"Shane, this is Eileen. Jen’s cousin."
Shane observed the bashful girl. She had nice features, that were mostly hidden by her posture and lack of confidence. Except, they explained together, Eileen is transgendered. Shane made a mental note to use masculine pronouns, as he got the idea of were this was going to. Pete was speaking more calmly than Shane could recall ever seeing him. He said that Eileen and Jen are close cousins : they have been since childhood, being roughly the same age. This is why Jen and Pete are amongst the only few people to whom he told about his gender identity. He is not ready yet to discuss it with his parents, scared that this would be an awkward, if not conflictual conversation.
"I kinda always new, but I shoved it in the back of my mind, trying not to think of it. It got harder by the day, until there was no way to deny it anymore."
He smiled apologetically. Shane exchanged a look with Pete. Neither of them actually had to come out, the Chronivac adjusting reality for them. But even in his memories, Shane didn’t remember feeling so anxious about his sexual preferences. It was as it was, and his parents accepted seemingly without any problem. Eileen spoke up again, after a few seconds of silence.
"I don’t know what to tell them if they ask questions. I’ve read stuff online and... I can’t imagine having to deal with my transition and my studies. Plus, I can’t seriously ask my parents to pay for it, it’ll ruin’em."
Eileen was tearing up, and Pete moved closer in and threw his arm behind the transgender kid’s shoulders.
"It’s OK, Eil. We are going to help you out, I told you."
"What you said on the phone, it’s impossible. It’s like magic."
"Let us try, at least". Pete sent a solemn look at his friend, and Shane complied. Phone in hand, he opened the Chronivac app. An ‘Updating’ message appeared for a moment, then the screen blinked and it said ‘Update Complete’. With that, Shane loaded Eileen’s profile on the phone. He noticed new symbols appeared next to every line. They looked like randomizers.
"I’ll have reality adjust to the changes, and us three be aware. Is that alright with you?" Two nods came from the sofa.
Name: Eileen Wickham
Age: 16
Gender: Male (Assigned female)
Ethnicity: Caucasian (33%), African-american (66%)
Height: 5'8
Weight 145lbs
Build: Svelte
Hairiness: Very Light
Status: Single
Sexual Preference: Pansexual
Breast size: A cup
Occupation: High School Student
Hobbies: Literature, softball, knitting, video games
Shane selected the sex assignment parenthesis and deleted it. The page uploaded itself instantly.
Name: Ferdinand Wickham
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Caucasian (33%), African-american (66%)
Height: 6’2
Weight 195lbs
Build: Svelte
Hairiness: Light
Status: Single
Sexual Preference: Pansexual
Penis size: 3" soft, 5,5" erect
Occupation: High School Student, Varsity Volleyball, Debate club
Hobbies: Literature, baseball, knitting, video games
Shane raised a brow. He expected some physical changes, but there were others that he didn’t expect. He put it on the account of a gained confidence for Eileen, soon-to-be Ferdinand, if he feels better with himself.
Eileen seemed nervous. Shane quickly looked up from his phone, a question rising in his mind.
"Do you like the name Ferdinand?"
Eileen sighed, an expression of disgust on her face, but also a bit of surprise.
"It’s such an ugly name. My parents wanted to give their son this name. Why do you ask?" She seemed a bit suspicious.
"It seems like they would go through with it if I alter reality so that you were born male. Assigned. Is there a name you would like for yourself?"
Taken aback, Eileen asked for a moment to think of it. He explained that he had think of different options, but didn’t really decide on anything yet. Peter offered his help :
"Sometimes I feel like talking about it with someone helps me take a decision."
Eileen agreed, and Shane heard them talking about the reasons for choosing Owen, then explaining what he liked in Callum or Caleb, before continuing on with her list of possibilities, sometimes coming back to one she already mentioned.
Meanwhile, Shane was absentmindedly looking at the profile. He could change more than just his name : he could tweak with the other stats to make him more to his liking, within anyone knowing about it, or he could offer Eileen to pick the ones he wants to become the man he wants to be.