A Smooth Transition

A Smooth Transition is the fourth chapter of Season 2 of The Two Cats and the sixteenth chapter overall. This chapter explores Timberly's transition from being male to identifying as female.

Intro
Tomcat, Expi's old friend from Peakroll, is in the process of creating a co-operative animation group and is getting ready to take a trip to Anibi to help a member of the group get set up, and while doing so decides to stay at Expi and Mariko's apartment.

While getting packed, Tomcat tries on a particular suit in order to seem more professional, but it reminds him of his distaste of wearing men's clothes and makes him think of how he never really felt happy about being male. However, he keeps this secret due to fear of being judged by society.

Regardless, he decides to carry on. His dad drops him off at the airport, but as he goes through security, he is stopped by a security guard who is suspicious of the flash drive plugged into his laptop, but lets him continue after finding no traces of an explosive device.

Landing in Anibi
Meanwhile, Expi is cleaning the apartment in preparation for Tomcat's arrival. As she is vacuuming, Mariko tells her about using the television, to which she responds with a slight attitude. Expi then apologizes, saying she is worried about seeing Tomcat for the first time in years, and concerned that they may drift apart as friends. Mariko assures her that he'll just be happy to see her again.

Tomcat arrives at Expi's apartment at about 1:30 PM, driving over in a rental car. Tomcat and Expi meet up at the door, telling each other about how happy they are to see each other. Tomcat then looks over at Mariko, guessing that she is who he thinks she is, but Mariko sarcastically replies by telling him she's just a hobo off the street, to which Tomcat responds by telling her she has to leave then. Afterwards, Tomcat asks about going out to lunch, and Expi suggests Al's Yummy Burgers, to which they all agree to go.

Feeling Wrong
Over the next few days, Tomcat goes over to see his friend who he needs to get set up, however every day when getting dressed, he continues to feel that his body and gender identity don't match who he is and that he wasn't happy with the clothes he was expected to wear, ultimately coming to the conclusion that he hates being a "man." But this causes Expi to worry, as she can tell when Tomcat is feeling down, and she starts to wonder if they truly are drifting apart as friends and that Tomcat doesn't care about her anymore - her fears ultimately coming true.

The following Sunday, Tomcat's friend ends up spending the day with his family visiting a nearby monument, therefore Tomcat does not go up to meet him. Tomcat is still unhappy, and after being worried, Expi decides to ask them what's wrong. Tomcat reveals his feelings about not feeling right about his gender identity. Expi understands and assures that he should live how he wants. But Tomcat is wondering if he is just subconciously looking for attention and doesn't truly feel this way inside, and Expi decides to help him appear as a female.

The Transition
Expi goes in her room and finds a skirt that she hasn't worn since her job interview after moving to Anibi, and gives it to Tomcat, suggesting he tries it on. Tomcat goes in the bathroom and puts it on, before asking Expi if she has anything else. Expi finds some eyeshadow and cosmetic eyelashes in her room, and waits outside the bathroom for Tomcat to finish up as Mariko comes out of her own room.

Tomcat then comes out of the bathroom, and Expi tells her that she looks beautiful, calling her "Timberly," which ends up being her new name. Timberly tells Expi that she feels like herself, but is worried about how her friends and family will feel. Expi simply tells her to wait until she feels comfortable, and in the mean time, she'll give her "the treatment she deserves." However, Timberly tells her friend and dad about it, who are both happy with her. At the end, her dad tells her that he and his mother supports Timberly no matter what, regardless if she's their son or their daughter.

Trivia

 * This chapter is based off of ExpitheCat (the creator)'s own experiences of being transgender and transitioning to being female after being born male.
 * This is aided by the fact that Tomcat was her original "fursona" prior to creating Expi in 2016.
 * The chapter starts out by calling Timberly "Tomcat" and using "he/him" pronouns, but as it progresses begins referring to her as her post-transition name and with "she/her" pronouns.
 * The gag of the airport security being suspicious of Timberly's laptop and flash drive is a reference to an experience ExpitheCat herself had while bringing a laptop through airport security.