#RIP Odysseus of Ithaca! both of them

[katerinaaqu]

Bekim Fehmiou (L'Odyssea 1968) vs Christos Tsagas (Iphigenia 1977)

The two of them are simply the PERFECT representation of Odysseus! Anything else is a cheap copy

You can't change my mind!

[acid-ixx]

if you guys are interested, send in an ask or comment!

will anybody be willing to hear out neglected child reader who was another one of zeus's bastard children. you're out there chasing for your stepmother (hera's attention), whilst zeus just lets you run around without his care, clearly too wrapped up in his affairs. your other siblings aren't as good to you, too, thinking another half-deity isn't worth their time—

so you'd give up, pretty much choosing to bestow the mortal world with your presence instead; because if you can't be loved by your own family, then let yourself be worshipped by passionate mortals instead.

how about romancing telemachus? what if you both learn what it's like navigating through his godly favor with athena, and you with your own powers? what if you have odysseus and penelope be the actual parent-figures you always wanted? their overprotectiveness skyrockets every time you propose to being elsewhere in ithaca, to the point you forget that it's you who has the godly powers to oppose, but how could you when a darker side of them appears every time you allow yourself to be disrespected within their palace?

how about in another place? what are you to many of the great warriors, if not for a forgotten, yet mysterious and whimsical deity? why is your name muttered in all the regions? surely, with just how much you deny your god-like origins, but still manage to capture the hearts of hundreds of suitors, you'd gain quite the infamous name despite your closed-off attitude.

imagine enough attention was garnered on your presence, that that's what was needed for them to finally notice you? but you're not quite the same child who used to pull on their robes, or look at them as brightly as the sun— no, now you deny them of any of your love. your mother, hera, finally sees you and urges you to return to olympus away from the prying eyes of many suitors and back into the domain of safety. she calls you her baby, fuzzing over you even when you openly and spitefully try to rip her hands away from fixing your 'messy' robes. zeus isn't any better, now he calls you sweet names and pretend like he hadn't actively bashed on you for your weakness back when you were begging on his throne for just a sliver of attention? he wants you to sit in between his throne and hera's? you're significantly smaller than him, he's gigantic in nature, and it doesn't help that he treats you like you could be easily squashed by him (which is every damn right possible, and it's intimidating and makes you want to cry).

and there's the issue with the others, too. so many of them used to deny you in favor of focusing on their own domains. now apollo wants to carry you off in one of his chariots to ride off the skies with him while he plays his lyre to you? artemis wants to teach you the way of the hunt under the dark, gloomy skies you used to wish under for a moment of their time? aphrodite used to spitefully shut you out of her own doors, but now she invites you in her room to gossip and play pretend while she coos and braids your hair?

and all the other gods, now wanting to take you away from the underserving - as they say it - mortal realm? that the people who built sculptures of you, who held you more lovingly more than those you grew up with, aren't worthy of your divine presence?

what a joy to be a being looming between the lines of mortal and divine, right?

a/n: this concept is better off and more coherent in my head i swear. now i don't often diverge from my main fandom, but the similarities between this and the yan! batfam is quite hilarious to me that ngl i want to make a crossover of it. and yes, this is me coping with the stress of having to deal with the sudden influx of hate in the yan! dc community, so i'm taking a short break from it to focus on this.

[mythology-void]

okay so I was doing a Research™️ about ancient Greek etymology as one does and I found some Things that made me want to Violently Claw My Arms Off please allow me to force feed you my discoveries

So there are 2 words for "not" in ancient Greek, depending on the context: ou and mē. Having introduced himself in the Cyclops episode as " ou tis", or No-man, he then stabs Polyphemus in the eye. When Polyphemus' brothers come to check on him, they say this:

"... surely no man [mē tis] is carrying off your sheep? Surely no man [mē tis] is trying to kill you either by fraud or by force?"

Right after this, after the other cyclopes ditch Polyphemus, Odysseus's inner monologue goes something like this:

"Then they went away, and I laughed inwardly at the success of my clever strategem [metis]." (pronounced mEH-Tis)

Now, there's a difference between mē tis and metis. [mē tis] (pronounced mEH-Tis with a space between the syllables) is the literal translation for "no man". Metis is a word for extreme intelligence/cunning, which is something Odysseus is famous for.

Now, there are several examples of abuse of metis/intelligence in the Odyssey, but I think the juxtaposition between [mē tis], or the concept of anonymity, and metis, or extreme intelligence, is REALLY interesting. Odysseus's adoption of the title "No-man" was characteristic of metis--it was a really smart move that simultaneously hid him from the cyclops and avoided any future consequences. It was a highly effective strategy all wrapped up in a nest little package with a bow on it.

But when he revealed himself as Odysseus of Ithaca, effectively throwing off No-man (anonymity and [mē tis]), that was characterized as idiocy--he's essentially doxxed himself, and now he's doing to (spoiler alert) get tossed around the Mediterranean by Poseidon for the next 10 years.

This is really interesting because it lets you see the parallels/codependency between metis(intelligence) and humility. When Odysseus refused to allow himself to go unnoticed (hubris) he suffered for it. BUT when he declined instant glory/satisfaction (kleos) in order to achieve the long term goal of survival, he was rewarded with Athena's favor (pay attention. This part is important).

And this situation repeats itself MULTIPLE TIMES in the Odyssey--the EXACT SAME THING happens near the end of the book, with the suitors. When. Odysseus is dressed as a beggar and the suitors/Antinious are abusing him, he ACTIVELY CHOOSES not to react--he doesn't stand up and rip off his disguise and start hollering "TIS I, ODYSSEUS OF ITHACA! FEAR MY WRATH"

No. He sits there patiently and waits. He plans and schemes and quietly orchestrates their downfall without alerting them of it. Why? Because he learned his lesson the first time this happened. He buried his rage and adopted what was, according to Grace LA Franz, a more feminine form of metis, weaving a web of destruction for his enemies that ultimately resulted in their total annihilation (see Weaving a Way to Nostos: Odysseus and Feminine Metis in the Odyssey by Grace LaFranz). His patience allowed him to win the whole prize--no questions asked, no 10-year-long-business-trip strings attached--just the sweetness of a full victory. And he is, once again, rewarded with Athena's favor--both in the battle with the suitors and in the aftermath (cleanup/reuniting with Penelope).

This really reinforces the idea in the Odyssey that Odysseus's defining characteristic is not just his intelligence--it's his ability to learn from his mistakes. He used what he learned at the Lotus Eaters Island against Polyphemus--the Lotus Eaters drugged his men, so he drugged Polyphemus. He used what he learned from Circe and Polyphemus against the suitors--Circe used false sweetness and honeyed words to lure his men into a trap, so that's exactly what he did to the suitors. His hubris on Polyphemus' island cost his whole crew their lives, so he intentionally left well enough alone until the right time. He didn't just learn from his failures--he turned them into BATTLE STRATEGY.

i don't care what anyone says that is completely totally and objectively awesome

[somereaderinblue]

Odysseus of Troy AU

Inspired by the Warrior!Penelope AU, @maggie44paint's Malewife Menelaus AU & @theblindgoddess + DaughterOfDungeonBat's Penelope of Troy AU.

So instead of Helen, Paris chooses Odysseus, thinking he's the safer option because he's just the king of small, barren Ithaca & super smart. Baby Telemachus is also spirited away as extra leverage.

Paris thinks he's being cunning, hoping this choice can somewhat ease Athena's wrath as well.

At first, Athena is furious....but then she gives the go-ahead for 3 reasons.

Odysseus will give Paris hell.

Hera will give Paris hell.

This one is important: Penelope will give Paris hell.

Paris tells himself he's doing Penelope a favour! Now she can find another, more powerful husband & have another kid with him. Plus, she's a woman with a tiny kingdom, it's not like she'll come knocking on Troy's walls.

Newsflash: a furious Penelope comes pounding on Troy's walls with a vengeance.

(Bonus if she isn't even being backed by Ares here. Oh no, all that unstoppable rage is 100% pure Penelope.)

In Olympus, Hera & Athena are cackling and high-fiving over a bucket of popcorn. In Troy, Ody is going full Mission Impossible, being a monster (rawr rawr rawr) to Paris, mapping out servant passages, calculating how much cloth it'll take to make a long enough rope & hoarding tiny paper scraps and crumbs for bird feeding.

He goes all: Yes, I need more clothes. It's not my fault my clothes keep ripping. *wink wink*. Oh, I'm not supposed to be here? Silly me, I'm hopeless without Athena's wisdom now! Look at the cute birdie, little wolf! *slips a message onto them while his son's buried under feathers*

Athena is very proud of her master liar.

Bonus:

Hector & Ody ironically become good friends because they're both dads and loving husbands. Hector tells himself he will NOT get attached to the man who's singlehandedly screwed him, his family & Troy over......only to pat the guy's back as he sobs for the nth time over missing his wife. It's hard not to empathize with him & feel a little sorry for the kid who doesn't even remember his mom.

And maybe when Hector senses that the end is coming, he & Andromache ask Ody to take Astyanax with him. He won't have a future in Troy, but it's better than no future, period.

Thus, Penelope returns to Ithaca with her family one member bigger than before.

[l-egionaire]

My Warrior!Penelope AU: Telemachus

Since Odysseus is home and I don't see the thing with the suitors happening in my version of the au, what ends up going on with Telemachus? Well, with his father being slowly poisoned by treacherous servants, I imagine him taking over as man of the house. His father is becoming so weak and sickly that he starts taking on more and more of his responsibilities, meeting with court, talking with the townspeople, performing diplomatic and so on. It's hard, and stressful. Not only do the more senior members of his father's court look at him like a child trying to play king, but he also has to constantly check in on and try to take care of his ailing father and secretly fearing that he'll lose another parent. It's hard on him and he feels like he doesn't have anyone to help....until one day, while trying to argue a trade negotiation, the members of court around him seem to freeze.

"Wha-whats going on?

"That'd be me."

He turns to see Athena standing next to his chair.

"What's happening? Is time....frozen?"

"Nope. I just sped up your thoughts. Gave you a little extra time to think."

"Whoa....cool!"

Athen chuckles.

"Lets have a little chat..."

Soon, Athena is there acting as both his friend and advisor, teaching him about diplomacy, treaties, negotiation, and politics, as well as training him in the art of battle, now that her warrior of the mind was....unwell. However, she offered him other aid as well. She explained her suspicions about his father being poisoned and suggested Telemachus cook his meals in secret to test it. Sure enough, once he stops eating the food given by the servants, he begins to slowly recover.

Under Telemachus's watch, Ithaca and Odysseus grow stronger. But still his council doubts his abilities, during one meeting even getting into a fiercesome shouting match with him over a deal he made to ask another kingdom for help protecting them with so many of their soldiers gone. It gets to the point that they're shouting him down, and he's about ready to rip his hair out...when once again, time slows down around him. But this felt different than Athena's quick thought. Hers seemed to fill the air with a calm, cooling aura that made his thoughts flow smoother. This was hot, humid and filled his mind with searing rage.

"Are you just going to let them talk to you like that all day?"

He looks to his side, in the opposite spot to where Athena would usually appear, and saw a tall, muscular figure in full armor and blood red cape.

Telemachus's eyes widened.

"Ares...."

The war god looked down at him with blazing red eyes.

"You are the leader. ACT like it. Don't allow them to simply push you around like this."

Telemachus then turned back to his council. He grit his teeth and, as time returned back to its usual pace, slammed both fists against the meeting table.

"ENOUGH! While I understand your concerns, this is MY decision! And I won't have you questioning it!"

That made them quiet down and Telemachus could swear he heard low, rumbling laughter.

After the meeting, Ares appears to him in his room, Athena also there glaring at him.

"Why are you here?"

"To assist the young prince, of course."

"I'm ALREADY helping him!"

"Can a king not have more than one counsel? Can a warrior not have more than one master? Besides, I certainly was more help today than you were."

Athena growls and raises her spear but Telemachus steps between them.

"No! He's right. I think....I think he can help me. In a different way then you, I mean."

Athen grimaces while Ares give her a smug smile.

"Ugh...Fine..."

And from that day, Telemachus splits his time between being trained by the two gods. Athena teaches him battle strategies and techniques, Ares gives him physical training and Exercise. Athena teaches him about reading treaties and Ares takes him to hunt and skin a boar. Athena trains him in the buisness of diplomacy and bridge building and Ares coaches him on the basics of war and battle. Strangely, while both gods talk poorly of the other, it's not uncommon for one of them to watch while he trains with the other.

One day, both watch from a balcony as he works with a spear against a training dummy.

"......He's a good lad.....he'll grow strong. Grow well."

"Yes, I'm sure he will......and I have to imagine he'd grow better with his MOTHER."

"........."

"Ares, it's been TWENTY YEARS. WHERE is Penlope?

".......She......she accured the wrath of two of the gods. And Father, saw fit to...to punish her...."

"What? Punish her how?"

"Well, first he.....he.....you know how father is with women...."

Athena's eyes widen.

". Oh, Odysseus is going to KILL him."

"Father is king of the gods."

"And Odysseus will still find a way to, for putting his hands on his wife."

Ares can't help letting out a chuckle.

"What did he do after that?"

"He....saw fit to banish her to the Land of the Giants."

"The Land of-She could be KILLED! Ares, why haven't you DONE something!? Why haven't you talked to him or tried to help her!?

"YOU THINK I WOULDN'T IF I COULD!? It is because of my blessing alone that Dionysus and Father did not SLAY her! It's the sole reason she still lives! I told her the same. And she.....she asked me to watch over the boy. Make sure HE stays safe."

".....There really isn't ANYTHING you can do?"

"You KNOW how our father is Athena. Besides, this punishment comes from Apollo. His favored son. And I'm.....I'm not......he won't listen to me."

"....But he might listen to US."

Ares looks at her.

"....You really think it would change anything?:

"I think it woud at least show we're serious. We NEVER agree on anything.

"...Why would you help me?"

"Because Telemachus needs his mother, and Odysseus needs his wife back. And i promised them both that if I could, I would do everything in my power to bring her back to them.

"....Very well sister."

[betterthanyalls]

hey betty wetty bo confetti

How’s about Ares x Reader in which she’s the daughter of Odysseus and and and she’s defending Telemachus & Penelope from the suitors and after getting into a fight with Antinous or however u spell his name, she meets Ares somehow?

BTW DONT FEEL PRESSURED OR FEEL THERES A TIME LIMIT - TAKE YOUR TIME 🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵🫵

Okay love ya 🤩🤗

that nickname concerns me BUT HIIIII so ion know how good this is :sobs: , i made it in the span of like 2-3 hours from a burst of motivation. HERE YOU GO TAKE THIS AS A LATE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

Masterlist

Warrior's Blood

Ares x Reader

EPIC: The Musical ~ Oneshot ~ Action

Words: 1.4K

Published: 11-3-2024 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A loud belch sounded from the palace’s dining hall, followed by boisterous laughter and unorganized yells. The princess of Ithaca glared down the hallway while she stalked past the dining hall to her destination of the training grounds. “Men,” a loud voice called, the speaker standing up on a wooden bench, “we have been waiting for the throne for far too long. Can’t you see we are being played?”

Y/n slowed her pace, taking a peek into the crowded room to see the one suitor she hates the most speaking. Antinous. 

“I say, we take the throne. That boyish prince and his sister only stand in our way to the queen. Once we are rid of them, we shall have full access to the crown." Cheers and yells followed quickly. The onlooking royalty sneered in disgust. Normally, Y/n would only walk away and tell her mother about the new plan, but something inside her felt different—an urge to fight, a need for conflict. 

Taking a step into the light of the hall, Y/n cleared her throat.

“What would my mother think of this? Threatening to kill both of her children and then seizing her by force?" Y/n had to keep from gagging, not only at the idea of their threat but also the horrid stench of the room. 

Antinous turned to the princess with a look of pure murder and flame.

“Well, if it isn’t the weak girl. If you speak even a word of our plan, I will rip you limb from limb so you can meet your father in the underworld,” he stalked towards the younger girl with a vicious grin. “Now that I’ve thought about it, how about we begin that plan now? Starting with you.”

Y/n was wise enough to duck down, blocking an oncoming punch, only to be nailed in the gut with his knee. Falling to the ground with a sharp gasp, she was pulled to her feet by her hair. “Come on, girlie. You had the strength before to challenge me; where is it now? You’re as weak as your father.”

Staggering and getting out of his grasp, she pulled up a loose fighting position. The princess narrowed her eyes at Antinous’ insults while taking steps back to match his steps forward. Y/n tried to find some sort of strategy to take him down, like how Telemachus taught her. Her brother would always say to fight with wisdom, but there was no wisdom anywhere near this fight. Strategy only works if your opponent has strategy too. Antinous was anything but a planned fighter. 

So with her next best option, Y/n grabbed a nearby vase and chucked it at her rival's head. She missed, making Antinous even more angry. With a yell, a foot made contact with her stomach, throwing the princess to the floor and her head hitting a pillar. Pain shot through her entire body as she struggled to regain her breath. 

‘So, I did this easily. Thanks for the amazing lessons, Tele.’ Her mind wandered, forgetting about her approaching opponent as she took a glance at a nearby wall. There, up high, hung a tapestry by her mother. The twelve Olmpyians were displayed with divine glory. Glory that could help Y/n not die, if only they saw her. With nothing left to lose, the princess sent up a silent prayer before deciding to help herself.

With much pain and huffs, Y/n managed to stand on her feet once more with a sway.

Antinous offered a loud laugh, ricocheting off the stone walls.

“You just can’t stay down, can you? Do you not want to see Odysseus in Hades?”

“Don’t you dare speak my father's name,” she hissed through gritted teeth. She leaned onto the pillar with one hand while her other held her hurt stomach. Something other than pain burned inside her—a yearning to see him hurt, to see Antinous suffer. 

A new energy boosted her body; her muscles didn’t feel as sore, and the pain was dissipating. Deciding not to question this, Y/n dodged another punch aimed for her jaw. With fast footing, she grabbed a spear off the wall beside her and countered another punch.

Antinous grabbed the spear to rip it from Y/n’s grasp. Quickly, Y/n pulled the spear closer to her and kicked Antinous in the ribs. Instead of knocking him down, he only stumbled back. 

‘Left’ A voice spoke in her mind. Y/n was about to question the order until she noticed Antinous barreling towards her and instantly followed the demanded direction. 

Dodging a swipe of his sword, the princess swung her spear down at the man's knees, causing him to trip. Looking down to where he fell, a sudden push of rage flowed through her veins.

‘Blood’

She didn’t need to hear the voice again to know exactly what to do. With momentum, Y/n brought the weapons head down into Anitnous’ thigh, earning a scream from the male. She ripped the weapon from his flesh only to bring it down once more with another bloody cry. Her thoughts seemed barren except for a new order from the unknown voice. 

‘Stop’

That order only seemed to boost her adrenaline. Stop? She couldn’t. Not with all this pent-up anger and frustration she felt for Antinous. Y/n needed to make him learn where he stood as a guest in her kingdom. But as she raised her spear once more, the voice barked a command louder and all her pain and exhaustion rushed in.

‘STOP’

In an instant, her spear clattered to the floor as Y/n held her head with a groan. Antinous was being tended to by his fellow suitors, who had opted to stay on the sidelines. With labored breaths, Y/n managed to stumble away from the dining hall and towards the empty training grounds. 

Exhausted, she slumped to the sandy floor and leaned her back against a rack of swords. Her eyes shut against the glaring sun as the royal attempted to regain her breath. To her pleasure, the heat was blocked by a sudden shadow. The young adult cracked open her eyes to see a darkened figure wearing the full armor of a Spartan soldier. A mixture of emotions flooded into her soul as she recognized the nation's armor. Was this news of her father from serving beside the Spartans? But her hope was snuffed out as the familiar voice spoke.

“Stand up.”

She wanted to argue, but something in her felt compelled to follow the instructions. So, shakily, Y/n stood up in front of the warrior. From a new angle, she could see the stranger's identity. All breath escaped her lungs as she recognized the being from similar statues and paintings.

“Ares.”

The god, who towered over her with his divine form, smirked at the recognition.

“Indeed. I’ve seen your skill, princess of Ithaca. You fight well,” the god of war stalked around the girl in a circle, seeing her state after the fight. 

Finally, the two pieces connected in her mind as she turned to face him.

“It was you. The voice. The orders. That was all you.”

“You follow orders well, except for when you’re told to stop. I like that sort of fight.” Ares stood tall, power and bloodlust radiating off him as his armor seemed to brighten a bloody red in the sun’s light.

“Why’d you stop me anyway? You are the god of bloodlust, are you not? I could’ve killed him and solved the whole problem!” Y/n argued, upset at the missed opportunity.

“Have you forgotten the laws of hospitality? You would have been punished harshly by the gods had I let you continue. Not even I can defy those.” He glared down at her with warning. In response, she looked away with a defeated huff.

“Why’d you even help me then?” She grumbled, looking at the nearby swords; a few training weapons had begun to rust from limited use. 

"You have the ambition needed for the battlefield. Why would I let such skill go to waste with no proper mentor?” This caused Y/n to look at him instantly in shock, meeting the gaze of a grinning god beneath his helmet.

“Mentor?” 

“Y/n of Ithaca. You fight to protect. You fight to the last stand. That is a warrior’s blood. Like your father before you, you have the makings of a legend.” Ares held out his hand like he was shaking for a deal. “Become my champion, and I will help you become stronger than any opponent you shall face.” 

Y/n thought it over for less than a few seconds before grabbing the gods hand in her own and shaking them up and down. 

“Deal.”

[looulouv]

the bodyguard. — epic!telemachus x reader

pairing: telemachus x gn!reader synopsis: after a year away from ithaca, telemachus returns to find his home in turmoil, with bloodshed staining the halls of the palace. gods, he just wanted to reunite with his family, his mother and certain guard that had captured his heart without even knowing. but the fates had another idea of a family reunion. genre: idk man, fluff ? angst ? warnings: fighting, blood, etc etc, tele being a sweetheart, mm that's it ig word count: 2.5k author's note: first time posting here, got tired of my ideas rotting in my notes app.......... had sm fun writing this, omg my fingers hurt after spending like three hours on my laptop ! would love to write more ab this, lemme know if i should !!!

first meeting: here! pt 2: here!

Telemachus had been alone in the palace for a long time. Dreaming of the day where his father would return to claim his throne, where he would tell him countless stories from the war, from the world, the sea. Telemachus' heart hurt, feeling a missing part, a void that he knew his father would fill.

But he didn't feel alone. He had them.

(Y/N), a new guard that had been assigned as guard when he was around fifteen. They had arrived as a gift from Nestor of Pylos, whose loyalty to Odysseus stretched back to Troy. Though sent to shield Penelope and her son, their arrival did little to quiet the suitors, who saw them as little more than a foreign soldier meddling in Ithacan affairs. But to Telemachus, their sharp tongue and unwavering spear became a comfort in the chaos, and eventually, their kind heart made his own race. They had become quite a companion for him when they weren't guarding his mother's chambers.

He always found himself admiring them. He couldn't help it, not when they were so pretty. How could anyone carry that guard uniform and still look so gorgeous? Telemachus didn't know. He had grown up alongside (Y/N), who was just a year younger than him, and had watched them transform into a more skilled soldier than they were before, agile and poised, unwavering and firey. Telemachus couldn't stop himself from looking, from sighing at the sight of them, a dazed smile on his lips as he observed at the way their hair flowed as they trained, how their expression softened when they interacted with his mother. How they seemed to bow their head to even Argos when they passed by, greeting ever so softly. Telemachus envied and felt enthralled by the kindness in their heart.

They even tried constantly to stop Antinous from kicking his ass, but well, it didn't do much the last time, it only made the older man give him a warning about how his mother had to choose new husband and with a scoff, he walked away, ripping a goblet of wine from another suitor. Telemachus didn't care. He had landed a few punches as well with Athena's help. He was proud of himself.

Since then, Telemachus not only had his mother and (Y/N), but also Athena. His new mentor encouraged him to be more brave and fierce, to practice with his spear and to take action using strategy and wisdom. And that's why he chose to travel and find information about his father, guided by his mentor to take part in something more than read thousands of scrolls as he spent the day locked in his chambers with Argos.

When he decided to embark on a journey to Pylos and Sparta, both Penelope and (Y/N) were against it, skeptical and worried, but stubborn as ever, Telemachus yelled and that he needed to prove himself, that he needed to know. That he needed to do something to feel worthy of his lineage. And so he left, for a whole year.

As the ship divised Ithaca and Telemachus practically buzzed with enthusiasm of seeing his mother again, of seeing them again, his heart rate picked up.

He didn't know that when he returned, his father would already be there, slaying the 108 souls that made his and his mother's lives tremendously difficult, sending them straight to Tartarus. Yet when Athena advised him to dock his ship somewhere else, away from prying eyes, Telemachus felt something was wrong.

So when he arrived to the palace and managed to hear the screams, he bolted. He ran towards the source of the sounds and while running, he saw piles of bodies, puddles and puddles of blood, his sandals slipping on the slick marble floor stained with fresh crimson. He just hoped his mother was okay, he hoped that (Y/N) could keep her safe. He hoped (Y/N) was safe. The palace was dark as night approached, torches blown out and some of them on the floor, a few feet away from the bodies. Telemachus could still see, squinting his eyes as he now walked carefully, wary of whatever dangers could be found within the walls of his home.

And that's when he saw it, Amphinomus and Melanthius, their voices echoing sharply against the cold stone walls of the armory. The room was dimly lit, the golden and silver glint of scattered weapons catching the faint glow of a single torch hanging near the entrance. They were discussing something about… The king? His father? Had he returned? Was that why the suitors were falling like rotten apples from a tree? He had to do something. That was his chance to finally do something about those monsters that had been tormenting him since he was a child.

He gripped his double sided spear until his knuckles turned white, and before he could be heard, he struck Amphinomus, his sharp eyes watching him fall with a loud thud. He then tried to persuade the rest of the suitors to give up, to throw down their weapons, but as he suspected, it was useless. They charged at him, wanting to capture him to have a leverage over his father.

And they almost did it, because while Telemachus fought tooth and nail to get them off, his spear was knocked out of his hands in a second, and Melanthius forced him to his knees, where Telemachus felt like he had disappointed his mentor and his entire bloodline.

But as soon as his expression fell, his eyes widened as he felt a gush of warm, red liquid on his face. Melanthius had been stabbed from the back, by non other than a man with a cloak, eyes red as blood and expression deathly as a sharp sword. Melanthius tried to beg for mercy, but wasn't grated with it, with harsh words and various wounds to the chest by this individual. His father.

And soon, as Odysseus busied himself with those who were still alive, more screams could be heard down the hallway from the great hall. A running figure emerged from the chaos, sharp eyes gleaming in the lone, flickering torchlight that illuminated the hallway. Their white chiton, trimmed with blue and gold, glowed faintly against the dark, blood-spattered hall. Each calculated strike of their spear echoed in the cavernous space, the clatter of falling weapons and dying gasps and yelps of suitors filling the air. Behind them, the shadows seemed to ripple as if the palace itself recoiled from the carnage. The dark blue chlamys draped over their shoulder, fastened with a round golden brooch, flowed as they moved both ferociously and gracefully. They had an armor, gold bracers with intricate patterns on both forearms, gold and blue greaves on the lower legs, equipped with a round shield, alongside their gold helmet crested with a plume. Strappy leather sandals that climbed their calves made a faint noise as they ran down the hall, eyes calculating every move, mind and soul fast as they struck every suitor they encountered.

Telemachus had never seen such a dangerous yet beautiful sight. (Y/N) looked so flawless as they fought, and when their eyes met? Telemachus swore his heart stopped. He hadn't seen them since the year prior, and they looked even more stunning. Not that they weren't stunning before, but because he had missed that elegance and grace when he was away, -thinking about it for a whole year, of them with a stoic face, chuckling at him as his spear fell out of his hands when he practiced, shielding him from Antinous constant pestering, admiring them while they were on duty and he was supposed to be eating his dinner-, and seeing it once more after a long time made him appreciate it even more. When they approached, asking if he was hurt while trying to wipe the blood off his face, asking if some of it was his, Telemachus couldn't stop himself from stuttering, cheeks flushed like he hadn't been stabbing men left and right, the flush on his cheeks competing against the blood on his clothes and face. The air was thick, heavy with the aftermath of battle, yet all he could focus on was the way (Y/N)’s gaze burned into his.

"I-I'm fine, (Y/N), I promise, it's not mine" he answered, lowering himself to retrieve his spear and grip it in his hands, sending a lopsided smile their way, almost forgetting that his father, the one who was stranded away for twenty years, was right there, as he admired their presence. How their hair had grown out, how it seemed more shiny.

Once he snapped out of that trance, his eyes fell on his father. Odysseus, the great king of Ithaca. Telemachus' mouth hanged open for a while, staring as Odysseus recovered for the carnage. His chest heaved, his long hair was messy, face stained with red.

"Father…" was all Telemachus could muster, heart on his throat. (Y/N) took notice of this, and their eyes snapped to the man whom they didn't recognize, eyes wide with shock.

"My king, it's an honor." they bowed deeply, lowering their spear as well as their head.

Odysseus, who seemed to now comprehend how much time he had been away, ignored the greeting from the guard and just looked at Telemachus like he was still an infant in his arms, muttering a soft "Son…" as his eyes softened, no longer carrying that angry red that he possessed during the battle. Both father and son embraced for a while, emotions flooding the room as (Y/N) gave them space, guarding the door like they were on duty.

Once they had talked and shared a few tears, Telemachus fetched the guard from their spot, his hand brushing slightly against theirs as he pulled them in the direction of his father.

"This is (Y/N), father. The guard I talked to you about, a friend I made over the years. They practically kept this whole place running. If it weren't for them, mother and I would probably be in ruins," he chuckled, eyes trailing over every faction, every detail in (Y/N)'s face.

“A fine soldier and a loyal companion. You’ve served my family well, (Y/N).” Odysseus' voice was heavy with authority, but there was a warmth underneath it, a gratitude that even a seasoned warrior like (Y/N) would recognize, as his eyes, maybe dimmed and tired, still held some softness in them.

"It was nothing, my king. I was just doing what was right, it's my duty." they replied, tone steady, but Telemachus noticed the faintest waver in their voice. Nerves? Respect? Whatever it was, was endearing to him. And when (Y/N) straightened up and bowed once more, turning their attention back to the doors as Odysseus told Telemachus to inform his mother of his return and to have his guard accompany him, he let them go first before patting his son on the back with a strong but gentle hand.

"A good choice, my boy."

Telemachus froze, eyes wide as his cheeks turn blazing red.

"Wha-? No, father, it's not-" he stammered, trying to think of something to save himself, but it was futile.

"Oh, it's not what? I saw the way you looked at them the moment they joined the fight. Don't lie to me, son. I may have been away for twenty years, but I recognize that look everywhere. I looked at your mother the same way,"

His words alone were enough for Telemachus to turn scarlet, even more than he already was, knuckles white as he gripped his spear with the strength of an army, heart pounding against his ribcage. Gods, what was he going to do?

[somepsychopomp]

I love the idea that the Trojans pay closer attention to when Ody's heats are then Odysseus himself. They live in fear that one day he just rips the walls down with his bare hands. Everyone refuses to go fight by the fifth year. The Greeks have about five seconds to recognize what that means before they get jumped <3

Okay so I’m no longer asking- I’m telling y'all that if u leave me an idea or suggestion with no clear context clues/explanation as to what you’re talking about, I’m not going to answer 😭 Believe me, I love writing and answering prompts but if I have to treat it like a guessing game, its not nearly as fun for me anymore. Sorry to anon because I know that wasn't your intention, but I am simply not a mind reader

Like I know you’re talking about my omegaverse AU but I’m not sure if you’re referring to my actual AU or the Trojan spin-off. It sounds more like you’re referring to my side idea of omega Ody being kidnapped by Paris to Troy so okay-

I think Ody would actually be a lot more clever about his heats & would try to conceal them as much as possible, whether that be by frequently washing/changing his clothes and/or using copious perfume or ancient scent blockers.

And if not that, he could try prolonging his period of pre-heat to confuse the alphas in the Trojan palace as much as possible. Maybe he does this with herbal remedies that can partially suppress a heat, or he knows how to mimic the mannerisms of an omega approaching their heat- ex. increased purring & scent marking

Tricking the palace into thinking he’s near-heat has a few advantages. One, Odysseus can eavesdrop more easily because its Ancient Times and no one thinks a horny omega has even two brain cells to rub together. When they all think he's just a dumb himbo, Ody can steal supplies he needs more easily, or even seduce the palace guards into giving him access to places he shouldn't be in.

Cue Odysseus' many failed escape attempts from Troy. (Stealing a length of rope to scale the wall to freedom, stealing a knife and slitting a guard's throat so he can take a horse from the stable, seducing another to gain access to Troy's underground servant tunnels, etc.) The only reason why they're failed attempts is bc Priam is really smart and Hector is an extraordinarily talented warrior, and together they can just barely keep omega Ody in containment.

Omega Odysseus in heat is a different beast. If Ody in my actual AU has be to locked aboard one of his ships while in heat during the Trojan War, then he's 100% getting locked in Troy's dungeon while he's with them.

Granted, they prettied it up for him by cleaning the old blood and grime off the walls, giving him tons of soft bedding, keeping Paris far away from him, and providing him with a vast assortment of snacks and hand-carved dildos to bounce on.

Ody's horny phase lasts a few hours, maybe even a day if the Trojans are lucky. But once he begins to grow frustrated bc the dildos just can't satisfy him like his Penelope can, omega Odysseus is breaking out no matter how hard they try to barricade his cell. Somehow, perhaps with Athena's help, they always end up with a naked Odysseus running through the halls and ripping out throats with his bare teeth.

He won't rest until he either A) has his alpha back or B) has killed Paris. He would prefer both, but since Ody can probably only get B because Penelope is leading the forces from Ithaca outside of Troy's walls, he'll take it.

Whenever Ody escapes containment, which is quite often, Paris is told to hide while literally an entire battalion of fully-armored Trojan soldiers is sent to capture the omega. His heat doesn't make him the addled, boneless, whimpering pet that they expect an omega to be. He's quick and merciless, fueled by his instinctual rage at being separated from his mate and infant son.

Even when he's captured, Ody's still got a few tricks left. Sometimes, he'll cry out in pain and feign an injury. Since he's technically married to Paris and considered Trojan royalty, one of the guards or soldiers would have no choice but to venture closer to check on him.

From there, it's easy for Ody's canines to find flesh and for his nimble fingers to snatch the dagger or sword from the poor man's side.

After the Trojans start getting wise to Odysseus' ways, they basically form a union. They already have enemies at their gates, seemingly every able-bodied man in Greece (plus Penelope), but now they have a monster in their midst. One that is slowly killing them off from within their own palace.

Return the omega to his homeland, they say to their king. Or else they will simply refuse to fight any longer.

Bonus: If we're following my AU where Troy isn't sacked by the end of the war, then by the time Ody gets to leave, they'll have probably started to let omegas into their army. Something about viewing them as the most terrifying and ruthless warriors imaginable.

[yescallmejosey]

Humbly requesting more spicy Odypen hcs.

Sigh, im gonna burn in hell for sure

warning: straight up smut people

as i said before, both Odysseus and Penelope and switches. both of them have different ways of working their magic:

Penelope likes to tease Odysseus with gentle touches on his body. Her hand traces the line of his collarbone before moving down to his ribs, her fingers so soft it causes her husband to shiver. She is loving, but there is something devious about it. The king of Ithaca becomes putty in her hands the moment she traces a thumb down his length and the moment he lets out but the smallest whimper she will pull away. Now imagine that all night.

Odysseus is devoted to making his wife feel good. Every touch, every slow thrust is meant to make her feel like in heaven. Every since they met, he devoted himself into making sure she was happy and sex is no exception. He understands this moment as a way to know Penelope better, learning what she likes even if they had spend at least twenty years together.

Oral is perhaps Odysseus’s favorite thing. He doesn’t need to feel pleasure himself to enjoy himself, especially when has his wife begging and shaking with a single flick of his tongue. He eats her out like a starving man, his lips sucking her clit and gifting her wet kisses along her thighs. The king of Ithaca is able to spend all night like this, pushing orgasm after orgasm out of Penelope until she can no longer come undone on his face.

Penelope’s favorite thing though is literally ride him stupid. Just seeing his eyes pleading and watering as she moves as fast as she can, ripping moans out of his husband. Her stamina defeats Odysseus’s attempt of containing himself from spilling himself inside of her. But the way her hips move, the way her words soothed him was just too much. Penelope did always get what she wanted

Im just gonna crawl into a corner, enjoy

[amevinil239]

Something old, something new, and something lost.

They were gone.

It was supposed to be a time of celebration, after four years they had an heir!. Penelope was radiant in her new motherhood; the exhaustion of childbirth had vanished the moment she held her baby in her arms. Her joy lit up the palace as she nursed and sang to him until he fell asleep. Her cheeks must have hurt from smiling so much, day after day.

And don’t even get her started on her brother, Odysseus was practically bouncing off the walls with pure euphoria, holding his wife and newborn like there was no tomorrow, throwing any responsibility as king out the window just to be with his family as much as he could.

Thankfully, Ctimene had arrived in Ithaca to meet her nephew just in time. Her mother desperately needed help running the kingdom and receiving all the well-wishers and gifts pouring in for the newborn prince during her brother’s license. The day his name was formally announced and Icarius’ presents began arriving by the dozens was certainly a memorable one.

When little Telemachus turned one month old and his father stomped back to court like a sulking child forced to do chores, Ctimene and Eurylochus decided Same could wait a little longer. They stayed to enjoy the new family dynamic, where everything revolved around the tiny human her brother and sister-in-law had created and whom they obviously would never shut up about.

And for a moment, the tapestry was perfect. But the next thread was already stained red. And Clotho did not blink.

When news of Penelope’s cousin Helen being abducted reached Ithaca, Ctimene didn’t think much of it beyond offering Penelope support during such unfortunate news. She didn’t notice how tense her brother had grown, tight as his bowstring. She didn’t realize Penelope’s distress wasn’t only for her cousin. She didn’t notice how both stared at the sea with growing anxiety, nor how tightly they clung to each other and to their child as if warding off a storm.

Ctimene wasn’t there, but what happened that day spread across the kingdom like fire through dry grass. Three important kings had come to recruit Odysseus and found him plowing the fields with a donkey and an ox, sowing salt as he went. Then, one of the kings, Palamedes, her brother would later spit, called Penelope to help with something supposedly happening in the fields. He ripped baby Telemachus from her arms and laid him in the path of the plow, forcing Odysseus to drop the act.

But worse was yet to come. Before Odysseus had a chance to resign himself to joining the war in Troy, Menelaus, husband to the abducted Helen, told them they weren’t only there for the king and his men.

“A prophecy has been given to us”, said the King of Sparta. “Before we left, the seer Calchas spoke the will of the gods.”

“The tower of Ilion shall not fall

until the daughter of Icarius forsakes the root of her house,

and the son of Laertes takes the path over bottomless waters.

When thought and will are no longer two,

the field of oaths shall open,

and dawn shall rise, drenched in blood.”*

Prophecy still under review*

Her brother’s roars of rage echoed through all of Ithaca. He cursed the gods for dragging his wife into the same doomed fate as him. The kings were driven from the island without a clear answer regarding Odysseus’ oath or Penelope’s divine fate.

“...What oath?” “Ctimene, not now, my dear.”

The next morning, the king’s fury had softened into resignation, and the queen, so joyful the day before, now stood tall and solemn in her sorrow. They called the troops. They said goodbye to their family. They held their child until the last possible moment. And they took her husband with them.

And just like that, they were gone.

Their daughter had promised to stay as long as she could to help them adjust to their new reality.

Even two weeks later, Anticlea still hadn’t processed what had happened. One day they were a happy and prosperous family, the next they were a fractured front in a war that had nothing to do with them, ordered by the gods.

Maybe it was because she still held out hope for a peaceful resolution that her heart and mind kept rejecting their new reality. Surely her cunning son would stop the war before it even started with his silver tongue and bring everyone home. He had his charming wife by his side. Those two couldn’t be stopped by anything or anyone.

In the meantime, she had to maintain a healthy kingdom and keep a happy grandson for them to return to. Thankfully, her husband had recovered most of his sharpness over the years when their son ruled and had returned to being the capable and attentive king he had once been in his prime.

It was curious, she too felt like she was back in her golden years. A wise and healthy husband at her side ruling over the kingdom, with a healthy, happy baby in her arms. Then she’d look down at the child and see Penelope mixed in with her son’s features, and the illusion would shatter, crashing her back to reality; where the baby’s parents were across the sea fighting in a war, where her husband still struggled with madness as he led a kingdom depleted by war and lacking most of its men, where she was missing the vitality of her youth and relied on her daughter’s temporary help to act as a mother to a child this small again, where she had to be a mother again instead of a grandmother.

But they endured, for those who left and for those who stayed. They endured.

Eurycleia could no longer act as a nursemaid due to her age, but she was tasked with finding someone trustworthy. Her daughter hadn’t yet had the chance to be a mother herself, so Anticlea had to guide her through most of the care a baby needed; changing him, feeding him, soothing him, all of it.

Anticlea preferred to keep the walks with Telemachus in her arms for herself, whispering softly to him about his mother and father and how much they loved him, and left the rougher play with the wooden toys Odysseus had carved during Penelope’s pregnancy to Ctimene.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise that the prince loved bath time. As the grandson of the nereid Periboea, being near fresh water soothed him like nothing else after his parents’ departure. Her daughter claimed she had discovered that taking him to the Kalamos spring calmed his nightly cries, lulled by the running water and comforted by the naiad who dwelled at the spring.

Weeks turned into months, many months. Little Telemachus grew every day, no longer needing to be held all the time and soon to be ready for solid food.

And the thread pulled taut.

In the end, Ctimene couldn’t stay in Ithaca any longer. Her home needed her, so they had one last dinner with the little family still nearby before parting ways for who knew how long. And with her daughter went her hope that things might return to the way they were any time soon.

And with great sorrow, she knew the only thing she could do was keep on waiting.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language, nor is it a language I typically write in. Everything here was translated with the help of ChatGPT. If anything doesn’t make sense to the reader, it’s entirely their fault 😊

You can also read it in Spanish here.

Read the next part here!

[cowboys-tshot]

I keep seeing people call Eurylochus a hypocrite, and while I kinda agree, I also kinda disagree. Hear me out.

So, people's main thing with Eury is that he gets mad at Odysseus for sacrificing six men to Scylla, but he doomed all of the crew by opening the wind bag, and wanted to abandon 22 men-turned-pigs on Circe's island. (For anyone wondering where I'm getting that number, it's from The Odyssey).

But these events aren't really the same, or comparable. Let's take them one by one. (This is gonna be a long one, so I'll cut the post here for the sake of your timelines)

The wind bag. I fully understand why people are pissed at Eurylochus for doing this, and I am too. But you have to remember that he did not do this out of malicious intent. He did not know this would end in the eventual deaths of the entire crew. Even though Eurylochus was warned about the storm being inside the bag, none of them knew it would take them right to the Laestrygonians. He had no idea Poseidon was pissed off at Odysseus for blinding Polyphemus. It was a stupid decision, certainly, but the following events were not intentional on his part.

Circe's island. Eurylochus had no reason to believe there was any way of rescuing those 22 men. Circe's a goddess/witch. What the fuck are two human dudes gonna do about that? Odysseus didn't even know what he was going to do. He would not have had any solution if not for Hermes, which is not something Eurylochus could've predicted. It's pretty reasonable for him to think that those men were a lost cause.

Scylla. So far, all of the deaths have been "accidental:" 14 from Polyphemus, 543 from Poseidon/Laestrygonians, and 1 from Circe (RIP Elpenor). I am not attributing the 543 deaths to Eurylochus for the reasons detailed above. No one knew these deaths would happen. They were all sudden/unexpected. Let's take these next sixth deaths moment-by-moment:

Odysseus redirects the ship, using directions that no one else knew (Odysseus was reading the siren's lips, but everyone else was too busy catching the other sirens, and all of them had beeswax in their ears). Odysseus tells Eurylochus to light six torches.

One by one, Eurylochus watches every man that he handed a torch get brutally eaten. He himself is almost eaten, but he passes his torch off to someone else before he notices the correlation. He only realizes what's happening as the sixth man is about to die, and Eurylochus is too late to save him.

Odysseus won't even gaze at the blood left behind. But it's all Eurylochus can look at.

These deaths were planned. Odysseus knew what he was bringing his men into, and not only did he keep it from them, he sacrificed his men that didn't even know what was happening. And Eurylochus likely feels part of the blame, having been the one to light the torches, even if he didn't know the consequences of it.

Eurylochus has a right to be upset, to be angry. These are the first deaths that could have been prevented, because Odysseus could've simply not taken his men through Scylla's territory. But that's the only way to get home. Odysseus sees it as a necessary sacrifice, but Eurylochus sees it as needless. Because at this point, Eurylochus has given up hope that they'll ever get home. What is the point of sacrificing these men for a goal we will never achieve?

This is not a situation where one person is at fault. Odysseus and Eurylochus are both to blame. Like Scylla says, "There is no price we won't pay." Odysseus himself says, "You know you'd have done the same." People do stupid, dangerous, bad shit to survive. Odysseus sacrifices his men. Eurylochus still wants to live, he just doesn't see the point in trying to return to Ithaca. That's why he kills Helios's cattle. He is starving and he wants to live, even though he knows the consequences.

The whole point of all this is that people will do awful and/or stupid things to survive. Not just Odysseus.

[theproverbialpen]

Homecoming

Summary: Odysseus is finally home.

Pairings: Odysseus X Penelope, Odysseus & Telemachus

Word Count: 930

Notes: I was going to send my mother Baile Inolvidable as reading material for her flight back to the Philippines but then she was like “why would I read something that makes me sad? I’m already gonna be sad.” 😭 So! I whipped up some heartwarming fluff in like 30 minutes before we left for the airport. Figured I’d share it for y’all to read as well :)

—

It was over.

Twenty years of suffering. Twenty years of wars against Trojans, monsters, and gods alike. Twenty years of unknowns. Twenty years of ‘what ifs’. None of it mattered now. He was here. He was finally, finally home.

Odysseus wept into Penelope’s arms for a long time. Hours passed by and the sun sailed across the sky in its gentle arch until it was well below the horizon. Twilight turned to dusk and dusk turned to midnight as the pale moonlight flooded in through his balcony window. Each and every one of those hours were not enough, not enough to make up for the twenty years he had been away. How many countless seconds had he missed as Telemachus grew from a boy to a man? How many sunrises could he have watched with Penelope by now? How many nights could he have fallen asleep in her warm, comforting embrace?

There was no way to make up for lost time, not in a literal sense. Those years were long gone, lost to the echoes of the past. There was no use dwelling on them, not when Odysseus had right here, right now. Two decades of hardship washed away from his weary bones as Penelope’s tears intermingled with his own. She cradled him so closely as they lay in the bed he had made for her, holding him like he would disappear if she loosened her grasp by even an inch. He held her back with just as much urgency, just as much desperation. Part of him still couldn't believe it was really her. He stayed on high alert, as if even the passing wind could rip him out of this reverie he found himself in. But slowly, ever so slowly, she coaxed him down, whispering sweet nothings into his ear which she peppered with kisses, stroking his hair until his breathing was even. For the first time in twenty years, Odysseus truly, genuinely let himself rest.

Ithaca’s queen and its long-estranged king fell asleep just like that, a tangled mess of limbs and tears. When they woke, it was all Penelope could do to tear Odyseuss’s limbs from her form, begging him to at least take a much needed bath before they returned to the comfort of their bed. Odysseus relented after much protest, letting his Penelope drag him to the tub as he dragged his feet lazily. When he finally sank into the warm water, he felt his body relax even further, the liquid absorbing all the dirty and grime and weariness that had accumulated over his impossibly long journey. Penelope sat with him by the tub, lathering his hair with olive oil and raking her fingers along his scalp section by section. Odysseus sighed contentedly and leaned into her touch, the gentle drag of her fingernails sending pleasant tingles down his spine. He let her scrub down the rest of her body and savored the feeling of her skin on his, a comforting, grounding sensation that brought more relaxation to his muscles than any wine or nectar ever could.

As soon as he was clean and dry, he immediately swept Penelope into his arms, carrying her back over to their bed before trapping her in a whole body embrace. Once again, Apollo’s chariot made its way through the expanse of the heavens and day turned to night before his rumbling stomach jolted both of them awake. Penelope laughed at him, the sound sweeter than any melody strung by lyre or harp. Eventually, she convinced him to rise and dress, and the two of them made their way to the dining hall hand in hand. Then, for the first time in twenty years, Odysseus got to relish in the joys of an actual, real life family meal.

As hungry as he was, Odysseus’ food remained untouched for quite some time. He could not tear his eyes away from their son long enough to eat, too enraptured by Telemachus’s expressive gestures and endearing smiles. His son told him all about his studies, his diplomatic travels, his beloved dog—anything and everything that Odysseus had missed all this time. A part of his heart hurt, seeing the man before him and wishing he could have watched that man blossom over the years. That part was largely overshadowed by the exuberant joy and the unconditional love he felt for his son, his son who was finally, finally sitting across from him at their family dinner. Their first dinner as a whole, complete family.

Telemachus’ face blanched and he reached toward his father hesitantly. It was then that Odysseus realized he was crying, and he hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes with a nervous laugh. He froze in place when he felt two sets of arms wrap around him and turned to either side to find his wife and son cradling him close. Telemachus, the sweet boy, was sniffling slightly, surely doing his best to be strong for his father. Penelope was pressing kisses into his temple, soothing him with gentle murmurs and kind whispers. As much as their gestures were meant to comfort him, Odysseus only found himself crying harder as he pulled them even closer, chest heaving as raw, unfettered sobs wracked his body.

Twenty years of suffering. Twenty years of fighting for his country, his family, and his life. In truth, none of it could be erased. The scars were permanent, twenty years worth of them etched deep into Odysseus’ body, heart, and mind. But none of it mattered. Not. One. Bit.

Because despite it all, Odysseus was home. Odysseus was finally, finally home.

[sillygoofyqueer]

Why is the Ithaca Saga wangxian coded and how you could write an Epic fic about it?

I'm so glad you asked Anonymous Asker on Tumblr Dot Com!

Okay so let's start with The Challenge - At the start of this song, Penelope talks about how she has been waiting for Odysseus and unravelling the tapestry she has been weaving for him for TWENTY YEARS! This is similar (to me, anyway) to how Lan Wangji plays Enquiry for Wei Wuxian every night for thirteen (or sixteen, for all those Untamed fans) years, both of them desperately waiting and hoping for any sign of their beloveds returning in their own ways - either getting home before Penelope finishes her tapestry or just replying when Lan Wangji calls for him in the night.

Then Penelope is like "yo wait...the storm....MY HUSBAND COULD BE BACK!!" and then she obviously tells all the suitors that anyone who can blah blah blah blah BLAAH (I'd write it but I'm minorly tipsy right now my bad), wanting to prove that her husband is back. To meee, this is like Lan Wangji listening to Lan Sizhui talking about Mo Xuanyu and being like "hmmm...sounds familiar. Babygirl??" I can't explain that very much but YOU KNOW?? THE VIBES!!!

Then we go onto Hold Them Down - Okay, so this one is so much more loose because I'm a moron but I do think that I can make this wangxian coded!!! Because, right, with the different suitors trying to string Odysseus' bow, it can be like the different sects vying for power - power that an alliance with the Lan Sect could bring (through MARRIAGE to WANGJI), which is why they're all trying to 'string the bow' or......court him, if that makes sense.

Then we move onto the suitors plotting to kill Telemachus so they can gain power (and what I say next is literally JUST what I think would happen) similar to how I think that if the other sects (like the Jin sect) found out about Lan Sizhui being Wen Yuan, they'd probably try and kill him too because BOOO HIIISSSS BOOOO A WENNNN!!!! (I think that'd be a cool plotline......)

Obviously then we move to the suitors being slimy bastards about Penelope, which could be like certain sects being slimy bastards about Lan Wangji!!! Like, we know it could happen because Jin Guangshan gets away with being a slimy bastard all the TIME, and as long as they're not doing it around the Lan Sect, the sects could say whatever the fuck they want!!! Man, can you tell I'm slowly going insane???

THEN!!! Odysseus. HahHAHAHAHHA. Come on pals, let me whip out the lyrics because this one was just like "WOAH HOLY SHIT!!" Alright so basically we literally start with Odysseus talking about how he's dealt with so much SHIT through the twenty years he's been gone, just to come back and hear the suitors being disgusting about his family - which can be linked in such an awesome way to Wei Wuxian because imagine that guy being like "I've been through all of this fucking SHIT (the destruction of Lotus Pier, the Burial Mounds, the Sunshot Campaign, everything with the Wens, accidentally killing his sister's fiancé, Nightless City, being ripped apart by ghosts and corpses???) and I come back to you planning to kill my SON (a Wen) and defile my HUSBAND FRIEND??" and the sects being like "oh SHIT, it's the Yiling Patriarch!!"

And then we have the suitors running and trying to escape Odysseus as he goes about and kicks their asses - and there was one quote that really got to me! So, we know that one of the suitors is like "we have the advantage!" and another one is like "No, you don't understand it, this man plans for every fight", which truly and utterly reminds me of how everyone seems to forget that Wei Wuxian was once the head disciple of Lotus Pier and literally one of the strongest cultivators of his generation due to him instead being portrayed as a villainous monster because of his demonic cultivation. The suitor dies after saying this, so I'm not sure what kind of cultivator would say such a thing!

And we can think about Odysseus being like "you think I don't know my own palace? I built it" with the second siege of the Burial Mounds, in such a cool way!! It could be like the sects running around the Burial Mounds and trying to kill Wei Wuxian but he's like "I spent so many torturous months here, you think I don't know this place like the back of my hand?" And he's just killing them off while they try to run and hide, not letting anything stop him. More killing more murder, then the suitors try and grab Telemachus to kill him - just like they'd try and grab Lan Sizhui to murder him because he's a WEN!!!

Both Odysseus and Wei Wuxian would react in the same way - I mean, did you hear the arrows fucking FLYING AT THE END OF THE SONG??? IT'S LITERALLY SO FUCKING SICK!!!!! I heard that and just thought "holy shit, Wei Wuxian with his ghostly cultivation, absolutely kicking the ASSES of everyone who dared to hurt/threaten his family???" And how both Odysseus and Wei Wuxian started their lives/journeys with peace and mercy in their hearts but everything around them piled up until they couldn't take it anymore and finally, finally fought back.

ALRIGHT I HAVE TWO MORE SONGS TO GO THROUGH BUT I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED????

[tagzpite]

from the Wolf!Odysseus AU, I wonder!

how did he use this in the Trojan war? did the greeks bring wolves along to help him not be easily spotted? how do wolves feel about him, when/if he pretends to be one of them to not be spotted by the enemy?

is it even common knowledge, or something of a state secret about the pelt?

since it's selkie-inspired, does Calypso take his pelt from him, even if it doesn't have the "now he can't leave you" quality?

how is he gonna lose one or both eyes in this AU?

i love your art and AUs!!

I imagine they did bring at least a few! Odysseus uses the form to hide himself amongst the natural forest animals of Troy, it’s perfect for surveillance! And for standing guard.

It’s a secret, but mostly just from outsiders of the Achaean army. Theres also an effort to keep it only to the highest of figures in the ranks. And of course the people of Ithaca either know or speculate.

And she most definitely does. There’s actually a bit of a scene I have in mind of her attempting to rip of off him, but he was in the middle of transformation. So the skin is destroyed and he’s left beastly, which Calypso tries to “fix” to make him look more like a normal man. But she cannot undo the damage.

Hermes provides him with a brand new pelt, since only his own descendants can do so, and Ody’s mother is dead and cannot hunt him a new wolf pelt to give to her son. Hermes does it himself!

And as for his eye— Poseidon. As always haha!

[historygirlie]

I am really intrigued in the way you draw the Greek gods. You have some sort of unique style that catches my eye! Like from what I have noticed from your art is that you have really changeable clothing for each one. Like Apollo’s dressing changes from one type to another keeping the original design though. Also am I delusional or do Hermes and Apollo have the same necklaces (like they both have necklaces with waves in them?)? And if I am being correct Apollo has wings too? Why did you choose to do that so? Also in your two pieces drawing for the Ithaca saga realise didn’t Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope have the same bracelets and if my brain is working isn’t Telemachus’ dressing colour the mix between Penelope’s light purple and Odysseus blue? I went in such a deep rant I love your art!

HOLY MOLY THATS SOME DEEP ANALYSIS THERE HUN!! I never thought someone would look in so deep to my work I am honoured 😭😭. As for answering your questions yes you are correct the designs for the gods’ clothing does change and that depends on what are they doing and who they are meeting. So like the most obvious design I have right now is Hermes. In this picture:

(which is totally epic) he is dressed in a mission so like he has a job to do as a messenger god. (Also bro trusts his skirt WAYYYY too much)

Yet in my more casual designs like when he meets Ody (or when he is twerking in that animation I posted) he is dressed simpler to emphasise that he has a more close to humans side like in the case of the design I did:

As for the necklaces yes it is true Hermes and Apollo have the same ones. They matched and in fact the story for that is a bit interesting. I though that since Hermes tried to steal Apollo’s cattle, Apollo made Hermes swear to not try and trick him and so they have the necklaces so they do not lie to one another (yet Hermes finds a way to twist the truth EVERY time). The earrings in the meantime are something every god has (it depends then on their preferences to keep them or not). The same goes for the tattoos (they are basically carved to their skin so each time they use powers they show). Hermes has snake tattoos, Apollo has like little arrows. Usually it is their respective animals that decide that.

Apollo’s wings on the other side symbolise his sacred animal: the crow. They seem white but in the dark they are actually black. Hermes has wings since…he has to fly man. Apollo’s wings are smaller than Hermes and one of them is actually half ripped out.in a drawing I did his wings are like they were in the beginning before they were ripped out from a reason I won’t tell y’all 😈. (I’d like to see ur theories for it). Oh and also one of Apollo’s suns in the halo he has is actually broken. Again y’all can theorise.

As for the two part drawing I did yes the bracelets and the clothes were intentional. The bracelets were to show the family had something that unified them and made them a family. Odysseus though doesnt have his anymore though since yeah the trip was bad. And the colours of their clothes are as you said mixing together. Also a detail in the second drawing is that all of their clothing’s colours are darker symbolising growth and maturing, also pain and suffering of being torn apart.

ANYWAYSSSSSS I yapped a lot but I hope I answered all your questions!

[wheatwhip]

My interpretations for the visuals of epic:

In "Luck Runs Out" when Odysseus and Eurylochus are speaking in private, there is a sun, visible between them in the background. This composition is repeated in both the second half of "Mutiny" and "Thunder Bringer". The sun's position in the sky progresses every scene towards a sunset until it's fully absent during the "we'll die" "i know" scene.

Every time the Cyclops is alluded to, the focus character has an eye hidden. Does not have to be Odysseus

In "The Underworld" every person not on the ship is turned away and their face can't be seen. Aswell Polities is not talking to Odysseus, but the infant.

Also in "The Underworld", the bit right before Odysseus says goodbye to his mom, he is on the edge of the ship, trying to get a glimpse of her, and the brief instrumental is Eurylochus pulling him back. The following Chorus he turns to Eurylochus and is talking to him directly and then the crew, as if seeking out comfort.

This one is the most important to me okay. In "Suffering", each line he proceeds to undress a little (taking off his shoes when he says he's too shy, and his shirt(?) when he says can't you let me stay dry) and when he asks her to come up onto the ship she takes his hand and does, successfully letting her believe he's been fooled, and when he says the final line, they're standing on the ship together and he stabs her similarily to how Circe attempted in "There Are Other Ways"

In "Suffering" and "Different Beast", the daughter is played by a real younger siren and while Odysseus sings, Siren!Penelope is looking at her and the other caught sirens. The second chorus, she breaks away from Odysseus to go to her sisters and it's holding the face of the youngest one, that she and the others swallow their pride to beg for their lives.

In "There Are Other Ways" Circe gives Odysseus a flower that is in some way in his hair. This remains until "Different Beast" where during the line where he instructs his men to cut off their tail, he rips it out.

In "Scylla" the crew's guard is mostly down after she says Hello, all of the crew is looking to Odysseus, waiting for him to speak. After he tells them to row for their lives, it takes them a second to because of the shock

At the start of "Mutiny", the remaining crew does not seem to believe Eurylochus, slowly accepting and realizing by the time he's giving examples as their gaze turns to Odysseus instead.

Every time the Cyclops is alluded to, the focus character has an eye hidden.

At the very beginning of "Thunder Bringer", during the instrumental, the shot is actually of Ithaca where Penelope removes a bracelet/necklace/ribbon and sets it down, but an Eagle comes and swipes it. We then follow the flying eagle and back to the boat. During Penelope's verse, the eagle drops the item to Odysseus. Ideally this is incorporated into his design afterwards as a symbol of devotion and possibly to then end where on their reunion he returns it.