#Dead Odysseus AU

[vint-knight]

Seeing a ghost...

Hermes, God of Travels, Speed, Tricks and Messages, what a delightful god that one is, born from Maia, creating the lyre from skinning a turtle and killing the cattle of Apollo, this god had quite a beginning, throughout the years nothing really shocked the god, except for some occasions of course, but on this specific day, this would shock the god the most.

Flying about the skies, Hermes had a gloomy look on his face, which is very unlike the god, but believe me friends, he had just lost one of his great grandsons, even though said, great grandson made a mistake in angering the god of seas, Hermes found amusement in him, hearing of how witty he was, he didn't feel like sending the news to Itacha, even told most of the Olympians not to bring in the news, for he did not want to hear the anguish it would cause to his family, especially Penelope.

While reminiscing on these thoughts, Hermes decided to stop by Aeaea, the island where the daughter of Helios, Circe lived with her nymphs, he and the goddess were quite casual with each other, only having minor conversations, he did not much care for the men she would make into pigs, very much understanding the reasoning.

As he was gliding down to the forests of Aeaea, the god found a figure, and almost flew into a tree if he hadn't stopped so quickly, his bright blue eyes that bared no pupils of any human widened, the figure was... a corpse, a corpse of a man, but this wasn't just any man, the man had short longish brown hair, which was slightly damp, his skin looked pale and bits of bone and rotten skin was shown, he still held some strength and beauty in his looks despite being a corpse, then there was the eyes, those grey eyes that so resembled his step sister Athena which he would joke how they looked related, the god gently flew down, not believing at the sight before him, it was Odysseus, Willy Odysseus, thee Odysseus who sacked Troy, the Odysseus who raced Penelope's father for her hand instead of trying to earn the Helen of Sparta's, the one who tried to escape the draft by pretending to be mad while planting seeds, that Odysseus was standing before him

The god of travels could muster out one word, one that sounded confused, startled, but most of all hopeful "Odysseus?"

The corpse lifted its head, the jaw was slightly half torn, showing teeth, it muttered out a strained word, but it was clear enough for the god to hear "Her... Mes?...."

And like that, an actual smile came on the god's lips and a horde of gleeful cackles came out from his mouth.

[fangirlingpuggle]

For EPIC au: Where the gods are currently trying to get ride of the Suitors without breaking rules of hospitality, Aphrodite makes the wrong choice to accidentally make half of the suitors be in love with Telemachus, and it’s just chaos on both sides, especially for Aphrodite from the other gods that yell at her for making things much worse. So when Odysseus comes back, and he over hears what the suitors plan to do, he goes from one to hundred and it’s just killing time now.

All while Aphrodite is just trying to stay clean because if Odysseus finds out it’s her fault for half the suits to be in love with his son it’s going to be a flashback of Ruthlessness all over again. Take how you will with my ask, and expand on it and go feral on it. you have my full consent to take it at how ever you want.

I just instantly got the image of Aphrodite being like 'I can fix it, I can fix it, I can fix it' while also trying to explain herself 'Look there was so much tension!' and 'I mean they are kinda cute to-' while all the other Gods are just freaking out because Odysseus is going to end her.

Not just Odysseys but also they are trying to stop Penelope from finding out because if she finds out then she will go full murder mode first on suitors then on Aphrodite. Ares is very proud and would be ok (and very proud) if it was just suitors but he's honestly pretty sure Penelope could actually find a way to kill a goddess if there is one.

Aphrodite also being like 'Hear me out' and trying to justify herself like 'When have I ever been wrong before' and the entire pantheon are just there staring all remembering the fucking Trojan war.

[odysseus-of-ithaka]

(hiii!!! @4mph1r1t3 here!! this is just a silly continuation of my rp with @ruthlessness-was-mercy :3)

𝐎𝐃𝐘𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐔𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐂𝐀.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢 𝐚𝐦?

"I DID WHAT I FUCKING HAD TO. YOU THINK I CANT TAKE YOU? DO YOU WANT TO FUCKING FIND OUT?"

He takes a second to breathe. Screaming wasn't the answer to any sort of conflict, he should know that by now.

"Amphitrite, you can't do this to me. I worked too hard for this. You are not hurting me or my family. Now get out of my way."

Odysseus took mental note of where his dagger was. With help and Posideon's strong immortal(?) body, a small bit of the trident had broken off. It was welded to the tip of a dagger made of the best bronze in Greece. He had assumed that this might be necessary. He didn't like using it. It reminded him too much for what happened, but it seemed he might have to.

[gareleia]

THE KNITTING SAGA BUT ODY PULLS A BRUCE WAYNE

update: my co-writer friend FINALLY got a tumblr account, so I can tag them now!!

previously: part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4

okay, bear with me for a moment. odysseus' perspective in all of this would be fascinating. and you know what is also fascinating? the way we can do whatever we want in this AU. so we can and will keep baby Astyanax alive.

to start with, Ody doesn't kill the baby. obviously. the reason is that, while he's having his fascinating little soliloquy about the morality of child murder in JAM, some terrified nursemaid that had been hiding somewhere in the room (I imagine her behind a conveniently shaped vase) picks up a dagger and stabs him in the shoulder from behind.

obviously she fails to do the deed, and he quickly and almost automatically kills her. but he's still stabbed. non-lethally, but enough to greatly hinder him.

Ody decides to go back to his people to get first aid. he can't bring himself to kill the baby, but he also can't just leave it there for others to find, because there's no telling if the remaining Trojans would rescue the boy, or if the Greeks would take him as a prisoner/slave or adopt/lose him somewhere where Odysseus can't ensure Zeus' prophecy won't come true. so Ody takes the baby with him.

the soldiers are,,, not impressed.

Eurylochus, looking at the infant: so, uh. what do you have here, captain? Odysseus, avoiding eye contact at all costs: a smoothie-

Eurylochus in particular is beside himself thinking about the implications. but overall people are too happy about finally going back home to really make much of a fuss about it, so it's fine (for now).

anyways Odysseus is still on edge about the baby's (and everyone else's) safety, so at first he tries to bring the boy with him everywhere. but his injured shoulder doesn't allow him to actually carry the kid too much. so that job falls to Eurylochus.

Eurylochus is soooo enthusiastic about the prospect, especially when the infant starts biting his chest, trying to nurse.

the baby: h o n g r y eurylochus: ARGH! GET YOUR GODS' DAMNED KID, BRO! odysseus: it don't bite eurylochus: YES IT DO

Odysseus prohibits everyone from using the baby's real name, both to keep its origins a secret from potential enemies, and to avoid getting attached to it (in case he actually decides he wants to kill it). so Eurylochus nicknames the baby Aphe, from greek "αφαιμάσσω", which means "to leech". because the damn brat keeps biting him.

eventually he and Poletes get into a heavy debate about whether or not it's mean to call a baby a bloodsucker, and Ody, who'd been having a crisis of faith, steps in and settles it for good.

from this point on, Astyanax the Prince of Troy is officially dead. and Odysseus is bringing home his infant son Aphemachus the Prince of Ithaca. etymology is somewhere along the lines of: afaimasso (to leech) + machos (war) = Aphemachus (the blood-sucking war; the war that sucked our blood)

Eurylochus is the one who Aphemachus had gotten attached to the most, due to all the carrying (and the biggest boo). He cries all the time when they're apart, and only Poletes seems to somehow be able to distract the boy, so they end up watching him in shifts.

aphemachus: *wailing in the dead of night* eurylochus, groaning: poletes, your leech is awake. poletes, also groaning: until the sun is up it's your leech.

Odysseus at the same time is still having doubts, so he doesn't trust himself to be too close to the baby.

those thoughts will haunt him for years, and will eventually play a huge role in their relationship, even after Ody starts forcing himself to spend time with his new son to forge a bond that would hopefully stop Aphemachus from destroying Ithaca.

Aphemachus indirectly saves Poletes' life. because when they reach the cyclops' island, Poletes stays behind with the majority of the soldiers to look after the baby. as a result Polyphemus doesn't kill him.

the downside is, Polyphemus almost gets a drop on Odysseus, and in an effort to push him away from danger Eurylochus gets severely injured. his right shoulder never quite recovers, and very deep down he blames Odysseus for needing help in the first place, because not freezing up in battle is the first and most important lesson they were taught as children, and then Ody went and froze up anyway.

sidenote, in Mutiny later on Odysseus will intentionally aim for said shoulder, exploiting the weakness that Eurylochus will have been very put out by and insecure about. just to add to the overall drama.

what none of them know yet, is that Odysseus had royally pissed off Zeus by ignoring his 'friendly advice' of infanticide. so much so, in fact, that Zeus tasks Ares with ensuring that Aphemachus grows up to destroy Ithaca.

as a result, poor kid grows up with the voice of bloodthirsty God of War in his head, constantly trying to convince him that everyone secretly hates and wants to kill him, that he's been stolen from Troy for nefarious purposes, and that it's his duty to avenge his REAL family. so, basically, your standard run-of-the-mill gods-induced paranoid schizophrenia.

odysseus: so, what do you want for dinner? ares: YOUR HEAD ON A SPIKE aphemachus: a bagel ares: NOOO aphemachus: two bagels

as you can guess, the poor boy's mental health is... Not Great™. he grows up a difficult kid, sensitive, too smart for his own god, prone to angry outbursts. think a cross between Damian Wayne and Jason Todd. he's also very paranoid, and remember that Odysseus still has doubts? Aphemachus can sense that, and that scares and angers him more, which makes him lash out, to which Odysseus also tries to keep his distance even more. he doesn't have much experience at actual hands-on parenting, and it doesn't help that he's not sure if he has a right to act as a father to the boy he had indirectly orphaned and directly almost killed.

poletes, exasperated: aphe, dear, we've talked about this. you know violence is never the answer, right? aphemachus: right. aphemachus: violence is the question, and the answer is YES-

so the most consistent positive influence Aphemachus has in his life are Eurylochus, Polites, Perimedes and Elpenor - until the latter dies and Perimedes decides to stay away.

Eurylochus is the stone-faced stern mother hen. he's the one that makes lists upon lists in his head of what the baby, and later toddler, needs. he enforces bed time, makes him eat as healthy as possible on the ship, etc. as such, his status as 'favorite' is quickly revoked once the kid grows old enough to complain.

the new favorite is Poletes, who spoils Aphe rotten and has a hard time saying no to anything. he's the fun uncle who's always down to play games.

Perimedes and Elpenor are like semi-responsible older brothers, who teach him about all kinds of stuff. Perimedes is the type to give Aphe lots of different chores to keep him occupied, and Elpenor, in contrast, tends to whisk the kid away to get him to relax and unwind. he also likes to teach Aphe about stars and constellations. meanwhile Peri 100% had handed toddler Aphe a knife as a prank to test everyone's situational awareness (think Stabby the Roomba), and got shit from everyone.

eurylochus: let me see what you have! aphe: a knife! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ eurylochus, going through all stages of grief simultaneously: NO!

Ares, while he detests lying and 'cheating', doesn't want to wait until Aphe grows up to make him wreak havoc. so instead he starts trying to trick the kid into accidentally causing bloodshed. and most of the time he targets Polites, because the peace-loving fool is an affront to everything Ares stands for.

this results in Aphe often running in between someone's legs at most unfortunate times, spilling liquid where people walk frequently, hiding fish hooks in food as a 'joke'…

it comes to a head with a contraption born out of every inch of cunning Ares possesses (not much), all Aphe's wild child imagination and many of Perimedes' trap-making lessions. it's a glorious thing, straight out of something between Home Alone and the Final Destination series.

Nobody ever really catches him, blaming the near-accidents on pure bad luck. Poletes never once notices that something is amiss, thinking he's just clumsy. the only reason he's still alive is because Elpenor is somehow always there to run interference.

Elpenor is the only one to suspect Aphe, but, since he's a dumbass alcoholic, nobody believes him, even his boyfriend Perimedes. Ares gets fed up with this and starts making Aphe target Eple instead, but before anything could really be done Ruthlessness happens, and they come to stay with Circe.

elpenor: I fear no man aphe: (✿◠‿◠) elpenor: but this thing… this thing scares me

it's only after Elpenor's untimely death that Perimedes starts to take his concerns seriously, but it's too little, too late. it's actually an honest to gods accident that Aphe has nothing to do with, but Peri had sat through so much paranoid, drunken rambling from Elpe that it just clicks to him. he blames Aphe, and, despite not voicing his concerns (because nobody would believe him either), he makes it abundantly clear that he doesn't want anything to do with Aphe anymore, to the boy's dismay.

finally, a few important notes on continuity:

in this AU the journey is a bit slower-paced than in canon, so instead of Act 1 happening almost at once after they left Troy, in the Knitting Saga after the Polyhemus fiasco, pissed off Poseidon decides to torture them first before the execution, so they are lost at sea for a couple years in between Remember Them and Storm, before Poseidon gets bored and decides to kill them for good. then they spend a year with Circe as she cooks up a way to send them into the Underworld, in the meantime hoping that Poseidon cools down somehow. then the Underworld and the Thunder Sagas happen a couple months apart, and then Ody (and Aphemachus, who is kept alive by the gods purposefully, so he has a chance to grow up and destroy Ithaca) spend 5 years with Calypso, and then another year trying to get to Ithaca.

Telegonus still exists in this AU, despite not being the son of Odysseus and Circe. instead, he is the unwanted son of Circe and some unnamed sailor from that first batch that she had taken pity upon and let her guard around. because of being born a demigod and living on a magical island his aging is a bit wonky, but he appears to be around 12-15 years old. he's a charming, confident, precocious child, who takes after his mother in personality and approaches. him and Odysseus get really close in the time that the crew stays on Aeaea, because Telegonus is not (as far as Ody knows, at least) prophecized to harm Ithaca and Odysseus desperately misses Telemachus; while Telegonus just imprints on the first dad-shaped adult he sees. Aphe is sad and desperately jealous.

aphemachus: d-daddy??|･ω･) odysseus: do I look like- ಠ益ಠ telegonus: you are my dad! you're my dad! boogie-woogie-woogie! (~˘▾˘)~ odysseus: awww!! yes!! what a good boy!!(✿◠‿◠) aphemachus: ಠ_ಠ

fun fact, Ody considers leaving Aphe on Calypso's island. Aphe, who's like 8-9 at the time, almost expects him to do so. only on the morning of their departure do they have a heart-to-heart about how Ody was a shitty, emotionally unavailable father, and how Aphe only ever wanted to be loved.

fun fact 2, telegonus will make another appearance later ٩(๑･ิᴗ･ิ)۶

[the-storyteller78]

Y'a reckon you could sketch Penelope or Odysseus in a cowboy version of the Iliad/Odyssey?

@cowboy-iliad-au

I reckon I could 😜 This was honestly so fun, and it gave me a chance to practice drawing a man, so thanks for the request! I might add to it later and include Penelope, but here’s cowboy Odysseus for now~

(And if the wrinkles and folds of his clothing don’t make sense to you, don’t worry. They don’t make sense to me either. Which is the problem. 😀)

[just-an-enby-lemon]

An Epic!AU where instead of ignoring the Telegony we shape it into a terrible tragedy.

Or where Odysseus chooses to save Astanayx and raise him as his own.

In a decision he knew he would one day regret Odysseus promisses he will one day tell the boy his origins - before Zeus can - and if need be convince the boy to kill only him and not Ithaca (as he would by that time had spend his final years with his wife and son). And to ensure he would keep it he named the boy Telegonus (meaning "born away"), so one day the kid would ask about his name and that would be the day Odysseus would tell him the (probably watered down and very "it was all Paris fault") truth .

Except as their journey became more and more dangerous and more and more man died it became clear that the boat was not a good place to raise a child. The boy, it apparead would die anyway. And Odysseus would not anger Zeus for nothing. So he left the child at the first safe place: at Circe's hands.

Raised by Circe, Telegonus never discovers the truth of his past, he dreams with a voice that tells him to find his true origin, but Circe lies (or maybe tells her truth), and sends him to find Odysseus, the father of his early memories.

But when he steps on Ithaca he is driven into a mad frenezy by Zeus that only stops when he kills Odysseus. The rest of the story is Telegonus trying to redeem himself but also understand what happened and why.

Telemachus joins him, as it was Odysseus last wishes and the two part on a journey that involves meeting a lot of figures from the Troyan war. (My Telemachus X Neoptolemus [and Telemachus X Nausicaa maybe] agenda that no one else has because why would they figures right about here in my head along with Astanayx meeting Andromache cause Andromache deserves some happiness)

Penelope and Circe also met at some point.

There is no Penelope x Telegonus/Circe x Telemachus because I hate it.

[leading-with-the-heart]

"So if my son killed you that explains why... Actually no that perfectly explains why the one with glasses killed me." A ghost stood before him, bleeding ichor everywhere. Ichor slowly seeped from his eye, his shoulder, chest, stomach, everywhere he had a stab wound in all honesty.

@ruthlessness-was-mercy

[Odysseus had been sitting near the Lethe, a fair distance away where he couldn't reach out and touch it, but close enough where he could see his reflection mirrored in the surface. When the voice called out to him, he turned and just barely managed to stifle a gasp, if not the look of surprise on his face]

"Lord Poseidon, you're . . . " [he trails off for a moment, gaze flicking over the dead god, and the wounds that he was certain had caused it] "I'm afraid I've missed quite a lot since my passing . . . Polites used to be very forgiving."

[deadbaguette]

Gripping Telemachus by the shoulders like ohhh this is the guy I’m going to project ALL my found family feels onto

[limblesstar]

thinking about how if im following the loose story of kotor 2 the first time patroclus meets odysseus he would 1. be in his underwear from having just woke up from torpor 2. find odysseus in a prison cell

absolutely HILARIOUS scenario.

[faithfulcat111]

ST Epic Cycle AU feat. Buckingham as Menelaus and Helen

Quotes are from The Illiad, The Orestia, The Odyssey, and Helen

[literallyjustforlurking]

EPIC!Recarnation Au

I know that when we talk about Odysseus being reincarnated as Percy and Penelope being reincarnated as Annabeth and that's great and all but what if it was the other way around? Here me out here.

Percy, who Poseidon calls his favourite child, is the reincarnated wife of and current boyfriend of the reicarnation of Poseidon's least favourite mortal?

And Athena's daughter who (let's be honest with ourselves) she doesn't treat well, is the reincarnation of her favourite her whom she had a rocky ending with?

Hermes and Annabeth hating eachother because of Luke but Hermes loving Odysseus?

And Athena didn't dislike Peneople, I mean at the end of the Odessy she used her magic to give Penelope and Odysseus extra fun time after Odysseus returned. And Penelope was an amazing weaver.

Just imagine Percy being able to weave flawlessly and it confusing everybody how he just sort of knows and Percy just sort of does it?

And Annabeth being an amazing archer because of Odysseus's skills with the bow? And then when Annabeth first meets Tyson, espcailly if Annabeth remembers but Percy doesn't (yet)? Odysseus is having a PTSD attack seeing a Cyclops so near Percy and Percy is just... chilling.

After Mt. St. Helens' Annabeth realizing how Penelope must have felt for twenty years? And now Percy is going through all the quests that Odysseus went through and then some?

But what really sounds cool is that Odysseus and Annabeth and Percy and Penelope share the same fatal flaws.

Odysseus and Annabeth both have Hubris they have to overcome that much is obvious. But Penelope and Percy but have deadly loyalty. We've seen how Percy's loyalty works in the books and Penelope spent 20 years waiting for her husband to return home, when he was most likely dead and it almost got her and her son killed?

Delicous.

[vint-knight]

I need to get back to my zombie Odysseus AU (It's specifically EPIC version)

[pa1nrema1ns]

Master and Apprentice || Sung Jin-woo (Part 1 of 3)

Siren!Jin-woo x Deaf!Omega!reader

A/N - Hello everyone! This fic was inspired by the lovely @forbidden-sunlight's siren!au. We both collaborated on this piece and it serves as a direct sequel to her imagine, so do be sure to check it out first! This story picks up right where her imagine left off.

╰┈➤ Chapter Index

🪸 Prequel by @forbidden-sunlight 🌊 Part 2: Two Intertwining Melodies

Content warnings: 18+ MDNI, mythical creatures au, canon divergent, a/b/o dynamics, afab!reader, suggestive themes, obsessive thoughts, slightly ooc Jin-woo (he's very reverent towards Ashborn), mentions of violence, death, and despair, forbidden romance (humans and sirens are natural enemies), eventual yandere!Jin-woo.

Word Count - 3.6k

Summary - Sung Jin-woo seeks answers about his potential mate from Ashborn in the deepest depths of the abyss.

Dividers by @anitalenia and @firefly-graphics

After what feels like an eternity, Jin-woo comes to an abrupt stop. He wasn’t tired in the slightest, but he couldn’t finish this journey unless he was in the right frame of mind. If he was going to face the sea monarch, Ashborn, then he needed to compose himself. He was his mentor’s prized disciple, after all.

Resolute in his decision, Jin-woo pinches his brow, shuts his eyes, and releases a deep, suffering sigh. He had to stop ruminating over the useless ‘what ifs’ of his current situation and focus on the matter at hand. You emitting pheromones in his presence was proof enough that you were a compatible mate, but this would be meaningless if you were unreceptive to him. It also begs the question, was humanity even capable of consorting with sirens? In search of an answer, he reminisces about the tales of old passed down by generations of his kin, as well as the many speculations made by humans.

No one knew the exact origins of his species. Most humans assumed the progenitors were Persephone’s handmaidens, punished by Demeter after Hades had taken her daughter to the underworld and forced her into becoming his queen. Some stories also claimed that seafoam  birthed them, but Jin-woo scoffed at this particularly ridiculous rumor. A scholar had recently published an article on how sirens may actually be the offspring of the river deity Achelous and a divine songstress, citing notations from various mythos on this theory. In truth, reality was far simpler than any of these far-fetched narratives.

There was just no definitive explanation for the existence of sirens. They were not interchangeable with the peaceful denizens of the ocean, known as mermaids and mermen. While all fell under the umbrella of the term ‘merfolk,’ the sirens had a far more hostile and bloodstained relationship with humans.

Since time immemorial, his brethren were viewed as nothing but a scourge upon this world of humanity. Beautiful as a raging typhoon and every bit as devastating, the sirens served as harbingers of doom and destruction for those foolish enough to risk the perilous waters. Their heavenly voices were tantamount to the funeral dirges used to usher the dead into the afterlife. It would be understandable to believe that the sirens were the monsters in this baleful story. However, human nature at its core is fraught with wickedness, and men soon grew wise to the machinations of merfolk.

Odysseus was the first to survive an encounter with sirens. During his voyage to Ithaca, the cunning man had instructed his crew to plug their ears with beeswax, effectively blocking the intoxicating songs that had ended the lives of so many before them. Emboldened by the success of Odysseus’s scheme, other sailors began using this method to conquer the sea and establish trade routes. Within a matter of a couple hundred years, humans not only overcame their fear of sirens, but they also poached them. Huntsmen would capture, torture, and kill Jin-woo’s ancestors simply for crossing paths with them. Worse yet, these scoundrels would often murder merfolk solely to harvest their organs, bones, and scales. They would then use the defiled corpses as ingredients for commodities, medication, and even aphrodisiacs. It was truly grotesque, if not outright barbaric, and more than justified the ire his kind felt towards humanity. While they hunted for the noble sake of survival, men did it for bloodsport and money.

The horrific fates suffered by many of their beloved brothers and sisters particularly infuriated the alphas, with their robust constitutions and natural sense of leadership. With a thirst for vengeance, they began targeting and attacking ships, ports, and even beaches. The alphas considered any place or vehicle that harbored humans as eligible targets. The less temperamental betas remained neutral and avoided the bloodshed, opting to prey upon shoals of fish and other maritime animals instead. Omegas could not join in the hunt, as they were far too precious to lose. They were the most cherished and talented singers amongst the sirens and required around-the-clock protection because of their significant rarity. These were the origins of the current hierarchical structure Jin-woo adhered to.

After recalling the tumultuous history of his people in its entirety, Jin-woo clenches his fists until his knuckles turn white. This was so damn frustrating! Rather than granting him an understanding of his attraction, it just proved all the more why it was so illogical. 

Defeated, Jin-woo raises his head, opens his eyes, and continues to swim.

Another hour passes before he finds himself at the ingress of Ashborn’s lair. His enigmatic teacher lived in almost complete obscurity. Devoid of any light, and enveloped by a suffocating aura, this nautical cavern intimidated all who dared to approach it. Well, almost all that is apart from Jin-woo. He effortlessly permeates the invisible barrier designed to keep intruders at bay and ventures into his master’s spiritual domain.

Despite being an ancient and powerful king of the sea, Ashborn made the strange decision to emulate a land-like environment in his personal chambers.

As Jin-woo manifests into the realm, his appearance gives way to a form more befitting of a land dweller. His tail separates into two legs, his scales smoothen into skin, and he loses the winged fins on his ears and back. Once finished with this metamorphosis, Jin-woo takes a deep breath. Fresh pine, grass, and flowers perfume the air as he’s greeted by a lush valley. It had been a while since he had visited, and the setting had required him to transform into a human. Interestingly, transfiguration was one of the first skills Ashborn taught him. Speaking of his mentor –

“My disciple, it is good to see you again, though you appear…troubled. Tell me, what ails you so?” A rumbling voice rings across the horizon, signaling Ashborn’s approach; the tenebrous essence of the powerful deity contrasting with the greenery of the land. He appears in front of Jin-woo as a great dark knight. Much like his surroundings, Ashborn’s current visage was nothing but an illusion. Even the bravest of warriors said that his lifelike image invoked sheer terror in their hearts.

Many speculate he possesses a massive stature, at least several leagues in height and breadth alone, with piercing eyes and endless tendrils of dark hair. Others claim he is the son of Poseidon, one of the twelve Olympians, and a God of destruction who presided over the sea. However, Jin-woo never once witnessed this side of his teacher in all the years he’s been under his mentorship. Ashborn certainly exuded dignity, but he still displayed a humble attitude. And without fail, he would always appear in that strange, armored suit whenever he was in Jin-woo’s presence.

“My teacher, I must ask for your help on an urgent matter,” Jin-woo starts, anxiously running his tongue across his bottom lip. “This morning, while I was scavenging, I stumbled across the unmistakable aroma of an unmarked omega. It…it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. As if I was being beckoned by someone or something. I wanted, no, I needed to heed its call.”

Ashborn listens in silence, his expression indiscernible. Jin-woo continued.

 “When I arrived, I was in front of a monstrosity of a ship – a yacht right by the sandbanks. At first, I assumed that someone had taken an unfortunate siren captive. But when I finally saw her–”

“You recognized she was human. Not only that, but she belongs to the lowest level of the hierarchy, an omega. Speak if I am wrong, my dear pupil.” Jin-woo lowers his head in shame, fringe obscuring his eyes. This action all but confirms it.

“I don’t know what to do or how to proceed, teacher. Everything I’ve learned about these creatures has made me detest them. But I can’t bring myself to hate her. How could this even be possible? We are not even of the same species. She’s my enemy, my prey…. At least, she’s supposed to be.” His voice lowers into a near whisper as he ends his confused rambling.

“And yet you don’t view her that way, do you child?” Ashborn poses a question he already knows the answer to but needs to hear in his pupil’s own words.

“No, I don’t,” Jin-woo replies grimly. “I yearn to know more about her. And not just that. I want to meet her, court her, and make her mine. If she’ll even have me, that is… So please, teacher, tell me if there is any meaning behind what I feel. Am I destined for something that bears no place in reality?”

Ashborn remains uncharacteristically quiet while faced with such a loaded question. All is eerily silent for a few moments, save for the cheerful chirping of the illusionary songbirds. At last, the monarch gazes at Jin-woo and gives him the answer he so desperately desires.

“It is entirely possible Sung Jin-woo, alpha of Jindo island, for I am proof of such a fantastical circumstance. My first and only love was also a human omega. A woman I devoted my entire being to over a millennium ago.”

Jin-woo’s eyes widened in shock at this revelation. His mentor had fallen in love at some point, and it was with a member of the human race? This was unheard of.

“I never knew you had a lover,” Jin-woo murmurs softly. “What was she like? Do you still remember everything about her after so many years?”

“Let me show you, my disciple. It is a tragic tale that words alone cannot properly convey.” With a wave of Ashborn’s hand, their surroundings began to morph and alter. The valley transforms into a spacious, yet quaint medieval village composed of several wooden houses with a bustling marketplace at its center.

When Jin-woo regains his bearings, he notices his mentor has also metamorphosized. A man with a sun kissed complexion, long dark hair, and a beard stands where he once stood. Though visibly unrecognizable, he was unmistakably Ashborn. A crimson cape was clasped to the pristine silver armor he wore. A paladin. Jin-woo recalls. He had some knowledge of the past lives of men through his rare excursions onto the Mainland. While disguised as a human, Jin-woo once traded in his goods for a textbook on history. He was loath to admit just how intriguing he had found it.

Ashborn speaks, his voice no longer resonating within the confines of shadowy steel.

“It was here in this village that I came across her. She was the only daughter of a peasant farmer. A strong-willed, rapscallion of a woman with a wit sharper than any blade. I can remember her beauty, her warmth, and her tenacity as clear and concise as the day we met.” He says with a wistful gaze. The scene then shifts to a woman in a pure white gown. Her eyes remained hidden, but it did nothing to impede upon her loveliness. The woman runs animatedly towards a man who looks identical to Ashborn’s borrowed likeness and leaps into his arms. The man then effortlessly spins her around before bringing her into a kiss. Jin-woo watches on, mesmerized by what was unfolding in front of him.

“I feared her rejection once she knew the truth of my identity,” Ashborn admits. “On the night we first made love, I finally revealed to her my status as ruler of the sea. However, it did not matter. She loved me wholly and unconditionally, regardless of who or what I was. Such was the strength of her resolve.” In the next instance, they return to the same valley from earlier. What differs this time is that the man and woman are there, unacknowledging of Jin-woo and Ashborn’s presence. Lost in their own special world. The woman has a flower crown on her head, and she sits on the grass, holding the man’s head in her lap. Both appear happy and at ease.

“For the first time in my existence, I experienced true contentment. I long to return to those days, but alas, our bliss did not last.”

Ashborn solemnly shuts his eyes as darkness overtakes the sky and rain falls. The man is now shown standing at a grave with an expression of anguish marring his face. The woman is nowhere to be seen, although Jin-woo knows exactly where she’s at.

“A plague was scourging the land and indiscriminately ending the lives of thousands. I tried to protect her with my magic, but it was to no avail. She fell gravely ill despite my best efforts. I discovered shortly thereafter that omegas were more susceptible to sickness than their contemporaries. If I had known beforehand, I would’ve brought her to the sea with me, away from that damned disease. But I was a fool who was willing to love and live with her as a man, not as a king. And as punishment for my hubris, an ailment snuffed out her life.”

At the end of his recollection, Ashborn’s lair returns to its original state. His mentor had also regained his shadowy exterior. The valley appears completely untouched by time, as if it were still one thousand years in the past. That’s why his lair looks like this. Jin-woo thinks as he finally recognizes its significance, It was their personal sanctuary. After a few moments of silence, Ashborn speaks.

“Although our circumstances are similar, you still have the privilege of choice. I cannot turn back time, nor can I change the past, but I am grateful. I experienced unspeakable grief, yes, but I also would have never encountered such love, tenderness, and passion had I not taken a chance on my omega. You, my disciple, still have free rein over your decision. Should you choose to pursue this woman, you have my blessing and irrefutable proof that she is a viable mate for you. If not, you will still receive my unwavering support in your future endeavors. The choice is yours to make.”

Jin-woo’s throat bobs. He feels an incredible sense of guilt at unearthing his master’s secret.

“My teacher, I apologize for prying into your past. I – I did not mean to bring up painful memories for you. I cannot imagine what you have endured. As of right now, I am not sure what it is I want, but I know for a fact I cannot give up on this human. I will need some time to contemplate and sort out my feelings. If you will excuse me.”

Jin-woo bows his head before turning to take his leave. As he approaches the exit, a sudden thought emerges at the forefront of his mind.

“Teacher, there is one more question I must ask. This human, she does not speak with words. She communicates with her hands and gestures. Is this some type of sorcery or spell that she’s casting?”

“It is most likely sign language, a manner of non-verbal communication used by humans who are unable to vocalize or hear. Perhaps she cannot speak, or has a hearing impairment, so she must express herself through other means.” Ashborn answers, curiosity lacing his voice.

Jin-woo feels his heart sinking. A siren’s serenade played a pivotal role in the mating ritual and was performed just prior to consummating an eternal bond. If what Ashborn said is true, then there is a possibility you could be immune to his song. This meant he wouldn't be able to use it on you when the time came…

He grits his teeth as he remembers your smiling face. Try as he might, Jin-woo just could not get you out of his head, nor was he willing to let you escape his grasp. You may not have realized it yet, but you had unknowingly sunk your fangs into him and the seeds of obsession were already beginning to take root. Rather than being discouraged by Ashborn’s observation, he instead finds himself reinvigorated.

“Teacher, disregard everything I said earlier. I now know what it is I must do.”

Ashborn peers into the eyes of his disciple, relieved by the determination that lights them. This was much more like the obstinate young man he knew.

“I choose to seek this omega and stake my claim, no matter what challenges may await the two of us,” Jin-woo proclaims proudly. “I will make her mine, but only if she consents to my proposal. And if not through song, then through other courtship methods. I am strong, stronger than any other alpha in my territory, and I know I can protect her from all who would wish her harm. I won’t let my mate slip through my fingers.”

“But what of maladies and the passage of time? You can fight against gods and monsters until the end of your days, but sickness or her ephemeral lifespan will not spare this young woman. In the end, your time with her shall be fleeting.” Ashborn ruthlessly counters Jin-woo’s declaration of protection.

Jin-woo bites his lip, not expecting this development. However, before he can muster a response, his mentor graces him with an answer.

“I know of one way you can overcome this. There is a recipe for an elixir known as the Holy Water of Life. It is a miraculous potion that can imbue invulnerability to communicable diseases, extend lifespan, and transform the consumer into a siren. I unfortunately did not have knowledge of such a panacea while I was with my love. Of course, I live with the regret of not discovering it sooner, as now I have no such use for it, but this does not mean I will idly stand by and let history repeat itself with my protégé.”

With a flash of light, an ancient scroll appears in front of Jin-woo. It unravels by itself to reveal its contents to him. Jin-woo’s eyes widen as he reads. Is this…?

“Behold. The ingredients for crafting the Holy Water of Life. I bequeath this boon unto you, my disciple. However, heed my warning as the acquisition of these components requires you to conquer all 100 floors of the Demon’s Castle and to defeat its king, Baran. This is a treacherous dungeon that may claim your life if you are unprepared for it, but it can also impart you with unspeakable power should you prevail.”

Jin-woo perks up at this information, his interest now fully piqued. “Tell me, master, where can I find the Demon’s Castle?”

“It hides far away, in the city of Seoul, within an incorporeal dominion. It is a flame-ridden landscape that will require you to assume the form of a human to enter the castle. Knowing all the risks it entails; do you still accept my offer?”

“I do,” Jinwoo confidently states.

“Very well,” Ashborn nods his assent, and a key materializes into Jin-woo’s palm.

“Use this key to open the gate to the Demon’s Castle. I have also implanted it with the coordinates to the dungeon’s location. You need only close your eyes and grasp onto the key to visualize it.”

Following the instructions, Jin-woo sees a map that details the exact distance from his current whereabouts to the metropolitan area of Seoul. It will be a lengthy trip, even with his impressive swimming prowess. He estimates it will take roughly half a day to arrive at his destination. Undeterred, Jin-woo presses onward.

“Teacher, I cannot thank you enough for all your help and guidance over these last few years. I give you my word; I will return alive and well, both with the elixir and Baran’s head. And then I will meet with the omega and court her in earnest.”

He departs without another word, although his promise relays an unspoken farewell between them. After some time passes, Ashborn stares at the vast skies of his domain and muses to himself.

“You have grown so much from when I rescued you from the Cartenon Temple all those years ago, Sung Jin-woo. I could not be prouder of you, my disciple. Till our next encounter.”

12 hours later...

Jin-woo finally emerges from the dark, briny waters that frame Seoul’s coastline.

After leaving Ashborn’s lair, he briefly returned home to pack and prepare for the journey ahead. Both Jin-ah and his mother were worried about his sudden departure, so he did the best he could to assuage their fears by giving them a sanitized version of the truth.

Jin-woo claimed Ashborn had provided him with a list of rare ingredients that were only available for purchase in the human markets at Seoul. He even promised to bring back a box of chocolates as a souvenir, something his mother and little sister had enjoyed during one of his return trips to the surface. He then traveled the full 413-kilometer distance from Jindo-gun to Seoul, stopping only for a few hours to rest and recuperate.

As he approaches land, he assumes the form of a naked human man and walks inland from the sea. However, Jin-woo comes to a halt when he becomes more aware of his current state of nudity. While it didn’t bother him, it would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble if any nosy beachgoers happened upon him and asked questions. It is also…pretty embarrassing to admit that he is…wobbly on these legs. Very much so.

He quickly summons his magical inventory and grabs a simple black t-shirt, boxers, fitted jeans, and athletic sneakers (‘Adidas’, the portly sales attendant had called them). As worthless as he found human decorum to be, Jin-woo needed to remain as inconspicuous as possible while he was in disguise. Once dressed, he strolled into the city. After 45 minutes, he found himself at the designated street junction on the map. Taking a deep breath, he brings forth the key, turns it, and unlocks the gate. 

⚓︎ To be continued...

[odysseus-of-ithaka]

"So did I." Odysseus looked down at him, still wearing the purple cloak that Penelope gave him for war, god pin at the neck. It was stained with blood. "They are the world to me. I did what I had to. Poseidon, I had to protect my wife. I had to help my son grow up. You nearly took both of those things from me, and for what? Six hundred lives. For one. What kind of monster would I be if I hadn't made that decision?" Odysseus looked him dead in the eye. "Tell me, great Earth-Shaker," He spat, "Would you rather I had been a coward, and let my own men die, staining your oceans with deaths at the hands of an idiot- or perhaps killed your son and kept him for meat? Is that what you would have preferred?"

He paused.

"I do hope that your death isn't entirely permanent. A few centuries should teach lesson enough. And maybe, once you're finally free, lamenting over your errors, I'll be at peace with the heroes in Elyseum. My friends from war. My crew. But you? Sometimes I pity immortals. Never getting that peace. Millennium of fighting, war, arguments. Never humbled or taught by the threat of death. Maybe you'll visit me. Maybe we'll make amends. Maybe you'll have finally learned to let go of your grudges."

"But not today. Not today."

*He turned to leave.*

Hello Poseidon. You should know that this is your own fault. You lectured me on arrogance, didn't you? On compassion, how I shouldn't be held back by my sympathy. Well look at where that fucking got you, huh? I'll be Odysseus, the God-Slayer, and you'll be the god that died. Really rearranged the status quo, didn't it. And I'll have you know, just to rip away that little bit of satisfaction you had by taking me to that point, I felt awful the whole time I did it. I did what had to be done and nothing more. Your screams like the winds in the rocks of Ithaca still haunt me. You failed to change me and you lost anyway.

@odysseus-of-ithaka

(ooc this is a cool af idea and I will be interacting with you!!!!! most of my blog rn is silly stuff and I wanna show off my writing skills too lmao.)

-The god stood there silently before hearing the hero’s voice. With reflexes as quick as the flash the god tried to lash out at him but was stopped by chains.-

“YOU MONSTER!!!! I HAD A WIFE AND KIDS!!!! BASTARD!!!“

-The god sunk down to his knees glaring up at him, still blind by chains.-

[scarlet-sam-chaos]

with #manwhore au going around again, me being me is posting dis again:

i cant mansplain, manipulate, manslaughter my way out of this (manwhore it is-)

“She offered me everything, Zeus,” Odysseus continued, his voice low and intimate. “But I resisted, for my heart belonged only to Penelope. Like this...”

‘Witnessing this,’ Eurylochus thought as he watched Odysseus- still bleeding and wearing what was practically rags by now- sway dramatically, ‘was worse than being potentially dead.’

Hera, sensing the tension between the mortal and her husband, cleared her throat pointedly. “That's enough, Odysseus,” she interjected with a raised eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.

Or, how Odysseus managed to save himself as well as his crew. He learnt that ruthlessness was mercy from Poseidon, and that there are other ways of persuation from Circe.

[caramellcandy]

Au where some of the ghosts of the crew come back to haunt Odysseus or just spend more time with the rest of the crew, they started appearing after the underworld saga, most of them stopped appearing after thunder bringer.

If you ask what's the logic of them getting out of the underworld, idk maybe Hades was tired of dealing with the amount of people Odysseus got dead and said "fuck it, go haunt him".

This au exists just cause I thought Eurylochus would look cool with lighting scars.

Probably will change some things eventually, I don't have my main drawing program right now so I'll re draw it anyway.

edit: I added something new to Eurylochus, thanks anon for the idea