In this universe everyone is born as a dominant, submissive, or switch. Dominants and submissive are rated using a 1-10 scale of how intense their need for doming/subing are. People are rated by specialists reading markers in their blood. Someone is a dominant if they have dominant markers only. Someone is a submissive if they have submissive markers only. And someone is a switch if they have both. Your rating (1-10) is determined by the intensity and amount of markers. A level 1 is barely a dom/sub and does not need to “scene” frequently. A level 10 is the most dominant/submissive. A level 10 needs to scene a few times a week to remain healthy. A level 10 dom needs a great deal of control over their sub, and a level 10 sub needs to submit more intensely and frequently. Level 10s tend to have more “hard” and “dark” kinks. The results of not “scening” when needed are at first similar to the flu, and intensify the longer a dom/sub goes without. For level 10s, it can be near fatal.