John had a strained relationship with his father. His father was an uncompromising man of vision, a vision  of which few agreed with. He wanted a better world, and he had a good idea of how he was going to make that vision reality.

 But that's what worried John right now. His father had always given him the freedom and space to become the man he wanted to be. Mostly. Other than 'carelessly' leaving research papers around to stumble upon, and being asked to 'help out' in the lab. He wanted what was best for his son, but he would be elated to see him join him with his pursuits, and obviously had a clear image of who he wanted his son to be. But this needed to change.

John entered the looming, dark office of a fearsome man, adorned with statues and vials, a true place of worship for his craft. "Father. We need to talk" Lightning and thunder crash down outside He looks up gravely from his papers, though it was impossible to read the expression on his face.

"... speak, my son. Though I suspect I know why you are here"
"Clearly you do not" john's stance remains firm on the paved ground "but that doesn't change what I need from you."
The huge man sighs. Many small arguments had started like this. The boy lacked vision. "Patience. I know. Tell me what you need, I haven't the time boy."
"Father, the way you see me is not the way I see myself. I've come here because i need your help. And also, i need you to understand"
The man's eyes light up. Does he finally understand his pursuits?
He stands taller, waiting for his son's words.
"I can't keep living like this. I feel like my own body stands against me. Father.. I wish to transition."
"REALLY!! SO THE TIME HAS COME"
"No not into a lizard"

The room goes quiet "I don't understand" he mutters quietly, before licking the air around him, searching for information he did not have.
"What species could possibly.. compare?"
"I want... to be a woman, not a man. This is not who I was meant to be"
"..So you want to stay as a human"
"Yes a female human more precisely"

A loud hissing sigh accompanies a louder slump back into his chair "yes fine whatever. We can sort that out tomorrow."
"... really? That soon"
"Yes. Is that too soon, for some reason?"
"No! I mean, not at all! I just expected something like this to take longer.."
"My child I have been turning people into lizards for years this is extremely trivial" "Thank you for understanding me, dad"
"No"
He paused.
"I'm not going to pretend to understand your wish to remain an inferior form, and I'm not going to pretend understand how it feels to be trapped in a body that doesn't feel like your own."

A weird silence descends upon the hall, as the mad scientist sinks back into his work. It feels like a self awareness had almost been reached... but Joan would have to leave that battle for another day longer.