feinting velves

The problem, for Taion, was not that he was confused about what he wanted to be, to become. He understood social transitioning, hormone replacement therapy, even some rudimentary gender-affirming surgeries. Everything available at the clinic in the form of a pamphlet or a consultation he had absorbed readily.

Anybody who wanted to transition had his full approval and respect, as they naturally should, and the IRIS pronouns feature the City had made available absolved all difficulty. If people wanted to turn off their pronouns, as well, they could.

The problem was not the process, it was the purpose. Why would anyone want to do such a thing? Was it not frivolous?

What was so different about being a woman, versus a man? He had gathered that procreation was easier, simpler, between two people assigned opposite sexes at birth, and that some factions in the City were dismissive, if not derisive, of same-sex or -gender couples, but those naysayers and practicalities aside...why?

Taion didn't much like to rely on Eunie for anything, even now, if he could get away with figuring it out on his own, but this bit had him stumped.

So: "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" Eunie constantly spoke as if she had a mouthful of food, but she never had quite the same meathead aura as Lanz.

"Transition. What made you decide to do it?"

"Oh. Well..." She pondered a moment, itching at the bases of her wings in aid of cognition. Or maybe her wings just itched. Taion had often been a victim of an itchy scalp himself.

"I dunno. Thinking about it now, it'd make sense that I liked girls so much I wanted to be one. But I didn't know I liked girls, right? So...just one of those things about me. Would explain the short hair, too, I guess. Though most of us had that in one way or another. Even Ethel."

Taion nodded. This seemed in line with everything else he'd learned. Just an innate sense of euphoria one either had or didn't.

"Hey. Are you questioning?"

"Your intelligence?" But he said it with a smile, and Eunie was grinning too as she shoved his arm. "I suppose I must be."

The grin softened, preceded as it had been by Eunie's somewhat-gentle probe. "I'm tryin' to think of things I can say to help, but I feel like I've forgotten them all."

"That's what I mean! It's all so nebulous."

"Listen, girl's gotta do what she's gotta do."

Taion felt a flush creep up his cheeks as he realized who the resigned yet determined "girl" was meant to be.

"...try that again, Eunie?"

"You alright, love?"

Now she nearly squeaked.

More winged grins, and a sing-song: "I've got a girl and Taion is her name..."