How exciting!!! Well done -- that's so much cool progress!

With Hooper's gender identity, I wonder if it would make sense to similarly choose whatever gets you most motivated to write -- I can't tell if that's the thing you've currently decided or not. "Getting it right," whatever you choose, could be part of the scrubbing/polishing process.. if whatever you try doesn't work, you could edit back to something easier. Of course if you've decided to simplify because the more complicated thing doesn't get you feeling inspired to write, totally ditch it.

I'm looking forward to seeing what this grows into!