Chapter Text
When a person is born, they belong to one of three Classifications: Dominant, Submissive, or General. These classifications are fundamental to maintaining order and balance in the world. Each group has unique traits and roles that shape their place in society.
The Classifications
Dominants (Doms) are considered the upper class of humanity. They are powerful, influential, and natural leaders, often occupying positions of authority and control. Dominants exude confidence and command respect, which bolsters their societal status.
Generals (Gens), often referred to as “normals,” represent the middle class. They embody a blend of dominant and submissive traits, which allows them to lead balanced lives. Gens are versatile, able to adapt to various roles in society, from public service to skilled professions. They live relatively unconstrained lives, free of the markings or societal expectations imposed on Doms and Subs.
Submissives (Subs), on the other hand, are viewed as the lower class. Their rights are significantly diminished compared to Doms and Gens, and their lives are often dictated by stringent regulations. Despite their integral role in society, Subs are frequently subjected to prejudice, seen by many as dependent and requiring guidance.
Roles in Society
Dominants naturally gravitate towards leadership roles. They dominate the upper echelons of government, law, and business. Careers typically suited to Dominants include ministers, CEOs, pilots, judges, and captains. Their innate ability to take charge makes them the backbone of governance and order.
Generals are the backbone of public service. They commonly pursue careers as doctors, teachers, police officers, nurses, and paramedics. Gens have the flexibility to succeed in more dominant fields as well, though they rarely hold the highest positions of power.
Submissives are largely restricted in their professional lives. Many are legally prohibited from working in certain fields, and those who do work are often relegated to roles such as receptionists, baristas, maids, waitresses, or seamstresses. Their employment, if permitted, is typically dictated by their Dominant, further reinforcing their lack of autonomy.
Classification Markings
The absence or presence of markings determines an individual’s classification. Gens have no markings, enabling them to move through life without the constraints or privileges associated with Doms and Subs.
However, both Dominants and Submissives bear distinctive markings that signify their status. These markings, typically located on the right side of the neck behind the ear, are 3-4 cm long and come in specific colors based on gender and classification:
- Male Dominants: Black
- Female Dominants (Dommes): Red
- Male Submissives: Baby blue
- Female Submissives: Baby pink
Male Dominants and female Submissives are the most prevalent within the Dom/Sub community. Conversely, male Submissives and female Dominants are considered rare, adding to the societal intrigue and expectations surrounding them.
The DDSMS and Matching
The Department of Dominant and Submissive Matching Services (DDSMS) oversees the pairing of Doms and Subs, ensuring societal stability through their "perfect Match" system. While only 3% of Doms and Subs are Matched by the DDSMS, these Matches are considered the gold standard of compatibility, determined through DNA analysis and advanced algorithms.
At age 13, all Doms and Subs are required to provide a blood sample to the DDSMS. This sample is stored until they turn 18, at which point the DDSMS concludes its search if no Match is found. Those who remain unmatched by the DDSMS are free to pursue relationships of their choice.
If a Match is made, however, it is legally binding. The Matched parties are regarded as married from the moment the Match is declared, with severe penalties for noncompliance:
- Doms who refuse their Match face life imprisonment in isolation.
- Subs who refuse are forced into slavery and sold to the highest bidder.
Submissives in Matched Relationships
When a Sub is Matched, they become the property of their Dominant. The Dominant is granted complete legal control over the Sub, including their rights, education, and employment. Subs in Matched relationships are required by law to wear a collar, symbolizing their ownership. This requirement does not extend to Subs in non-Matched relationships, allowing for a slightly greater degree of personal autonomy in those cases.
A Matched Sub’s rights are entirely at the discretion of their Dominant, who can dictate whether the Sub remains in school, enters the workforce, or even retains the right to vote. This dynamic underscores the stark imbalance of power in such relationships and highlights the vulnerability of Submissives within this system.
A Delicate Balance
The world thrives on the interplay of these three Classifications. Dominants maintain order, Generals serve as the bridge between classes, and Submissives provide the foundation of submission and harmony. Together, they form a society that is both structured and deeply unequal, where every individual must navigate the expectations and limitations of their Classification.
Matt had always been the quieter one compared to his brothers. While Nick and Chris filled the house with laughter, shouts, and endless energy, Matt often sat on the sidelines, observing the chaos with calm curiosity. He wasn’t shy, exactly—just more reserved, more thoughtful. He seemed to take in the world at his own pace, a sharp contrast to his brothers’ loud and outgoing nature.
Even from a young age, Marylou could tell there was something different about Matt. Perhaps it was because he was a Submissive, but she suspected it went deeper than that. Matt had always been her sensitive boy.
He cried when he accidentally stepped on a bug, and he followed Nick and Chris around with the devotion of a lost puppy, eager to be included in their adventures despite his quieter demeanor. Loud noises, like fireworks or sudden shouting, left him covering his ears, seeking solace in the nearest quiet corner.
Though Matt was the middle triplet, people often assumed he was the youngest. Being a Submissive, he carried a softer, more childlike energy that contrasted with Nick and Chris, who were natural leaders even as kids.
Nick, the eldest, was bold and commanding, a natural Dominant who thrived in the spotlight. Chris, the youngest of the three, matched Nick’s energy with his playful charm and quick wit. But Matt, nestled between them in age, always seemed gentler, quieter—a dynamic that naturally made him stand out.
Matt shared a unique bond with Jimmy, one that Marylou couldn’t help but admire. She often found them in their own little world—Matt nestled in Jimmy’s lap, the two of them enjoying the peace of the moment without needing to say much.
Jimmy, much like Matt, was calm and introspective, a steadying presence in their lively household. It made sense that Matt gravitated toward his father; they understood each other in ways Marylou sometimes felt excluded from.
Not that she wasn’t relaxed herself—she tried her best—but raising four boys, two of whom were loud, boisterous Doms, demanded constant energy and attentiveness. Chaos was the norm, and though she loved it—the noise, the madness, the life—it left little room for stillness. Yet, she wouldn’t change a thing. Having four boys hadn’t been her plan, but she cherished every bit of the wild, unpredictable family they had created.
Still, there were moments when Marylou found herself wishing for more time with Matt. She adored how close he was with Jimmy; it was heartwarming to see them together, but she couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. She wanted to understand her quiet son better, to feel as close to him as she did with Justin, Nick, and Chris.
With her other boys, the connection came easily—whether it was through joking around or supporting their ambitions, she always felt she knew them deeply. But with Matt, there was a subtle distance, an unspoken divide that left her feeling like she was on the outside looking in.
She often blamed herself for the gap. Being a Submissive in a household dominated by strong-willed, boisterous Dominant personalities couldn’t be easy for Matt. She worried that her inability to connect with him as deeply as Jimmy did might somehow make things harder for him.
Not that she loved him any less or treated him differently—at least not intentionally—but the bond between Matt and Jimmy was undeniable. They were each other’s safe space, and Marylou truly was happy for them.
Still, it stung sometimes. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she didn’t know her middle son as well as she wanted to. He was kind, gentle, and thoughtful, but there was so much more beneath the surface—layers she longed to uncover, not just as his mother, but as someone who deeply admired the quiet strength he carried. She just wished she knew how to bridge that gap.
She remembered the first time she had to explain to her triplet boys what it meant to be a Submissive and a Dominant.
They were ten years old, and she was driving them home from school on an unremarkable Wednesday. The hum of the car filled the silence until Chris, perched in the backseat beside Matt, broke it. He had been staring at the soft blue markings on Matt’s neck, his fingers lightly brushing against them. The contrast to his own black markings fascinated him.
“Mom?” Chris asked, his curious tone drawing everyone’s attention.
“Yeah, baby?” Marylou replied, keeping her eyes on the road, though she could feel the question coming.
“Why are Matt’s markings blue and not black like Nick’s and mine?” Chris asked, his fingers still tracing the edges of Matt’s markings.
Marylou hesitated, her hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel. She hadn’t expected this question, at least not yet. It was a random school pickup on a Wednesday—hardly the moment she thought she'd be explaining one of the most defining aspects of their lives.
“Oh… um…” she stammered, her mind racing for the right words.
She had always known this conversation would come. After all, her boys were triplets, and sooner or later, the differences between them were bound to spark questions. But she hadn’t planned for it to happen today, alone, without Jimmy to help smooth things over. She wasn’t even sure how to explain it in a way that wouldn’t make Matt feel singled out or lesser.
Justin, her eldest, had been easy. As a Gen, like her and Jimmy, he had no markings and no special status. There was no pressure, no prejudice, no DDSMS appointments looming when he turned 13. Unlike Matt, Justin never had to worry about becoming someone’s property or losing basic rights. She had never needed to explain what it meant to be different to Justin—because he wasn’t.
Nick, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to look at his brothers. His gaze lingered on Chris, who was still gently inspecting Matt’s neck. Feeling a twinge of his own curiosity, Nick’s hand instinctively reached up to touch his own marking as if it might somehow offer answers.
“Yeah, I’ve been wondering about that too,” Nick admitted, his tone thoughtful. “Why is Matt different from us?”
Marylou’s heart sank. Both of her Dominant boys were staring at her now, and a quick glance in the rearview mirror confirmed that even Matt, though unusually quiet, was listening. She knew she couldn’t put this off any longer.
“Well,” she began cautiously, “you know how me, your dad, and Justin don’t have any marks on our necks?”
“Yeah,” Nick and Chris replied in unison.
Matt gave a distracted hum, his gaze fixed out the window, but she knew he was paying attention.
“Well, that’s because we’re Gens,” Marylou explained.
“What does that mean?” Nick asked, his forehead creasing.
“A Gen is someone who’s a mix of both Dominant and Submissive traits. They can be strong leaders, but they’re also balanced and reserved. People born as Gens don’t have markings on their bodies,” she explained, doing her best to sound confident.
Chris tilted his head. “Okay… so why do we have marks? What does that make us?”
Marylou sighed, stealing a glance at Matt. He looked dazed, lost in thought, and her heart ached for him. She hated how hard this conversation might be for him.
“Well,” she said carefully, “the other two classifications someone can be born as are Dominant or Submissive.”
Nick straightened in his seat, clearly intrigued. Chris, still holding Matt’s hand now, glanced between Marylou and his brother, waiting for her to explain. She glanced in the mirror again, noting the small nervous bite Matt gave his thumbnail.
“Mom?” Nick asked impatiently. “What are we then?”
Marylou took a deep breath. “Nick, Chris, because your markings are black, it means you’re both Dominants,” she said, her voice steady despite her nerves.
“What does that mean?” Chris interrupted before she could continue.
“Well, Dominants are confident, powerful, natural leaders. They’re influential and take charge,” Marylou explained, trying to keep it simple.
Chris grinned, nudging Nick with an elbow. “Sick, bro, we’re powerful!” he said, and the two began hyping each other up, dabbing fists and giggling at their newfound shared identity.
Matt, however, stayed silent. Marylou glanced at him in the mirror, watching him bite his nails as he stared at his brothers’ excitement. Sensing Matt’s unease, Chris reached over and grabbed his hand, grounding him.
“Wait,” Chris said, his tone softening. “What does that make Matt then? A Submissive?”
Marylou hesitated before answering, her voice gentle. “Yes, sweetheart. Matt’s blue markings mean he’s a Submissive.”
Chris tilted his head in curiosity. “What does that mean? What’s special about Submissives?”
Marylou paused, glancing at Matt again. His face was still turned toward the window, but she could see his hand trembling slightly in Chris’s.
“Well…” she began slowly, “Submissives are quieter, more reserved. They’re followers—they like to help, to please. They thrive when someone is guiding them.”
The car went silent for a moment. Nick and Chris both turned to look at Matt, their gazes flickering between his face and the markings on his neck.
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” Nick said finally, his voice casual. “Matt’s always been the quiet one out of the three of us.”
“I just don’t get why we’re not all the same,” Chris said, frowning. “I mean, we’re triplets. Shouldn’t we all be the same?”
Marylou smiled softly, hoping to ease his confusion. “Just because you’re triplets doesn’t mean you’re identical in every way. You’re all unique, and that’s a good thing,” she said, her voice reassuring.
Matt still said nothing. He listened quietly, his mind spinning. Deep down, he had always known he was different from his brothers. But now he understood why—and judging by his mother’s hesitant tone, it wasn’t a good thing. Being a Submissive wasn’t celebrated like being a Dominant. It was just another reminder that he didn’t quite fit.