#probably one of the worst responses to “I'm asexual” I've ever received was “What a waste of a body.” ;~;

[dootznbootz]

Edit: I wrote this before the boops AND I had some raspberries. So peace and love y'all. still feel like this should be posted at least for a LITTLE bit before I possibly delete it. :P

Fuck it. I am genuinely really upset that out of all my self-indulgent ideas, this is the one people get the most worked up about. After I posted this one, that's when I started getting shit and still get "corrected" with asks. You don't have to agree but you can also leave and not say a word.

We all know that sexualities were not a thing back then and it did not matter. So why do I see posts that say "Helen is a lesbian!", "Bi-omedes", "Achilles is gay. Period." posts and that's completely fine (It is! As long as it's a headcanon! which is what I'm doing as well!) but as soon as I talk about writing and headcanoning (again, not historically accurate) odypen as aspec coded, I get shit?

How is being aspec "disrespectful"? What's disrespectful about being aspec? It almost feels like it's treading on Aphobia, especially if you're a hypocrite who headcanons sexualities on them when, again, we all know that wasn't a thing! Why is everything but aspec allowed as a headcanon?

I know monogamy was not the norm. I'm literally writing Odysseus being seen as a weird dude because of this. He just genuinely doesn't have any "need" until Penelope. And as mentioned above, the boar scar makes most leave him alone as well.

And those around him do have other relations and it's not gonna be portrayed as a bad thing, just that Odysseus and Penelope don't partake as they don't have that "need". Odypen aren't "the good guys" because of this. They're just built different. Not bad. Not good. But different. Agamemnon, for example, has many lovers. But his relationships are not seen as "less loving" and he isn't a "cheater" because it wasn't considered cheating at the time. He's just a guy who just happens to have sex and is allo. (not gonna lie, it's really nice writing an aspec character whose friends are like "I don't get it, but that's okay. You're still my friend. I care about you. I'm not gonna pressure you." they're a bit sad because they find him hot but still respect him. (Probably did not happen as it doesn't always happen now either so let me create a fictional world where it does) and even help Odysseus out with advice with Penelope.) Heck, Agamemnon gets to make fun of Odysseus for his past "high and mighty attitude" about it all when he finally becomes a mess about Penelope before being his wingman.

Pre-Penelope Odysseus: "While you all turn into bumbling fools at beautiful people, my mind is still sharp!" Agamemnon 😒: "...Whatever, man. Anyways~, do the funny thing again, Goat boy." Later~ After-Penelope Odysseus: Why are you so mean to me?😭 You know I'm freaking out! I thought you said you would help me! Agamemnon: I still will. I just want payback at the same time. 😈 "Bumbling fool".

Agamemnon (and Menelaus, but not as much) gets a treat when they get to make fun of him. (Odysseus and Penelope get humbled a lot. like I said. As they were stupid. I cannot stress enough how this is not nice to do but hubris is their flaw so it felt in character for them to be somewhat arrogant about it only to ofc, receive their just deserts in how they fall stupid in love and are "bumbling fools" now.)

Just because he doesn't have concubines doesn't mean he doesn't have slaves or is like "No! To have a concubine is wrong!" to others. He doesn't care. He just literally doesn't have those feelings except for Penelope. (She's hot af, okay? I'm living vicariously through these two con-artists)

I mean I literally have him like this. He's still not NICE. Aspec, but not nice.

And honestly, as someone who's gone through trauma similar to Odysseus, it feels nice healing through him as well. Writing and planning how his PTSD takes place, him getting better and healing with his family at his side. It feels good. He's horrible but The Odyssey really hit me with a lot of emotions in how it portrays PTSD realistically.

That one post was about the "whimsey" but honestly the feelings all stem from just... idk semi-aphobic hypocrites. I would almost prefer to get shit about Water Wife because I know it's ridiculous and I don't care that it is than get shit about asexuality. Because out of all my silly ideas, that's the one you go for the throat for?

Idk, I was there during the first wave of Aphobia on tumblr in 2016 and it wasn't fun when I got ASKS or posts from a different fandom about it. (Apparently, because an anime had fanservice, that meant the characters couldn't be aspec in fanfic😒) I'm upset it's happening again in a different way. I'm older now, I'm not leaving tumblr or going to stop writing because of it, but holy shit. honestly, I just wanted to release this as that's what's genuinely been hurting the most. I roll my eyes at the people being bitter about "waiting for proteus" (which, btw, I love the folks who join in the sealiness🦭) but simply disagree and leave if you don't like headcanons.

Stop vaguing me. Stop sending rude "informative" asks. I'm tossing aphobes into the wine-dark sea.

probably will delete this later or private it but yeahhhhhhhhh.

Aspec Penelope and Odysseus mean a lot to me and I want to ramble about it as it makes me really happy 🥺

If you don't like, don't read! Someone being aspec or sex-repulsed or sex-neutral is not insulting allos or people who are sexually active!!! And even then, some aspecs ARE sexually active just like these two end up being! This is all headcanon and any aphobes will be yeeted into the wine-dark sea. (semi-inspired by epic the musical but also...not.)

Aspec Odypen!

Both are aspec, demisexual specifically and are just like that. While they ARE Athena's pets, she didn't "make them ace". (It may have influenced why she's fascinated by them alongside their cleverness)

Both have situations that make it somewhat different in how they experience it though. I'll have what they both experience first. (Kind of just explaining what it feels like being aspec in a way, except they're shittier about it) Then Penelope as her's needs less explanation. For once in my life, Penelope isn't the one with the most stuff on her 😭

"Oh that person's very strong! Impressive! Oh, wait, is this supposed to be sexual? ...hm...Alright, I guess."

"Alright, I posed this way and looked at them like this and they seemed more open to this idea. Taking note for manipulation..."

"Goddamnit, I don't want you, I want all that silver 😩"

*sees what takes place during certain events (Symposium-esque event)* "...Yeah, I'm not doing that."

Both are pretty in their own way and use that to their advantage to get the things they want. Both get almost weirdly offended when outwardly flirted with and/or propositioned. Kind of sex repulsed (that changes when with each other but before they never really even think about it as..."What is everyone talking about? What do you mean "needs"?")

Friends? Absolutely!!! Not knowing someone but getting to know them eventually? Yeah! But the idea of only wanting to date or have sex because of appearances genuinely perplexes them both. Also, they weirdly test people and are just straight up weird and picky.

"How stupid and naive can you be to wish to court someone you know so little about? A stranger? I look pretty only to get what I want and that's not you... Yeah, we definitely won't work out. I'm going to rob you to teach you a lesson in how looks can be deceiving. I'm pretty but I'm also shitty."

"...You want to do what?! ...uh, okay... You know, what? >:) I know a place. Yeah, us naiads use it. Yep, just around here. Yes! The water is perfectly safe! Don't worry about the leeches! They're harmless! Completely normal leeches" *Steals their clothes and jewelry and leaves them to the very not-normal leeches.* What? It's not like they died!!! They shouldn't have been so stupid to trust me knowing nothing about me!"

Both also have hubris as their flaw so they also have a very shitty superiority complex about this. Fellow aspecs, don't do this!!! It's not nice!!! These two are both mean and nice and this is one of the ways they're mean. Very "While you were out doing whatever, I studied the blade" bullshit. Also, a "Me being unaffected by beauty makes me better at manipulating. Look at how stupid they get when I look all pretty, Athena. I absolutely made them believe that that was a fair deal!!!" Athena kind of encourages this behavior

Meeting each other is a very humbling experience for them both. They both actually learn that there's nothing wrong with being vulnerable with people, just because THEY'RE likely to mess with you doesn't mean EVERYONE is.

Onto Penelope Specifics

For one thing, Penelope is used to people immediately going nuts over Helen and she doesn't mind having less of the attention. As mentioned before, doesn't happen often but when people wish to possibly date, she tests, then sees "okay, I don't see this happening. I'm going to fuck with you now". She'll also just start doing weird shit in a "you think you can handle me?" way.

Thankfully, Icarius and Periboea are chill AND somewhat overprotective so the footrace usually goes in her favor of "I do not like them." Until Odysseus but you know. She just sees she won't click with most people.

Icarius and Periboea have a pretty happy marriage and she thinks that's sweet. One of her siblings doesn't have a happy marriage sadly and that's a big thing later on but she sees Helen and Menelaus with their childhood sweetheart thing going on and the other nymphs and thinks "Guess that won't be happening for me...I can be a fun river auntie." As she's kind of planning to be dedicated to the rivers fully if she can.

She also was there when Helen got kidnapped by Theseus :'D That does affect her.

Her actually testing him the same way he does when they first meet is part of the reason he falls for her so hard. "You do the same shit I do. Not only that but you were actually able to trick me! Wait, that broach, are you also one of Athena's pets?! And now we're scuttling about the castle basically entirely intuned to exactly what we're gonna do?! Oh, gods, that was so fun! Ugh, be my WIFE! 🥴 Wait, no! Sorry I scared/lied/overwhelmed you! Please give me a chance"

Her not getting a lot of genuine romantic attention has influenced her a little bit though.

She's genuinely pretty but it's in an unconventional way (sharp teeth, weird eyes, "Born in a Creek", etc.) So while at first on Ithaca, she was considered very strange, as naiad ties get better with her influence and people get more used to her, it's a "Oh, shit, she IS pretty." Also, she aged like wine. Why the suitors wanted her (also yeah, "I want to be king") and why she just didn't want them. Ofc, she wants Odysseus but she's also just someone who is usually unimpressed. (as Odysseus is as well.)

Odysseus Specifics

Very much a hopeful romantic. His mom and dad have a very loving marriage, (I want to write a thing on their love story), and knowing how his dad never took a concubine (It literally says he doesn't in the Odyssey). He wants what they have.

"Being with someone who you can be your complete self with, show all the good and the bad to and still loving each other despite it all. That's love."

As someone who is a person of many twists and turns, he desperately wants to find someone to show ALL his sides to.

So first up we have the fact that he blames the fact that he's never felt sexual attraction on the boar scar injury. (Boar Scar Idea Stuff Here) It's easier that way as he doesn't necessarily want to think about himself as being different.

Ancient Greece was fine with Nudity but he, being quite ripped up and "not all there" by the boar, isn't really comfortable with it. People often stare and him, being hotheaded, he's like "What are you looking at? I'll kick your ass!". It's kind of a convenience though because it also makes people leave him alone.

He's had "one relationship" but it was basically just a kiss. He had a one-week romance with Diomedes that ended badly and that's why he's mean to him in the Iliad. They're "exes" and Odysseus holds GRUDGES. (Go into that further here)

Then OdyPen meets each other. >:D

Clarifying this as I know I talk about it a lot with how "Odysseus was in love at first sight" and... YEAH. but also not. It's more of a "This is the fucking best and I KNOW that we'd be incredible together." He chills out a bit as he got that ADHD (they both do) and was all up in his emotions. Other folks with ADHD know when you get too excited and just...become a LOT. It was that. He calmed down a bit and realized he WAS overwhelming her, STILL wants to marry her but isn't in love yet as they JUST MET. And they finally get to know each other more and then he actually falls in love.

Penelope was always somewhat intrigued by him but it was only when he chilled out a bit and let her lay the ground rules of them getting to know each other. And she was in deep denial, then she was hit by a truck when she couldn't deny it any longer.

During the War

He doesn't have any listed concubines (Hecuba was an old woman in her 60s-70s...Be reasonable.) and even in the Iliad, he thinks of Penelope often. And when offered, he threatens or just is passive-aggressive, and eventually people understand that "I wouldn't do that if I were you. He'll probably stab you."

Odypen already give Aspec vibes in the Odyssey but hearing "Man of the House" with Epic and that "She's who I saved my virginity for" was like an "YES! ASPEC!" and yeh :D He wasn't technically "saving it for her", he just never wanted it til Penelope.

Alongside "Done For" a lil bit!

"...I'm not sure I follow... What do you mean by lust? Penelope's not here...oh no..."

Idk makes me happy to write them aspec! 🥺