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cosmicourple · 16 days ago

Note

Uh hi, I really like your time loop au so I have this, I hope you enjoy:

The preludes to telos

Sand drips down like heavy rain, a never ending cascade in the hourglass of her realm. Athena sighs as she steps down onto the platform, a tapestry weaving together before her very eyes.

“Old friend…” She says, her brow furrowed. “You’ve changed drastically since last I saw you…”

“Remember me…” The tapestry sang, detailing Odysseus’s mistake as he glared towards the blinded cyclops. “I am the infamous… ODYSSEUS!!”

That was the last she saw of her champion after their… fight. Yet in her absence something changed. Something unnatural, mythical yet dangerous. It forced her to stay back by orders of her own father, even Hera has become wary… Yet her concern doesn’t waver, her thirst to know what happened to her champion— her friend… It needs to be quenched. Though she made sure to be extra careful, only viewing the bare minimum. If Odysseus had truly somehow caught the attention of K- him, then she must tread with upmost caution.

“Let’s see where you’ve been..” Athena says, taking a deep breath as she let the tapestry weave forth, surrounding her as strings of yarn shape forth the events.

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Aeolus singsongs, the goddess took note that the man before her was still mortal, still alright.

That all changed in the next scene as the storm roars and the seas crash, her champion holding her uncle’s trident, it’s prongs buried deep into the god’s throat. Silver cracks dance around his skin, like thorns wrapping around the man, digging in and prying him open. He snarled, his voice taunting and his mouth curled up to a sinister grin, yet his eyes once full of life have nothing behind them; not boredom, not malice, nothing. “Didn’t you say that ruthlessness is mercy upon our-“

She leaps back to when the bag was opened, maybe it had something to do with that? No, Aeolus may be mischievous but even they wouldn’t dare to play around with forces beyond their control. All the goddess of wisdom could fathom was that Odysseus changed after he woke up when the bag was opened. Did he struck out and reach for him while he slumbered, weakened from 9 restless, sleepless days? Athena barely registers the ichor seeping from her fist.

“Protecting them is all you want to do.” Odysseus said in the next scene, tossing in herbs and leaves as Circe stares in bafflement behind him, dagger in hand yet she makes no move to attack. Maybe she couldn’t, not when there’s the abyss of the unknown seeping out of the man before her. She lets him turn his men back from pigs and leaves.

In the next, her champion is in a cave, his eyes so empty now have the smallest spark of sympathy and bittersweet sorrow, extending his hand to the beast before him, “Why not come along with me, fellow monster and perhaps comrade?”

Wait- that didn’t happen. That couldn’t have happened. She leaps back to when they were on Circe’s island, staring towards the ocean where the ships have departed, they all went back around the direction of where the cyclops reside, nowhere near the way to Scylla’s lair. So why did she see a scene that should not exist?

The tapestry shifts and Athena found herself leaping through memories of memories through her friend’s eyes. Some were similar, most were inconsistent, a few were things she wished she’d never seen yet none of these happen. None of these ever took place so why does it feel like it did?!

“I’m so glad we see eye to eye—“

“There are other ways of persuasion-“

“Die-“

“Where is my brother? Why do you wear his skin?”

“Odysseus king of Ithaca is the name, and do remember me as I engulf your island in flames-“

“You and me are the same-“

“I cannot tell if you are mortal or something more-“

“You lost yourself-“

“Greet the world with open arms-“

“Waiting, waiting for you-“

“How can luck run out if I know what will play out—“

“Good night…”

in the walls of Odysseus’s home, flower petals drifting around as her friend laid on the bed, exhaustion painting his face from the deep eyebags he had. His eyes were to her relief, not empty, yet the life in them was flickering, struggling not to be consumed by the pools of sorrow and resignation. Beside him was his wife Penelope, smiling gently through tears as she rests her husband on her lap but what shocked the goddess the most was seeing her father on the other side of the bed, his hand cradling the back of Odysseus’s head. Never had Athena seen such warmth, guilt, love, anger, sadness and more swirl around her father before, not even with Hera did Zeus display such a side so viscerally.

“I don’t want to sleep…” Odysseus begged, his cheeks dried from tears he could no longer shed. “If I close my eyes, I’ll have to say goodbye….”

“My heart, you must rest. Do not see it as a goodbye.” Penelope reassures, kissing his forehead. “Rather, view it as a good night. Perhaps we might not see another day with you, but let us spend it together now… One day you will be free, and Helios’s light will greet you.”

“I’ll make sure you will see the next morning sun.” Zeus promised, his eyes narrowing as his hair turns dark and clouds start to gather outside. His body simmers with righteous fury akin to a massive storm approaching in the horizon. “I think I know who is responsible for your endless plight.”

“It won’t matter, you’ll forget…” Odysseus choked out a defeated sob and Athena barely held herself back from rushing towards the memory. The thunder fades and Zeus can only give an apologetic smile, patting his head, “Perhaps, but eventually I will succeed in saving you. We will succeed in saving you. So until then, wait little king.”

“Wait my heart.” Penelope says as the two give their kiss to the man about to enter Hypnos’s realm. “Soon, you will see the next morning sun.”

“… I wish I could believe that…” Odysseus muttered, yet despite his lack of hope he gives a small smile as his body slumps and his eyes close, “Good night…”

Athena blinks away the tears, finally noticing her body trembling. So…. That was why Odysseus suddenly became a demigod with his powers slithering around him.

“Several years…” She exhaled, her voice threatening to break, “He’s kept you trapped in an endless role… Such torture would take a heavy toll…”

“And that’s quite enough, little girl…” A voice echos from behind, plunging the goddess’s heart straight to Hyperborea. She swallows, not daring to turn around because she knows exactly who it was. Who had made the sands of her hourglass stop, who had started to shatter her realm slowly like it was nothing but glass. The titan who had tormented Odysseus, slowly poisoning him to be his champion…

“Kronos…” The titan hummed upon hearing his name, even when he’s not there physically, the goddess can sense her realm being destroyed with each step he took. He stopped, and Athena doesn’t need to turn around to see his smile, “You are quite impressive little girl, but I’m afraid you cannot dig deeper anymore. Soon my champion will slumber, and you will forget, and the cycle will continue again and again…”

The sound of a tug snapped across the area like a whip and Athena’s eyes widened in horror as she finally realised what he was doing. “NO—“

“Goodbye.”

The tapestry unravels, flames licking and following the interwoven yarn. Athena rushes forward to save whatever she could, but her spear and weapons rust upon her touch. She can’t forget, she cannot afford to let her friend suffer even more! It’s all decaying too fast... She must not forget, she has to do something! Her friend needs her! Odysseus needs her! She refused to bow down to time’s whims!

She refuse, she refuse, she refuse she refuse she REFUSE—

Sand drips down like heavy rain, a never ending cascade in the hourglass of her realm. Athena sits quietly as she weaves her newest tapestry in an effort to stop thinking about her former champion.

She was so focused on her goal, it took her standing up after completing her project to finally took note of the piece of cloth falling from her lap. Curious and confused, she picks it up, examining the burnt edges, hasty weaving, warp threads and decaying yarn. Strange, this seems to be her handiwork but she doesn’t remember having it on her lap. However, when she turns around to get a better picture of what it was, she found herself frozen in place.

Her former champion, the one she had been avoiding dwelling on stood in the center of the tapestry, arms above his head as multiple chains wrap around his body, and shackles rest tightly on his wrists and ankles. His expression was empty, something that shouldn’t- didn’t belong to a man such as he. Behind him depicts a figure of no appearance with the exception of a clock on it’s face. With one hand, it held Odysseus’s wrists, almost possessively while the other holds a sickle, the tip of it pointing directly at where his heart is. And at the bottom were simply two words unevenly weaved yet they conveyed their message clearly;

SAVE HIM

DIES.

OH MY FUCKING GOD I- OMG THYJYHHGHYUUUYTTHJIJHRFFHJUUYRRWEGJYYGGGHHJYYTGHGHHYHYYYJJYTRHTY I CANT EVEN COMPREHEND THESE SUBMISSIONS- 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I ADORE THIS HOLY SHIT THANK YOU SO MUCH 4 THIS 😭😭🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

AFGGRDFFGTDFD THERE’S SO MUCH TO UPACK FROM DIS SNIPPET(?) FUCKING HELL/affectionate HGEFASAA

#1: first off: loving the desc for Athena’s Realm mhmh the sand sounds so nice to just. Sit in hehe. Hjhhhhgg it’s so good seeing Athena worrying ‘bout Odysseus & comparing the last time they met to (the current at least) now :’) hyggggg + mentioning a bit about the Gods also worrying wth is going on hehehaha mhm trouble is stirring dear Deities >:). (Also, ‘Thena not even thinking Kronos’s name is sooo hhgggg yaaass shivery sets up how I view him hhah 😍 (yes, I am heavily influenced by how P.J.O set him up okay, I jst like the thought :3))

#2: HJIUTTRGFGRDFD/again affectionate, Athena being able to access Ody’s’ other Loop experiences bc of her time-connected Quick Thought power is SUCH a good idea FHYYGGHHHGFFF (I personally see it as her mother’s Titan blood showing te :>>), yas & OMG!?!?!??!!!!! THE SNAPSHOT OF A CORRUPTED ODY W/ POSEIDON AT HIS MERCY HTGFHJYGGGF KRONOS’S POWER STAINED ONTO HIS SKIN N DRIVING HIM TO FUCK POSEIDON’S SHIT don’tletthedirtythoughtswindontletthedirtythoughtswindontle-!????!??!!???!!!!!??!!!!??!?????!?! ODY JUST. GRABBING THE STUFF NEEDED TO TURN HIS MEN BACK TA’ PPL WHILE CIRCE SEES SOMETHINGS HORRIBLY WRONG!?!????????!!!?????!!!??!!!!!!!?!!!!? ODYSSEUS TRYNA’ GET SCYLLA TO GO W/ THEM N HAVING REMORSE 4 HER HJHHGBGGGGGGG I CANT OMG— HOLY SHIT AGAIN I LOVE THIS 😭😭😭😭😭😭— *hmh* anyway, about our Goddess of Wisdom being able to see som’a’ the Timeloops,,,,,,

-ougugff the kickstart to a lot of tragedy,,

-HAHAHAJYH the song that started this whole thread of Hoedysseus things & dis A.U hehe (never underestimate the mystic powers of Anniflamma’s drawings >:]]]])

-hoop- either Ody’ or Poseidon, but either way, a turning point for the previously mentioned ~tragedy~

-HELLO???????????? CONTEXT PLS (yes, Ody’ take their skin >:b)

-HAHAJJGAHA YES LET THE MANIC SLAUGHTER THOUGHTS OUT KING OF ITHACA HHAHAHA (again, yesssss, u nailed the ‘turning up the monstertm to. 16’ perfectly.)

-ohohouo- Ody’ is a lot of things, both inside n out, & unfortunately Mortal is,,,,, well- it’s still there, just. Tampered with. Quite a bit :3.

-yep, that happened quiet awhile ago suga’, keep up<3🫶

-*wince* and look where we are now…

-:()

-hehehaha oh, indeed, how can it??? What else matters in the ‘end’ you’ll always have another go even if you have to reset to it yourself :)

-*CLICKS TONGUE LIKE IVE CUT MYSELF* ooooh angsty angst lalalala how I love u 🫡🥰

#3: Bro,,,,, WHAT. THE. FUCK. -😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ODYSSEUS IN BED- GIVEN UP ANY & ALL OF HOPE OF BEING FREE & THEN- IHHGGGGGGG PENELOPE COMFORTING HIM, ASSURING HIM THAT IT WILL BE ALRIGHT, ZEUS BEING THERE ABSOLUTELY ADORING HIM ABDFDDDEESSSSSFGHNHJJUHHGGGGFGGGGGG SHOWING A SIDE NONE THOUGHT POSSIBLE 4 A MORTAL.!!!!!!!!! ATHENA GORL IM FEELIN’ THE SAME WAY OH MY FUCK ASHAAAAAAAAA😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

“It won’t matter, you’ll forget…”

*screams internally*

“Perhaps, but eventually I will succeed in saving you. We will succeed in saving you. So until then, wait little king.”

“Wait my heart” “Soon, you will see the next morning sun.”

“… I wish I could believe that…” “Good night…”

shit. Just. Shit Anon :”).

#4: aoooooww- Athena :( poor Athena. Ha, yeah, shits been rough lately thanks so a certain Someone haha,,,,,,,

IGSKFXWA— HELL YEAH, THERES THE MAN, THING, PORK CHOPPED-ASS HIMSELF‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

Kronos calling Athena ‘little girl’ is the most Elder Antagonist but Grandpa thing I have ever seen HTBFDDSFGGGG (in a universe where there was no ‘overthrowing Son of Zeus’ prophecy n Kronos became the Ruler of Elysium, I like to think that that would be his dated but sweet nickname 4 a little ‘Thena on the rare visits the Sky fam did :’j)

enuu anyway- HYGGG i love how u portray Kronos as calm, relaxed, still with an underline of malice but so soft sounding that it’s extremely unnerving. MMMM— YES HALF OUT IF IT WIELDER OF TIME ITSELF (i just thought of it as ‘fuck grandpa forget to take his meds again’, AND IM DYING HGJJH😭🫡)

oouuuu i love how His presence starts to shake n shatter Athena’s Realm hehahga it’s so intimidating hehe and then,,,,,

*cries* oh Athena poor thing augggg the horror of seeing n feeling the world restart around her and she can’t do ANYTHING about it AUGGGGBHHG— that part is so suspenseful in feeling & i love it amazing job >3<!!1!!111!1!!111!!!11111!

OUUUUUUUUU ATHENA SENDING HER MEMORY WIPED SELF A FRAGMENTED MESSAGE ‘BOUT WHAT IS GOING ON OH MY FFFFFFFFF AAAAAAAAAAAA YES & THE STORY STARTS ANEW‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

(btw SAID MESSAGE IS SO???????????? FUCKING COOL FBGGGGFGGGGFFFFGGF OHHHH KRONOS W/ NO SOILD FORM EXCEPT 4 SOME SHADOWED HANDS N A LITERAL CLOCK 4 BRAINS BNGGGGGHUJJHGHG YES THAT’S HOW HE LOOKS IN THIS A.U NOW CANOM!1!11111!!!!!11!1)

srs, I tried, but i still feel like i could of expressed how much i love this omg ty SO much 4 this ghggbggf & so early into the creation of this A.U,,,, ☺️☺️

Edit: IM SORRY IF IT FELT LIKE I TOOK TO LONG TO ANSWER I JUST LOSS A BIT OF MOTIVATION WHILE WRITING SAID ANSWER :”)

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