#this is canon btw. i make that rule since exorians are my creation

[b17ten]

i just spent an entire car ride thinking about the canonical gender and anatomy system in exorian society. nobody asked for this but here it is!

Pronouns: Pronouns are unaffiliated with physical traits, sex, or gender identification. Pronouns are a personal choice, or what your caretakers referred to you as. Changing these are not a big deal, and it isn't uncommon for Exorians to cycle through theirs or use multiple.

Anatomy: "Bite nobody asked for this" TOO BAD. Exorians are like any other mer -- reproductive anatomy varies depending on a multitude of factors, largely the aquatic characteristics. Some Exorians are more mammalian, while some are more aquatic in reproductive processes. HOWEVER. Exorian sex traits don't always align "properly." Exorians can be born with a variety of genitilia -- some for carrying young, some for giving young, some for both, some for neither. Some Exorians are born with the internal organs for reproduction but not the aligned external ones. (For example, born with a uterus but not the associated genitilia) Intersex (for lack of a better term) and infertile Exorians aren't uncommon and there isn't a prejudice one way or another against them.

Across Aquatic Species: Exorians, and I imagine other mer, can't reproduce with Exorians with entirely different aquatic species. If a fish and dolphin mer tried to reproduce, for example, it wouldn't work. Same with mammalian and mollusk, etc. That doesn't mean they can't be mates or companions, just that they're physically incapable of making more Exorians.

Mates vs. Companions: The companion system has always been loosely defined intentionally, because... that's how it works. Exorians don't have a concept of sexuality or love the way other merfolk do simply because it's not that easy for them anatomically or culturally. Companions are the selected individual (or individuals) an Exorian has deemed worthy to be by the side of. Every companionship is different: some may do physical affection, intimacy, or even become mates. Not all companions are mates. Mates are specifically there for reproductive or emotional purposes. Not all mates are companions, but they usually are. Some types of mer among Exorians have courting customs with their mates (fun fact, mer!Bite's family does mating bites!), but there's not a one universal one. Mates don't have to be of the same type of aquatic creature but usually are.

Gender and Sex: Don't really exist the way they do in human or overworld terms. There are too many different factors in the biological make up of Exorians and too many varients to make a list of gender identities or sexes. Some grow facial hair, breasts, etc., but it doesn't really correlate to whatever is in their pants lol.

Sexuality: Same as above. Your value as a good companion or mate is determined on how impressive of an Exorian you are. Sure, some folks have a type, but it's not based on gender or sex lol.