#astyanax lives au

[kittenscookie]

Okay I'm feeling kinda silly so imagine if you will,

Odysseus and Penelope walking along the beach with their sons (Astyanax lives :P) just all four of them enjoying finally being together. But then Astyanax points out something floating towards them in the distance—a basket? Astyanax and Telemachus rush forward to investigate their parents following after. Before either boy can step into the water to retrieve it the waves push it forward onto the bank in front of Odysseus's feet. He kneels down, takes the little lid off the basket, and OH! Would you look at that, it's a baby! Covered in a fine silk blanket, cooing up at him with big blue eyes and brown hair so dark it almost looks black, surrounded by seashells and holding a little wooden horse. Both his and Penelope's mouths drop, Astyanax wants to know if they can keep it, and Telemachus is just confused.

[eeriefeelingsat3amuwu]

hdhahdhajfbajdnaudb Okay having Thoughts™️ about some of these ‘Odysseus raises Astyanax’ fics. Because. Because if we’re talking about the full odyssey experience. If Astyanax were to survive. He would have spent 11 years of his life growing up with Odysseus as his father. Now, to the main area of thought - Telemachus. Imagine. Imagine being a child, hearing of your father only in stories. From your mother, the servants, your grandparents. Seeing your grandmother succumb to her grief, seeing your mother grow sadder by the day, more sullen, seeing your grandfather withdraw into himself, all because of your father.

The man you are told you look like, the man who left for war, six, eight, eleven, fifteen, TWENTY years ago, left your home in disrepair, left your mother and you to deal with suitors disrespecting your house and name, the man who you are so angry at, yet Also worship as a god, because you don’t have a CHOICE. You can’t love him, you don’t KNOW him, but you love him in the way you love your gods - distant, unknowable, unreachable, and yet you have his face, your mother sometimes gates at you with these sad, sad eyes and you know she’s not really seeing you when she tells you she loves you.

You know he is a man, logically, how could he not be when your mother still remembers every calous on his hands and your grandfather tells you of how he almost set his room on fire one day, but he is only a legend to you. You hear other Kings, Kings from the same war your father left for (they came back, they are already back and he is still gone) discussing him, you hear how he helped end the war with your and your mother’s name on his lips and YET! He’s not here, he’s not here but he can’t be dead, because everyone agrees that he is too stubborn to die.

And then. He is back. And he has a boy with him. A boy who is younger than you, still just a child. And he regards the boy as his own, introduces him to you as ‘your brother’. He hasn’t dishonoured your mother, he took the child from the burning city of Troy because he is merciful and kind and you see it in the way the boy hugs him and calls him papa. And you should be happy, your father is back, you have a sibling now, your mother finally smiles properly again, your grandfather no longer cries when he sees you.

But. This boy. The boy your father brought from Troy. He got all that you have ever wanted: he got your father, from the moment he was Born he got your father, he was there for his first steps, his first words, he taught him how to sail, fight, read, count, he has been there with him through it all and you have never wanted anything more. ‘This child is not his son’ says that hateful, angry voice in your head.

You spend time with your father. He weeps, hugs you. Tells you he’s proud of the man you are now. Teaches you how to rule, it is your birthright, he says. He goes hunting with you and tells you he loves you and that the thought of you and your mother got him through many a peril. You spend time with your brother, you make him laugh, he loves you, clings to you just as much as he clings to your father, you teach him more about Ithaca, the way it is now, because he’s only heard stories. And still, in the back of your mind, you know you hate the child. You despise him with every fiber of your heart even if your mind knows he is not to blame - and that he has dealt with the same thing, just opposite to you.

Whereas you had a home, your mother and the rest of your family, but yearned for more than just the memory of your father, wanted for freedom, the boy had him, in the flesh, soothing his nightmares and teaching him to live, had the open sea and the deck of a ship, the capability to go anywhere, he lacked the stability that you had and despised. He didn’t know his grandfathers, would never get to know his grandmother, only had a memory of a mother and a brother, saw them as saints, as a reason to keep pushing forth.

You are opossites. You don’t know how it happened, as the child is not hers, but your brother looks like your mother where you are clearly your father’s son, yet your personalities seem to have been switched. You’re calmer, much more subdued, you don’t smile easily and are weaker of will. Your brother is loud and boisterous, quick to crack a grin and so, so Brave.

You still get the compulsion to bow to your father whenever he enters a room, to touch him to make sure he is real, at times. He sometimes wakes screaming, seeing horrors that you could not imagine in his sleep and doesn’t feel comfortable in a proper bed for years. He sets the curtains on fire and your father laughs in relief and he holds him to his chest. Your own chest cleaves in two.

Just. Is this anything?

[holly-opal]

So what if when they get to the suitors, they are killing everyone, and then Penelope and Odysseus reunite with tears, and it's super emotional. And then while they are distracted, a suitor is going to stab them. But then Astyanax just fucking jumps on his back and starts stabbing him repeatedly with Telemachus in the back like 😐

I can imagine the exchange is like

Astyanax: :3

Penelope: Who's that feral child?

Odysseus: Ours. I was pregnant :)

Penelope: [visible confusion]

Telemachus: I think his blood got in my mouth-

[xixovart]

i tremendously adore the ‘odysseus adopts astyanax’ multiverse but have we considered athena’s reaction?

“odysseus you took the infant? he’ll kill you.”

“you think this little face is capable of murder, athena? look at him. look at his little cheeks.”

[viaviv124]

Ok i have a small scene in mind

Eurylochus asking why Odysseus cares so much for a child that isnt even his to begin with, he gets goodwill but this kind of attachment to another's son? Odysseus smiles as he replies:

"he may not be my son by blood but he is and always will be my son by heart. I wouldn't trade him for anything, regardless of all the frustrations and pains raising a child brings."

And all this was as Odysseus sat next to sleeping Astyanax, gently petting the baby with a finger before this little hand grabbed his finger tightly, holding it close.

And that's when Eurylochus understood that Odysseus was a father first and a warrior second.

[little-cereal-draws]

Incorrect Odysseus and Astyanax quotes (inspired by @nonbinarylocalcryptid 's post)

Astyanax: That’s why we needed to get an expert. Odysseus: Oh, really? Who did you get? Astyanax: Odysseus: Oh! Right, that’s me… Yes.

-

Odysseus to Astyanax: I'm leaving for the weekend, so I hid 100 dollars in your room for food. Clean your room, and you will find it.

-

Astyanax: As someone who has a long history of not understanding anything, I feel confident in my ability to continue not knowing what is going on.

-

Odysseus: See, the problem is, Astyanax, you’re playing 3D chess. I’m playing 4D. Astyanax: I’m playing checkers. I don’t know what the fuck you’re playing.

-

Astyanax: Oh, fiddlesticks. Odysseus: Look, I understand this is a tense situation, but let's watch the fucking language.

-

Astyanax, upon learning how Odysseus did a magic trick: So you’re not magic? Odysseus: Well, not really. Astyanax: You’re just a liar.

-

Odysseus: Why is it so hard for you to believe me?! Astyanax: Odysseus: Oh, right. The lying.

-

Odysseus: We’ll find another route, it’s not safe for amateur adventurers. Astyanax: That sounds like a challenge. Odysseus: I have to stress, that is not a challenge. Astyanax: …Is exactly what you say to dissuade the weak of heart from accepting the challenge. Well, challenge accepted! Odysseus: There is no challenge!

-

Odysseus: Thought I was meowing back at my cat for the past hour, but it was just me and Astyanax meowing at each other from different ends of the boat.

-

Astyanax: What do you do for a living? Odysseus: I exist against my will.

-

Astyanax: *trying to buy a Father's Day card at Hallmark* Astyanax: Excuse me, do you have any that just say "You are my dad?" Store Associate: Well, I- Astyanax: How about "You killed my mom?" Store Associate: No… Astyanax: You know what, I'll just get a blank one. Astyanax: *writes ‘You are a father. This is a day. Here is a card.’*

-

Astyanax: That sounds like a terrible plan. Odysseus: Oh, we've had worse.

[restlesskeychains]

The ideal astyanax lives au is where Andromache actually listens to Cassandra and starts to believes her after she prophecies the death of her husband and it actually comes true. She would then go and ask her what will come of the rest of them and she sings the fates of the rest of Troy. Griped by fear, she collects her son and things for the road and escapes Troy (somehow) and IDEALLY she ends up on Ithaca and like, Penelope sees her and takes pity on her, and then Telemachus and Astyanax become brothers and it’s really cute

[somereaderinblue]

As much as I loved seeing Odysseus stab the shit out of Poseidon, I want you to imagine an Astyanax Lives AU BUT Poseidon does succeed in killing Ody. So cue an older grown-up Astyanax hunting the Earthshaker down, unleashing 600 strikes & then 600 more stabs all while screaming:

I am the son of Ithaca's past king Odysseus Know that I have grown from a boy to an avenger One fueled with rage as I'm consumed by age You didn't end me then, so you're the only one to blame!

And bonus if this is an Astyanax who knew about Troy and his past family. An Astyanax who knew the risk Odysseus was taking. An Astyanax who Ody promised a home, family, a princely upbringing still & even swearing to help him track down Andromache once the dust settles.

An Astyanax who watches Odysseus sacrifice himself so 1 boy who was meant to die can live. An Astyanax who doesn't sleep at night, wondering just how much of Ody's sacrifice was choice & how much was prophecy (bcz it's still Astyanax's fault he died, his fault his fault).

An Astyanax who ends up embracing his role as an avenger for a father anyways.

EDIT: I reblogged with a part 2!

[yourlokalescholar]

Astyanax lives AU doodles!

[flashthescalesian-art]

Okay but an EPIC: The Musical AU where Odysseus brings Astyanax along instead of killing him, and Polites immediately decides to be the fun uncle for this baby. B U T during the whole Cyclops thing, instead of dying, Polites just gets really injured, so Odysseus carries him back to the ship and tries to tend his injuries. (Astyanax is safely with a few other members of the crew, don’t worry). Polites is still hurt too badly to survive for long, so Odysseus begs the gods for help, and Hermes shows up with something (a potion/elixir/whatever you wanna call it) that’ll heal Polites.

It doesn’t immediately make Polites better (I’m a sucker for hurt/comfort, don’t come at me), but he survives and heals, and he and Astyanax are both fine until the events of Thunder Bringer. Except instead of dying with the crew, they both wash up on Calypso’s island with Ody. Calypso finds them after finding Odysseus, but before he wakes up, she turns them into something (idk what, probably plants or something, this idea is just a concept rn).

So events go as they do in canon, but when Calypso has to let Odysseus leave, she’s also forced to free Polites and Astyanax too, so they get turned back to normal and get to leave with Odysseus, who is honestly just BAFFLED by the fact that his best friend and adopted son are still alive, but he’s also so freaking happy to have them back after seven years of torment. (Astyanax is probably like ten now even tho he spent seven years as a plant or something, but idk maybe he’s still a toddler. Haven’t decided)

They get home to Ithaca, Odysseus, Polites, and Telemachus kill the suitors, Ody reunites with Penelope and introduces her to Astyanax who she adopts immediately, and Telemachus and Astyanax get to hang out with their parents and Uncle Polites. Also Ody gets to sleep because that man needs it

[sarafangirlart]

Imagine if I made an au where Perseus adopts Medusa’s kids, ppl will rightfully call me deluded bc he literally killed their mom and Medusa’s sisters are right there and deserve to keep whatever they have left of their sister. This is how stupid y’all’s au where Odysseus adopts Astyanax.

[kittenscookie]

Okay here me out...What if it's not Hector Astyanax is avenging? What if Astyanax himself doesn't bring ruin to Odysseus, but his continued existence? Let me explain.

Say somehow the survivors of the Trojan war find out that the orphan Odysseus brought back with him is actually the son of Hector—the gods will make him known after all. So they take it upon themselves to tie up this loose end, which leads to the death of Odysseus and the burning of the palace—perhaps Astyanax knocks over a candle while trying to defend himself and his family (when does a candle become a blaze). Astyanax, consumed by grief and rage, goes on a bloody war path with his brother Telemachus against the kingdoms who orchestrated his assassination attempt. All done in order to avenge their father—Odysseus.

[icelynia]

Astyanax Lives AU- The Odyssey

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

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

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

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

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

[181patheticpaperclips]

hey look it’s art for an astyanax lives au i haven’t written but has been rotating around my brain for too much time…

[unknownchoatic]

Telemachus to Astyanax: Where you ever dropped as a child? Because that would explain all of this *gestures to Astyanax’s whole body*

Astyanax: No actually, dad didn’t want to throw me off the tower wall so he snuck me onto the ship and i road home with him

Telemachus: Oh cool… wait what?? dad threw you off a wall??

[magnetic-maverick]

Let his papa go!