#AU Hermes fights for Odysseus

[jazzy-a]

AU where Hermes really IS the one who fights for Odysseus and is not the one who shows up for "Dangerous."

In this version- it turns out that when Athena said goodbye, she meant it. She can't (or won't) help Odysseus after the cyclops incident, leaving him to fend for himself.

But Athena isn't the only divine being whose gifts Odysseus partakes in. During the Circe Saga, Hermes fills the void of Athena, choosing to aid his great-grandson by fostering his unique skills of wit and trickery. (It's like wisdom-- just faster, darling! And don't be afraid to have a bit of fun with it.)

After the Thunder Saga, Hermes loses track of Odysseus, however, and spends time intermittently searching for him. When he finds him with Calypso, he decides he'll steal him away from the island, but is stopped by a barrier created by Zeus that prevents anyone (even a god) from entering, forcing him to confront his father directly. Hermes uses his cleverness to convince the other gods during "God Games"-- but, this time, he'll also have to convince Athena. (She would possibly take Ares' place in the song or Aphrodite, so that Hermes would have to face both gods of war). (Instead of tell your "lover" something, the line would change to tell your "brother" most likely.)

While successful with the others, Hermes, unfortunately, isn't quick enough to avoid getting thunderbolted by his father, though. The saga ends with bloody feathers floating to the ground...

Cut to the Vengeance saga where Athena takes Hermes' place to release Odysseus and sings "Dangerous" with a few obvious changes that cater to her teachings of strategy, etc. Odysseus is grateful, but confused about why Athena has come back to help him after leaving so many years ago. She tells him she didn't come back for him, however....

[zarnzarn]

1/2/3/4

reverse Odyssey au where polites is still on the ships when Poseidon arrives, and that last bit is enough to push Odysseus to beg him to stop, to spare the men he spent ten long years fighting hard and bitter to save. 593 men is no less amount after all, not for a small island like Ithaca, only three generations old. he'll do anything, anything at all, blind him, torture him, kill him- just let his men go; they were not the ones to blame.

Poseidon considers, staring down at the king with the odd grey eyes that he knew the origin of. Athena would be furious, after all- so why not take away the one thing her favoured pet was known for?

the crew rushes towards their captain, their king, as shouting emerges from the other boats, as he hits the deck convulsing, grasping at his throat. the cries of his men rend the air as his legs melt into oceanspray, remerging as a fish's tail, Odysseus gasping for air wildly, his tongue a mess of mangled flesh on the main deck, unable to talk or breathe.

they have no choice but to pick him up and tip him into the sea, and they watch in horror as he falls beneath the waves and with a flick of the tail, disappears.

six hundred men chase their king down, following the odd silver glint that appears once in a while above the blue water, following the strange cursed monster that Elepnor sees when he falls drunk into the ocean one day. follow him all the way back to Ithaca, where the people gather on the shore to cheer their arrival.

telemachus is all of ten and untameable at the return of his father's ships, running past the guards and the priests to the dock, where the soldiers and heroes are all setting down the ramps, strangely quiet, unsmiling in the face of ten years of gore and bloodshed being done. Penelope catches up to him, laughing as she cranes her head up, scanning the ships to see which one- which one had-

she only has to time to see euroluchus' shame-filled tears and polites guilty devastation, feeling her heart slowly sink to the ground, when there's suddenly a splash and an outburst of screams and propped up on the dock is a man with a fish's tail and familiar curls and razor-sharp teeth and eyes that are solid grey. the soldiers cry out in horror and thunder down the ramps to them as the monster reaches out- and Penelope can't do anything, frozen, as it reaches out and places a webbed hand with deadly claws on her son's cheek, caressing almost; and her breath catches when it looks back up to her, and she knows the face as well as her own, knows the grief and fear and knows it is her husband-

Then the pounding footsteps from the closest ships and the guards behind reach them, and Penelope only has time enough to scream to stay their weapons, already shoving Telemachus behind her and reaching out to shield off any spears or arrows from battle-strung men who'd shoot first and ask questions later-

Instead she only feels the brush of cold skin under his fingertips for the briefest of moments and then she's caught up in a fisher's net, tangled and alone. More nets are thrown, men crying out for their captain with desperation and fear, Polites running straight past her and leaping off the dock to swim after him-

But her husband is a descendant of Hermes, and Odysseus is gone.

Penelope listens to the story that night and does not cry, sitting straight-backed in the face of her family sobbing around her, of the five hundred and ninety-three men staring at her with grief and guilt alike, of being the only widow in the kingdom. Pets Telemachus' wild hair and remembers his father's, and thinks.

"You have told me much," She says finally. "But I'm still to hear a single, solid plan."

The room rustles as all the heads swing to her.

"Plan?" Eurylochus says finally. Anger burns as soon she looks to him, but she pushes it down firmly- rage will not win her anything.

"Yes. A plan," she says, "To bring my husband back home."

Telemachus unfolds at her feet and stares up at her with a hopeful grin, echoed slowly on the faces of the men around the room. Penelope smiles back.

"My husband spent ten years fighting for his people to make it back home," She proclaims. "Let's wait at least that long before we give up on him, yes?"

The answering cheer shakes the walls of the palace and echoes through the streets of Ithaca.

[fangirlingpuggle]

Dumb Epic AU where Odysseus doesn't kill the infant in the middle of just a man realizes that while he's singing and lamenting choice Zeus isn't paying attention and very slowly hides infant and pretends to kill him.

When Gods run in with Odysseus like '...Is that Hectors son?' Odysseus just keeps bluffing like '...No... this is a different baby totally different'

Also Circe pretty much demanding to babysit during Underworld saga because 'YOU FUCKING MORON IF YOU WILLING TAKE A BABY TO THE UNDERWORLD YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER 2 MORE GODS TRYING TO KILL YOU'

Bonus (Because suddenly couldn't stop thinking about Circe in this AU): This leads to them going back to Circe's island after underworld saga she takes one look at Odysseus post monster breakdown and is like... yeah no, you just stopped me from killing (and probably later eating your men) we are taking a deep breath and not going full murder mode ok, ok.

Circe tags along on ride back to Ithaca because 1) Fuck Poseidon 2) Odysseus is clearly about to have a breakdown 3) Fuck Poseidon 4) Odysseus got Hermes to agree to watch her Island because in his own words this will be fucking hilarious and again 5) Fuck Poseidon.

This leads to no siren slaughter, Circe there are other ways them flirting with them. When they say layer of Scylla the either

A) If we go with the myth of Circe cursing Scylla it's awkward, the crew trying to sail around while Scylla targets to Circe while Circe works on reverse spell, cue Scylla turning mostly back human helped on board and then fist fight with Circe (Then Scylla is just around for rest of story)

Or B) If Circe isn't involved... cue there are other waysing her... just Circe flirting with Scylla in full beast mode while the others slowly row them through.

When they do get back to Ithaca Odysseus hearing about suitors and just like '...you know the pig thing I get it... do your thing' Odysseus reunites with Penelope and Telemachus introducing them to Astyanax while Circe deals with suitors.

(Bonus Circe is about to head back to island when meets a certain priestess called Cassandra 'HEY DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO MY ISLAND WITH ME?')

[a-bottle-of-tyelenol]

time loop!au where odysseus is forced to continuously attempt to get home alive and he realizes that, no matter how hard he tries, he simply cannot save polites. it is weaved in the very fabric of his existence, his fate, and the only way that odysseus can ever get home is if polites does not come with him.

if it isn’t the cyclops, polites dies trying to protect his friends from the laestrygonians. if it isn’t the laestrygonians, he dies to poseidon’s hand as an example for odysseus’ disrespect. if it isn’t poseidon, he dies fighting circe because hermes is no longer there to help. if it isn’t circe, he dies fighting the souls of the underworld. if it isn’t the underworld, he dies falling for the siren’s song. if it isn’t the siren, he dies being struck by zeus’ lightning. if it isn’t lighting— oh, who am I kidding? it’s always the lightning.

polites will never make it— he can never make it. he falls victim to the narrative, the words of fate that dictate odysseus a hero in his own right. odysseus can only change if polites dies and he can only go home if he changes. with polites alive, he can never internalize what his morality means to him. with polites alive, he can never question his own judgment. with polites alive, odysseus remains fractured from the war and has no reason to fix it since, after all, you can still see yourself in a broken mirror.

it is no longer about choosing whose blood is on his hands, it’s about choosing which face he would rather see for the rest of his life. at least polites will only haunt his dreams.

[nonbinarylocalcryptid]

I'm gonna give you all (and at the same time, write It all down for my future self) an inside of how my writing process works feat. ADHD and sponsored by the autistic hyperfixation of the moment

*insert Professor Layton puzzle music*

Picture the #daddy Odysseus AU/Astyanax lives, now think about the timeline, how does that work? Allow me to bring up the following points/establish some sort of timeline:

-The kid must be ten years old by the time Odysseus reach Ithaca or the math won't be mathing and we can't have that

-This whole scenario must be as much Canon Compliant as possible. "But Morgan, the Odyssey has many adaptations!" Well my fellow Tumblr users, that's why we are sticking to Epic: The Musical; that, greek mythology and the power of fanfic make a dangerous yet powerful combination. And memes, a lot of memes.

-Keep in mind Zeus wants Astyanax dead because "it's the will of the gods", aka I'm inmortal and bored and it's way more dramatic this way

-Poseidon wants him dead because Zeus wants him dead. Odysseus, dude, how do you dare to defy a god's orders by keeping a baby alive???

-So the father and son duo has pissed off two major gods, Eurylochus is having an aneurism, Polited welcomes the kid with Open Arms (evil laugh)

-The musical goes as we know but with a toddler, chaos guys, chaos everywhere, so much things to write...

-My brain keeps telling me Astyanax starts teething by the time they leave the island in the sky, so not only have Odysseus to keep an eyes on the bag-that-does-not-contain-treasure he also is kept awake by a crying baby

-Tiresias is quite surprised that Odysseus keep the kid but this is greek mythology and at this point, in John Mulaney's wise words, this may as well happen.

-Little Astyanax can't not hold a sword because it's way too heavy for him, but the Odyssey is dangerous so let's give him a KNIFE and a BOW

-Also he's sassy, like, really sassy

-Odysseus is doing what he can, but lmao, try to raised someone in the middle of the Odyssey

-Let's pepper in some beautiful moments of paternal love because that's why we are here

-Odysseus has the mission to raise this kid with the perfect balanced of the Ruthlessness nad Open Arms philosophies, which is complicated because he is busy dealing with crysis after crysis and it's also hypocrital of him, he's way more ruthless with every day it passes.

-To maximize ✨DRAMA��, Astyanax must learn about what happened in Troy and who he is (because guys, this is greek mythology, let's make it dramatic)

-Astyanax's opinion of the gods is quite cynic (can't blame him *cough cough* Zeus *cough cough*), but he still likes a few

-Because of the point above, this smol boy filled with rage and raised by Odysseus (dangerous combination) it's going to have a certified teenage rebellion and flee away in the middle of the night™ after facing Scylla and right before Mutiny and Thunder Bringer. This way, he can have a yelling match with his father figure, and Odysseus will face his crew alone etc

-I'm still working out in the how, but Astyanax will go back to Circe's island, and Circe will give out some really good advice and a power up, maybe even Hermes would stir up the pot a bit because damm, this shit is hilarious may as well fuck it all up a bit more.

-Astyanax reunites with Odysseus while he is fighting Charybdis, beautiful father and son moment blah blah blah, Astyanax is still salty (cuz they are in the middle of the sea hehe) but the time away has allowed him to rethink stuff. He is also a little shit and always has been so expect a lot of jokes and dark humour about Troy (coping mechanisms and all that). Odysseus could barely handle his sarcasm before, now he has no chance, he rather fight Poseidon blindfolded.

-Talking about Mr Why Did You Blind My Son, they faced him together.

-As the chaotic little shit he is, Astyanax assists Telemachus in his fight against the suitors. Telemachus does not know who this feral kid is but this is not the moment to ask questions.

-Athena loves the little shit, much to her surprised.

-Angst with Happy Ending because of the power of fanfic and headcanons

-Everything else after this point is slice of life feat. comedy

-Odysseus and Athena reconcialiation of we riot feat. Telemachus' face when he realizes who his friend was.

-Maybe a young man Astyanax decides to reclaim his throne helped by Telemachus and backed up by Ithaca?

[eloquentlytired]

odysseus. sfw.

logan howlett x fem goddess reader

note: this is basically a circe x odysseus!au but also not moving according to the actual story. I've alternated the ending too. I've always wanted to write logan in such a theme/au so I'm happy that I did. it's short but still feeling satisfied. I also blame Madeline Miller for her amazing writing, just finished reading circe and I cried AGAIN. first tsoa and now circe.

warnings 4 this ?? bittersweet, hurt to comfort, reader is just a girl that's thousands of centuries old, logan is a worn out warrior, he'll never introduce himself in the story btw

“I heard my men came this way, my goddess. I mean no harm or to intrude but to only ask your assistance to find them.” His voice was soothing but raspy. His shoulders sunburned but prideful. Age was evidently catching up to him but he remained as handsome as other mortal men you'd witnessed before, although not plenty. You wondered if he would be any different but then you remembered the nature of all men before him and you mentally shook your head. He was just another pig to be.

You welcomed him to your home and offered him the best hospitality like you did to all of your guests. He ate as he spoke to you about a distant home he was missing, then his wife, and for a while you wondered if having a wife would make him less of a monster. But the men before him surely would have wives too, or loved ones, and if not most of them then some of them. Yet they had still been pigs.

He could sense your hesitation and you could sense his. At some point you noticed that he had not touched his wine — clever man he was. It was the wine that would cause him harm and he somehow knew. He kept twisting the full goblet in his hand without ever drinking from it, his mouth occupied by mere words of his trips and his suffering.

“You have not touched your wine.” You told him and his eyes glinted as he looked at you. He definitely knew.

“My goddess, if you'd allow me to speak honestly.” He said and you offered him a firm nod. You were fearless and he clearly liked that by the way he smiled at you. “My men. You have done something to them,isn't that right?”

A sly smile adored your features and to your surprise his own never disappeared.

“I let them in,fed them and cared for them. Yet they wished to steal from me.” You responded while circling him like a predator. That's what you were — and those stupid men were your prey.

“I have spoiled them. They're all idiots whose judgement has been clouded by the endless war.” The handsome man explained as he stroked his beard, his eyes following your every move. He turned with you as you circled him; as if this was a game. Perhaps it was.

“They are idiots and to that we may agree.” His smile grew at your words and he tilted his head slightly.

“I don't wish to fight you, my goddess. I see no reason to. Do you?” His goblet remained in his hand, untouched and filled to the brim. Despite him toying around with it, the wine never spilled from the cup.

“You knew about the wine.” You suddenly told him.

“And you know about the flower.” He shot back and the two of you exchanged glances longer than any season of time. Your face beamed with energy and warmth while your eyes moved like a prying serpent. His, on the other hand, were cautious but delightful to look at.

“Hermes gave it to you, did he not? And yet you haven't used it against me.” The man's next actions surprised you as he grabbed his satchel and threw it on the stoned floor. The roots of the flower, which was meant to go against you, were visible within the satchel.

You stared at the stranger in disbelief but he smiled again. Almost laughed.

“Like I said, respectful goddess, I see no reason to fight you. It's just not within reason to do so.” His words surprised you even more, how smooth of a talker he was but also how intelligent. Bards would die for this type of inspiration while others would sacrifice whatever for even half of his sentence’s worth. “My men are stupid but they mean no harm. The Trojan war has corrupted their minds but also I, their captain, have failed to properly teach them manners. They're young.” He took a step forward but you didn't cower. He appreciated that.

“Get to your point, mortal.” You said while raising your chin with pride, challenging him with your gaze.

He grinned and his teeth showed. “All I ask is to get my men back. In return, I will offer whatever I can to you.”

You thought about the events unfolded ever since your birth. How little you knew for your age; so old you'd forgotten it yourself. You were the daughter of a Titan, not newborn divinity. You knew what mistakes were better than anyone and you had learned, one way or another, to distinguish good from bad. This man was neither.

And then the agreement was made.

His men were back to their original humane forms and dined happily downstairs, finally at ease. You let them for the sake of the man that had charmed you with his words and brains.

“Our agreement.” That familiar raspy voice called out to you and you turned around, staring at his form on the doorway. He was leaning against it like he'd been here before but it didn't insult you.

He approached you slowly, one step after the other. His face hovered closely over yours as he spoke again. “One kiss.” The man repeated what you'd requested of him that night but before he could complete his pay, you stopped him.

He froze upon feeling your fingers upon his lips and his eyes stared at you — more worried than feared.

“I changed my mind.” You whispered as your fingers caressed his lips, chapped and rough. The man remained still as he listened. “I ,once, turned a girl into a monster for supposedly taking away a man I loved. I don't want to do the action which I punished someone for.”

The man nodded then smiled. “I have not met a woman wiser than you,my lady.”

His words brought a smile to your face, one that wasn't sly or contained hidden meanings. It was simply an act of delight.

“All this just to see her?” You couldn't help but ask, referring to his wife.

“Yes.” He answered with pride, and most importantly love, in his eyes. You dragged your fingers from his lips to his cheek and he leaned into your touch willingly.

“I don't know what that's like. To have a husband that actually loves you. All the men around me were never good to their wives.” You told him and something swirled in his orbs — rage.

“Then they were fools.” He whispered. “Even bigger fools for not treasuring you.”

You buried your face into his neck and he let you. His touch was warm and gentle, one arm hugging your waist while the other cradled the back of your head. The touch was so careful, almost fatherly, and you could not remember the last time someone had treated you so gently. So kindly.

You cried in his arms as he held you until the moonlight shed its final moments.

“I will need a few days to fix our ship—”

“Stay.” You cut him off. “As long as you need."

He nodded while tightening his arms around your smaller frame, his large hand still cradling the back of your head as if trying to ease the thoughts that weighed it down.

No matter what, you would help him and the others get home.

[polyhexianbirb]

OOKOSJEKJ SO I HAVE AN AU FOR EPIC I call it the Double Mulan au.

So Penelope, who is blessed by Ares does a Mulan and dresses in Odysseus's armour and head to war disguised as him. She cuts her hair and binds her chest and Ares gives her a gift that will make her voice deeper than it is. She can fight bc she is Spartan ofc.

But there cant be two Odysseus's running around, so when Odysseus realises she is gone, he starts dressing like her and pretending to be her, and he looks after Telemachus. He keeps the country in tact and gets to stay with his son, and Athena teaches him to weave. Just for authenticity's sake, he also grows his hair, and Athena gives a similar gift to him that Ares gave Penelope, just to make his voice more feminine.

Au notes down below:

And i have a whole plan for this au like. Penelope still gets gifted the Moly by Hermes bc he can respect the dedication to the bit. Penelope only reveals herself as a woman during Other Ways bc Circe had thought it was a man's chest and disnt mean to touch actual women Boobas how embarrassing--

Oh and the Cyclops thing is different. Penelope doesn't care enough about her crew and Ares is all about the passion of war (which is why he and Aphrodite are a thing, they're both passion and ugliness and desire and red and blood) eo he gets upset that she didn't care to bring back the dead bodies of the crew. She still yells Odysseus's name to puss of Ares, except literally only Ares and Athena know about the swap rn so Poseidon is just forever angry at the wrong person.

Sirens well just say that the only person to see the illusion is the person they're targeting, so only Penelope sees Odysseus, the others just see a siren. Otherwise it'd make Odysseus look like a second Narcissus. And she still kills them.

"I see your man with a wife who is haunting, a lady with a trail of bodies"

"WHO?"

Calypso is just happy to have someone there. She definetly knows this is a woman, but Penelope still tries to keep up the ruse. By God Games the gods who were all in it all found out by now about the switch, and hold up lemme wrote their arguments:

Apollo: she fought against Troy, she is one of the main reasons one of his temples is in disarray! How dare she! Plus the prophecies state Odysseus should've been the one to fight, that didn't happen though!

Hephestus: she literally didn't care, like seriously. His argument mostly stays the same, and Ares finds it hard to defend her on this one, because yeah, her family is her main priority, but she's passionate about them at least?

Aphrodite: my man is weak to Aphrodite. Her argument is that she left her beloved alone, disappearing to the middle of the night with no word of where she went, that isn't love, she disnt even say a proper goodbye. He tries to say that she loved him enough to leave, and Aphrodite is like 'you're lucky I love you, we're having such great ******** tonight"

Athena: she is upset because Odysseus has been alone, Penelope is cunning yes, but her champion was meant to be the one in the war, not Ares's he stole her spotlight, her champion is suffering now, and he should deal with the consequences. He basically uses logic against her, saying she is being emotional for a change and explains that if Penelope stays away, Odysseus will just keep suffering.

Hera: "look how much she loves him! They're so in love they think alike! They have both been loyal!" And Hera ofc eats that shit up.

And I feel like for Odysseus's side of things he couldn't really teach Telemachus too much in fighting, bc the suitors are there messing with everything. Instead of Athena helping Telemachus in a fight it's Ares, an then when he sees how stressed Odysseus is, how far the charade has gone, he realises Penelope has to get home.

Oh and Penelope definetly makes some Poseidon Sashimi on the way home.

[nothing-impt]

ok, sso.... I've been seeing a lot of warrior! Penelope AUs(as I should) but since your blog is a little more Telemachus ccentric, I've been wondering, if there was a Warrior! Telemachus AU, how do you think that would go?

Hmmm.. I haven't actually thought about that up until this Ask! Thanks Anon! All jokes aside on my Substitute Mentor AU, if there was a Warrior! Telemachus AU, I would really love for Dionysus to be his mentor.

While Odysseus is stuck on the ocean on the way home and Athena being salty over their falling out, Dionysus would possibly mentor Telemachus to defend the throne in Ithaca at Hermes' request.

Epic Telemachus has a more naive and kind disposition, but Warrior! Telemachus would be more unpredictable and possibly violent (Dionysus is the god of Madness) I personally would think that after one of the banquets where the suitors were feasting in their palace, Telemachus would just slaughter them. Dionysus is kind of unpredictable, so I suppose Telemachus would use an impromptu weapon he can find on hand, aka like a bone of a bull they were eating. (I mentioned it before, Dionysus' skill would be Liquid Courage, giving Telemachus a rush of adrenaline before he gets into any kind of fight.)

These are just my rambles. Let me know what you think!

[fairytale-luka]

Epic: The Musical AU idea

Instead of Athena being Odysseus mentor, it's Aphrodite. I called it 'Warrior of The Heart AU'

Athena's 'Quick Thought' is 'Instant Love' for Aphrodite, it's basically the same. Just with more pink and love aspects, and instead of a hourglass it's a harp. Athena challenge of the boar is a dove for Aphrodite.

Aphrodite will have the ability to transform into sea foam like in Neal Illustrator animatic. She can also summon roses(vines, flowers, thorns, and petals), inspired by Noir.Hycainth animatic

Aphrodite uses a battle axe, it's larger than her because I love that trope. She decorated her axe with ribbons and flowers. Her axe is called 'Beauty of War'. Her fightung style is based on Aikido, a Japanese fighting style. Odysseus will have aspects of this style in his fighting because of Aphrodite

Also this Aphrodite is the war goddess version of her. She also didn't start the Trojan War, because she wouldnt be able to be Odysseus mentor. The Trojan War was caused by Eris, same way as Aphrodite did.

The Wisdom Sage will be called the Love Saga, Aphrodite will still help Telemachus

The God Games still happens in this AU with some changes. Athena will take Aphrodite place, Circe will take Ares place, and Hermes takes Hephaestus place. Only Zeus, Hera, and Apollo stay the same. Aphrodite will still get injury by Zeus in this AU.

(Feel free to add anything or something. Just credit me ♡)

[firinnie]

Do you remember the au in which Athena was transformed into a human after God Games, as punishment?

Listen.

By some miracle, I don't know how, all the main 13 gods of Olympus are transformed into humans just like that, and Hades and Persephine try to sort out the above and below.

On Earth, Odysseus and Penelope get gray hair when Athena brings them her family because she doesn't know what do with them.

Now, imagine Hestia setting fire to the carpet and curtains because she really wants to learn how to light it as an immortal.

Poseidon looks sadly at the water but then discovers the horses in a city and causes chaos when he realizes that as a human being he does not control them.

Dionysus gets drunk like never before and got lost, Hermes in an act of desperation runs like 73 times around the palace because everything hurts him from sitting in places and Apollo (who counts these laps) wonders if the human body has a limit. It has, and his brother will find out as soon as he stops.

Artemis, running around brings a bear back from the forest, and Hephaestus is not having a bad time as a blacksmith, he just cruelly discovers the limits of his sick leg right now.

Zeus, when he realizes that he has no such power and is basically defenseless, is very blue (oh nooooo... good), and Hera does not let him forget about it. He suddenly realizes that he has no power and all the actions of the future are now reflecting on him.

Demeter cries even more for her daughter but realizes how cruel her seasons are for mortals.

Aphrodite and Ares... well, they are Aphrodite and Ares in some bedroom. Later, Ares can learn what it's like to fight like a mortal (and that maybe Athena's strategies weren't that bad) and Aphrodite will make some love drama.

And then Athena watches with the rest of the royal family of Ithaca and realizes what she has sentenced them to.

[thesunlistens]

I really love @gigizetz’s Warrior Penelope AU (for those who don’t know, it’s Epic/The Odyssey but Odysseus and Penelope swap places and some of the other characters swap too) and I have some questions that would have been too long for an ask:

• Is it based more on Epic or the original Odyssey? (If it’s more the original then you can disregard some of my Epic-specific questions.)

• I’ve seen you post a drawing where Ares is Penelope’s mentor (side note: I love that you accurately represent Ares supporting women! It really annoys me when people assume that male+violent=misogynist when actually supporting women is his main trait after violence!) Is Athena still Odysseus’s mentor in this AU? Because I’ve been giggling to myself imagining this happily married couple whose divine mentors are huge rivals and don’t like each other! Like, they would both invite their mentors over whenever they had a party or something and the two gods would spend the whole time glaring at each other while their mentees are in love and oblivious to the tension. It’s making me laugh!

• If this is the case, who does Ares have to convince instead of… well, himself, in God Games? You could just switch them, but if Athena is still Odysseus’s mentor, she wouldn’t really need convincing because she wants him to be happy, and besides, I can’t see her being paired up with Aphrodite. So who takes his place (is it someone else with a connection to Aphrodite, or is it reworked so she and the new god have separate verses?), and what’s their argument?

• I saw that you posted a really cool Iris design with Penelope - am I right in assuming she’s this AU’s version of Hermes since they’re both messenger gods?

• Are Odysseus’s suitors the same people as Penelope’s suitors, or do they swap places with the people who tried to seduce him in the original (Circe and Calypso)? And if it’s the second, how does the slaughter of the suitors work considering that, as Calypso says, goddesses can’t die?

• Are the crew the same people, or does Penelope have her own friends? And if they’re different people, who are they?

• Are there any other characters who swap places? Considering that the roles that are swapped mostly seem to be gender swapped, I can see Cassandra taking the place of Tiresias if her curse ended when she died, but that’s just an idea.

• Have you thought about reworked lyrics, e.g. a few times in Epic, “my wife” is used as the rhyme, what would the rhyme be for “my husband”? Or when the name of a character who’s swapped with another is the rhyme, e.g. what would replace “arena”? (I’m imagining something like “fight if you dare, he’s” something, but again, just an idea.)

• If you haven’t thought about reworked lyrics yet, can I work with you on it? I like writing, especially lyrics!

• Are there any major changes to the plot aside from the role swaps?

[jazzy-a]

Imagine Calypso wasn't just being poetic when she started singing "Not Sorry For Loving You."

Imagine she is actually repeating verbatim what Hermes said to her. They don't fight, but Hermes does twist the proverbial knife in, so to speak.

Imagine Hermes actually came down with a smile on his face and no sympathy as he told her that he was taking Odysseus away, that she would never get to see his face again, and that he was not hers to have.

Imagine if she argued with him, and Hermes only shrugged, saying that "[she] ambushed him and came on too strong, so [she] shouldn't be surprised if he hates [her]."

AKA an AU where Hermes is cruel when he tells Calypso that Odysseus is being set free from the island.

[icelynia]

Astyanax Lives AU- The Odyssey

I had this idea while reading through the Astyanax Lives AU tag and had to share it.

Basically this would be a retelling of the Odyssey, but through the eyes of fatherhood. What is the meaning of being a father? What is a good vs. bad father? Is it possible to be both at the same time?

These questions could be tackled through Odysseus saving Astyanax, Polyphemus & Poseidon, Zeus (& maybe Athena with him), Hermes and Odysseus, Odysseus & Telemachus, the Suitors & Telemachus, and probably more characters.

The Odyssey is a really great story to explore themes of fatherhood with, especially with the fate of Astyanax. Would Odysseus be considered a good father if he killed Astyanax and still took another decade to get home to Telemachus? Could Odysseus be both a good father to Astyanax and a bad one to Telemachus? Could you consider him a bad father to Telemachus, since even though he hasn’t been there, he wants to be and is fighting to get back ASAP? If we bring the gods into this, then would Poseidon be considered a good father to Polyphemus? What about a multigenerational aspect with Hermes and Odysseus? Could you call the Suitors fathers to Telemachus, as even though they weren’t good and want to kill him, they were some of the only male presence and physical male role models he had. How does the lack of a good father figure and actual father for Telemachus weigh on Penelope? 

Anyone is free to use this for a fic or story idea! Idc if you credit me either, just wanted to get this idea out into the world before I lost it.

[0intothewoods0]

Epic: The Musical X Life Series AU (this is just a list of who would be who, because your girl can’t draw to save a life)

It started with a ‘ wow I can kinda see life series Lizzie and Joel singing a Penelope and Ody song in the life series’ and now I have a new AU that I can’t draw because I dropped art and resigned myself to make animatics in my head instead.

(Take a shot every time I use vibes as reasoning and every time you think I’m coping over the end of wild life and epic)

Odysseus = Joel

It just fits, also I thought of Joel and Lizzie when thinking about Penelope and Ody so here we are. Also I want Joel to have his beard from last life start to grow over the course of the musical.

after jimmy (polites) dies, instead of wearing his tie around his head, we wears one of Jimmy’s canary feathers.

Penelope = Lizzie 

I mean if Joel is Ody, it just makes sense. Also idk the characters feel similar (according to my brain, which usually can’t be trusted).

Zeus = BigB

vibes. Pure vibes. Also I liked the BigB watcher theory and it just works here so give him watcher wings and eyes for this. Oh and in the horse and the infant make him talk to Joel using a jack-o-lantern that appears and disappears and Joel moves around.

Eurylochus = Grian

bad boys. That’s it, that’s the reasoning. Could see him singing luck runs out cuz of watcher lore (TM)

Polites = Jimmy

bad boys and tell me you can’t imagine life series Jimmy singing open  arms.

Athena = Gem

It’s just perfect. Also gem and Joel duo in wild life. Also warrior gem.

Aeolus = Skizz

Skizz has the whole angel thing going on and angels are in the sky. My logic and reasoning is amazing guys.

Poseidon = Etho

They’re obsessed with each other in every universe. Also I had Etho as Zeus at some point but then I remembered Poseidon existed.

Circe = Pearl 

Specifically red life Pearl with her Cloke. She’s gotta have the Cloke guys think of the vibes, give Pearl magic.

Hermes = Bdubs

Life series Bdubs and hermes are the same person. The vibes are there and they are strong.

Tiresias = Scar

specifically last life scar. There is a mysterious wind that follows him around that makes the Cloke flow dramatically behind him.

Telemachus = Martyn

Idk what my reasoning here is I think it’s just vibes again. Also I want to see Martyn fight ren.

Antinous = Ren

I wanted to see Martyn fight ren. Also specifically 3rd life red life Ren for the design.

Calypso = Jimmy 

it’s just Jimmy again except like genderbent. It would be funny.

Apollo = Scott

purely vibes.

Hephaestus = Mumbo

red stone man do red stone.

Aphrodite = Impulse

again, purely vibes.

Ares = Tango

mostly just wanted to see tango and gem sword fight.

Hera = Cleo

both of them are queens.

[hunterofartemis7]

Adopted by the gods AU pt.14

Athena: *running after her son* Odysseus! Odysseus please wait!

Odysseus: *turns and faces her, tears in his eyes* you lied to me!

Athena: I never lied to you

Odysseus: you told me I was abandoned!!

Athena: you were!

Odysseus: not from what I just heard!

Athena: all you heard were the lies from a mortal who didn’t want to admit what she did!

Odysseus: okay back tracking, why didn’t you tell me they were alive?!

Athena: because it didn’t matter! They abandoned you!

Odysseus: it does matter! Clearly no one can agree on what really happened—

Athena: Odysseus I know what happened! I know what I saw and heard!

Odysseus: and what was your plan if I ever found out on my own!? Were you ever going to tell me?!

Athena: I..I don’t know maybe! I didn’t think that far ahead!

Odysseus: really!? The goddess who plans for everything didn’t plan on telling her son that he is 1, a prince, and 2, still has living parents!?

Athena: none of that stuffed mattered! If you had gone back after they abandoned you they would’ve killed you!

Odysseus: you don’t know that! Fuck you aren’t even 100% sure if I was abandoned!! You yelled one thing and they yelled another!

Athena: I know that i was trying to protect my son from the people who tried to kill him!! And even if they didn’t, they never bothered looking for you! What would be the point of telling you about people who didn’t want you!?

Odysseus: do you really believe all this or are you just in denial because you don’t want to admit your wrong and give me up!?

Athena:…���.

Odysseus:…..just leave me alone mom.

Athena: Odysseus-

Odysseus: i said leave me alone mother!! *runs off*

Athena:……..*slumps down against the wall holding her head in her hands*

Aphrodite:..well that happened

Athena: *crying* go away

Aphrodite: *sits beside her and pulls her into a hug stroking her hair*

Athena: *cries into her shoulder*

Aphrodite: sshhh, it’s okay. It’ll be okay.

Athena: how!? How could it possibly be okay!? *pushes away and stands up pacing around* My son hates me and won’t believe a word I say, his birth parents are back and want to take him, and all of the Olympians are on their side!!

Aphrodite: not all of them

Athena: name one!

Aphrodite: Artemis, me, and Hermes

Athena: *rolls her eyes* great, three gods agree with me! Not like there’s another 9 who want him gone! I’m gonna lose my fucking son!

Aphrodite: Thea. You’re not going to lose your son.

Athena: really!? Cause after that shit show I’d be amazed if Father doesn’t make me send him back with those people!

Aphrodite: Thea! You are still his mother, whether Zeus likes it or not he can’t make you do a damn thing with Odysseus. And besides, even in the mess of you and his birth mom fight we still don’t know what really happened.

Athena: I know what fucking happened!

Aphrodite: and so does the queen apparently. Clearly some wires are getting crossed. Btw Zeus wants you to apologize for punching her in the face

Athena: not happening!

Aphrodite: okay…well you at least need to have a civil conversation with her so we can figure this out.

Athena: clearly a conversation didn’t work last time

Aphrodite: well you have a better idea?

Athena:…..no

Aphrodite: then let’s go. *stands up* Hermes got a truth spell from Circe, so we will know whether or not the Queen is lying.

Athena: fine. *follows Aphrodite back to the throne room*

Diomedes: *hiding under the dinning table with Odysseus* *whispers* why are we doing this?

Odysseus: *whispers* I want to know what really happened.

Diomedes: *whispers* do you really believe mother lied to you?

Odysseus: *whispers*…idk. But she’s to stubborn to listen to the other lady and not be in denial. I want to know.

[randomciabatta724]

Some other stuff that happens in the Lonely wolf AU (might change if I get better ideas)

Polites stays kneeled next to Odysseus' body, frozen in place, while the club keeps going down (Survive)

Athena screams at Polites (My goodbye)

Eurylochus becomes the new captain

Polites blames himself for Odysseus' death

Polites begs Poseidon for mercy (it doesn't work) Edit: I just got an idea that it could be something like "Please, Poseidon, we didn't mean to offend you and we apologize for hurting your son, isn't there anything else we could offer you instead of our lives?" And Poseidon just says no (Ruthlessness)

Wouldn't you like stays pretty much the same

Dead Odysseus appears (The Underworld)

Polites declares he will do anything to get the crew home (Monster)

Either both Siren Odysseus and Siren Eurylochus or just Siren Odysseus (Suffering)

Polites got all his mythology knowledge from Odysseus so he doesn't know everything, (example: he knows about the sirens but not Scylla) (Suffering/Different Beast, Scylla)

Not really knowing what they're up against, they try fighting Scylla, but once it starts going badly Polites decides to sacrifice himself to save the others (imagine him standing there, holding the only lit torch on the ship) (Scylla)

Eurylochus pulls him away, Scylla eats the arm holding the torch, Polites passes out from blood loss while Eurylochus is screaming "What were you thinking?!" and similar at him (Scylla, Mutiny)

Eurylochus tries to convince Polites to kill the cows and have one last meal together, Polites begs him to reconsider (Mutiny)

Polites begs Zeus to spare the crew and kill him instead, but Zeus refuses (Thunderbringer)

When Polites wakes up on Calypso's island, it truly sinks in that Eurylochus is gone. She holds him while he screams (Love in paradise)

With the crew dead, Polites loses his drive to get home (Love in Paradise)

Polites and Calypso develop an unhealthy attachment to one another (Love in paradise)

Unlike Odysseus' "All I hear are screams", Polites sees his dead comrades, watching him in silence

Athena decides that her best chance to get rid of the suitors is to find someone from Odysseus' crew that survived (We'll be fine, Love in Paradise)

The ledge scene still happens but it's a bit different (Love in Paradise)

Polites agrees to go back to Ithaca only after Hermes tells him about the suitors (Not sorry for loving you)

He gives Calypso his red headband so she can remember him (Not sorry for loving you)

Hermes gives him a blue headband (Dangerous)

Polites tries to convince Poseidon to let things go (it doesn't work pt.2) (Get in the water)

Polites stabs Poseidon until his arms go numb (might also throw some ugly crying in there) (Six-hundred strike)

Polites doesn't attempt the challenge both because he knows he can't pass (Growing up with Odysseus, I imagine he learned how to string his bow but can't shoot through the axes) and out of respect for Odysseus (The challenge)

Polites decapitates Antinous (Hold them Down)

Telemachus mistakes Polites for Odysseus (I can't help but wonder)

Polites delivers the news of Odysseus' death to Penelope and apologises in tears (Would you fall in love with me again)

Polites tells Penelope he's going to leave, insisting that there's nothing left for him in Ithaca and that he doesn't want her and Telemachus to be bothered by his presence while they're grieving (Would you fall in love with me again)

Penelope, not wanting to lose the only other person that could know how she feels and having a feeling that by "leaving" Polites doesn't mean moving away, asks him to mentor Telemachus. Polites accepts (insert very touching "You are wanted and you are needed here" scene) (Would you fall in love with me again)

Polites tells Telemachus stories about Odysseus and Eurylochus (future)

Polites starts learning how to play the lyre (future)

Polites has a garden with six-hundred stones, one for every comrade he lost and some flowers for Calypso (future)

Polites starts wearing a purple headband (future)

Polites and Penelope sometimes sit together in silence (future)

Polites doesn't know why he keeps living, he just does. With time, it gets a bit easier, but he still struggles finding purpose (future)