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]

I mean it.

[aquaticrush]

But I mean what I say about you, too. Even when I'm like this you're helping me.

[unknownrival]

Why shouldn't I help you when you're like this?

[aquaticrush]

I-it's embarrassing, and it's weird and I'm probably bothering you with all my questions and how I get embarrassed so easily.

[unknownrival]

Would you help me when I was a woman?

[aquaticrush]

Of course!

[unknownrival]

So what's different?

[aquaticrush]

You have better things to do?

[unknownrival]

Not true.

[aquaticrush]

Thank you... *fidgets and shifts, looking like she wants to hug him but is too afraid to try*

[unknownrival]

Hug?

[aquaticrush]

*Face bright red.* R-really?

[unknownrival]

Really. I said so.

[aquaticrush]

But-- okay.

*Blush blush. She hesitates and goes to give him a loose, gentle hug, shifting as she isn't used to this body.*

[unknownrival]

[He hugs her slightly less loosely.] It's okay.

[aquaticrush]

*Slowly, Retasu wraps her arms tightly around him and presses up against him, face still red as she shifted and got used to the closeness and lack of space.*

Okay. It's okay.

[unknownrival]

Right, exactly. It's all right.

[aquaticrush]

*She breathes in and out, blushing like nothing else.*

Th-thank you... *Might be snuggling a little.*

[unknownrival]

[Might be snuggling back.] Of course.

[aquaticrush]

*bluuuuuuuuuuuush. She holds him for what feels like forever, even though it isn't much time at all.* You're so kind to me. I'll pay you back.

[unknownrival]

It isn't something you have to pay back.

[aquaticrush]

There's nothing you want?

[unknownrival]

Nothing.

[aquaticrush]

But I feel like I'm getting more out of this. *Eep. Was that too much to say?*

[unknownrival]

That's okay with me.