#circe writes

[divinehedons]

i won't hurt you.

navigation: masterlist

word count: ~1.9k words

summary: you meet joel in the aftermath of a terrible accident. reeling from the aftermath of the event, there is a looming shadow that complicates your relationship with the southern man you just somehow happened to meet 

warnings: explicit (but not graphic) content–MINORS DO NOT INTERACT! relatively dark(?)-ish joel miller, allusions to smut (not heavily detailed), graphic depictions of injury, some scenes include hospitalization (not in graphic detail), dubious consent, joel miller radiates mansplain / manipulate / malewife energy, men are trash in general wbk

note: oh. my. god. it has been far too long and i’m so so very sorry for just now coming back! i’ve hit a terrible writer’s block alongside very bad mental health and i’m just now recovering :’D thank you so so so much for 800 followers, it’s going to take a while for me to respond to everyone but i’ll be going through them! i love you very very dearly, mwah!

note 2.0: pls pls lower your expectations, 🫣 i am trying to get back into the groove of things!

You remember the screech of tires on frozen asphalt. A flash of headlights. Spinning, spinning, spinning. Your body ignited in pain. Then… darkness.

Darkness that seemed to spread before you for an eternity. Untethered and stuck in limbo, perhaps in another universe, you would call it the most peaceful slumber of your life. The misfortune comes when you wake. Lightning strikes shake you awake from the darkness of your subconsciousness. Electricity trembling in your chest as it shoots through your beaten frame. A light peers through your closed eyes. Brighter, and brighter… bigger and bigger. A ringing in your ears that almost deafens you.

The world shifts around you, and you wake paralyzed, staring at the ceiling in the warm sun that falls on your body lying there. Everything hurts. There is a humming in your head that you cannot seem to shake out of.

The solitude lasts for a beat. Then another. That’s when you see him.

A sleepless, roughened man looking at you with his warm eyes. Through the bleary vision of your own gaze, a shaky breath escapes him. His crinkled eyes looking over your features with a swift once over.

“Oh, Christ, you’re awake.”

And that’s how you met Joel.

–

In the week that followed your complicated recovery, Joel tells you he saw the crash. Tells you the asshole who ran you over was nowhere to be seen. He says most of it with his eyes averted. Yet you hold your gaze.

You will not be weakened by the shame of your misery.

It is two days later when you confess to him; your throat still rasping as the pain in your head boils and toils beneath your skull. You look at him when he arrives, paint-stained shirt providing evidence of a messy day of working. “I don’t want to think about what happened to me anymore, Joel.”

Your tongue grabs at words the way young children do with sticky fruit in the summer. As if language has become foreign to you.

Joel, keys in hand, meets your gaze with a furrowed brow. “Sure, sugar. Whatever you need.”

Maybe your eyes were tricking you, but you could’ve sworn you saw his shoulders relax from some kind of tension leaving his body.

–

Joel doesn’t know what he had gotten himself into. What he does know is that for some reason, he couldn’t bear the idea of staying away from you. You tell him fragments of what little you remember, your concussed consciousness blindly clawing at every last bit of beaten brain matter for some kind of answer. 

You sometimes cry from the effort it takes you to think, but he’s there. The first few times, he held your hand. As the hours bled into days, he held you as you wet his shirt with warm tears. Sometimes, when the nightmares reach him in his own bed a few miles out from the hospital, it feels like you’re bleeding into him.

From the moment he saw you, he had been marked. And no matter how many times he scratched at his own skin, he could never wash away the blood on his hands.

–

He’s the one to take you home to your quiet little apartment, having grown dust in your absence. You apologize, he waves you off. He watches you as you peer out of the window, comprehending a view that had once been so mundane, transformed into some shred of a miracle for you to still be there, witnessing it all. He’s behind you, ten feet away, tilting his head as your hair catches what little sunlight blessed you the day you left the hospital.

He says your name, and you look back at him with a curious smile. “My God,” he followed. “You look just like starlight.” He steps forward, and that’s when you know everything had fallen into place. Without another moment lapsing, he takes your face into his hands, pulling you into a searing kiss.

You apologize so many times. For the hospital smell on your skin. For your trembling knees. For the dizzying sensation of human contact without the involvement of medical processes. For feeling so unclean.

Meanwhile, he apologizes, too. For kissing you. For pulling you to him. For holding you. For carrying you to the forlorn couch grown cold from the absence of human warmth. So many times that there are times that you don’t know what is there to apologize for. You shake your head each and every time.

The tears roll down your cheek just as he pulls away and his eyes immediately soften. You shake your head, pulling him into another kiss as you whine.

There are many things you want to tell him. But you don’t dare tell him this: Sometimes being offered tenderness feels like the very proof that you have been ruined.

“Tell me to stop, honey, and I will,” he murmurs, holding your cheek as you pause between touches. You shake your head immediately. You want many things. You are hungry and untamed. But you do not want him to stop.

You tell him as much. “Joel, don’t you dare stop.”

And he doesn’t. Not when you’re naked and he sees your bruised skin, purple and yellowed in places. He looks to you just as your body tenses. His demeanor softens, kissing along your jaw and your neck with a shaky breath.

“I won’t hurt ya, darlin’.”

He keeps to that promise. Even when your legs are around his waist and he’s caught in your warmth. He says it again and again as you whine into the cool, quiet solitude of your home.

I won’t hurt you, I won’t hurt you.

–

Falling in love with Joel was both so complicated and so simple at once. Whenever you wake beside him, you wake up writhing from the pain of your injuries; sometimes crying from the nightmares that followed every waking moment. You felt marred by shame for putting so much of your perceived burden on his shoulders. He never departs from your side, his strong arms placating you while his lips press against your temple.

It’s all so simple, the way he cares about you. And whether or not you admitted it, you like the feeling of being cared for. Of having someone that cares.

Regardless, you cannot escape the fact that someone did this to you. And whenever the pain shocks your body, everything but rabid rage escapes your body. You curse the stranger, whoever they may be, for that cursed night.

Joel sees glimpses of this. He saw it most that one afternoon when the hospital called, saying you had been taken care of. By who, they didn’t say. Only that the stranger apologized for what happened.

You were on the floor, hands trembling in the fists you held them in. The hospital bill crumpled a few inches away. You do not see him. What you see is all red.

A wail escapes your trembling mouth just as your hands claw at anything they can touch. It is an uncontrollable surge of blinding, mouth-foaming, unbridled rage. He’s there, trying to hold you down before you hurt yourself. Each wail pierces another hole into his aching heart. Each struggle followed by his gentle shushing, trying to assuage you in the crest of your emotion.

“Whoever it was,” you told him then as you sobbed. “They ruined my life.”

“Darlin, darlin’...” He breathes in, cupping your face. “Maybe he’s around and he regrets-”

“No!” You claw at him, just as he holds you tighter against his chest. “If he could find me, then he could say it to my face. He wouldn’t be some coward who left me alone like this after he ruined my life!”

It destroys him. And you can see it in his face. All he can do is hold you as you cry against his chest. All he can do is shut his eyes, letting the waves of grief crest over and over your frame. Letting your sobs tear him open and burn him out.

He tells you nothing lasts forever. That he’ll be there for as close to forever as possible. You shake your head because you know better. He says nothing lasts forever. He doesn’t know he’s just afraid your pain can last longer than he is capable of loving you.

–

Perhaps, to the end of his days, Joel will regret that drunken night. He’ll regret following his bleary gaze through the quiet, sleet-slick roads. He’ll regret the fact that he couldn’t have stopped his truck sooner.

When he steps out into the cold just as he smells the acrid scent of burning tires, he sees your bloodied face in your car. So small. So undeserving. He muttered a string of cusses. The sudden shock of adrenaline washing away the last of his drunkenness. He looks back at his truck, horrifically beaten, his gaze doubling from his last bout of drunkenness.

He bargains that night. Calls up someone high up amongst the police rank to bail him out. He negotiated for ten minutes. Then he hides the truck somewhere off the side of the road for him to come back to and dispose of. And then, only then, did he call for help.

Only then did he reach you in the driver’s seat, blood now caked to your skin as he lay you out amongst the concrete.

You make some sound, and he cusses to himself.

His rough palms cup your cheek, trying to get you to look at him then. But you were too far gone.

He spoke, anyway. Just in case you’ll hear it.

“It’s alright, doll. I won’t hurt you.”

Even now, weeks after he stole your life from you, he holds you and tells you the same thing anyway. The same set of words that manage to calm you down.

He does love you. And it breaks him every day to know he was the one to endanger you.

I won’t hurt you, I won’t hurt you.

[merlinemryspendragon]

He was another knife, I could feel it. A different sort, but a knife still. I did not care. I thought: give me the blade. Some things are worth spilling blood for. - Madeline Miller, Circe

[circeyoru]

Love Trial = Requested

[Sung Jinwoo x High School Ex-Lover!Reader]

The Requests ― Part 1 (here) ― Part 2 — Part 3 ― Part 4 ― Part 5

Sung Jinwoo. The Hunter who was praised for his bravery and selflessness, the Hunter who was the embodiment of Cinderella, and the Hunter who was hailed as a hero no matter where he went and how he acted. All because he acted for the good of the people around him, be it former foes or strangers in another country, he protected all. He was humanity’s strongest shield and sword against the dangers of the monsters within the vile Gates.

Yet to you, his shining image was clouded with the shadows that surrounded him. In your memory of him, one stood out more than the rest, more than the good deeds he’s done, more than the joyous memories you made with him.

“I’m sorry. Let’s break up.”

His words pierced your heart and body like no other. The shield you held over your heart was long gone and the walls you built around you long crumbled, all because of the knight in front of you. You can’t say you didn’t expect it, you have and mentally prepared yourself, still… It hurts oh so much.

“I understand. I wish you happiness, Hunter Sung. May your days be nothing of smiles and content.”

And you turned and left to hide your tears. Even knowing that Jinwoo would one day leave you because he was stronger now and would have more and better choices, you craved—clung—to the fantasy that he wouldn’t leave you behind after everything that you’ve done for him. You drank till your body couldn’t handle and your bartender friend called in your reliable friend from back in your college days. You cried in his chest. Why? Why weren’t you a Hunter as well? You could have done more! More for your dearest lover! Maybe then, you wouldn’t be abandoned. 

That night was agonizing to live through. It was the worst day of your life. Perhaps, you were in love with the idea of love. You and Jinwoo did fall for the other over some silly comment and gossip from your classmates, then you started seeing the other differently. You two thought they were right and loved each other like actual lovers. How immature of you. Look what that led you?

It took some time, but you recovered with the help of your college friend. He helped more than you could ever thank him for. If he weren’t such a workaholic or that heated up then maybe your heart could have been swayed. Still, you knew for a fact; that you couldn’t—wouldn’t—be in another relationship any time soon.

When the world appeared to be coming to an end, you stared out your apartment window and sighed. Jinwoo must be saying his final farewells to his loved ones; his mother, his younger sister, that brother of a Hunter Jinho, and his new lover Cha Hae-In. It didn’t ache as much now than before when you thought about their official relationship and Jinwoo moving on so quickly while you took your time recovering. Now, you were fine with the time you had for yourself.

Your phone rang and you picked it up without a thought, a voice spoke from the other end. “World’s ending, thought I should check up on you.”

“How nice of you.” You chuckled from your end and retreated back into your apartment and away from the window, “Aren’t you busy with your guild affairs to call me?”

“I can still rest, can’t I? Here I was being nice and now I’m scolded.” You hummed, knowing the man from the other end heard it loud and clear. There was a pause before he continued, “Any regrets? Might as well say it since the world is ending.”

“Why should I tell you?” You meant it as a tease since you two have been close and shared a lot with each other. Way more that people could have confused you two as lovers at some point.

“Think of it as a goal for your next life. I wish we had our silly friendship and that there were no more beasts to fight off so I could work.”

You remained silent for a while. What would you wish for? What was your regret? You glanced over to a corner, you know it was because of the lighting that there was a shadow, but you couldn’t help but be reminded of a certain someone. Your lips moved while your eyes were glued to the shadow, speaking your mind, “I regret having let down my guard for him. I wish… I never met him.”

Whether it was the heavens taking pity on you or cursing you, you can’t tell. The moment you woke up, you were back home and alive. The only difference was that you have shrunk. No. That’s too light of a term. To be more specific, you have turned back to a child. It made no sense whatsoever that it was a dream. A dream too realistic since you could feel the clothes covering your body and the wind against your skin, even smell the familiar cooking of your parents. Not to mention, eat it!

You accepted it as reality when a week passed and nothing changed. You figured that you were reliving your life due to regrets. Or maybe a lot of people had regrets so everyone is reliving their lives right now. Yet you were the only one who seemed to have remembered anything about Hunters and Gates. Well, the moment you realized that, you shut up and said it was all a dream to anyone you asked, a child’s fantasy is wild after all, so none was the wiser. 

First things first, though, you had to avoid being in the same high school as Jinwoo. Easy enough as you had another school that was much closer to your apartment now. It was so easy for you to change your future since you were the only one that know what would happen. Cha Hae-In is Jinwoo’s fated lover, so at some point, they’d meet each other and fall in love. No surprise, but you want to be away from that drama.

“Dear! Can you get the door for me?” Your mother’s shout brought you out of your musical trance.

“Yes, mom!” You placed your violin down and hopped onto the couch. Your footsteps pitter-patter through the floor. You reached the door and opened it, knowing the metal fence as the outer door was closed to protect you in case of an attempt at breaking and entering. “Who is it—?!”

The bright red hair and the matching red eyes, you recognize them anywhere. The boy in front of his parents smiled with his head bowed to give his greetings. “Hello! I’m Choi Jong-In, your new neighbour. I’ll be studying at XXXX Middle School if you want,” His closed-eyes smile softened as his eyelids opened again to meet your shocked gaze. “We can walk to school together.”

Words seemed to have been sucked out of your mouth as you stared at the boy. Your parents had come to the door and welcomed the boy inside while you were still in a daze. In the past, you had never met Jong-In this early; you met him when you two were in college and Jinwoo in high school. Perhaps because you avoided meeting Jinwoo, now you met Jong-In. Well, you can’t complain. It was a good change.

“What a coincidence! We go to the same school.” You smiled back and introduced yourself. He repeated your name, and a wave of nostalgia washed over you. And so started your friendship with your former best friend from your past life.

.

. 

.

As time passed, days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, months turned to years. There were no such things as Gates or Hunters or even mana. Everything was just perfectly normal, just as you pleased. You momentarily looked up from your phone at the cluster of people before you stared up into the sky. Your eyes widened as you caught sight of what appeared to be a Gate in the sky. Even after a few moments, nothing happened, and no Hunters were awakened. You couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

You passed by an ice cream shop and wondered if you should grab a cup of ice cream while waiting for your friends. Your attention was taken away when your phone buzzed and you looked down once more to see what the notification was about. Ah, your friend’s here.

You walked away from the shop and entered the crowd, entirely missing the boy who rushed out of his seat from the window table and tried to catch you. You heard your name being called out, and you went in that direction, finding the redhead waving his hands in your direction. You chuckled and went over to him. “Hey.”

“Hey to you too, let’s get out of here. It’s so crowded.” Jong-In placed his arm around your shoulders and led you away from the crowd. 

When you look back up at the sky, nothing happens, and the crowd starts to disperse. As you and Jong-In chatted up a storm, ignoring the chatter around you two, you also didn’t notice how the boy had stared at you longingly with guilt and envy in his eyes while the shadows around him twisted and swirled, reflecting his conflicting emotions. 

.

.

.

“Have you heard? That running star, Sung Jinwoo, is going to this college too!”

“I heard! I also heard he’s still single too!”

“You think I got a chance with him?”

“No way. I heard he’s a heartbreaker! Even Cha Hae-In’s no match for him.”

“Aw… That’s crazy.”

You stood up and moved to another seating area with a deadpan emotion. After finding a good seat, you sat down and returned to whatever you were doing on your phone. Up until now, you had been able to predict what happened since that was the point in time that Jinwoo went to become a Hunter. Basically, since high school, you were on your own. You managed just fine because the moment you weren’t in the same school as Jinwoo, it was the same as you never having to meet each other. Even better as it saved you from heartache and unnecessary emotions.

Still. You were beyond confused as to why Jinwoo wasn’t together with Cha Hae-In when they were so lovey-dovey in your previous life. There’s no way you heard it right. Gossip is just that, gossip. It’s never true, and even if some parts are, the majority of them are twisted to match whatever the listener and speaker want to hear or know. 

The students in the lecture hall suddenly squealed as they all whispered about the newest student who came in. You glanced up and huffed with a smirk, watching with a teasing look at Jong-In, who was called by men and ladies alike. He was popular, after all. He came to your seat and gave you that gentlemanly smile, “Come on, you free to go now?”

“Geez, not sure. I feel like sitting a bit longer.” You taunted shamelessly.

You watched as his eye twitched and his smile widened dangerously. “Don’t be such a tease. You know we’ll be late for lunch.”

“Lunch is a whole few hours long; we can afford to be late for a few… say… 30 minutes or so?”

At your words, Jong-In immediately started packing your belongings for you, strapping your bag over his shoulders, then pulling you out of your seat and dragging you out of the hall. People all cooed in your direction, some even whistled. 

You let him do so until you two were in a more secluded hallway when you spoke up. “You know I was just teasing. Who told you to be so popular?”

“And here I thought having you around me would ward off people…” Jong-In sighed, finally letting you go of your hand. “Sorry for being rough.”

“It’s no big deal.” You shrugged and took back your bag. “So, the confessions are still sky high?”

“Not sky high, but still a number of them.” Jong-In fixed his glasses, raking his hair with his fingers, “Seriously, I just want to focus on my studies and get started on my work!”

You and Jong-In have been close and the best of friends, in the past and current life. In both lives, he was basically married to work, or study at the moment. Jong-In had no want for romance, and you avoided the whole romance thing, so both of you came to the agreement of being a fake couple to ward off other people. Since you two were close enough to do what couples do without feeling romantically attracted to the other, well, nothing like kissing but hand-holding and hugging was acceptable.

Jong-In looked over to you, who was still very much unaffected and chill about everything. The winds seemed to pick up when his words escaped his lips. “What will you do if Sung Jinwoo finds you when I’m not around?”

Your eyes darted to his before you blinked and looked out the window, “I doubt it. Let’s just say I have a strong feeling that he’s making a mistake if he does come to me.” You smiled at Jong-In while your eyes seemed devoid of light. “I’ll just direct him to the right one.” You blinked and, like a switch, returned to normal. “Why the sudden question?”

A finger of his pointed behind you, “Because he’s coming in this direction and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

Note: First part out! This request has been sitting in my inbox for a while, sorry it took so long. As you could tell, I had other stories and stuff to do. But it's out! Thoughts, everyone?

Circe Y.

My Works: MASTERLIST

[ghostvibesonly]

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS DID NOT GO WHERE I WAS EXPECTING IT TO OH MY GOD /POS

PENELOPE’S THEME AND INSTRUMENT?? ODYSSEUS BEING QUITE LITERALLY BACKED INTO A CORNER AND HAVING SEEMINGLY NO OTHER WAY TO SAVE HIS MEN BUT STILL NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING HIMSELF TO GO THROUGH WITH THE ACT (EVEN THO IT WOULDN’T BE A TRUE ACT OF BETRAYAL BECAUSE THERE’S NO ACTUAL CONSENT ON HIS SIDE AND IT WAS SOMETHING HE WAS ABOUT TO BE COERCED INTO)??? CIRCE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BEFORE AND BELIEVING THAT “BECOMING THE PUPPETEER” IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP HERSELF AND HER NYMPHS SAFE SO SHE OFFERS THIS “ACT OF PASSION” TO STILL HAVE A FORM OF CONTROL, AND THEN SEEING ODYSSEUS IS NOT LIKE THOSE BEFORE BECAUSE HE’S SO IN LOVE WITH PENELOPE (WHO HE HASN’T SEEN IN 12 YEARS) THAT HE REFUSES HER OFFER AND PLEADS BECAUSE IT’S NOT WORTH IT EVEN THO THATS THE ONLY OPTION HE’S BEEN GIVEN??? HIM CALLING HIMSELF A PUPPET MAKING HER REALIZE THAT THIS CYCLE OF ABUSE AND CONTROL ISN’T WORTH IT ONLY TO COME TO A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE TRULY IN LOVE AND TO BE HURT, SO SHE OFFERS HIM AN ACT OF KINDNESS INSTEAD???

“Maybe showing one act of kindness leads to kinder souls down the road”

[g0blinm0d3]

Hermes was Alexander Hamilton.

Zeus made him mortal as a punishment in the 1700s.

George Washington, son of Athena, was the demigod that claimed his service.

Angelica was a Sally Jackson type that could see thru the mist.

Eliza was a Tristan McLean type that wouldn't have been able to comprehend the truth.

Phillip was a demigod.

Hermes later adopted the pseudonym Lin Manuel Miranda, writing and starring in his own biographical musical as a "fuck you" to Apollo

When Disney announced they were going to produce Percy Jackson's biography he made sure to get himself involved with that

Hermes is also Troy Doherty and voices himself for Epic the Musical

[voltsm]

low effort memes

[cb-writes-stuff]

Therapist: White Guy CEO Hermes isn’t real, he can’t hurt you.

White Guy CEO Hermes:

[black-is-beautiful18]

I really hope they hook Leah up in s2 cuz look at the potential!

Art is by sniffanv on Twitter

[divinehedons]

i propose: self-deprecating king joel miller dealing with the fact that he gets to have you, goddess divine and eternal.

we're talking about a man who felt too old taking care of baby ellie despite being the most girl-dad girl-dad there is. we're talking about a man who has spent twenty years of the end of the world keeping to himself and pushing people away because he thinks it would make things better.

so when you came, doe-eyed angel with the libido of the devil, it would have taken no time for him to start thinking why you would be better off with someone else. he's fuckin' ancient, knees always aching, and... things don't work as they used to anymore. he's not the gunslinging knight he once was some age ago. and whether or not you admit it, he's an old man who sleeps in more and more the longer you date.

all that doubt comes seeping out one evening in jackson, when you're both walking home after a night out on the town. "sorry to cut the fun short, doll," he had been saying, arm around you as you huddle closer for warmth. "and for an achin' hip, nonetheless."

you laugh, moving to squeeze his hip with one hand as you shake your head. "are you kidding? my feet are both cold and hurt. i'm glad you suggested it."

a long breath emanates from him, painted by a cloud of fog in the cold night. "just feels like i'm not lettin' you have your fun." you know that tone, that unassuming, almost invisible shadow of self-deprecation you've been hearing more and more nowadays. and, knowing he'd feel worse if you mentioned it, you were momentarily struck by a legible course of action.

and then it comes naturally to you.

you squeeze his hand, planting a warm kiss to his stubble with a chuckle. "you now what sounds good? cuddling in bed while we're waiting for a pot of coffee to brew." you feel his cheeks spread unconsciously, a chuckle escaping him before he could stop it.

you take care of him that evening, telling him to prepare the bed, saying, "i wanna do it, baby, pleaaaase!" you both stay up, reminiscing the memories you shared, your laughter barely muffled, knowing the two of you are entirely isolated in your own little world.

"you know how i knew i was in love with you?" you whisper, snuggling into his side as you both hid under the covers. "when you patiently taught me how to hunt. that, no matter how clumsy i was, you cared enough for me." you kiss him chastely, feeling sleep creep into your skin as your eyes turn heavy. "and i thought to myself: dear god, you deserve the world."

with a final giggle, you succumb to your exhaustion.

"and you always will, joel."

[laritamiauu]

Omg guys I just wrote a whole lesbian retelling of Scylla's myth that I thought in like 15 minutes

Prepare to read a lot this is like a whole ass fanfic

Scylla and Circe we're very good friends, even roommates if you wanna get scandalous.

And the thing of annoying men with bad intentions had been going around for a while now, sadly Circe had already witnessed many of her nymphs being victims of these men.

She felt troubled cause she didn't knew what to do, this was before she started to turn men into pigs, so she didn't know how to stop them, so many rumours of and island with beautiful women had been spreading around and men were coming to see them like they were exotic animals, and she as her leader had to change that reputation, in a way that would keep her nymphs safe and also scare away all those filthy men.

One day a ship arrived, it wasn't a big one so a few men just went to greet them as usual, but this time, there was this one guy who was trying to flirt with her most beloved nymph, Scylla.

She quickly became extremely jealous, running over to them and separating them immediately, she couldn't handle the fact that the person that she loved the most could be in danger, she couldn't lose her.

At night she had an idea, a twisted idea, so horrible that it made her heart hurt just to think of it, but it was the only way, she had to act fast.

So the next morning when the nymphs and the men who arrived the day before were having breakfast, she snuck a potion that she had been preparing all night on Scylla's drink.

She never thought of telling her because that would ruin her plan, of course she would never agree to this.

Later in the afternoon, Scylla was hanging out with this man again, Glaucus, Circe had learned his name by overhearing their conversations, everytime he tried to get close to Scylla she grew more and more angrier, Scylla didn't consent to his compliments but she wouldn't do anything about it, she would just let him be, he was going to leave soon anyways.

They were far more distanced from the whole group, Glaucus had insisted so, they were hanging out in the more depths of the forest. And Circe of course had followed them, this was going just as planned.

Glaucus of course didn't have any good intention bringing her to these far away place, he had been bombarding her with compliments trying to conquer her, he thought he succeeded but the second he got close to her she looked different.

Scylla's face was pale, if you looked into her eyes you wouldn't be able to catch any single spark of light, she started trembling, and screaming in pain as she fell down to her knees unable to utter a single word between her gushing screams.

The transformation was slow, slow enough to keep Glaucus there to witness it, he saw as she grew bigger and bigger, her clothes tearing up as they open space for the snake-like wolf heads that were growing out of her legs and hips. He watched as she turned into a monster.

And Circe too, who has behind some trees spying on them, realizing that this wasn't what she had plan, she planned to change her face to look like a horrible monster for some minutes and scare him away, looks like she had missed steps on the preparation of the potion... But her pretty face was still intact.

Glaucus horrified at the sight of such beast before him, ran immediately to advise his men to go back to the ship, while Scylla followed him, still in awful pain, and she couldn't even move by her own, all of her movements were caused by the hungry heads she had now, that were chasing the men and even attacking them.

Circe ran to her palace, advising all of her nymphs to stay where they are, she didn't want more people she loved to be hurt in the process, she casted a protective spell around the palace that makes it so no beast or monster can enter it.

By the time she got out of the palace the men were already gone, and it seemed that Scylla followed them because she was nowhere to be seen too.

She crumbled into tears in the coast of her island, how could she have been so reckless, purely driven by jelausy she lost the person that she loved the most, not only did she put in danger her people but even damaged the one that she so tried to protect.

Many years passed Circe never saw Scylla again, still feeling extremely guilty, she started to turn the men that came into the island into pigs, taking all of the anger that she had of herself and her own selfhate on them.

While having these men as guest she heard some stories about a beast who lives in the narrow channel Infront of Charybdis, a gruesome and merciless beast who would devour anyone that comes in her lair.

For some reason she felt a strange feeling that... No, it couldn't be, she was probably dead. She made sure that the potion wasn't permanent but even the potion went wrong I'm a bunch of ways...

Some nymphs still say that Circe leaves the island at night, maybe to look for ingredients for new potions and enchantments? Or just to explore the islands that are around them? Or maybe, to visit an old friend?..

[circeyoru]

Love Trial _ Part 5 *END*

[Sung Jinwoo x High School Ex-Lover!Reader]

Part 1 ― Part 2 ― Part 3 ― Part 4 ― Part 5 (here)

Your first meeting with the boy named Sung Jinwoo was like any other. You two lived close and you two went to the same highschool. The two of your parents got to know each other and naturally so did you two. Jinwoo and you did mostly everything together, you two even welcomed his little sister into the world and you became something like an honourary sibling in the Sung family. Your relationship with them and him was just so close.

Your romantic interest towards the teen named Sung Jinwoo was also like any other. A little rumour, a little gossip, and a little curiosity. You developed real romantic feelings for him. Though it seemed like nothing changed much, the title changed from close childhood friends to significant others. You thought that was enough. He did too. It was enough because you two had each other to share your happy and depressing moments without shame or fear of abandonment.

Your bond with the man named Sung Jinwoo was unlike any other. A bond like family, a bond like best friends, a bond like soulmates. You two completed each other and complimented each other. While Jinwoo was logical in all he did, you were emotional in all you did. Clashing perspectives brought you two closer than ever and broadened your horizons. Everyone thought the only thing missing between you two were the wedding vows that would seal the deal.

Found you when your heart was broke I filled your cup until it overflowed Took it so far to keep you close (keep you close) I was afraid to leave you on your own

The picture-perfect world fell when Jinwoo’s father went missing in a gate and his mother fell victim to the Eternal Slumber. His sister was still studying and so was he. By a stroke of luck, he awakened at the right time, but only as the lowest. Still, he gave up on his studies and worked as a Hunter for money to protect his remaining family. You were by his side, cheering him on.

You lost count of the times Jinwoo appeared to you in new wounds or bandages. At times, you were even called to the hospital to see him because he didn’t want to worry his younger sister. Your worry and concern was through the roof everytime the hospital or Hunters Association number rang your phone, your heart beat a million per second as your mind hoped for the news that your lover survived by some miracle or mercy of whatever higher being. You’d scold and warn him to be careful, that there were still people waiting for his return, not just you. He’d give you the same smile. Both of you knew, there was no way he’d give up his career as a Hunter.

I said I’d catch you if you fall And if they laugh, then fuck ‘em all (all) And then I got you off your knees Put you right back on your feet

“Why don’t I introduce you to a stronger Hunter as your lover?”

“You’re still with that guy?”

“Poor you… Having to deal with him.”

“You know you deserve more, right?”

“Shut it! Sung Jinwoo is my lover and that’s that!” You also lost count of the people talking directly or indirectly and even behind your back that you should abandon Jinwoo as a lover. Perhaps you could stay friends, but not lovers―was the message from all of them. Sung Jinwoo, the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, that was his title. While you were successful and talented in what you did as an ordinary citizen, the only bad quality people poked fun at was the lover you took care of.

You never let Jinwoo hear any of these, and you never let him doubt himself. Even when he did, you reassured him and stayed by his side. You’ll use your hard earn salary to buy a dagger for him to raids and kill monsters with higher rewards, you’ll research and read articles with some information that would benefit him. You did all that you could as a citizen with a Hunter lover. Still, you thought that wasn’t enough.

Choi Jong-In once offered a place for your lover, seeing you struggle in trying to help. He knew who your lover was and he knew how much you cared. He wanted to repay your indifference to his high status and still stayed as a loyal friend. You declined, knowing Jinwoo was a righteous person, he wouldn’t take the backdoor for money. He wouldn’t stoop so low. Even if he did and the results were good, he still wouldn’t be entirely happy.

Just so you could take advantage of me

When you heard he survived a Double Dungeon, you dropped everything and rushed to the hospital. He slept on the bed so peaceful, ignorant of the turmoil he caused you. You sat by him, waiting for him to wake up. Your hand brushed through his hair, his peaceful expression was so familiar that it reminded you of those days when he had no responsibility but studying and forcing you to study.

Your voice cracked as you cried, never have you cried in public but only in front of Jinwoo. “Please… Wake up…”

Just him.

Tell me how’s it feel sittin’ up there? Feeling so high but too far away to hold me You know I’m the one who put you up there Name in the sky Does it ever get lonely? Thinking you could live without me Thinking you could live without me Baby, I’m the one who put you up there I don’t know why (yeah, I don’t know why)

When he woke up, there was no call from him nor a text. You only knew because a doctor was kind enough to give you a call and asked why you hadn’t been visiting after his wake. You went to the hospital only to see him working out and people staring. Jealousy and envy didn’t cross your mind, but you did smile as you saw him back on his feet. Still, a small voice in your mind questioned why he didn’t at least text you.

You thought that was just the one time.

The usual cafe dates and routine dinners at his place with his sisters were all gone. He stood you up and forgot about them all. Even his sister barely saw him around the house. His sister took a picture of him and showed it to you one time during dinner. You hardly recognized him. Taller, muscler, and more mature looking. Looked like he went through a second puberty.

But you asked if he was fine. His sister answered yes. That was all that mattered, as long as he was fine. Your heart was at ease. Like in the past when Jinwoo went to raids on days unend, you’ll wait for him as his loyal lover. Never overbearing, never too clingy, never too nosy.

Thinking you could live without me Live without me Baby, I’m the one who put you up there I don’t know why (I don’t know why, yeah yeah)

Finally, he approached you and you two reunited for what felt like forever. Jinwoo joked, saying it was his sister nagging him to see you and you laughed along with him. You told him you understood his busy Hunter life. So started his tale on raids and dungeons while you listened. You knew he was keeping something from you, you felt it, but you didn’t question it. 

A positive turn was in his life and he looked like he was in control of it all. He told you you didn’t need to waste money and time on helping him any longer. “It’s never a waste on you, Jinwoo.” You spoke to him softly with a warm smile as the breeze flowed through you two that night. “Well, you’ve told your side, my turn!”

Gave love ‘bout a hundred tries (hundred tries) Just running from the demons in your mind Then I took yours and made ‘em mine (made ‘em mine) I didn’t notice ‘cause my love was blind

You never knew he turned into an S-Rank. You only knew from Jong-In when he coincidentally found out. You felt… betrayed? In the dark? Untrusted? Surely, Jinwoo had his reasons to hide this from you. Surely…

Jinwoo said his Shadows would protect you, he placed guards on you for your protection. Precious soldiers that he didn’t have many. He said he’d be gone for a week to get something to cure his mother and he disappeared. Ironically, the soldiers he left spent more time with you and cared for you more than he did after his change. But you told yourself it was a sign of his love and affection to you. You told yourself that over and over again.

Said I’d catch you if you fall (fall) And if they laugh, then fuck ‘em all (all) And then I got you off your knees Put you right back on your feet Just so you can take advantage of me

When people went in search of Jinwoo, you warded them off and told them it was an invasion of privacy. Some even spread rumours that Jinwoo was a fake ranker and that he had done unsavoury things inside dungeons all along. You defended him and told them all off. No one understood his pain and suffering. No one saw his battered self that was barely clinging to life. No one was there when he was on the edge all his life. None of them but you.

Why are people only flocking to him when they have something to benefit them? It was sickening. Jinwoo deserved more. When he was weak, he was looked down on and mocked. When he is now strong, they claimed he was a fake. When would they see Jinwoo for who he was? He was so much more than his power. He was a person, just like them and you. He has feelings and emotions. He has a past and he has a right to his own life.

Tell me how’s it feel sittin’ up there? Feeling so high but too far away to hold me You know I’m the one who put you up there Name in the sky Does it ever get lonely?

His mother woke up and you were beyond ecstatic for the Sung family. You let them have their moment and you were asked to join in by his mother. You let the tears flow as you welcomed her back. You thought, now things would return back to the way they were.

You were wrong.

More and more, you saw Jinwoo with Cha Hae-In, the S-Rank before him. You saw them all chummy and smiles. You told yourself it was just because they were colleagues. Plus, Cha Hae-In was the only female S-Rank in the country, so it made sense. If all the S-Rank that interacted with her was a crush, then she’d have a harem by now. You surpressed the envy and jealousy within you, you were above it. You trust Jinwoo. You trust your love.

Thinking you could live without me Thinking you could live without me Baby, I’m the one who put you up there I don’t know why (yeah, I don’t know why) Thinking you could live without me Live without me Baby, I’m the one who put you up there I don’t know why, yeah

It was nothing. It was nothing. It was nothing. You lied and lied. Jinwoo’s smile was softer and wider towards Hae-In. Jinwoo’s time was spent with her and not you. It was nothing. It was nothing. It was nothing. You told yourself over and over. Please. Everything that you have done for him. Everything that you two have been through together. Doesn’t those times mean anything? Prove the negativity inside you wrong! Please, Jinwoo!

You don’t have to say just what you did I already know (I know) I had to go and find out from them So tell me how’s it feel (oh-whoa)

Your hands came up to your ears and applied pressure on them. “I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’m sorry. Let’s break up. I’m sorry. Let’s break up.” It looped in your mind over and over again. Please shut up. Please stop it!

Third time’s a charm.

Your tears flowed in public and Jinwoo wasn’t even there to embrace you. You cried your heart out, you pleaded that it was all a nightmare. What did you lack? What did you do? What happened? In your friend’s arms, you begged for something over and over. Over… It was all over.

Now your heart was broken and you were but an empty shell. The Shadows that Jinwoo sent for your protection was all a painful reminder. They tried to comfort you when you were crying yourself to sleep, the knight Igris and the once destructive foe on Jeju Island Beru, both tried to soothe you. As much as you appreciated their kindness, you sent them all away and told them never to come to your side again. The Shadows mirrored their Lord and Master. You saw him in everything they did for you. Their presence by your side was too tortuous for you to bear.

Tell me how’s it feel sittin’ up there? Feeling so high but too far away to hold me You know I’m the one who put you up there Name in the sky Does it ever get lonely? Thinking you could live without me Thinking you could live without me Baby, I’m the one who put you up there I don’t know why (yeah, I don’t know why)

Anger and resentment. It was all so draining. You found yourself as an empty shell before the mirror. Your smile was gone and the life in your eyes and long been dulled over. You blinked and opened your eyes, this was your reality. You returned to bed and scrolled your phone, a name pinned to the top of your chat so it was more accessible to you anytime and anywhere. You unpinned it and blocked it.

You scrolled through the messages of comfort from your friends and colleagues; even your boss and manager sent you their regards and understanding. You chuckled bitterly. Instead of wallowing in sorrow and drowning yourself in anguish, you should really change things up a bit.

So when the light from outside blinded you and a second chance was given to you. You let go of that boy, that teen, and that man that was once your whole life.

⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧⬪⬧

The dream of you leaving, the sight of your cold gaze, the indifferent attitude you held towards him. It was all an endless nightmare for the Shadow Monarch. This was nothing compared to the war waged between him and the Monarchs to ensure humanity’s safety. He thought he could handle everything when he returned, that your innocent smile would greet him once high school started.

Oh no no no I don’t know what moved me You know that you are everything that I’ve ever wanted Hey, before you bring the hammer down on me Give me a chance you know you’re all I’ll ever need

Yet all he met was the horrifying realization that you had all your memories of the past intact and made an effort to separate the reunion between the two of you. You weren’t in the same neighbourhood, you weren’t in the same school, you weren’t in the same grade. Nothing of the past was the same when it concerned you. The chance he thought he had was nonexistent from the beginning. It was all wishful thinking on his part.

Oh! Don’t look at me like that Not again! I’ll change it! I swear that I’ll repent! Show me a bit of mercy, stay the execution please If just this once forget these deeds of mine

You spared him nothing, not even hatred, when he was finally in the same school as you. College was the only way the two of you could meet, as it was hard to justify him changing schools or neighbourhoods to his parents. It was something his patience needed to bear for his mistakes. He dug his own grave after all. 

So carefully form the perfect crime Build my defense and plan my tight alibi But even so it seems you can’t be fooled Even with all my tricks, I’m falling No no no!

He built himself a reputation―became a track star that even other schools would pay attention to. All in hopes of gaining even a mini bit of attention from you, but in return, you merely ignored it all and stayed far away from athletic news or anything related to it. Yes, he met Cha Hae-In. And yes, he helped her when she was in need, but that kindness he received, he wished it from you. Don’t give up on him or his love for you!

So now you’ll pass the verdict for crimes of passion How bad are the charges they’re going to list? Down and pleading after my final remarks By powers here you gave the sentence and I was guilty

Though, as popular as he was, you held your own fame. In the academic side, you used your past memories to your advantage and was dubbed as a genius. You won awards and was praised by your peers, even looked up to by the younger ones. As if to show him you didn’t need him in your life, you were blooming with success and happiness in your time without him.

Oh no no no! This verdict is the worst I don’t know what I’d do if ever that you’d leave me If that’s so well then at least I’ll go out by your hand Throw me away into the darkness let me fall

Talk of you and Choi Jong-In as a couple was all over campus. It irked him and made his chest tight as if a giant was crashing him in its grasp. He saw the two of you together. In this life, you were closer to Jong-in more so than the last, the title of childhood friend, best friend, and now boyfriend, all belonged to the former fire mage. He was nothing in your life, just the one that broke your heart in the past.

Oh Jesus! The evidence is clear I’m to blame it looks like I won’t talk out again But on the other hand there’s much worse a fate than to be trapped Here by your side at least I’m close to you

His Shadows pointed him toward where you were and his legs brought him to you. His loyal Shadows aimed and aided in his quest to return to your side and prove his fault. Even his Shadows bore the fate of their Master of being shunned by you, they knew you more as they were tasked with your safety, even before Hae-In was in the picture. They would have stopped their Master if they knew the reckless move he’d make that day. Even they knew that their Master would one day learn to regret it.

Now, they have to help their Master no matter what. They much preferred you over that woman. You were the only one by their Master’s time and time again, through his weakest and strongest. You never let him go until he was the one that said so. You had been in his world for the longest and you should have. They wondered how their Master couldn’t understand that. This loyalty, this devotion, this love, was not something that could be thrown away so easily.

Because their loyalty was set in stone to belong to Jinwoo when he commanded them to join his army. Yours was special and unique. A priceless treasure that should have been revered, appreciated, and maybe hidden away from the world. That was what Jinwoo should have done without mistake!

My stupid flaws and mistakes I make That one mistake, I thought no way I could lose But now I see that you’re not coming back Though I may kick and scream it’s all a waste You won’t be hearing me

With Jong-In by your side, Jinwoo’s place appeared to have been taken. The shock that the rumour of you two being a couple stunned him. This must have been what you felt when you saw him with Hae-In in the past. His Shadows was enraged that it wasn’t their Master who was by your side, that it wasn’t their Master that held your hand. Jinwoo could only watch Jong-In drag you away and you spearing him an uninterested glance, he could only wish for your gaze on him once more.

What kind of perfect love crime would make us both cry? So far is the distance between you and I The one who gave love, and one that can’t get enough Let’s tie our fates and reach an ending together here at last

Give him a chance, just one chance, to correct the wrongs. At least let him atone like the criminal he was. The victim needs their justice and he’ll serve it. Please, don’t let him off the hook so easily. 

Like his prayer was heard by whatever god there was, you gave him what he wanted and he took it. He didn’t care if your schedule and his clashed where he couldn’t catch you. He’ll use his powers to his advantage. He’ll have a Shadow in his lecture and record everything so he could still know what was going on, meanwhile, he’d be with you in your lecture so that he could stay by your side.

He’d listen to everything you’d share, even make friends with your friends so they could lend him a helping hand. He’d show you that you were the only one on his mind to court, not anyone else and especially not Cha Hae-In. He’d swap his electives so that he was attending the same class as you, he’d go wherever you were, even if you were going to a literature book club or an idle stroll. He’d be there. Whatever you do, just let him into your life.

You’re suddenly interested in a band? He has concert tickets and he could even give you a ride on Kaisel to get there. You wanted to try a restaurant but your friends are too busy to hang out? He can fill in and pay for your meals, even eat what you dislike so there’s no waste! You’re very into an Otome game? He’ll… grudgingly study it and give you the best tips to get what you want!

No matter is too big or insignificant when it involves you. Jinwoo would smile and provide you with absolutely everything.

Pass the verdict for crimes of passion Let’s hear all the charges you’re going to list I’ll repent it by spending my life with you I’ll see it through we’ll be together ‘till death do us―

You, being the same as you were, slowly started to cave and let Jinwoo near you. Even smiling and joking like the past. You knew Jinwoo knew his efforts were paying off and at some point, you and Jong-In had ended your little joke as each other’s significant other. Of course, Jong-In was immediately crowded with proposals and confessions, then you and Jinwoo would laugh and tease the flustered guy.

Somehow, Jinwoo fit into your group and became an honourary member even though he was in a different department. Jong-In, who was once wary of Jinwoo because of his Shadows, also warmed up to the outsider. You were the odd one out since you were the only one that appeared to have bad blood with Jinwoo still. 

“I am sorry for what I did.” Jinwoo said one day when you told him you couldn’t let go of the fear that history might repeat itself. “It was wrong of me.”

Those words had an effect on you, an effect you thought would have been long buried the day your heart was broken. Your mind raced, debating whether you should open your heart again and let him have your weakness. Love is a double-edged sword. It could protect and care, but it could also destroy and harm. 

Will you give Jinwoo that sword?

Here’s the secret from trying passion I’m glad that you taught me the life I should live Faking crying you lay down the penalty

“I guess you leave me no choice.” You hummed and spun on your heel, hiding a goofy smile that would give away your joy and relief. If you’re giving away the key to your heart, you might has well hold his. “We’ll only be a trial couple. Just so I could see the Shadows again.”

Jinwoo smiled and laughed with you, “Alright. Whatever you say, Love.”

You smiled slyly and gave the sentence

And laughing you said That I was guilty

“And that was the hardest trial of My Liege and your father.” Beru finished his tale with a claw raised in the air. “Remember, Young Lord, your mother is the only person you can never cross!”

“Ohh. Mommy is scary…” Your son, Suho, nodded in agreement to Beru’s warning. “But Daddy was wrong first! If it was me, I will punch and kick! And push Daddy out of the house so it’s just me and Mommy here!”

“Our Liege did deserve at least that much.” Bellion chimed in with a solemn nod.

Igris sighed, as he slowly backed into the kitchen, what was about to happen next would not be pleasant.

Behind the three of them was an enraged Jinwoo who had just returned home from work and you covering your giggles with both hands. Jinwoo had picked you up from your workplace and the two of you went for a little shopping since the three strongest Shadows of Jinwoo was watching your son. Though, the scene you two returned to was not good, at least, for Jinwoo who was the man of the house.

Jinwoo cleared his throat loudly and the three on the floor slowly turned their heads to the front door. The imposing father crossed his arms with a hard glare and the smiling mother―that was you―laughed aloud like no tomorrow. Jinwoo’s tried his best to maintain a stoic and angered expression, but your laughter and shaking grip on him was breaking his character. “Beloved… Please…”

“Haha, alright, I’ll go check up on Igris who’s the only good Shadow who wouldn’t gossip behind your back.” You chuckled and went into the kitchen, sure enough, there was Igris doing the cooking preparations. He gave you a courteous nod that you returned, “You guys are never letting Jinwoo down what that mistake, huh.”

Igris nodded again.

You giggled like a child, “Hehe.”

This peaceful and joyful time was the ending of your little love story. The mixture of screams and laughter from your son and the embarrassed scolding from Jinwoo, then there was you enjoying everything with a smile. Never would you imagine this sort of life back with Jinwoo.

~Song Use Credit~ (don't tell me you guys didn’t notice...)

Reader’s POV Song: {Without Me} by Halsey

Jinwoo’s POV Song: {Love Trial} English Cover

Base by Will Stetson Supplementary by JubyPhonic (give both a listen if you haven’t heard them before~~)

Note: And this is the last part! Honestly, when I first read the request, I genuinely thought it was going to be the one part with the song reference. But noooo, ideas just kept popping up more and more… So, oh well, a series it is~ The ending feels more like a recap to me, but I was determined to put the song in!!! 

Also a little trivia, Reader’s/your past and POV was written like so last minute before this upload. Don’t like why, but it felt so right to put it there. I realized Reader’s POV on what happened kind of was never detailedly mentioned but Jinwoo’s was. But then I didn’t want to separate the posts, so I just mushed it into one (else it’ll be a part 6 as the end).

Anyways~~ Thanks for reading and waiting for this series’ updates~ We're at the end of the road. See you in the other stories!!

Happy Valentine’s Day guys~ Hope this would brighten your day or give you a smile. My chocolate gift to you~

𝕮𝖎𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖄.

Taglist: @rozuburedo @ariseverdark @skylar896 @o-qi-shisme @my-arietta @mydearestbeloved @the-dumber-scaramouche @mochinon-yah @waka-babe @ditmemay1234 @mangooes @cottonbeeeeeeee @gurlie919 @j1yuji @knucklesdeepmingi @amayakurusu13 @rjasmin2021 @needsleep3000 @backgroundcharactera @mushy-mushroom04 @sxftiebee @tanspostsblog @izaquix078 @lilliana-14 @simpforskz143148

[princessofghosts-posts]

Being a PJO fan and an Epic: the musical enjoyer means that there will always be songs that will make you think of a character in the Riordanverse.

In Ruthlessness (Ocean Saga),the whole verse with Poseidon dissing Odysseus's way of doing things can also be used for Ethan and Percy's mindsets,and how they approach the problem in a different way from the other.

Then we have Dangerous (Vengeance Saga) where Hermes share his plan to Odysseus,and I can easily imagine it as Nico telling Percy about his plan for the war against Kronos. And both Odysseus and Percy just agree to it without a question.

Keep your friends close (Ocean saga) it's literally Percy and Luke dynamic in the first ever book,especially at the end. Odysseus got betrayed by one of his closer friends,like Percy was betrayed and almost killed by Luke.

Listening to My Goodbye (Cyclops Saga) made me think of Annabeth and Athena relationship and their fall out,like Odysseus had with Athena.

In Odysseus (Ithaca Saga) I can totally envision Percy losing it after so many things that happened to him,either when he was in Tartarus or during TLO (the "no one touch her!" scene),like Odysseus did after he come back to a trashed home with his wife and kid in danger.

And many more. And of course,there are also other similarities too. Take the "all you gotta do is not open this bag" lyrics for example,you can also use them when it cames to Pandora Box in TLO. Ruthlessness can also be applied to Percy and Nico different way of dealing with an enemy,or Cupid straight up traumatizing Nico.

Then of course we have Polyphemus,the whole Circe Saga,Scylla,Love in Paradise and Charybdis,songs that have antagonists/characters we saw during the first 5 books. Literally SoM is just Annabeth and Percy going off on their own Odyssey.

It's a good time to be a mythology kid and fan of both of them.

[scyllaenjoyer]

Today I offer you the Index for the warrior Penelope au story I'm working on. Tomorrow? Maybe actually publishing something

[madbard]

“Hunger is so heavy.”

I want to take a moment to rant about the role of hunger in Epic - specifically, the way nearly ever single saga is, at its core, a story about hunger and the way it affects us.

Let’s start with the Troy Saga. Odysseus’ men have won the war and are finally headed home when they run out of food. Upon discovering an island, Eurylochus immediately suggests they attack and take what they can. Right off the bat, the story associates hunger with violence. As we all know, Odysseus resists, and travels with Polites to the island of the lotus eaters - a society that has sacrificed their free will to slake their hunger for the glowing lotus fruits. If not for Odysseus recognizing the fruit, the crew could very well have met the same fate. Their hunger would have led to them losing their freedom forever.

Moving onto the Cyclops saga, the events of the Odyssey begin in earnest when Odysseus’ men slaughter Polyphemus’ sheep because they are starving. In response, Polyphemus decides to slaughter the entire crew and eat them instead - suddenly, theirs is not the only hunger that threatens their lives. The only reason they are able to escape is because Odysseus tempts Polyphemus with the “world’s best-tasting wine,” thus defeating the cyclops with his own thirst (I’m not going to differentiate between hunger and thirst here, as they are both intense physical cravings). Here, hunger is both a weakness and a threat. Giving in to hunger can lead to death and destruction, but hunger can also be used as a weapon, if you are clever.

Next up is the Ocean Saga. (This is where I start to seriously bend the definition of “hunger.”) This is the first saga in which food or lack thereof does not play a direct role. Here, Odysseus faces a new form of desire: exhaustion. Going back a bit, I described hunger as an intense physical craving for food. Well, what is exhaustion if not an intense physical craving for sleep? In this saga, Odysseus is given the chance to make it home. All he has to do is keep the storm trapped, and in order to do that, he has to stay awake. Odysseus resists his exhaustion for nine days, fighting off his desperate desire for sleep. But eventually, he relents and drifts off - which is when Eurylochus releases the storm and Poseidon kills all but 43 members of Odysseus’ crew. Once more, yielding to ‘hunger’ leads to tragedy.

Moving on to the Circe Saga, literal hunger plays a role yet again as Circe’s first move is to offer Odysseus’ men “something to eat.” The men soon discover that Circe enchanted their meal; upon eating, they are transformed into pigs - animals infamous for devouring anything in front of them. Here, hunger is portrayed as something animalistic, something which reduces the men from thinking, civilized beings to creatures, little better than livestock. Just a song later, though, Odysseus becomes powerful enough to face Circe when he consumes moly root. Notably, his consumption of this root was based on strategy, not hunger - a small but important distinction as it separates his consumption of the moly from his crew’s consumption of Circe’s meal. Wrapping up the Circe Saga, we have an entirely different kind of hunger as Circe offers to let Odysseus’ men go free if he shows his true colors in “acts of lust.” He refuses the promise of physical satisfaction because of his loyalty to Penelope, and in doing so, he earns Circe’s respect and assistance. Earlier in Epic, we were shown the power of hunger to inspire violence, tragedy and destruction. Here, we see it as an animalistic urge - the distinction between animals and men, then, is their capacity to resist such desires.

Writing this, the Underworld Saga was very frustrating for me because I could not find any significant references to hunger in any of the songs. Thinking back on it though, I wonder if that in itself is significant. The saga that takes place entirely in the world of the dead is the first saga not to heavily involve hunger or other forms of physical desire. Resisting hunger may be what distinguishes men from animals, but feeling hunger is what distinguishes the living from the dead.

Finally, we reach the Thunder Saga. The crew has run out of food for a final time, and in the grips of hunger, Eurylochus closes the cycle begun in the Cyclops saga when he slaughters the sun god’s cattle. At this point in the story, Eurylochus no longer believes they can return home. Eurylochus is exhausted, starving - he cannot bear to suffer any longer. Though Odysseus protests, Eurylochus insists that the crew cannot go on like this. They cannot survive much longer on these seas. His final defense as he slaughters the cattle? “I’m just a man.” The only person begging him to stop renounced his humanity in the Underworld.

Throughout Epic, hunger is a constant force. It inspires violence, steals free will. Submitting to it leads to tragedy, but it can also prove a powerful weapon. To resist it for a time is to be more than an animal. To feel it is to be alive. We cannot escape it forever, can’t fight it forever. In the end, we are bound by the needs of our fragile, ephemeral bodies. In the end, we must give in. And maybe, just maybe, that is what makes us human.

[ms-divi]

Shenanigans or whatever you call it:

Odysseus: Okay, I need someone here that can convince me why their a good choice for Telemachus starting with you.

Polycaste: Okay, well, I believe I would be a good fit for him because one, I bathed him so that kinda makes us intimate already and two, I really do love him unlike some people over here.

Nausicaa: Can we please not do this today? Infront of everyone? Polycaste: No but like, why are you even here? Nausicaa: Isn't obivious? I love Telemachus. We've been seeing each other for three years and I do believe I could make a beneficial wife. Polycaste: Ugh, it's okay Nausicaa. We all know you only like him because he's the closest thing you can get to Odysseus. Nausicaa: I never said that! When did I say that?

Polycaste: Well you always talk about how much you admire Odysseus. And you even said you wanted to marry someone like him! Nausicaa: Yes, I said I wanted to marry someone like him. That doesn't mean him! Polycaste: But you like Telemachus. Who looks just like Odysseus. Nausicaa: You know what? I'm not even gonna bother with you. Polycaste: Exactly. My point proven. Odysseus: Okay, while you girls catfight, I'm going to ask someone else. What about you? Neoptolemus: Me? Oh, well, I don't know. I mean I like your son. But don't I know if I like like him? But now that I think about it, we did go out so...maybe? Nausicaa: Wait, so you do or you don't love Telemachus? And what do you mean you two went out? He's been courting me for three years. Neo: Well I think I do. Also, he's never mentioned you so I don't know what you're talking about on this whole "courting" thing.

Polycaste: Look at that. Not everybody likes you Nausicaa. Nausicaa: Okay, can you just shut up I need to process something. Telemachus...wouldn't cheat on me right?

Neo: I mean, technically it's not cheating if I'm a man. Peisistratus: Of course not Nausicaa. Telemachus is not a cheater. He's the most honest, intelligent and kindest person to ever walk this earth. Polycaste: Exactly. Peisis: And anyone who marries him should consider themselves blessed by the gods. Polycaste: Exactly, wait...Peisis, what are you doing here?

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Part 2 coming soon! Who's team are you for?

[randelion-red]