#feels-like-thunder

[dreamsandconstellations]

*Odysseus’ crew appear in The Underworld post-Thunder Bringer*

Hades: Weren’t you just here?

[gomzdrawfr]

one bed trope with Price and Ghost but instead of slow burn and lots of hesitation is just them beating the shit outta each other trying to get to the bed im talking Ghost yanking that old man by his ankles and Price shoving his palm into Ghost's face

they will begrudgingly stuff themselves into the one bed, cursing all the way until exhaustion finally knock them out

[kissmedevil]

WIPS of big daddy thunder-bringer! i hate him :)

[ochiody]

fun fact the arrow sfx in odysseus is the same one used in different beast. go wild make ur parallels

[tenoart]

Helios and his cattle

[sowhat17live]

THUNDER ERA SEUNGCHEOL IS INSANE WTF!!😭😭

[mischievous-thunder]

Oh, what a coincidence! 🤨🤨

[zephyrine-gale]

ZEPHYRINE IS A EPIC FAAN

SO what are your favorite songs in the sagas of epic???

luck runs out, puppeteer, wouldn't you like, thunder bringer, the challenge, wyfilwma! ramblings will be in the tags ajkdjg

my favorite character is hermes I love his silly horse laugh if i had to draw him rq he'd probably look like this in my style

[cassandra-silver]

*That* scene in Six Hundred Strike is not about vengeance, it's about vulnerability ... because the Vengeance saga isn't about vengeance

To think all of this started because I was trying to determine why it feels so natural to read intimacy into the torture scene in Six Hundred Strike ... See, I'm personally not someone who reads an angle like this into things easily, but this time I found myself doing it too. And I just needed to know why.

It just made no sense for a while, because if you look at it superficially, it shouldn't make sense; it's a freaking torture scene. But I don't know, somehow, I must have felt that there was something there ... and I think I figured it out.

See, the reason why it feels so natural to read intimacy into this scene is because ... it actually is incredibly intimate. Not in an actually sexual way, but more so in a, "Imagine you were suddenly able to read someone's mind, and they yours" kind of intimacy.

It's really easy to just assume Six Hundred Strike is literally about vengeance, but it isn't. Now, please stick with me for a bit because we are going on a bit of a tangent here, but I promise we'll get back to this eventually.

The tangent I want to explore first is (as you've probably seen in the title) that the whole Vengeance saga is, ironically, about the unnecessity of vengeance and how destructive grudges and resentment can be. Think about it:

In Not Sorry For Loving You, Odysseus lets Calypso rant and then walks away without confronting her or accusing her, even telling her what she wants to hear one last time. I already discussed why Odysseus is an incredibly non-judgmental, non-resentful person in my Monster essay, and here is another excellent example of that.

Charybdis (I'm skipping Dangerous because he doesn't encounter any enemies there) is the first "monster" enemy he leaves alive since Polyphemus (Scylla doesn't count because he still "kills" for the sake of getting past her, even if it's in the form of sacrificing his men.) While one might argue that he had no choice since Charybdis is virtually impossible to kill, I think placing this encounter here might be an intentional choice especially since it differs greatly from the way that Charybdis is in the Odyssey. There has to be reason behind this change.

In Get In The Water (my beloved 🫶) we are explicitly shown that Odysseus offers Poseidon (the god who killed his whole fleet and is responsible for most of his suffering) forgiveness. The reason Odysseus has to torture him in the first place is Poseidon's own refusal of this mercy—he's literally torturing Poseidon in order to make him finally release the grudge because he has proven that this is the only way to actually get through to him. It actually shows perfectly that Poseidon's own inability to release his resentment became his downfall in the end, disproving his own "ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves" motto as his own ruthlessness bit him in the a** this time, as I talked about in this post.

... And there is no resentment or vengeance in Six Hundred Strike either.

On one hand, it's easy to assume phrases like "For every comrade, every one of my friends, almost all of whom were slaughtered by your hand" or "How does it feel to be helpless? How does it feel to know pain?" indicate resentment, but ... not really.

We already know that Odysseus doesn't want vengeance, or he wouldn't have tried to lead from the heart one song earlier.

And then make yourself aware of something else: Not once during any of their encounters is Odysseus actually accusing or resenting Poseidon for anything.

"Almost all of whom were slaughtered by your hand" is an objective fact. It's just true. Someone vengeful may have said "I'll make you pay for all of those you slaughtered" or "All of their deaths are your fault" ... Odysseus just says, "for every comrade". He doesn't specify what he's doing for his comrades ... and it sure as hell isn't that he's (trying to) cause Poseidon pain or harm for them (which would be vengeance.)

For every comrade, he is fighting Poseidon, in order to finally reach his goal. For every comrade, he's doing everything that he has to do in order to get home, and in order to end this feud.

And then we get to the torture scene and it's ... actually so incredibly freaking intimate. Because it's not actually about vengeance, it's not about accusing Poseidon, or making him pay, or suffer more than necessary. If Odysseus were speaking from a genuine vengeance angle, he'd probably sound more like, "You killed my friends, now you pay for it. You did this to me and now it is your time to suffer." But he doesn't.

The torture scene in Six Hundred Strike is actually ... just another, much more extreme, repeat of Odysseus' lines from Get In The Water (my beloved 🫶): "Aren't you tired, Poseidon? It's been ten years, how long will this go? We're both hurting from losses, so why not leave this here and just go home?"

Odysseus tried saying it nicely ... now he's stabbing him with his own trident, hoping, practically begging, that he finally listens and accepts. Just lets them both go home.

And the thing is, this time, he isn't just saying "we're both hurting from losses" ... All you have to do is repeat to yourself Odysseus' entire monologue that he unleashes while he's stabbing him in a calmer, gentler tone and you'll see that what he is actually yelling out at Poseidon are all of the reasons why he is hurting. Sharing with him all of the pain that he probably hasn't shared with anyone ... ever.

"How does it feel to be helpless? How does it feel to know pain?" -> How does it feel to be vulnerable? I've felt vulnerable for so long without anyone to talk to or because no one truly understood me or what I'm going through.

"I watched my friends die in horror, crying as they were all slain. I heard their final moments, calling their captain in vain." -> This is why I am hurting. These are my losses.

"Look what you turned me into. Look what we've become." -> Look what I could be if I actually followed your lessons. Is this what you really want? Why can't you understand the harm that this is causing both of us?

"All of the pain that I've been through ... haven't I suffered enough?" -> Aren't you tired, Poseidon? It's been ten years, how long will this go? We're both hurting from losses, so why not leave this here and just go home?"

"You didn't stop when I begged you." -> I asked you to "Stop this, please" mere minutes ago. You didn't stop. That's why I'm doing this.

"(You) told me to close my heart. You said the world is dark. Didn't you say that ruthlessness is mercy?" -> I'm doing what you said you wanted me to do. Do you really want this? Do you really believe this? Can something like this really be mercy?

The first time I heard this, I firmly believed that Odysseus was actually crying during this part, and honestly, I believe that to this day. The canon visuals don't show us his face and I want to almost say that's intentional.

This whole scene is about vulnerability. Forced vulnerability, in a lot of ways, but raw, real vulnerability nonetheless.

This isn't just a torture scene; it's actually one of the most intimate scenes we've ever seen Odysseus share with anyone on screen. Seldom do we see him this honest in front of others (the vulnerable scene with Circe at the end of There Are Other Ways is the only other example I can think of.) Otherwise, all of his honest, raw songs are his solo songs (Monster, Just A Man, ...)

But here, Odysseus is essentially using the symbol of Poseidon's invulnerability—his trident—to force him into the most vulnerable position that he's probably been in centuries, if not ever ... and at the same time, he is being incredibly vulnerable himself. He's opening up to Poseidon in a kind of absolute way that we have actually never seen him open up to anyone.

... If that is not intimacy in its rawest, most painful, uncomfortable, and yet cathartic forms, I don't know what is.

As if that weren't sad enough... The saddest part about all of this is actually Poseidon's "Monster!" ... Because it tells us without a doubt that he is actually incapable of receiving or understanding those words from Get In The Water (my beloved 🫶). He is incapable of understanding vulnerability. All he can see is the "monstrous" act that accompanies it because that is something he knows and recognizes.

Although I believe, in the end, Odysseus did get through to him, and did get him to drop the grudge, I believe it happened on a kind of subconscious level rather than genuine acknowledgment or agreement. It's further proof of how Odysseus is capable of growth while Poseidon isn't (yet.)

Poseidon remains stuck in his ways, in his "ruthlessness" philosophy, because he isn't ready to acknowledge its flawed nature, essentially making it his own cage that prevents him from growing or moving forward. Meanwhile, Odysseus is walking away, walking ahead.

... Part of me almost wants to claim that he started begging Odysseus to stop so quickly not because of the physical pain, but because of his words. Because the vulnerability forced on him was hurting in a way that physical injuries, even from his own trident, never could. Because deep down, very deep down, he must've ... "felt" what Odysseus wanted him to understand and feel anyway.

Remember how I compared this type of intimacy to the sudden ability to read someone's mind before? I chose this analogy for a reason. What is intimacy if not using the very source of a god's invulnerability, essentially putting yourself into his divine shoes, doing what you know he would do to you ... in order to force him to connect to your mortal feelings and pains, even if he can still not truly understand them?

Here is where we see, for the first time, maybe ever, what even Odysseus and Athena couldn't do (yet), and the core reason why their partnership broke apart: a mortal and a divine genuinely understood each other's perspectives ... saw themselves in the other, even if only for a moment.

Given all that ... there is absolutely nothing I can say against kicking my feet and giggling excitedly over this scene.

[madbard]

While listening to Epic, I noticed an interesting pattern with how antagonists are portrayed, and how Odysseus’ interactions with them are coded.

In Epic, the monsters Odysseus faces are rarely fighting for their own sake. Polyphemus attacks Odysseus’ crew to avenge his sheep, and Poseidon destroys his ships as revenge for his son’s suffering. Similarly, Circe only threatens Odysseus to protect her nymphs. Odysseus does not kill any of these enemies, and while he is occasionally criticized for letting them go free, the overall implication is that he did the right thing by sparing them.

Then we hit the Thunder Saga, and Odysseus begins his arc as a ‘monster’ by killing the sirens. His actions here are brutal, and whether or not they are justified is, I think, up to the listener. However, it’s significant that the sirens are the first foes Odysseus faces on his journey who aren’t either defending or avenging what they love. They attack unprovoked, and while Odysseus’ method of execution is gory, he is never punished for it by other characters within the narrative. Apollo is the only one to protest, and even he is swayed easily when Athena says (among other things) that the sirens were “trying to do him worse.” The sirens attacked first, and while Odysseus’ response was ‘monstrous,’ his crew obeyed his commands and he was not challenged or ostracized for giving said commands. He is only treated as a monster when he yields to Scylla, who also attacked without provocation.

Thus, in Epic, the monsters fighting to protect or avenge their loved ones are protected by the very story - killing them may be more convenient, but it isn’t the answer. However, the monsters who attack without provocation, for their own amusement or satisfaction, do not receive such respect. Killing them is acceptable, and cooperating with them is monstrous.

By this logic, Odysseus is justified in his actions, however atrocious. He attacks to protect his family, and therefore deserves mercy.

The suitors, on the other hand…

[kindaorangey]

i've mentioned this before but louis and armand's relationship in paris after the trial is so hollow, and at the beginning of their story they had so much chemistry, so much respect for each other, they were having philosophical conversations and romantic walks, they had so much potential. and you can tell it's gone a bit wayward even before the trial, with how louis removes himself emotionally from their relationship, but the trial really yanks the rug out from under them and shows just how Nothing their bond has become.

and i think it's best exemplified by louis warning armand about his plans to burn the theatre and everyone in it. because i can't read that as anything other than, like, the internet joke about a school shooter warning the only person who was nice to him to stay home from school tomorrow. all that potential, all that loneliness, all that they tried at first to confide in each other and heal the heartbreak they both sustained from lestat, and by the end it's as if they're acquaintances, who only know each other just well enough for louis to refrain from killing armand alongside the rest of the coven.

[witha-boxofscraps]

Remember when we all agreed Yelena was aroace

[handweavers]

nothing puts me to sleep faster than a thunderstorm & tonight it's raining heavily and thundering with constant lightning in a way that reminds me of kl so i have my window open listening.. dreamy sigh

[betterthanbatman1]

A list of the Batfamily members and the kpop groups they’d stan, that no one asked for :3

Dick: BTS, BlackPink- self explanatory. He’s an oldie, he likes the classics, he was a casual listener and got really into them once they sent waves through the kpop industry. He has a secret stash of PCs. Edit: Steph wanted to get him into the newer generation of kpop and introduced him to P1Harmony. (Pretty Boy was basically written for him).

Jason: Xdinary Heroes, IU — I can’t see Jason as a kpop stan, but if I’d have to choose a group then it’ll be Xdinary Heroes. They’ve got the punk down which I think he’d like. Steph definitely got him into them, he didn’t search on his own. He listens to their music but doesn’t go collecting their albums for the inclusions. HOWEVER, this led to Jason looking for someone more to his tastes…IU— Jason found IU and loves her music, her soft voice and meaningful lyrics really touch his heart and being the emotional boy that he is, he’s now obsessed.

Tim: TXT, Enhypen, Zerobaseone, Itzy — TXT because they’re funny and silly and Tim just gives off txt vibes I can’t explain. Enhypen because he’s like their darker concepts. Zb1 because there’s no way they’re straight T_T. /hj Their music is so good and catchy, he’d really like it,..and their outfits are always top tier. Itzy because they’re big on empowerment and self love whilst also ranging to edgier and mature themes and styles all of which Tim would love. he could use some self love motivation.

Steph: Nct is her ult, then Seventeen, TXT, Enhypen, Nmixx, New Jeans, (G)I-dle — She is a MASSIVE kpop girlie. I could go on. She likes a lot of groups but she doesn’t just put on random songs, she knows who she likes and why, and she appreciates each member. She geeks (and screams) over PCs and unboxes albums with Dick, Duke, Cass and Tim. Steph’s stack of PCs are taller than her arm. She’s a quick learner and can learn the dance choreo to a song quickly, often doing it with Cass or one of the other batfamily members and putting on her social media. It ALWAYS gets reposted by the artist.

Cass: Nct Dream, Stray Kids, Red Velvet, Big Ocean— Steph introduced her to these groups hoping she’d like them and so far she does. Nct dream warms her heart and they’re very cool. Stray kids remind her that she’s not alone + amazing concepts. And Red velvet have lovely visuals. Big Ocean, Steph introduced to her when she was new to the manor and starting to communicate in sign language. She was drawn to Big Ocean’s music and felt a deep connection with the way they communicated their music through sign language. All of the groups dancing mesmerizes her, and she studies them closely.

Duke: &Team, BigBang, Lesserafim— &Team are cinnamon rolls just like Duke and they’re chaotic just like him too (Steph should introduce him to Seventeen for ultimate chaos). BigBang/ G-Dragon because his fashion sense is crazy and Duke is a fashion icon in my head so I think he’d get into BigBang’s music through G-dragons fashion. Lesserafim because they’re badass and I think Duke would like their music and they’re cutiepies.

Damian: BTS, BigBang— Damian is a little old fashioned, he likes the old stuff. He likes having another thing to talk about with Dick. He doesn’t collect albums or PCs but the others bought him an old album and he was very happy about it

Babs: Got7, Riize — A litttle more emo than the other groups. Got7 because its older gen. Riize because they have darker concepts that she’d really like with very cool and unique styles, ranging from pop to ballads, with angst too.

Bruce: PSY— Bruce is olddd, all he knows is “oppa Gangnam” and says “Of course I know Korean popular music!!” after Steph asks if he likes Kpop.

Alfred: Steph’s taste in music because it’s so loud through her headphones, Alfred can hear it anyway.

[risingsunfish]

lilina sweetie ily but you’re trippin

On Bluesky

[prince-of-ithaca]

Me when I found out the “friend” Athena had was my father

YOU AINT GETTING HER BACK SHES MY FRIEND AND REPLACEMENT PARENTAL FIGURE NOW BITCHHHH

(More of an explanation in the long af tags)