#me to patroclus: I Love You Sweet Boy

[logolepsy-babble]

I heard someone say this, so we’re sharing.

Rick Riordan loves his long standing romances to mirror Grecian romance myths.

Percy and Annabeth mirror Odysseus and Penelope, how they love each other and Percy was thrown onto the island of Ogyia with Calypso. Even through the wars, he fought for her. He fought Polyphemus. He could never forget Annabeth regardless of what was thrown at him.

Nico and Will mirror Orpheus and Eurydice. They both went to the underworld. Will could never leave without his Eurydice, Nico. He traveled the Underworld and turned around on the stairs to see Nico. He used song to open the stairs of Orpheus. He proved multiple times that he would not let himself live without Nico there. He was weaker than Nico, but he would fight for him. Their love had the approval of the Gods and Hades, in specific.

Honorable mention: Silena Beauregard and Clarisse La Rue. You CANNOT tell me they weren’t in love with each other in the good luck, babe/casual/I wish you were a boy sense. anyways. Achilles and Patroclus. Clarisse who despised most except Silena. Silena who was kind-natured and sweet but still could be strong. Clarisse who was relentless, cruel, strong, and a valiant fighter. Clarisse who boycott the war. Silena who wore Clarisse’s uniform to break the boycott. Clarisse who brutally k*lled others because the one she held most close to her heart died. Clarisse who loved her best friend, Silena.

[anniflamma]

have you read (or did you enjoy) madeline miller's song of achilles? your post about the shitty book made me think to ask, cause i've been wanting to get into retelling/modern writing, but don't know where to start lol

So I don’t think I’m the right person to ask whether you should read The Song of Achilles or not. XD

I have read the book… buuut… I kinda didn’t finish it. Thing is, the book is good, no, really! Even though I dropped it, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book per se, it’s just that I realized it wasn’t really written for me, and I lost interest in continuing.

There are a lot of good things in the book that I makes me genuinely recommend it. Miller has a fantastic way of describing emotions in a poetic, almost abstract manner. She paints scenes and moments beautifully, and I think that’s true the highlight of The Song of Achilles. So my verdict is you should give it a try! If not, then I'll could recommend you The Prince’s Psalm by Eric Shaw Quinn. Simply due to it's one of my favorites.

If you looking for something shorter, then Medusa by Jessie Burton.

Here’s the "nag section" (in case anyone’s curious why I dropped The Song of Achilles):

So the downside? The way Miller writes the queer relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is… very… very… heteronormative. It’s extremely clear that Patroclus is the "woman" and Achilles is the "man" in their dynamic. When they’re intimate, Achilles is the one doing and spurting, while Patroclus experiences "floral feelings" in his nether regions. The book isn’t explicit, but the text often accidentally describes them having straight sex. XD

There were so many moments while reading where I’d pause and think, "Oh, I can tell this is written by a straight woman who really likes the idea of a housewife." That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the vibe I got. For comparison, when I read The Prince’s Psalm by Eric Shaw Quinn, I kept thinking, "This is written by a gay man who really loves tall, broad-shouldered, masculine men who make him feel small." It’s oddly similar to each other, Patroclus and David share the same character traits. Both are small insecure men, it’s just that the authors take different approaches to how they depict it.

The reason I dropped The Song of Achilles was that I just wasn’t interested in Patroclus being portrayed as this sweet, insecure, self-hating boy who sits in the tent all day and gets happy when Achilles comes back after a hard earnd work in the battlefield. I expected something more fluid in their dynamic. Don’t get me wrong, insecure protagonists are fine! For example, in The Prince’s Psalm, David is insecure too, but he also resents being seen as fragile by other men around him. The book explores that tension in David and Jonathan’s relationship. David kills Goliath not out of honor or duty, but because he wants to prove Jonathan wrong, even spite him, he did it out of anger. David is insecure, which also makes him envious. He gets angry easily but also quick to forgive. He is an romantic person, who loves the idea of Jonathan proposing to him and being swept up but he also wants to be seen as a "manly" man. He is faithful but when he have the conversation with Jonathan about their bounderies, they come to the conclution together who they can sleep with, no men and only women if you are married to them. David changes and the irony with it is that his change is also a cause why Jonathan died.

For Patroclus, I think he is very flat. He is incesure and he is a good boy. And sadly I really don't remember if there was anything else than that. Most of his reaction is based on Achilles actions. The reason why he is good with fighting is cuz gods are helping him. The reason why Achilles like Patroclus so much is... I don't know really, the text only describes how pretty Achilles is, it very superficial. Patroclus likes Achilles becasue Achilles isnt Patroclus.

Here’s the funny thing…

After all that, I still recommend The Song of Achilles! There's a reason why there are so many retelling books now. I genuinely believe The Prince's Psalm wouldn't have been published if The Song of Achilles hadn't existed. The book is a romanticization, and it was written around 2008 or so. That explains why Miller wrote them like that. I see the heteronormative dynamic between Achilles and Patroclus as simply a product of its time.

[themuseinthewoods]

Headcanons for the men of Troy (2004) falling in love with a princess

Ok, so @nymphfever I didn't feel like I could properly flesh out the priestess idea just yet so here's one with princess instead! Ty for trying, it's very much appreciated.

F!reader who is a princess. Scenarios/headcanons I guess?

Curse words are the only warning, and I was half asleep when I wrote this.

As always, my Troy 2004 work is loosely based on the Iliad as well because I'm a huge nerd lol.

Enjoy!

Achilles this gif kills me

Oh boy

okay, so let's say you are Nestor's daughter because I actually really love the guy in the Iliad and Odyssey

You take after your dad

Lets say your a bit rough-n-tumble, being raised by a dad and all brothers does that my friend with all boys in her house told me those lol

Nestor is canonically a very smart, wise, kind, old king. You probably remind him of youth and joy he keeps you at his side so he can remind himself that everything he does shall effect your future and the future of every young person in his kingdom

So, how is Achilles gonna get near this beloved daughter?

....

Idk what your expecting, he fucking asks

He's a flirt, but

He also has to get married doesn't he? And what better then marrying a princess

A very beautiful princess who isn't afraid to give him an ego check every once in a while

Will call you by your title, even if you ask him not to

Loves that you can manage the political side with him, he'll sit by you and look threatening and you will handle it

good cop/bad cop anyone?

good god he's so in love dress pretty to party's with the spoils of war he brings back for you? he will dance with you all night if you wish

Patroclus (ik I use this gif alot but there aren't many of him)

Oh this sweet angel

Undecided who your parent is for now

He falls quickly, dreaming that someday he shall be your hero and you his beautiful princess.

but wow, you love him back?

isn't the luckiest?

does his level best to make it the perfect fairytale romance for you

Even if you don't want to be treated like a princess, he'll treat you like one anyway

sorry, I don't really have anything else for this boy

Hector he so beautiful, I'm so lonely he's my type

ok, so even though its kinda expected that he should marry another royal or someone in a high station of life but just because others expect him to doesn't mean he does

Hector, especially in this movie, seems pretty humble.

And a beautiful princess who is looking to him to be her handsome Prince finds that prince in him.

You see that gif? that's how he looks at you! <3<3<3 (I personally would faint of this man even looked at me that way)

He's so happy because you'll understand his duties, and you can support each other

he will do his best to help you with yours and if you help him with his own responsibility's? his heart may melt

he's so happy that he can give you the life you were used to, if not a better one, even if you aren't the kind of person who likes that

god I'm so single

Paris

believes he's the luckiest man in the world

i mean, he's not wrong

another sweet lad to try and give you your fairy tale romance

he's so poetic in the movie

call him your sweet prince

do it

he will actually swoon

the sweetest prince who could have fallen for a princess like you

cannot believe your in love with him

Odyessus

i mean

he's a king, so it's kinda like, expected?

at the same time, he's still very happy

you can understand his station and his duties as king and he can bring you up to the station of queen

honestly, I'd highly recommend falling in love with him

he'll call you his princess and then later his queen

finds joy in the simple things as we know but will give you anything your taste desires

loves it if you dress up for him

[tinycoffeeroom]

podcast crush | arthur hill

face claim: steph bohrer ♡

request: here !

requested: Hey just wondering if you could maybe write something like either Arthur’s girlfriend or crush goes on the podcast and it’s just like cute fluff or Arthur’s girlfriend supporting him at Leeds festival and like calming him down hahah no worries if not x

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

👤 max_balegde liked by max_baledge, arthurnfhill and 79,038 others

y/nstagram on a date, do you think he's nervous?

andrew_spanndy rue, when was this ↳ y/nstagram andrew, baby, you weren't supposed to find out like this... ↳ max_balegde can you blame me? look at her xx ↳ andrew_spanndy i'm just mad i wasn't invited 😞 ↳ y/nstagram next time it's just you and me babygirl 💗 ♥️ andrew_spanndy

arthurnfhill i would do the same thing ↳ y/nstagram awww you flatter me xx ↳ fan my parents who don't know they're my parents and aren't together but should be

fan y/n is so gorgeous please i am on my KNEES

fan not arthur flirting in her comments AGAIN can y'all just kiss or smth

arthurtv what did you say to make him do that? 😭 ↳ y/nstagram wdym i just looked hot and it happened ↳ arthurtv humble as always y/n ↳ y/nstagram ok mr "posts topless selfies to distract from his lack of rizz" ↳ fan gagged a lil ↳ arthurtv :((((((( ↳ y/nstagram i'm sorry pooks, you know ily xx

georgeclarkeey so... getting you on the pod when? ↳ y/nstagram you couldn't afford my fee x ↳ max_balegde your fees a redbull and a blue razz vape ↳ y/nstagram unprovoked??? ↳ max_balegde THE LAST PICTURE SAYS OTHERWISE???

mummysboypod we could afford your fee y/n (heart) ↳ y/nstagram i'd do it for free for lisa xx ↳ lisahull_hill y/n my lovely girl ❤️ ↳ y/nstagram absolutely adore you ❤️ ↳ arthurnfhill can't believe my mum loves y/n more than me ↳ fan 🤨 ↳ arthurnfhill more than she loves me* oops ↳ fan ur not slick arthur.

👤 arthurnfhill liked by mummysboypod, arthurnfhill and 80,829 others

y/nstagram charitably graced his podcast and he thanks me by mocking my poses 🙄

fan EP OUT WHEN??? ↳ y/nstagram mummysboypod? ↳ mummysboypod next week! :)

fan WHERE IS LISA???? ↳ y/nstagram the lisa pics are for me and me only ↳ lisahull_hill silly girl, we all know the real reason why i'm not on here! ↳ fan LISA SPILL PLEASE ↳ lisahull_hill you'll have to wait for next weeks podcast! :P

arthurnfhill maybe i just thought it was a snazzy pose ↳ y/nstagram hmm ofc you did 🙄 ↳ arthurnfhill full of attitude today aren't you 🤨 ↳ y/nstagram who me? 😇

fan MUMMYS BOY POD WITH Y/N I DREAMED OF DAYS LIKE THIS

fan i need y/n biblically ♥️ arthurnfhill ↳ fan like i said before ur not slick arthurnfhill

bachandarthur us next? 🥺 ↳ y/nstagram anything for my pookies 🫶 ↳ arthurtv don't bother

MUMMYS BOY PODCAST WITH Y/N L/N TRANSCRIPT EXCERPT

LISA: So, my sweet Y/N, how have you been? Y/N: I've been good! My youtube and tiktok have been taking off so it's been a bit hectic! LISA: Oh yes, I forgot you did the tikkytokky thing like Arthur. [ARTHUR AND Y/N LAUGH AT LISA SOFTLY] Y/N: Yes, I do the tikkytokky thing. It took a while to find my niche but I think I've finally found my place on there. LISA: I asked Arthur to help me set up an account so I could follow you. I love seeing your, oh, what are they called, Arthur? ARTHUR: Get ready with me's? LISA: Yes, that. You're always so happy, it makes me want to just... [LISA REACHES ACROSS TO PINCH Y/N'S CHEEK] ARTHUR: Mum, please unhand our guest. LISA: [LAUGHS] Y/N doesn't mind, do you sweetie? Y/N: Of course not! If it was Arthur on the other hand... ARTHUR: Ah yes, it's bully Arthur hour again. [LISA AND Y/N LAUGH] Y/N: What else are we supposed to do?

--

LISA: Oh, sweetie, before I forget, I still have the book you leant me last week! Y/N: The Song of Achilles? How did you find it? ARTHUR: I got a phone call of her crying her eyes out, you wicked woman. I thought something bad had happened! Y/N: Something bad did happen! They kept Achilles and Patroclus apart for so long... LISA: Oh, don't! You'll set me off again! I'm too scared to ask you for another recommendation! Y/N: [LAUGHS] I promise the next one won't be so sad! I just finished Romancing Mr Bridgerton which I think you'll really like! You've read the first Bridgerton book, haven't you? LISA: Oh yes, I loved it! Which sibling is the one you just finished? Y/N: It's Colin and Penelope! LISA: Their season is coming out soon, isn't it? Are you still coming round to watch it? Y/N: Where else would I be?! I've already planned the drinks and snacks for our Bridgerton marathon! ARTHUR: Can we not recommend regency porn to my mother in front of me? Y/N: And how do you know it's regency porn, Mr Hill? You told me you hadn't watched it. LISA: He wanted to know more about it since he knows you love it so much. ARTHUR: Mum! [LISA AND Y/N LAUGH AS ARTHUR LOOKS SCANDALISED] LISA: Oh, sorry, was I not supposed to say that? Y/N: How sweet of you Arthur, maybe you should come watch the new season with me and Lisa? ARTHUR: I refuse to watch the carriage scene in the company of my mother. [Y/N SQUEALS WHILST LISA BATS HER ARM] Y/N: So you've read the books? [SILENCE] ARTHUR: Ok, maybe I did...

--

LISA: You know, Y/N, you're such a lovely girl. Beautiful face, amazing personality and limitless prospects, how are you still single? Surely the guys must be beating down your door. Y/N: Thank you for that stellar review Lisa [LAUGHS]. Honestly, I'm quite happy with what I have at the moment! My careers taking off, I'm doing things I could only dream of and visiting places that are all over my pinterest boards. i'm not exactly looking for a relationship, but if one came along I wouldn't be opposed to seeing where things go! ARTHUR: Mum - LISA: [SHUSHES ARTHUR] so if you were looking for someone, what do you look for? Y/N: Why? Do you have someone in mind for me? [LAUGHS] [LISA SHRUGS] Y/N: Well I guess, if I had to choose, I'd love someone family oriented. I love my family more than anything on this earth so it would be nice to find someone who has the same ideals as me. Someone kind, of course, warm and funny. Someone with hobbies and passions we share but also separate ones so we can have our independence. The appearance really doesn't matter to me, I'm more someone who leans into personality. But, I mean, if they were smoking hot, it wouldn't hurt! [LAUGHS] LISA: And your hobbies are...? Y/N: Why do I feel like I'm on take me out or something? [LAUGHS] I like music and craft... Hiking is fun sometimes! I have to include reading as well!. [LAUGHS] I also like visiting museums and art galleries. And, of course, makeup! LISA: Arthur likes art galleries too, he took me to the Tate Modern the other week to show me the new exhibit! Y/N: [SHOCKED EXPRESSION] without me? Arthur, how could you? ARTHUR: Oh, so now I can speak? Also, you said you were busy! LISA: You also like hiking, don't you Arthur? I remember all the selfies you sent me when you were in LA. ARTHUR: I do... where is this going, Mum? Y/N: Yeah, where is this going Lisa? [LAUGHS] LISA: [SHRUGS] Nowhere, was just making some observations.

--

liked by lisahull_hill, arthurnfhill and 89,028 others

y/nstagram bridgerton s3 pt 1 watch party with MOTHER ❤️ (lisa makes the best snack tables, i'm moving in immediately)

lisahull_hill there's always a bedroom here for you sweet y/nnie ❤️ ↳ y/nstagram lisa i'll cry right now, i love you 🥹

arthurnfhill that was the most awkward 4 episodes of my life ↳ y/nstagram i am so sorry (not) for laughing at your expression in ep 4 ↳ fan Y/N HOW DID HE REACT TO THE CARRIAGE SCENE ↳ y/nstagram he got up and walked out the room, we had to stop the show we were Howling ↳ arthurnfhill i will never forgive you for this ↳ lisahull_hill it's just a bit of sex arthur, grow up 😆

fan lisa loves her daughter (in law) ♥️ lisahull_hill, y/nstagram ↳ fan ur delusional (i believe you) ↳ fan real! ↳ fan i love her daughter (in law) too

fan y/n i NEED to know where that corset is from!!!! ↳ y/nstagram i got it from amazon, one sec i'll dm you the link 💓 ↳ fan everyone's favourite girl's girl

👤 lisahull_hill liked by y/nstagram, lisahull_hill and 139,028 others

arthurnfhill absolutely no reason why i'm uploading this specific set of pics :)

arthurtv bro is smoking hot

georgeclarkeey absolutely fuckin smoking babes

chrismd phwoar did it just get hot in here or is it me

italianbach who's this hottie over here? one could say he is smokin'

fan the gang hyping arthur up im SCREAMING

fan not him shooting his shot over ig... just message her my guy

fan museums ✅ family oriented ✅ music ✅ reading ✅ y/n please put him out of his misery

fan he wants y/n so bad but jokes on him so do we

fan y/nstagram please come get your man... ↳ fan y/nstagram ↳ fan y/nstagram ↳ fan y/nstagram ↳ fan y/nstagram ↳ fan y/nstagram please it's painful at this point ↳ fan y/nstagram

y/nstagram ??? wait you like me??? ↳ fan come the fuck on y/n he's fancied you for MONTHS ↳ y/nstagram ???!!!!!! i did not know????? ↳ arthurnfhill my mum has literally been trying to get us together for ages ↳ fan put him out of his misery PLEASE ↳ y/nstagram lisahull_hill ???!!!! elaborate lisa??? ↳ lisahull_hill oh he likes you a lot, i do too, that instagram user wasn't wrong when they said i love my daughter (in law)

y/nstagram come over right now. ↳ arthurnfhill 🫡🫡 ↳ fan WE WANT TO KNOW TOO???? Y/N SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE????

👤 arthurnfhill liked by arthurnfhill, lisahull_hill and 92,820 others

y/nstagram smoking hot ✅ funny ✅ family oriented ✅ likes music and crafts (he made the tshirt and mug) ✅ kind and warm ✅ perfect boyfriend material if you ask me

fan OHHHH HOW I PRAYED FOR DAYS LIKE THIS

georgeclarkeey idk about funny? ↳ y/nstagram ur just salty i took ur man ↳ georgeclarkeey he may be your boyfriend but it's MY bed he comes home to xx

arthurtv HE'S ONLY GONE AND DONE IT LADS!!!!! ♥️ arthurnfhill, y/nstagram

chrismd maybe now he'll shut the fuck up about how pretty you are ↳ arthurnfhill jokes on you i'm about to double down ↳ chrismd i need to move out so bad

arthurnfhill the penelope to my colin 💚 ↳ y/nstagram come back rn i need to kiss you

fan he's pulled off the heist of the century!!!! ♥️ arthurnfhill

fan my gf's not my gf anymore :(

lisahull_hill my sleuthing works wonders! ↳ y/nstagram love you lisa ❤️ ↳ lisahull_hill arthur was right, i do love you more than him ↳ arthurnfhill MUM??? (understandable)

[thathellenicpolytheist]

You may have talked about this before, but what is your opinion on giving the gods alcohol as offerings? Personally, I like to give Aphrodite strawberry wine in a small glass, but I wanted to know your thoughts on the matter bc you seem quite educated in a lot of the history. Is there a reason that you specifically should or should not? Do you offer the gods alcohol? If so, what is your favorite thing to give each god?

hi this is a great question thank you so much for giving me the chance to talk about it!!!

i love wine offerings! if we are too understand wine offerings however we should look at the culture of how wine existed in the classical world.

wine was a very central part of diet in the classical world, it was drank daily and with most meals, but this is in part because the wine is not quite the wine we think of today. it was diluted wine. the reason for this is unmixed wine was mostly considered too strong on its own but by mixing with water they had better control over just how strong that wine would be and you could mellow out the taste.

we also know that in the classical world wine was given as gifts and offered to guests and friends. as evidenced in Homers epics.

“Maron the son of Euanthes, who lived inside the shady grove on Ismarus. In reverence to the god, I came to help him, and save his wife and son. He gave me gifts: a silver bowl and seven pounds of gold, well wrought, and siphoned off some sweet strong wine,” - Homer, the Odyssey, IX. 199 - 205, translated by Emily Wilson. 2023. W. W. Norton & Company

With this, Achilles led them in and sat them on chairs with crimson throws and told Patroclus, who was beside him, “Get a bigger bowl, son of Menoetius. Mix some stronger wine, and get them all some food. My dearest friends have come into my home.” - Homer, the Iliad, IX. 256 - 260, translated by Emily Wilson. 2023. W. W. Norton & Company

so it would make sense that if we are looking at offerings as something similar to what you would gift an esteemed guest (as my lovely mutual @xenia-and-wine has mentioned before.) that wine would make for a good offering.

as i said i really do love wine offerings and i think they are great if you have the means to do so and we have an abundance of evidence showing us that alcohol was being used in these religious contexts within antiquity.

“So stay a while and let me get you wine sweetened with honey. First, pour out libations for all the gods, especially father Zeus, and after that, you need to have a drink. Wine can restore a man who is exhausted,” - Homer, the Iliad, VI. 245 - 349, translated by Emily Wilson. 2023. W. W. Norton & Company

“Now guest, give prayers of thanks to Lord Poseidon, and pour libations for the god. This feast is in his honor; pay him proper dues. Then give the boy the cup of honeyed wine, so he can offer to the deathless gods libations. Everybody needs the gods.” - Homer, the Iliad, III. 42 - 47, translated by Emily Wilson. 2023. W. W. Norton & Company

“Each time the singer paused, Odysseus wiped tears, drew down the cloak and poured a splash of wine out of his goblet, for the gods.” - Homer, the Odyssey, VIII. 88 - 90, translated by Emily Wilson. 2023. W. W. Norton & Company

so as a reconstructionist making wine offerings and libations is something i like to do when i have the funds and ability to do so!

as for your question about what kind of wine i give to the Theoi, i tend to use my own favourite wines (i’m very partial to a nice rioja) and this is for the same reason as why if i was to cook for friends or guests i would make them my best meal and give them my favourite drink, i am offering them the best thing i have. but it is kind of up to each individual what type of wine they would like to use.

i mix my wine with water and then either pour it onto the ground from a vessel or onto flames, sometimes i will pour diluted wine into a glass or cup and put it on my altar overnight and discard it again either onto the ground or into flames the following day. my libations are made in combination with prayers to the Theoi.

[johaerys-writes]

Hello! May I ask a WIP Wednesday, only if you're okay? Thank you so much for all your wonderful fics!

Hello!! I've been steadily working (plodding along lmao) on the western AU, here's a tiny snippet of Achilles being a silly menace:

After finishing his lunch, Patroclus leans back against the birch tree trunk and pulls a small book out of his pocket; the same book he was reading the day before, and the day before that. He is soon engrossed in it, and back to ignoring Achilles thoroughly.

"What are you reading?" Achilles asks, sitting up. He tries to make out what the book is about, but he’s too far away.

"A book."

"I can see that. What kind of book?"

Patroclus chews idly on the long stem of wild wheat dangling from his lips. He never once takes his eyes off the page as he turns it. "The reading kind."

“You don't say,” Achilles mutters, seething in frustration. Patroclus must think himself quite clever, and Achilles quite the dolt, if he thought for a minute that he would be placated by this answer. He wants to grab that insolent boy by the shoulders and shake him, to push and poke and prod him until he finally looks at him.

Before he can stop himself, he's already shot up and snatched the book from Patroclus' hands.

"Hey!"

"Assorted poems," Achilles reads off the cover of the book when he flips it over. "Huh. Didn't pin you as the poetry type."

Patroclus visibly bristles, his shoulders and neck tensing, and gives him a hard, from-under stare. He pushes himself up to his feet, but Achilles is faster; he dashes away and climbs up the next tree, quick and agile like a cat.

"Give it back here," Patroclus demands sharply, but Achilles is already perched on his tree branch, out of Patroclus’ reach, and biting into his piece of honey pie as he examines the book at his leisure. It is small and sturdy, and seems to have been well loved. The pages are tinged yellow, and the leather is scuffed at the corners but it’s in relatively good shape, considering Patroclus has probably been carrying it around in his pocket for God knows how long.

"Let’s see, let's see…" Achilles muses loudly. The cake fills his mouth with sweet, gooey syrup as he peruses the small book’s contents, but nothing tastes as sweet as disturbing Patroclus’ peace. "What does Patroclus No-Name like to read? Bet it's something very clever and profound. Bet it’s some big secret no one's allowed to know." He finishes off his pie and licks his fingers clean as Patroclus continues to glare at him from below.

“Shall I read us something from it?” he asks pleasantly. It thrills him beyond measure, the way Patroclus’ eyes flick from his face to his fingers, still sticky with syrup, that are touching the pages of his precious book. “It would be just the thing to pass the time, don’t you think? I’ll read your favourite poem, if you tell me which one it is.”

The only answer Patroclus gives him is a long, hard, dark look.

“Fine, then, I’ll choose one myself!” Achilles declares, and flicks a page at random.

[ask-modern-patrochilles]

out of context where are you? :(

[ Hi! 👋🏼 I didn’t plan on taking another break but it sort of just happened for multiple reasons. I’ll be putting it under the read more tab because boy it’s a Lot ]

[ First off, there’s been a lot of hate going on in the fandom tags, and while I usually just block and go about my day, it’s really exhausting to see so many people hatefully criticizing something you love especially the way you interpret these characters (how they look, how they dress, body type, etc.). It’s made me feel very unwelcome in this space because I’ve seen so many people complaining about how they can’t stand ‘certain interpretations’ of these characters which is almost exactly how I draw and write about them. Every time I go to draw them, I just feel bad and it sucks so much because I still love them!

Second, the racism and elitism which I think speaks for itself. As a person of color (I am Puerto Rican), seeing racism consistently happening in classic fandom spaces is exhausting. My version of Patroclus is Black (with a mixed background), and it’s infuriating and so discouraging and disgusting to see so many people say that Greek mythology characters can’t be Black, despite the historical evidence that says otherwise. The rampant racism, and people making excuses for it, has been very hurtful and discouraging me from creating as well.

Lastly, and less related, I’ve been having a lot going on irl, my cat’s been hospitalized for a week and in process of recovering so I haven’t really had the time to draw these past two weeks even if I felt I up to it.

I’ll probably be back soon, I do have some big plans for this blog! And like I said, I still love tsoa, I love these characters and I’m still writing my fics over on ao3. However, I can’t lie, I’ve been feeling very discouraged from engaging in fandom because of the reasons above. It’s exhausting to see these things, and to post something you worked hard on only to see people being racist and hateful towards it in the end.

But I want to be very clear, there are still so many nice people in this fandom and I am very grateful to those who support my work and are very sweet with their comments in general.

So I hope this little break helps me get that passion for creating back, until then thanks for sticking around! I hope to update again very soon! In the mean time, you are more than welcome to send asks, I might answer a few with text responses if that’s okay with you guys 😊❤️ ]

[streets-in-paradise]

Actually, some uses of repetition on the Troy (2004) script regarding the familiar relation aren't useless, or just there to "no homo" Achilles and Patroclus.

Best example is this one :

"Odysseus: Even if your cousin doesn't come, I hope you'll join us, Patroclus. We could use a strong arm like yours.

Achilles: Play your tricks on me, but not on my cousin. "

Odysseus is trying to persuade Patroclus because he guessed Achilles would do as he wants if he convinces the boy. For this, the discursive use is very clever.

He sees already that Patroclus has his head full of epic tales and craves so badly to live his own adventure. The lad wants to follow the footsteps of his teacher, making a name for himself. Noticing he is used to be " the cousin of Achilles", Odysseus sweet talks him doing an inversion of this logic where he remains at the shadow. He could have said " Even if Achilles doesn't come", but instead cleverly chose to adress the famous hero as " your cousin". The cousin of Patroclus, sentence where Achilles is the relative behind the name.

Again, feeding the crave for glory of the young boy.

The reply of Achilles reestablishes the order in the dynamic while warning the king of ithaca that he is crossing dangerous territory. " Play your tricks on me, but not on my cousin " implies once more that he is the name of the duo. In this case not out of protagonism seeking, but protectiveness.

Phrasing has a purposefull meaning, the intentionality shows things about the characters. There are a few other moments where the placing of "cousin" says more than what people want to read, but I will get in another topic.

One can also argue the script keeps a similar insistence in pointing out Hector and Paris are brothers. The repetition is as constant as in the case of Achilles and Patroclus, yet it never gets scrutinized (for obvious reasons).

Countless examples show this, so I'll list only a few:

" Paris: Do you love me, brother? Would you protect me against any enemy?"

" Paris: I have no trouble sleeping on the seas, brother. Athena sings lullabies to me. "

" Hector * grabbing Paris' face* : Paris, you are my brother and i love you, but if you do anything to endanger Troy I will rip your pretty face from your pretty skull. "

" Achilles *to Hector, about the widows in Troy*: Perhaps your brother can comfort them. I heard he is good at charming other men's wives. "

And perhaps the most important

" Menelaus*threatening a trembling Paris who is embracing his brother's knees*: Stand back, Prince Hector! I will kill him at your feet, I don't care!

Hector: He is my brother."

Because it creates a devastating contrast with this

"They were cousins " and " they were brothers" work as parallels, fixation on remarking it goes both ways and it serves the story.

[gemsofthegalaxy]

hm. i do wonder why, it doesn't bother me that they removed the cheating from The Odyssey in Epic The Musical but it does somehow bother me that Achilles can't have sexual relationships outside of Patroclus in The Song of Achilles

part of me wonders if it's because, Achilles is basically bisexual if you take him for being in love with Patroclus in The Iliad. He specifically got him and Patroclus two women (from lesbos, even, lol.) and sleep all four of them in a bed which, having to heavily ignore the "acquired" the two women part, is kind of sweet and quaint and cutesy poly.

and. well. Epic The Musical leaves in the power imbalance that was present in The Odyssey. I wrote about it earlier today, while I do understand how it's kinda questionable what happened between Odysseus and Circe/Calypso, I doubt that the audience is meant to think he was completely unwilling- but he was told by Hermes he better not reject Circe's advances and he's completely done with Calypso's shit, nonetheless, and both Circe and Calypso come onto Ody strongly in the musical and the big change here is that he firmly rejects them and they respect it

but in The Song of Achilles, it's flipped on its head. Achilles was a man still had power over Deidameia and he was the one who raped her, but now the opposite is true. and, yes, men and boys absolutely can be raped and perhaps there is a tiny glimmer of a positive element is that at least this story depicts this fact to a modern audience in a way the Odyssey doesn't seem to and there is some value in that, but it still generally does not sit well with me.

And- having Thetis literally enact her OWN traumatic story onto her son is lowkey kind of diabolical to me? In The Iliad it was so so clear that Thetis loved her son deeply, I'm not sure about the other myths concerning Achilles, but in that story she cared for him. Thetis was forced to be married to and raped by her husband and she still loved the resulting child. WHY would she literally orchestrate the same thing to happen with Achilles and Deidameia? Sure, I'm not finished this new story yet, but I can't really see the purpose it serves other than making it more digestiblely monogamous and kinda woobifying Achilles who was, by most accounts I've read, kind of a dickhead most of the time.

[cowboy-heart]

'ode to my heel' - an achilles and patroclus poem :)

(ID in read more)

[Images ID:

a poem titled 'ode to my heel':

fated to die a body dipped in metal but for my heel the fall of a hero punctured the only place I could feel.

but they ignore my true downfall, a bone-aching sickness, the loss of my heart, my soul, the death of my darling Patroclus.

I did not wish to go to war, but they didn’t want me to go more, into women’s clothes I was tied the past that I had tried to hide. but they knew I was a fraud my hand shaped to hold a sword just as when I was a child, expected to be mild, my dress hung too tight my soles too muddy they knew it at first sight, they knew I was not a she but that I was Achilles.

despite my conscription I could make my peace but you, sweet boy, insisted on accompanying me to Troy.

the arms I once kissed now being used to end a life back to back brother to brother heel to heel I only wished to end this fight to no longer to have to conceal and love each other with all our might.

the heel, the heel, oh the heel you, my knight, were it all along. when you fell I knew not who I was I seeked to bring the world to ruin in all my grief and wrongdoing desecrate all that was holy dragging your killer’s body round and round your tomb to show the only ring I was permitted to bestow – hoping pleading begging by some divine light the gods would see my plight, and bring you back to me.

but back you were not brought. killer’s father laid lips to my hands and my heart yearned for yours once more. dead man walking your hands were mine, my breath came from your lungs, they told me I would die, but I already had.

Dante cast me into the inferno punished for being driven by wicked lust but I ask you how am I different to any artist: overcome with painting curves and angles upon the urns depicting great beauty – they are revered. but I, whose brush is my tongue whose canvas is your sternum am banished to suffer an impure love.

when paris’ arrow found my foot to rest my heart was put. in death my ashes mix with yours body and soul together once more.

our reunion may not be noted in pen battles and victory written but when our bodies became one together unrecognisable to the ones we once had that was the true end to my iliad.

End images ID]

[tinybirdsupporter]

Journal entry from January:

Same shit, different day.

God, I wish I was a boy. Yeah, I got the penis envy well enough. Yeah, I wish I was muscular all around, like some guys tend to be. Yeah, I wish guys would see me as a guy. Yeah, whatever.

I attended a [CENSORED] hockey game tonight. My father's school friends were there— I think when he says "daughter", they expect a "girl"— not exactly whatever the fuck I am.

I see the cheerleaders, first— all young blondes in cleavage-cropped tops— they are there just to be looked at. They barely cheer— just some vague arm gestures to the newest Olivia Rodrigo song— cheering is not the point of them anymore. They are to be pleasing, to be looked at. To be so feminine, you harmoniously succeed at the task of being a woman.

I see the boys, second— the hockey players, the fast, highly able boys — they're meant to be looked at, too, but only by merit of their skill. Only by the jerseys on their backs, & how fast they strip the puck from one another. To be so skilled that people value you for that in itself. To be so domineering in competition, that you've made it here— to Princeton, to Quinnipiac— to D1, to a contract, to a spectacle on the big screen. To be so able— to be so masculine.

& I sit there, an odd duck out. I remember how I loved to play ice hockey. I remember how good it felt to be good at it. I wonder why God did not make me a boy— it would've been so easy to keep up.

& I think about how boys love each other. I think about being on an ice hockey team— 15 boys, sweating, turned on and ready to go. I think of how divine it would be, to be a pretty boy surrounded by other pretty boys. I think of how they smack their heads together— I think of the unexpected closeness had when the person next to you scores a goal— when both of you have nothing else to do but swing into each other, invading breaths and tossing arms around in celebration. To be a boy, able to invade a boy's space.

To not be a girl— to not be treated with difference or fragility. To be a boy— where you both freely, languidely wrestle with each other— to be evenly matched, to feel the tension of competition surging within you. To feel that animal inside of you dominate, just for a split second. To transmute that beast into tension, into connection, into action.

& I sit here wondering why this is not me. Perhaps it would all be too simple— no grievances are afforded to this class of person in America— and where there is no struggle, there is no depth. Perhaps this was all masterfully orchestrated, to become me.

To be Achilles as well as Patroclus. To be wholly, divinely even.

That's the thing though! We've enscribed these preconceived notions of our gender onto ourselves, and onto our bodies; men have the privilege of being the "normal" body, & so their internal connections and their external actions are not scrutinized in the way that women, or the woman-adjacent person is. A man has a penis, and if you don't have it, you're not quite a man. Whatever you are, you have a vagina! A weaker body; tits for the looking; butt for the grabbing. When men have tits, they don't have tits. When a boy touches a boy, it is acceptable. When whatever I am does anything, I am immediately evaluated in phenotype to be determined as a vagina-haver; a woman-adjacent; a "whatever," with a vagina; a "whatever" that is at least, certainly not an actual man.

& so all my interactions are contextualized as such. & so my life is determined by that which none of us can adequately control, that actively misrepresents.

The boy's club, the Quinnipiac boy's hockey team. I know in soberation that it is not a club I genuinely would or should miss being in: it is all a façade in the face of patriarchy, an elaborate show borne from 5,000 years of atrocious normativity. The boys are no longer pretty when a slur slips from their mouth— they are not pretty when one sweet-talks assault— they are not pretty when they don't like you, when they reject what they see. A boy's club nine times out of ten deals with the imperial overpresence of patriarchal-induced misogyny (and one must add in some white supremacy if it's a white-boy's-club). These are not spaces I should feel drawn to, because the fantasy is absolutely not real.

Why does the fantasy persist then? Probably just because of what we've already discussed— a man is the fixed status of normalcy, of indifference, of congruency. To be a man is to be nothing at all. To have a penis is to be a man, which is the standard of individually recognized human. To have a vagina is to be exactly inverse— you are then other, differentiated, and something. And when you are something, you are to be seen. When you are nothing, there is nothing TO see.

What the forg. Moving on, I must go wash my face. Goodnight all, I hope you said it back.

[dukeofdelirium]

Let’s talk about something more positive: what are your top 10 gay ships?

Oh god idk if I have 10 but let’s see!

1) lawlight. 1000000000% LAWLIGHT lmao! I’m obsessed. OBSESSED with them. I’ve been obsessed with this ship for over 14 years. They make me actually rabid and crazy like nothing else. Everything about this ship and their dynamic drives me nutty. They are the only real “enemies to lovers” ship I’ve ever gaf about or probably ever will. There’s something sooooo Shakespearean tragedy coded about this pairing and they are genuinely so fun to analyze to me. I’ll never get bored of them!

2) byler! Definitely byler!!! I love this ship so much. Best friends to lovers is always gonna be my favorite overall trope (despite the lawlight obsession) because I just think it’s gahhhh so sweet!! Mike and Will being together will be the perfect conclusion to stranger things imo and I’m so excited for the final season!!

3) korrasami! I remember when they went canon. I was so shocked I didn’t even believe we actually WON with a gay ship. This pairing was groundbreaking for cartoons and is the reason we have gay rep in kids shows now too

4) zukaang! I am a multi shipper so I ship Aang with Katara and Zuko too. I love Zuko and Aang’s dynamic and I think there is a ton of canonical support for this ship, too. I guess they’re technically an “enemies to lovers” but I don’t rlly think of them that way. Anyway, I think they’re cute!

credit to Noquelle for the fanart!

5) patrochilles, obviously there’s the Iliad but there’s also a novel called The Song of Achilles which I highly recommend if you’ve never read it and want gay rep. It’s a beautifully written novel that is about Achilles and Patroclus and makes an argument for the interpretation of them being lovers (which was common in ancient times)

credit to awanqi on Twitter for the fanart

6) frowise??? Samfro???? Sam and Frodo from The Lord of the Rings! I’ve always loved these two. And if you think the films are gay, the books are gayer. They cuddle, hold hands, kiss and tell each other they love each other in the novels. They are precious and I love them soooo much

7) this one’s gonna sound silly but me and my friends ship quimbry (Quil and Embry) from Twilight lmao. We wanted gay rep and then it just kind of snowballed. I have like 7 fanfics on my ao3 written for them …. 😂😂😂 idgaf that they’re fanon either cuz they’re real to me and I’m obsessed with them. My ao3 is the same as my tumblr btw if you wanted to read my fics! it’s dukeofdelirium

8) (edit I can’t believe I forgot them!) WILMON from Young Royals! Such a sweet pairing and I was so obsessed with them when I watched this show. Such a good show too. Highly recommend and the actors had amazing chemistry

9) REDDIE? I remember this one breaking my heart a bit. I’m not a hugely active shipper of it but it’s cute and really sad

10) Jack and Ennis from Brokeback Mountain:(((( this movie really and truly ruined my life and did something to me when I watched it as a 10 yr old. Somethin about growing up in the south as a closeted gay boy…. Heath and Jake were insane in this film their chemistry was nuts

Hmmm I can’t think of anything else at the moment! I’m very particular about the stuff I ship, it rlly has to scratch a niche itch in my brain for me to be really and truly obsessed with it.

Thanks for bringing something positive to the ask box! :) what are your favorite gay ships, anon?

[themuseinthewoods]

Headcanons for coming out to the characters Troy (2004)

thank you @streets-in-paradise for encouraging me to just go ahead and write this, I really needed that. Your my biggest supporter writing for this fandom anyway, I seriously appreciate you so much.

I'm bisexual, and imagining these guys reacting well had really helped me, I wanna put it out there so maybe somebody will also find comfort in this. Covers both modern and ancient times.

It doesn't matter which part of the rainbow you are, I tried to cover all bases. Love y'all!

I use Queer and LGBTQIA+ as umbrella terms

Characters are Achilles, Patroclus, Hector, Paris, Helen, Briseis, Thetis (Achilles mother), and Odyessus

this is basically pure fluff. fluffier then cotton.

Achilles

Okay, your attracted to more than one gender? good for you! thanks for telling him.

you don't want a relationship or sex with anyone? Send em his way, he'll either sleep with them or tell them off for trying to get with you

your not the gender that you were assigned at birth or non-binary? he's confused, but he will do his best to understand.

if this is in the ye old Greek era, he's very supportive and very protective. He prides himself in the fact that you trust him to keep your secret or to know this about you if it isn't a secret and he will defend you against anyone

he's added a couple names to his 'i have killed list' for you

If its modern era, well, he can't kill people for you but he will protect you.

will take you to pride parades/events, he'll let you do his makeup/hair, he's not wearing an outfit besides a t-shirt that says safe person

for both eras, your family doesn't accept you? fuck that, they don't deserves you, he's your family now, come on, his moms your mom now and Patroclus is your new cousin

he gives good (if not aggressively encouraging) pep talks and will hold you while you cry, if you need to, although he doesn't believe you have any reason to cry because he has a very fuck the haters approach

Patroclus someone please make more gifs of him

poor, sweet, innocent child

he knows the basics, but he is gonna ask so many questions for you regarding everything

he's so supportive though

thinks (knows) you're so brave to tell him this, you're his new role model

ye old Greek era, he will include it in any ballads he writes including you and what makes you so unique

in modern era, he knows.

oh fuck, he knows more then YOU do

he may be a little straight boy but HE HAS BEEN TRAINING FOR THIS

will go to pride parades/events, you want to dress him up with makeup and hair? sure, but only if you want him too

for the both, he will support you, even if you have others, he's your personal cheerleader

Hector

okay so, this guy

this guy will realize through you all the issues with troys support systems for LGBTQIA+ are kinda lacking and in both the ye old Greek era and modern times, depending which one

he's a lil confuzled, ngl, but he will take every idea he has for you for tweaking and opinions until its the best it can be

hes a quiet supporter most of the time, there is obviously more to you then your identity as someone who is Queer, your a separate person, duh

he gives the best hugs though, and he'll let you cry over something related to it for a while, he will eventually tell you that whatever it is doesn't deserve your tears or your time

your family doesn't support? whether you were kicked out or cut off, he's got you

you live with him and his fam in the palace and he acts like you have always been there

Paris

Asks so many questions when you first come out

cries because omg you trust him enough to tell him something so personal, what did he do to deserve this?

big supporter, even if he sometimes forgets, he is really trying his hardest

gives me bi vibes so much honestly

take him to pride events and he will cry because you trust him so much

Helen

shes so confused at first

not because she doesn't know what you mean by why you look so scared

she'd hope that at least her past would help you know that you will never be judged by her unless you are a violent, hateful bastard we don't like Menalaus here folks-

so protective

she'll do pride events, heck she'll host them, go all out with the rainbow decor

adopts you as a part of her family whether yours supports it or not

Briseis make more gifs of her please

this sweet girl hugs you so tightly

she's so excited, shes gonna tell you other people she's heard of and she is gonna tell you which God or Goddess is gonna favor you the most

will help you with anything

transitioning? she'll get you clothes that make you feel more like yourself

non-binary? will find you outfits that have no gender

attracted to a certain type or multiple? shes your wing woman

not attracted to anyone? that's fine, in her eyes your even stronger then the gods

will dress up and do her hair and makeup for pride

Thetis (goddess and mother of Achilles)

supportive mum <3

hugs you so tightly all the time now

in modern times, she'll get a t-shirt that says free mom hugs, with a rainbow next to it

she is so supportive, she brings everything from condoms and snacks, to painkillers and friendship bracelets, to water and a spear change of clothes and shoes

in ye old Greek era, she will get her son to kill anyone who is to rude

Odyessus

supportive

might just say "huh, cool. thanks for telling me"

hugs you more often though

i don't know what else to write

he's only going to pride events if you beg

will end anyone who harms you

love y'all so much!

hugs, hugs to everyone.

[ls-daydreams]

Find the word Game~

Tagged a lifetime ago by @catchingbigfish and @words-after-midnight (and many other lovely people, but I’m trying not to make this post too long). I’m posting very sporadically, I know, but I do appreciate being tagged and I hope to discipline myself into doing these games and interacting more often 🤞

My words were: dream, break, poor, light, yearn(ing) from Nico and extend, freeze, song, table, and run from Elle.

I’m tagging (no pressure, ignore me if you don’t want to do it) @snehithiye​ @endways​ @writeblr-of-my-own​ @innocentlymacabre​ @enchanted-lightning-aes​ @frostedlemonwriter​  to do world, alone, face, time, to leave

As always, everything is from Metanoia:

dream (taken from a letter Michael writes Kai)

Maybe I finally reached peak physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological, every-al exhaustion and my whole being reset. Maybe it was just falling asleep nestled into your warmth, your willing hand in mine. I slept well. I dreamed... of us. I couldn't even tell it was a dream at first. I was making you breakfast, like I've done hundreds of times. You sauntered into the kitchen wearing my clothes. Like you've done hundreds of times. You hugged me from behind and I could feel your sleepy smile on my skin. Not a first occurrence. But then that smile turned into a kiss. Where your face was snuggled into my back. I thought you were teasing, but you kissed my arm. My shoulder. My neck. I let you. I turned around and you kissed my chin. Cheek. Lips. I let you.

I liked it.

break

The rugs are covered in crumbs and crusted, sticky sauces Patroclus couldn’t lick off in time, the fridge and microwave are smeared with god knows what on every side, in and out, and Mal even ends up having to glue the back of a chair to the rest of its body when he moves it and it breaks in his hand. It’s a broken, dirty room that’s too small and too aged, but it’s also where the prettiest sunrises cover everything in a bright, yellow glow and where it’s warmest and coziest in the winter. The true heart of the house. 

It’s Mal’s most favorite room.

poor

"Ma, please. This once, can you just..." he gestures emptily, then lets his arms slap his sides and hang limply. He's just a poor, helpless boy whose only lifeline is a thin, wiry Vogue from his mother's purse. Would she be so kind, please, ma'am?

light

Sensations assault him all at once - the cold marble deck cooling his palms and the back of his bare legs, the smell of freshly cut grass muddying his clothes, the creak of the hooded swing as he swayed and sweated on hot summer days. He looks up, expecting to find lights on in the window, but there’s nothing but spiderwebs and vines overtaking the cracked walls of the house.

yearning

He wasn’t sure if it was his sudden hunger that spread such yearning through his body or it was something else. He took a heaping bite to check. 

By themselves, the sensations were common and unimportant – tongue burning under the sweet and sour cinnamon apple filling, powdered sugar sticking to the corners of his mouth, even the way Lu had thrown the bag at him. 

All together, they jolted the synapses in Mal’s brain in what he could only define as raw affection. He knew, innately, that he’d eaten many of these strudels before, that they were offered to him, albeit aggressively, by someone he felt a deep attachment to.

extend

He carefully plops himself across from Grumpy, extending his bad foot while tucking the other, and stares. There’s no danger of being caught, Grumpy’s eyes closed as if he’s sleeping, but Mal knows better. He looks troubled, his face pulled in a tight frown, the pale skin under his eyes taking on the reddish-purple tint of too little sleep.

freeze

"I got an email I changed my password, dumbass. You could've just asked instead of going all hackerman on it."

"Ask who? The sleeping giant?"

Lu gasps, pulls hard on the bandage, making Mal wince and slap her hand away.

"I'm not a giant, I'm just well developed," she states, tying her work in a nice bow.

She's nowhere near as chubby as she was when they were kids, now grown into a strong, sturdy woman. Her cheeks are still full, tummy still soft, thighs still fleshy, but she's grown comfortable with her looks, and with that gained enough confidence to sass her way out of anything. It makes Mal's heart swell.

"Figure of speech, my sweet. Don't worry, you won't have to change the password again, I made it real personal and very you."

She cocks an eyebrow.

"It's DestielForever0804. Capital D, capital F."

Her face freezes in horror.

"What? Those are the dudes you're obsessed with, right? It was that or those other ones, but I didn't know if they were Merthur or Arlin."

song

Grumpy doesn't hear Mal approach; it's a miracle he can hear anything at all if blasting music in his ears like he does now is a habit. Mal can't make out an actual song, he wouldn't know it even if he did, but the drums and guitars are heavy and hectic and some lady's savagely screaming her guts out. Not entirely Dacia's style, not really Grumpy's either if one were to look just at the outside, but somehow the image fits in Mal's exhausted little brain.

table

Even if he hadn’t been here this morning, he can easily piece together what Carmen had for breakfast from the crumbs still speckled on the table and the dishes in the sink. He can tell she didn’t finish from the third of coffee left in her mug. He knows he was cutting veggies for soup since the poor carrots are all shriveled and dried up on the counter. He knows exactly why it was all left in a rush from the bloody tissues and bandage wrapper they hadn’t thrown away.

run

"No one can shame you if you don't feel ashamed," he remembers himself say, and for once he has to give it to Kai. Don't run away, don't hide, just own it.

[shesintoomanyfandoms]

Tw: Implied SA… yeah I wrote about Briseis and Achilles

Briseis, Briseis

It helps, to imagine myself as his bride.

You wouldn’t think it would, but it does—to imagine myself as being a wife rather than a war prize—well, it’s comforting. A great deal comforting.

I miss my husband, on the darker nights. My true husband. Mynes. But it’s much too hard to bear, and I fear if I think of Lyrnesses, I shall beat Achilles’ chest and call him murderer.

They take me to his tent some nights. I never know which ones. I assume it is at his whim.

He’s a mix of clinical and… some other thing. I don’t know. The goal seems to be a child, but he calls me beautiful on the colder nights. Sometimes he even says he loves me. It must be flowery nothingness, fluff that sounds nice, but it helps the image of the wife somewhat.

Perhaps I shall bear a child soon. There have been no changes as of yet, but still, I wonder. Oh, that I had a little baby of my own. I selfishly wish any such child would be a girl. A little girl, all mine, but oh! What if she were captured in some city-sacking, prized as Achilles’ daughter? Better a boy, then, I suppose, able to defend himself. Whichever it is, my only prayer is that the child gets some amount of Achilles, enough for him to recognize the child as his own.

Ah, I pray, I pray, but what do foolish prayers do?

Patroclus tells me he will convince Achilles to make me his legal wife. Oh, to think of the luxury! Slaves can be traded like cattle, and I grow weary of fearing that he will trade me off. Wives are less easily exchanged.

Oh, Patroclus. Darling Patroclus, sweet Patroclus. His name and Achilles’ seem to be the only one the storytellers know how to write and let slip off silvery tongues. If only Echo were my handmaiden, that I might have her cry Briseis, Briseis, over and over until even Troy had heard my name repeated! To be remembered, ah, that would be the gold of golds!

Still, remembering is for men and their consorts, and I am neither.

But darling Patroclus, kind Patroclus, you will live forever by Achilles’ side, and the name Briseis shall die forgotten.

[johaerys-writes]

Talk dirty to me got me back into my disasters feels ILOVETHEMSOMUCH

Do the boys have any traditions they carry into adulthood? Baking or cooking something specific? Making something together around the holidays?

Aaaah that's such a sweet question!! They have a few traditions during the holidays, and one of them is Achilles knitting Pat an ugly Christmas sweater and gifting it to him close to the holidays haha. Every year, as he gets better at knitting it gets more elaborate and Patroclus absolutely loves it and wears it all the time (yes even at work 😅😅)

Achilles will also try, and usually fail, to bake something for Christmas, until Patroclus runs to the rescue and sort of saves the situation. They usually make their own melomakarona and kourampiedes (greek holiday cookies) for themselves but also to gift to family and friends (everyone goes INSANE for Pat's melomakarona with pistachio), and they also try out a different recipe each year, sweet or savoury. Laika also gets to have a special homemade treat every year, just for her 😋

Patroclus is not so much into holiday decorations but Achilles goes crazy every year because he just loves to deck out their tree and their little home, so Patroclus just follows along 😅 They find a lot of their Christmas ornaments and decorations at thrift stores and flea markets, and they also often make their own from clay, wood, yarn, paper etc, depending on which creative hobby they've hyperfixated on this year haha. Achilles is also obsessed with fairy lights, especially the twinkling kind, and has them in pretty much every corner of the house (including waterproof ones for the bathroom)

They don't have a specific tradition as to how they spend Christmas day; one year they might go to Phthia and spend it with Ajax or Peleus (or both), another year they might stay at home in Athens and invite all their friends over for dinner and have a ball lol. If Peleus isn't around for Christmas, he still takes them out to a fancy restaurant afterwards when he's back to catch up and give them their gifts; as for Thetis, Achilles has dinner or goes out with her and his aunts at some point during the holidays, but Patroclus doesn’t always follow. He and Thetis are civil with each other these days but I don't think they'd ever become best friends or anything.

Another thing that's sort of a holiday tradition is taking Laika (and eventually, the rest of their army of doggos lol) and driving to the mountains as a sort of day trip. They go hiking and let the dogs run around and play (if there's snow it's even better), and then they have some warm soup they've brought with them in thermos and sandwiches before heading back home. And then the rest of the day is spent washing muddy paws and fur 😅😅 That's something they usually do around New Year's, just a little getaway before school/work starts :)

Thank you so much for this ask!!! I LOVE THEM TOO 😭🙏