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]

C-can I turn around and help you up, please?!

[aquaticrush]

Okay... *Her eyes are shut tightly and she's trying to untangle herself into less of a half-dressed flailing heap.*

[unknownrival]

[Issei tries not to look at anything inappropriate as he gets Retasu off the floor.]

[aquaticrush]

*She fumbles and clings, eyes still closed. Blush!* I'm sorry.

[unknownrival]

No, no, it's okay.

[aquaticrush]

I, I just, I thought maybe I shouldn't look even though it's me.

[unknownrival]

You can look all you want to.

[aquaticrush]

It's scary. I-I mean, there's nothing wrong with, um, I mean, well, it's just, I, I've, um...

[unknownrival]

No, I understand what you mean, I've been there.

[aquaticrush]

I didn't really have this sort of thing in mind.

[unknownrival]

I'm sorry about the awkwardness.

[aquaticrush]

I'm the one who's scared of seeing a boy naked even if it's me.

[unknownrival]

I'm sorry anyway.

[aquaticrush]

Please don't apologize for things that aren't your fault.

*Maybe she should let go instead of clinging to him like he's a life preserver... and maybe she should open her eyes, though she quickly moves to only look at his face, trying to ignore the fact that she's still only half-clothed.*

[unknownrival]

Um. Would you like me to leave the room while you change?

[aquaticrush]

Y-you can if you want to. *Still attached, though...*

[unknownrival]

Please let go.

[aquaticrush]

*immediately detaches* I'm sorry!

[unknownrival]

It's okay, just... I'll be back later.

[Amscray.]

[aquaticrush]

*DDD8. Retasu resigns herself to trying to change clothes with her eyes open, although this still turns out very awkwardly and she almost falls over again given that she's still trying not to look at herself. She does eventually get the clothes on, though, and folds her dress up on the side of the bed.*

[unknownrival]

Can I come in...?

[aquaticrush]

Yes... *She fidgets with the clothes.*

[unknownrival]

[Enters.]

That's much better.

[aquaticrush]

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

[unknownrival]

So have you thought of what to do next?