Questions for meta, thoughts and inspiration

[epeeblade]

I've been keeping a running tally on questions for the Kept verse, because this universe gets me all thinky. I'm honestly interested in discussion, and heck, if any of these concepts inspires someone to write more fic -- awesome! ;)

At least one of them has been answered in fic, but the majority haven't. And for the first one, I'm debating writing a fic to explore that possibility, but haven't had the time yet...(story of my life...)

- There is no manumission, but is there allowance for someone who is enslaved wrongly? - incorrect debt, identity theft, legal case in appeal?



- If a slave bears the child of a master, is that baby still a slave?

- If a master bears the child of a slave, is that baby free or a slave?

Abortion - does it exist legally? Is it only for masters/the free? Would it be illegal to increase the work force? Can a master force a slave to have an abortion to keep down the number of mouths to feed? Can a slave request one? Is there a back alley business for slaves who don't want to have children who grow up to be slaves?

Marriage
- Is gay marriage allowed? (answered in fic)
- Can slaves marry? Is there an underground marriage -- ie the leaping over a broomstick
- Can a master marry his/her slave?

- Can you take a mortgage out on yourself? or use your own freedom as collateral? - if you don't pay back the loan in say 20 years, then your freedom is forfeit?

Comments

[epeeblade]

That's what I think. I mean, generally there's nothing genetic that sets one apart as a slave. Though now I'm imagining Commerce tagging slaves' DNA in some way...

[jadaryl.livejournal.com]

But if Commerce would tag a slave's DNA, couldn't that result in any children from before enslavement being enslaved as well?

Another thought... What if a pregnant woman is enslaved? Would the child be born free or as a slave? Would the father, if free, have the opportunity to contest the child's status?