#diomedes as a god

[katerinaaqu]

The Death of Odysseus

So...I decided to chop myself some onions today! This idea was in my head quite some time! I am planning a Part 2 of this but I believe this can also stand on its own! As the title says...

Telemachus was marching across the hall slowly and steadily while supporting the body of his old father. Surely the celebrations for the harvest were going very well and people were having fun but the new King of the Cephallinians had to excuse himself to escort his father to his chambers, for he had apparently drunk more than what he should have and needed his rest. He didn’t mind that little break. Telemachus was never fond of huge crowds anyways and he liked some quiet and solitude. Ever since his father finally came back home after his redemption trip he often spent more time with him than with the servants! He had so much catch up to do with him and so much to talk about and learn from him! As the years passed and Telemachus finally grew old and experienced enough to become king at his own accord, Odysseus gave the throne to him, just like his father before him had also done, and he promised to support him. For Odysseus himself, his life seemed to have been completed with happiness. After his son got married and he brought to this world his beloved grandson, Perseptolis, whom he named after the family tradition himself, his happiness was completed. He had nothing more to expect. He felt his heart was filled with happiness and calmness after a lifetime of worries, torture and ordeals! His son had grown, he was doing a marvelous job as a king, and his grandson was strong and healthy, growing every day! What else could he ask for! Odysseus was already 79 years old, just a few hours away of his 80th birthday. Age was taking over his body pretty fast, especially given the ordeals he had gone through; his bones were often complaining, his arms and fingers often suffered from stiffness and pain, especially when the nights were humid and cold but Odysseus welcomed that pain with happiness. He had grown old when so many others wouldn’t even dream of and he was generally healthy; he still had all of his teeth and most of his hair and his wits were sharp as always, not deteriorating by age. He would praise Athena every day of his life for this. Somehow he would hate to become an imbecile with age, or so he used to say, he would hate to become a burden to his son especially given the sorrows he had given him unintentionally all these years back. Telemachus chuckled as he fixed his staggering father onto his body better.

“Now, now, father!” he said playfully, “I swear to gods, the older you get the more like a child you act!”

Odysseus chuckled.

“Well, my son, I am now old man, I have no responsibilities anymore other than catering to my family’s garden and play with your son and dear grandson of mine; gods bless him! I believe I earned myself the privilege to act so!”

Telemachus rolled his eyes.

“Even so, you shouldn’t have drunk so much! In your age you should watch your health better!”

Odysseus once again chuckled and made a dismissive move with his hand.

“Oh well…” he said nonchalant, “Wine is one of the few pleasures I have left in this miserable world at my age, my son!”

“Oh, father!” Telemachus scoffed, “Come on now!”

“Either way!” Odysseus shrugged, “This year’s brew was just too good to resist! And you did very good job selecting it and choosing the perfect time for the sea water to be mixed in it! You made it hard to resist!”

“Father! You’re unbelievable!”

“Part of my charm, I’m sure!”

Telemachus couldn’t help himself chuckle softly as he led his father to his bed chamber, to his beloved olive bed. Initially Odysseus had given that as a wedding chamber to his son and his daughter-in-law but for the past few months Odysseus had made this request if he could live his last days in that room where he gave life to this family, where he used to share with his mother his nights and early mornings. Odysseus was devastated when Penelope died. He mourned her for weeks. However Telemachus saw also how calmly he took it. They both grew old and finally enjoyed their lives. That last tribute of Odysseus closing her eyes seemed simply to close that circle. Odysseus mourned but he didn’t despair. He greeted her death like an old friend and thanked all gods that it found his wife healthy and happy and that she died peacefully in her sleep. Penelope had also requested that she were to be transferred to her old bed a little before she died; this was where she had left her last breath. Therefore, after Odysseus made the same request, Telemachus feared his father had sensed his own death coming, thus making him even more careful and worried of him. His father was dismissive of it, of course, and in a way he was right; he wouldn’t be around forever, but to Telemachus the news of losing his father were too sad, too scary to comprehend even if it was the most normal thing in the world. Either way he now led his father to his bed, slowly and steadily and assisted him to it. Odysseus sighed in relief as he was placed upon the mattress and assisted out of his sandals by his son. His son often did this; he attended to him himself, not asking the servants to do things like this. It was as if he was trying to make up the lost time. He breathed deeply again as the bed sheets were paced above his body as well as a blanket his wife had loomed for him; his favorite. It pictured an intricate pattern of olive branches, moly flowers and waves circling a ship that roamed close to a mountain-like island. The ship had three figures standing on them embracing. Penelope had spent months on this blanket and she had given to him as a gift a few years before when he was complaining for the pains in his body from the cold. His father could hardly part with it lately. He even jokingly (or perhaps not so much) said that he wanted this blanket to be his funeral shroud, covering the sheet.

“Is it comfortable?” Telemachus asked

“Yes, thank you…” Odysseus whispered

His hand slowly touched Telemachus’s cheek, feeling the black, curly, bushy beard covering it along with his warm flesh. He smiled affectionately with moist, onyx-black eyes, perceiving those blue eyes of his wife’s to him. Yes, Telemachus was their pride and joy. He took the best out of both of them! He had his strength, his resilience and he had taken his mother’s eyes, her kindness…her wisdom… Yes, Odysseus was proud of what they had done. This pride was exceeding any of the labors he performed in any war; any praise he ever received in his life seemed insignificant before this result he had before him…

“You go back to the celebrations, my son…” he whispered affectionately, “Go back and have fun…don’t spend the rest of the night here with your old father… I will be fine…”

Telemachus scoffed softly, feeling strangely emotional. For some reason his own eyes felt almost watery.

“You silly old man!” he whispered cupping his father’s hand on his cheek with his own, “Anyways, are you sure you are okay? I can ring for someone to come and attend to you”

“Positive…” Odysseus whispered, “I am fine. I will just sleep. I am really tired”

Telemachus shook his head defeated.

“Fine, but please do not hesitate to call if you need anything”

He stood up to leave.

“Telemachus”

Odysseus’s hand holding his wrist made him stop. He turned to look at the old, white-haired figure of his father’s.

“Thank you…” the tormented king whispered, “…For everything…”

Telemachus half-chuckled, again not sure why he was so emotional all of the sudden. Perhaps he too had more to drink than he should have and it affected him.

“What?” he asked, “That sounded almost like a goodbye…”

Odysseus smiled. His smile was calm and his eyes were glistering in the moonlight.

“What an idea!” he whispered, “There is much life left in these old bones! I buried many much younger than me! I have plenty of years ahead of me!”

Telemachus chuckled.

“Rest well, old man” he whispered and kissed his father’s brow

Odysseus could only nod as he watched his pride and joy, his son who grew strong and healthy, leave the wedding chamber where he was born into, with his crimson cape waving behind him. He smiled as he was alone in the moonlit room…his eyes shedding two tears.

He knew it was a lie.

It was the last, white lie Odysseus of Ithaca was to say…his last goodbye to this world and he wanted to see them off all smiling and celebrating. He didn’t want his last memory to be of his son crying or closing his eyes. This was the last task he had to do himself; alone. He didn’t have much time left and he knew it…and yet he felt calm. He had fulfilled his purpose. There was nothing else for him… He was happy.

*

He was breathing heavily. His large chest (not as muscular as it used to be) was moving up and down with each breath. He looked up at the canopy of olive branches and smiled. His eyes then moved to the side, to the window that had a clear view of the sea… His eyes filled with tears but these tears wouldn’t shed.

“Death will find you at ripe old age…peacefully…away from the sea…or by its salt huh…?” he whispered chanting the words of Tiresias

Death was something he considered so many times in his life; both with aversion and fear as well as with wishful thinking. Now he felt calm. He could hardly understand how he had survived so long; how he lived longer than many other men of his time; longer than his beloved Penelope… Now he knew it was his time drawing near… There in his favorite bed, under his olive tree…looking at the sea that gave him so much happiness so much adventure and so much torment… He felt calm. He closed his eyes for one second lifting away the tears that had filled his eyes.

“Odysseus…”

The unworldly and yet somehow familiar voice brought him back to reality. He opened his eyes to see that tall figure he never thought he would see again in his life; one of the few people that he wished to have met again and never did. His tall, square figure shone with incredible warm light, dressed up in a fine armor incorporating intricate patterns of feathers instead of plates. His magnificent plumed helmet brought up his dark eyes and the beard that adorned his cheeks and chin. He had a sword to his hip just like he could remember. His skin shone like golden, his long, brown curly hair neatly falling down his back under the helmet. He smiled without wanting to at that rigid figure before him.

“Diomedes!” he whispered

Diomedes smiled.

“It is I, Odysseus…indeed…”

Odysseus chuckled in delight.

“Wow…” he whispered, “I heard you bastard turned into a god by rumors but, on my word, I never expected to see it with my eyes… Gods you look the same as I remember…you haven’t changed!”

“Nothing and everything has changed…” Diomedes said in his deep, soothing voice

A god then! Odysseus didn’t know if he had to feel proud or a bit envious of him! However after years and years he spent on earth and learnt humility in the most painful ways, his envy was reduced to minimum. Diomedes deserved it, if half the stories that reached his ears about him were true. Besides who would want to live forever like this? He had people waited for him somewhere else too…

“So…” Odysseus whispered, “If you are here…that means…I am dying…right?”

“Yes…” Diomedes whispered.

That was definitely Diomedes he remembered. He never beat about the bushes and always came straight to the point.

“And you came to take me…”

“I asked Lord Hermes for the honor…yes.” Diomedes replied, “I was assigned with this task.”

“I see…”

“Are you afraid…?”

“No” the answer was simple; direct, “I have lived a long life…I have seen my son grow, I held my grandson in my hands…I nourished him too, to become a young man, I held my wife as she breathed my name one last time… I have nothing else to live for. My time would come… Death does no longer scare me. Death is not unknown to me…”

“Do you have any regrets?”

Yet another direct question. He breathed in and out once, looking upwards in thought.

“I would be a liar if I said I had none…” he finally confessed, “Many good men found death by my hand…many wicked too… I did many things I am proud of and many others I would always carry with me… The lives that fell under my command; both friends and foes alike are always present at my conscious”

“The war of Troy…”

“The war of Troy” Odysseus agreed, “Ten years we fought. Ten years we bled. Ten years we killed…and killed we did!”

“You and I especially”

“Quite so.” Odysseus agreed. “They called you ‘Lord of War Cry’; they called me ‘Sacker of Cities’… The titles would haunt us for the rest of our lives…”

“We bore them all our lives”

“Yes…we did…” he consequently scoffed, “And look at us now! You a god…and I an old man in my deathbed…who would have thought!”

“Do you want to linger a bit further…?”

Odysseus looked around once more.

“No” he replied, “I have lived everything any mortal could live. I am tired, Diomedes. Please take me now…I have nothing else to expect…”

Diomedes smiled one of his known, half-smiles. Child-soldier to the end; a man born and raised in war.

“I am to accompany you to your journey for a little while”

Odysseus smiled again.

“The journey to the Underworld is not unknown to me…I have not many surprises to expect… But I appreciate it…”

Diomedes extended his hand to him.

“It is time…” he whispered, “Time to go…”

“Yes…” Odysseus whispered, “I have one last request…”

“And what is that…?”

“Can I see my homeland one last time as I go…? Please…do not deny me this last thing…”

Diomedes smiled.

“Of course…”

Odysseus cried. He felt the last tears run down his wrinkled cheeks.

“Thank you…”

He took the hand of his old friend and closed his eyes. Once more, the much-enduring Odysseus accepted his fate… The last thing he saw before his eyelids blocked his mortal flesh eyes was the canopy of his olive bed and a tiny glimpse of the starry sky beyond…

***

My oh my what have I done indeed!!!! And be warned I was writing this while listening to this amazing piece of music from anime Tasogare Otome x Amnesia! I never manage to go through without tearing up with that one! TT-TT

So according to the prophecy of Tiresias Odysseus would die of ripe old age peacefully but ironically the translation from the phrase "εξ αλός" can be both translated "by its salt" or "away/out of its salt" so either his death would come "by the sea" or "away from the sea".

Somehow I tried once again to combine them! XD as you know me I cannot help myself. So Odysseus dies "away from the sea" in his bed at night but "by its salt" for he drank wine mixed with sea water before his death. There you go!

The age was picked so that Telemachus would be in his 40s when this happens. In a way he is at the same age as Odysseus was when he was at the final wars of Troy.

Yeah I imagined Telemachus being almost a copy of his father too apart from some more height and the eyes of Penelope (which were chosen randomly to be blue)

Tlemachus's wife is not named because the two prominient theories is either he gets married to the daughter of Nestor's or to Nausicaa. I sometimes tend to lean towards the second one solely because I find it interesting but I leave it to your imagination.

Perseptolis being named by Odysseus was part of an idea discussed with @ditoob before how the grandfather or grandmother leaves the name to the grandchildren after Autolycus names Odysseus.

And Diomedes is here!!! Imagine if these two never met so many years and meet when Odysseus dies!!! The idea was too much stuck in my head to ignore! So yes lo and behold my idea of a small dialog between them.

I hope you like it!

[yourlokalescholar]

Oh my god wait. What if the blessings of the gods manifested physically? Like if a god takes an interest in you, EVERYONE is going to see it, for better or worse. And if you lose their favour? Everyone can see that, too

Jason with a peacock tail and feather-crest, both of which go faded and limp when he turns on Medea, so that they drag on the floor and get in the way

Pollux with eagle wings instead of arms, so Castor acts as his hands and that’s why they’re inseparable. When Castor dies and Pollux splits his immortality with him, they each get one arm and one wing, so one can’t fly without the other

Odysseus with a forked tongue and fangs—a subtle feature that he can hide when he needs to. When Athena feels like being helpful (like when she disguises him as a beggar) she’ll cast an illusion over it, but Penelope immediately recognises him by his lisp

When Athena gives Diomedes the blessing of seeing through the gods’ disguises, he also gets owl eyes and the ability to turn his head 180 degrees. This helps when Odysseus tries to stab him in the back on the Palladium heist

HERACLES WITH BULL HORNS. I have nothing to add I just think that sounds sick as hell

Helen grows beautiful golden feathers instead of hair. Nothing useful, just an obvious sign of her heritage that adds to her appeal to the suitors: whoever wins her hand gets to walk around with a physical symbol of Zeus’s favour

Atalanta with antlers that snap when she gets married, leaving jagged shards behind that won’t go blunt and can’t be sharpened down. She can have her husband, but he can’t touch her head without risking badly cutting himself. This can either be one final blessing or a curse depending on how consensual you interpret the marriage

Hector has pristine white raven wings, making him even more terrifying to the Achaeans, flying into battle like divine intervention, and a symbol of hope for the Trojans. Achilles plucks the feathers off his corpse, but they won’t stop growing back. Still, Achilles has a cloak made from them and wears it into battle, turning Troy’s symbol against them

Paris gets dove wings, but he tells everyone they’re too small to fly with because he’s a coward and doesn’t want to have the same responsibilities as Hector. Then he flies away from the duel with Menelaus in front of the entire army, and that’s when Troy finally loses what’s left of their respect for him

[be-it-so]

My favorite headcanon about gods and the mortals is that gods never understand how fragile humans are and don't understand how deep god's touches go through mortal's skin. (or simply don't care)

Athena will make Diomedes's grip on his spear stronger pushing his fingers tighter and almost breaking his bones. She fixes his position making his stance perfect, but human's body was never able to get into position this perfect so his muscles will be tearing and his bones will be cracking just to be instantly healed. When Athena removes her hands, his body will be covered in bruises.

Odysseus will always feel burning and at the same time freezing gaze on his back while Athena watches him across the battlefield. His ears will be filled with her breath and whisper, that will ring in his head long after she ended speaking. She will help him shot an arrow, and he will feel his joints moving in the way they were never supposed to move.

When Apollo turns all the spears and arrows away from the Hector he will still feel them digging into his flash. Apollo will raise him from the dust again and again, and Hector won't be able to stand without hearing god's voice in his ears and feeling god's burning touch on his shoulders. He closes his eyes and still sees the light.

Helen will stand tall to speak up to Paris, and Aphrodite will place her hands on Helen's shoulders to remind her of goddess's presence and this flaming grip will weight as heavy as ten years of war. Aphrodite will wash Helen's face so her skin will shine brighter and eyes will haunt every man in the room, and the only thing Helen feels is her skin freezing from the coldness of Aphrodite's hands.

And those touches won't end with battle or even with war. Every time Diomedes fights he will feel his body taking the exact position Athena once made him in, his limbs will come into shape they were never meant to be in, without deforming cause Athena already fixed them, once she already designed him according to her vision. Every time Odysseus lies his words will echo in his head just like Athena's words did before, every time he uses a bow, arrow in his hands will feel like a burning torch or like an ice, and his joints and tendons will sing in a perfect copy of the song Athena made them perform inside his body on the battlefield. Every time Helen will square her shoulders to feel herself more confident she will feel burning touch on her chin pushing it up and freezing breath in her hair. She will look at her husband and shadow of tight grip on her shoulders will become shadow of sharp nails digging into her skin, holding her in place.

Even dying at Achilles's hands and falling to the ground Hector would still hear an order in his head telling him to get up and fight, his own blood running down a neck will feel like Apollo's hands forcing him back to his feet.

No mortal ever forgets a god's touch.

[simoondraws]

Diomedes kicked Ares' ass.

[nikoisme]

Malam concept,, wanted to draw more of him but i'm too sick atm haha

[wolfythewitch]

odysseus and diomedes reunion doodles except i run out of steam very quickly

[incorrecthomer]

Athena: You think I enjoy being mother hen to you all? Odysseus: Diomedes: Achilles: Agamemnon: Athena: Ok fine, it's like crack to me

[godsofhumanity]

Diomedes: "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." I would. Pussy. Odysseus: "I wouldn't stoop to their level." I will. Coward. Achilles: "I'm the bigger person." I'm not. Give me the gun, bitch.

[emmikay]

Athena in The Iliad Book 5:

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

athena: *to diomedes* listen to me, do not fight the gods...got it?

diomedes: *nodding* no fighting gods, got it!

*literally 5 mins later*

athena: *pointing at aphrodite and ares*

athena: STAB THOSE LITTLE BITCHES RIGHT NOW

diomedes:

diomedes: sure!

[katerinaaqu]

The Death of Odysseus (Part 3 + Afternote)

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Apparently I couldn't stop myself! Today is the last blue moon and man I just felt like I HAD to post part 3 today for some reason! After Part 1 and Part 2 here's the third and final part! This is my longest chapter still from this series! Please follow me to the trip of Odysseus in the underworld for his ordeals are about to end... This is long I know! But I would love to hear your thoughts on this at to my other 2 parts! ^_^ Forgive me if this is too tiring!

Diomedes’s footsteps were the only things he could hear as they entered to the new section of the Underworld. Along the way one by one the souls accompanying them had to stop. It was as if their journey along with him for now was reflecting their arduous trip. Now he was alone once more, passing by other shades that seemed to be matching his age. His feet felt tired and at the same time they weren’t. What a weird sensation!

“Diomedes…” he whispered, “Can we stop for a second? I need to catch my breath”

Diomedes looked at him over his large shoulder.

“Soon you will. Endure for a little longer, my friend”

“I feel like…I can’t breathe…!” Odysseus rasped out

It was as if some huge weight was on his chest. It was as if every time the soul of one of his comrades was disappearing or promising he would meet him later after his journey was done, he was losing a part of himself. It was as if he was feeling the losses again and again but this time it was crushing him like the pressure of a mountain. It was suffocating him. His body, old from time and hardships, even if he was shadow now, was feeling heavy, unable to move as if he was aging even further during his trip. He felt like breathing in the thick mist of water instead of air as he walked…as if every breath was tightening his chest… Diomedes looked at him with a soft smile of compassion.

“Courage! Just a bit further we can stop…I promise…”

“Help me…! Please…!” Odysseus rasped out, voice trembling

Once more he felt the consequences of the lack of tears to his new form. He could not release himself from pain through tears anymore; he could feel the sadness, the burning down his throat and his voice cracking…but his eyes would never water. A warm, shining hand was placed before him.

“Come on, my friend, courage! We’re almost there”

Odysseus accepted Diomedes’s strong arm with his wrinkled, shaking hand. Being supported by his old friend and now protector-god, Odysseus slowly moved forward. For one second his memory ran back to the last interaction he had with his son; how his son was supporting him in a similar manner towards his bed. Oh, he missed him so much! His home he would never see again…the smell of the sea he would never sniff again… The softness of a bed he would never feel again… Ithaca he would never experience again… Now under the crushing weight of his journey pressing on his chest Odysseus remembered Aeaea…and Ogygia…the sweet tortures and temptations of his life… Both opportunities he had to escape this pain; this torment. He had the chance to remain to the world of the living…like a god…like Diomedes was supporting him steadfast right now… He wouldn’t have experienced this pain; this sadness and nostalgia…this solitude…this endless up and down of emotions between happiness and sadness, hope and despair that was about to drive him insane. So many dead men had drunk from the river of Lithe to escape this. Odysseus had chosen, once more, the hard way. He had chosen this…just like back then he chose his wife and the love of his land.

“Oh how insignificant that would seem to the eyes of those goddesses!” he thought in woe, “Woe is you, they would say, you experience that pain now…only to see your wife and home for as many years as you were separated from them! What was the point? Was it worth it? That’s what they would say to me if they saw me now…!”

And yet Odysseus, feeling the warmth of Diomedes by his side…remembering the delight and happiness to see his comrades again…No, this pain was worth it! The senseless existence or immortal life would demand a high price to pay! He nearly tripped at a stone but Diomedes was there to hold him.

“Courage, my friend!” he encouraged him once more, “We are almost there.”

Every step he took seemed like a decade; like a decade of torture falling upon him. But yet again Odysseus endured. He had to. They reached a plateau and finally Diomedes stopped. He nodded to Odysseus and helped him sit upon a stone. Odysseus nearly collapsed. He would have been soaked in sweat if he were a human. He was breathing heavily; painfully. Diomedes patted him on the back.

“I can’t…!” Odysseus finally whispered pleadingly, “I can’t anymore, Diomedes! I can’t…go any further…!”

“Now, now…” Diomedes whispered with a compassionate smile, “Don’t give up now…you must keep going”

“I can’t! Please…spare me…! Mercy, Diomedes…! Please…leave me here…I don’t have any more strength to go on…”

“You are almost there, Odysseus” Diomedes repeated softly and yet firmly, “Do not give up. The reward at the end is always sweet for those who endure”

Odysseus only pleadingly looked at him. Suddenly he felt older than before. As if he aged over a thousand years instead of 80… He gritted his teeth and nodded. Struggled to his feet; although he had to be assisted by Diomedes again in order to fully stand. How long had he been to be traveling? Was it a day? A year? A decade? Was it a century? He looked up. He almost felt as if snow was falling on him. Perhaps it wasn’t snow but ash flakes from the fires of Troy… He raised his hand in the air as if trying to catch them. He gathered it back to his throbbing chest.

“Why…does it hurt so much…?” he managed to whisper, “Is it normal to be this painful?”

“The journey reflects a life…” Diomedes whispered, “The pain and the joy one experiences are up to them…”

“Woe is me…!” Odysseus exasperated, “How much pain…! So much sorrow…so much anger and hatred…! Can it stop, Diomedes? Will it ever stop…?”

Diomedes was silent. He couldn’t respond and Odysseus knew it. Diomedes didn’t experience this trip himself when he entered Elysium and godhood.  He was not Hades to know. How much pain would he experience after so many years of torment?

“Gods…!” he whispered, “Oh, gods! Please release me…even for a little while! My heart cannot bear it! Please make it stop, Diomedes…! Make it stop…!”

“You’re getting there, Odysseus…” Diomedes once more encouraged, “Do not lose heart now! You have but a few stops left… Goddess Athena promised me. She has your back… Take strength from her, my old friend! I beg of you…”

Moaning in pain and anguish Odysseus forced his pace, grasping on Diomedes as hard as he could, as if he had physical nails to dig into his now immortal flesh. For one more time…Odysseus endured…

*

The journey was moving slowly as he finally managed to breathe with some ease. It took a bit further and exactly as Diomedes had promised it became somehow bearable. He even managed to walk on his own now. His old friend was always there watching his step. However as he looked around he thought he recognized shades that passed by him, almost as if completely ignoring him. Oh how much he wished he had a walking stick with him! Or at least the oar that he was carrying for his redemption journey! His back felt almost like breaking. It was as if he was walking forever. He stood for a second looking around at the open area. It wasn’t as cramped with souls as the other one he passed from before.

“Where are we, Diomedes?” he asked, “What part of Hades is this?”

“This is the area of the kings and nobles” Diomedes explained.

Odysseus scoffed.

“Are you telling me that this old, beaten body of mine belongs here?”

“Perhaps”

“Look who’s here!”

That familiar voice he hadn’t heard in decades made him turn. He recognized the blonde long hair of Achilles, walking side by side to the brown-haired and gray-eyed Patroclus and their companion Antilochus. Achilles was having his arms folded against his chest as he perceived him. He was as youthful as always; a man who lost his life so early.

“Achilles!” Odysseus breathed out

The man Fast in Feet smiled.

“We began to think that the gods of death had forgotten about you!”

“I told you he would potentially outlive us all, Achilles” Patroclus said softly

“Indeed” Achilles agreed, “Someone who came down here even alive would undoubtedly be too stubborn to die!”

“He always was”

Odysseus turned around to see that tall man. He recognized his wavy locks and his well-kept beard; those large brown eyes.

“Agamemnon!”

He half-staggered to the direction of his and the two men embraced. Odysseus remembered that tall man who used to be one head taller than what he was. Now that he had partially shrunk with age, he seemed even taller.

“Nice to see you again, old friend” Agamemnon whispered, “At least one of us got to make it to old age! Look at you! Never expected to see the great Odysseus looking worse than Nestor!”

Odysseus chuckled softly in his self-pity.

“Yeah, I grew old alright…I bet I look awful right now. I avoided the mirrors for a long time before this!”

They chuckled a bit. Odysseus held his stomach that still felt painful with every breath but it was getting better. As he scanned the place he noticed more kings and queens arriving, it almost felt like a welcoming party. He recognized many figures he had only heard from stories like Minus, Perseus and Jason the Argonaut but he also saw so many known figures; people he never thought he would see again.

“Nestor!” he called to the elderly figure that approached him

Oh, how strange! He looked so much younger than him now! He had heard of Nestor’s death had occurred a little after Telemachus had come back to Ithaca. Peisistratus, the youngest son that remained a loyal friend and companion to his son had brought the terrible news. He had outlived Nestor by a decade in years! How different they looked now as they embraced and cried in their souls (for neither could shed tears). How fragile Odysseus felt! And yet he perceived his old friend, whom he hadn’t seen ever since Troy!

“Look at us!” he whispered in emotion, “You were old at Troy…I was barely entering threshold of old age…and now…look at us!”

“What a weird thing fate is, Odysseus…” Nestor whispered back

The kings were gathered, greeting him like an old friend. He remembered so many of them from Troy. It almost felt like they never left that camp at the foot of the holy city. People were greeting him, patting his back. Odysseus was smiling in emotion; yes, it was as if he never left, as if he was still a young ambitious man, barely to the threshold of old age instead of dead, dragging an old body and old memories all the way into the underworld!

“Is the celebrity of the day available to see an old friend?”

That soft voice made Odysseus shine inside. He saw that tall man; with the fair skin and hair; hair that was once reddish blonde, almost platinum, now it was white like snow. The body he remembered so strong and sturdy at Troy even if still vigorous bore the samples of old age. The eyes that had the color of honey and oil were looking at him compassionately like always. By his side the beautiful Helen kissed by the sun at her hair like golden Aphrodite. She herself despite aged like every mortal would have aged she could pass at least a decade younger than the age she had during her passing. She was stunningly beautiful as ever, holding affectionately the arm of the man with whom she shared her life with. There was no doubt who that man was that filled his soul with delight.

“Menelaus! Gods! Menelaus!”

He didn’t care who watched as he clumsily and tiredly stumbled close to his friend who met him mid-way and they embraced tightly.

“Now…you are the one who must support me…” Odysseus whispered

“I got you, old friend…I do…” Menelaus whispered

Odysseus remembered when they met before he continued his redemption trip. Menelaus was suffering from his health; years and sorrows had taken their toll on him. When Helen had sent a letter for his passing to Ithaca, for which he was informed after his return from the mainland, Odysseus had cried in silence for days. He had mourned Menelaus; the only man that truly believed to the very end of his wellbeing, the only man that shared his guilt and pain. How many things had commenced in the name of their loves! Odysseus who secretly invented the Oath of Tyndareus to marry Penelope, Menelaus called onto the oath and started the war of Troy; the bloody war that cost the lives of thousands. They had agreed reluctantly to sacrifices of two young maidens; one saved one doomed. They had wandered, they had shipwrecked and they had felt the pain…and here they were. Menelaus passing at the threshold of old age…Odysseus to the end of it… Odysseus held Menelaus’s cheeks with his hands, as if to observe his more youthful appearance.

“How…?” he whispered emotionally, “How could you take the trip so far…?”

The pain he felt…only Menelaus could understand! Only Menelaus could give him the answer he sought!

“H-How…how could you take it…?”

Menelaus smiled softly and ran his hand over Odysseus’s face, as if to feel every wrinkle and disfigurement from age. Slowly moved the veil off Odysseus’s head and ran his fingers through his thinned, white wholly hair.

“I was telling to myself; endure it, old chap, Odysseus endured worse…this is nothing! I was saying to myself; you have to endure, this is what Odysseus would have done!”

Odysseus did the only thing he could; he collapsed. He held onto Menelaus for dear life; the way he embraced his son Telemachus when he saw him for the first time after so many years of ordeal. It was the only thing he could do for he could no longer cry. He could only tighten his grip; with his arms that no longer had his youthful strength, and shake as the sobs were coming from the soul rather than the tears and so did Menelaus; he embraced him tightly grasping the hair to the back of his head, burying his face to the crook of his neck. The two old friends were left to mourn their lives, their pain and fleeted youth. Both had wondered what if they had done things differently. What if had they chosen a different path? Nothing mattered now. They had both left the world they knew. Daring to break their embrace and Odysseus draw a few painful breaths, which torn his chest apart, to find his composure he looked up to see the gigantic figure of Ajax, accompanied by his brother Teucer. Ajax looked so youthful! Just a bit older than Achilles. His black eyes were staring or rather glaring at Odysseus’s frail and old form. He remembered the other time Odysseus had arrived to the underworld. He had tried to talk to him but Ajax’s anger was holding high. Now Odysseus felt even smaller than then before him.

“Ajax…” he whispered pleadingly, “Please…f-forgive me…! Please…don’t look at me like this! Please! Don’t…!”

“I hated you as much as I have hated no Trojan…”

The deep voice coming as if from the core of the earth made Odysseus look up. He hadn’t heard Ajax’s voice in decades. His words were knives that cut deep.

“You wronged me. Athena took away my dignity to protect you…I hated you like I hated no man…or no beast…”

“Please…” Odysseus whispered, “I know…I…I am sorry…I am…so sorry…!”

“But…”

Odysseus looked at his eyes; like a mouse that was caught at the claws of a cat. Ajax was not done yet.

“I learnt something from Menelaus and Teucer…something no one told me before…for others also hated me for my intentions. Menelaus and my brother told me it was you the one who demanded my funeral…he told me it was you the one who saved my soul…”

“I…” Odysseus stammered, “I couldn’t let you perish…f-for my…for the decision to take the arms… You didn’t deserve it…”

“No…” Ajax agreed, “I didn’t…”

He looked at him again. His look was not grateful even if his eyes were. Odysseus couldn’t expect more than that. He knew Ajax had a reason to be crossed with him. He wouldn’t demand him to let go of his anger for this.

“Thank you…for that” Ajax finally said, “For saving my honor”

Odysseus nodded. Yes, this was much more than what he could ever expect or wish for. He had long now stopped considering Ajax his enemy; daresay he might even consider him his friend. He was glad that at least Ajax wouldn’t hold on his grudge so strongly now.

“My son…”

The voice of Laërtes; music to his ears! He turned around to see his old father; the man he saw in despair in Ithaca turning his life around soon after; strong like a lion; the man he had buried long time ago; before he even left for his redemption trip. Now he seemed almost the same age as he was. Odysseus let himself go in his arms as if he were a boy, as if he needed once more that affection.

“Welcome, my son…” his father whispered, “Finally home…our Final Home…”

“F-Forgive me…f-father…you waited…again…”

“This waiting was sweet, my son” Laërtes replied, “I wouldn’t wish for you to arrive to this dark threshold before long time had passed! I wouldn’t feel joy in my heart if I saw my dear son looking younger than me when he arrived here…”

It was a sweet delight indeed. Odysseus realized from his father’s words that he would prefer a thousand times to stay in Hades for a thousand years suffering from longing and see his son arrive old and happy and content rather than see him arriving as soon as possible looking young and vigorous. It was a sweet pain that he would wish to welcome himself. Oh gods, let me suffer so, he prayed silently, let me suffer longing and nostalgia till I see my son and grandson again…see them arrive old and healthy; looking a decade older than me! Let them live long and well, Athena! That is all I ask! This pain in my heart…I shall take it gladly!

“There is someone else here though that wishes to see you, my son” the old man said once more, “Waited for long to greet you…”

“This blessed day and delight, Odysseus…! My Most Prayed For!”

That voice; that soft voice he hadn’t heard in decades! Odysseus turned around to see the figure dressed in veils; thin and frail, old and tormented but all the same beautiful and warm! He collapsed there was no way he could describe it! He forgot any law of propriety; any sort of shame or dignity.

“M-Mother…!” he croaked out

Oh, gods how cruel! I cannot shed tears! I cannot shed tears of happiness of joy…of sadness and pain! Of longing! How cruel!

“Odysseus…” Anticlea opened her arms.

She stood there. She didn’t come closer. Odysseus practically ran; as much as his old frail body allowed him to, and he threw himself in her embrace which close around him for the first time after.

“Ma…!” he called out again, “Gods! Gods!”

He nested in her arms; he hugged her as if he wanted to merge her with him; as if he wanted to merge into her body like he was almost a century prior! Finally! Finally!

“Ma!” he cried again out, “Hug me…! Please! Hug me…! H-Hold me…! Please!”

He cried out three times; like three times he had tried to embrace her back then when he was flesh and blood and she was a silent shadow who could talk to him only through the blood of the ram he had sacrificed! His mother’s bony fingers embraced him! Her hands ran through his hair. Odysseus practically slid to the ground, his stomach touching the rocks of Hades! His face was nested in his mother’s arms; his hands grasping the material she was wearing; desperately and his mother knelt to the ground, caressing his white from age head as if he were a baby who had just woken up from a nightmare. He wanted to nest in her arms; curl up there and be protected! His mother didn’t need to speak. She was only humming an old song he hadn’t heard in years…trying to soothe the storm of his soul… How weird indeed how despite her sorrows making her older, he looked so much older than her now; her veil was covering her still thick hair while his had started to thin out while he was growing older; her limbs were thin from sadness but his were shrunk by age; fingers stiff and rough from pains and years; her legs hidden under the long dress still strong and steadfast; his were beaten up by age and weather adorned by his infamous scar he got when he was just a lad…

“Gods…!” he whispered again, “Gods…! R-Release me…! No more…! Let me stay here…! My heart will burst if I go further…!”

He felt Menelaus’s hand on his shoulder.

“Come on, old friend, get up…” he said softly, “You are a king among kings now. Show some dignity”

The playful voice he heard from his lips was something that partially brought him back to reality but he still did not wish to let go. It took his mother’s encouragement and Menelaus’s assistance to drag his body off the ground and back to his feet. He almost felt dizzy as he leaned against Menelaus, almost to the point of fainting (even if he knew he wasn’t allowed that anymore. He was no flesh and blood. He was shadow and shade). Menelaus was true to his promise as he supported him as he leaned his head against his shoulder trying to catch his breath.

“Gods…I can’t…I can’t take this anymore…” he whispered

“There there…” Menelaus cooed at him, “You are almost there I am sure. You have endured so much, my friend! Just a little longer…”

“And then…this pain…will go away…?” Odysseus looked at him pleadingly

“Or you will learn to live with it” Menelaus smiled sadly, “Is no different than life, really…if you think about it. We lived with this pain for decades; so much so that we forgot what it feels like till our journey here reminded us. But you’ll have us here, my friend. You will never be alone again…”

The Much Enduring Odysseus lowered his head. Menelaus was right. What would be the difference? They would still live with shades. The shades that were in their heads before just happened to be around them now.

“I will accompany you for a little while” Menelaus said, “Until I cannot go further. Is that okay with you, Diomedes?”

It was the first time Odysseus heard anyone address Diomedes. Maybe they were all in awe and fear before his godly power. Either way Diomedes nodded. Yes, there would be no problem to have another person with them again for a little while. But then Odysseus felt fear bite his soul once again as he recognized the 108 figures of the suitors arriving! To their head there was Palamedes! The man he never thought he would see or rather he wished with all his soul he wouldn’t see. The people behind he could possibly handle but Palamedes? No, he knew he would have to face him sooner or later.

“Odysseus!” Palamedes called out, “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face around here!”

“Well…in my defense there was nowhere else I could go!” Odysseus mumbled as he made a few steps back, his mind paralyzed in fear

It was good that Menelaus was holding him. Palamedes laughed, soon followed by the rest of his wife’s suitors.

“Just imagine! The mighty Odysseus the one who slay us one by one is now in this condition! Frail and old! Shivering in fear before us!”

Feeling some of his old pride coming back, Odysseus stepped up a bit and faced his accusing party with as much courage he could master. Yes, currently his shade was weak, old, exhausted. He could not match the strength and vigorousness of these young men he had sent to Hades so long ago! However his pride would not allow this to be taken down one more time, especially by these people that wished to hurt his family.

“Will it give you satisfaction, Palamedes? Will it give satisfaction to all of you to beat down the shade of an old man? Will it change anything to our current condition?”

Every breath was hard, every word almost impossible. However Odysseus endured. Just like Menelaus had advised him; he had to live with the pain. He had to learn to accept it.

“No, but perhaps it will make us feel better thinking what you did to us!”

“Back off, Palamedes!” Menelaus commanded, wrapping his arm around Odysseus’s shoulders, “You had your chance years ago. You shall not touch this man! Not while I am here! If it weren’t of all of your unholy deeds you wouldn’t have come down so soon!”

“Menelaus speaks the truth!” Agamemnon responded, “This man is a king! You shall not touch him!”

“He is no king! He is nothing but a common butcher!” Antinous retorted

“Then that makes you nothing but a common thief” Menelaus pointed out, “Leave it be, Antinous! Do not taint your acts even further! This man suffered all his life and he is dead! Live with it!”

“How much deeper can we get!” Palamedes mocked him, “As you said we are dead!”

“You don’t wanna know!” Menelaus pointed out, his eyes now sparkling seriously, “Do not anger the gods even further! Heck, you are at the presence of one right now! Just leave it be!”

The large figure that got between them, cut the debate in half.

“Back off!” Ajax said emphatically, pointing his large finger against the chest of the previous prince, “You said what you had to say now back off!”

“What are you doing?!” Palamedes hissed, “He was supposed to be your enemy! He-…”

The finger on his chest once again made him stop.

“Back. Off!” Ajax commanded one last time.

Palamedes knew he didn’t stand a chance against that giant. The princes felt their need for revenge a bit puffing out. They backed down a bit. Palamedes eyed Odysseus with pure hatred.

“This isn’t over, Odysseus of Ithaca!”

“Pray that it is” Menelaus retorted, “This man is not alone! Remember that, Palamedes!”

Only when the souls of these men left the picture, Odysseus allowed himself to breathe. He would almost have collapsed again but Menelaus seemed ready this time, supporting him. Odysseus looked at the giant form of Ajax. His eyes spoke so many words even if his mouth could not put them together.

“Thank you…” he whispered. It was all he could say

“A favor for a favor” Ajax said plainly, “My debt is repaid”

Odysseus only lowered his head. He bowed before the greatness of that man as he had done so many times in the past. He looked at Diomedes who was still observing the scene; as if seeing his old war comrades.

“I am ready, Diomedes” Odysseus said, “Please, lead the way to the end…”

Diomedes silently nodded. Odysseus marched again, this time with Menelaus by his side, supporting him. He felt a warmth he hadn’t felt before. Yes, he would live with the pain. He had done so all his life. So he took a step.

And then another…

And another…

*

Menelaus was true to his word. He accompanied them for a long time. The two of them talked for many things; wars, trips, encounters. It was good to have another person to talk to him; someone who understood his pain…someone who had been through that before… And then once more, Menelaus stopped, like his companions stopped before. He could not go any further. Odysseus had looked at him like he was saying a final goodbye. His old friend had reassured him they would wait for him till his journey was over.

“Till it’s over…” Odysseus thought, “How long will that be though…?”

His travel lasted for something that seemed like an eternity to him… Maybe he had more of that to come. Now he was alone again, walking behind the light of Diomedes. More shadows of kings and queens had passed by them as they walked. When he spotted a tall, dark-haired figure playing with a toddler barely one years old, Odysseus covered his face with his veil and looked the other way in shame. No, he couldn’t face Hector of Troy…not yet! Hector, the Tamer of Horses looked up from his son only for one second but he didn’t seem to notice. He turned his attention back to his son, joined by his family as well. Odysseus silently cried his known now tear-less cry. So much pain and sorrow! And yet there was hope…at least they saw themselves again… He would face them eventually…just not yet…not yet… And they didn’t recognize him.

“Who would recognize an old, wandering shadow…?” he thought

“We are almost at the final section of this trip, Odysseus” Diomedes whispered, breaking him out of his thoughts, “Soon it will be over…it is all up to you”

“I…understand…” Odysseus nodded apprehensively. He was exhausted

“Are you afraid?”

Diomedes had voiced the same thing he asked him when he was about to take him from his bed that night. His voice was reassuring at least.

“No…” he whispered after some thought, “I have to do this anyway…let’s get it over with…”

Just a bit further they walked, Odysseus was once more hugging his veil around him, feeling older, insignificant and yet Menelaus and his companions, the other kings had given him strength to move on. And then they reached two ebony doors. They were as huge as a city wall. The carvings on the door were complicated; depicting battles and stories untold by humans through human voices and mouths. The intimidating gate was there in the middle of the misty underworld, as if coming out of nowhere. It was not attached to wall or anything similar to a building. It was just a gate in the middle of nowhere. Odysseus felt the clenching in his soul.

“This is it…” Diomedes said, “The final passage…”

Odysseus gulped.

“What’s on the other side?”

“I don’t know” Diomedes replied simply, “That is something you have to discover on your own to the other end…”

“Am I going to re-live my past…?”

“I don’t know…probably”

“Will I get to meet more of those who were wronged by me…?”

“It is possible…”

“This is the only way, right?”

“Yes…”

Odysseus held his veil tightly over the spot of the throbbing heart.

“It will be painful…won’t it? Almost unbearable…”

“Yes…” Diomedes couldn’t lie, “But the reward at the end will be worth it…”

“Penelope…!” Odysseus whispered in outmost longing

“Yes…” Diomedes confirmed, “She is waiting for you at the end of your journey, that’s all I know… That was her journey…”

“So I have to go to her…to relieve her from this pain…”

“Yes”

Odysseus sighed and then looked up. His eyes were pleading. Diomedes could almost see the tears running down those old, wrinkled cheeks. It almost looked like a cat lost in the rain for too long, begging to be taken in.

“Will you stay with me…?” Odysseus mumbled in a trembling voice, “I lied before…I’m scared…”

Diomedes smiled softly, almost like a warm sun after a spring rain.

“Of course…” he whispered

Odysseus closed his eyes as if instinctually trying to hold back the tears he was unable to shed.

“Thank you…” he whispered

Once again he accepted Diomedes’s arm and slowly marched towards the gates. The gates opened to let them in…into some cold corridor…with no apparent end…

The doors shut behind them…

***

Oh my...once again I was crying writing! Hopefully the emotions get through! And I was once again listening to emotional songs, more specifically from the anime Vampire Knight Guilty, that has some of the most emotional pieces I have ever heard! I was listening to plenty of them, in particular the Main Theme:

I was just crying with it...

So....Odysseus wandering in the Underworld and feeling the pain and pressure of the journey, a random thing that I though would fit! And meeting with the other kings among others!

And of course we have some iconic kings like Menelaus and Agamemnon. Not sure why I imagined Menelaus with hazel eyes maybe I was influenced a lot by art such as @thehelplessmortals in regards to his eye color (and oh boy I didn't realize I also kinda referenced the hug tag thing! Hahaha! I realized it later!). Also for Ajax you can look at designs such as @jacobpking to get an idea of what I had in mind! Most of the descriptions of the characters are one way or another based on their descriptions in Iliad and Odyssey ^_^

Many have expressed their need for more Odysseus and Menelaus material including @wolfythewitch with whom we also discussed at a comment section! This is a bit more bittersweet tender thing but I would expect more would come with these two! Also Menelaus potentially dying young is linked to my other theory about Menelaus having heart issues (their meeting is hinting another story I am thinking of writing in the future)

And of course Anticlea moment destroyed me! TT-TT These two deserved a closure here!

Okay for the afternote now! I hope @ditoob and my dearest friend @loco-bird will find this closure satisfactory! ^_^

***

(Afternote)

His steps were steady. For some reason the world around him was dressed in white. Everything above, below and around him shone as if made of white light. He didn’t feel the pain anymore. In fact he could hardly feel anything. For a while he was afraid he had gone completely numb. Diomedes had left a while back. He had supported him throughout the tunnel, holding his hand as if he were a baby. Every step he had taken felt like a millennia…his body seemed to be suffering with every one of them however now he felt surprisingly lighter. His body didn’t hurt anymore. It almost felt like he had gained his youth again; as if he was back to his prime age. It felt weird but Odysseus didn’t have a mirror to look into. He stopped for one second to draw a breath.

“In the end you found your way, baby…”

The voice…that voice that was ringing in his ear; that voice that almost seemed to be coming out of his very chest! There was no doubt about it! He turned to see that lean figure, covered in her veils, waiting at a distance.

“P-Penelope!”

His voice was a whisper of outmost longing! It was the greatest relief he had felt so far during that arduous trip in the underworld. She was right there! Her blue eyes shining like crystal waters, her ivory white skin shining as always…her raven-black hair framing her face! Diomedes was right! A millennia worth of pain was not even nearly enough payment for this result! He ran at her and just squeezed her in his arms! There was nothing else he could do but that! No power on earth; in this life or the next seemed able to separate them; as if they sought to become one. Their lips joined in a kiss so deep as they hadn’t shared before; death had separated them…death had brought them back together. It almost seemed like they wanted to share their soul. They parted only to embrace again.

“Penelope! Joy of my life…! Finally! Finally!”

Penelope wrapped her arms around him. Buried her face in his chest and almost sobbed if she had tears to shed.

“It took you some time to find your way…” she whispered meaningfully

Odysseus laughed shaking from the unreleased sobs.

“Y-Yes…” he whispered, “Forgive me…you have been waiting…”

Penelope pulled back a bit and smiled.

“We both did….”

Before Odysseus had time to ask, Penelope moved a bit aside and the little brown and black creature with the short fur appeared behind her. His tail was wagging ecstatically full of vitality. There was no sign of flee or parasite on his body. The dog gave a happy bark

“Argos!” Odysseus cried out

As if on a queue his loyal friend rushed at him and Odysseus knelt to meet him mid-way and Argos simply attacked his face with his pink tongue, shaking all over in excitement; giving him the greeting and welcoming he wished he could have given him so many years ago

“Argos!” Odysseus cried out, “Boy I am so happy to see you! Gods! Hey, easy boy! Easy!”

He caressed the fur, squeezed the muscular body and caressed the long ears! He wanted to do all things he never did with his loyal companion while he was alive! Penelope watched with her face distorted in emotion. Odysseus stood up.

“Penelope…?” he caressed her cheek, “My love what’s wrong…?”

“Oh, Odysseus!” she embraced him tightly. Odysseus knew she would cry if she could, “I missed you so much!”

“Me too! Me too, joy of my life! Every second was an eon!”

“And our home…our palace in Ithaca…our bed! I miss them so much!”

Odysseus felt his previous despair getting lost before his will to protect and support her. She was giving him strength as always.

“Shhh…” he cooed at her, running his hands through her silken locks, “I know…I miss them too…and I always will…but…this is where we must live now…”

He cupped her cheeks. He looked at her sincerely as she also did the same; she cupped his cheeks with her hands, feeling his beard.

“However we have each other now…Penelope…you are my Ithaca…” he whispered emphatically

He leaned his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes in delight.

“This is our home now” he repeated, “…and we shall stay…together!”

And he embraced her again. Argos was moving around their feet as if blessing their re-union.

“Oh, Penelope! I will never let you go! Never again! Never!”

“What if…” Penelope hesitated, “What if they send you to Elysium?”

Odysseus scoffed.

“I highly doubt there is much chance for that. I have done many things that no one should be proud of…Elysium doesn’t sound a place for me to be but even if that were to happen…I won’t go…”

“Would you…sacrifice that…?”

“Penelope…Immortality was too much of a price to pay to lose you! Now that I found you…Elysium would be torture…” he embraced her, “I need your strength, my love. Please don’t leave me again…!”

“Never…” Penelope replied, “I will always protect you, my husband, even without you asking…”

They shared another kiss. That earned a bark from Argos. They pulled back and chuckled together.

“Shall we go then, my love?” Odysseus suggested, “Let’s go and wait for our son to come in the future…”

“In many years to come I would hope…”

“Yes…if gods will it…in many, many more years to come…”

He whistled once. Argos lifted his ears and wagged his tail.

“Let’s go, boy! Let us go and explore this new world…”

Argos raising his paw in the air barked again. If he were a human he wouldn’t have spoken truer words. Odysseus took his wife by the hand. Yes, he would take the pain now that he had his wife by his side…his friends and companions. He could face eternity as he should be despite the coldness of the underworld. He had them.

He had Penelope…

He had everything he needed.

[fintensifies]

I'm bored so gimmie your greek mythology-related hot takes

I'll go first: The Hades/Persephone retellings are overdone and demonize Demeter way too much, which makes them miss the entire point of the original story.

[ithacantrickster]

The sea wind struck his face, he thought he saunters downwards, for he could not draw its scent. Ambrosia's sweet promise scorched his lungs to ash—leaving him bereft of breath, never again to savor a fragrance finer. Never again to savor a fragrance more familiar. And never is a long time, he realizes.

Or Diomedes battles gay thoughts and immortality

(Rating: Explicit)

Have been thinking about odydio dynamic a lot. Happy to share where the thoughts led me. Also God!Diomedes, oh haven't you just been incredibly doomed by the narrative.

[simoondraws]

Little fans ✨

[achillesisnotcomingdown]

When odydio fuck, both of them tend to moan Athena's name out of everyday habit and let me tell you she hates it

Odysseus : I didn't know you're homophobic ://

Athena : I hate both men and sex whether these matters are individual or linked together. Now stop blaspheming my name before l revoke your god-favoured privileges.

[restlesskeychains]

Give me things to doodle :D (in ask box hahaha)

(Also here’s Achilles haha I found this on this app and I thought it was silly)