crowspace | [Open post, setting intentionally left vague.]

[Honestly, Cherryblod doesn't think much of the change.

All shrimp start out as males physically and turn physically female sometime in their adulthood. Some think of themselves as men all their lives, some decide that their mind matches their body now. His parents had both called themselves his mothers, and his grandfather had staunchly refused to call himself anything other than a man. It depended on the shrimp, but everyone went through the physical changes.

When it happened to him, Cherryblod didn't see the need to tell anyone except for Doloz. They couldn't have any more children, but Doloz understood, and no matter what his physical sex they loved each other dearly. He didn't feel mentally different, and his suits still fit alright with some minor adjustments, so he just lived as he always did, for many years.

Right now, Cherryblod is changing out of his suit and into something more comfortable. He's just about to put on some pants when someone opens the door to his room.

He turns a bright red and covers his chest with his arms, but it's almost certainly too late to hide anything.]

Could you knock?

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[That's a relief. He'd worried she might be too unnerved by the revelation to hug him.]

I missed you too. Did you have fun on your trip?

[Nothing could ever keep her from dad hugs.]

I did! We traveled really far. I got to meet a lot of really interesting people. A couple of them were Witches. They're very different. [Wadanohara, being the first Witch Lobco had ever met, and the one she had known the longest kind of set the bar. She thought all of them would be as nice as her, and while Chlomaki could be a bit difficult sometimes she still had a good heart.

Seemed like they were more exceptions.

But Lobco wasn't going to get into details right now since there was a much more pressing matter.]

Um. So. [How to go about this? She didn't want her dad to feel bad or awkward but. She kind of did really want answer.] How about you and mom?

Same as always. Your mother's out buying a cake mix for your return, she'll be back soon.

[Awkward pause. Cherryblod's not sure how to go about this, it seems like there's no easy way to address the matter.] ...Have I ever told you anything about the shrimp life cycle?

[Daw, Mama ;w;

Lobco's relieved that he's taking the reigns on this conversation and she gives a shake of her head.]

I don't think you have. [Considering she had taken more after her mother, she'd grown up learning more about lobsters.]

Well, it looks like I should have earlier. [He clears his throat.]

You see, shrimp, or at least most species of shrimp, are all born male. Every last one of them.

[...huh. Imagine that. But that just made things a little more confusing.]

Then why..?

Sometime when they're adults, after fathering one or two children, each of them turns physically female. I went through the Switch... oh, a while back.

[He's pretty nonchalant about this. It happened to his family, and if he had any reservations he got used to it a long time ago.]

[Considering how diverse their kingdom was hearing about this was incredibly strange, and shocking, but mostly just because it effected someone so close to her. It clear up the question about shrimps could still have offspring despite them all being born male.]

I always wonder why you and mom never decided to have another kid. [She thought they would have loved to have a big family.]

Now you know. Would you like a sibling?

[They could still adopt one, maybe.]

It'd be nice. I think I'd like to be a big sister.

[It'd be nice to have someone to look after and dote on.]

I'll talk to your mother about it when she comes home.

[Anything for his darling Lobco!]

[Lobco gave a small laugh. It'd be something nice for all of them to talk about.]

So should I still call you Dad? Or do you prefer Mom? [She figured the former, considering this hadn' tbeen brought up before but it didn't hurt to ask.]

I'm still your Dad, the same as always.

[It's just that he hasn't got the same body he did when he fathered Lobco. Nothing else has changed, really.]

Dad it is.

[It does make her curious]

May I ask something?

Anything you want.

What was the change like? [It seemed like a pretty big deal, but she supposed if it happened to your entire species, and you knew it was coming it wouldn't be as drastic as it might seem to her or others.]

I just slept through it and woke up differently. That's what usually happens.

[It might be a bit of shrimp magic.]

[Well that kept things simple! Though having it happen so suddenly could also be alarming. Whatever the case may be, Cherry seems perfectly fine with it, so Lobco is too.]

Well, I'm glad this was all natural. I had wondered if something happened while I was gone. But everyone was good?

Perfectly fine, bored if anything. Your mother will be thrilled to see you.

[Open post, setting intentionally left vague.]

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