Chapter Text
7 years after Odysseus was stranded on Ogygia
Calypso: Ody!
Odysseus: Morning Calypso.
Calypso: Today is a lovely day.
Odysseus: It always is.
Calypso: Let's go for a walk.
Odysseus: We went on a walk yesterday.
Calypso: Well then let's walk on the east side of the island today.
Odysseus: We've been all over the island, by this point I know this place just as well as Ithaca.
Calypso: Really!
Odysseus: I didn't mean that as a good thing.
Calypso (sigh): Fine, I'm going to pick some berries for lunch. See you later sweety!
Odysseus: Bye Calypso.
Calypso left.
Odysseus : Well that was easier than usual. Well at least that gives me some free time. Odysseus got up and walked into the forest. The forest is calm today, even the birds are quiet. Sigh. It's too quiet. Too many voices... Too many screams... I should see them.
Odysseus continued to walk through the forest till he reached a clearing.
Odysseus : It helps to visit this place- Odysseus stopped after seeing Nausithous and Nausinous. Hello boys.
Nausithous (startled): Hello father.
Odysseus: What are you two doing here?
Nausinous: We wanted to visit your friends. We replaced the flowers.
Odysseus: ...Thank you.
They looked at each other quietly.
Nausithous: We know this is your quiet place but we were looking for you yesterday and checked here and saw that the flowers were wilting and decided to replace them for you.
Nausinous: Are you mad?
Odysseus : No, and thank you. He walked toward the graves. I didn't even notice the flowers were wilting.
They looked at the graves.
Nausinous: Can you tell us about them?
Nausithous: Nausinous!
Odysseus (looking at the two) : ... As you know they were part of my crew when we went to fight in the Trojan War. We all managed to survive the war itself and set off to go back home to Ithaca. Everything was going well till our food supplies started running low. This led us to an island with a cave full of sheep. We killed some of the sheep which angered a cyclops who owned the sheep which led to a battle where we lost a few men, including Polities, my best friend... after that we blinded the cyclops as retribution and we fled the island. In my anger and grief I made a dumb decision and revealed my name to the cyclops. Then we continued our journey and almost reached Ithaca but then some of my crew opened a wing bag that was holding a storm which led to my fleet being sent far away. As we tried to get our bearings we were attacked by Poseidon. He killed most of my crew leaving only 43 men under my command. After that we landed on the island of a witch called Circe who turned some of my men into pigs but I, with the help of Hermes, cleared up that little misunderstanding and she turned them back to normal. Then Circe told us that a friend of hers is a prophet called Tiresias could help us out, only one little wrinkle he was dead so that led to our little detour into the Underworld. The prophet was little help but we continued our journey. It was at this point when everything started to get to me and I wasn't thinking clearly. I was just obsessed with getting back home to my wife which led to me giving up the lives of six of the men to a monster known as Scylla. After that my right hand man, Eurylochus led a mutiny against me, I don't blame them for that, I was in no state of mind to continue being captain. I ended up passing out and woke up on the island of Thrinacia which was home to cattle that belonged to the sun god Helios. Eurylochus killed one of them, despite my protests that it would anger the god. After the cow died we heard Helios' voice and we fled the island but before we could get far Zeus himself appeared and made me choose. My life or those of the crew. I picked my own which led to Zeus killing them all. After that I woke up here.
By the end Odysseus started crying.
Odysseus : I miss them all. Despite everything that happened they're still my dearest friends. He looked at Nausithous and Nausinous. You two remind me of them.
Nausithous: We do?
Odysseus: Yes. Nausithous you are a lot like Eurylochus, adventurous, brave, you protect those you care about. And you Nausinous you are a lot like Polities, kind, carrying, and one with nature.
Nausinous: Thank you, father.
Odysseus: Today marks seven years since I arrived here. I'm surprised your mother hasn't brought it up. Just a word of warning that lunch or dinner might get a little hectic.
Nausithous: Thank you for the warning father.
Odysseus: Well we should go back, it's almost lunch time, your mother will start to worry.
A few hours later after lunch.
Nausinous: Father opened up to us today.
Nausithous: I know, it's very unlike him. Lunch was calm at least, mother showed some restraint.
Nausinous: Mother did say that she was planning something for later tonight.
Nausithous: That's probably what father warned us about.
Nausinous: We remind him of his friends.
Nausithous: Well at least you remind him of his best friend, I remind him of the guy who led a mutiny against him.
Nausinous: He doesn't blame his friend, father said he was in no state of mind to be captain.
Nausithous: Fair.
Nausinous: I hope we can see this part of dad more often.
Nausithous: Me too, I like the toys and gifts dad makes for us but today was different.
Nausinous: And the swordsmanship lessons.
Nausithous: Yes that too, but I enjoyed today.
Nausinous: Maybe things will get better.
Nausithous: Well knowing mother she'll mess everything up, rope us into it, and ruin any progress made with father.
Nausinous: ...probably.
Nausithous: We should enjoy this while it lasts.
Nausinous: We have a few hours before sunset.
Nausithous: We should find-
They heard a loud wail.
Nausinous: What was that?
Nausithous: That sounded like mother.
Nausinous: I'm guessing father rejected her again.
Nausithous: Well she already messed things up.
They sigh.
Meanwhile
Odysseus: Calypso what's wrong?!
Calypso (weeping): There's someone here. He said the gods have decided that I have to let you go. A direct decree from Zeus.
Odysseus (surprised): I can leave?
Calypso: Please, my love, don't leave me. I love you.
Odysseus: Calypso, please you know I don't love you.
Calypso: Why did they have to free you today of all days?
Odysseus: Calypso this is for the best.
Calypso: Why? Why won't you love me?
Odysseus: I have a wife Calypso. Who's waiting for me to return. I- I should start building a raft.
Odysseus started walking away.
Calypso : Wait! Odysseus stopped. The boys... take them with you. They don't deserve to stay here. They deserve a better life.
Odysseus: Of course. I'll take the boys.
A few hours later.
Nausinous: It's getting dark.
Nausithous: Why haven't we been called for dinner?
Odysseus: We won't have dinner together tonight.
Nausithous: Good evening father.
Nausinous: Do you know what happened with mother earlier?
Odysseus: We had a guest today. He sent a message from Olympus, Zeus has ordered that I be set free.
Nausithous: You're leaving?
Odysseus: I am.
Nausinous: Wait what about us?!
Odysseus: I'm taking you two with me.
Nausithous: You are?
Nausinous: What about mother?
Odysseus: Your mother is staying. She asked me to take you two with me, not that I was going to leave you two. I was going to take you two with me, with or without your mother's permission.
Nausithous: What-
Nausinous: When do we leave?
Nausithous: What?
Nausinous: Mother has never cared about us. She only created us to get closer to father. Even father's distance was more affectionate than mother ever was.
Nausithous: Right... very, when do we leave.
Odysseus : In a while, here. He hands them a few bags. You can put your things in these bags. Meet me at the beach. He leaves.
Nausithous: We're leaving...
Nausinous: And father wants to take us.
Nausithous: We should hurry, before mother changes her mind.
Nausinous: You think mother would defy Zeus?
Nausithous: Maybe? Nevertheless we should hurry.
Nausinous: Right, let's get our things.
A while later.
Nausithous: Father, we're here.
Odysseus: Have all your things packed?
Nausinous: Yes.
Odysseus: Have you said goodbye to your mother?
Nausithous: Yes, but she didn't acknowledge our presence.
Odysseus (sigh): Of course. Boys, you can put your bags in the storage compartment.
Nausithous and Nausinous put their bags in the raft.
Odysseus: Well that's all, boys, get comfortable, we're leaving.
?: Hehehe
Nausinous: What was that?
Odysseus (serious): A laugh, a horrible laugh.
Nausithous: What?
?: Horrible? Ody, is that how you treat an old friend?
Odysseus: Hello Hermes.
Hermes: Congratulations friend, you have been given one final chance to get home.
Odysseus: Why are you here?
Hermes: To give a little guidance, I am the god of travelers after all.
Odysseus: So?
Hermes: Well the trip to reach Ithaca will be rather simple. You need to follow the north star and eventually you will reach your home.
Odysseus: But?
Hermes (smiles) : Aww you know me so well buddy. He laughs. But yes there is a little something, a monster known as Charybdis, she is a giant whirlpool that will consume any unfortunate boat or raft that might get a little too close. But don't worry, you will know when she is close, and you won't even get to her till tomorrow so do rest.
Odysseus: How do we pass her?
Hermes: Simply avoid her, peddle past her calmly, any panicked movements will get her attention.
Odysseus: That all?
Hermes : Yes, have fun. Tell your wife I said hi. He vanished.
Odysseus: Well you heard him boys, let's get going.
Nausithous and Nausinous: Yes.
Odysseus pushed the raft into the water and moved them into the open water.
Odysseus: Now where is the North Star?
Nausinous: Over there!
Odysseus: Nice catch Nausinous.
Nausinous: Thank you father.
Odysseus redirected the raft and opened the sail.
Odysseus: And now we're moving!
Nausithous: This is amazing!!!!!
Odysseus: The ocean breeze is amazing.
Nausinous: We lived on a small island, we smelled it everyday.
Odysseus: No, the breeze out here is very different.
They looked forward to the North Sky.
Nausinous: You're smiling.
Odysseus: Hmm?
Nausithous: He's right, you're smiling, genuinely smiling.
Odysseus: I- I'm sorry.
Nausinous: No, that's a good thing!
Odysseus: No, not that. I'm sorry for not being a good father.
Nausithous: Father, no.
Odysseus: No, I wasn't a good father, I haven't treated you two as I should have. I only did what our society expected of me as a father. Keeping you housed, fed, clothed, and clean. Teaching you how to fight with a sword and basic survival skills. But I never showed you two the love I should have. I would have never treated Telemachus the way I have treated you two. You two are not responsible for the way Calypso created you through her magic. When you two came to be you had the minds of a ten and eight year old, you deserved a loving father and in my state of mind I haven't given you that. So I promise you two this, from now on I promise to be a better father, if you let me.
Nausithous and Nausinous started crying and hugged Odysseus .
Nausithous: Of course father.
Nausinous: We understand.
Odysseus: You can call me dad.
Nausithous and Nausinous: Dad.
Nausithous: So are you just going to tell your wife that mother created us using your spit from a cup and some of her own, and not because you had an affair.
Odysseus: Well that is the truth.
Nausinous: Will she believe that?
Odysseus: You two are too old, for your ages to make sense I would have had to start my affair in the early years of the war and there are several kings that can safely say I did no such thing. Then again Penelope is a princess of Sparta so I never know, I've seen her with a sword... she's terrifying.
Nausithous and Nausinous laugh.
Odysseus: Ok, now you two haven't had dinner so open the storage and eat some berries or fruit.
Nausithous and Nausinous prepared themselves dinner.
Nausinous: Would you like something fath- dad?
Odysseus: Pass me an apple.
Nausithous: Catch.
Odysseus: Thank you.
Nausinous: You're very lively.
Odysseus: Boys, I mean this in the nicest way possible but physically being away from your mother already makes me feel better.
Nausithous: Mother can be hard to deal with.
Nausinous: Well we'll never have to deal with her again.
Odysseus: Well eat up and get some rest, we have a monster to avoid in the morning.