Fountain of Salmacis

[misheard]

The Fountain of Salmacis was known in classical times to have healing and rejuvenating properties. It also had a bad reputation, however, due to the pursuit of Hermaphroditus by the nymph Salmacis. The exact nature of the curse upon it is now unclear, but there are a few stories that have made it this far...

Ready for your RNG options? Or just pick one.

1. Effeminacy: Men who drank from the fountain of Salmacis were said to lose their manliness. Barbarians could be civilized into members of Greek society just from one sip. This applies to women as well - Salmacis herself was a Naiad who spent far more time bathing than hunting.
2. Orientation flip: Men who drank from the fountain were said to suddenly prefer other men to women, and the same went for women drinking from it. Now, if a gay man drank from the fountain, it only stands to reason that he'd prefer women, right? (Bisexuals can wait out in the hall.)
3. Hermaphroditic/Sexswap: Hermaphroditus is said, particularly in the excellent Genesis song "The Fountain of Salmacis", to have cursed the fountain to spread his condition to all who drank from it. Enjoy that drink of water giving you an extra set of parts. ...or maybe just a different one, if you're choosy.

Name and canon in the title, yada yada.

Comments

[unknownrival]

[Enters.]

That's much better.

[aquaticrush]

*Blush.* It's more comfortable, anyway.

[unknownrival]

So have you thought of what to do next?

[aquaticrush]

I don't know. How long will this last?

[unknownrival]

It should be over with quickly.

[aquaticrush]

I can't really go into work like this. I hope nobody gets upset with me.

[unknownrival]

Viruses have happened to you before.

[aquaticrush]

Even so, I think it wouldn't go well.

[unknownrival]

...It might be true.

[aquaticrush]

Issei-san?

[unknownrival]

Well, I just was remembering being a woman myself...

[aquaticrush]

Right, that was probably hard.

[unknownrival]

It happens, unfortunately.

[aquaticrush]

What do you think I should do?

[unknownrival]

Try to relax.

[aquaticrush]

R-right. Relax. Don't be scared. Right.

[unknownrival]

It will be all right. I promise.

[aquaticrush]

What did you do when you turned into a girl?

[unknownrival]

The first time? I got a hotel room.

[aquaticrush]

A hotel room? Why? *blink*

[unknownrival]

My family didn't know about the community, or viruses.

[aquaticrush]

That makes sense. Mine does, but just because they have to...

[unknownrival]

Mine does now. There's no way I could have hid it.

[aquaticrush]

What kinds of things should I remember while I'm, ah, male?

[unknownrival]

Well... Try not to squish them or anything, that hurts.