The insect reproduction is for viri isn't it? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I was trying to figure out a way to combine insect repro and human repro for the faeries, but I kinda couldn't explain it without them pausing what they were doing for Viri to explain. Which would feel silly and out of place. Because on the surface, Ad Lib would think that faerie repro is the same as human (or in his case cookie) repro. But it's...not.
So here's a really basic lesson on insect repro!!
Insects that fertilize INTERALLY (cause some fertilize externally and also diff types of asexual repro is a thing) work differently mechanically, but it's also the same sperm fertilizies egg that we're used to. It just varies depending on the species.
Once the sperm is deposited, its stored in this little section called the spermathecae, where it can stay there from weeks to years (again, depending on the insect). When the time for ovulation comes, sperm leaves the spermathecae and meets the eggs, where they are fertilizied. Once fertilization is complete, the eggs are layed and embryonic development begins!
(Sperm is also deposited using these "packages" of sperm called spermatophores. With these packets, their lipo-protein coat is broken down and used as nutrients for eggs. Though, from my understanding, this process isn't in all insects that fertilize interally. Spermatophores are also something used by more basal species for external fertilization, but in a different way. It's something that's stuck around from when everything was in water, and was just repurposed for interal fertilization.)
So really the best way I can describe it for Viri specifically is that internally, things work a little differently. For faeries, things are about the same as insects, minus dying after getting freaky cause no. The longest it can take fertilization to occur is a month and the shortest like. a week. Depends on when ovulation occurs. Their protections spells basically make it that as soon as sperm enters the body, it "dies" and can't perform fertilization when the time comes.
I am also not an expert on anything insect ever, so this is the simplest (and most general) way I can explain it without pulling out a shit ton of terminology that everyday people don't know. If I got something wrong, that's on me.
(all of this info is from my uni's general entomology page and wikipedia!)
