to make the choice himself without his parents need for consent.[/q]It varies by region. Typically, mid-high-school is where age of consent is set, so that was used as a convenient benchmark.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How are dragons handled growing up do they require any more/less care then an non-engineered child. How about schooling for them are there special classes for dragons?[/q]\nLess care. No, [i]different[/i] care. Dragons are precocious, and like horses, they're up and running within 30 minutes of birth or hatching. They have an instinctive \"language\" borrowing from cats, moreso from dogs (humans instinctively read canine body language!) and moreso still from giant otters, who have adult vocabularies of 22 vocalizations, and 11 used exclusively by neonates. They're not articulate at that age, but you bet your ass that they can communicate their needs and thoughts.\n\nhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releas.....1112144812.htm\n\nThey're also pretty easily litter-trained. On the other paw, they're curious, get into things, and tend to wander. They also overestimate their capabilities, moreso than human teenagers - which is because they're actually frightfully capable at a very young age, and their wisdom needs to catch up with their physicality. The worst time for this in a dragon's life is the two-to-three period, in which it's kind of like raising a baby wildcat in your house. :p\n\n[q=Nightstalker]In “Teach You To Read” you talk about a family of dragons where the Mother, a devoted Lapdragon, is addressing the viewer about herself and family (by the way, I love this piece, even if FA makes it really hard to see) where she talks about how her kits want to be like her and become Lapdragons themselves. How is this viewed in society ?[/q]It starts out [i]seriously[/i] sketchy, but becomes more accepted as the story progresses, thanks to the deliberate action of amoral marketing firms, paid for by those who stand to turn a profit on creating a caste of de facto chattel slaves. So far, even late-story, that goal is not achieved, but they have successfully created social pressure to encourage dragons to choose a \"fulfilling career in pethood,\" early in life.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]She then goes on to offer her kits to the viewer for adoption at a later date. What age are the kits during this scene and how old would they need to be for the viewer to adopt them? Also given the sometimes sexual nature of being a Lapdragon how do laws of consent come into play regarding young dragons who have found a keeper given that most places usually go with 18 years of age for a person to be considered an adult, does this apply to Lapdragons too or does the different biology mean there are different laws covering them?[/q]First: I don't know, and it doesn't matter. Second: Adoption is [u]adoption[/u] - they could be [u]minutes[/u] old as far as the law is concerned. They have to reach the age of consent to sign a pethood contract, however, but they can be de-facto pets for years before that point. Third: Kiddy diddling is still kiddy diddling, even if the minors are a different species. Dragons are sexually mature around ten, but they don't mature [u]emotionally[/u] any faster than humans. At present, there is discussion about changing those laws, but it's pretty contentious; about the only thing that's been done is to amend Romeo-and-Juliet laws to avoid making sex offenders of underage dragons.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Being a Keeper to a recently transitioned Lapdragon is there any special considerations or concerns you would need to make for your new pet? Thinking more as a Keeper coming down stairs on Christmas morning to find a Lapdragon curled up under the tree.[/q]They should take it easy for a little while; not only did this alter their body, it will disrupt their worldview and change your relationship. Give them a while to adjust before you move onto dragon training. \n\nRemember, lapdragons are far from helpless, but they've also suddenly become much more dependent on you. Don't shirk your responsibilities! Remember, keeping pets is a commitment, so you better have thought about that ahead of time. \n\nRead the literature! There are multitudes of guides to the care and feeding of pet dragons, ranging from funny memoir-style books popular with those who don't keep pets, or have any intention of doing so, to terse FAQs for helping you with just that one last thing you're wondering about. This path has been walked before, and maps were made. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.\n\nSometimes, \"talking doggy\" to your pet can be a fun thing, but just because they're your pet doesn't mean they don't have a right to communicate frankly and clearly - with you, or with others. \n\nPet dragons are for flaunting, not for hoarding. They tend to quickly come to like being shown off.\n\nDon't be a dick - your pet has the legal right to run away.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]What about the reverse? As the newly converted Lapdragon what would you need to know about looking after yourself after your transition? Again thinking more along the lines of a New Lapdragon waking up under the Christmas tree like in the Christmas Lapdragon Surprise.[/q]You're sturdy, but you just had surgery. Well, more like three to eight surgeries and a dental extraction. Take it easy while you heal. It may itch, but don't lick your stitches, and for the Love of God, don't chew them. You can probably get out of an E-collar if they put one on you, but you shouldn't need it in the first place - dogs may not, but you know better. Spend a while, get to know your body again, and try to figure out what this means for your lifestyle and your relationship. Don't be afraid to have frank discussions with your keeper. Consider reading the literature they're reading, and at least read one of the \"For Lapdragons\" pamphlets. Audiobooks and vidcasts will do if you're having trouble with manual dexterity. Remember, this is a game, and it's supposed to be fun for all participants.\n\nIs your keeper a dick? Remember, you have the legal right to run away.\n\nEven pets have - and deserve - dignity.\n\nAnd don't forget. **You're a fucking dragon.** You are still mighty beyond the imaginings of mere men, border on bulletproof, and can probably run a marathon while holding your breath. You can damn near benchpress a bulldozer. Do not forget your own strength lest you become careless. People can be hurt, even if you were \"just playing\". Remember that while you can spit fire, most architecture is not fire proof, and just being outdoors isn't much better - grass fires transition quickly into raging firestorms.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Looking forwards to your response.[/q]I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner, these are always fun to write.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Take care and have a great day.[/q]\nThank you, and you too! :D\n\n————————————————————————————————————————\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Hello again Chrontius[/q]Hi again, Nightstalker! :D\n\n[q=Nightstalker]You weren’t kidding that really was a moral minefield there, and a really deep one too, still from the outside it looks like you have it in hand.[/q]I’d like to think so. Basically, this was all inevitable from starting principles; I could choose denial, or to embrace the implications. Telroth’s player, DarthAndroid, prefers furry-style fantasy - I’ve seen him produce over 400 eggs, but I’ve never seen a peep out of him about supporting those 400 children. It’s kind of a Republican thing to do… ;)\n\nI prefer the other track - I could have ignored the implications and had better wank material, but by not ignoring them, a rich, detailed world emerged, and the story now writes itself - I feel like I’m just along for the ride, responsible for transcribing the results of a simulation for the written word.\n\n… Which is to say I absolutely do not have it in hand. However, as far as I can tell, the problem will self-correct in between fifteen and twenty years. (We’re at year 12 now)\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Got a couple follow on questions for you this time after the last round plus a few more general ones this time[/q]Okay, shoot!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Statically speaking is it more common for someone to choose to become a dragon vs. being born a dragon[/q]There are more turned dragons than natural-born dragons. Consider rate of production: a human can be turned in a week, one per nanotech tank. Breeding dragons requires a fertile female and male, and the female has to be willing to carry a pregnancy. There are many more nano-tanks than reproductively active females at the moment, but in the long term, that ratio will certainly reverse.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I think you’ve mentioned it somewhere before but i can not remember where exactly. If a parent to a dragon decides to have them lapped - I.E. fully converted over - at what age can they make this choice for their pup?[/q]The more underhanded they’re willing to be, the younger they can get it done. That doesn’t explain it all, though - the rules are relaxed over time as disaster fails to follow in the wake of those breaking the rules. (And yes, I know that disaster would take [i]decades[/i] to show up, and they relaxed the rules in [i]years[/i]…) Used to be that you had to deal with very unseemly people to get it done. Then you could get it done in Mexico. Then it was something that many small veterinarians would do, but wouldn’t advertise. Then you could get it done at one major franchise, the Boutique, and the flood-gates opened - soon even the ‘Shoppe was advertising special services, known as the PAL initiative (short for Pediatric Alter-Lap) which were designed to keep the sexual undertones, always previously present, out of it. And then adults were signing up for PAL-style conversions, and then certain groups were pushing for dragons to be cut if they want to attend public school around “vulnerable” un-altered humans…\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Does it change anything if it is not the parent’s desire to have the pup Lapped but the Keeper’s desire, or are they not permitted to make such choices for their pets.[/q]I’ve discussed it at length, but it was never posted to FA for liability reasons.\n\nhttps://inkbunny.net/submissionview.php?id=1019841\n\nIn addition, the whole mess is covered by contract law, so that it’s possible for children produced by avowed pets to inherit their parents’ condition - legally shaky, but adequate to cover a vet’s ass - or keepers gain the same medical power-of-attorney by proxy over the offspring that they have over the parents. More likely to stand up in court, and provides the same level of control as the shaky ones. In practice, they can’t sign pethood contracts themselves, but they [i]can[/i] have all the same surgeries and be treated the same way.\n\nThere’s also a lot of different contracts out there… this complicates things. And most people aren’t lawyers, and don’t have lawyers on salary. In practice, it’s a lot like software license agreements; most don’t read them in any detail, some don’t read them at all, and most who try base their understanding on one commonly-used contract and act like they all say the same things. Most assume the power-of-attorney based clauses from a UP–3 contract are in force, if they don’t know any better. And substantially all dragon-keepers can trivially find someone who will fix their pets’ kits. Even if all involved parties know that wasn’t part of the scope of the agreement, it’s so easy to successfully feign ignorance or misunderstanding… Most pets won’t “pull the fire alarm” after that, too - they’re too used to the lifestyle, and they’d have to scramble to find new housing if they decided to leave as a result of such actions.\n\n(Though that gives me an idea for a story set at a dragon-shelter…)\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How much control can a Keeper exercise over their pets before needing the pet’s consent more talking about body modifications such as piercing and a like[/q]\nDepends on how much rights the pet signed over on that contract I mentioned. The International Pets Union publishes standardized contracts, with standardized “levels” of “invasiveness”. Level 1 is “Only what is specified at the time of conversion”, level 2 is “Those things comparable to the procedures used during conversion”, level 3 is considerably more permissive. Dewclaw removal and debarking were originally considered “level 3” procedures, but the widespread addition of dewclaw and “front dewclaw” surgery as part of default packages has pushed it into Level 1 and 2 contracts (A reindeer’s only necessarily going to sign a Level 1 contract, but will typically arrive without any dewclaws, for example) and aftermarket dewclaw surgery is now covered by a Level 2 agreement. Debarking was initially a Level 3 procedure, but the widespread use and popularity of voice packs has lead to its reclassification as Level 2 - and once again, Reindeer on Level 1 contracts will typically arrive with a prosthetic voice. It is still a technical violation to remove it without the intention to immediately replace it, but the voice packs are a “wear part” and removing a damaged one is considered necessary and prudent first-aid - as a result, the ambiguity makes this one hard to enforce.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]What goes into a Pethood contract exactly and generally when is one signed, before or after going to the Body Shoppe?[/q][u][i][b]After entering the shop, but before surgery.[/b][/i][/u] (Note to self: Incomplete answer - will have to add more content to this answer later regarding what goes into the contract.)\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Moving into some more General questions here[/q]Okay!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Again generally speaking how dexterous is a dragon’s paw, you’ve mentioned having special keyboards for use by dragons but are they still able to hold a pen or a pencil to write or draw?[/q]Dragons’ paws naturally have a maximum of four digits. This makes the QWERTY keyboard a poor fit for them. Actually, QWERTY is a poor fit for everyone, and intentionally so. It was designed to slow down typists to what early mechanical typewriters could handle; as machines became more capable, the keyboard was retained only due to cultural inertia, and we can do much better now. For dragons without “front dewclaws” they’re more limited. Generally, dragon keyboards are ortholinear designs like the [url=http://xahlee.info/kbd/Truly_Ergonomic_keyboard.html]Truly Ergonomic[/url] or the [url=https://ergodox-ez.com]ErgoDox[/url]. For those without “front dewclaws”, the [url=https://www.orbitouch.com]Keybowl[/url] is a popular option for operating a computer.\n\nDragons’ paws are fairly dextrous - think otter or raccoon. Like otters’ and raccoons’ paws, they’re load-bearing structures first and foremost, but dexterity is also pretty necessary for their survival in the wild and intended lifestyle in civilization.\n\nThey can most certainly hold a pen or pencil, and even ones lacking \"front dewclaws\" can, by clamping it between index and middle fingers.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Anything food wise to avoid once becoming a dragon, Can not imagine chillies being too friendly to a quadruped[/q]Nope. Dragons actually tolerate some foods that humans don’t, and their superior immune system is important when they go feral - those who walk away from society to live as hunter-gatherers can scavenge like wolves. They’re also specifically immune to several naturally-occurring toxins, especially the belladonna family. This is a carefully crafted balancing act, though - atropine is a belladonna derivative, and is crucial in reviving someone in a trauma medicine context, so it has to function as expected.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]And lastly got a few broad question more aimed towards the novels themselves[/q]All right!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I will try to ask anything spoilery as I will be intending to read them when finished, lol![/q]Ha! I’m glad to hear it!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]You’ve said your planning a number of prequel novels along with a core one. speaking generally if your able to without giving the game away what is the intent for each to cover on its own[/q]Novellas. And I can give you a thesis of each without blowing it.\n\n1: Zombies. An Aum Shinrikio bioweapon attack on San Fransisco is thwarted when furries and dragons prove immune to the engineered rabies strain, hicks from the sticks roll in with technicals and barely-legal guns by the truckload, and a dangerously genre-savvy population has mostly dealt with the situation by the time the National Guard shows up. Think Sean of the Dead, combined with Left 4 Dead. Many victims are dosed with black-market heroin and placed in chest freezers, in a desperate attempt to save them. Ongoing research in how to safely thaw and treat these patients continues for over a decade, but hope remains. Uncle Sam eventually transfers them to a facility in northern Alaska for long term storage and monitoring. Rabies vaccines made mandatory nationwide for people and pets.\n\n2: Baby-selling leads to rioting. Ripped from the (Chinese) headlines, this is most people’s first exposure to underaged lapdragons. Cops and social workers try to take a baby dragon from a loving adoptive family. The dragonet doesn’t understand what’s going on, but scared dragonets don’t cry like babies, and the social worker is mauled nearly to death, the dragonet is shot, and while everyone survives, thanks to nanotech regeneration tanks, it’s a morally murky morass that is resolved when the Supreme Court says “Leave him with his family, and don’t consider this a precedent.” The lawsuits eventually pay for the dragon’s college tuition and trust fund. Loss of trust in the system, combined with outrage fatigue that started here pave the way for the real novel.\n\n3: Hostile takeover of the Bodyshoppe, and neutralizing a spokesbeast - the company’s conscience - represents organized opposition to the bizzarre transhuman future; a long game to preserve a “pure humanity” and relegate parahumans to being second-class citizens finishes its preparations and is put into action.\n\n4: North Korea’s misadventures with bioweapons! They attempt to purchase the zombie plague from Book #1, but instead get something very different, and just as terrifying - a contagious strain of dragon. Dating to the early days of the Open Dragon Project, and believed to have been destroyed, samples existed in a secret government bio-defense lab for years, unknown. The Korean regime tests the new bioweapon on political prisoners, who instead of transforming into mostly-brain-dead face-chewers, transform into flying, fire-breathing, iron-bending, bulletproof, contagious super-soldiers. They rape, pillage, and burn their way across the nation, razing the regime as they go. (Rape, especially buttsex, is the easiest and surest way of infecting another, with the minimum of danger to them. Bites can be infected by other things, and during the transformation, the immune system is weakened. Blood transfusions are also feasible, but for the poverty-ravaged Korean health system.) The humanitarian crisis striking primarily China and South Korea is amazing; thousands of regime officials “melt away” into the scaly hordes of refugees after being infected, or deliberately infecting themselves. The crisis isn’t limited to there; the Navy fishes exhausted dragons out of the water for weeks, while others reach Japan, Oceania, New Zealand, India, and Thailand, for example.\n\n5: The planned core Lapdragon novel.\n\n6: Blake & Molly Go To Italy (preview available)\n\n7: Small Business Dragon Goes To SxSW (preview available)\n\n[q=Nightstalker]As for the Core Novel will your handsome Spokesbeast™ be the protagonist, or is someone else set for the lime light.[/q]He will be the central character of an ensemble cast - think of West Wing here. Ultimately, though, it is his story. He set these events in motion, albeit mostly unwittingly.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Ether way i do hope we get to learn more about his experiences within the company.[/q]You will!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Last one for then, I'll leave you alone for little, I promise.[/q]Aaaw, do you have to? D:\n\n[q=Nightstalker]What is your favourite piece you have drawn so far to accompany the story?[/q]… Ooh, now that [u]is[/u] a good one… That piece is an unreleased WIP of comparably breathtaking scope, an artifact from the imagined future, a pamphlet on the ethics of “intergenerational pethood” aimed at people living in the universe. It ties together and explains a whole bunch of things, including a huge amount of never-before-heard backstory. Currently, I think it stands at 12 pages, all laid out like a magazine.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Take care, and looking forward to hearing from you again.[/q]Likewise!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Have a great day![/q]And that, too! :D\n\n————————————————————————————————————————\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Greetings again, hope you're doing well[/q]Yuppers! Hi there, right back!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Only got a few questions this time but there is a couple heavy hitters in here this time[/q]Oooh?\n\n[q=Nightstalker]What is generally socially accepted normal among Lapdragons, meaning in a room there is four Lapdragons alone together vs. the same Lapdragons out in public in a park.[/q]Can you elaborate? I mean, they don’t wear much of anything, they tend to be friendly and playful… Are you asking questions about their modesty or lack thereof?\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Given that Lapdragons are generally kept as pets and viewed this way by the general public is it common or socially acceptable for a keeper to walk their charge on a leash in public? Also, how do other animals handle Lapdragons?[/q]Yes. Also, that’s a very good question! Their reactions are somewhat mixed, though most pet dogs end up desensitized to them pretty quickly, to one degree or another. The ways that dragons’ instinctive body language resembles humans’ and dogs’ certainly also helps this out. Some dogs tend to defer to dragons, others to see them as equals, but all tend to defer to the way their alpha treats someone. Most wildlife reacts like they would to any other large potential predator; many large predators are territorial with them the same way they are with each other, or - for that matter - with humans.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]As most Lapdragons are full time pets, do their keepers receive any payment from the government to look after them, or does a keeper have to support themselves and their pet alone?[/q]They’re required to care for themselves and their pet alone - however, there’s a universal basic income scheme known as a “citizenship dividend” in the setting. And that’s one of the reasons people “pursue a career in pethood” - they can save their [i][b]entire[/b][/i] dividend that way, and it’s a widely viewed as a good way for the lower classes to quickly boom their retirement savings. Whether that’s actually true or wise is an open question, though.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Honestly I’m not sure you will be able to answer this one but let's have a shot. Regarding more the mentality aspect of a Lapdragon, do they experience any different instinctual response given their state, compared to both an intact dragon and elves in general. Meaning, do they have more urges/instincts others wouldn't have?[/q]No, but. \n\nThey have most of the same instinctual responses that other dragons have, but indulging in many of those is considered a social [i]faux pas[/i] between most - but if one’s job is to ham up the role of playing pet, lapdragons are instead [i]rewarded[/i] for indulging some of those instinctual behaviors that others would be teased for. Elves have little desire to get their noses up into something they’re exploring, though dragons do - that may be down to the fact that it’s just easier to get their noses close to the action, and they learn about just how much information they can gather that way… Which is to say, it could be instinct, or it could be conditioning. Even as a designed species, a lot of those little interactions are hard to tease apart!\n\nAnother confounding factor is the use of the Lapdragon Drug and the Reindeer Drug. The Lapdragon Drug mostly influences the phenotype, causing the body to change slightly and grow slightly smaller. However, psychological effects cannot be conclusively ruled out. The Reindeer Drug, by contrast, is [i]deliberately[/i] personality-altering. Like other so-called “training drugs”, their purpose is to alter behavior in the long term, creating the appearance of “desirable” instinctual behaviors.\n\nSo - the short answer is no. Unless those instincts were added deliberately, with a syringe.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]How binding are the stipulations of the pethood contract?[/q]Only modestly. They [u]have[/u] to come with some kind of a bailout clause, in case of unforeseen complications, abuse, or changing circumstances.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Given the natural stance for a dragon is on all fours, how comfortably is a dragon able to stand upright on their hinds?[/q]Pretty comfortably, but they have a digitigrade posture, so there’s only two points of contact - not like they have heels and toes, so it requires more active stabilization than it does in humans - though that tail of theirs provides a useful counterbalance, or a third point of contact.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Thinking more inline with the sketch you did awhile back with a newly gelded dragon who was wearing a cone to prevent him biting his stitches. Or at least I think that was the premises for that one; its kind of late here.[/q]That was the implication. He could take it off, if he wanted; he knows better than to chew on his stitches. The cone is mostly cosmetic - wordlessly announcing the dragon’s newly acquired state to the world at large. Not sure if it’s intended as some kind of humiliation, or just a playful gesture. \n\nThose cones are often worn by the newly neutered who are proud of that and to deliberately announce the event.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Due to the sturdy nature do Lapdragon's suffer the affect of alcohol, both when drinking and the morning after?[/q]Dragon venom - the substance produced to create dragonfire - is high-test ethanol. Their fire gland, located between the lungs, preferentially scavenges alcohol from the bloodstream, since instead of building up lactic acid in the muscles, anaerobic fermentation in dragons produces ethanol as a waste-product, which is discharged into the bloodstream, giving them great stamina and a bit of a “runner’s high” in the process. They [i]can[/i] get drunk, but they’re not cheap dates. However, they can [i]also[/i] recycle that alcohol when it comes out of their bloodstream. They don’t get hangovers, as part of the metabolic tweaks required to enable this trick. This is how [url=https://www.popsci.com/goldfish-alcohol-winter-oxygen][/url]goldfish in their natural habitat [url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170811085036.htm]survive in iced-over lakes during the winter, by the way.[/url]\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Alright last couple more aligned with the 'uses' of Lapdragons[/q]Okay. Shoot!\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Ties in a little with the last one, would a drunk Lapdragon (if possible) loose their inhabitations.[/q]As much as a drunk human might, although they’d need to drink more or stronger stuff to reach the same level of inebriation.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Regarding female and herm dragons how do they experience their reproductive cycles, do they retain those they had as humans, or do dragons experience things differently due to laying eggs?[/q]Dragons don’t have periods, if that’s what you mean. By default, they probably mimicked human patterns of fertility, but this was eliminated to eliminate menstruation, and tied to some demand-based egg release scheme like cats and ferrets have; the problem there is how menstruation is then triggered by - and when - you’re having a lot of safe sex. Suboptimal, certainly, if you’re not in the process of starting a family! Birth control implants and hormonal IUDs are probably cheap and plentiful (lots of off-patent generics turned out by automated factories for peanuts) to help with this. I suspect that dragons having visible estrus was initially hidden as an “undocumented feature” that could be triggered by drugs; dragons naturally going into heat really sounds like an aftermarket modification. Given that, though, they would be short-day-breeders; their gestation is about six months, and they’d prefer to deliver in spring or so, putting mating season somewhere in fall. I mean, if you had the option of going into heat, wouldn’t you want to try it sometime? At least once or twice. :D\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_ovulation_(animals)\n\nI suspect that the original system was induced ovulation in response to spermatozoa, or some component that was closely tied to them - perhaps testosterone, or a component whose supply would also be cut in a vasectomy, or by the use of the “male pill”. This would tend to prevent menstruation except on the off chance that a breeding attempt did not result in pregnancy.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Tying into the last one as well, do female Lapdragons, after being fixed, still experience these cycles?[/q]They tend not to, if they experienced them beforehand. Medical intervention can alter that, though.\n\n[q=Nightstalker]Got some more questions directed more towards females and herms but will need to hear answers to the questions above first and a few towards 'uses' as well[/q]… oho?\n\n[q=Nightstalker]I hope this finds you well, and to hear from you again soon. Take care.[/q]Thank you! :D", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI hope I'm not bothering you…\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tBothering me? I love notes like this!  

Now that my pizza is here and I'm sitting down to read, relax, and refuel, I'll take this point by point.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t… but I've been watching you and your dragons for a while now and would love to ask you a few questions about the dragons themselves and the world in general as an admirer of Lapdragons.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tAw, shucks! :D

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat does a Lapdragon's skin feel like to touch, - scaly, leathery, or maybe something else?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThey tend toward a soft leathery dragonhide, feeling a bit like suede, but since transgenic technology is powerful and mature, and dragons are the most modified life form out there - they're the Honda Civic of bodies. You can get scales - light, heavy, bulletproof, refractory, intumescent - and more types of fur than you can think of.

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo Lapdragons like to kiss in general, or is it common to kiss a lapdragon as an owner?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThat's an open question - dragons are people too. Do people like to kiss? It's a little sloppier and more awkward than it used to be, but why not? And it's probably pretty common to kiss a lapdragon as a keeper.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre Dragons in general common in society, do they need to wear clothing or something similar to hide their bits from everyone passing them in the street. Are Lapdragons held to the same conditions as Unlapped dragons or are they given a pass being exhibitionists and like to show off what they have or the lack of.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThat battle was fought ten or twelve years ago. Under the "suspiciously transparent proxy" doctrine, the use of clothing regulations as a pretext to discriminate against transgenic people - for dragons are almost impossible to clothe - is no longer acceptable. The aftershocks of that bit of jurisprudence still occasionally rattle the body of agreed-upon case law, but the inability to wear clothing is no longer an acceptable reason to refuse to serve somebody. Dragons are common in (parts of) society; they're the most populous single minority made by genetic engineering until elves finally catch up. Lapdragons are often held to the same conditions as intact dragons, but I'm not sure I understand the question. Neither wear or need much clothing; most of what they wear is solely used for adornment or for pockets. Lapdragons tend to have somebody else to help carry their stuff, so their adornments are almost all aesthetic.

It's also worth pointing out that many more dragons are gelded or spayed than choose to become lapdragons. For a period of at least five years, it's the single most popular form of birth control, and especially so amongst college-age dragons, for who the fact that the scars guarantee a safe lay with no lasting consequences.

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSorry if I have bothered you but I love your content and would love to have a deeper understanding of how your world works and have many more questions I'd love to ask.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tYou didn't. Ask them all.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI hope to hear back from you soon or even see some more of your really well thought out content.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHow 'bout both? :D

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for the quick response and detailed answers, I never realised in your world that dragons came in such varieties let alone furry dragons too. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOriginally, there was just the one geneline, but being open-source, they were quickly modified to suit individual tastes.

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI hope you won't mind another round of questions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNot at all!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI have to admit I may have forgotten about how much genetic manipulation is involved what sort of costs are involved from going from a regular boring human to a regular dragon, What bout the cost of becoming a Lapdragon after all the Bodyshop doesn't seem to run on the cheep with all the experiments they perform on the Spokesbeast.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tLots of genetic manipulation. Costs are surprisingly modest, and often covered by insurance policies - transgenics like dragons and elves are notoriously healthy and long-lived. Which is to say, an insurance company's costs go down markedly once someone is augmented. Many make transitioning to dragon, or especially elf, nearly free in order to reduce their payouts. (Not that they necessarily reduce your premiums... But in spite of that, this is very much a win-win.)

Once you're a dragon, becoming a lapdragon involves finding a keeper, which is often someone you knew ahead of time, but sometimes you're matched and introduced by a matching service, often a paid service. The rest of it is a series of "relatively minor" surgeries, the majority of which really are relatively minor. Only one, removing the wings, is not minor. And having said that, it all benefits from the economies of scale pioneered by modern high-volume / low-cost spay/neuter clinics. The cheapest human orchiectomy I could find was $3000 cash; a veterinarian will do the same thing for your furred friend for $100-200, and high-volume clinics charge a (possibly subsidized) $50. Dewclaw surgery for dogs is anywhere from $50 a leg when combined with another appointment, to $560 all-in. Declawing runs $100-500 depending on method and provider. Branding, piercing, and dental extractions round down to free with the package, since fixed costs of anesthesia is already paid, and labor requirements are so small, and consumables are nil. Microchip implants are $25ish.

All-in cost in 2017 dollars?
$100 Neuter
$100 Declaw
$200 Dewclaws
$ 25 Implant
$200 Wing clipping
———————————————————
$625 Total

There's also two drug cocktails given, one fast-acting, and later on they add another one that's long-acting, but they're both relatively cheap. The long-acting one is given in an injection every six months, and sells for $40 a dose. I can easily see the other one being $35, bringing us to an even $700. Now, adding efficiency improvements, doing the same thing with less resources thanks to more advanced technology reducing the need for costly consumables, economies of scale, where there's fixed costs to operate a clinic, and the more patients you treat the less of those fixed costs each has to pay, and package discounts, where you only need one antibiotic prescription, one dose of anesthetics, and one surgical scrub-down, and we can probably cut that price tag significantly. Given that dragons are a designed life form, they are resilient, easy to work on, and hard to kill, we should also add corner-cutting to our list. For example, their claws are designed so that if badly snagged, they rip away cleanly rather than destroying a digit. This makes declawing something you can do without cutting or sedation or even anesthesia, if your patient has a strong stomach. (It's described as "only hurting if you watch" but feeling "profoundly uncomfortable" otherwise) Most don't do that any more, but it's an option. And it makes other kinds of surgical declawing quick and easy. An example of technological efficiencies, the heavy use of "meat glue" - transglutiminase - in place of sutures makes sealing wounds nearly instant and nearly permanent, and is an essential component of any modern dragon declawing, joining the tendons that attached to the claw to one another, and closing the incision without stitches or pain, reducing bruising at the site, and massively accelerating the full recovery. It's also cheap.

Another principle is that cutting is a loss-leader; the 'Shoppe makes much more money on transformation and regeneration, and they also operate a small network veterinary hospital that's treating injured parahumans who the medical establishment doesn't know how to treat properly - or at least optimally.

I suspect that, if you don't get in on a free-for-volunteers event, but that if you're patient and wait for a sale, you could get lapped for $250-350, and normal pricing is around $500.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow are Lapdragons seen in society itself? …\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tInitially, they were scandalous exhibitionists, but within ten years they were normalized by society. This was caused by reality marching on alongside the scandal - a generation of kids were born and raised with pet dragons in the family. Amongst those coming of age amongst this, it was just … normal. Elsewhere, outrage fatigue and fading novelty conspired to normalize the lifestyle. This is all to say, "It depends." It depends on where you are, and when. Later in the story, they're just another small if charming facet of life in the suburbs and cities.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t…[and] do many find work or continue to work after being lapped or is it more common for them to go on to play the role of pet. I suspect it's more of a case by case base?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tMany play the role of pet, but there are many knowledge jobs that lapdragons can do even while playing the pet. Computer keyboards for those without thumbs and with only three-fingered paws are based on the Keybowl, originally built for people with carpal tunnel syndrome in the early oughties. Work-from-home jobs are favored, because on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. ;) Others are brought to work by their keepers, where they serve as assistants and gofers. This arrangement raised eyebrows at first, but the advantages of giving everyone unpaid secretaries quickly becomes apparent. :p

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonestly I'd got to say id love to have a Lapdragon for a bed partner…\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tMe too! :D

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t…but would be a little hesitant to offer myself up to be lapped…\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tMe too, but I think I'd still do it once I found someone I trusted to hold my leash. :D

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t… does the Bodyshop deal with many customers with buyers remorse? …\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo. However, they offer what's colloquially known as "My God What Have I Done" insurance, so if your reaction is dominated by regret and dysphoria, you're not screwed.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo the hormonal doses each Lapdragon receives keep them from speaking up…\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t… or distort their view? More speaking of those given the surprise Lapdragon treatment.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYes. Later in the story, the personality altering drug cocktail gets stronger; this is not widely known even amongst people selling the drug and even those in the company taking it. The effect is subtle, if powerful. Still, it's not magic brainwashing like you see in cartoons. You have to start with someone who's at least open to the idea, and then sell them on it. The drugs just make it a little easier.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf they do how much of the procedure is reversible, you've mentioned in the past having your own balls regrown.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tEssentially everything is reversible, given unlimited time and resources. They may not get every freckle just right when they put you back to human, but you'll be recognizably you. I mean, unless your time, resources, and patience really are unlimited, in which case you can keep going back for what's essentially cosmetic surgery every weekend to fix little things like that.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs that through a hormonal dose you are given or are they grown separately and reattached surgically?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThey're grown separately and reattached surgically, then you're treated with nanotechnology to help them integrate quickly and cleanly. The nanotech is still far too crude to grow them back like a healing potion.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow hard is it to get a Lapdragon to cum?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHarder than it was before, not as hard as you might fear. Still, their stamina is one reason that they're not just sexual "bottoms" - get them going, and with a little preparation they can rock your bed all night. At worst, there's no such thing as a lapdragon two-pump-chump. However, like all things, this is negotiable. Implants can tickle nerves in just the right way, triggering a remote-controlled erection or climax.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI was thinking given the lack of testacies they would struggle to achieve erection with out significant stimulation with out the hormones produced there or getting a hold of a used gland or two.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tIt's really all over the place. 90% of sex is between your ears; 10% is between your legs. Those who think that being a neutered pet dragon is fucking sexy may start lipsticking just by thinking about it; those who were cut with the goal of freeing themselves from an overactive libido will find the hormonal reduction the dominant effect. Typically though, the stereotype says that lapdragons are receptive, and won't take the initiative, but once given adequate encouragement, are enthusiastic lovers who make sure their partner is enjoying themselves.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlso how long does it take for the gland's effect to become evident after being eaten?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tPsychosomatic effects start immediately. I haven't worked out the pharmacokinetics, to be honest, but I'd guess it's within about 15 minutes, and lasting for a few hours.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGiven the Bodyshop's target market I'm kind of surprised the don't seem to offer a range of bondage especially for dragons or is this something which hasn't been seen yet in the story arc.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Bodyshoppe sells implants, prosthetics, transformation, tattoos, piercings… that's their stock in trade. They're more likely to partner with somebody else who knows bondage accessories. However, the tack they make for their own use is available for purchase, and is of an excellent, workaday quality - not just decorative. As such, it MUST be of excellent quality, comfortable, and easy to wear, or it will cut into the ability of a working dragon to work.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJust realized many of these questions would've gone well under the Tv interview post you made a while back lol\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOoo, you're probably right! Mind if I adapt this into a story like that?

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLove your work, sorry of the text wall \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThank you! Nothing to apologize for, I enjoy these. :D

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHave a great day\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tI plan to. :D You do the same!

————————————————————————————————————————

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNot at all as I've said I love the world you've created and would be more then happy to see more added to it.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tGood, 'cause there's a lot to see. There's three prequel novellas being roughed out, a core novel, which may be something of a doorstopper, and a bunch of side stories (which are my current focus). This becomes relevant later in the interview…

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere's a matching service for Lapdragons without a keeper? Sign me up then!\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYup!~

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI will say this will I wouldn't mind going the full feral option I really don't like the idea of someone having ability to just take out the cheater box especially someone I'd just met.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tTo be fair, debarking is not core to making a lapdragon; it is considered an add-on service, or something for the extra-dedicated.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo many people/dragons use this service?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tQuite a few, especially later on in the story, when the lifestyle's more normalized and socially acceptable.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI mean price wise that's very affordable and with so few downsides I’d happily go in for that, when’s the next available date?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tWe're constantly recruiting! Just stop by any Bodyshoppe location convenient to you to discuss your transition!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI’m curious is there legislation to protect Lapdragons from abuse from over zealous keepers, especially those who have gone full feral with new keepers in the matching service.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo specific laws exist, but the health, safety, and welfare of lapdragons is covered both by animal welfare laws concerning the treatment of pets, and those covering the treatment of disabled people and dependents. Generally, their welfare is policed by the local department of children & families, and the adult protective services. They continue to have human rights in all jurisdictions they're made in - that's a condition of the 'Shoppe operating there - but also enjoy any enumerated protections for pets. Their legal rights extend to both sets, and are not constrained to the region where human and animal rights overlap - they enjoy the full protection of both sets of laws to the fullest extent feasible and necessary.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI understand its a risk someone would take but they are quite easy to take advantage of being unable to speak without aids.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThat definitely makes it hard to say the safeword, so like mixing BDSM with gags, you should trust your partner implicitly before you take that step.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow big can a dragon get/ small (while still being an adult)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tDragons tend to be surprisingly small; 135 pounds is considered a normal adult weight - this is the optimum weight for them to be able to fly most strongly, while having enough metabolic capacity to support a glucose-hungry human brain. Having said that, riding dragons exist. These are dragons grown up to the size of a pony, horse, or even clydesdale stallion. They often have their wings clipped so that they can support a saddle so flight isn't relevant, but unlike lapdragons, that procedure is considered optional. Some large portion of riding dragons are kept as flying mounts, though their stamina suffers compared to their smaller brethren. I've never really thought about the extreme lower end of a dragon's body size, but with a great deal of work and some potential trade-offs, I'd guess 50-60 pounds is achievable.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow do domestic dragons handle answering the call of nature\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tJapanese-built squatting toilets are a popular option, but male dragons find using a urinal easy and paws-free. Using a Western-style seated toilet is also quite possible, but squatting toilets or urinals are the preferred method.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI'd wondered if any Keepers ever got the pointy end of their Lapdragon and now I know,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tBeg pardon?

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonestly, I think I'd make both a great Lapdragon, but also a really poor one too. I'd be more the happy to see to may Keeper's needs first but I'd also be showing myself off much of the time so wouldn't be allowed out in public.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tSure you would! Dragons are known to be a little vain and showy - kind of like anyone who's had a lot of cosmetic surgery - and lapdragons are used to being fawned over as animate artworks. You'd get on just fine.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReally there aren't too many down sides to signing up early on are there?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo, not really.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre there restrictions on how many Lapdragons a single person could own, or is it just dependent upon said person's own funds being able to support a herm of Lapdragons.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tI'm going to assume that was a "herd" of lapdragons. And the answer is there are no restrictions about how many a dragon keeper can support, but much in the same way a corporation is a legal person but that you can't marry it, keepers must be natural people, not legal constructs. A trust cannot "own" a dragon. First, dragons are not owned. Second, if a keeper dies, the relationship is over like a marriage, the dragon is free to depart, to be their own person, (probably with the aid of NGOs and/or charities to help grieving ex-pets in transition) or to choose to enter a relationship with a new keeper.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpeaking generally which gender is the more common to become a Lapdragon Males, Females or Herms? \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tMales. There are simply fewer hermaphrodites to pull from, though they elect to become lapdragons nearly as often. Females choose that lifestyle at a lower rate, because sterilization and submission has the distinct whiff of antifeminism deterring many who would otherwise choose pethood. That said, it's not like either sprites (sterilized female dragons) or gib (sterilized males or hermaphrodites) herms are uncommon in the pet population, they're just less common.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre engineered beings seen or treated differently in other countries outside of the USA?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYes. They have stronger protections in Western Europe, and exist in a legal gray area in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. Further, religions that venerate dragons as gods have strongly mixed feelings - and messages - about transgenic dragons, and it's somewhat risky to engage with them. Dragons are exceedingly durable, but not invincible, and one could find themselves becoming a sacrifice to the local spirits, or being burned as a heathen. Canada generally follows America's lead, but Mexico's laws have a few specific loopholes tied to the age of consent. In Culiacan, it's defined as "puberty" and that's awfully hard for people to judge, since dragons don't develop like humans do. For almost a decade, it's illegal to fix minors electively, and during that time, a veterinary clinic in Culiacan Beach becomes the "world leader in treating precocious puberty in dragons" - providing a bogus diagnosis that circumvents both the elective restriction and the age limit. Culiacan just coincidentally becomes the preferred beach vacation of dragon fanciers, though this quickly leads it to become the most dragon-friendly resort town in North America. What started as a scam soon becomes the honest truth.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI've got to say it, I know in the end the Shoppe, while it doesn't turn evil, but behaves more like a corporation going so far to drug its own employees - which is down right wrong - let along their customers. It's sad to see it turn out that way, when they started out they were helping people achieve dreams. It's just a bit sad.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t… Remember how I said that would be relevant later in the interview? Here it is. First, the drugs they use are not used surreptitiously. They're sold as part of the process. Early on, the Reindeer Drug (a cocktail, really) is given to only Christmas Lapdragon Surprise patients in a small dose. It becomes associated with the Reindeer Corps because they're given long-acting drug implants to keep them at peak performance while pulling sleighs. Eventually, it's available through a subscription, billed bi-annually, and they mail you a top-up syringe every six months at a cost of $40 (in 2017 dollars). This quickly switches to an autoinjector, though; some people don't have a knack for giving shots, and the epi-pen patents are very expired now. You press the tip to a spot on the tail, squeeze the trigger (on the side, so no idiot ever gets a needle through the thumb…) and it goes CLICKticktickticktickticktickticktickCLICK and you're done. Neither party ever sees or touches the needle. A spring inserts it, delivers the pre-measured dose, and withdraws the needle when it's done, both times with louder clicks so you know it's actuated. The ticking is caused by a spring-loaded needle running along a sawtooth on the plunger. This is to provide the user with confirmation that the drug is being injected, and how fast.

There are a few versions in circulation.

The Christmas Surprise version comes in a "jellybean" implant, placed where the testicles were removed. It contains a graceful taper of testosterone, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and painkillers, along with the "Warm Happy Tingly Feelings" cocktail. It lasts one week at full effect, and tapers off over the next one to two weeks. It's intended to defer any decisions about hormone replacement until a week into the new year, when New Year related tasks and festivities are out of the way. And when vets are back from their vacations.

The Reindeer Corps' version includes most of that, but lasts longer. It replaces the testosterone transition with a steady dose of selective androgen receptor modulators - "boutique steroids" that maintain muscle tone and health while not acting on the brain or increasing libido. The Reindeer implant lasts for approximately two months, and comes in a "jellybean" for the newly gelded, and a subdermal rod, inserted like a birth control implant, for those who are already fixed. That version omits the drugs needed after surgery.

The Fawn Corps' version includes no testosterone or other steroids, and at a lower dose. The Fawn Corps was to be used as a giant stealth pilot program for pediatric alteration and lapping, with the intention of getting long-term followup data on the Fawns' health - physical, mental, and emotional. This is overcome by events, however. Like the Reindeer implant, this is a two month supply.

The subscription version is a depot injection, not an implant. It's a colloidal suspension of very fine grains of time-release drug. It's only intended as a top-up; if you have a bad reaction it cannot be removed, unlike an implant, and you're stuck with the effects for the next six months. This is fine, if you've been tried out on a short-acting dose or an easily-removed subdermal implant. It's actually considered a benefit, since becoming a lapdragon is something of a commitment in the company's opinion, and the depot injection is far cheaper to manufacture than the implants, even when they choose to spring for an autoinjector. The injection lasts for six months, and is more than ten times as potent as the label claims.

Later, the virus-infected pharmaceutical production equipment is replaced, and the drug is exactly as strong as it's claimed to be. There's then a clamor, and the company is forced to bring back the extra-strength formula for customers dissatisfied with the "normal" dose, who were used to the intense friendliness that the drug produced in them.

That aside, there's a novel here. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It has conflict, and plot. And they drug their clients and employees because they asked to be drugged, and give the company money in exchange for the privilege.

And the company engaging in shady practices? There's a Reason™ for that… ;)

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKinda reaching spoiler territory here but want to leave off with something more personal in the end of the book will the Spokesbeast be alight after everything is said and done after all the Shoppe was his baby at the start wasn't it?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHe gets a therapist and a dominatrix. It takes him a little while to work out his issues, but he's back in business in the end.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t…And last one for today Will the end of the Shoppe mean the end of Lapdragons?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo. Dragons are open-source, and there are other transformation shops. Especially in India, where they're small, independently-owned, hole-in-the-wall places that compete vigorously on service, and proprietary gene mods. (And dump untreated nanomachine waste into the Ganges…) Were the Bodyshoppe shut down, odds are their competitors would buy their assets and their trademarks and their IP, and relaunch the chain. Failing that, their clinics and hospitals would be split up amongst a large number of "baby bell" style biotech firms. The 'Shoppe would go on. Even if they were all burned down simultaneously, and the company dissolved, there are other transformation parlors, and any half-qualified veterinarian can perform all the surgeries involved. And many already do! "Counterfeit" lapdragons are a source of consternation for the company, but there's not much they can do about it.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIt's always fun talking to you, and I hope you have a great day.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tLikewise! :D

————————————————————————————————————————

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHeya Chrontius\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHey!

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBack with another round of questions for you\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tCool!

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI have a few questions regarding the younger dragons this time.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tGood, 'cause it's a moral morass, and thus it's dominated my thinking recently.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou've mentioned and even ran a series with a young dragon wanting to get him self Lapped before reaching the age where he can make the choice himself, what age would he need to be in order to make the choice himself without his parents need for consent.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tIt varies by region. Typically, mid-high-school is where age of consent is set, so that was used as a convenient benchmark.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow are dragons handled growing up do they require any more/less care then an non-engineered child. How about schooling for them are there special classes for dragons?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Less care. No, different care. Dragons are precocious, and like horses, they're up and running within 30 minutes of birth or hatching. They have an instinctive "language" borrowing from cats, moreso from dogs (humans instinctively read canine body language!) and moreso still from giant otters, who have adult vocabularies of 22 vocalizations, and 11 used exclusively by neonates. They're not articulate at that age, but you bet your ass that they can communicate their needs and thoughts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas.....1112144812.htm

They're also pretty easily litter-trained. On the other paw, they're curious, get into things, and tend to wander. They also overestimate their capabilities, moreso than human teenagers - which is because they're actually frightfully capable at a very young age, and their wisdom needs to catch up with their physicality. The worst time for this in a dragon's life is the two-to-three period, in which it's kind of like raising a baby wildcat in your house. :p

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn “Teach You To Read” you talk about a family of dragons where the Mother, a devoted Lapdragon, is addressing the viewer about herself and family (by the way, I love this piece, even if FA makes it really hard to see) where she talks about how her kits want to be like her and become Lapdragons themselves. How is this viewed in society ?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tIt starts out seriously sketchy, but becomes more accepted as the story progresses, thanks to the deliberate action of amoral marketing firms, paid for by those who stand to turn a profit on creating a caste of de facto chattel slaves. So far, even late-story, that goal is not achieved, but they have successfully created social pressure to encourage dragons to choose a "fulfilling career in pethood," early in life.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShe then goes on to offer her kits to the viewer for adoption at a later date. What age are the kits during this scene and how old would they need to be for the viewer to adopt them? Also given the sometimes sexual nature of being a Lapdragon how do laws of consent come into play regarding young dragons who have found a keeper given that most places usually go with 18 years of age for a person to be considered an adult, does this apply to Lapdragons too or does the different biology mean there are different laws covering them?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tFirst: I don't know, and it doesn't matter. Second: Adoption is adoption - they could be minutes old as far as the law is concerned. They have to reach the age of consent to sign a pethood contract, however, but they can be de-facto pets for years before that point. Third: Kiddy diddling is still kiddy diddling, even if the minors are a different species. Dragons are sexually mature around ten, but they don't mature emotionally any faster than humans. At present, there is discussion about changing those laws, but it's pretty contentious; about the only thing that's been done is to amend Romeo-and-Juliet laws to avoid making sex offenders of underage dragons.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBeing a Keeper to a recently transitioned Lapdragon is there any special considerations or concerns you would need to make for your new pet? Thinking more as a Keeper coming down stairs on Christmas morning to find a Lapdragon curled up under the tree.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThey should take it easy for a little while; not only did this alter their body, it will disrupt their worldview and change your relationship. Give them a while to adjust before you move onto dragon training.

Remember, lapdragons are far from helpless, but they've also suddenly become much more dependent on you. Don't shirk your responsibilities! Remember, keeping pets is a commitment, so you better have thought about that ahead of time.

Read the literature! There are multitudes of guides to the care and feeding of pet dragons, ranging from funny memoir-style books popular with those who don't keep pets, or have any intention of doing so, to terse FAQs for helping you with just that one last thing you're wondering about. This path has been walked before, and maps were made. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Sometimes, "talking doggy" to your pet can be a fun thing, but just because they're your pet doesn't mean they don't have a right to communicate frankly and clearly - with you, or with others.

Pet dragons are for flaunting, not for hoarding. They tend to quickly come to like being shown off.

Don't be a dick - your pet has the legal right to run away.

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat about the reverse? As the newly converted Lapdragon what would you need to know about looking after yourself after your transition? Again thinking more along the lines of a New Lapdragon waking up under the Christmas tree like in the Christmas Lapdragon Surprise.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYou're sturdy, but you just had surgery. Well, more like three to eight surgeries and a dental extraction. Take it easy while you heal. It may itch, but don't lick your stitches, and for the Love of God, don't chew them. You can probably get out of an E-collar if they put one on you, but you shouldn't need it in the first place - dogs may not, but you know better. Spend a while, get to know your body again, and try to figure out what this means for your lifestyle and your relationship. Don't be afraid to have frank discussions with your keeper. Consider reading the literature they're reading, and at least read one of the "For Lapdragons" pamphlets. Audiobooks and vidcasts will do if you're having trouble with manual dexterity. Remember, this is a game, and it's supposed to be fun for all participants.

Is your keeper a dick? Remember, you have the legal right to run away.

Even pets have - and deserve - dignity.

And don't forget. **You're a fucking dragon.** You are still mighty beyond the imaginings of mere men, border on bulletproof, and can probably run a marathon while holding your breath. You can damn near benchpress a bulldozer. Do not forget your own strength lest you become careless. People can be hurt, even if you were "just playing". Remember that while you can spit fire, most architecture is not fire proof, and just being outdoors isn't much better - grass fires transition quickly into raging firestorms.

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLooking forwards to your response.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tI'm sorry I didn't see it sooner, these are always fun to write.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTake care and have a great day.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Thank you, and you too! :D

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHello again Chrontius\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHi again, Nightstalker! :D

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou weren’t kidding that really was a moral minefield there, and a really deep one too, still from the outside it looks like you have it in hand.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tI’d like to think so. Basically, this was all inevitable from starting principles; I could choose denial, or to embrace the implications. Telroth’s player, DarthAndroid, prefers furry-style fantasy - I’ve seen him produce over 400 eggs, but I’ve never seen a peep out of him about supporting those 400 children. It’s kind of a Republican thing to do… ;)

I prefer the other track - I could have ignored the implications and had better wank material, but by not ignoring them, a rich, detailed world emerged, and the story now writes itself - I feel like I’m just along for the ride, responsible for transcribing the results of a simulation for the written word.

… Which is to say I absolutely do not have it in hand. However, as far as I can tell, the problem will self-correct in between fifteen and twenty years. (We’re at year 12 now)

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"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGot a couple follow on questions for you this time after the last round plus a few more general ones this time\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOkay, shoot!

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStatically speaking is it more common for someone to choose to become a dragon vs. being born a dragon\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThere are more turned dragons than natural-born dragons. Consider rate of production: a human can be turned in a week, one per nanotech tank. Breeding dragons requires a fertile female and male, and the female has to be willing to carry a pregnancy. There are many more nano-tanks than reproductively active females at the moment, but in the long term, that ratio will certainly reverse.

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI think you’ve mentioned it somewhere before but i can not remember where exactly. If a parent to a dragon decides to have them lapped - I.E. fully converted over - at what age can they make this choice for their pup?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThe more underhanded they’re willing to be, the younger they can get it done. That doesn’t explain it all, though - the rules are relaxed over time as disaster fails to follow in the wake of those breaking the rules. (And yes, I know that disaster would take decades to show up, and they relaxed the rules in years…) Used to be that you had to deal with very unseemly people to get it done. Then you could get it done in Mexico. Then it was something that many small veterinarians would do, but wouldn’t advertise. Then you could get it done at one major franchise, the Boutique, and the flood-gates opened - soon even the ‘Shoppe was advertising special services, known as the PAL initiative (short for Pediatric Alter-Lap) which were designed to keep the sexual undertones, always previously present, out of it. And then adults were signing up for PAL-style conversions, and then certain groups were pushing for dragons to be cut if they want to attend public school around “vulnerable” un-altered humans…

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDoes it change anything if it is not the parent’s desire to have the pup Lapped but the Keeper’s desire, or are they not permitted to make such choices for their pets.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tI’ve discussed it at length, but it was never posted to FA for liability reasons.

https://inkbunny.net/submissionview.php?id=1019841

In addition, the whole mess is covered by contract law, so that it’s possible for children produced by avowed pets to inherit their parents’ condition - legally shaky, but adequate to cover a vet’s ass - or keepers gain the same medical power-of-attorney by proxy over the offspring that they have over the parents. More likely to stand up in court, and provides the same level of control as the shaky ones. In practice, they can’t sign pethood contracts themselves, but they can have all the same surgeries and be treated the same way.

There’s also a lot of different contracts out there… this complicates things. And most people aren’t lawyers, and don’t have lawyers on salary. In practice, it’s a lot like software license agreements; most don’t read them in any detail, some don’t read them at all, and most who try base their understanding on one commonly-used contract and act like they all say the same things. Most assume the power-of-attorney based clauses from a UP–3 contract are in force, if they don’t know any better. And substantially all dragon-keepers can trivially find someone who will fix their pets’ kits. Even if all involved parties know that wasn’t part of the scope of the agreement, it’s so easy to successfully feign ignorance or misunderstanding… Most pets won’t “pull the fire alarm” after that, too - they’re too used to the lifestyle, and they’d have to scramble to find new housing if they decided to leave as a result of such actions.

(Though that gives me an idea for a story set at a dragon-shelter…)

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow much control can a Keeper exercise over their pets before needing the pet’s consent more talking about body modifications such as piercing and a like\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Depends on how much rights the pet signed over on that contract I mentioned. The International Pets Union publishes standardized contracts, with standardized “levels” of “invasiveness”. Level 1 is “Only what is specified at the time of conversion”, level 2 is “Those things comparable to the procedures used during conversion”, level 3 is considerably more permissive. Dewclaw removal and debarking were originally considered “level 3” procedures, but the widespread addition of dewclaw and “front dewclaw” surgery as part of default packages has pushed it into Level 1 and 2 contracts (A reindeer’s only necessarily going to sign a Level 1 contract, but will typically arrive without any dewclaws, for example) and aftermarket dewclaw surgery is now covered by a Level 2 agreement. Debarking was initially a Level 3 procedure, but the widespread use and popularity of voice packs has lead to its reclassification as Level 2 - and once again, Reindeer on Level 1 contracts will typically arrive with a prosthetic voice. It is still a technical violation to remove it without the intention to immediately replace it, but the voice packs are a “wear part” and removing a damaged one is considered necessary and prudent first-aid - as a result, the ambiguity makes this one hard to enforce.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat goes into a Pethood contract exactly and generally when is one signed, before or after going to the Body Shoppe?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter entering the shop, but before surgery.  (Note to self:  Incomplete answer - will have to add more content to this answer later regarding what goes into the contract.)

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMoving into some more General questions here\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOkay!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAgain generally speaking how dexterous is a dragon’s paw, you’ve mentioned having special keyboards for use by dragons but are they still able to hold a pen or a pencil to write or draw?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tDragons’ paws naturally have a maximum of four digits. This makes the QWERTY keyboard a poor fit for them. Actually, QWERTY is a poor fit for everyone, and intentionally so. It was designed to slow down typists to what early mechanical typewriters could handle; as machines became more capable, the keyboard was retained only due to cultural inertia, and we can do much better now. For dragons without “front dewclaws” they’re more limited. Generally, dragon keyboards are ortholinear designs like the Truly Ergonomic or the ErgoDox. For those without “front dewclaws”, the Keybowl is a popular option for operating a computer.

Dragons’ paws are fairly dextrous - think otter or raccoon. Like otters’ and raccoons’ paws, they’re load-bearing structures first and foremost, but dexterity is also pretty necessary for their survival in the wild and intended lifestyle in civilization.

They can most certainly hold a pen or pencil, and even ones lacking "front dewclaws" can, by clamping it between index and middle fingers.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnything food wise to avoid once becoming a dragon, Can not imagine chillies being too friendly to a quadruped\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNope. Dragons actually tolerate some foods that humans don’t, and their superior immune system is important when they go feral - those who walk away from society to live as hunter-gatherers can scavenge like wolves. They’re also specifically immune to several naturally-occurring toxins, especially the belladonna family. This is a carefully crafted balancing act, though - atropine is a belladonna derivative, and is crucial in reviving someone in a trauma medicine context, so it has to function as expected.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnd lastly got a few broad question more aimed towards the novels themselves\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAll right!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI will try to ask anything spoilery as I will be intending to read them when finished, lol!\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHa! I’m glad to hear it!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou’ve said your planning a number of prequel novels along with a core one. speaking generally if your able to without giving the game away what is the intent for each to cover on its own\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNovellas. And I can give you a thesis of each without blowing it.

1: Zombies. An Aum Shinrikio bioweapon attack on San Fransisco is thwarted when furries and dragons prove immune to the engineered rabies strain, hicks from the sticks roll in with technicals and barely-legal guns by the truckload, and a dangerously genre-savvy population has mostly dealt with the situation by the time the National Guard shows up. Think Sean of the Dead, combined with Left 4 Dead. Many victims are dosed with black-market heroin and placed in chest freezers, in a desperate attempt to save them. Ongoing research in how to safely thaw and treat these patients continues for over a decade, but hope remains. Uncle Sam eventually transfers them to a facility in northern Alaska for long term storage and monitoring. Rabies vaccines made mandatory nationwide for people and pets.

2: Baby-selling leads to rioting. Ripped from the (Chinese) headlines, this is most people’s first exposure to underaged lapdragons. Cops and social workers try to take a baby dragon from a loving adoptive family. The dragonet doesn’t understand what’s going on, but scared dragonets don’t cry like babies, and the social worker is mauled nearly to death, the dragonet is shot, and while everyone survives, thanks to nanotech regeneration tanks, it’s a morally murky morass that is resolved when the Supreme Court says “Leave him with his family, and don’t consider this a precedent.” The lawsuits eventually pay for the dragon’s college tuition and trust fund. Loss of trust in the system, combined with outrage fatigue that started here pave the way for the real novel.

3: Hostile takeover of the Bodyshoppe, and neutralizing a spokesbeast - the company’s conscience - represents organized opposition to the bizzarre transhuman future; a long game to preserve a “pure humanity” and relegate parahumans to being second-class citizens finishes its preparations and is put into action.

4: North Korea’s misadventures with bioweapons! They attempt to purchase the zombie plague from Book #1, but instead get something very different, and just as terrifying - a contagious strain of dragon. Dating to the early days of the Open Dragon Project, and believed to have been destroyed, samples existed in a secret government bio-defense lab for years, unknown. The Korean regime tests the new bioweapon on political prisoners, who instead of transforming into mostly-brain-dead face-chewers, transform into flying, fire-breathing, iron-bending, bulletproof, contagious super-soldiers. They rape, pillage, and burn their way across the nation, razing the regime as they go. (Rape, especially buttsex, is the easiest and surest way of infecting another, with the minimum of danger to them. Bites can be infected by other things, and during the transformation, the immune system is weakened. Blood transfusions are also feasible, but for the poverty-ravaged Korean health system.) The humanitarian crisis striking primarily China and South Korea is amazing; thousands of regime officials “melt away” into the scaly hordes of refugees after being infected, or deliberately infecting themselves. The crisis isn’t limited to there; the Navy fishes exhausted dragons out of the water for weeks, while others reach Japan, Oceania, New Zealand, India, and Thailand, for example.

5: The planned core Lapdragon novel.

6: Blake & Molly Go To Italy (preview available)

7: Small Business Dragon Goes To SxSW (preview available)

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs for the Core Novel will your handsome Spokesbeast™ be the protagonist, or is someone else set for the lime light.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHe will be the central character of an ensemble cast - think of West Wing here. Ultimately, though, it is his story. He set these events in motion, albeit mostly unwittingly.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEther way i do hope we get to learn more about his experiences within the company.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYou will!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLast one for then, I'll leave you alone for little, I promise.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAaaw, do you have to? D:

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is your favourite piece you have drawn so far to accompany the story?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t… Ooh, now that is a good one… That piece is an unreleased WIP of comparably breathtaking scope, an artifact from the imagined future, a pamphlet on the ethics of “intergenerational pethood” aimed at people living in the universe. It ties together and explains a whole bunch of things, including a huge amount of never-before-heard backstory. Currently, I think it stands at 12 pages, all laid out like a magazine.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTake care, and looking forward to hearing from you again.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tLikewise!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHave a great day!\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAnd that, too! :D

————————————————————————————————————————

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGreetings again, hope you're doing well\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYuppers!  Hi there, right back!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOnly got a few questions this time but there is a couple heavy hitters in here this time\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOooh?

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is generally socially accepted normal among Lapdragons, meaning in a room there is four Lapdragons alone together vs. the same Lapdragons out in public in a park.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tCan you elaborate?  I mean, they don’t wear much of anything, they tend to be friendly and playful…  Are you asking questions about their modesty or lack thereof?

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGiven that Lapdragons are generally kept as pets and viewed this way by the general public is it common or socially acceptable for a keeper to walk their charge on a leash in public?  Also, how do other animals handle Lapdragons?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tYes.  Also, that’s a very good question!  Their reactions are somewhat mixed, though most pet dogs end up desensitized to them pretty quickly, to one degree or another.  The ways that dragons’ instinctive body language resembles humans’ and dogs’ certainly also helps this out.  Some dogs tend to defer to dragons, others to see them as equals, but all tend to defer to the way their alpha treats someone.  Most wildlife reacts like they would to any other large potential predator; many large predators are territorial with them the same way they are with each other, or - for that matter - with humans.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs most Lapdragons are full time pets, do their keepers receive any payment from the government to look after them, or does a keeper have to support themselves and their pet alone?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThey’re required to care for themselves and their pet alone - however, there’s a universal basic income scheme known as a “citizenship dividend” in the setting.  And that’s one of the reasons people “pursue a career in pethood” - they can save their entire dividend that way, and it’s a widely viewed as a good way for the lower classes to quickly boom their retirement savings.  Whether that’s actually true or wise is an open question, though.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonestly I’m not sure you will be able to answer this one but let's have a shot. Regarding more the mentality aspect of a Lapdragon, do they experience any different instinctual response given their state, compared to both an intact dragon and elves in general. Meaning, do they have more urges/instincts others wouldn't have?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNo, but.  

They have most of the same instinctual responses that other dragons have, but indulging in many of those is considered a social faux pas between most - but if one’s job is to ham up the role of playing pet, lapdragons are instead rewarded for indulging some of those instinctual behaviors that others would be teased for.  Elves have little desire to get their noses up into something they’re exploring, though dragons do - that may be down to the fact that it’s just easier to get their noses close to the action, and they learn about just how much information they can gather that way…  Which is to say, it could be instinct, or it could be conditioning.  Even as a designed species, a lot of those little interactions are hard to tease apart!

Another confounding factor is the use of the Lapdragon Drug and the Reindeer Drug.  The Lapdragon Drug mostly influences the phenotype, causing the body to change slightly and grow slightly smaller.  However, psychological effects cannot be conclusively ruled out.  The Reindeer Drug, by contrast, is deliberately personality-altering.  Like other so-called “training drugs”, their purpose is to alter behavior in the long term, creating the appearance of “desirable” instinctual behaviors.

So - the short answer is no.  Unless those instincts were added deliberately, with a syringe.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow binding are the stipulations of the pethood contract?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOnly modestly.  They have to come with some kind of a bailout clause, in case of unforeseen complications, abuse, or changing circumstances.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGiven the natural stance for a dragon is on all fours, how comfortably is a dragon able to stand upright on their hinds?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tPretty comfortably, but they have a digitigrade posture, so there’s only two points of contact - not like they have heels and toes, so it requires more active stabilization than it does in humans - though that tail of theirs provides a useful counterbalance, or a third point of contact.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThinking more inline with the sketch you did awhile back with a newly gelded dragon who was wearing a cone to prevent him biting his stitches. Or at least I think that was the premises for that one; its kind of late here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThat was the implication.  He could take it off, if he wanted; he knows better than to chew on his stitches.  The cone is mostly cosmetic - wordlessly announcing the dragon’s newly acquired state to the world at large.  Not sure if it’s intended as some kind of humiliation, or just a playful gesture.  

Those cones are often worn by the newly neutered who are proud of that and to deliberately announce the event.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDue to the sturdy nature do Lapdragon's suffer the affect of alcohol, both when drinking and the morning after?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tDragon venom - the substance produced to create dragonfire - is high-test ethanol.  Their fire gland, located between the lungs, preferentially scavenges alcohol from the bloodstream, since instead of building up lactic acid in the muscles, anaerobic fermentation in dragons produces ethanol as a waste-product, which is discharged into the bloodstream, giving them great stamina and a bit of a “runner’s high” in the process.  They can get drunk, but they’re not cheap dates.  However, they can also recycle that alcohol when it comes out of their bloodstream.  They don’t get hangovers, as part of the metabolic tweaks required to enable this trick.  This is how goldfish in their natural habitat survive in iced-over lakes during the winter, by the way.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlright last couple more aligned with the 'uses' of Lapdragons\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOkay.  Shoot!

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTies in a little with the last one, would a drunk Lapdragon (if possible) loose their inhabitations.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAs much as a drunk human might, although they’d need to drink more or stronger stuff to reach the same level of inebriation.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegarding female and herm dragons how do they experience their reproductive cycles, do they retain those they had as humans, or do dragons experience things differently due to laying eggs?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tDragons don’t have periods, if that’s what you mean.  By default, they probably mimicked human patterns of fertility, but this was eliminated to eliminate menstruation, and tied to some demand-based egg release scheme like cats and ferrets have; the problem there is how menstruation is then triggered by - and when - you’re having a lot of safe sex.  Suboptimal, certainly, if you’re not in the process of starting a family!  Birth control implants and hormonal IUDs are probably cheap and plentiful (lots of off-patent generics turned out by automated factories for peanuts) to help with this.  I suspect that dragons having visible estrus was initially hidden as an “undocumented feature” that could be triggered by drugs; dragons naturally going into heat really sounds like an aftermarket modification.  Given that, though, they would be short-day-breeders; their gestation is about six months, and they’d prefer to deliver in spring or so, putting mating season somewhere in fall.  I mean, if you had the option of going into heat, wouldn’t you want to try it sometime?  At least once or twice.  :D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_ovulation_(animals)

I suspect that the original system was induced ovulation in response to spermatozoa, or some component that was closely tied to them - perhaps testosterone, or a component whose supply would also be cut in a vasectomy, or by the use of the “male pill”.  This would tend to prevent menstruation except on the off chance that a breeding attempt did not result in pregnancy.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTying into the last one as well, do female Lapdragons, after being fixed, still experience these cycles?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThey tend not to, if they experienced them beforehand.  Medical intervention can alter that, though.

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGot some more questions directed more towards females and herms but will need to hear answers to the questions above first and a few towards 'uses' as well\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t… oho?

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNightstalker wrote:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI hope this finds you well, and to hear from you again soon. Take care.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThank you!  :D", "pools_count": 3, "title": "Nightstalker's Interview", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "text/rtf", "pagecount": "6", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "1", "views": "541", "latest_file_name": "2046891_Chrontius_nightstalker_6.rtf", "latest_mimetype": "text/rtf", "latest_file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2046/2046891_Chrontius_nightstalker_6.rtf", "latest_file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2046/2046891_Chrontius_nightstalker_6.rtf", "latest_file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2046/2046891_Chrontius_nightstalker_6.rtf" }