John, male (40-ish)

My name is John. Or it is by default: sometimes I go by Joan.

So, like obviously I'm a man. But I've never really bought into being like, a 'Man', a 'regular guy'.

Now... I was never the kind that was tempted to cross-dress. It didn't feel like that would fit who I was. I don't even wear nail polish, even though it looks like I could get away with it now, if I wanted to. But when it came to watching sports, talking about what actress I'd like to shag, chatting up women, that kind of thing... I always was put off by it.

Maybe that's why a lot of people thought I was gay growing up. I never knew why: I thought my interest in girls would be obvious. I'm sure it was pretty obvious to one or two in the years gone by. I never worked up the nerve to talk to them, so I'm sure they dismissed me as some creep.

Well, all those people who thought I was gay... Maybe they did pick up on _something_ . But I like women all right. Maybe a bit too much? Like I always picked Chun-Li in Street Fighter II, and thought Cheetara was very obviously the best ThunderCat... Ah never mind, it's all weird pre-Internet stuff to all of you, you wouldn't understand. Just humour your Millennial Elder.

If I had the words when I was younger, I definitely would have lept at the idea of being non-binary. In the end I sort of mellowed into being a nerdy guy with messy hair. I was basically okay with it. I even developed a taste for beer, and I drank fewer daiquiris. (Daiquiris are more expensive anyway, and it was hard to find a place that did a decent strawberry flavor.)

So, when I picked up the device, and the very first thing it did was present me with the choice of being a woman, I didn't recoil in horror like I imagine some guys might.

I don't know if it was part of the technology of the device, that kept me from dropping it in shock, but somehow I didn't immediately drop it. It then offered me all sorts of weirdly specific options, like '80s synthpop coming back into fashion and cheddar cheese possibly being soft like brie. I think maybe it rifled through some of my subconscious preferences. Weirdly, whatever surreal idea popped intrusively into my head, there was always some feeling of there being a stipulation of my gender changing.

Now, I'm not a young guy, not any more. I didn't know what the hell was happening. I sure as fuck wasn't jumping right in. Which is why I hastily put the device in my pocket to deal with later.

I pocketed it rather than put it back down though. I wasn't going to set Infinite Cosmic Power aside that lightly. No matter what bizarre conditions it set.